Document Document Title
US07968461B2 Method for forming wiring, method for manufacturing thin film transistor and droplet discharging method
It is required that a line width of a wiring is prevented from being wider to be miniaturized when the wiring or the like is formed by a dropping method typified by an ink-jetting method. Therefore, the invention provides a method for narrowing (miniaturizing) the line width according to a method different from a conventional method. A region to be liquid-repellent is formed and further, a region to be lyophilic is formed selectively in the region to be liquid-repellent in a surface for forming a pattern, before forming a desired pattern. After that, a pattern for a wiring or the like is formed in the lyophilic region by a dropping method typified by an ink-jetting method for dropping a composition including a conductive material for the wiring or the like.
US07968459B2 Ion implantation combined with in situ or ex situ heat treatment for improved field effect transistors
This invention teaches methods of combining ion implantation steps with in situ or ex situ heat treatments to avoid and/or minimize implant-induced amorphization (a potential problem for source/drain (S/D) regions in FETs in ultrathin silicon on insulator layers) and implant-induced plastic relaxation of strained S/D regions (a potential problem for strained channel FETs in which the channel strain is provided by embedded S/D regions lattice mismatched with an underlying substrate layer). In a first embodiment, ion implantation is combined with in situ heat treatment by performing the ion implantation at elevated temperature. In a second embodiment, ion implantation is combined with ex situ heat treatments in a “divided-dose-anneal-in-between” (DDAB) scheme that avoids the need for tooling capable of performing hot implants.
US07968458B2 Electronic circuit board and its manufacturing method
A production process for making an electronic circuit substrate comprising: a patterning step of forming a respectively anodically oxidizable conductor pattern and distribution pattern connected to the conductor pattern on a substrate; and an anodic oxidation step of generating an oxide film from the conductor pattern and the distribution pattern by contacting an electrolyte solution with the conductor pattern and the distribution pattern and carrying out anodic oxidation while applying current thereto, the patterns serving as anodes, wherein the width or film thickness of the distribution pattern is at least partially set so that an insulator portion is formed in the anodic oxidation step in which an oxide film formed on one of the side walls of the distribution pattern is integrated with an oxide film formed on the other side wall.
US07968453B2 Method for manufacturing display device, and etching apparatus
A tube is arranged to be in contact with an insulating layer in an opening formation region, and a treatment agent (etching gas or etchant) is discharged to the insulating layer through the tube. With the discharged treatment agent (etching gas or etchant), the insulating layer is selectively removed to form an opening in the insulating layer. Therefore, the insulating layer provided with the opening is formed over a first conductive layer, and the first conductive layer below the insulating layer is exposed at the bottom of the opening. A second conductive layer is formed in the opening to be in contact with an exposed part of the first conductive layer, so that the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are electrically connected in the opening provided in the insulating layer.
US07968451B2 Method for forming self-assembled mono-layer liner for Cu/porous low-k interconnections
A method for fabricating an integrated circuit comprises forming a low-k dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate, etching the low-k dielectric layer to form an opening, and treating the low-k dielectric layer with a gaseous organic chemical to cause a reaction between the low-k dielectric layer and the gaseous organic chemical. The gaseous organic chemical is free from silicon.
US07968450B2 Methods for incorporating high dielectric materials for enhanced SRAM operation and structures produced thereby
Methods for fabricating a hybrid interconnect structure that possesses a higher interconnect capacitance in one set of regions than in other regions on the same microelectronic chip. Several methods to fabricate such a structure are provided. Circuit implementations of such hybrid interconnect structures are described that enable increased static noise margin and reduce the leakage in SRAM cells and common power supply voltages for SRAM and logic in such a chip. Methods that enable combining these circuit benefits with higher interconnect performance speed and superior mechanical robustness in such chips are also taught.
US07968447B2 Semiconductor device and methods of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device may include plugs disposed in a zigzag pattern, interconnections electrically connected to the plugs and a protection pattern which is interposed between the plugs and the interconnections to selectively expose the plugs. The interconnections may include a connection portion which is in contact with plugs selectively exposed by the protection pattern. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes, after forming a molding pattern and a mask pattern, selectively etching a protection layer using the mask pattern to form a protection pattern exposing a plug.
US07968446B2 Metallic bump structure without under bump metallurgy and manufacturing method thereof
The metallic bump is directly formed on a semiconductor wafer's I/O pad without UBM. First, a zinc layer is formed on the I/O pad or an anti-oxidation layer of the I/O pad is selectively etched off. Then, an isolative layer and a copper foil are arranged sequentially in this order above the I/O pad. The isolative layer is originally in a liquid state or in a temporarily solid state and later permanently solidified. Then, a via above the I/O pad is formed by removing part of the isolative layer and the cooper foil. Subsequently, A thin metallic layer connecting the copper foil and the I/O pad is formed in the via and a plating resist on the copper foil is formed. Then, a metallic bump is formed from the via whose height is controlled by the plating resist. Finally, the plating resist and the copper foil are removed.
US07968443B2 Cross-contamination control for processing of circuits comprising MOS devices that include metal comprising high-K dielectrics
A cross method for fabricating a CMOS integrated circuit (IC) includes providing a semiconductor wafer having a topside semiconductor surface, a bevel semiconductor surface, and a backside semiconductor surface, wherein the bevel semiconductor surface and backside semiconductor surface include silicon or germanium. A metal including high-k gate dielectric layer is formed on at least the topside semiconductor surface and on at least a portion of the bevel semiconductor surface and backside semiconductor surface. The high-k dielectric material on the bevel semiconductor surface and the backside semiconductor surface are selectively removed while protecting the high-k dielectric layer on the topside semiconductor surface. The selective removing includes a first oxidizing treatment, and a fluoride including wet etch follows the first oxidizing treatment. The fabrication of the IC is completed including forming at least one metal gate layer on the high-k gate dielectric layer after the selectively removing step.
US07968437B2 Semiconductor device manufacturing method and substrate processing apparatus
Productivity and product yield, as well as the step coverage and the adhesion are improved. A film forming process includes an initial film forming step, and a main film forming step. In the initial film forming step, a step of supplying a material gas into a processing chamber to adsorb the material gas on the substrate, and a step of supplying a first reaction gas not containing oxygen atoms into the processing chamber to cause a reaction with the material gas adsorbed on the substrate in order to from a thin film on the substrate, are repeated multiple cycles to form the thin film with the specified thickness on the substrate. In the main film forming step, a step of supplying a material gas into the processing chamber to adsorb the material gas on the substrate, and a step of supplying a second reaction gas containing oxygen atoms into the processing chamber to cause a reaction with the material gas adsorbed on the substrate in order to form a thin film on the substrate, are repeated multiple cycles, to form the thin film with a specified thickness on the thin film that was formed on the substrate in the initial film forming step.
US07968436B1 Low-K SiC copper diffusion barrier films
Copper diffusion barrier films having low dielectric constants are suitable for a variety of copper/inter-metal dielectric integration schemes. Copper diffusion barrier films in accordance with the invention are composed of one or more layers of silicon carbide, at least one of the silicon carbide layers having a composition of at least 40% carbon (C), for example, between about 45 and 60% carbon (C). The films' high carbon-content layer will have a composition wherein the ratio of C to Si is greater than 2:1; or >3:1; or >4:1; or >5.1. The high carbon-content copper diffusion barrier films have a reduced effective k relative to conventional barrier materials.
US07968435B1 Method and device for growing pseudomorphic AlInAsSb on InAs
A semiconductor device and method are being disclosed. The semiconductor device discloses an InAs layer, a plurality of group III-V ternary layers supported by the InAs layer, and a plurality of group III-V quarternary layers supported by the InAs layer, wherein the group III-V ternary layers are separated from each other by a single group III-V quarternary layer. The method discloses providing an InAs layer, growing a plurality of group III-V ternary layers, and growing a plurality of group III-V quarternary layers, wherein the group III-V ternary layers are separated from each other by a single group III-V quarternary layer and are supported by the InAs layer.
US07968431B2 Diffusion region routing for narrow scribe-line devices
The present disclosure provides a method of making an integrated circuit (IC) device. The method includes forming a first IC feature and a second IC feature in a semiconductor substrate, the first and second IC features being spaced from each other and separated by a scribe region; forming, in the semiconductor substrate, a doped routing feature at least partially within the scribe region and configured to connect the first and second IC features; forming a multilayer interconnect (MLI) structure and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the MLI is configured to be absent within the scribe region; and etching the ILD and the semiconductor substrate within the scribe region to form a scribe-line trench.
US07968428B2 Fabrication method of semiconductor circuit device
When a semiconductor wafer is formed to be thin, steps need to be taken to prevent warping of the wafer. For this purpose, a protective tape is affixed to a surface of the semiconductor wafer, and a back side of the semiconductor wafer is then ground to a predetermined thickness. A die bonding film is affixed to the back side of the semiconductor wafer, and a dicing tape is affixed on the die bonding film. The dicing tape that is affixed to the semiconductor wafer is held by a holding jig. The protective tape is peeled off from the wafer surface and the die bonding film is heated to improve the adherence between the semiconductor wafer and the die bonding film. The semiconductor wafer is subjected to dicing for separation into individual semiconductor chips. The semiconductor chips are then die-bonded in a predetermined number onto a wiring substrate to fabricate a semiconductor device.
US07968427B2 Manufacturing method of semiconductor device
The present invention provides a semiconductor device which is not easily damaged by external local pressure. The present invention further provides a method for manufacturing a highly-reliable semiconductor device, which is not destructed by external local pressure, with a high yield. A structure body, in which high-strength fiber of an organic compound or an inorganic compound is impregnated with an organic resin, is provided over an element layer having a semiconductor element formed using a non-single crystal semiconductor layer, and heating and pressure bonding are performed, whereby a semiconductor device is manufactured, to which the element layer and the structure body in which the high-strength fiber of an organic compound or an inorganic compound is impregnated with the organic resin are firmly fixed together.
US07968426B1 Systems and methods for bonding semiconductor substrates to metal substrates using microwave energy
Systems and methods are disclosed for bonding of substrates using microwave energy. In some embodiments, semiconductor substrates can be bonded through a thin interlayer metal to a metal substrate by using microwave energy. High intensity microwave energy is applied to the substrate assembly positioned within a microwave cavity. A process of selective heating can occur in the thin interlayer metal, resulting in melting of the thin interlayer metal to facilitate bonding of the two substrates. Some of the advantages associated with such bonding process are disclosed.
US07968425B2 Isolation regions
Methods and apparatus are provided. An isolation region is formed by lining a trench formed in a substrate with a first dielectric layer by forming the first dielectric layer adjoining exposed substrate surfaces within the trench using a high-density plasma process, forming a layer of spin-on dielectric material on the first dielectric layer so as to fill a remaining portion of the trench, and densifying the layer of spin-on dielectric material.
US07968424B2 Method of implantation
Provided is a method of implanting dopant ions to an integrated circuit. The method includes forming a first pixel and a second pixel in a substrate, forming an etch stop layer over the substrate, forming a hard mask layer over the etch stop layer, patterning the hard mask layer to include an opening between the first pixel and the second pixel, and implanting a plurality of dopants through the opening to form an isolation feature.
US07968423B2 Method for forming isolation layer and method for fabricating nonvolatile memory device using the same
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a hard mask pattern over a substrate, forming a protection layer by transforming a portion of a sidewall of the hard mask pattern, forming a trench by etching the substrate using the hard mask pattern and the protection layer as an etch barrier, forming an isolation layer by filling the trench with an insulation material, removing the hard mask pattern, and performing a cleaning process. By forming the protection layer, it is possible to prevent the isolation layer from being lost during the removing of the hard mask pattern and the cleaning process and thus prevent generation of a moat.
US07968416B2 Integrated circuit arrangement with NPN and PNP bipolar transistors and corresponding production method
An integrated circuit arrangement and fabrication method is provided. The integrated circuit arrangement contains an NPN transistor and a PNP transistor. The PNP transistor contains an emitter connection region and a cutout. The cutout delimits the width of the emitter connection region. The electrically conductive material of the connection region laterally overlaps the cutout.
US07968409B2 Mixed-signal semiconductor platform incorporating fully-depleted castellated-gate MOSFET device and method of manufacture thereof
A Mixed-Signal Semiconductor Platform Incorporating Castellated-Gate MOSFET device(s) capable of Fully-Depleted operation is disclosed along with a method of making the same. The composite device/technology platform has robust I/O applications and includes a starting semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type. One or more isolated regions of at least a first conductivity type is separated by trench isolation insulator islands. Within an isolated region designated for castellated-gate MOSFETs there exists a semiconductor body consisting of an upper portion with an upper surface, and a lower portion with a lower surface. Also within the castellated-gate MOSFET region, there exists a source region, a drain region, and a channel-forming region disposed between the source and drain regions, and are all formed within the semiconductor substrate body. The channel-forming region within the isolated castellated-gate MOSFET region is made up of a plurality of thin, spaced, vertically-orientated conductive channel elements that span longitudinally along the device between the source and drain regions. One or more of the trench isolated regions may contain at least one type or polarity of logic and/or memory computing device. Alternately or additionally, one or more type of Logic and/or memory device may be incorporated within vertically displaced regions above the active body region of the semiconductor wafer, embedded within Interlevel Dielectric Layers.
US07968408B2 MIM capacitor and method of fabricating the same
A M-I-M capacitor semiconductor device capable of enhancing the reliability and capacitance of a capacitor and maximizing the integration density of the device, and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a capacitor lower metal layer formed over the semiconductor substrate, a SiN capacitor dielectric layer having a thickness of approximately 30 nm or less formed over the capacitor lower metal layer, and a capacitor upper metal layer formed over a portion of the capacitor dielectric layer and overlapping with the capacitor lower metal layer.
US07968407B2 Methods of manufacturing semiconductor memory devices
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor memory device, the method including forming a tunnel insulation layer on a substrate, forming a preliminary charge trapping layer on the tunnel insulation layer, forming an etch stop layer on the preliminary charge trapping layer, wherein a portion of the preliminary charge trapping layer is not covered by the etch stop layer, removing the exposed portion of the preliminary charge trapping layer to form a charge trapping layer having a uniform thickness, forming a dielectric layer on the charge trapping layer, and forming a gate electrode on the dielectric layer.
US07968406B2 Memory cells, methods of forming dielectric materials, and methods of forming memory cells
Some embodiments include memory cells. The memory cells may include a tunnel dielectric material, a charge-retaining region over the tunnel dielectric material, crystalline ultra-high k dielectric material over the charge-retaining region, and a control gate material over the crystalline ultra-high k dielectric material. Additionally, the memory cells may include an amorphous region between the charge-retaining region and the crystalline ultra-high k dielectric material, and/or may include an amorphous region between the crystalline ultra-high k dielectric material and the control gate material. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory cells which contain an amorphous region between a charge-retaining region and a crystalline ultra-high k dielectric material, and/or which contain an amorphous region between a crystalline ultra-high k dielectric material and a control gate material.
US07968405B2 Nonvolatile memory devices and methods of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a nonvolatile memory device is provided. The method includes forming an isolation layer in a semiconductor substrate defining an active region and forming a molding pattern on the isolation layer. A first conductive layer is formed on a sidewall and a top surface of the molding pattern and on the semiconductor substrate. The first conductive layer on the top surface of the molding pattern is selectively removed forming a conductive pattern. The conductive pattern includes a body plate disposed on the active region and a protrusion which extends from an edge of the body plate onto the sidewall of the molding pattern. The molding pattern is then removed. An inter-gate dielectric layer is formed on the isolation layer and the conductive pattern. Nonvolatile memory devices manufactured using the method are also provided.
US07968404B2 Semiconductor device and fabrication method therefor
A semiconductor device is provided which includes a semiconductor substrate (10), an ONO film (16) provided on the semiconductor substrate (10), and a bit line (14) formed in the semiconductor substrate (10) and connected to a contact (34) provided on the bit line (14), the semiconductor substrate (10) having trench isolation regions (50) provided at both sides of the bit line (14), the contact (34) being interposed between the trench isolation regions (50). Accordingly, even if the bit line (14) and the contact (34) is overlapped in a misaligned manner in a direction vertical to the bit line (14), the leakage current does not flow between the bit line (14) and the semiconductor substrate (10) via the contact (34), because the contact (34) is formed on the trench isolation region (50). This makes it possible to make the overlapping margin of the bit line (14) and the contact (34) large, thereby providing a semiconductor device in which the memory cell can be downsized.
US07968403B2 Method of fabricating a sleeve insulator for a contact structure
A method and structure are disclosed that are advantageous for aligning a contact plug within a bit line contact corridor (BLCC) to an active area of a DRAM that utilizes an insulated sleeve structure. A sleeve insulator layer is deposited in an opening to protect one or more conductor layers from conductive contacts formed in the opening. The sleeve insulator layer electrically insulates a conductive plug from the conductor layer and self-aligns the BLCC so as to improve contact plug alignment tolerances between the BLCC and the capacitor or conductive components.
US07968401B2 Reducing photoresist layer degradation in plasma immersion ion implantation
A method of plasma immersion ion implantation of a workpiece having a photoresist mask on its top surface prevents photoresist failure from carbonization of the photoresist. The method includes performing successive ion implantation sub-steps, each of the ion implantation sub-steps having a time duration over which only a fractional top portion of the photoresist layer is damaged by ion implantation. After each one of the successive ion implantation sub-steps, the fractional top portion of the photoresist is removed while leaving the remaining portion of the photoresist layer in place by performing an ashing sub-step. The number of the successive ion implantation sub-steps is sufficient to reach a predetermined ion implantation dose in the workpiece.
US07968398B2 Method for producing a floating gate with an alternation of lines of first and second materials
A diblock copolymer layer comprising at least two polymers and having a lamellar structure perpendicularly to a substrate is deposited on a first gate insulator formed on the substrate. One of the polymers of the diblock copolymer layer is then eliminated to form parallel grooves in the copolymer layer. The grooves are filled by a first metallic or semi-conductor material and the rest of the copolymer layer is eliminated. A second dielectric material is deposited to form a second gate insulator. The second gate insulator of the floating gate then comprises an alternation of parallel first and second lines respectively of the first and second materials, the second material encapsulating the lines of the first material.
US07968393B2 Semiconductor device, design method and structure
A semiconductor device can include at least a first diffusion region formed by doping a semiconductor substrate and at least a second diffusion region formed by doping the semiconductor substrate that is separated from the first diffusion region by an isolation region. At least a first conductive line can comprise a semiconductor material formed over and in contact with the first diffusion region and the second diffusion region. A portion of the first conductive line in contact with the first diffusion region is doped to an opposite conductivity type as the first diffusion region. At least a second conductive line comprising a semiconductor material is formed in parallel with the first conductive line and over and in contact with the first diffusion region and the second diffusion region. A portion of the second conductive line can be in contact with the first diffusion region and doped to a same conductivity type as the first diffusion region. A portion of the second conductive line in contact with the second diffusion region can be doped to a same conductivity type as the second diffusion region.
US07968389B2 Fabrication methods of thin film transistor substrates
Methods for manufacturing thin film transistor arrays utilizing three steps of lithography and one step of laser ablation while the lithography procedure is used four to five times in conventional processes are disclosed. The use of the disclosed methods assists in improving throughput and saving of manufacturing cost.
US07968388B2 Thin-film device, method for manufacturing thin-film device, and display
A method for manufacturing a thin-film device includes forming a separation layer on a substrate, forming a base insulating layer on the separation layer, forming a thin-film device layer on the base insulating layer, bonding a transfer layer including the base insulating layer and the thin-film device layer to a transfer body with an adhesive, causing intralayer delamination or interfacial delamination in the separation layer, and removing the transfer layer from the substrate. The thin-film device layer includes a first wiring sublayer which is located at the bottom of the thin-film device layer and which is in contact with the base insulating layer, a dielectric sublayer which is in contact with a surface of the first wiring sublayer, a semiconductor sublayer electrically insulated from the first wiring sublayer with the dielectric sublayer, and a second wiring sublayer formed subsequently to the semiconductor sublayer. The first wiring sublayer includes electrodes located at the bottom of the thin-film device layer.
US07968382B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
An object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing semiconductor devices that are flexible in which elements fabricated using a comparatively low-temperature (less than 500° C.) process are separated from a substrate. After a molybdenum film is formed over a glass substrate, a molybdenum oxide film is formed over the molybdenum film, a nonmetal inorganic film and an organic compound film are stacked over the molybdenum oxide film, and elements fabricated by a comparatively low-temperature (less than 500° C.) process are formed using existing manufacturing equipment for large glass substrates, the elements are separated from the glass substrate.
US07968380B2 Semiconductor encapsulation material and method for encapsulating semiconductor using the same
A semiconductor encapsulation material of the present invention contains a glass for metal coating which has a strain point of 480° C. or higher, a temperature corresponding to a viscosity of 104 dPa·s of 1,100° C. or lower, and a thermal expansion coefficient at 30 to 380° C. of 70×10−7 to 110×10−7/° C. The semiconductor encapsulation material of the present invention contains no environmentally harmful substances, has a heat resistance temperature as high as 500° C. or above, and can be used for the encapsulation of metals susceptible to oxidation, e.g., Dumet.
US07968376B2 Packaged microelectronic devices and methods for manufacturing packaged microelectronic devices
Packaged microelectronic devices and methods for manufacturing packaged microelectronic devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a packaged microelectronic device can include a support member and at least one die in a stacked configuration attached to the support member. The support member may include a leadframe disposed longitudinally between first and second ends and latitudinally between first and second sides. The leadframe includes a lead extending between the first end and the first side.
US07968373B2 Integrated circuit package on package system
An integrated circuit package on package system including: forming a first substrate assembly; forming a second substrate, having an auxiliary access port, supported by the first substrate assembly; exposing an integrated circuit die through the auxiliary access port; and coupling an external integrated circuit on the second substrate.
US07968372B2 Method of joining chips utilizing copper pillar
A copper pillar may be provided on a chip and a first tin-containing layer may be provided over the copper pillar. A second tin-containing layer may be provided on a substrate. The first tin-containing layer may be joined with the second tin-containing layer during a packaging process.
US07968371B2 Semiconductor package system with cavity substrate
A semiconductor package system is provided including providing a cavity substrate having a cavity provided therein, attaching a metal die pad to the cavity substrate, attaching a semiconductor die in the cavity to the metal die pad, and attaching solder connectors to the cavity substrate for connection on the system board with the metal die pad on the system board.
US07968369B2 Microelectronic devices and microelectronic support devices, and associated assemblies and methods
Microelectronic devices, associated assemblies, and associated methods are disclosed herein. For example, certain aspects of the invention are directed toward a microelectronic device that includes a microfeature workpiece having a side and an aperture in the side. The device can further include a workpiece contact having a surface. At least a portion of the surface of the workpiece contact can be accessible through the aperture and through a passageway extending between the aperture and the surface. Other aspects of the invention are directed toward a microelectronic support device that includes a support member having a side carrying a support contact that can be connectable to a workpiece contact of a microfeature workpiece. The device can further include recessed support contact means carried by the support member. The recessed support contact means can be connectable to a second workpiece contact of the microfeature workpiece.
US07968367B2 Fabricating method of thin film transistor array substrate
A fabricating method of a TFT array substrate includes following steps: providing a substrate having a pixel region and a bonding pad region surrounding the pixel region; forming a patterned polysilicon layer within the pixel region on the substrate; forming a first patterned insulating layer to cover the patterned polysilicon layer; forming a first patterned transparent conductive layer on the first patterned insulating layer; forming a first metal layer on the first patterned transparent conductive layer; forming a second patterned insulating layer to cover the first metal layer; forming a second patterned transparent conductive layer on the second patterned insulating layer; forming a second metal layer on the second patterned transparent conductive layer; forming a third patterned insulating layer to cover the second metal layer; and forming a third patterned transparent conductive layer on the third patterned insulating layer.
US07968366B2 Image sensor and method for manufacturing the same
An image sensor and method of manufacturing the same are provided. According to an embodiment, the image sensor comprises: a circuit including an interconnection on a substrate; a lower electrode on the interconnection; a separated intrinsic layer on the lower electrode; a second conductive type conduction layer on the separated intrinsic layer; and an upper electrode on the second conductive type conduction layer. The separated intrinsic layer can have an inwardly sloping sidewall to focus light incident the photodiode for the unit pixel.
US07968359B2 Thin-walled structures
Various embodiments provide thin-walled structures and methodologies for their formation. In one embodiment, the thin-walled structure can be formed by disposing a semiconductor material in a patterned aperture using a selective growth mask that includes a plurality of patterned apertures, followed by a continuous growth of the semiconductor material using a pulsed growth mode. The patterned aperture can include at least one lateral dimension that is small enough to allow a threading defect termination at sidewall(s) of the formed thin-walled structure. In addition, high-quality III-N substrate structures and core-shell MQW active structures can be formed from the thin-walled structures for use in devices like light emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, or high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs).
US07968358B2 Digital radiographic flat-panel imaging array with dual height semiconductor and method of making same
A method of manufacturing an imaging array includes providing a silicon tile having a first surface and a second, opposite surface. A buried dielectric layer is formed in the silicon tile between the first and second surfaces to define a bottom silicon layer between the first surface and the dielectric layer. A separation boundary is formed in the silicon tile between the second surface and the dielectric layer to define a top silicon layer between the dielectric layer and the separation boundary and a removable silicon layer between the separation boundary and the second surface. An oxide layer is formed on the first surface of the silicon tile and the silicon tile is bonded to a glass substrate at the oxide layer. The silicon tile is separated at the separation boundary to remove the removable silicon layer, exposing the top silicon layer. Semiconductive elements are formed using the exposed top silicon layer.
US07968357B2 Manufacturing method of liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device having a large holding capacitance in the inside of a pixel. A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate arranged to face the first substrate in an opposed manner, and liquid crystal sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate includes a video signal line, a pixel electrode, a thin film transistor having a first electrode thereof connected to the video signal line and a second electrode thereof connected to the pixel electrode, a first silicon nitride film formed above the second electrode, an organic insulation film formed above the first silicon nitride film, a capacitance electrode formed above the organic insulation film, and a second silicon nitride film formed above the capacitance electrode and below the pixel electrode. The second silicon nitride film is a film which is formed at a temperature lower than a forming temperature of the first silicon nitride film. The first silicon nitride film and the second silicon nitride film form a contact hole therein by etching both of the first silicon nitride film and the second silicon nitride film collectively by dry etching. The second electrode and the pixel electrode are connected to each other via the contact hole. A potential different from a potential applied to the pixel electrode is applied to the capacitance electrode, and a holding capacitance is formed by the pixel electrode, the second silicon nitride film and the capacitance electrode.
US07968355B2 Luminous devices, packages and systems containing the same, and fabricating methods thereof
The present invention is directed to a vertical-type luminous device and high through-put methods of manufacturing the luminous device. These luminous devices can be utilized in a variety of luminous packages, which can be placed in luminous systems. The luminous devices are designed to maximize light emitting efficiency and/or thermal dissipation. Other improvements include an embedded zener diode to protect against harmful reverse bias voltages.
US07968352B2 Superconductivity based on bose-einstein condensation of electron or electron-hole pairs in semiconductors
The invention describes a method of achieving superconductivity in Group IV semiconductors via the addition of doubly charged impurity atoms to the crystal lattice. The doubly charged impurities function as composite bosons in the semiconductor. Increasing the density of the composite bosons to a level where their wavefunctions overlap, results in the formation of a Bose condensate. The concentration of the doubly charged impurity atoms in the host lattice and the binding energy of the impurities are important factors in determining whether a Bose condensate will form. Doubly charged impurities must be present in the semiconductor at a concentration at which they exhibit overlapping wavefunctions, but still exist within the crystal lattice as bosons.
US07968348B2 Environmental sampling and testing method
Provided is sampling and testing device for the detection of specific molds, allergens, viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other protein containing substances. Embodiments of the device include a sampling member slideably engaged with a base that contains a lateral flow strip adapted to detect specific analytes of interest. The sampling member defines a solvent reservoir that stores an elution solvent in a fluid-tight manner before the device is used to sample and test environmental surfaces. During slideable withdrawal of the sampling member from the base, the elution solvent stored in the reservoir is automatically released to a wick assembly of the sampling member. The wick assembly includes a wick adapted to receive, distribute, and retain the elution solvent. After a user samples an environmental surface for an analyte of interest with the elution solvent wetted wick, the sampling member is returned to the base where the wick contacts the lateral flow strip contained in the base. The wick transfers at least a portion of analyte and the elution solvent to the lateral flow strip for the colorimetric detection of specific allergens, viruses, bacteria, and other protein containing substances in the sample. The colorimetric results of the test are displayed through a window in the base.
US07968338B1 Method for cellular tissue multiplication from Jatropha curcas
The method of the present invention comprises: Obtaining an explant from the seeds of Jatropha curcas; Putting the explant derived from the seed of Jatropha curcas in a culture medium; Breaking the intercellular unions of the explants tissue, which generates individuals cells; Incubating for a determined time the culture medium with the generated individual cells, that were multiplied; and, Extracting oil from the cells that multiplied from the individual cells generated from the explants derived from the Jatropha curcas seed.
US07968332B2 Lentiviral vectors for the preparation of immunotherapeutical compositions
The invention relates to an immunogenic composition comprising a recombinant vector characterized in that it comprises a polynucleotide comprising the cis-acting central initiation region (cPPT) and the cis-acting termination region (CTS), these regions being of retroviral or retroviral-like origin, said vector comprising in addition a defined nucleotide sequence (transgene or sequence of interest) and regulatory signals of retrotranscription, expression and encapsidation of retroviral or retroviral-like origin, wherein the composition is capable of inducing or of stimulating a cell-mediated response for instance a CTL (Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes) response or a CD4 response, against one or several epitopes encoded by the transgene sequence present in the vector.
US07968331B2 Cell co-culture apparatus for researching cell interaction and method thereof
A cell co-culture apparatus and a method of co-culturing and isolating cells using the cell co-culture apparatus to research interactions between cells by direct contact between the cells are provided. The cell co-culture apparatus includes a first substrate including a substrate portion and a plurality of projections provided on a surface of the substrate portion, each of the projections having a top surface for culturing cells, a second substrate including a same number of first channels as a number of the projections such that the channels fit with the projections and substrate surfaces formed between the first channels, and a third substrate including a plurality of second channels corresponding with the top surfaces and a plurality of third channels corresponding with the substrate surfaces.
US07968328B2 Method for producing optically active aminoalkylphenols
The invention relates to a method for the enantioselective N-acylation of aminoalkylphenols, and to a method for producing enantiomer-pure compounds of formulae (I-S) and/or (I-R).
US07968323B2 Bacterial ghost (BG) production process using betapropiolactone (BPL) for final inactivation
The invention relates to bacterial ghost preparation using betapropiolactone for final inactivation of bacteria.
US07968322B2 Hydrogen fermentor and method of producing hydrogen
The hydrogen fermentation apparatus is the one that generates hydrogen by decomposing organic matter through hydrogen fermentation. There are arranged a hydrogen fermentor which holds the treating liquid containing organic matter, and a string-shape carrier which is positioned to immerse itself in the treating liquid in the hydrogen fermentor, and on which hydrogen-generating bacteria are fixed.
US07968321B1 Ethanol production by microorganisms
The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions for engineering photoautotrophic organisms to convert carbon dioxide and light into fatty acid esters and other molecules, including biofuels. The molecules are then secreted by the organism into a growth medium.
US07968313B2 Selection of cells expressing heteromeric polypeptides
This invention is in the general field of recombinant expression of polypeptides in animal cell culture. More particularly, the invention concerns improved selection in cells of recombinantly engineered vectors designed to express polypeptides.
US07968312B2 Production of polypeptides by improved secretion
The present invention relates to polypeptides that have an activity corresponding to at least one activity of the SEC61 polypeptide, polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides and the use thereof in the preparation of host cells suitable for production of a polypeptide of interest. Such host cells may have an increased capacity to secrete a polypeptide of interest.
US07968308B2 Isolating human antibodies
The invention is drawn to a method of isolating human antibodies.
US07968300B2 Method of isolating regulatory T cells from human samples
The present invention provides a CTLA-4 non-blocking agent of a complete human antibody nature, thus is non-immunogenic in a human. The immunoassay method using such a non-blocking agent measures the CTLA-4 content in a sample of a human subject. The present invention further provides a novel method for isolating human regulatory T cells. The resultant enriched and depleted cellular populations are useful in treating or ameliorating of human diseases.
US07968296B2 CACNB2 nucleic acid mutations as indicators of shorter than normal QT interval and ST segment elevation associated with sudden cardiac death
Previously unknown mutations of the CACNA1C and CACNB2b genes are disclosed which are involved in ion channel disruptions associated with shorter than normal QT interval and ST segment elevation syndrome. These mutations are utilized to diagnose and screen for shorter than normal QT interval and ST segment elevation syndrome, thus providing modalities for diagnosing syncope and/or sudden cardiac death and/or predicting susceptibility to syncope and/or sudden cardiac death. Nucleic acid probes are provided which selectively hybridize to the mutant nucleic acids described herein. Antibodies are provided which selectively bind to the mutant polypeptides described herein. The mutations described herein are also utilized to screen for compounds useful in treating the symptoms manifest by such mutations.
US07968288B1 Device and method for high-throughput quantification of mRNA from whole blood
Disclosed are a method, device kit, and automated system for simple, reproducible, and high-throughput quantification of mRNA from whole blood. More particularly, the method, device, kit and automated system involve combinations of leukocyte filters attached to oligo(dT)-immobilized multi-well plates.
US07968287B2 In vitro evolution in microfluidic systems
The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; and (b) sorting the genetic elements which express the gene product having the desired activity; wherein at least one step is under microfluidic control. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.
US07968284B2 Modified polypeptides stabilized in a desired conformation and methods for producing same
The present invention provides a method for stabilizing a protein in a desired conformation by introducing at least one disulfide bond into the polypeptide. Computational design is used to identify positions where cysteine residues can be introduced to form a disulfide bond in only one protein conformation, and therefore lock the protein in a given conformation. Accordingly, antibody and small molecule therapeutics are selected that are specific for the desired protein conformation. The invention also provides modified integrin I-domain polypeptides that are stabilized in a desired conformation. The invention further provides screening assays and therapeutic methods utilizing the modified integrin I-domains of the invention.
US07968279B2 Reference control for cell by cell analysis
A reference control for cell by cell analysis on flow cytometric analyzers contains cellular analogs made of permeated blood cells containing therein aggregated intracellular proteins and preserved antigenic sites thereof, having cellular membrane permeable to antibodies and a suspension medium. The reference control is frozen after being prepared and thawed prior to use. The cellular analogs further contain a fluorescence marker therein. Further disclosed are a method of making the reference control and a method using the reference control, as an internal or stand-alone control, for measurements of cellular hemoglobin and cellular hemoglobin variant of a blood sample.
US07968275B2 Method of forming a pattern using a photoresist composition for immersion lithography
A photoresist composition for immersion lithography and a method of forming a photoresist pattern using the photoresist composition are disclosed. The photoresist composition includes a photosensitive polymer including a cycloaliphatic group blocked with at least two cyclic acetal groups as a side chain, a photoacid generator and an organic solvent. The hydrophobic photoresist composition may be changed into the hydrophilic photoresist composition by an exposure process. Thus, before the exposure process, the photoresist composition may be insoluble in a liquid for the immersion lithography. After the exposure process, an exposure portion of a photoresist film formed using the photoresist composition may be effectively dissolved in a developing solution to form a uniform photoresist pattern.
US07968271B2 Photosensitive recording material, planographic printing plate precursor, and stacks of the same
The present invention provides a photosensitive recording material having a support, and a photosensitive layer and a protective layer formed in this order on or above the support. The photosensitive layer contains a polymerization initiator, a sensitizing agent, and a polymerizable compound. Further, the protective layer contains a water-insoluble and alkali-soluble dye that has an absorption wavelength region different from the absorption wavelength region of the sensitizing agent, and the dye is dispersed in a solid state in the protective layer. The present invention also provides a planographic printing plate precursor including the photosensitive recording material, a stack of the photosensitive recording materials, and a stack of the planographic printing plate precursors.
US07968269B2 Positive resist composition for immersion exposure and method of forming resist pattern
A positive resist composition for immersion exposure including a resin component (A) which has acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting groups and exhibits increased alkali solubility under action of acid and an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, the resin component (A) including a cyclic principal chain polymer (A1) and a non-cyclic principal chain polymer (A2) having a structural unit (a) derived from acrylic acid as a principal chain, and the non-cyclic principal chain polymer (A2) having a structural unit (a1) derived from an acrylate ester having an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group (p1) represented by general formula (p1) shown below: wherein R1′ and R2′ each independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms; n represents an integer of 0 to 3; and Y represents an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or an aliphatic cyclic group of 5 to 16 carbon atoms.
US07968265B2 Toner, developer, toner container, process cartridge, image forming method, and image forming apparatus
A toner is provided that includes a release agent, a colorant, a binder resin including a polyester resin, and a fixing auxiliary component including an ester compound of a fatty acid with an alcohol. The fatty acid includes stearic acid and behenic acid in a total amount of 80% by weight or more. The alcohol includes ethylene glycol in an amount of 80% by weight or more. The ester compound has a hydroxyl value of 10 to 100 mgKOH/g.
US07968264B2 Electrophotographic photoreceptor, process cartridge and image-forming apparatus
An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a conductive substrate; and a photosensitive layer that includes a phthalocyanine pigment, a charge-transporting substance and at least one kind of lignophenol derivative.
US07968259B2 Semiconductor device, method for manufacturing semiconductor device, and computer readable medium
In a multi-project-chip semiconductor device, semiconductor elements fabricated on a wafer have a layout that corresponds to an exposure order of a pattern of the semiconductor elements and that is based on information indicating manufacture conditions and the number of shots and are arranged such that the semiconductor elements having the same manufacture condition are adjacent to each other in ascending or descending order of the number of shots.
US07968256B2 Near field exposure mask, method of forming resist pattern using the mask, and method of producing device
Provided are a near field exposure mask which can suppress heat generation of a mask during exposure and can also suppress variation in size of a resist pattern for each shot, and a resist pattern forming method using the same. The near field exposure mask includes a transparent mask matrix l0; a light shielding layer l2 formed above the transparent mask matrix l0 and containing silicon; a reflective layer l1 formed between the transparent mask matrix l0 and the light shielding layer l2; and an opening pattern provided in the reflective layer l1 and the light shielding layer l2 and being less in size than an exposure wavelength λ (nm), wherein the reflectance at an interface between the transparent mask matrix l0 and the reflective layer l1 is higher than a reflectance at an interface between a transparent mask matrix and a light shielding layer formed on the transparent mask matrix and containing silicon of a near field exposure mask which has no reflective layer between the transparent mask matrix and the light shielding layer.
US07968255B2 Photomask
A photomask which improves the imaging performance that the photomask has and forming a good micro image on a wafer in photolithography with a half pitch of 60 nm or less. Provided is a photomask used for photolithography using an ArF excimer laser as an exposing source for immersion exposure by quadrupole-polarized illumination with a high-NA lens. The photomask includes a mask pattern of a light shielding film or semi-transparent film on a transparent substrate, and further, given that a thickness of the light shielding film or semi-transparent film is “t” nm, a refractive index is “n”, an extinction factor is “k”, and a bias of a space part of the mask pattern is “d” nm, when “t”, “d”, “n” and “k” are adjusted and the photomask is used for the photolithography, optical image contrast takes a value exceeding 0.580.
US07968253B2 Nano imprint master and method of manufacturing the same
A nano imprint master and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The method includes: implanting conductive metal ions into a substrate including quartz to form a conductive layer inside the quartz substrate; coating a resist on the quartz substrate in which the conductive layer is formed, to form a resist coating layer; exposing the resist coating layer to an electron beam to form micropatterns; etching the quartz substrate by using the resist coating layer, in which the micropatterns are formed, as a mask; and removing the resist coating layer to obtain a master in which micropatterns are formed.
US07968250B2 Fuel cartridge connectivity
The invention relates to a portable cartridge that stores a fuel for use with a fuel cell system. Cartridges described herein improve mechanical interface between a cartridge and a device that couples to the cartridge. The interface may include one or more of: a sliding interface between a cartridge and device, a latching interface that holds the cartridge in one or more positions relative to the device, and/or keyed access and security features that prevent unintended access to the fuel. Multiple valves may also be included to further control access to the fuel.
US07968247B2 High temperature fuel cell using alkyl phosphoric acid
Provided are a polymer electrolyte membrane and a fuel cell including the same. The polymer electrolyte membrane has a phosphoric acid that is substituted with an aliphatic hydrocarbon. The polymer electrolyte membrane has excellent ion conductivity, heat resistance, and liquid-holding properties. The fuel cell including the polymer electrolyte membrane exhibits excellent performance.
US07968243B2 Method of operating a fuel cell
A method of operating a fuel cell (1) in which a gaseous supply stream (5) comprising a reactive species is delivered to an electrode (2) where the reactive species is consumed in an electrochemical reaction to produce an exhaust stream (7, 8) which is depleted in reactive species, which method comprises: a) assessing the concentration of reactive species in the exhaust stream (7, 8); b) relating the concentration of reactive species in the exhaust stream (7, 9) to a maximum current that may be drawn from the fuel cell (1) without redox damage of the electrode; and c) adjusting the way in which the fuel cell (1) is operated in order to optimize efficiency without redox damage of the electrode (2).
US07968232B2 Cathode and lithium battery including the same
A cathode active material composition of a cathode of a lithium battery includes a conducting agent, a binder, and a cathode active material coated on one surface of a current collector, wherein the cathode active material composition is coated with a vanadium oxide.
US07968227B2 Can-type rechargeable battery having connection structure for protection circuit
A can-type rechargeable battery includes a connection portion for coupling a protection circuit to a can-type bare cell and a lead plate for coupling the connection portion to the can. At least one protrusion is disposed at a connection portion outside the can and a lead plate has a hole that is engaged with the protrusion.
US07968220B2 Non-aqueous electrolytic solution and lithium secondary battery
A non-aqueous electrolytic solution favorably employable for a lithium secondary battery employs a non-aqueous electrolytic solution which comprises a non-aqueous solvent and an electrolyte which further contains 0.001 to 0.8 weight % of a biphenyl derivative having the formula: in which each of Y1 and Y2 represents hydroxyl, alkoxy, hydrocarbyl, hydrogen, acyloxy, alkoxycarbonyloxy, alkylsulfonyloxy, or halogen, and each of p and q is an integer of 1 to 3.
US07968219B1 Magnetically soft, high saturation magnetization laminate of iron-cobalt-nitrogen and iron-nickel for perpendicular media underlayers
A magnetic disk includes a substrate, a soft magnetic underlayer disposed over the substrate, and a media layer disposed over the underlayer. The underlayer includes a first plurality of layers each containing NiFe having an atomic concentration of iron that is at least about thirty percent. The underlayer further includes a second plurality of layers that is interleaved with the first plurality of layers. The second plurality of layers each contain FeCoN having an atomic concentration of iron that is greater than an atomic concentration of cobalt, and having an atomic concentration of nitrogen that is less than the atomic concentration of cobalt. The atomic concentration of nitrogen is less than eight percent. The media layer contains a magnetically hard material having an easy axis of magnetization oriented substantially perpendicular to both the media layer and the underlayer.
US07968215B2 OLED device with cyclobutene electron injection materials
An OLED device including a cathode, an anode, and having therebetween a light-emitting layer and further comprising a first layer between the light-emitting layer and the cathode containing a cyclobutene compound comprising a cyclobutene nucleus substituted in the 1-position with a five- or six-membered heteroaromatic ring group containing at least one trivalent nitrogen atom; substituted in the 2-position with an aromatic ring group; and substituted with a first methylene group in the 3-position and a second methylene group in the 4-position, provided said first and second methylene groups are further disubstituted in the 1′,1′-positions and the 1″,1″-positions with independently selected aromatic groups.
US07968214B2 White organic light emitting device
Provided is a white organic light emitting device comprising an anode, a cathode, and an organic layer formed between the anode and the cathode, wherein the organic layer comprises one green emissive layer, one blue emissive layer, one red emissive layer, and one charge generating layer formed between any two of the foregoing green, blue and red emissive layers. The white organic light emitting device has a tandem structure providing the simplest structure for the three color light emissions of green, blue and red.
US07968213B2 Material for organic electroluminescence device and organic electroluminescence device utilizing the same
A material for organic electroluminescence devices of the invention which is for use in combination with at least one phosphorescent metal complex has a specific heterocyclic structure. The material for organic electroluminescence devices is used as a host material or a hole transporting material. An organic electroluminescence device having an anode, a cathode and an organic thin film layer having one or more layers which is interposed between the anode and cathode, in which at least one layer of the organic thin film layer contains the material for organic electroluminescence devices, has a high emitting efficiency, causes little pixel defects, is excellent in heat resistance, and shows a long lifetime.
US07968210B2 Aluminum type plated steel sheet and heat shrink band using the same
An exemplary embodiment of an aluminum type plated steel sheet which excels in discoloration resistance, and weldability, which does not decorate after re-heating and which can prevent increasing of strength, and a heat shrink band using the same are provided. For example, the heat shrink band can be made of an aluminum type plated steel sheet consisting of a steel sheet being composed of, e.g., not more than about 0.005 mass % of C; not more than about 0.005 mass % of N; not less than about 0.1 mass % and not more than about 0.5 mass % of Si; not more than about 0.1 mass % of P; not more than about 0.02 mass % of S; not less than about 1.05 mass % and not more than 2.0 mass % of Mn; not more than 1.0 mass % of sol Al; a residual amount of Fe and inevitable impurities, and an aluminum type plated layer mainly consisting of Al being deposited thereon. Such exemplary sheet can be prevented from a discoloration upon, e.g., being re-heated at a temperature of not less than about 500° C. to not more than about 700° C.
US07968208B2 Metal sheet having a microstructure relieved of notching, carrier body having a plurality of sheets, and exhaust system having the carrier body
A metal sheet having a microstructure, a carrier body having a plurality of sheets, and an exhaust system having the carrier body, are distinguished by a particularly long useful life in an automobile. Moreover, it is possible to bring about flow profiles coordinated exactly with the respective fields of use, so that a particularly efficient or extremely adaptable carrier body for purifying the exhaust gas of automobiles is provided.
US07968205B2 Corrosion resistant multilayer member
A corrosion resistant member to be exposed to a halogen-containing gas atmosphere or a halogen-containing gas plasma atmosphere, comprising a substrate and a plurality of layers deposited thereon including a layer of rare earth fluoride providing the outermost surface and a layer of rare earth oxide having a porosity of less than 5% underlying the rare earth fluoride layer.
US07968201B2 Light transmittance optimizing coated glass article for solar cell and method for making
A multi-layer thin film stack, particularly suitable as a component of a solar cell, is deposited on a transparent dielectric substrate. The multi-layer film stack comprises a transparent electrically conductive metal oxide layer deposited over the dielectric substrate, the conductive metal oxide layer having a refractive index less than 2.0, a light transmittance optimizing interlayer having a refractive index between 2.3 and 3.5, deposited over the electrically conductive metal oxide layer, and a silicon layer having a refractive index of at least 4.5 deposited over the light transmittance optimizing interlayer. The film stack can be deposited by any suitable method, but deposition of each of these layers by atmospheric chemical vapor deposition is preferred.
US07968200B2 Ceramic product and ceramic member bonding method
The ceramic product provided by the present invention is provided with at least two ceramic members bonded to each other, and the bond parts between these ceramic members bonded to each other are formed from glass having leucite crystals precipitated within the glass matrix.
US07968197B2 Polyurea coating comprising an amine/(meth)acrylate oligomeric reaction product
Coating compositions comprising a polyurea formed from a reaction mixture comprising isocyanate and an acrylated amine are disclosed. The (meth)acrylated amine is the reaction product of a polyamine and a (meth)acrylate; when the (meth)acrylate comprises a poly(meth)acrylate, the reaction product further comprises a mono(meth)acrylate and/or a monoamine. Methods for using the coatings, and substrates coated therewith, are also disclosed.
US07968192B2 Oxidation inhibition of carbon-carbon composites
A method of inhibiting oxidation of a porous carbon-carbon composite is disclosed and comprises the steps of: (a) contacting the carbon-carbon composite with an oxidation inhibiting composition comprising phosphoric acid or an acid phosphate salt, at least one aluminum salt, and at least one additional metal salt, the oxidation inhibiting composition penetrating at least some of the pores of the carbon-carbon composite; and (b) heating the carbon-carbon composite at a temperature sufficient to form a deposit from the oxidation inhibiting composition within at least some of the penetrated pores of the carbon-carbon composite. The foregoing oxidation inhibiting composition and carbon-carbon composites treated by the foregoing method are also disclosed.
US07968187B2 Surface coating
A composite is provided, comprising a substrate and a film on the substrate. The film has an RMS surface roughness of 25 nm to 500 nm, a film coverage of 25% to 60%, a surface energy of less than 70 dyne/cm; and a durability of 10 to 5000 microNewtons. Depending on the particular environment in which the film is to be used, a durability of 10 to 500 microNewtons may be preferred. A film thickness 3 to 100 times the RMS surface roughness of the film is preferred.
US07968183B2 Hard-coated film, method of manufacturing the same, optical device, and image display
A hard-coating layer is formed on at least one surface of a transparent plastic film substrate using a material for forming a hard-coating layer. The material contains Components A, B, and C. Component A is at least one of urethane acrylate and urethane methacrylate. Component B is at least one of polyol acrylate and polyol methacrylate. Component C is a polymer containing a repeating unit represented by General Formula 1 indicated below.
US07968182B2 Coated insert
The present invention relates to cutting tool insert for metal machining on which at least on the functioning parts of the surface thereof a thin, adherent, hard and wear resistant coating is applied. The coating comprises a metal oxide/oxide composite layer consisting of two components with a grain size of from about 1 to about 100 nm. The oxide layer is under a compressive stress.
US07968180B2 Extruded propylene-resin composite foam
The extruded propylene-based resin composite foam (1) according to the present invention is provided by extrusion-foaming a molding material containing a propylene-based resin. The propylene-based resin forming the extruded foam has an olefin-based polymer whose loss tangent (tan δ) is 0.04 to 100 at a temperature of 298 K and a frequency of 10 Hz. The molding material includes a fibrous filler in an amount of more than 0 mass % and 60 mass % or less of the entirety of the molding material. The extruded composite foam (1) includes: first extruded foam (2) whose closed cell content is 40 percent or more and whose expansion ratio is 10 or more; and second extruded foam (3) whose closed cell content is less than 40 percent and whose expansion ratio is 10 or more.
US07968178B1 Integrated concrete slab
An integrated concrete slab includes concrete with stretchable fibers mixed therein covering and partially integrated with a portion of concrete that contains either no fibers or relatively few fibers mixed therein.
US07968176B2 Air filter material
An air filter material includes a laminate of an air inlet layer and an air outlet layer, and has a mean flow pore size of 20 μm to 40 μm, a minimum pore size of 2.4 μm to 3.8 μm, and a maximum pore size of 80 μm or less. The air inlet layer is a needle punched nonwoven fabric layer having an areal fiber weight of 55 g/m2 to 100 g/m2. The air outlet layer is a laminated spunlace nonwoven fabric made by laminating at least two or more spunlace nonwoven fabric layers having an areal fiber weight of 20 g/m2 to 60 g/m2, a mean flow pore size of 50 μm to 90 μm, a minimum pore size of 3.0 μm to 10.0 μm, and a maximum pore size of 180 μm or less.
US07968170B2 Composite single pane window for an aircraft and method of making same
A single pane window for use in a jet aircraft. The single pane window includes a plurality of metal sheets. A fiber reinforced resin at least partially surrounds the plurality of metal sheets. The fiber reinforced resin is transparent. A cutout is formed within each of the plurality of metal sheets, with the cutout being filled by the transparent resin during the manufacturing process. The cutout forms an optically transparent window portion of the single pane window. The single pane window is lightweight and strong enough to form a load bearing portion of a fuselage of a commercial aircraft into which it is incorporated, and also does not require the bulky and heavy frame structure that has traditionally been required on window structures of jet aircraft. The single pane window also enables even larger windows to be incorporated on aircraft without increasing the weight or cost associated with such windows.
US07968168B2 Polymer film for surface coating fiber/plastics composite materials
The use of a substrate supported polymer film as a surface coating for fiber/plastics composite structures produced by the crushed core method from composite structures having a core and at least one prepreg layer, wherein the polymer film is applied to a prepreg surface with its resin side facing the surface before the composite structure is cured and optionally before it is placed in the mold, and curing is effected under applied pressure and at an elevated temperature. The substrate supported polymer film comprises a resin matrix which has a degree of crosslinking that is below its gel point, and which is produced from at least one difunctional or polyfunctional aromatic organic cyanate and at least one difunctional or polyfunctional aromatic alcohol in proportions giving a molar ratio of OCN groups to OH groups in the starting materials used for the production of the prepolymer of from 95:5 to 70:30, and which also contains at least one filler.
US07968167B2 Coated seal for sealing parts in a vehicle engine
A coated seal for sealing parts in a vehicle engine is disclosed herein. The seal includes a seal body portion including glass fiber-filled polytetrafluoroethylene, carbon-filled polytetrafluoroethylene, molybdenum disulfide-filled polytetrafluoroethylene, bronze-filled polytetrafluoroethylene or combinations thereof; and a coating portion including either expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, carbon-filled polytetrafluoroethylene, or combinations thereof. A method of using a coated seal in a vehicle engine is also disclosed herein. A system to achieve decreased friction, decreased noise, and improved wear in injector seals in a vehicle engine is also disclosed herein.
US07968165B2 Patterning technique
A textile motif comprises an arrangement of substantially square, substantially identical modules variously oriented with respect to one another in fixed positions within the motif. Each module includes at least two visually distinct hues. The motif may be repeated to form an overall textile pattern.
US07968164B2 Transparent polymer blends and articles prepared therefrom
Disclosed are polymer compositions having high transparency and low haze comprising immiscible blends of one or more thermoplastic polymers selected from polyesters, polycarbonates, and polyarylates, and a copolyamide or a transamidized, homogeneous blend of a least two polyamides. The components of the immiscible blend which have refractive indices which differ by about 0.006 to about −0.0006. The small difference in the refractive indices enable the incorporation of regrind into the polymer composition to produce transparent shaped articles. The blends of the present invention are useful in producing shaped articles such as, for example, sheeting, films, tubes, bottles, preforms and profiles. These articles may have one or more layers and can exhibit improved excellent barrier properties and good melt processability while retaining excellent mechanical properties. Metal catalysts can be incorporated into the compositions to produce oxygen-scavenging compositions.
US07968161B2 Cellulose hydrate sausage casing featuring minimum meat cling
A tubular sausage casing is disclosed that is based on cellulose and includes an interior impregnation containing at least one adhesive component and at least two separating components. The adhesive component and one of the separating components are bound to the cellulose of the casing while the second separating component is not bound. The inventive casing is used for mild or aged dry sausages, especially California-style salami.
US07968159B2 Vacuum insulation panel
A vacuum insulation panel (VIP) in an example comprises first and second walls and a plurality of tensile elements. The first and second walls are structurally coupled to allow formation of a vacuum cavity between the first and second walls. The plurality of tensile elements structurally supports the first and second walls against external pressure contemporaneous with tension on the plurality of tensile elements. The plurality of tensile elements is located in the vacuum cavity between the first and second walls.
US07968151B2 Process for the production of multi-layer coatings
A process for the production of special effect multi-layer coatings, comprising the successive steps: (1) applying a 10 to 30 μm thick base coat layer onto a substrate provided with an EDC primer, (2) applying a clear coat layer onto the base coat layer, (3) jointly curing the base coat and clear coat layers, wherein the base coat layer is applied in a first layer and in a second layer; the first layer comprises a modified water-borne base coat produced by mixing an unmodified water-borne base coat with an admixture component and the second layer comprises the unmodified water-borne base coat, wherein the unmodified water-borne base coat has a ratio by weight of pigment content to resin solids content of 0.05:1 to 0.6:1 and wherein the pigment content of the unmodified water-borne base coat comprises at least one metal flake pigment having a thickness of 10 to 100 nm corresponding to a proportion of 0.1 to 5 wt. %, relative to the resin solids content of the unmodified water-borne base coat and at least one additional special effect pigment and wherein the composition of the pigment content is such that the UV light transmission through the base coat layer formed of the first and second layers is less than 0.1% in the wavelength range of from 290 to 380 nm and less than 0.5% in the wavelength range of from 380 to 400 nm.
US07968148B2 Integrated circuit system with clean surfaces
An integrated circuit system includes providing an integrated circuit wafer; applying a first cleaning solution over the integrated circuit wafer; and applying a second cleaning solution over the integrated circuit wafer to prevent or remove a defect resulting from the first cleaning process.
US07968144B2 System for applying a continuous surface layer on porous substructures of turbine airfoils
A system for forming a surface coating on an outer surface of a foam for use with cooling system of turbine engines. The system may include removing filler from the outer surface of the foam to expose a porous structure of the foam, whereby portions of the porous structure extend outwardly from a newly formed outer surface of the filler. A surface layer may be applied to the outer surface of the filler and exposed portions of the porous structure, whereby the surface layer is attached to the porous structure at least in part due to mechanical interaction with the portions of the porous structure extending outwardly from the newly formed outer surface of the filler. The filler material may then be removed from the porous structure.
US07968142B2 Method and apparatus for coloring electric wire
A coloring apparatus for coloring an electric wire colors the wire spouts a liquid coloring agent, including a coloring material and a solvent, toward an outer surface of the wire with a specific amount thereof at a time. The coloring apparatus includes a coloring agent supply source for receiving the coloring agent, a coloring nozzle and a heater. The coloring nozzle spouts the coloring agent of the coloring agent supply source. The heater includes a heating bath and a hot air inlet. The heating bath receives the coloring nozzle. The heating bath allows the coloring nozzle to spout the coloring agent. The hot air inlet supplies hot air into the heating bath to heat the coloring agent supply source. The heater heats the coloring agent to a range lower than a boiling point of the solvent by the hot air inlet supplying the hot air into the heating bath.
US07968140B2 Chocolates and chocolate liquor having an enhanced polyphenol content
Cocoa components having enhanced levels of cocoa polyphenols, processes for producing the cocoa components while conserving a significant amount of the cocoa polyphenols, compositions containing the cocoa components or the cocoa polyphenols, and methods of using the cocoa components or the cocoa polyphenols for improving the health of a mammal are described. The cocoa components include partially and fully defatted cocoa solids, cocoa nibs and fractions derived therefrom, cocoa polyphenol extracts, cocoa butter, chocolate liquors, and mixtures thereof. The invention provides processes for extracting fat from cocoa beans and for otherwise processing cocoa beans to yield a cocoa component having conserved concentrations of polyphenols relative to the starting materials.
US07968137B2 Method for dehydro-roasting
A method for preparing roasted vegetables includes drying a vegetable to reduce the moisture level from 10% to 65% from the starting moisture level of the vegetable. The method for preparing roasted vegetables further includes roasting the vegetable for between about 0.25 seconds to about 15 seconds.
US07968135B2 Needleless injection device and method of injecting
A needleless injection device and method for injecting a food subject is disclosed in which one or more types of liquid food additive are individually and/or simultaneously delivered to a food subject within a sealed injection chamber or compartment. The needleless injection device and method of the present invention utilizes rapid, high pressure injection bursts to completely and uniformly inject the food subject, allowing different food subjects or different food additives to be sequentially injected in an efficient and instant manner. The needleless injection device and method for injecting minimizes contamination by totally enclosing the injection process within a sealed chamber, and by eliminating the need for the injection nozzles to contact, or be placed immediately adjacent to the food subject.
US07968133B2 Element for producing a package for packaging a food product, corresponding package, assembly comprising such a package and a food product, cutting installation and method
The invention concerns an element including: 1 sheet (1) including an intermediate zone (29) located between two zones designed to form side walls (9, 11), the intermediate zone (29) being designed to form a flap folded along the tip against one first (9) of the side walls, and elements (51a, 51b) for guiding tears in the sheet (1) the elements forming a single pull tab (58) to cause tears, the pull tab (58) being, in the intermediate zone, spaced apart from the media axis (A) of the zone designed to form the base (3). The invention is, for example, applicable to packaging of melted cheese.
US07968131B2 Calcium-enriched food product
The present invention is directed to an enriched food product, such as a calcium-enriched chewable food product in which at least one piece of the food product provides the recommended daily DRI of elemental calcium. The enriched food product has a mouth feel, texture and taste substantially similar to a non-enriched food product. The food product may also provide Vitamin D3 in a range of 100-2400 IU and optionally may be enrobed with a flavored coating. The present invention is also directed to a method for producing the enriched food product.
US07968130B2 Calcium-enriched food product
The present invention is directed to a calcium-enriched chewable baked food product in which at least one piece of the food product provides the recommended daily DRI of elemental calcium. The calcium-enriched baked food product has a mouth feel, texture and taste substantially similar to a non-calcium-enriched baked food product. The food product also provides Vitamin D3 in a range of 100-2400 IU and optionally may be enrobed with a flavored coating. The present invention is also directed to a method for producing the calcium-enriched food product.
US07968129B2 Cosmetic skin care complex with anti-aging effect
The invention relates to a cosmetic preparation which includes a skin care complex having an anti-ageing effect. The complex consists of liposomes comprising a mixture of cosmetic oil, extract of Plukenetia volubilis seeds, extract of Cynara scolymus leaves and hydrogenated retinol. The liposomes are homogeneously dispersed in a gel network consisting of water and a gel-forming agent.
US07968126B2 Creation of a biological atrioventricular bypass to compensate for atrioventricular block
A method of creating an atrioventricular bypass tract for a heart comprises growing mesenchymal stem cells into a strip with two ends, attaching one end of the strip onto the atrium of the heart, and attaching the other end of the strip to the ventricle of the heart, to create a tract connecting the atrium to the ventricle to provide a path for electrical signals generated by the sinus node to propagate across the tract and excite the ventricle.
US07968124B2 Compositions for the reversal and detoxification of anesthetics and other compounds and methods of their use
Methods of attenuating the toxic or medically undesirable effects of drugs and toxins in a human by administering to a human an injectable formulation comprised of a dispersion of particles comprised of reversed cubic or reversed hexagonal lyotropic liquid crystalline material. The particles absorb or adsorb or otherwise sequester and attenuate the effect of drugs and toxins, and may be used as a rescue or reversal agent, or as a prophylaxis. The invention is especially applicable in reversing adverse effects of local anesthetics inadvertently delivered systemically, and attenuating the therapeutic effects of general anesthetics in the course of treatment.
US07968122B2 Anti-viral pharmaceutical compositions
The present invention provides antiviral compositions that comprise one or more of an ionic multivalent metal component, a cationic polymer, and a cationic surfactant. The present invention also provides methods for making and using such antiviral compositions.
US07968116B2 Antitumor agent
A sugar-cholestanol compound which can be readily synthesized and which exhibits a satisfactory antitumor activity. An anticancer agent containing, as an active ingredient, a cholestanol compound represented by the following formula (1): or a cyclodextrin inclusion complexation containing the compound. A method for treating cancer using this compound.
US07968114B2 Clay-based hemostatic agents and devices for the delivery thereof
A device for promoting the clotting of blood comprises a clay material in particle form and a receptacle for containing the clay material. At least a portion of the receptacle is defined by a mesh. Another device comprises a gauze substrate and a clay material disposed on the gauze substrate. Another device is a bandage comprising a substrate, a mesh mounted on the substrate, and particles of a clay material retained in the mesh. A hemostatic sponge comprises a substrate, a hemostatic material disposed on a first surface of the substrate, and a release agent disposed on a second surface of the substrate. The release agent is disposed on the wound-contacting surface of the substrate. When treating a bleeding wound, application of the hemostatic sponge causes at least a portion of the hemostatic material to come into contact with blood through the release agent and through the substrate.
US07968112B2 Lipids containing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
A lipid preparation including a glycerophospholipid or salt, conjugate and derivatives thereof, particularly phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidyicholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidyl-inositol (PI), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidic acid (PA), and poly-unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) acyl groups, particularly long-chain poly-unsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) acyl groups such as omega-3 and/or omega-6 acyl groups, wherein said PUFA is covalently bound to said glycerophospholipid. The preparation possesses an improved bioactivity, and is useful in the treatment of various cognitive and mental conditions and disorders and for maintenance of normal functions of brain-related systems and processes.
US07968109B2 Liquid compositions for treating plant propagation materials
The present invention includes a fast-drying liquid composition comprising a least one fungicide and at least one insecticide. The present invention further includes a method for treating plant propagation materials, especially cut seeds, including tubers, against pest, a method for promoting suberization in cut seeds, a method for decreasing the drying time of a liquid pesticide on cut seeds, and a method for selectively loading a pesticide onto the skin side of a cut seed.
US07968106B2 ABFB-1 gene of penicillium funiculosum
The invention relates to the abfB-1 gene of Penicillium funiculosum that codes for a type B α-L-arabinofuranosidase. This enzyme α-L-arabinofuranosidase can be incorporated in nutritional additives or in foods for animals for which it improves the digestibility and thus the nutritional value.
US07968102B2 Dengue chimeric viruses
The invention relates to Dengue chimeric viruses which are less prone to accumulate point mutations and genetic variations. In these Dengue chimeric viruses, the NS5 gene, which encodes polymerase, has been replaced by the corresponding NS5 sequence of a Yellow Fever virus.
US07968096B2 Methods and compositions for treating toxoplasma
This invention relates to a method for treatment of latent Toxoplasma gondii infection. The invention provides for the use of Hsp90 inhibitors for treatment of latent Toxoplasma gondii infection, particularly in an immunocompromised subject. Also provided is a screening method for identifying compounds useful for treating latent Toxoplasma gondii infection.
US07968094B2 Use of anti-tissue factor antibodies for treating thromboses
Disclosed is a method for preventing or treating thrombosis in a mammal such as a primate and particularly a human patient. A preferred method includes administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of at least one humanized antibody, chimeric antibody, or fragment thereof that binds specifically to human tissue factor (TF). Additional methods and kits are provided.
US07968088B2 Internally administered therapeutic agents for cranial nerve diseases comprising mesenchymal cells as an active ingredient
Intravenous administration of bone marrow cells collected from rat bone marrow or peripheral blood to a rat cerebral infarction model was found to be effective in treating cerebral infarction. Human and murine bone marrow stem cells showed similar effects. Mesenchymal cells such as bone marrow cells, cord blood cells, or peripheral blood cells can be used as agents for in vivo administration against cranial nerve diseases.
US07968086B2 Genetically stable enterovirus expression vector with replaced stem loop VI
The present invention relates, in general, to an expression vector and in particular, to a genetically stable viral expression vector.
US07968079B2 Ready-to-use seed composition and process thereof
The present disclosure provides a ready-to-use seed composition water, a source of silica, a source of alumina, and Na20, wherein the molar ratio of H20:Na20 ranges from 5 to 20, Na20:SiO2 ranges from 0.4 to 5 and SiO2:Al203 ranges from 1.3 to 5 used in the preparation of a synthetic faujasite zeolite which has high thermal stability and higher crystallite size. It further provides a process for preparing the ready-to-use seed composition for preparation of synthetic faujasite zeolite that requires lower crystallization time. The present disclosure provides a seed composition that does not require maturing time and a reaction gel composition that has low water and soda content. The present disclosure further provides a process for the preparation of synthetic faujasite zeolite by blending seed and reaction gel reaction composition to form a seed gel composition and subjecting it to crystallization.
US07968077B2 Method for manufacturing titanium dioxide by oxidizing of titanium tetrachloride
A method for manufacturing titanium dioxide by reacting titanium tetrachloride with an oxygen-bearing gas in a tubular reactor and subsequently cooling the titanium dioxide particle/gas mixture in a cooling section, where the gas/particle flow is caused to rotate. Titanium tetrachloride is introduced in the cross-sectional plane of the reactor, but not in the radial direction, whereby the flow velocity of the oxygen-bearing gas is more than 20 m/s. Scrub solids free the inner wall of the reactor and the reactor cooling section of TiO2 deposits, thereby achieving a better cooling performance, which produces a TiO2 pigment with a narrow particle size distribution.
US07968076B2 Method for producing sodium dithionite
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of sodium dithionite, comprising the steps (a) provision of a synthesis batch comprising sodium formate, sulfur dioxide and an alkaline sodium compound in aqueous methanolic solution with formation of a sodium dithionite mother liquor, (b) isolation of sodium dithionite from the sodium dithionite mother liquor, a residual mother liquor being obtained, (c) separation of methanol from the residual mother liquor, (d) separation of the residual mother liquor into a thiosulfate-rich first part-stream and a thiosulfate-poor, formate-containing second part-stream by means of nanofiltration, (e) concentration of sodium formate in the second part-stream and (f) recycling of the concentrated second part-stream to process step (a).
US07968074B2 Method for making low-stress large-volume crystals with reduced stress birefringence and more uniform refractive index and crystals made thereby
The method produces low-stress, large-volume crystals with low birefringence and uniform index of refraction. The method includes growing the crystal with larger than desired dimensions including diameter and height from a melt; cooling and tempering the crystal with the larger than desired dimensions and after the cooling and tempering removing edge regions of the crystal with the larger than desired dimensions so that a diameter reduction and a height reduction of at least five percent occurs respectively and so that the crystal has the desired dimensions of diameter and height. No further tempering takes place after removing of the edge regions.
US07968072B2 In-situ synthesis of carbon nanotubes filled with metallic nanoparticles using arc discharge in solution
A novel method for simultaneously forming and filling and decorating carbon nanotubes with palladium nanoparticles is disclosed. Synthesis involves preparing a palladium chloride (PdCl2) solution in a container, having two graphite electrodes, then immersing the graphite electrode assembly, into the PdCl2 solution; connecting the graphite electrodes to a direct current power supply; bringing the electrodes into contact with each other to strike an arc; separating the electrodes to sustain the arc inside the solution; putting the container with electrode assembly in a water-cooled bath; and collecting Pd-nanoparticles encapsulated in carbon nanotubes and carbon nanotubes decorated with Pd-nanoparticles. The temperature at the site of the arc-discharge is greater than 3000° C. At these temperatures, the palladium is ionized into nanoparticles and the graphite electrodes generate layers of graphene (carbon), which roll away from the anode and encapsulate or entrap the Pd-nanoparticles. The unique nanotube structures have significant commercial potential as gas sensors or as a means for hydrogen storage.
US07968069B2 Catalyst, its preparation and use for hydrodesulfurization of residua and heavy crudes
A catalyst for hydrotreating, especially hydrodesulfurization, of residua and heavy crudes is prepared by synthesizing the support from titanium and boehmite, to form either a titanium/alumina support (TiO2/Al2O3) or a titanium-alumina support (TiO2—Al2O3) that is thereafter provided with at least one hydrogenating metal from group VIB in oxide form and a promoter from group VIII also in oxide form. The (TiO2/Al2O3) support is prepared from boehmite, which is peptized by using an inorganic acid, then extruded, calcined and impregnated with a solution containing titanium, while the (TiO2—Al2O3) support is prepared by admixing boehmite with a titanium-containing solution, peptized using an inorganic acid, extruded and calcined to obtain the titanium-alumina support.
US07968068B2 Zeolite catalyst with improved NOx reduction in SCR
The present invention is directed to a novel metal-promoted zeolite catalyst, a method of producing the catalyst and a method of using the catalyst for the selective catalytic reduction of NOx with improved hydrothermal durability. The novel metal-promoted zeolite is formed from a low sodium zeolite and is hydrothermally treated after metal ion-exchange.
US07968064B2 Method for extraction of metals by methyliminobisalkylacetamide
The present invention provides a method for extraction of metals selected from Cr, Mo, Pd, Tc, W, Re, and Pu using a new extractant of methyliminobisalkylacetamide represented by a formula (I): CH3—N—(CH2CONR2)2  (I) wherein R represents an alkyl group having 8-12 carbon atoms.
US07968052B2 Detection and subsequent removal of an aperture blockage
An apparatus which enables characterization of particles suspended in a liquid includes a housing with a mixing chamber and a collection chamber separated by a wall containing an aperture for passage of particles between, the mixing chamber and the collection chamber, the mixing chamber further containing a mixing member, a first electrode in the mixing chamber and a second electrode in the collection chamber for conduction of an electrical current through the aperture, a processor that is adapted for controlling the measurement sequence of the apparatus and detecting possible blockage of the aperture by detecting extended duration of the electrical pulse caused by the blocking particle, and upon detection of a blockage, reversing the liquid flow while mixing in the mixing chamber for removal of the blocking particle, and restarting particle counting.
US07968046B2 Apparatus for cooling a metal strip
An apparatus is described for cooling a metal strip (1), comprising at least two nozzle fields which are disposed opposite of each other with respect to the metal strip (1) conveyed continuously in its longitudinal direction and which comprise nozzles facing towards the respective strip surface and being attached to blowing boxes (3) for a cooling gas, and flow conduits (5) provided between the nozzles for discharging the cooling gas flows from the nozzles which are deflected on the surface of the strip. In order to provide advantageous cooling conditions it is proposed that the nozzles are combined in groups in nozzle strips (4) which are disposed next to one another in parallel with lateral distance and which consist of gas conduits (6) connected with the blowing boxes (3) and comprising nozzle openings (7) facing the respective strip surface and being distributed over the length of the nozzle strips (4), and that the flow conduits (5) for discharging the cooling gas flows are provided between the nozzle strips (4) extending transversally to the blowing boxes (3).
US07968045B2 Installation for production of secondary steel based on scrap
An installation for production of the secondary steel based on scrap in which the scrap (10) is fed in a scrap preheater (2) through a charging device (1), is preheated there and, finally, is brought into a smelting unit (3) and is melted there with primary energy only, the process gases (19), which leave the smelting unit (3), are not used for directly preheating the scrap (10) but are rather used indirectly by heating a gaseous preheatable medium, e.g., air (18) or inert gas, whereby energetic, fluidic, and spatial decoupling of preheating and melting and of post-combustion and preheating is achieved.
US07968044B2 Sinter processing system
An apparatus and method for processing iron sinter is provided. A cooling system is arranged downstream of a furnace for cooling the iron sinter. The cooling system includes a convective cooling system for forcing air into the iron sinter and an evaporative cooling system for directing fluid into the hot sinter.
US07968042B2 Method and apparatus for step-and-repeat molding
A method and apparatus for molding a structure on the top surface of a substrate. Mold material is dispensed onto an area of the top surface of the substrate. The mold apparatus is positioned over the area. The mold portion of the mold apparatus is positioned above the mold material and the mold material is surrounded with a shroud of the mold apparatus. A seal is formed between the shroud and the top surface of the substrate. The pressure is reduced within the shroud to below the ambient pressure. The mold portion of the mold apparatus is lowered toward the top surface of the substrate, so that at least the outer edge of the mold portion is in contact with the mold material. The pressure within the shroud is raised to at least the ambient pressure, and the mold material is cured to form the structure.
US07968040B2 Method for fabricating a connector for fuel cell system, connector and system obtained by such a method
Method for fabricating a fluid connector for fuel cell system: (a) a thermoplastic parison (19) is extruded, (b) the parison is placed in a mould (10a, 10b), (c) an intermediate zone is created, in which the two walls of the parison are joined in a gastight manner, (d) a gas is blown inside the parison into each cavity of the mould, and (e) the mould is opened.
US07968039B2 Method of producing pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet
To produce a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet according to which air entrapment and blistering can be prevented or eliminated through through-holes, and yet the through-holes are not readily visible at a substrate surface, a pressure-sensitive adhesive surface of a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 12 in a laminate comprising a substrate 11 and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 12 is irradiated with a CO2 laser having a pulse width of from 1 to 140 μsec, a pulse energy at each processing point of from 0.01 to 3.0 mJ, and a beam spot diameter at each processing point of from 30 to 160 μm, so as to form through-holes 2 having a diameter at the surface of the substrate 11 of from 0.1 to 42 μm at a hole density of from 30 to 50,000 per 100 cm2.
US07968038B2 Large diameter delivery catheter/sheath
A large diameter, flexible, kink-resistant, delivery catheter or sheath for percutaneous delivery of a contained and implantable medical device in the vasculature of a patient. The delivery catheter or sheath includes a reinforcement such as a flat wire coil with uniform spacing between the turns, which is compression fitted about an inner, lubricous PTFE tube. The delivery catheter or sheath further includes an outer tube of a heat formable polyamide material which is heat formed and compressed through the spaces between the turns of the wire coil to mechanically connect to a roughened outer surface of the inner tube. A polymeric radiopaque marker tube may be positioned at the distal end of the coil and between the inner and outer tubes for radiographic visualization. A side port may also be positioned thereat for the infusion of contrast media.
US07968032B2 Method of making a melt-bonded joint for joining sheaths used in medical devices
Joint assemblies for joining sheaths for use in medical devices are provided, as are methods of manufacturing the joint assemblies. An elongate first sheath has a distal end portion having melt bonding material. A second sheath has first and second end portions, the second end portion having melt bonding material. An outer sleeve body includes proximal and distal engaging portions that have melt bonding materials. The proximal engaging portion is disposed about and melt bonded to the first sheath distal end portion. The distal engaging portion is disposed about and melt bonded to the second sheath proximal end portion. In one embodiment, one or both sheaths have an inner layer, a coiled middle layer optionally stopping short of the joint assembly, and an outer layer that has said melt bonding materials. In one embodiment, the sheaths are used in a rapid insertion catheter delivery system.
US07968031B2 Ceramic composite with integrated compliance/wear layer
The integral layer provides a ductile interface for attachment locations of a turbine engine component where a metallic surface is adjacent the attachment location. The ductile layer provides a favorable load distribution through the composite at the attachment location, and eliminates the need for a metallic shim.
US07968028B2 Polymer gel-processing techniques and high modulus products
The present invention provides polymer gel-processing techniques and polymer articles of high modulus.
US07968024B2 Method for forming molding compounds and articles therefrom
A method for forming a molding compound including simultaneously chopping a non-synthetic reinforcement member and a synthetic reinforcement member and forming a hybrid reinforcement member from the chopped non-synthetic and synthetic reinforcement members. The hybrid reinforcement member can be molded into a molding compound.
US07968023B2 Method for the production of polyurethane block foam
The invention relates to a process and a device for the production of polyurethane clock foam, in which the reaction mixture, after flowing through a mixer, flows freely from an outflow opening and then flows through an accumulation chamber, in which a static pressure is built up, a gap and finally an expansion chamber.
US07968018B2 Use of surfactants in extraction procedures for silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lenses
Methods of producing silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lenses include contacting one or more delensed silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lens with a liquid composition that contains alcohol, water, and a surfactant. The methods can be steps of an extraction/hydration procedure used in the production of silicone hydrogel contact lenses. In some examples, contacting silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lens products with a liquid composition that contains alcohol, water, and a surfactant can significantly reduce or prevent surface distortion of the ophthalmic lens resulting from the extraction procedure. Some methods include subsequently contacting the silicone hydrogel ophthalmic lens with a liquid composition consisting essentially of water and a surfactant.
US07968012B2 Method and apparatus for EMI shielding
Disclosed are methods for manufacturing electromagnetic interference shields for use in nonconductive housings of electronic equipment. In one embodiment, the shield may include an electrically nonconductive substrate, such as a thermoformable film, coated with an electrically conductive element, such as an extensible ink or a combination of conductive fibers with an extensible film. In one embodiment, a compressible conductive perimeter gap gasket may be formed by using a form in place process.
US07968010B2 Method for electroplating a substrate
One or more embodiments provide for a device that utilizes voltage switchable dielectric material having semi-conductive or conductive materials that have a relatively high aspect ratio for purpose of enhancing mechanical and electrical characteristics of the VSD material on the device.
US07968001B2 Stabilizers for the stabilization of unsaturated hydrocarbon-based precursor
A stabilized composition consists essentially of unsaturated hydrocarbon-based materials, and a stabilizer selected from the group consisting of hydroxybenzophenone and a nitroxyl radical based stabilizer. A method for stabilizing unsaturated hydrocarbon-based precursor material against the polymerization comprises providing a stabilizer selected from the group consisting of a hydroxybenzophenone and a nitroxyl radical based stabilizer.
US07967998B2 Method of polishing implantable medical devices to lower thrombogenecity and increase mechanical stability
The present invention relates to a method of polishing an implantable medical device. The method may include positioning an implantable medical device on a support. At least a portion of a surface of the implantable medical device may include a polymer. A fluid may be contacted with at least a portion of the surface of the positioned implantable medical device. In an embodiment, the fluid may be capable of dissolving at least a portion of the polymer at or near the surface of the implantable medical device. The method may further include allowing the fluid to modify at least a portion of the surface of the positioned medical device. A majority of the contacted fluid may be removed from the surface of the implantable medical device. In certain embodiments, the modified portion of the surface may be substantially less thrombogenetic and substantially more mechanically stable than an unmodified surface.
US07967995B2 Multi-layer/multi-input/multi-output (MLMIMO) models and method for using
The invention provides a method of processing a substrate using multilayer processing sequences and Multi-Layer/Multi-Input/Multi-Output (MLMIMO) models and libraries that can include one or more masking layer creation procedures, one or more pre-processing measurement procedures, one or more Partial-Etch (P-E) procedures, one or more Final-Etch (F-E) procedures, and one or more post-processing measurement procedures.
US07967992B2 Method and device incorporating granular particles and disc-shaped plastic pellets for filtering water
A novel water flow facilitator for granular filter devices that operate under gravity and contain granular particles, further consisting of plastic pellets that are 2 to 100 times, preferably 5 to 20 times larger than the granular particles; the plastic pellets having an aspect ratio of 0.5 to 10, preferably 1 to 4; that comprise about 1 to 50%, preferably 5 to 15% of the weight of the filter media; that have a specific gravity of 0.5 to 2, preferably 0.9 to 1.5. The plastic pellets should contain antimicrobial agents that protect the granular media from microbiological growth. The plastic pellets are made from any of the following plastics: polyolefins, various kinds of polyacrylates, polyvinyl polymers, nylon, polycarbonates etc. The plastic pellets may contain fillers such as calcium carbonate, titania, silica, or alumina. The invented flow facilitator is utilized in a gravity fed granular filter device to remove contaminants such as chlorine, taste and odor-causing compounds, solvents, pesticides, dissolved organic impurities, dissolved heavy metals and non-metallic impurities such as perchlorates. The invented flow facilitator is utilized in a gravity fed granular filter device in which the media consists of activated carbon, synthetic ion exchange resins, silica, alumina, titania, green sands, iron oxides or mixtures thereof.
US07967986B2 Process for absorption-based separation of bioparticles from an aqueous suspension
A process for adsorption-based separation of bioparticles from an aqueous suspension containing such bioparticles is disclosed which process comprisesa) bringing said aqueous suspension into contact with a macroporous cryogel monolith carrying on its surface a ligand capable of interacting specifically or non-specifically with a receptor on the surface of a bioparticle to be separated to adsorb said bioparticle to said macroporous cryogen monolith; andb) liberating said bioparticle from said macroporous cryogel monolith by elution, wherein said macroporous cryogel monolith is subjected to a physical deformation in conjunction with exposure to eluting medium.
US07967982B2 System for removing oil from a water surface
A skimming system for removing a floating layer from a water surface. The skimming system includes at least one guide element that is movable relative to the floating layer, which guide element includes at least one unit that catches the floating layer. The at least one removal unit includes at least one collecting container that is detachably attached to the guide element. The collecting container is furthermore vertically adjustable, so that it is not only easy to detach and exchange the collecting container but that it is moreover possible to position the floating layer removal means at a desired depth in or below the floating layer. In this way an optimum removal of the floating layer can be realized. The inlet of the collecting container is present at a location where the extent to which water is mixed with the floating layer is minimal.
US07967980B2 Construction machine having working oil tank with filter case
A rear half part of a surface of a main body of a working oil tank installed in line with a control valve opposing to the valve is dented in an inclining surface shape in the direction moving away from the valve so that between both the tank and the valve, is formed a working space for attaching and detaching a pressure compensating spool, while return tubes are separately connected to the upper and the lower side of a filter case side wall within the body. Within the body, is provided a cylindrical filter case having a bottom in which a return filter for return oil is housed, and the return tubes are connected to the case side wall in a state of communicating with the inside of the filter case. In this configuration, a filter receiving plate is provided in a lower part within the filter case with leaving a gap between the plate and the filter case bottom wall in a state that the plate is supported by a return pipe, the return filter is disposed on the plate, and the return tubes are connected to the filter case side wall on the lower side than the plate.
US07967979B2 Bi-phasic bioretention system
An anaerobic to aerobic sequence enhances biological degradation of many organic pollutants. Exemplary embodiments provide systems and methods for effective treatment of storm-water runoff pollutants such as hydrocarbons, nitrates, phosphorus, and heavy metals using sediment filtration and adsorption, and biochemical processes under bi-phasic bioretention conditions. By integrating these pollution cleanup pro-usages into a single unit, this apparatus optimizes retention time of the runoff through the system and maximizes removal rates of runoff pollutants, resulting in more reliable and efficient treatment mechanism than previous systems.
US07967974B2 Methods of recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous material using a constructed infrastructure having permeable walls and associated systems
A method of recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure. This constructed infrastructure defines a substantially encapsulated volume having substantially permeable side walls and a substantially impermeable cap. A comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom without contamination or substantial leaching of materials outside of the impoundment. During heating the hydrocarbonaceous material is substantially stationary as the constructed infrastructure is a fixed structure. Removed hydrocarbons can be collected for further processing, use in the process, and/or use as recovered.
US07967968B2 Method and system for monitoring material separation process such as electrophoresis process in a sample
A method and system are presented for use in analyzing a sample. The method comprises applying real time monitoring to a sample while undergoing a separation process consisting of spatial separation of molecules of different molecular weights in the sample. The system includes a monitoring unit configured to be integrated with a separation unit in which the separation process takes place.
US07967965B2 Gas sensor
The present invention provides a unique solution to the problems of both steady-state and transient signals produced by a variety of interfering stimuli, including humidity, which relies upon the inclusion in a gas sensing electrode in an electrochemical gas sensor of a catalyst material in addition to a first catalyst material reactive to the target gas, the additional, or second, catalyst material producing a response to an interfering stimulus which is of the opposite polarity to that generated by the first catalyst material.
US07967964B2 Single cell sensor for measuring the partial pressure of oxygen
A single cell oxygen sensor apparatus and method are disclosed. An yttrium-based stabilized layer having electrical terminals connected to the yttrium-based stabilized layer can be provided on a substrate, wherein the yttrium-based stabilized layer is excitable by a constant current applied to the electrical terminals. A plurality of electrodes are located on a side of the yttrium-based stabilized layer and a plurality of heater elements located on said substrate opposite said yttrium-based stabilized layer. The heater elements can maintain the yttrium-based stabilized layer at a particular temperature. A cavity is formed and located between the yttrium-based stabilized layer and the heater elements. The partial pressure of oxygen can be measured by comparing the partial pressure of oxygen within the cavity with respect to the partial pressure of oxygen in the atmosphere external to the single cell oxygen sensor apparatus.
US07967959B2 Cathodic protection method and apparatus
A cathodic protection system for use in an electrolyte includes a protected structure to be at least partially immersed in the electrolyte, at least one sacrificial anode to be at least partially immersed in the electrolyte and electrically connected to the protected structure, and a substantially impermeable barrier disposed between the at least one sacrificial anode and the electrolyte.
US07967958B2 Electrode for water electrolysis
In an apparatus for producing acidic electrolyzed water, the use of a protection membrane having slits or other discontinuities allows the protection of a permeable membrane, such as an anion-permeable or anion-selective membrane, from chlorine generated by the electrolysis. The protection membrane further preserves the electrical conductivity of the membrane and electrode assembly, because of a venting action of trapped gas and fluid through the slits. The protection membrane is useful both in three chambered electrolyzers and in two chambered electrolyzers. The preferred protection membrane has slits formed by overlapping strips of fabric or the like. The preferred fabric is a non-woven fabric.
US07967955B2 Water treatment method for heavy oil production
A process for treating produced water to generate high pressure steam. Produced water from heavy oil recovery operations is treated by de-oiling the produced water to provide a de-oiled evaporator feedwater that is fed to an evaporator. The pretreated produced water stream is evaporated to produce (1) a distillate having a trace amount of residual solutes therein, and (2) evaporator blowdown containing substantially all solutes from the de-oiled produced water feed. The distillate may be directly used, or polished to remove the residual solutes therein, before being fed to a steam generator. Steam generation in a once-through steam generator, or in a packaged boiler such as a water tube boiler having a steam drum and a mud drum with water cooled combustion chamber walls, produces high pressure steam for down-hole use.
US07967952B2 Durable paper
The present invention relates to a durable paper or paperboard substrate containing an effective amount of synthetic fibers and having enhanced strength in the machine direction and the cross direction, as well enhanced strength through the cross section of the sheet. The present invention further relates to methods of making and using the substrate.
US07967949B2 Packaging device and method for absorbing moisture
A packaging device and method for absorbing and reducing moisture as well as a manufacturing process for such device. The packaging device is a container made from paperboard such as containerboards or linerboards with a corrugated medium. The paperboard is insulated with moisture absorbing additives comprising charcoal, activated charcoal, activated carbon, or substances mostly comprised of carbon. Perforations may be added in the boards to further permit moisture to reach the corrugated medium, permitting further absorption by the additives embedded within the corrugated medium in between the boards. This packaging device and method is favorable for storing or transporting objects which are sensitive to or would benefit from low moisture/humidity conditions.
US07967948B2 Process for non-chlorine oxidative bleaching of mechanical pulp in the presence of optical brightening agents
A process for bleaching mechanical wood pulp is provided comprising subjecting the wood pulp to at least one bleaching stage with one or more bleaching agents in the presence of one or more optical brightening agent, wherein the bleaching agents are selected from the group consisting of oxidative bleaching agents other than chlorine based bleaching agents such as chlorine dioxide, elemental chlorine or a combination thereof, reductive bleaching agents or any combination of two or more thereof.
US07967946B2 Ethanol continuous flow boiler
An improved boiler that allows distillation of ethanol from a continuous flow of a hydrous feedstock compound, which may be beer or other semi-solid substance. The internal compartment of the boiler is separated into different zones by a plurality of primary baffle plates and secondary baffle plates. The hydrous feedstock compound is heated as it passes from one zone to another zone and ethanol inside the hydrous feedstock compound vaporizes. The ethanol rich vapor is channeled through a collector column and then collected for further processing. The temperature of the hydrous feedstock compound is slightly different from one zone to another zone because of ethanol concentration changes as the hydrous feedstock compound moves from one zone to another. At the last zone, where most of ethanol is removed, the remaining hydrous feedstock compound is removed from the boiler.
US07967944B2 Method of plasma load impedance tuning by modulation of an unmatched low power RF generator
A workpiece is processed in a plasma reactor chamber using stabilization RF power delivered into the chamber, by determining changes in load impedance from RF parameters sensed at an RF source or bias power generator and resolving the changes in load impedance into first and second components thereof, and changing the power level of the stabilization RF power as a function one of the components of changes in load impedance.
US07967943B2 Circuit-connecting material and circuit terminal connected structure and connecting method
A circuit-connecting material which is interposed between circuit electrodes facing each other and electrically connects the electrodes in the pressing direction by pressing the facing electrodes against each other; the circuit-connecting material comprising as essential components (1) a curing agent capable of generating free radicals upon heating, (2) a hydroxyl-group-containing resin having a molecular weight of 10,000 or more and (3) a radical-polymerizable substance. Also provided are a circuit terminal connected structure and a circuit terminal connecting method which make use of such a material.
US07967941B2 Adhesive-free aramid-polyester laminate, method of manufacturing the same and apparatus for manufacturing the same
A laminate comprising aramid paper containing aramid fiber and aramid pulp and polyester film, the aramid paper and polyester film having been subjected to plasma surface treatment before laminating, wherein the aramid paper and polyester film are continuously bonded to each other. The disclosure is concerned with a process for manufacturing the laminate and an apparatus for manufacturing the laminate.
US07967938B2 Fabrics with high thermal conductivity coatings
The present invention facilitates the thermal conductivity of fabrics by surface coating of the fabrics with high thermal conductivity materials 6. The fabrics may be surface coated when they are individual fibers or strands 4, bundles of strands, formed fabric or combinations therefore. A particular type of fibrous matrix used with the present invention is glass. Some fabrics may be a combination of more than one type of material, or may have different materials in alternating layers. HTC coatings of the present invention include diamond like coatings (DLC) and metal oxides, nitrides, carbides and mixed stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric combinations that can be applied to the host matrix.
US07967933B2 Reduced ply separation tail seal
Easy starting rolls of perforated tissue product which have a reduced tendency to ply separate are formed with an adhesively secured doubled over tail tab folded against the roll. The strength and location of the bonds are controlled by controlling the penetration of the adhesive into the tissue. The dry tensile strength of the projecting folded over tail tab exceeds 400 g/in and the caliper thereof exceeds one mil The adhesive bonds are spaced away from lines of perforation joining sheets in the initial sheets of the roll.
US07967925B2 Accelerated solution treatment process for aluminum alloys
A method of providing solution heat treatment to an aluminum alloy. A non-isothermal process is used to provide a faster heat treatment cycle time while maintaining or further improving the alloy mechanical properties after subsequent aging hardening. The process includes establishing a temperature inside a processing vessel that is greater than a soaking temperature but less than a liquidus temperature of the alloy, rapidly heating the alloy to the soaking temperature in a first heating operation, reducing the temperature inside of the processing vessel to the soaking temperature, then heating the alloy to a temperature above the soaking temperature through a gradually increasing temperature in a second heating operation. Protocols for the improved solution heat treatment may be based on one or more of computational thermodynamics, dissolution kinetics and coarsening kinetics.
US07967922B2 Ferrous abrasion resistant sliding material
A ferrous abrasion resistant sliding material capable of improving seizing resistance, abrasion resistance and heat crack resistance is provided. The ferrous abrasion resistant sliding material has a martensite parent phase which forms a solid solution with carbon of 0.15 to 0.5 wt %, and the martensite parent phase contains one or more types of each special carbide of Cr, Mo, W and V dispersed therein in a total content of 10 to 50% by volume.
US07967917B2 Method of cleaning storage case
The present invention provides a method of cleaning a storage case to be used for storing or transporting mask substrates such as photomasks and photomask blanks, semiconductor substrates such as semiconductor wafers, pellicles, or the like. The present invention: facilitates a regular cleaning operation, can be used also for a storage case of a complicated shape, does not require a large scale equipment or an expensive equipment to facilitate an environmental countermeasure, and provides high cleaning effect. The method of cleaning a storage case polluted by adhesion of a foreign substance of an organic material, an ionic foreign substances or an ionic crystal foreign substance physically absorbed, comprises a step of placing the storage case still in air flow of cleaned air or an inert gas in a temperature range from room temperature to 80° C. for desorbing and removing the foreign substance adhered to the storage case.
US07967909B2 Method of cementing within a gas or oil well
A cement mix for cementing the well casing within a wellbore which contains a synergistic blend of an alkali metasilicate and/or alkali silicate, aluminum silicate and either silica fume or micro silica quartz along with a Portland cement. The cement mix, when combined with mix water, may render a cementitious slurry having a density less than or equal to 11.5 pounds per gallon (ppg); the amount of mix water in the cementitious slurry being between from about 200 to about 560 percent by weight of cement (BWOC). The compressive strength of such cementitious slurries, when cured, is in excess of 100 psi, more typically in excess of 200 psi, after 72 hours at 130° F.
US07967903B2 Ink composition
The present invention relates to a novel ink composition and, more particularly, to an ink composition for digital textile printing, which is suitable for ink-jet printing on cellulose fiber materials. The novel ink composition of the present invention has stable pH value, fine storage stability, smoothness and ease in printing, and reduction in color deterioration.
US07967901B2 Lubricating liquid separator
A lubricating liquid separator which can damp compressor pulsation noise effectively and improve the lubricating liquid separating performance without greatly enlarging the size of the separator itself. A demister having a sound absorbing performance is disposed on an outer periphery of a partition plate. Compressed gas which enters the interior of a housing through a compressed gas inlet port flows as rotating flow in a flow path between the partition plate and a portion of a side wall of the housing opposed to the partition plate. Pressure pulsation of the compressed gas is diminished by the demister, and a compressor pulsation noise by the rotating flow of the compressed gas is diminished by the sound absorption of the demister. Further, with the demister, reflection of the compressed gas at a wall surface of the partition plate is suppressed, and scattering of lubricating liquid separated from the compressed gas is suppressed.
US07967897B2 System and process for the separation of suspensions of spent catalysts and hydrocarbons formed in a fluid catalytic cracking unit with multiple ascending flow reaction tubes
The present invention relates to a system for the separation of suspensions of spent catalysts and hydrocarbons formed in an FCC unit with multiple ascending flow reaction tubes, comprising interconnections between each of the ascending flow reaction tubes and the separator vessel, each interconnection also comprises two sections. The outside sections of the separator vessel are inclined and are connected to a single vertical section, which penetrates into the interior of the separator vessel, and which has at its lower end an open device for draining the spent catalyst from the suspensions separated in this sector. In the same vertical section, at the end of its internal part at the separator vessel, a series of two sets of cyclones are installed, the first set containing cyclones without sealing legs, and the second set containing conventional cyclones of the first stage. The present invention also relates to a process for the separation of suspensions of spent catalysts and hydrocarbons using the said separation system.
US07967895B2 Process and device for regenerating the loaded scrubbing agent in a physical gas wash
For regenerating the loaded washing (scrubbing) agent (6, 7) from a physical gas wash (T1), in which one or more gas components are removed, to a large extent selectively, from a gas mixture (1) to be purified at least in a first of at least two successive washing steps, the loaded washing agent (7) withdrawn from the first washing step is, independently of the remaining quantity of loaded washing agent (6), subjected to a regeneration step (T2a) for separating the gas components (11) which have been selectively removed from the raw gas in the first washing step.
US07967894B1 System and method for improved mercury control
A combustion system having improved mercury collection. The system includes a combustion chamber for burning a fuel containing mercury, whereby burning produces a flue gas stream containing mercury and a device for removing mercury from the flue gas stream. The device includes a thermopolymer substrate; and a mercury-receptor attached to the substrate. In one embodiment, the system may further include a collector downstream of the device for collecting the mercury attached to the thermopolymer. The inventions further include alternative methods of mercury removal and preparation of the polymer substrate.
US07967891B2 Method producing metal nanopowders by decompositon of metal carbonyl using an induction plasma torch
A process for synthesizing metal nanopowders by introducing metal carbonyl into an induction plasma torch. By taking advantage of the much lower dissolution temperature of carbonyl as opposed to the high melting temperature of conventional metal powder feeds less torch power is required. Moreover, in contrast to current powder production techniques utilizing electrode based plasma torches, the induction plasma torch does not introduce contaminants into the nanopowder.
US07967889B2 Soluble and solubilizing, free-flowing, solid fertilizer compositions, and the preparation thereof
A solid free-flowing particulate fertilizer composition is provided, as well as a method of manufacturing same. The composition has low tendency to caking, is easy for storage and manipulation, dissolves rapidly and completely in water, and can be used directly as a fertilizer or serves in the preparation of concentrated aqueous fertilizer compositions comprising otherwise scarcely soluble nutrients.
US07967884B2 Bagless dustcup
A bagless vacuum cleaner system dustcup assembly and method for using said system with a vacuum cleaner apparatus to separate dirt from a mixture of dirt and air inducted into said vacuum cleaner apparatus. Said bagless vacuum cleaner system generally comprises a dustcup assembly, a handle assembly and a motor intake adaptor.
US07967883B2 Extractor for vacuum cleaning system
An extractor for a vacuum cleaning system of the type based on a cyclonic separator. The extractor comprises an annular body located adjacent the cyclonic separator and has an annular opening communicating with the cyclonic separator. A mesh covers the annular opening. In use the air circulating in the cyclonic separator vents through the extractor but debris in the air stream is stopped by the mesh.
US07967879B2 Cartridge for the generation of hydrogen
The present invention provides a cartridge for the generation of hydrogen. The cartridge includes a case, an igniter, and a structural component. The case defines an interior cavity and the igniter is positioned within the cavity. The structural component is also positioned within the cavity and is formed of a particulate embedded in a matrix and the particulate includes a metallic material. An oxidizing agent is positioned within the cavity. The structural component is configured such that the metallic material and the oxidizing agent react together to generate hydrogen after the igniter generates sufficient heat to remove the matrix from the structural component and to initiate the reaction between the metallic material and the oxidizing agent.
US07967877B2 Biomass energy product and processing method
An energy product made from biomass, and a method of making an energy product from biomass. The energy product is made by processing biomass in a pressurizable reaction vessel with heat, pressure and agitation.
US07967876B2 Nanoalloy fuel additives
There is disclosed a composition comprising an alloy represented by the following generic formula (Aa)n(Bb)n(Cc)n(Dd)n( . . . )n; wherein each capital letter and ( . . . ) is a metal; wherein A is a combustion modifier; B is a deposit modifier; C is a corrosion inhibitor; and D is a combustion co-modifier/electrostatic precipitator enhancer; wherein each subscript letter represents compositional stoichiometry; wherein n is greater than or equal to zero; and wherein the alloy comprises at least two different metals; and with the proviso that if the metal is cerium, then its compositional stoichiometry is less than about 0.7. There is also disclosed a fuel additive comprising an alloy; a fuel composition comprising the fuel additive composition; methods of making the fuel additive composition; and methods of using the disclosed alloy.
US07967875B2 Flexible cathodes
This disclosure relates to methods of making a cathode for a lithium batter. The methods include: (a) treating a cathode current collector with flame or corona; (b) coating a slurry containing iron disulfide, a first solvent, and a binder onto the cathode current collector obtained from step (a) to form a coated cathode current collector, in which the slurry contains about 73-75% by weight solids and the binder contains a polymer selected from the group consisting of linear di- and tri-block copolymers, linear tri-block copolymers cross-linked with melamine resin, ethylene-propylene copolymers, ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers, tri-block fluorinated thermoplastics, hydrogenated nitrile rubbers, fluoro-ethylene-vinyl ether copolymers, thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermoplastic olefins, and polyvinylidene fluoride homopolymers; and (c) drying the coated cathode current collector obtained from step (b) to provide a cathode, in which the cathode contains no more than 0.5% by volume of the first solvent and is capable of being bent to 180°. This disclosure also relates to methods of making a lithium battery.
US07967873B1 Dyed textile article and dye bath assistant
A dyed textile article. The dyed textile article includes a synthetic fiber substrate and a dye affixed to the substrate in a dye process that includes a using a dye assistant having an amidic nitrogen adjacent to an aromatic ring. The dye assistant may be N-methyl formanilide. The substrate of the present inventions may be a variety of substrates and is most preferably an aromatic polyamide. The present inventions also include a dye bath and a method of dyeing using a dyeing assistant having an amidic nitrogen adjacent to an aromatic ring.
US07967869B2 Method of attaching a strapless prosthetic arm
Permanent magnets or electromagnets or a combination of such magnets are provided as a method to retain a prosthetic device on an extremity, such as an arm. The prosthesis utilizes the opposing forces, which are developed by virtue of like magnetic poles being in proximity to each other, to urge the prosthesis to remain attached to the extremity. The prosthesis is prevented from rotation by virtue of a centering force that is provided by an attachment magnet in the prosthesis being placed between two implanted magnets. A removable mounting ring is placed over the prosthesis straps to maintain them in proximity to the extremity.
US07967861B2 Devices, systems and methods for material fixation
A material fixation system is particularly adapted to improve the tendon-to-bone fixation of hamstring autografts, as well as other soft tissue ACL reconstruction techniques. The system is easy to use, requires no additional accessories, uses only a single drill hole, and can be implanted by one person. Additionally, it replicates the native ACL by compressing the tendons against the aperture of the tibial tunnel, which leads to a shorter graft and increased graft stiffness. It is adapted to accommodate single or double tendon bundle autografts or allografts. It also provides pull out strength measured to be greater than 1000 N.
US07967860B1 Prosthetic breast form
A prosthetic breast form that is worn external to the human body to simulate a missing breast or portion thereof has a fabric pouch that defines an outer shape that approximates a breast shape or portion thereof, and that further defines an inner compartment; and a filler disposed within the inner compartment, the filler comprising a free flowing blend of clustered fiber filler, filler beads and weighting beads that are intermingled, where the weight of the filler is between approximately 1.25 ounces and 40 ounces. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US07967859B2 Prosthetic eye
A prosthetic eye with an iris constructed of a photoresponsive, polymer based element. The photoresponsive element is responsive to light, so that the pupils constrict in the presence of light. The responsiveness of the pupils to light gives the prosthetic eye a more natural appearance.
US07967857B2 Gasket with spring collar for prosthetic heart valves and methods for making and using them
A heart valve prostheses includes an annular member implantable within a biological annulus, a collar extending upwardly from the annular member, and a sewing ring extending from the annular member. A spring structure couples the collar to the annular member and biases the collar to align with the annular member at a predetermined distance above the annular member. During use, the prosthesis is introduced into a biological annulus, and fasteners are directed through the sewing ring into surrounding tissue to secure the prosthesis with the annular member within the biological annulus. A mechanical or bioprosthetic valve is introduced and coupled to the collar, e.g., using tabs or other connectors on the collar. The spring structure allows the collar to be directed towards the annular member and/or folded inwardly, e.g., to facilitate accessing the sewing ring to deliver fasteners.
US07967856B2 Microtubes for therapeutic delivery
A medical implant that delivers therapeutic via microtubes and a method of making the same is provided. In one embodiment a biologically implantable structure adapted to fit within the body of a patient is provided. This structure may have a plurality of individual microtubes in physical communication with its outer surface, the microtubes containing or carrying a therapeutic. In another embodiment a method of manufacturing an implantable medical appliance is provided. This method includes placing a pliant stratum of microtubes onto a biologically implantable medical structure and then applying a therapeutic to the pliant stratum to cover or fill the microtubes.
US07967848B2 Spring-loaded dynamic pedicle screw assembly
An assembly that includes a fixator component, a clamping mechanism, a screw head, a load sharing mechanism, and a blocker. The fixator component further includes a bulbous end, a neck portion, and a threaded end. The clamping mechanism is positioned around the neck portion of the fixator component. The load sharing mechanism is positioned in between the screw head and the bone fixator component. The screw head further includes a pair of diametrically opposed arms, a socket and a slot. The socket is positioned between the pair of arms and the slot is positioned above the socket. The socket is dimensioned and configured to house the bulbous end of the fixator component. The load sharing mechanism provides tensile resistance to the screw head and the blocker is adapted to engage the screw head.
US07967846B2 Pedicle screw for intervertebral support elements
A pedicle screw for intervertebral support elements consists of a shaft and a head comprising at least two parts. The head is formed as a securing means for at least one support element. Each support element consists of a piece of a cable-like band and a cylindrical support body with an axial lumen containing the band. The band is securable outside end surfaces of the support body in the head. The head is formed with a contact surface via which a pressure stress can be exerted on the support body in the band direction, and indeed using the band and in cooperation with a further pedicle screw. A part of the head which is firmly connected to the shaft at the one end of the latter, contains a base groove which is oriented transversely to the shaft and into which the part of the band to be secured or a connecting piece which contains the band can be introduced during the securing of the support element by means of a translatory movement in the direction of the shaft and fixed there.
US07967841B2 Methods for using looped tissue-grasping devices
A method for repairing friable tissue having a defect therein includes providing a looped barbed suture having a plurality of barbs extending outwardly therefrom along at least a portion of a length thereof, and having first and second ends, first and second end portions and a middle portion therebetween. The first and second ends are fixedly coupled to a single needle, and the plurality of barbs extends outwardly away from the needle. The steps further include placing the looped barbed suture around an outer surface of the friable tissue in a spaced apart configuration and so as to extend across the defect, passing the needle through the friable tissue and around the middle portion of the looped barbed suture one or more times at the middle portion, and removing the needle from the looped barbed suture.
US07967840B2 PFO closure device with flexible thrombogenic joint and improved dislodgement resistance
The present invention provides devices for closing septal defects, such as a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The closure devices include a proximal anchor member, a distal anchor member, and at least one flexible center joint connecting the two anchor members. According to some embodiments, the proximal and/or distal anchor members may include a generally cylindrical member split along the central portion of its length to form an elongate oval. The proximal and/or distal anchor members may further include a tissue scaffold. At least some of the closure devices according to the present invention are repositionable and retrievable.
US07967836B2 Dilatation balloon having reduced rigidity
A dilatation balloon is fabricated according to a process that forms cavities and indentations in the balloon and/or catheter sections. A length of tubing is axially elongated and radially expanded in a form to provide the requisite biaxial orientation and strength. Then, an excimer laser or another type of laser or mechanical material removal tool is used to remove the polymeric material, virtually without thermal effects. Cavities in the sleeve sections of the balloon are defined and if desired, indentations in the cone sections are defined. Material removal, particularly near the balloon sleeves enables a thinner, more flexible bonding area between the catheter shaft and the balloon. Further, the indentations along the cone sections enables tighter wrapping of the balloon for a reduced delivery profile. Rigidity near the sleeves is reduced for better maneuverability of the catheter in tortuous passageways.
US07967835B2 Apparatus for use in fascial cleft surgery for opening an anatomic space
An apparatus for use in fascial cleft surgery adapted to perform blunt dissection between two layers of anatomically named fascia. The dissection performed by the apparatus extends to the limits of anatomic space defined by fusion of said two layers of fascia in a minimally invasive manner. The apparatus is formed of a hollow tube body member including a malleable introducing flange having a spoonbill-like shape. Further, the apparatus includes an elastic dissection balloon movably positioned within the applicator. The dissection balloon is reversibly expandable between a deflated condition and an expanded condition and is movable from a first storage position within the hollow tube body of the applicator to a position exterior thereof. The dissection balloon is formed of a chosen elastic material having a tensile strength less than the tensile strength of the points of fusion between two layers of fascia such that the dissection balloon fails prior to achieving pressures that would destroy the anatomic boundaries of the fascial cleft such that a working space is demonstrated not created. The apparatus also includes a gripping handle and introducing rod slideably positioned within said applicator for positioning said dissection balloon exterior said applicator to within an anatomic space for subsequent inflation and deflation. Finally, a fill tube extends through the hollow introducing rod to the dissection balloon and operably associated therewith for inflating and deflating the dissection balloon.
US07967833B2 Devices and methods for intracardiac procedures
The invention provides devices and methods for performing closed-chest surgical intervention within an internal cavity of a patient's heart or great vessel. A scope extending through a percutaneous intercostal penetration in the patient's chest is used to view an internal portion of the patient's chest. An internal penetration is formed in a wall of the heart or great vessel using cutting means introduced through a percutaneous penetration in an intercostal space in the patient's chest. An interventional tool is inserted through the internal penetration to perform a surgical procedure under visualization using the scope. A cutting tool is introduced into the patient's left atrium from a right portion of the patient's chest to remove the patient's mitral valve. A replacement valve is then introduced through an intercostal space in the right portion of the chest and through the internal penetration in the heart, and the replacement valve is attached in the mitral valve position.
US07967829B2 Medical device delivery system
Medical device delivery systems, as well as related methods and components, are disclosed.
US07967824B2 Bone cutting fixture assembly with guide appendages
A bone cutting fixture assembly for use as guide for a cutting blade in shaping a distal end of a femur to receive a component of a knee prosthesis is provided. The assembly has a centrally located, elongated support structure, made of a polymeric material, having a trapezoidal cross section, pairs of adjacent blade guide appendages supported therein so as to define four cutting planes, and two outrigger portions extending therefrom defining anchor points in distal ends thereof. The assembly defines a substantially flat support plane and has spaced apart anchor points positioned so as to enable secure fixing of the fixture to a femur by fixing devices.
US07967823B2 Method and apparatus for performing an open wedge, high tibial osteotomy
Apparatus for performing an open wedge, high tibial osteotomy, the apparatus comprising: a wedge-shaped implant for disposition in a wedge-shaped opening created in the tibia, wherein the wedge-shaped implant comprises at least two keys, laterally offset from one another, for disposition in corresponding keyholes formed in the tibia adjacent to the wedge-shaped opening created in the tibia.
US07967819B2 Soft bipolar forceps
A soft bipolar forceps includes a long narrow flexible tube; paired forceps pieces that are formed extending in the axial direction, and are mutually insulated and disposed opposite one another; and a support that is disposed to the distal end of the flexible tube and supports the paired forceps pieces to permit relatively free opening and closing thereof; characterized in that a first electrode is disposed to one of the paired forceps pieces, a second electrode is disposed to the other of the paired forceps pieces opposite the first electrode, and a guide part that extends to permits elastic deformation is disposed to the distal end of the first electrode.
US07967810B2 Sub-atmospheric wound-care system
Methods and systems are provided for a sub-atmospheric wound-care (SAWS) system for treating an open wound. The SAWS system includes a regulated vacuum source for developing a negative pressure, a flow rate meter configured to measure a flow rate of liquid removed from the wound, a primary pressure regulating sensor located proximate the wound for directly measuring the negative pressure at the wound, a backup pressure regulating sensor located vacuum tube, a porous dressing suitable to be sealed airtight which is positioned within a wound interface chamber, a collection canister configured to collect said liquid removed from the wound, and an adapter configured to use wall suction a primary regulated vacuum source.
US07967809B2 Self-sealing assembly for preventing fluid leakage from medical device
Self-sealing assemblies and methods of establishing a fluid-seal around a medical instrument are disclosed herein. An assembly for providing resistance to fluid leakage includes an introducer section having a mouth portion, a stem portion, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein a diameter of the mouth portion decreases over a length of the mouth portion, and wherein a diameter of the stem portion remains substantially the same over a length of the stem portion; a transfer section having a proximal end and a distal end; and a self-sealing membrane at a junction between the stem portion and the proximal end of the transfer section, wherein the self-sealing membrane is composed of a single piece flexible elastomeric material, and wherein the diameter and the length of the stem portion and a thickness and a diameter of the self-sealing membrane provide structural integrity to the assembly resulting in the ability of the self-sealing membrane to resist fluid leakage prior to, during, and after the self-sealing membrane is punctured.
US07967806B2 Method of delivering a fluid medication to a patient in flex mode
A method of delivering a fluid medication to a patient under direction of a medical professional continually at a basal rate and at an interval rate in each of a plurality of time slots over a specified period of time. The total dose of the fluid medication to be delivered to the patient over the period of time based on the basal rate and the interval rate for each of the plurality of time slots is determined, compared the total dose against a maximum dose. The basal rate is adjusted, if necessary, so that the total dose does not exceed the maximum dose.
US07967805B2 Disposable garment comprising meltblown nonwoven backsheet
A disposable garment includes a nonwoven backsheet formed by melt-blowing. The melt-blown nonwoven web has a basis weight of from about 3 g/m2 to about 60 g/m2 and an air permeability value of at least about 15 cm3/cm2/sec. The melt-blowing web is made by fine fibers having an average fiber diameter of from about 3 μm to about 10 μm.
US07967804B2 Disposable diaper and process for making the same
A disposable diaper has a covering member adapted to cover a wearer's crotch and waist regions. The covering member includes an elastically stretchable first layer and an inelastically stretchable second layer formed with a plurality of continuous fibers. The continuous fibers are fixed to the first layer in at least two bonding zones. The covering member presents a particularly large value of L/D, a ratio of a length L of each continuous fiber and a distance D in straight line between each pair of the adjacent bonding zones.
US07967801B2 Regionalized topsheet
An absorbent article having a liquid pervious topsheet having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion differs in structure from the second portion. The topsheet has a longitudinal centerline and a transverse centerline. The second portion has a first structurally modified zone and a second structurally modified zone. The first structurally modified zone and the second structurally modified zone are on opposing sides of the longitudinal centerline and the first structurally modified zone and the second structurally modified zone are on opposing sides of an axis parallel to the transverse centerline. The first structurally modified zone and the second structurally modified zone are spaced apart from one another. The first structurally modified zone and the second structurally modified zone together make up more than about 10% of the area of the topsheet.
US07967799B2 Liquefaction handpiece tip
A surgical tip having a spacer or stand-off to keep the distal end of the tip from directly contacting delicate tissue, such as the posterior capsule. In addition, one or more bypass holes may be provided to help vent any excess pressure when the tip is near delicate tissue.
US07967793B2 Reciprocating procedure syringes
A reciprocating syringe that can be used in connection with existing syringe barrels and fittings. Some embodiments comprise a frame, adapted to retain two existing syringe barrels. The frame can accommodate fittings on one or both barrels. The invention also provides a plunger complex, comprising two plungers, each adapted for use with one of the syringe barrels. The two plungers are coupled such that pushing of each plunger into its barrel causes the other plunger to pull outwards relative to its barrel. The two plungers can be coupled by a flexible line attached to one plunger, routed from the plunger out of the corresponding barrel into the other barrel, and attached to the other plunger. The invention contemplates various frame configurations to accommodate desired line and pulley performance characteristics. Other embodiments comprise a frame adapted to retain an existing syringe barrel, and an auxiliary actuator mounted with the frame. Such an actuator can provide a syringe-like plunger operation, or can comprise other manipulable structures. The auxiliary actuator can be coupled to a plunger adapted for use with the syringe barrel, such that pushing the plunger into the barrel causes the actuator to move in a reversible manner, and moving the actuator in the reverse manner causes the plunger to pull outwards relative to its barrel. The invention also comprises various materials, methods of making, geometries and arrangements of parts, and accommodation of various specific existing syringe designs and applications.
US07967788B2 Catheter with variable attachment means
The invention relates to a design for securing tubes, catheters, drains, or other tubular medical devices within the body of a mammal, for example a human, and methods of securing same. The invention includes a first tubular body and at least one second tubular body. The first tubular body includes an outer surface, an inner surface defining a lumen extending longitudinally at least partially through a length of the tubular body, a wall at least partially defined by the outer surface and the inner surface, and a longitudinal axis. The at least one second tubular body includes an outer surface, an inner surface defining a lumen extending longitudinally through the second tubular body, and a wall at least partially defined by the outer surface and the inner surface. The second tubular body is disposed through the wall of the first tubular body transversely to the longitudinal axis.
US07967786B2 Access needle well-suited for percutaneous implantation in a body lumen
An access needle well-suited for percutaneous implantation in a body lumen, such as the stomach or the jejunum. In one embodiment, the access needle comprises a cannula, a needle, a retractable stopper and a spreader. The cannula is a tubular member having a lumen and a pair of side windows providing access to the lumen. The needle is slidably mounted within the cannula lumen and comprises a needle stem and a needle handle, the needle handle extending outwardly from the needle stem proximate to the proximal end thereof. The stopper is coupled to the needle stem for translational movement, the stopper comprising a pair of outwardly-biasing wings removably insertable through the side windows for engaging an interior surface of a patient. The spreader is mounted within the cannula and spreads the wings outwardly as the wings are inserted out the side windows.
US07967784B2 Hand-held electronically controlled injection device for injecting liquid medications
A medication delivery device includes a housing, a door coupled to the housing and moveable between a closed position and an open position. The door permits insertion of a medication container, containing liquid medication, into the housing in the open position. A door opening mechanism is coupled to the door. A push member is axially moveable between a retracted position and a non-retracted position and located external to the medication container. The push member enters the medication container and pushes the liquid medication out of the medication container. A lock mechanism is coupled to the door opening mechanism and prevents opening of the door when the push member is in the non-retracted position inside the medication container, wherein the lock mechanism automatically unlocks the door opening mechanism when the push member is in the retracted position.
US07967783B2 Automatic relay pump system and method
An automatic pump relay system includes controllers coupled to drivers for sequentially discharging fluid from a plurality of medication containers into a coupler having a reflux barrier from which fluid is administered to a patient. The internal fluid pressure of the coupler is determined by a pressure sensing device or devices that provide signals to the controllers that, based at least on the sensor signals, cause the drivers to operate in reverse and forward directions so as to rapidly decrease and raise the fluid pressure within the coupler during a relay from an empty syringe to a filled syringe, thereby avoiding bolus formation and an interruption in infusion therapy. Independently operable syringes pumps are contemplated to be connected in relay fashion to form a modular system. An associated method is also disclosed wherein a fluid administration pressure is stored for use as a reference during a syringe changeover.
US07967780B2 Gastro-esophageal reflux control system and pump
An enteral feeding unit that reduces the occurrence of gastro-esophogeal-pharynegal reflux during feeding includes an automatable feeding pump with a feedback sensor for sensing a relative pressure in a patient's stomach and esophagus, and a regulator system for controlling and monitoring feeding rate to the patient as a function of the relative gastro-esophageal pressure. The system includes a stomach probe that provides a fluid-tight closure of the esophagus. The stomach probe includes a tampon-bladder for watertight closure of the esophagus, in which the tampon-bladder is formed of flexible and/or elastic material. At least an inner cavity of the bladder is provided for the reception of a fluid medium. A prescribed pressure for the medium in the tampon-bladder (53) is maintained by an inner lumen forming the stomach probe, from which an outer hose-like lumen (62) extending to the tampon-bladder (53) is so arranged that between the outer lumen (62) and the inner lumen (61) a channel is formed connected to the inner cavity of the tampon-bladder (53) arranged on the outer lumen (62) by a number of openings (57). The inner cavity (58) of the tampon-bladder (53) is connected via a canal formed between the inner and outer lumina (62) with a suitably graded reservoir or equalizing vessel for the liquid medium situated above the tampon-bladder and outside the patient.
US07967779B2 Powder and liquid mixing syringe
A mixing syringe having a first sealed chamber containing a powder (powder housing) and a second sealed chamber containing a liquid (liquid housing). When the user needs to inject a patient, he or she holds the mixing syringe approximately upright and depresses a plunger. This motion causes a piercer to pierce a foil seal separating the two chambers. The liquid then drops down into the powder housing. The liquid flows through a passage in a piston located in the powder housing, where it then comes in contact with the powder itself. As the user continues pressing the plunger downward, the piercer comes to rest within the piston and seals the passage through the piston, thereby locking the piercer and piston together. The device is then ready for an injection. As the plunger is further depressed, the piston expels the powder and liquid mixture through a needle.
US07967778B2 Chemical liquid injection system
RFID chip (214) having various types of data is mounted on liquid syringe (200). Chemical liquid injector (100) obtains the various types of data from RFID chip (214) to perform a predetermined operation in accordance with at least some of the various types of data. For, example, a variable pattern for liquid can be recorded on RFID chip (214) of liquid syringe (200) to allow chemical liquid injector (100) to inject the liquid in accordance with the predetermined variable pattern. Thus, a large amount of data can be easily input to the chemical liquid injector to perform the various operations.
US07967775B2 Irrigation/aspiration tip
An irrigation/aspiration tip having a relatively rigid cannula attached to a hub and an open end opposite the hub. Coaxially and removable received over the tip is a soft elastomeric or rubber sleeve. The sleeve forms a gap between the sleeve and the cannula, the gap allowing irrigation flow. The distal end of the sleeve is closed by a cap of reduced diameter. The reduced diameter of the cap seals the distal end of the cannula. The relatively soft cap reduces the likelihood that the posterior capsule will tear during cortical clean-up and capsule polishing. Removing the sleeve allows the cannula to be resterilized an unlimited number of times, thereby allowing unlimited reuse of the cannula.
US07967773B2 Two piece medication cassette closure apparatus and method
A disposable medical cassette apparatus and method for housing medication in a tamper resistant enclosure for selective coupled attachment to an ambulatory infusion pump. In some embodiments, the device may include a first assembly comprising a rear housing and a pressure plate affixed to one another, as well as a second assembly comprising a cover that includes a plurality of lock feature protrusions and at least one slotted aperture. The first assembly and second assembly are adapted for permanent coupling by a first and second lock arrangements. Generally, the first lock arrangement includes lock feature protrusions of the second assembly engaging within the lock receiving structures of the first assembly. Further, the second lock arrangement includes at least one tabbed snap member of the first assembly engaging within at least one corresponding slotted aperture of the second assembly.
US07967768B2 Ankle-foot orthosis
An ankle-foot orthosis that comprises: an elastic structure (50) formed of contiguous first (52) and second (54) tubular members, the second tubular member being set at an angle to the first tubular member to define, at least in use, a generally L-shaped cavity (56) configured to accept and fit closely about the foot and ankle of a patient; and a rib (58) which is permanently bonded or otherwise permanently affixed to a region of the structure which overlies the dorsum of the patient's foot in use, said the rib being formed of a flexible material that has a resilience appropriate for resisting the particular degree of plantarflexion experienced by the patient.
US07967767B2 Method and apparatus for dynamic scoliosis orthosis
The invention is a three-contact-point dynamic scoliosis orthosis (DSO) brace to aid physicians treating scoliosis. A pelvic mold and two pads, one positioned above the apex of the spine curvature, the other positioned orthogonal to the apex of the spine curvature provide the anchor points on opposite sides of the curve. The pad orthogonal to the curve's apex is adjustable.
US07967766B2 Compression garment with heel elevation
A garment that includes at least one inflatable chamber for applying compression to a limb for assisting venous return, and an elevation member to elevate the limb. The elevation member may comprise an inflatable chamber, and the garment may be configured for compressive therapy of the leg while elevating the heel, eliminating or otherwise reducing or mitigating pressure on an individual's heel while the leg is in an extended position and undergoing compressive therapy.
US07967761B2 Sensor and guide wire assembly
A sensor and guide wire assembly (21; 41; 61; 81) for intravascular measurements of a physiological variable in a living body includes a sensor element (22; 42; 62; 82) mounted at a distal sensor portion (23; 43; 63; 83) of a guide wire (24; 44; 64; 84), wherein the sensor portion exhibits a maximal cross-sectional dimension which is larger than a maximal cross-sectional dimension of guide wire portions (28, 30; 48, 50; 68, 70) located proximally of the sensor portion.
US07967757B2 Arterial pressure-based, automatic determination of a cardiovascular parameter
One or more cardiovascular parameters is estimated as a function of the arterial pressure waveform, in particular, using at least one statistical moment of a discrete representation pressure waveform having an order greater than one. Arterial compliance, the exponential pressure decay constant, vascular resistance, cardiac output, and stroke volume are examples of cardiovascular parameters that can be estimated using various aspects of the invention. In one embodiment of the invention, not only are the first four moments (mean, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis) of the pressure waveform used to estimate the cardiovascular parameter(s) of interest, but also heart rate, statistical moments of a set of pressure-weighted time values, and certain anthropometric patient measurements such as age, sex, body surface area, etc.
US07967755B2 Ultrasonic probe
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe comprising a group of piezoelectric elements consisting of a plurality of piezoelectric elements of a narrow card shape arrayed in a long-axis direction thereof and a rotational mechanism that rotates and oscillates said group of piezoelectric elements to the left and right in a short-axis direction thereof about the center of said long-axis direction; wherein said rotational mechanism is provided with a first bevel gear having teeth in at least an arc shape, a second bevel gear meshing with said first bevel gear and rotating in the horizontal direction, and a drive motor that rotates said second bevel gear; and also at least one of said first bevel gear and said second bevel gear is made of a synthetic resin.
US07967753B2 Pulse inversion sequences for nonlinear imaging
Provided herein are Pulse-Inversion (PI) sequences that provide for fundamental frequency suppression in nonlinear imaging applications. In an embodiment, a weighting scheme is applied to the received echo pulses resulting from transmit pulses of alternating polarity to reduce the effect of transducer motion. In an embodiment, a three-pulse weighting scheme is applied to a PI sequence. In other embodiments, different combinations of the three-pulse weighting scheme are applied to a PI sequence.
US07967752B2 Sensor system as well as an arrangement and method for monitoring a constituent and in particular glucose in body tissue
The invention generally relates to a sensor system. In particular to a sensor for glucose monitoring. The invention also also relates to an arrangement and a method for monitoring a constituent and in particular glucose in body tissue using a sensor system.
US07967747B2 Filtering apparatus and methods of use
A filter apparatus for use in a body vessel lumen having a wall, which may include a first elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, a second elongate member attached proximate a first end to the first elongate member and having a second end, and a plurality of connectors attached to the second elongate member at spaced-apart intervals of the second elongate member and slidably disposed on the first elongate member, the second elongate member movable between a first elongate configuration where the connectors are at a first average distance apart from each other and a second filtering configuration where the connectors are at a second average distance apart less than the first.
US07967744B2 Biopsy inlet valve
A valve for use in irrigating, accessing and sealing the instrument channel of an endoscope is disclosed. The valve is adapted for installation onto an endoscope instrument inlet port. The valve includes a body, a flip cap, and a seal curtain. The body has an open end adapted for connection to the inlet port, interior walls defining an cavity, and an outer surface defining a valve entry port. The entry port is connected to a channel open to the cavity. The flip cap is removably connectable to the valve entry port and has a slit therethrough. The seal curtain contains a flexible cylindrical portion, and a lid at one end, and is removably insertable into the cavity. A longitudinal axis of the seal curtain in an installed position within the cavity is at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the body.
US07967736B2 Exercise apparatus
Apparatus suitable for pilates and other exercise comprises rails, supported on a box-like frame and an exercise carriage, mounted on the rails, wherein the carriage comprises a first carriage section and a second carriage section which sections can be (i) connected together to form a single exercise carriage which slides forwards and backwards on the rails, or (ii) disconnected to form two exercise carriages which independently slide forwards and backwards on the rails. The apparatus also has a seat with a spring-biased foot pedal and a spring-biased trapeze bar.
US07967731B2 System and method for motivating users to improve their wellness
A system and method for motivating users to improve their wellness utilizes complex event processing on sensor and user-interaction data of the users collected over time using inference and predictive models in order to deliver personalized interactions to motive the users toward their wellness goals.
US07967726B2 Method and an apparatus for controlling shifting of an automatic transmission
A method of controlling an automatic transmission includes determining whether a coast-down control condition is met, and performing coast-down control if the condition is met. The coast-down control includes selectively downshifting, such that engine speed is maintained above a fuel-cut threshold speed. The coast-down control condition may include a throttle opening being below a threshold opening, a shift-speed being higher than or equal to a threshold shift-speed, and a road slope being smaller than a predetermined slope. The method may also include determining whether a deceleration lock-up control condition is met, and performing deceleration lock-up control, including engaging a lock-up clutch, if the condition is met. The deceleration lock-up control condition may include a throttle opening being below a threshold opening, a shift-speed being below a threshold shift-speed, a brake not being operated, and a difference between an engine speed and a turbine speed being smaller than a reference value.
US07967725B2 Method for controlling a power assisted propulsion system in a motor vehicle
A method for controlling a power assisted propulsion system in a motor vehicle so as to perform a transition from a lower gear to a higher gear without interrupting a driving torque applied to driving wheels; the propulsion system displays an internal combustion engine provided with a drive shaft and a power assisted transmission including: a power assisted mechanical gearbox provided with a primary shaft connectable to the drive shaft and a secondary shaft coupled to a transmission shaft which transmits motion to the driving wheels; a power assisted clutch interposed between the drive shaft and the primary shaft of the gearbox to couple and decouple the drive shaft to the primary shaft of the gearbox; a power assisted brake; and an epicycloidal gear having three rotating elements: a first rotating element coupled to the drive shaft, a second rotating element coupled to the secondary shaft of the gearbox, and a third rotating element coupled to the brake.
US07967718B2 Bicycle hub transmission
A bicycle hub transmission basically includes a hub axle, a driver, a hub shell, a power transmission mechanism and a shift mechanism. The driver is rotatably supported relative to the hub axle. The hub shell is rotatably supported relative to the driver. The power transmission mechanism includes a downstream planetary gear unit and an upstream planetary gear unit disposed between the driver and the hub shell to selectively transmit rotational power from the driver to the hub shell through one a plurality of power transmission paths. The shift mechanism is operatively coupled to the power transmission mechanism to select one of the power transmission paths. The downstream planetary gear unit includes at least a planetary gear carrier that meshes with planetary gears of the upstream planetary gear unit.
US07967714B2 Drive and transmission module with a layout adapted for a vehicle
A drive consists of a drive source and a connected transmission module that is built up of a bypass transmission with connected supporting devices for the support of torque, a transmission, a torque converter, and several clutches and reductions. The bypass transmission has three rotation bodies and is made as a planetary gear. The third rotation body can be connected via a clutch to the supporting devices, which are formed by a flywheel. The first rotation body is connected via the torque converter to the drive source, and via a drive clutch to an ingoing shaft of the transmission. The second rotation body a finally is connected via a first and third reduction to an outgoing shaft of the transmission and the outgoing shaft can be connected via the first and second reduction to the driven wheels of a vehicle, which are depicted schematically by a rectangle. Each reduction is formed by two interlocking gear wheels, in which the first and third reduction possess a joint gear wheel.
US07967709B2 Bicycle sprocket
A bicycle sprocket is provided with a metallic sprocket ring part and a non-metallic inner ring part. The metallic sprocket ring part has a crank facing surface, an opposing surface, an inner periphery and an outer periphery with a plurality of sprocket teeth arranged thereon. The sprocket ring part includes at least one connecting portion integrally formed with the sprocket ring part as a one-piece, unitary member. The non-metallic inner ring part at least partially overlaps the inner periphery of the metallic sprocket ring part to at least partially non-movably couple the non-metallic inner ring part to the metallic sprocket ring part with at least one selected portion being absent of the non-metallic inner ring part to allow relative elastic deformation between the metallic sprocket ring part and the non-metallic inner ring in an axial direction.
US07967707B2 Belt-driven conical-pulley transmission with improved towing suitability
An input-side drive arrangement for a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission includes an input shaft that is rigidly connected to an axially fixed disk, and an axially movable disk that can be shifted axially on the shaft and is rotationally fixed to the shaft. A torque-sensing device has a first shaped surface that is rigidly connected to the shaft and a second shaped surface that is rigidly connected to a sensing piston that surrounds the shaft and is rotatable and axially movable relative to the shaft. The sensing piston engages a rotationally drivable input wheel and can be subjected to hydraulic pressure from the side facing the movable disk. The rotationally fixed and axially movable engagement between the sensing piston and the input wheel is such that the engagement is disconnected when there is torque acting from the movable disk and the sensing piston is not under hydraulic pressure.
US07967703B2 Golf ball having reduced surface hardness
A method of making a golf ball comprising: forming a cover about a core comprising at least one cover layer comprising a cover inner surface and a cover outer surface and having a thickness D; treating the cover outer surface with a fatty acid and/or fatty acid salt composition and forming a treated cover region which extends inward from the cover outer surface a penetration depth DCTr, an untreated cover region being disposed between the cover inner surface and the treated cover region and having a depth (DCUTr)=(D)−(DCTr); wherein the treated cover region has a hardness α and the untreated cover region has a hardness β different than the hardness α. The method may comprise treating the cover inner surface with a fatty acid and/or fatty acid salt composition and forming a treated cover region which extends outward from the cover inner surface; The method may also comprise forming a cover comprising a cover inner surface having a hardness β and a cover outer surface having a hardness α; treating the cover outer surface with a fatty acid and/or fatty acid salt composition wherein the treated cover outer surface has a hardness α′ different from hardness α; and wherein hardness β is different than at least one of hardness α and hardness α′.
US07967700B2 Golf club head or other ball striking device having adjustable stiffened face portion
A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a head that includes a face configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face, the body being adapted for connection of a shaft thereto. The head may include one or more stiffening elements or other structures engaging the face to provide locally increased stiffness to particular areas of the face. The stiffening element can be movable to create regions of increased stiffness in desired locations, leaving other regions of the face to have increased flexibility as compared to the stiffened regions.
US07967699B2 Golf club having removable sole weight
A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a removable weight member secured to the sole via a non-threaded attachment assembly. Further, the removable weight member has a large surface area relative to its thickness, resulting in a chip-like or wafer-like weight member. This design allows the mass of the weight member to be spread substantially along the surface of the sole as opposed to in the interior of the club head. The golf club head may comprise more than one removable weight member. A weight member of the present invention may comprise one or more discrete areas of higher basis weight or higher density.
US07967695B2 Systems and methods for fitting golf equipment
A golf equipment fitting system that uses advanced technology to not only objectively identify the optimum equipment for the golfer, but to also identify and help correct swing flaws so that the golfer can achieve optimum performance on the golf course. Thus, in one embodiment, golf fitting includes collecting data related to the golfer's swing and determining if the golfer's swing technique should be modified based at least in part on the collected swing data. When it is determined that the golfer's swing technique should be modified, then providing swing instruction to the golfer. When, however, it is determined that the golfer's swing technique is fine, then collecting data related to how the golfer's swing launches a golf ball. Finally, golf equipment, e.g., golf clubs, can be specified based on the collected swing data and launch data.
US07967693B1 Rotary game table
A rotary game table includes a combination game table, two side support members, and at least one cross member. The combination game table includes one type of game on one side and another type of game on the other side. The at least one cross member is terminated on each end by a single side support member. The combination game table is pivotally retained by one side support member on each end thereof. A locking device is used to pivotally constrain rotation of the combination game table. At least one table cross member is used to internally brace the combination game table with at least one air passage formed therethrough. In another embodiment, a substantially U-shaped side member is attached to one cross member and one end of the two side support members. In another embodiment, a collapsible support is used to increase rigidity of the side support members.
US07967692B2 Water slide audio visual entertainment system
An interactive water slide includes a plurality of light and sound sources synchronized with a theme chosen by the rider, the lighting and sound changes as the rider travels down the slide. Images are projected onto a screens of water that block the path of the rider and as the rider travels down the slide the rider must go through these projected images.
US07967689B2 Miniature spooling apparatus
A miniature spooling apparatus is described. The miniature spooling apparatus includes a housing having a miniature motor attached within the housing. The miniature motor has a shaft extending therefrom, with a mechanically powered spool attached with the shaft. A magnet is connected with the shaft and/or the spool. An integrated circuit is connected with the motor to operate the motor. Additionally, a magnetic reed switch is connected with the integrated circuit such that as a user pulls the thread and manually rotates the item, the magnet rotates to actuate the magnetic reed switch which is connected with the integrated circuit, thereby initiating the motor to start winding the thread around the spool. When the spool is still for a predetermined amount of time, the integrated circuit is configured to turn off the motor. Additionally, the miniature spooling apparatus is housed in an item, such as a pen, to conceal the apparatus.
US07967686B2 Longitudinal drive shaft for motor vehicles
A longitudinal drive shaft for motor vehicles, for transferring a torque, consists of two or more shaft sections which are connected with one another by way of an intermediate shaft or a journal. The intermediate shaft or the journal is the carrier of a center bearing and is connected to the shaft section by a homokinetic displacement joint rigidly disposed in a pipe. The parts of the center bearing and shaft sections that are displaced in a crash are configured to be smaller than the inside diameter of the pipe. The inside diameter of the outer joint ring is greater than the outside diameters of the roller bearing of the center bearing and of the pipe. The homokinetic displacement joint is sealed off with a sealing cap and a sealing bellows in the direction of the shaft section, and has a closure lid assigned to it.
US07967685B2 Inner ring for constant velocity universal joint and manufacturing apparatus therefor
An inner ring of a constant velocity universal joint includes ball tracks formed in an outer surface at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction. Portions of side walls of the ball tracks that form edge lines with the outer surface are formed with a chamfer along the entire length of the axial direction.
US07967681B2 System and method for providing enhanced amusement game tournament play
Enhanced amusement game tournament play is achieved by awarding prizes to one or more players maintaining a position on a threshold game score achieving, bump board listing, a prize qualifying cumulative threshold game score total, and/or a prize qualifying cumulative actual game score total wherein individual game scores are required to meet a threshold game score prior to being added to the cumulative total. These methods for awarding prizes may also include the awarding of prizes to one or more players achieving a prize qualifying individual game score and/or a prize qualifying cumulative game score total.
US07967676B2 Gaming device and method having an award generator and a plurality of tracking meters
A gaming device having an award generator and a plurality of tracking meters. In one embodiment, each tracking meter is associated with one of a plurality of indicators. The gaming device increments at least one of the plurality of tracking meters based on one or more events which occur in association with a play of a game. The gaming device then determines if at least one of the tracking meters has been incremented a predetermined number of times. If at least one of the tracking meters has been incremented the predetermined number of times, the gaming device activates the award generator, indicates a plurality of the sections of the award generator with a plurality of indicators, determines the award indicated by the indicator associated with the tracking meter which has been incremented the predetermined number of times, and provides the determined award to a player.
US07967672B2 Card reading device and card game fraud detection device
A card reading device comprises a rail (18) for guiding a card; card sensors (46, 48, 50) for detecting a passing card which is slid by hand and guided by the rail (18), which are placed in a card sliding direction with a certain gap; and reading sensors (52, 54) for reading code attached to the card, which are placed between the two card sensors in the card sliding direction. The card have the cord which is printed in UV-luminous ink on the card, and the code comprises at least two code rows which are placed across the card sliding direction with a certain gap. The two reading sensors (52, 54) are placed in positions which correspond to the gap of the two code rows, and the card sensors (46, 48, 50) output signal for detecting a position of the passing card.
US07967667B2 Automatic apparatus and process for shedding superficial adherent substances off creature
An automatic apparatus includes an input platform, a creature shaking mechanism, a flushing unit and an output platform. The input platform has a transporting unit. A creature container containing at least one creature is placed on the input platform. The creature shaking mechanism is connected to the input platform. When the creature container is transported to a positioning region of the creature shaking mechanism, the creature container is subject to a shaking operation in response to a power source, thereby turning over the creature and exposing different surfaces of the at least one creature. The flushing unit generates a spout of water to flush the different surfaces of the at least one creature so as to sufficiently shed superficial adherent substances off the at least one creature. The output platform is connected to the creature shaking mechanism for receiving the creature container that is departed from the positioning region.
US07967665B2 Substrate holding apparatus, polishing apparatus, and polishing method
A substrate holding apparatus prevents a substrate from slipping out and allows the substrate to be polished stably. The substrate holding apparatus has a top ring body for holding and pressing a substrate against a polishing surface, and a retainer ring for pressing the polishing surface, the retainer ring being disposed on an outer circumferential portion of the top ring body. The retainer ring includes a first member made of a magnetic material and a second member having a magnet disposed on a surface thereof which is held in abutment against the first member.
US07967664B2 Device and process for cleaning, activation or pretreatment of work pieces by means of carbon dioxide blasting
The invention relates to a device and method for cleaning, activating or pre-treating workpieces by blasting a carbon dioxide snow which is produced from pressurized CO2-containing fluids and at least one type of carrying compressed gas and is accelerated by means of a discharge nozzle (14), wherein a two-phase carbon dioxide mixture of a carbon dioxide gas and carbon dioxide particles is produced in an agglomeration chamber (8) by agglomerating and compressing carbon dioxide snow crystals which are radially added to the carrying gas in a multistage mixing chamber (10, 11, 12) comprising a central jet pipe (4), around which the carbon dioxide mixture circulates and which is used for supplying said carrying gas in such a manner that a high-energy turbulent gas flow for processing a workpiece is obtainable.
US07967662B2 Apparatus for lapping sliders using axially deformable member
An apparatus for lapping sliders comprises a rotatable lapping plate for lapping elements that are to be formed into sliders, a pushing force adjusting member that has an internal space therein and that extends vertically along an lapping plate axis that is perpendicular to the lapping plate, a pusher for pressing the elements, the pusher being connected to the pushing force adjusting member, and gas supply means for supplying a gas into the internal space, the gas supply means being connected to the pushing force adjusting member. The pushing force adjusting member comprises a first part that includes a connection with the pusher, a second part that includes a coupling between the internal space and the gas supply means, and an axially deformable part that is located between the first part and the second part. A length of the axially deformable part changes in a direction of the lapping plate axis in accordance with pressure in the internal space such that deformation of the axially deformable part causes a change in the pushing force of the pushing force adjusting member against the pusher.
US07967652B2 Methods for combining light emitting devices in a package and packages including combined light emitting devices
Methods of forming a light emitting device package assembly include defining a chromaticity region in a two dimensional chromaticity space, and subdividing the defined chromaticity region into at least three chromaticity subregions, providing a plurality of light emitting devices that emit light having a chromaticity that falls within at least one of the defined chromaticity subregions, selecting at least three of the plurality of light emitting devices, each of the three light emitting devices emits light from a different one of the chromaticity subregions, and mounting the selected light emitting devices on a light emitting device package body.
US07967649B2 Electrical contact with wire clamp
A contact for connecting a wire to a terminal has a contact part engageable with the terminal and defining a main plane, and a wire part formed unitarily with the contact part and forming in an open position a seat offset from the plane and adapted to receive the wire and lying in a closed position coplanar with the contact part.
US07967645B2 High speed data communications connector circuits, systems, and methods for reducing crosstalk in communications systems
A communications outlet includes a plurality of electrically conductive paths arranged in pairs and an electrically conductive shield. A plurality of conductive elements connected to a corresponding conductive path and the conductive elements configured, for each pair, to balance a capacitive coupling between the electrically conductive shield and the conductive paths of that pair.
US07967636B2 Electrical connector with terminals staggered from each other
Provided is an electrical connector including an insulative housing defining a plurality of terminal grooves therein and a plurality of terminals received in said terminal grooves. The terminals comprise a plurality of first terminal groups and second terminal groups which are configured as a same structure and alternatively arranged. Each of said first and second terminal groups comprises at least a base portion and an opening portion thereon. The base portion of the first terminal group faces to the opening portion of the neighboring second terminal group, while the opening portion of the first terminal group faces to the base portion of the neighboring second terminal group.
US07967634B1 Joint structure for a cable
A joint structure for a cable contains a connecting sleeve including threads formed around an inner wall thereof and a shoulder extending on a bottom end of the inner wall thereof; an internal tube including an arresting ring extending around an upper end thereof and a circular groove arranged around an outer wall thereof; an outer fitting member including a hole disposed on a top surface thereof; a sheath member including an arrest rib extending around a bottom end thereof and a threaded section mounted around an inner wall thereof; a stopping loop including a plurality of resilient paws arranged around an upper end thereof and spaced apart from each other, the resilient paws being titled inward; a screwed sliding member including a screwed portion disposed around an outer wall thereof to screw with the threaded section of the sheath member.
US07967631B2 Stacked electrical connector with improved insulators
A stacked electrical connector includes a first insulator and a second insulator mounted together. The first insulator includes a first connector and a receiving opening under a bottom wall of the first connector. The second insulator includes a second connector and a top wall. The bottom wall of the first connector includes a first retention member and the top wall of the second insulator defines a second retention member for mating with the first retention member. The first retention member is a protrusion or a dovetail shaped recess, and the second retention member is a rest of the protrusion or the dovetail shaped recess. The protrusion has an upper narrow section and a lower wide section under a condition that when the protrusion is received in the dovetail shaped recess, a movement therebetween can be prevented.
US07967629B1 Interlocking connector
An interlocking connector includes a plug assembly and an appliance socket unit. The plug assembly includes a front hollow seat, an inner seat for receiving a pair of conductive connecting pins, and a rear housing having an extension power line. The inner seat has a front portion received in the front hollow seat, and has a rear portion received in the rear housing. A liftable and closable lid is provided on the top of the inner seat, and a recessed space is formed in the inner seat in opposition to the lid. The front hollow seat has an elastic strip which has a triangular engaging block having a slope and a raised press block. The rear housing has an opening to allow the press block to protrude out of a surface thereof, so that the press block can transmit a force toward the recessed space to displace the engaging block.
US07967623B2 Lamp socket, backlight assembly having the same and display device having the same
A lamp socket includes a socket housing and a plurality of power supply members. The socket housing has a plurality of connecting holes extended in a vertical direction. The power supply members are disposed in the connecting holes, respectively, and each of the power supply members includes a plurality of lamp connecting parts and an inverter connecting part. The lamp connecting parts are protruded from an upper surface of the socket housing and include first and second portions facing each other. The inverter connecting part is integrally formed with the lamp connecting parts, and is protruded from a lower surface of the socket housing.
US07967619B2 Light string with improved shunt system
This utility model relates to a decorative light, and particularly, to a decorative light capable of avoiding an open circuit condition on an entire string of bulbs that operate in series when an individual bulb is removed. The decorative light comprises a socket, a bulb base, a bulb and two terminals, wherein the socket is provided with a retainer therein, which has an opening laterally extending therethrough, and an elastic, conductive ring or coil with a thickness smaller than a width of the opening is disposed within the opening. When the elastic ring or coil is in a natural state, the elastic ring extends outside the retainer through the opening at two sides of the retainer. The bulb base is further provided with an inserting partition at the bottom thereof The elastic conductive ring has two states: one is a separating state where the bulb base is inserted into the socket. In this first state, the inserting partition of the bulb base separates one side of the elastic ring or coil from the corresponding terminals. The other state is a conducting state of the two terminals when the bulb base is removed from the socket. In this second state both sides of the elastic, conductive ring or coil provide contact with the two terminals respectively. This utility model provides a decorative light capable of preventing failure of the complete string of bulbs when any bulb is removed.
US07967617B2 Trailer tow connector assembly
An electrical connector including a first connector portion and a second connector portion, and interface electronics for providing an interface between terminals associated with the first and second connector portions and a vehicle bus.
US07967615B2 Method and apparatus for grounding and mounting a high amperage single pole connector
A combination grounding/mounting connector and method for mounting an electrical receptacle adapted to receive an electrical current carrying cable connector to a panel. The combination grounding/mounting connector device includes a first portion passing through an aperture formed in the receptacle and the panel for engaging a device for securing the electrical receptacle to the panel, the first portion accommodating connection to an electrical ground; and, a second portion providing an electrical ground connector when the first portion is connected to an electrical ground.
US07967614B1 Plug connector and connector assembly having a pluggable board substrate
A plug connector having a plug body including a board substrate. The board substrate has at least one engagement surface that is configured to interface with mating contacts of a receptacle connector. The plug connector also includes a plurality of differential pairs that extend along the board substrate. The differential pairs include conductive pathways that have contact pads located on said at least one engagement surface. The contact pads are configured to electrically engage the mating contacts of the receptacle connector. The conductive pathways of at least one differential pair form a cross-over such that the conductive pathways of the plurality of differential pairs have a first arrangement with respect to each other before the cross-over and a different second arrangement after the cross-over. The first and second arrangements generate first and second crosstalk components, respectively, that are configured to offset one another.
US07967612B2 Socket connector having reinforced and compact mounting arrangement
An electrical connector assembly for establishing electrical connection between an Integrated Package (IC) and a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is provided. The electrical connector assembly comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts received in the insulative housing, a PCB adapted to have the insulative housing mounted thereon and a metal reinforcement element disposed on a lower surface of the housing and soldered to the PCB. By way abovementioned, a back plate may be canceled and space under the PCB is saved under a condition that steady mechanical connection between the PCB and the housing is achieved.
US07967611B2 Electrical interconnect and method for electrically coupling a plurality of devices
An electrical interconnect system includes a first circuit board that includes at least one via, and a conductor configured to transmit an electrical current therethrough. The conductor includes a first signal contact extending from a conductor first end, and a dielectric cylinder configured to receive the conductor therethrough. The dielectric cylinder includes a first bellows element extending from a first end of the dielectric cylinder that is positioned adjacent to the first signal contact. The first bellows element and the dielectric cylinder are configured to form a substantially continuous outer conductor, wherein the conductor and the first bellows are configured to electrically interface to the via and maintain connection thereto using a biasing force.
US07967609B2 System for connecting appliances to wall outlets
Systems and adaptors for electrical connection of appliances are disclosed. An electrical connection includes an appliance adaptor having an appliance adaptor body, conducting members, and at least one magnet, and a wall adaptor having a wall adaptor body, conducting prongs, conducting rings, a spring member, and at least one magnet. The electrical connection system has an uncoupled state in which the at least one appliance adaptor magnet does not magnetically couple with the at least one wall adaptor magnet, the conducting members do not electrically contact the conducting rings, and the conducting rings do not electrically contact the conducting prongs. The electrical connection system also has a coupled state in which the at least one appliance adaptor magnet magnetically couples with the at least one wall adaptor magnet, the conducting members electrically contact the conducting rings, and the conducting rings electrically contact the conducting prongs.
US07967602B2 Pliers for forming orthodontic wires
A pliers for forming orthodontic wires has opposing beaks with complementary wire-forming surfaces that include interfering portions. A hinge mechanism enables the beaks to open and close by rotating about an axis, and also allows a range of axial motion between the beaks sufficient to prevent interference between the wire-forming surfaces as the beaks are closed. By preventing such interference, novel over-bending capabilities can be achieved to form useful bending of low spring rate wire. A spring, such as a Belleville washer, exerts a biasing force parallel to the hinge axis to maintain alignment of the beaks, but allows the required range of axial motion between the beaks to prevent interference.
US07967597B2 Mold releasing device and mold releasing method
A mold releasing method for releasing a core member from a mold includes steps of: a) providing a supporting member and arranging the supporting member on the mold, the supporting member comprising a base and a number of sidewalls extending from the base to the mold, a through hole being defined in the substrate and co-axially aligned with the core member; b) providing a bolt, the bolt comprising a threaded rod extending through the through hole of the substrate and threadedly engaged with the core member; and c) rotating the bolt to move the core member to disengage from the mold.
US07967592B2 Rotary tablet press with washing device and rotor for it
The invention relates to a rotary table press with washing device and to a rotor for it, said rotor being provided at least with a bottom-punch guide ring (11) having guides (12) for bottom punches and with a die plate (17) arranged between the punch guide rings, wherein at least one sealing element (26) interacting with the associated punch is provided for the bottom punches. In order to improve the use of an automatic washing device, a leakage passage (30) for draining off the washing liquid is formed according to the invention in the bottom-punch guide ring for each bottom punch guide. The leakage passages are preferably to perform their draining function only when leakages are occur unnoticed at individual sealing elements of the bottom punch guides.
US07967590B2 Injection unit for an injection moulding machine
An injection unit for an injection molding machine includes a screw cylinder, a plasticizing screw which can be driven therein axially and rotatably, the drive unit of which has an electric drive motor, a spindle drive coupled to the screw for the axial movement of the screw, and a rotary drive arranged coaxially with the spindle drive and allowing an axial displacement of the screw for the rotational movement of the screw. A differential gearing, is arranged between the drive motor, on the one hand, and spindle drive and rotary drive, on the other hand, with a differential cage, two driven gears and at least one compensating gear in between.
US07967589B2 Mold for making ceramics
A forming mold for making ceramics having a pattern includes a first mold made of a water-permeable material and including a first press face, a second mold made of a water-permeable material and including a second press face, and a third mold made of a water non-permeable material and disposed between the first and second molds. The third mold has a third press face in contact with the first press face, and a patterned face opposite to the third press face and cooperating with the second press face to confine a forming space.
US07967585B2 Method for manufacturing trochoid pump and trochoid pump obtained
The present invention enables the manufacture of a trochoid pump having a crescent which has been considered theoretically impossible by employing an inner rotor of a trochoid pump. An inner rotor having a predetermined number N of teeth that is equal to or larger than 4 is formed in advance. In order to manufacture an outer rotor with a predetermined number (N plus a natural number equal to or larger than 2) of teeth, row circles that are identical to a drawn circle are disposed so as to bring the row circles into contact with the tooth bottomland of the inner rotor tooth profile, the inner rotor tooth profile is rotated by half a tooth about the center of the inner rotor and the outer rotor tooth profile is also rotated by half a tooth of the predetermined number (N plus a natural number equal to or larger than 2) of teeth about a virtual center of the outer rotor including the row circles, an established center is determined from the virtual center or the like at the time at which the contact state is assumed, a reference circle is drawn that has a radius from the established center to the row circles and that has the total predetermined number (N plus a natural number equal to or larger than 2) of the equidistantly spaced row circles to form the row circles as outer rotor tooth tips, thereby manufacturing the outer rotor tooth profile.
US07967578B2 Hydraulic gravity ram pump
A piston type pumping apparatus comprises a vertically oriented cylinder having a top and a bottom with a first aperture. There are first and second passageways for liquid in the cylinder at the top and bottom respectively thereof. A piston is reciprocatingly mounted within the cylinder and has an area against which pressurized fluid acts in the direction of movement of the piston. A hollow piston rod is connected to the piston and extends below the piston and slidably through the first aperture. There is a reload chamber below the cylinder. The piston rod extends slidably into the reload chamber and has a third passageway for liquid communicating thereto. A first one-way valve is located in the third passageway. There is also a fourth passageway that extends from the reload chamber to a source of liquid to be pumped and a second one-way valve therein.
US07967576B2 Automatised assembly operating unit in particular for aerosol appliances
The invention concerns an operating unit to generate a flow of air under pressure in aerosol therapy equipment, comprising a pump group (12) powered by a motor and having a head (19), with an air inlet duct (22) complete with filter (24) and an air outlet duct (23). The pump group is enclosed in a body made up of two shells, top and bottom, (13, 14) which overlap and fit together on a transversal plane at the level of their edges. The shells forming the body receive and hold the air inlet duct (22) with filter, the air outlet duct (23) and a plate with socket and switch following their overlapping for automizable assembly of the group.
US07967575B2 Centrifugal fan
An arrangement of a low air inlet and a circuit for driving a torque generator in an ultra-compact centrifugal fan is disclosed. In the ultra-compact centrifugal fan, a region occupied by the circuit is not completely arranged radially inside a cup-shaped portion to which an impeller is attached. At least a part of the low air inlet provided on a bottom of a housing of the centrifugal fan is arranged in a range of predetermined angle in an imaginary ring-shaped portion surrounding a base portion covered by the cup-shaped portion. A part of the circuit, that is not covered by the cup-shaped portion, is arranged upstream of the range of the predetermined angle in a flowing direction of airflow.
US07967573B2 Method for driving a bidirectional motor to rotate a fluid circulation pump
A method for starting a motor (14) with a bidirectional rotation direction, to rotate a fluid circulation centrifugal pump (10) having a predetermined optimum hydraulic efficiency depending on the starting rotation direction thereof. The method provides an initial motor (14) starting in either rotation direction, with subsequent pump (10) rotation in the same direction and, subsequently, a periodical interruption and restoration of the motor (14) power feeding as many times (N, N′) as to ensure the motor (14) starting, at least one or more times within a predetermined time interval (Ttot, Ts), in the rotation direction which corresponds to the predetermined pump (10) optimum hydraulic speed.
US07967569B2 Vertical shaft wind turbine and method of installing blades therein
This invention relates to a vertical shaft wind turbine, and particularly to an installation method of blades that can effectively improve the efficiency of a vertical shaft wind turbine. A supporting plane is connected to vertical shaft and a blade is installed on supporting plane. The airfoil of the blade is an asymmetrical camber airfoil. The convex surface of blade is installed facing the vertical shaft. The blade rotary angle is in the range of 0-15 degrees. This invention represents a remarkable progress in the field of wind power generation and is applicable industrially.
US07967567B2 Multi-pass cooling for turbine airfoils
An airfoil for a turbine vane of a gas turbine engine. The airfoil includes an outer wall having pressure and suction sides, and a radially extending cooling cavity located between the pressure and suction sides. A plurality of partitions extend radially through the cooling cavity to define a plurality of interconnected cooling channels located at successive chordal locations through the cooling cavity. The cooling channels define a serpentine flow path extending in the chordal direction. Further, the cooling channels include a plurality of interconnected chambers and the chambers define a serpentine path extending in the radial direction within the serpentine path extending in the chordal direction.
US07967564B1 Blade deflection measurement with magnetostrictive sensor
A measurement arrangement for measuring a deflection of a wind turbine rotor blade is provided. The measurement arrangement includes a magnetostrictive sensor, which includes a first sensor part and a second sensor part, a first support structure, which is adapted to be mounted to a first portion of the rotor, wherein the first sensor part is mounted to the first support structure, and a second support structure, which may be mounted to a second portion of the rotor, wherein the second sensor part is mounted to the second support structure and wherein either or both the first portion and the second portion is a portion of the blade. The magnetostrictive sensor measures the relative spatial position between the first sensor part and the second sensor part. A method for measuring a blade deflection and a wind turbine rotor which includes the described blade deflection measurement arrangement are also provided.
US07967563B1 Turbine blade with tip section cooling channel
A second stage turbine blade for an IGT includes a leading edge cooling supply channel to provide convection cooling to the leading edge region, and a blade tip cooling channel connected downstream from the leading edge supply channel to provide cooling for the blade tip region. A three-pass aft flowing serpentine cooling circuit provides convection cooling for the mid-chord region and discharges cooling air through a row of trailing edge exit holes or slots. A re-supply hole connects the end of the tip cooling channel to the second leg of the serpentine flow circuit to merge the tip channel cooling air with the serpentine flow cooling air before being discharged through the exit holes.
US07967562B2 Ceramic matrix composite capped bolt attachment
A fastener for a turbine engine includes a bolt and a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) cap mechanically secured to the bolt. CMC components are attached to an exhaust nozzle case with the fasteners. The fastener includes a bolt made of metal and having a head. A CMC cap is located on the head of the bolt and secured to the bolt by a mechanical device. The mechanical device allows the CMC cap to have a different thermal expansion than the bolt. The CMC cap also acts as a thermal shield for the bolt, aiding in the reduction of a heat signature of the turbine engine.
US07967560B2 Radially energized oil capture device for a geared turbofan
A turbine engine utilizes an oil director to direct any leakage oil from a rear bearing compartment of the turbine engine toward a drain opening for an oil drain. The oil drain is formed in a heat shield located between the low pressure turbine and the exhaust nozzle. The oil drain directs the leakage oil to a benign area of the turbine engine.
US07967557B2 Multiblade centrifugal blower
A multiblade centrifugal blower includes a centrifugal fan including a hub rotated by a motor, and plural curved rectangular blades arranged at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction of the hub forming a cylindrical basket with an opening on a front side of the hub, and a scroll casing including an air inlet and an air outlet, and houses the centrifugal fan inside to face the air inlet. A length from a rear end to an front end of an outer edge of the blade is shorter than a length from a rear end to an front end of an inner edge of the blade, and a bell mouth is configured such that distance between a tip part of the inner edge of the blade and an inner wall of the scroll casing is the minimum at an inner tip part P of the bell mouth of the air inlet.
US07967548B2 Material handling system
A material handling system for engaging and transporting material. The material handling system includes a mouth and a hydraulic actuator for pivoting a tooth within the mouth. Once a material has been positioned within the mouth, the hydraulic piston actuates the tooth to secure the material within the mouth. The tooth is preferably configured and oriented to move into tighter engagement with the material as gravity or other forces attempt to remove the material from the mouth. The hydraulic piston allows an operator to release the tooth whenever desired. The material handling system includes a vehicle mounted boom coupled to the mouth so that material engaged by the mouth may be transported to another desired location.
US07967547B2 Work machine
In a work machine 1, an angle θ formed by a first line segment L1 connecting a pivot position Y of a bell crank 11 on a boom 10 and a pivot position X of the bell crank 11 on a connecting link 13, and a second line segment L2 connecting the pivot position Y of the bell crank 11 on the boom 10 and a pivot position W of the bell crank 11 on the tilt cylinder 12 on a bucket 20 side is 176 (deg) or less, an angle α formed by the second line segment L2 and a line segment L3 connecting the pivot position W of the bell crank 11 on the tilt cylinder 12 and a pivot position Z of the tilt cylinder 12 on a working structure is 72.3 (deg) or less, and, in a case where the bucket 20 is set at a top position, a lowering angle ω of a front end of a lower surface of the bucket 20 is 4.5 (deg) or less.
US07967545B2 Lifter device for displacement of an article
A device for mounting on an implement carrier such as a fork lift truck, hoisting crane or the like in order to move, hold or lift an object. The device comprises—a carrier part which is mounted on the implement carrier preferably by the carrier part being in the form of a sleeve which is inserted on the implement carrier's fork structure, and—a holding part which is attached to the carrier. part, the holding part being provided with at least one securing device with characteristics that make it possible to secure an object by contact between at least one of the object's surfaces and the securing device, —a trigger that ensures that the forces acting between the object's surface and the securing device are broken or discontinued, thus releasing the object.
US07967543B2 Automatic case loader and method for use of same
A system and method for automated trailer loading that utilizes an automatic case loader for loading product in a trailer is disclosed. A mobile base structure provides a support framework for a drive subassembly, conveyance subassembly, an industrial robot, a distance measurement sensor, and a control subassembly. Under the operation of the control subassembly, product advances through a powered transportation path and is stacked as product columns which are presented to an industrial robot which places the product columns within the trailer. The control subassembly coordinates the selective articulated movement of the industrial robot and the activation of the drive subassembly, which provides for forward and reverse movement as well as traverse movement between so that product may be loaded within multiple trailers without interruption.
US07967541B2 Apparatus for handling and racking pipes
An apparatus for handling pipes in a derrick and racking the pipes on a pipe racking assembly mounted on the derrick is provided to improve the stability of transferring pipes during a round trip operation.
US07967539B2 Fastener provided with a snap-engagement foot for thrusting through a hole in a panel
The fastener comprises a head and a snap-engagement foot comprising a rigid core and curved flexible wings. Each wing has a convex surface bordered by said core, by a longitudinal edge surface and by a transverse edge surface. Each transverse edge surface has, viewed by an observer viewing said convex surface, a V-shape of which the point, which is directed outwardly, is located at said inflection plane. The core is a hub about which at least three said wings are regularly spaced. Each wing comprises a corner delimited by said longitudinal edge surface and by a shoulder and a web less thick than the corner, disposed between the hub and the shoulder. Each wing is adapted to flex by elastic deformation towards the convex surface of the neighboring wing.
US07967533B2 Surface-coated cutting tool
A surface-coated cutting tool includes a coating layer (108) formed on a substrate (104), wherein assuming that the average thickness of the coating layer (108) on a first surface (106) and a second surface (107) of the substrate (104) is A, a difference between the maximum and minimum thicknesses of the coating layer (108) is 0.04×A or less. Also, a surface-coated cutting tool includes a coating layer (108) formed on a substrate (104), wherein assuming that the average thickness of the coating layer (108) on a first surface (106) of the substrate (104) is B1, and the average thickness of the coating layer (108) on a second surface (107) of the substrate (104) is B2, a value obtained by dividing an absolute difference value between B1 and B2 by a larger value of B1 and B2 is 0.04 or less.
US07967532B2 Ground anchor or rock anchor with an anchor tension member comprised of one or more individual elements with corrosion-protected anchor head design
A ground anchor or rock anchor is provided that includes an anchor tension member composed of one or more individual elements, such as steel bars, steel wires, or steel wire strands. While the anchor tension member is intended to be introduced into a drilled hole and anchored there, the anchoring of the anchor tension member at the exposed end of the drilled hole is achieved with the aid of anchor head. To this end, the anchor head comprises a support element to bear directly or indirectly against the underlying rock or substratum, and an anchoring component for tensioning the individual elements, which can be brought into a frictional connection with the individual elements while bearing against the support element. In addition, a cap, which extends around the anchoring component and the ends of the individual elements, protects the exposed end of the anchor head. For secure attachment of the cap to the rest of the anchor head, between the support element and anchoring component, a connecting element is arranged that has a first closure component at its circumferential side, and has a second closure component of complementary shape on its circumferential side, wherein the first and second closure component work together to produce a frictional connection between the cap and connecting element.
US07967530B2 Sub-ducting apparatus
A sub-ducting apparatus comprising a sub-duct, and a remotely operable path-finding head for facilitation of the subduct into a duct. The head is detachable at the end of the subduct and includes an expandable portion or a cutter, as a result of which, twisted or jammed cables may be removed from the duct.
US07967526B2 Device reducing speed of vehicles travelling on a roadway
The invention relates to a device reducing speed of vehicles travelling on a roadway, formed by at least one strip of flexible material, rubber or other similar material, made up of several hollow chambers which are interconnected by a calibrated conduit which enables the controlled passage of the fluid filling said chambers from that flattened by the wheel of the vehicle towards the adjacent chamber. The fluid contained therein is water, or a non-Newtonian fluid offering the higher viscosity, the higher the stress gradient applied thereto is, the fluid itself acting as means for controlling the resistance to deformation of the strip as the higher is the speed of impact of the vehicle in said strip.
US07967524B2 Stackable landscape edging
A landscape edging member for use in defining borders of walks, patios, driveways and the like, is provided with edge lips on one side of a base wall, which serve as stops when one of the landscape edging members is inverted and nested with another landscape edging member, to prevent lateral shifting of the nested landscape edging members when they are placed in a stack or bundle. The lips of the nested landscape edging members overlap portions of the vertical walls of the other one of the two nested landscape edging members, which form an inverted pair of landscape edging members. The lips are high enough from the base wall to prevent lateral shifting of the nested pair when a stack of the landscape edging members are shipped.
US07967523B2 Trench drain assembly
A trench drain assembly including a flow channel and a frame for supporting the channel in a trench. Sidewalls of the frame have a gradually increasing height between ends of the frame so that the frame creates a gradual slope for the assembly to properly drain. In addition, sidewalls of the frame include spaced lugs that extend outwardly and sidewalls of the channel include spaced lugs that extend inwardly to create an interference fit with the lugs of the frame so that the channel can be easily attached to the frame. During assembly, the frame is lowered onto the channel so that the lugs of the frame are received between the lugs of the channels and the frame is then slid with respect to the channel until the lugs of the frame are positioned below the lugs of the channel to secure the frame to the channel.
US07967518B2 Stick-shaped solid cosmetics and method for producing the same
Stick-shaped solid cosmetic 10 comprises a wax with a melting point of 45° C. or higher and liquid oil, wherein the hardness of top portion 16 is 0.07 N to 0.38 N and the hardness of boundary portion 20, which is a border between a retained portion in inner holder 12 and a portion outside of the inner holder 12, is 0.03 N to 0.31 N higher than the hardness of the top portion, and wherein the hardness gradually increases from the top portion 16 to the boundary portion 20. Thus, the stick-shaped solid cosmetic 10 has smooth spreadability and excellent product strength.
US07967515B2 Printer using roll-based print media and method of loading printer
A roll-based printer and method of loading the same. An example method includes sliding a roll of print media onto a print media spindle so that the roll of print media is positioned closer to a first end of the print media spindle than a second end of the print media spindle and loading the spindle onto a supporting assembly so that the spindle is rotatably supported by the supporting assembly and the first end of the print media spindle is at the end of the printer which is opposite to an end of the printer having a media detecting unit for detecting the presence of print media being fed to the printer. The example method includes feeding the print media to the printer from the loaded spindle, detecting the position of an edge of the print media fed to the printer and adjusting a starting position of the print head based on the detected position of an edge of the print media.
US07967512B2 Rolling bearing unit for rotation support unit
A retainer plate 7a is fitted on a smaller-diameter step portion 9a of an outer ring 5a, and a retaining ring 11 fitted on the smaller-diameter step portion 9a is engaged with retaining projections 15 formed on an inner circumferential surface of a fitting hole 12 formed through the retainer plate 7a, thereby preventing the retainer plate 7a from falling-off from the smaller-diameter step portion 9a. The structures and shapes of the various portions are so determined that working or machining can be easily effected to form these portions so as to overcome a problem encountered with the conventional structure.
US07967510B2 Flexible container for pourable product
A flexible container for containing a quantity of pourable product is disclosed herein. The flexible container includes a bag having a first closed end and a second closed end and a wall extending between the first closed end and the second closed end to define a closed cavity. The flexible container also includes a tearable score line defining an intended opening directly to the closed cavity. The tearable score line divides the wall into a first portion engaged with both of the first closed end and the second closed end and a second portion spaced from both of the first closed end and the second closed end. The tearable score line is exposed and directly graspable such that the bag is operable to function as a dish when the second portion is removed.
US07967509B2 Pouch with a valve
A pouch with a valve includes first and second pouch sidewalls sealed to one another to define an opening. A resealable closure mechanism is attached to inner surfaces of the first and second sidewalls proximate the opening to define a pouch interior opposite the opening. A channel extends from the interior to the opening between a section of the first closure element and the first sidewall. A pleated thermoplastic member is sealingly disposed in the channel and has an aperture disposed through the member. A fluid path may provide direct fluid communication between the interior and an exterior of the pouch, wherein the fluid path passes through an edge of the pouch defined by at least one of the first or second pouch sidewalls. A valve is sealingly disposed in the fluid path, wherein the valve comprises a pleated thermoplastic member attached to at least one of the first or second pouch sidewalls and having an aperture disposed through the pleated thermoplastic member to provide fluid communication between the interior and the exterior of the pouch.
US07967505B2 Sensor device
A sensor device includes a flexible first film that includes structured conductive traces. The sensor device also includes a probe electrically connected to the structured conductive traces. The probe is on a first surface of the first film and connected to the first surface of the first film. The sensor device also includes a flexible second film conformally surrounding the probe and sealing the probe to the first surface of first film.
US07967503B1 Accessory storage compartment
An accessory storage compartment that also functions as a clock comprising a front face, a back face, a first side, and a second side. The storage compartment can be opened to form a first half and a second have via a hinge. A button clasp secures the two halves together. Inside the storage compartment is an earring grid for holding earrings, a ring holding apparatus, and a plurality of hooks for holding necklaces, bracelets, and the like. Disposed on the front face of the compartment is a clock.
US07967497B2 Geometric and perforated paint mixer and paint roller cleaner
The present invention sets forth an implement which enables the user to mix paint, and optionally to perform several other painting related functions. The implement has a perforated paddle with oppositely deflected upper portions to enhance mixing of the paint. The implement may be selectively positionable to either mix paint or to support a paint roller for cleaning. A paint can remover and a paint can rim cleaning device are also incorporated into the implement. A single implement can serve the functions of opening paint cans, stirring paint in a container, cleaning the groove around the lip of a paint can, cleaning a paint roller, and as a spatula to aid in removing paint from a can.
US07967493B2 Light guide plate and backlight module using the same
A light guide plate has a light incident surface, a light emitting surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface or the light emitting surface has a plurality of light guide units disposed thereon. Each of the light guide units has a first curved surface and a second curved surface connected with the first curved surface. Both of the first curved surface and the second curved surface are concave surfaces or convex surfaces. In a cross section perpendicular to the light incident surface and passing through the first curved surface and the second curved surface, the first curved surface and the cross section intersect in a first curved line, and the second curved surface and the cross section intersect in a second curved line. A curvature radius of the first curved line is greater than that of the second curved line.
US07967492B2 Light diffusion film and planar light source element and liquid crystal display device utilizing the same
To provide a light diffusion film that contributes lightweight with reduction in thickness, a planar light source element utilizing the light diffusion film, and a liquid crystal display device utilizing the light diffusion film and/or the planar light source element. A light diffusion film (25) having a plurality of projections (23) of a specific shape is at least partly formed from a composition containing a mixture of a photocurable compound and a particulate material. A light guide plate (22), provided with one or more light sources (21) at one side face thereof, is bonded to vertexes of the projections (23) to provide a planar light source element, which is thin and lightweight and capable of emitting non-glaring light uniformly from the entire surface thereof.
US07967489B2 Optical sheet, method of manufacturing the same and display apparatus having the same
An optical sheet includes a base film, a plurality of prism patterns and a plurality of first embossing patterns. The prism patterns are formed on an upper surface of the base film. Each of the prism patterns has the shape of a trigonal prism and includes a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface. The first and second inclined surfaces are inclined with respect to the upper surface of the base film and meet each other at a peak portion. First embossing patterns are formed at the peak portion.
US07967486B2 Ambient mood light in a sunroof opening trim ring
The present invention provides a lighting assembly wherein a trim ring, containing a lighting assembly, is mounted on a vehicle headliner. The lighting assembly contains a lighting element having a light engine. The light engine having a housing and a light source mounted within the housing. The housing optionally containing a circuit board adapted to control light emitting from the light source. The light source contained within the housing may either be an LED or a traditional light bulb. The light source may optionally be colored, or textured, to provide unique ambient mood light options. The assembly further provides a light pipe having at least one light pipe aperture. The lighting element positioned adjacent, or connected to, the light pipe aperture. The light source in the lighting element directs light down the light pipe thereby creating a uniform output of light along the light pipe. Light from the light pipe is directed into the vehicle interior, mainly onto the vehicle headliner, thereby creating ambient mood lighting within the automotive interior.
US07967485B2 Apparatus for automatically adjusting direction of light axis of vehicle headlight
The apparatus for automatically adjusting horizontally a direction of a light axis of a vehicle headlight of the invention includes a steering angle sensor detecting a steering angle of a steering wheel of a vehicle, a swivel control unit performing a swivel control by which the direction of the light axis of the headlight is adjusted horizontally depending on the steering angle of the steering wheel, and an abnormality detecting unit detecting an abnormality associated with the apparatus. Even after detection of abnormality associated with the apparatus by the abnormality detecting unit, the swivel control unit continues performing the swivel control until the light axis is returned to a predetermined initial direction in order to avoid abrupt change of the direction of the light axis of the headlight. The swivel control unit halts the swivel control after the light axis is returned to the predetermined initial direction.
US07967478B2 Device for redirecting the luminous flux emitted by one or more LED
A device redistributes light emitted by one or more LEDs and constitutes a secondary optical component for the construction of sources, lamps, illuminating bodies, and solid state optical signaling apparatuses. In one of its basic forms the device comprises a main optical element and an optical protection case coupled by a pin, with the optical element being disposed in a cavity of the protection case.
US07967467B2 Portable lighting device
A portable lighting device that is lightweight and features a space-efficient design includes a body containing a Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery. The body includes a pair of pivot arms that are spaced from one another. A lamp assembly includes a lamp assembly housing containing a light source that is powered by the Li-ion battery. The lamp assembly housing is pivotally connected to each of the pair of pivot arms and positioned there between. A handle includes a gripping portion that is spaced from the body so that a gripping space is defined between the gripping portion of the handle and the body. A removable bumper pad is positioned on the bottom of the body. The portable lighting device features recesses on opposite sides that are engaged by corresponding tabs on a charging rack. This prevents non-compatible lighting devices from being positioned on the charging rack.
US07967464B2 Apparatus and method for displaying an object having relief
The Invention is an apparatus for displaying a medallion in an item of memorabilia. The item of memorabilia defines a cavity. A holder is configured to be contained within the cavity and defines a medallion-receiving opening selectably receiving the medallion. The holder contains an LED lamp oriented generally parallel to the display surface of the medallion. The LED lamp causes the relief of the medallion to cast a shadow on the display surface of the medallion. The lustrous metal of the medallion reflects light from the relief to an observer.
US07967456B2 Scalable size deformable pocket mirror with on-pocket bimorph actuator
The invention includes a deformable mirror for use in adaptive and active optical systems and in optical technology laser communication directed energy systems. The invention utilizes pockets formed in the back of the mirrors substrate. The pockets house actuators that are bonded to the substrate and may adjustably deform the mirror surface depending on the voltage supplied to the actuators. A plurality of mirrors may be combined to form a scalable array or positioned to overcome issues related to the uncontrollable portions of separate individual mirrors.
US07967452B2 Projection type display apparatus
A projection type display apparatus is provided that is safe even when a person looks directly into a laser beam. A laser operation control unit sets the output power of at least one laser source so that intensity A (mW/mm2) of the laser beam on at least one spatial light modulation element satisfies relationship of A<686×B2 when numerical aperture B on image side of an illumination optics system is set.
US07967451B2 Multi-directional image displaying device
Methods, devices, and systems are provided for displaying an image using a multi-directional image displaying device in a compact, configurable device having an expansive viewing angle. An image projector projects an image having a plurality of image pixels. A distribution object is aligned with the image projector. The distribution object is utilized to redirect the image pixels projected by the image projector onto one or more display surfaces. As such, in one embodiment, a wide view display of the first image that expands at least the width of a user field of view results from the spreading of the image pixels. A compact housing unit provides support for the image projector and the distribution object. In one embodiment, the multi-directional image displaying device can be adjusted to change the wide view display of the image.
US07967448B2 Optical system for a thin, low-chin, projection television
A micro-mirror based projection display system in an enclosure with minimum chin and depth measurements is disclosed. A light source, such as a solid state laser light source, generates light of multiple primary colors that is modulated by a digital micro-mirror device. The projection optics of the system include a telecentric rear group of glass lenses with spherical surfaces, followed by a pair of aspheric lenses formed of plastic. A folding mirror, such as a single-piece or multi-piece angular mirror, is disposed between the aspheric lenses, to reduce the depth of the enclosure, and an aspheric mirror projects the image onto a TIR Fresnel projection screen. The aspheric lenses are magnifying to reduce the magnification required of the aspheric mirror, and the aspheric lenses and mirror are clipped to reduce enclosure volume. A folding mirror may be used after the aspheric mirror to further reduce the depth of the enclosure.
US07967441B2 Method for illuminating an object, and a surgical microscope having an illuminating device
A microscope and a method for illuminating an object to be imaged by a microscope are described. The method includes illuminating the object by primary light of a first spectral intensity distribution and by secondary light of a second spectral intensity distribution, the secondary light arising from the scattering of the primary light; measuring the intensity of at least one wavelength of the secondary light; comparing at least one of the measured intensity and a value derived from this measured intensity to a threshold value; and generating a signal indicating a change in the spectral intensity distribution of the secondary light by indicating whether the at least one of the measured intensity and value derived from this measured intensity either exceed or stay below the predefined threshold value.
US07967433B2 Electronically enabled audio device
Disclosed is an eyewear retention system, which may include any of a variety of electronics, including telecommunications receivers, transmitters, electronic storage devices, and head-up display driving circuitry.
US07967426B2 Sealing device for fluid reservoir
A sealing device is disclosed that includes a latching feature configured to facilitate latching of the sealing device to a fluid reservoir; a first region configured to seal or substantially seal a fluid-discharge port on the fluid reservoir from fluid loss when the sealing device is latched to the fluid reservoir; and a second region configured to protect a circuit device on the fluid reservoir when the sealing device is latched to the fluid reservoir. Accordingly, the presently disclosed sealing device provides an effective solution to not only sealing the fluid-discharge ports on the fluid reservoir, but also protecting the circuit device.
US07967425B2 Printhead assembly with ink supply shut off
A printhead assembly with a printhead and a shut off (138) valve that has a valve body (200) defining an ink inlet (202) for connection to an ink supply, an ink outlet (67) connected to the printhead IC. A diaphragm (212) is biased into sealing engagement with the valve seat (216) to provide a fluid seal between the ink inlet and the ink outlet. An actuator (204) unseals the diaphragm from the valve seat when energized. The valve protects the ink in the ink supply from contaminants that can migrate up the ink line during shut down periods. The diaphragm is biased to a closed position and so seals the ink supply from the printhead as a default condition even in the event of a power failure. The bias is strong enough to provide the fluid seal so that the seal is not compromised when the pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet is small.
US07967421B2 Ink jet print head and method for manufacturing ink jet print head
The present invention provides an ink jet print head that enables an optimum resistance value to be set for a heating resistor that generates ink ejection energy to allow high-quality images to be printed, as well as a method for manufacturing the ink jet print head. Heating resistors with sheet resistance values differing from each other are formed on the same substrate by heating resistant layers.
US07967418B2 Printhead with nozzles having individual supply passages extending into substrate
An inkjet printhead has a wafer substrate with a droplet ejection side and a liquid supply side opposite the droplet ejection side. Drive circuitry layers are formed on the droplet ejection side of the wafer substrate. An array of nozzles is formed on the droplet ejection side of the wafer substrate, each nozzle having a drop ejection actuator and an associated drop ejection aperture for ejecting drops of liquid. Ducting extends from the liquid supply side into the wafer substrate and terminating before reaching the droplet ejection side. Liquid inlets establish fluid communication between the ducting and the array of nozzles.
US07967416B2 Sealed nozzle arrangement for printhead
A nozzle arrangement for a printhead integrated circuit is provided having a fluid chamber having a fluid ejection port, a fluid ejecting member displaceable within the chamber to eject fluid from the ejection port, an actuator for causing displacement of the ejecting member from outside the chamber, and a resiliently deformable seal on the chamber for fluidically sealing the chamber about the ejecting member.
US07967414B2 Ink-jet print head
An ink-jet printer head has a plurality of print modules each having a tip formed with a respective nozzle orifice from ink droplets can be projected. A flexibly deformable mounting element has a plurality of seats each holding a respective one of the tips so that the element can be deformed to fit a substrate to be printed. The mounting element is readily deformable so that the print modules can be oriented to fit the substrate being printed.
US07967413B2 Liquid ejection head and liquid ejection method
A liquid ejection method is provided which ejects small-volume droplets from ejection openings and causes them to reliably combine together on the fly into a large droplet that is less susceptible to influences of air flows, thus realizing a printing with reduced droplet landing position deviations. To that end, each of the ejection openings is constructed of two openings spaced apart and a slit-like constricted connection portion that connects the two openings together.
US07967407B2 Use of a sense mark to control a printing system
A printing system includes a printer that prints only a sense mark on a substrate and an imaging unit. The imaging unit prints data onto the substrate and includes a plurality of printheads. The printing system also includes a sensor that detects the sense mark and a controller that instructs the imaging unit to print data onto the substrate, wherein the controller distributes print data among the plurality of printheads.
US07967402B2 Slide rail unit with retaining function
Provided is a slide rail unit which, when accommodating a second rail (2) in a first rail (1), can automatically draw in the second rail to an end position and retain it at that position and which can be produced easily with a small number of parts and at low cost, the slide rail unit being equipped with a retaining pin (30) provided upright so as to be movable with respect to the first rail (1) in the longitudinal direction and the width direction thereof, an elastic member (31) for urging the retaining pin (30) toward the stroke end of the second rail (2), a pin guide member (32) provided on the first rail (1) and adapted to lock the retaining pin (30) at a standby position spaced apart from the stroke end against an urging force of the elastic member (31) and to guide the retaining pin (30) detached from the standby position toward the stroke end with the urging force, and a cam member (33) provided on the second rail (2) and adapted to detach the retaining pin (30) from the standby position of the pin guide member (32) and lock the retaining pin as it overlaps the pin guide member (32).
US07967396B2 Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling tractor/trailer vehicle systems
A status of one or more subsystems positioned on one or more trailers is communicated to a tractor electrically and mechanically connected to the trailer. The status may be automatically supplied by the subsystem or may be requested either by the operator of the tractor/trailer combination or automatically by another subsystem on either the tractor or the trailer. A spread spectrum data communications signal representing the status of a respective subsystem is superposed on the power bus. The status of the respective subsystem can then be determined from the spread spectrum data communications signal. Preferably, the status of the subsystem is indicated to an operator positioned on the tractor. A command for controlling a subsystem on a trailer can also be communicated from the tractor to the trailer over the power bus. A spread spectrum data communications signal representing the command is produced on the power bus, and the subsystem is controlled based on the spread spectrum data communications signal. Preferably, the command is received from an operator positioned in the tractor.
US07967393B2 Pressure balanced supply valve for vehicle brake system with integrated low pressure accumulator
A pressure balanced supply valve for use in a vehicular braking system. A housing defines a first chamber, a second chamber, a first fluid conduit for connection to a master cylinder, a second fluid conduit for connection to a hydraulic pump, and a third fluid conduit connected between the first and second fluid conduits. The second fluid conduit communicates with both the first chamber and the second chamber. A valve seat is defined in the third fluid conduit. A movable valve element is movable to a first position sealing against the valve seat to prevent fluid flow between the first and second conduits through the third conduit, and to a second position permitting fluid flow between the first and second conduit through the third conduit. The movable valve element is exposed to pressures in both the first and second chambers so as to be pressure balanced in operation.
US07967392B2 Hub body for a bicycle wheel and hub comprising such a hub body
A hub body for a bicycle wheel has a substantially tubular body extending along a longitudinal axis with a pair of opposite end portions, at least one of which has an annular front surface on which a plurality of housing seats for an end portion of respective spokes are formed. Advantageously, at least some of these seats comprise retention elements adapted to prevent said spokes from moving along a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis in all operating conditions. The spoke is thus prevented from moving away from the hub in the case of untightening or breaking of a spoke during a race, which would compromise the correct operation of the wheel and/or constitute a danger to the cyclists.
US07967381B2 Automobile seat with fatigue reduction function
There is disclosed a vehicle seat provided with a system for facilitating relieving of fatigue of a person driving a vehicle, the vehicle seat comprising a seat back (1) having a pad (5), the system including an occupant's body-motion promoting mechanism (12) provided in the seat back so as to be arranged behind the pad for locally pressing an occupant's body during driving of the vehicle and releasing the occupant's body from pressure, thereby moving the occupant's body and promoting blood circulation of the person. The occupant's body-motion promoting mechanism is configured to intermittently perform repeated pressing/releasing operations with respect to the third lumbar vertebrae of the occupant in a range of three to seven times, at a stroke amount in a range of 10 mm to 20 mm, and at a time interval of 5 minutes to 10 minutes.
US07967371B2 Machine having camera and mounting strategy therefor
A machine includes a frame having ground engaging elements for propelling a machine, and a body mounted to the frame. The body includes a plurality of body components, one of which is contoured for mounting a camera that includes a continuous face and a pocket each formed in an outer surface thereof. The method of assembling a machine includes molding a unitary body component for machine body, the body component having an outer surface with a continuous face and a pocket. The method further includes mounting a camera within the pocket and establishing an electrical link between the camera and an electrical system of the machine via a port disposed in the pocket which extends through the outer surface.
US07967370B2 Vehicle bed system
A variable length bed system is provided for a vehicle having a load-carrying bed and a support structure configured to provide support to the bed system. The bed system comprises a floor structure including a bed floor and a separate shell. The bed floor includes a support for directly supporting cargo. The support is a selected support that is selected from a first support having a first length and a second support having a second length that is greater than the first length. The separate shell is connected to a first end section of the support and defines a first storage chamber disposed adjacent the support. The shell has first and second chamber openings. The first chamber is accessible through the first opening. The shell has a fixed size. The differing lengths of the first support and the second support allow the fixed sized shell to be used in varying vehicle sized load-carrying beds.
US07967366B1 System and method for mitigating damage
Disclosed herein is a damage mitigation system. In some embodiments, for example, the damage mitigation system can be used for protecting a vehicle from hail damage. The damage mitigation system includes a housing for storing at least one pad. The pad can be pulled from the housing, inflated, and positioned over an object to be protected. In some embodiments, the damage mitigation system can include a self-inflating pad. In some embodiments, the damage mitigation system can include an inflatable pad that is not self-inflating. The damage mitigation system also includes a motor for retracting the pad back into the housing. The housing includes pinching rods for squeezing the air from the pad as the pad is retracted so that the pad can be stored in a non-inflated configuration.
US07967355B2 Vertical tool storage device with a curved handle
The tool storage device includes a base having a top side, a bottom side, and a hollow upright pivot shaft with two ends. At the top end of the hollow upright pivot shaft is an end cap having a plughole and a connecting mechanism. The bottom end of the hollow upright pivot shaft is attached to the top side of the base. The bottom side of the base has a pole cover containing a plughole for receiving a connecting structure. Fastening structures are provided to facilitate fastening of the vertical tool storage device to a structure, such as a wall. The end cap and the pole cover of the tool storage device enable the vertical tool storage device to be connected to a fastening and connecting structure.
US07967353B2 Clevis type grab hook with safety latch
A grab hook includes a locking plate which is held in position by a biased pin that may be axially extended to move the locking plate between a latching and unlatching position to close or open the slot in the grab hook.
US07967347B1 Delivery vehicle with automatic door unlocking system
A vacuum actuated door latching assembly for use in combination with a door of a delivery vehicle. The latch assembly moves between locked and unlocked positions and includes a pneumatic actuator that drives the latch assembly between the locked and unlocked positions. Extending from the pneumatic actuator is a vacuum line that is adapted to be connected to a vacuum source such as the engine of the delivery vehicle. A control valve is disposed between the vacuum source and the pneumatic actuator for controlling the activation of the pneumatic actuator. A biasing device engages the door and biases the door towards and open position. Thus, when the latching assembly is actuated the door of the delivery vehicle is unlatched and the biasing device causes the door to assume the open position.
US07967346B2 Slider mechanisms for opening and closing portable terminals
Exemplary embodiments are provided of slider mechanisms for slidably opening and closing portable communications terminals. In one exemplary embodiment, a portable communications terminal includes a main body and a slider body sliding on the main body. The slider mechanism includes a first slider member fixed to one of the main body and slider body and a second slider member fixed to the other one. The second slider member is slidably engaged with the first slider member. A zigzag spring is disposed between the first and second slider members. One end portion of the zigzag spring is rotatably supported on one of the first and second slider members and the other end thereof is rotatably supported on the other one of the first and second slider members. The zigzag spring is formed of a first zigzag portion and a second zigzag portion having spring characteristics different from the first zigzag portion.
US07967345B2 Actuator for a screen latch for engaging sill and header tracks
An actuator for a latch assembly comprising a cam member including cam surfaces to engage detents to, operate said latch assembly, the resulting motion of the detents to operate a release member for a header latching portion and simultaneously to operate a release member for a sill latching portion, or alternatively to operate release members for jamb latching portions.
US07967339B2 Active material based safety belt buckle presenter
A safety belt buckle presenter adapted for use with a translatable buckle includes an active material element operable to undergo a reversible change when exposed to an activation signal, wherein the element is drivenly coupled to the buckle, and configured to cause the buckle to translate between deployed and stowed positions as a result of the change.
US07967337B2 Arrangement of a cowl stay on a motorcycle, and motorcycle incorporating same
A motorcycle includes a head pipe, left and right main frames extending rearwardly from the head pipe on left and right sides, respectively, and a cowl stay extending forwardly from the left and right main frames and supporting a cowling, which protectively covers a front portion of the motorcycle. The cowl stay is positioned such that its front end portion is located rearwardly of a front end portion of a front wheel, and in front of a tip portion of a head light disposed on a front portion of the head pipe so as to illuminate an area in front of the motorcycle. The cowl stay is disposed at a position located above a center of gravity of the motorcycle.
US07967333B2 Inflator with ignition distribution
An inflator includes a housing and a gas generant disposed in the housing for creating a source of inflation gas. An initiator is disposed in the housing for producing a source of energy to ignite the gas generant. A distributor is disposed between the initiator and the gas generant. The distributor defines at least two distinct flow paths for distributing the source of energy to the gas generant.
US07967331B2 Passenger airbag structure of vehicle
The present invention provides a passenger airbag structure that prevents an airbag cushion from directly shocking a child in a passenger seat to secure safety of the child by controlling the flow of an inflation gas in an early inflation of the airbag cushion and has the same of improved performance in protecting an adult by inflating the airbag cushion in the same shape as in the related art, when the airbag cushion has completely inflated.
US07967328B2 Continuous side airbag seam
A continuous side airbag seam for use in a seat of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The seam includes a first material and a second material or a combination of materials joined to one another. The seam further may include any known thread member used to join the first material to the second material. The seam will extend from a portion near the top of the side panel of the seat cover to a portion near the back of the side panel of the seat cover. The seam will be continuous from the top portion to the back portion of the side panel cover of the seat. The continuous seam will have a predetermined shaped curve therein. The predetermined shaped curve will allow for quicker deployment of both the thorax section and pelvis section of an advanced two part side airbag to deploy both downward and forward in a controlled manner.
US07967325B1 Convertible deer cart
A hand-propelled or vehicle-towed convertible deer cart incorporates side walls that are locked vertically when collapsed to a first geometry of very small size for storage and transport, and also when readily reconfigured for use as a larger transport cart or trailer. When further reconfigured for use as a hunting stand, the side walls are pivoted from vertical to horizontal and form a part of a larger platform in combination with the cart bed. A pair of ladders may be stored within the cart bed when configured as a transport cart. The ladders are pivoted about their longitudinal axis to convert to the larger transport cart, and then extended to full-length ladders in the hunting stand geometry.
US07967324B2 Cross-country ski assembly and cross-country ski binding
A binding device for a ski or other sports apparatus. The ski or sports apparatus provides an upper service adapted to receive a binding device for retaining a boot, the binding device including an anchoring mechanism to anchor the binding device to the ski, the anchoring mechanism including a slide and at least one tightening mechanism which enables the binding device to be forced in place against the upper surface of the ski or sports apparatus.
US07967323B2 Drawbar protector
A drawbar protector comprising a generally rectangular plate which is positioned on the upper rearward end of a tractor drawbar so that wear on the drawbar is prevented. If the protector plate becomes excessively worn, it is easily replaced.
US07967321B2 Roll coupling trailer hitch assembly
A roll coupling assembly includes a roll torque transfer structure and an alignment mechanism. The torque transfer structure includes a first load bearing structure mountable to the rear of the tow vehicle, and a second load bearing structure mountable to the front of the trailer drawbar. Corresponding first and second load bearing surfaces cooperate so as to releasably mate with one another for towing of the trailer behind the tow vehicle. The bearing surfaces are distributed across a substantially planar interface between the rear of the tow vehicle and the front of the trailer drawbar so as to distribute to the tow vehicle torque imparted to the drawbar by relative rolling motion between the trailer and tow vehicle. The coupling alignment mechanism adjusts the relative orientation of the first and second load bearing surfaces so as to align them for mating to one another.
US07967320B2 Attachment for a trailer hitch bracket
An accessory for trailer hitch systems having components for equalizing loads and reducing trailer sway. The accessory includes a jacket for attaching to a bracket that supports a load equalizing spring bar. The bracket may include a lateral extending portion for supporting the spring bar. The jacket may include a socket for receiving the lateral extending portion of the bracket, such that the jacket may be removably installed on the bracket. The jacket may include a contact surface for contacting the spring bar. The contact surface may include a different coefficient of friction or a different shape, as compared to the lateral extending portion of the bracket, such that movement of the spring bar with respect to the bracket may be altered as compared to conditions in which the spring bar is supported on the bracket without the jacket.
US07967319B2 Vehicle coupling aid with automatically moving supply line connector bracket
A coupling aid facilitates connecting at least one supply line between a first vehicle and a second vehicle which can be coupled to the first vehicle by means of a coupling. The coupling aid comprises a supply bracket mounted on the second vehicle and used to receive the at least one supply line. The supply bracket can be moved by means of a drive from a driving position (A) in the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle into an operating position (B) lateral to the driving position. The coupling is provided with at least a first sensor for detecting the locking state of the coupling and the movement of the supply bracket is triggered by a signal from the first sensor.
US07967318B2 Stand device for motorcycle
A stand device for a motorcycle includes an interlocking mechanism having a coil-formed stand spring connected to a stand at one end thereof. A spring support member has a spring support portion connected with the other end of the stand spring and is interlocked and connected to an operating element so that the position of the spring support portion can be changed according to a manual operation of an operating element. The position of the spring support portion determined according to the operation of the operating element toward the erect position side is so set that the stand spring is put in the state of urging the stand toward the erect position side.
US07967312B2 Dual riding and driving tricycle in juxtaposing link
The present invention provides a dual riding and driving tricycle in juxtaposing link, particularly for one that can be pedaled by two drivers in side-by-side coordination manner so that the drivers and tricycle will incline integrally without tumbling or overturning possibility; The main feature is that at least one articulation mechanism and a resilient tension mechanism are disposed between the primary bicycle body and auxiliary cycle body, wherein, said articulation mechanism serves in synergy an articulation parallelogram while said resilient tension mechanism counteract the deformation of the articulation mechanism to resume the stable equilibrium so that the integral of the primary bicycle body and auxiliary cycle body can automatically maintain harmonic coordination and stability when driving over bumpy road or corner turn.
US07967303B2 Carriage system for a water vessel
Disclosed is a carriage system for a water vessel. The carriage system comprises a support assembly and a wheel assembly. The support assembly is removably attached to a first side of the water vessel. The support assembly comprises a first body member disposed on an inner surface of the first side, and a handle member removably attached to the first body member. The wheel assembly is removably attached to a second side opposite to the first side of the water vessel. The wheel assembly comprises a second body member disposed on an inner surface of the second side, and a wheel member removably attached to the second body member. The support assembly facilitates pulling of the water vessel. Further, the wheel assembly facilitates movement of the water vessel upon being pulled using the support assembly.
US07967302B2 Multi-function convertible beach chair and cooler transporter
The present invention is a multi-purpose outdoor piece of equipment that combines various features in one design and takes advantage of gravity. In an embodiment it comprises a combination of a cooler or storage bag, two chairs, a table and a rack for an umbrella. The cooler or storage bag stays in a stable orientation due to gravity. The device is quickly assembled into a transport mode and then reassembled into its stationary mode for recreational use. The pull handle can be unscrewed and receive a beach spade to play in the sand. Once assembled into transport mode the device fits comfortably in the trunk of a car and can easily be assembled with the cooler bag slung into position over the axle. The cooler may be used for wet goods like drinks, food, wet wipes and spray bottle and an the upper bag for dry storage like outdoor gear and accessories like keys, sunglasses or other protected items. The cooler bag can also be strapped on as a backpack or a sling bag over your shoulder. The gravity roller van can be attached to the back of your bicycle for more long distance transport.
US07967299B2 Body to bonnet seal on a blowout preventer
A seal comprises a metal seal ring with a first slanted mating surface for sealing engagement with a mating surface on a body and a second slanted mating surface for sealing engagement with a mating surface on a bonnet. The mating surfaces are the same angle as measured from the axis of the ram of the BOP. The seal also defines opposing slanting surfaces which provide a degree of flexure to the seal for sealing engagement. With the application of pressure on the inside surfaces of the seal, the mating surfaces are pressed even harder against the mating surfaces of the body and bonnet.
US07967297B2 Thermally-activated control gap brush seal
A brush seal for use with a housing and sealing a high pressure area from a low pressure area is provided. In an embodiment, the brush seal includes a retainer and a plurality of bristles. The retainer is comprised of a thermally-sensitive material having a thermal expansion rate. The bristles are connected to and extend from the retainer. In an embodiment, the retainer is not fixedly connected to the housing, and the thermal expansion rate of the retainer is greater than the thermal expansion rate of a portion of the housing adjacent the retainer. In another embodiment, a joint associated with a plurality of bristles is permitted to move into a headspace provided above the joint. A method for making a control-gap brush seal assembly for use in connection with a shaft is also disclosed.
US07967296B1 Modular shooting system
A shooting system comprising at least one roof panel coupled to at least one wall panel. At least one floor panel is coupled to the at least one wall panel to define a space between the at least one roof panel, the at least one wall panel, and the at least one floor panel. At least one shooting lane and means for collecting projectiles fired along the at least one shooting lane are disposed within the space.
US07967295B1 Horseshoe retriever and method of playing a game of horseshoes using the retriever
A horseshoe tossing game which includes retrieving a tossed horseshoe by means of a device which includes a horseshoe grabbing hook-shaped element on one end of a handle and a cap on the other end of the handle. The handle is grasped and the hook-shaped element is positioned around the tossed horseshoe and the horseshoe lifted to the hand of the user.
US07967293B2 Poker dice game
The present invention relates to a game of dice wherein each player (i) draws a hand of at least three dice, wherein each die possesses a number of sides, an equivalent number of consecutive numerical values with one numerical value per side, and a suit, the suits being ranked from highest suit rank to lowest suit rank, wherein each side and numerical value in a die is associated with said suit; wherein the dice in a hand are of different suits, none having the same suit, but all of the dice in a hand having the same number of sides and numerical values; and (ii) compares the hand to an established ranking system of hands to determine the hand of highest rank, wherein the hand of highest rank is deemed the winner.
US07967292B2 Games, and methods for improved game play in games of chance and games of skill
A variety of games and methods for enhancing game play are provided. In one aspect, a secondary or ancillary game is played in parallel with a first game, such as a lottery ball draw. Yet another game involves the selection of items which a player or participant believes had been selected by an audience as not being the most popular. In yet another aspect, an interstitial progressive sequencing of programming is provided, such as where a series of short segments are presented at differing times throughout an evening of prime time programming. Audience participation may be enhanced by permitting Internet access to the game system, and to permit remote users to play along as if they were in studio participants or part of the studio audience.
US07967289B2 Drive roll/idler roll nip release mechanism
A drive roll/idler roll nip release mechanism utilizes the motor used for the drive nip, coupled with one-way clutches, to power the nip release as a sheet is handed off to a downstream nip. A drive shaft is coupled to a first one-way clutch in one direction and an idler cam shaft is coupled to a second one-way clutch in the opposite direction. This allows the idler cam shaft to be driven only when the motor is reversed, and the drive shaft to be driven only when the motor is moving forward. The one-way clutch on the drive shaft allows the drive wheels to freewheel when the motor is reversed in order to engage the nip release. Thus, the nip release is activated while the drive nip continues to rotate in the direction of sheet motion.
US07967288B2 Paper supply apparatus, image forming apparatus, and image reading apparatus with abutment member provided on movable guide
A paper supply apparatus includes: a placement surface on which paper to be transported is placed; a fixed guide that guides the transport of the paper; a movable guide whose distance to the fixed guide in the widthwise direction of the paper is capable of being adjusted and that guides the transport of the paper; a paper supply roller that abuts the paper in a position, on the side where the fixed guide is located, and that is rotationally driven so as to transport the paper; an abutment member, provided on the movable guide. The abutment member is disposed in a position so that a second abutment point where the abutment member abuts the surface of the paper is further downstream in the transport direction of the paper than a first abutment point where the paper supply roller abuts the surface of the paper.
US07967287B2 Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus
The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus, in which a sheet can stably be fed with a simple configuration without decreasing strength of an intermediate plate.A fixed member 19 and a movable member 13, which regulate positions in a width direction of the sheet that is stacked on the dedicated cassette 30 detachably attached to an intermediate plate 6, are provided while facing each other. The fixed member 19 and the movable member 13 moved to a position that regulates the sheet are regulated by side regulating members 7 and 8. The side regulating members 7 and 8 that are movable in the width direction regulate the positions in the width direction of the sheet stacked on the intermediate plate 6.
US07967286B2 Sheet stacking tray assembly with geometric protuberances
A sheet stacking tray assembly may include a tray having a lead surface and an elevate plate. The lead surface may include one or more first geometric protuberances. At least one edge of the elevate plate may include one or more second geometric protuberances that are complimentary to the first geometric protuberances. The lead surface may be configured to interlock with the edge of the elevate plate to form a support area for one or more sheets.
US07967283B2 Clamping device of moving cart
A clamping device of a moving cart includes a clamp rotatably provided in a moving cart frame and including a plurality of locaters that vary with the kinds of vehicles for which the moving cart is being used, a positioning device slidingly provided in the moving cart frame to determine the position of the clamp, and an actuator selectively coupled with the clamp and the positioning device to rotate the clamp or to linearly move the positioning device. The clamp may includes a polygonal plate with locaters provided on its edges. Display units for displaying the kinds of vehicles are attached to the locaters. The actuator includes a sensor for sensing the display units.
US07967278B2 Winch assembly
The present invention is directed to apparatus for a winch assembly. The winch assembly may be secured to a towing trailer and arranged to assist in loading and unloading cargo from the trailer. The winch assembly may include mechanisms, systems, and features to make the winch assembly easy to assemble and use, increase the service life of the winch assembly, and improve the consistency of the performance of the winch assembly. Embodiments of a winch assembly disclosed include novel drive systems, novel ratchet and pawl systems, novel systems for guiding a winch strap, novel systems for securing the winch assembly to a towing trailer, and a novel frame member for a winch assembly.
US07967276B2 Quick joint for connecting gas cylinder and pressure reducing valve for gas stove
The present invention discloses a quick joint for connecting gas cylinder and pressure reducing valve for gas stove, and the quick joint includes a connecting ring having a through hole, and arc brackets extended from the periphery of the connecting ring and encircled into a ring shape, and each arc bracket includes a positioning groove for installing a spring clamp. When the quick joint is operated, a connecting ring is installed between the pressure reducing valve and the middle of a joint pipe of the pressure reducing valve, and the pressure reducing valve is sheathed onto the gas cylinder, and a spring clamp is used for loosening and binding the connecting ring for installing or removing a screw type pressure reducing valve and a push-button type gas cylinder, and thus providing a safe and quick use.
US07967275B2 Hard film and hard film-coated material
A hard film and a hard film-coated material having better wear resistance and sliding performance (due to lower friction coefficients) than conventional surface coating layers, wherein the hard film includes at least one covering layer A and at least one covering layer B stacked one over the other, both having a thickness of 5 to 100 nm. The covering layer has a composition represented by the formula M(BaCbN1−a−b), where M denotes one or more elements selected from W, V, Mo, and Nb, and a and b denote the atomic ratio of B and C, respectively, as defined below. 0≦a≦0.3 . . . (1A), and 0≦b≦0.5 . . . (2A). Covering layer B has a composition represented by the formula Ti1−x−yCrxAlySiz(C1−ANA) where x, y, z, and A denote the atomic ratio of Cr, Al, Si, and N, respectively, as defined below. 0≦1−x−y≦0.5 . . . (1B), 0≦x≦0.5 . . . (2B), 0.4≦y≦0.7 . . . (3B), 0≦z≦0.15 . . . (4B), and 0.5≦A≦1 . . . (5B).
US07967272B2 Industrial hangers for framing and method of fabricating the same
An industrial hanger is provided for coupling a device to a truss. The hanger apparatus includes a first member having a first support surface, a second opposed support surface, and a threaded portion extending between the first and second support surfaces. The hanger apparatus also includes a second member having a first support surface, a second opposed support surface, and a threaded portion extending between the second member first and second support surfaces. The first member is coupled to the second member such that the first member threaded portion and the second member threaded portions define a substantially circular threaded opening that is sized to receive a threaded rod therein.
US07967269B2 Roller type adjustable screen fixing apparatus
A roller type adjustable screen fixing apparatus includes: a fixing base, having at least one operating slot; at least one distal plate device disposed at an external side of the distal plate, having at least two distal plates embedded in the operating slot, and slidably moving in the operating slot, and a frame plate disposed at an external side of the distal plate; at least one linking device, having at least one roller installed in the operating slot and linked with the distal plate; and a containing space, defined by the upper frame plates of the corresponding distal plates for installing a screen. The distal plate is contractible in the operating slot for adjusting the containing space, such that the invention can fit screens of different sizes, and provide a convenient replacement and a dynamic adjustment.
US07967267B1 Clamping assembly with integral rail plate
A two-piece clamping assembly with an integral rail plate used to rapidly and securely mount a float switch within a fluid collection container for fluid level monitoring. It is usable with both metal and plastic condensate collection pans, and successfully accommodates their differing wall thickness dimensions and different upper edge configurations. When its front and back clamping members are joined together over the top edge, lip, or flange of a pan using one centrally located top fastener, and at least one additional fastener is inserted through the back clamping member until it engages the exterior surface of the pan, the pan's upper edge becomes secured within an inverted J-shaped slot formed between the two clamping members. Vertically-extending internal ribs and horizontally-extending projections strengthen the clamping assembly. Preferred plastic materials also make the clamping assembly impervious to corrosion.
US07967266B2 Hook for receiving a hinging journal
The hook includes a body having a receiving space for receiving the journal and, within the body, a clip for coupling to the journal and an actuator for actuating the clip. The clip includes a semi-cylindrical wall, two flaps and two hinges for pivotal hinging of each flap to a respective one of the walls. The clip has a closed position in which the flaps have come towards each other to form with the wall a bearing for the journal, and an open position in which the flaps are separated for freeing and insertion of the journal from/into the receiving space. The passage from one position to the other is actuated by the actuator by pressing the journal on the wall.
US07967264B1 Ladder attached support bracket and paint can and roller pan holders for use therewith
A U-shaped bracket having an adjustable width is telescopically inserted around a side rail of the ladder by pushing the bracket onto the side rail with the open end of the bracket receiving the side rail as the bracket is pushed onto the side rail. Side walls of the bracket have extended wall portions that stick out past the rear of the side rail. A paint can holder can be telescopically inserted through a set of aligned holes in the extended wall portions to couple the paint can holder to the side rail of the ladder. A paint roller pan holder can also be telescopically inserted through a set of aligned holes in the extended wall portion to couple the paint roller pan holder to the side rail of the ladder. The paint roller pan holder includes a pivot connection to allow the portion of the holder that supports a paint roller pan to be leveled relative to the horizontal.
US07967262B2 Portable electronic device mount
A portable electronic device mount provides a secure attachment point for a personal navigation device, or other electronic device. The mount provides access to the device electronics through interface ports and feature connectors. The mount connects to an attachment mechanism that firmly and reliably attaches the mount to a windshield or other surface. The mount also includes a flexible linkage through which the mounted device may be securely oriented over a wide range of positions. In addition, extendible and retractable extension arms help achieve a compact form factor for convenient carrying and storage of the mount.
US07967255B2 Autonomous space flight system and planetary lander for executing a discrete landing sequence to remove unknown navigation error, perform hazard avoidance and relocate the lander and method
An autonomous unmanned space flight system and planetary lander executes a discrete landing sequence including performing an initial velocity braking maneuver to remove velocity at altitude, coasting during which the planet surface is imaged and correlated to reference maps to estimate cross-track and along-track navigation errors and one or more lateral braking maneuvers are performed to reduce cross-track navigation error, and performing a terminal velocity braking maneuver(s) to reduce the along-track braking maneuver and remove the remainder of the velocity just prior to landing. A bi-propellant propulsion system provides a very high T/M ratio, at least 15:1 per nozzle. Short, high T/M divert maneuvers provide the capability to remove cross-track navigation error efficiently up to the maximum resolution of the reference maps. Short, high T/M terminal velocity braking maneuver(s) provide the capability to remove along-track navigation error to a similar resolution and remove the remaining velocity in a very short time window, approximately 3-15 seconds prior to touchdown. The propulsive efficiency frees up mass which can be allocated to a fuel to remove the unknown navigation errors, perform hazard avoidance and/or relocate the lander by flying it to another site or be allocated to additional payload.
US07967253B2 Antenna fairing and method
A fairing suitable for enclosing a component mounted on an exterior surface of a mobile platform, and more particularly on an outer surface of a high speed mobile platform such as a jet aircraft or an aerospace vehicle. The fairing provides aggressive closure angles for optimum RF performance when used to house an antenna that is scanned to varying azimuth and elevation angles. The fairing further provides low aerodynamic drag, is scalable to enclose components having wide ranging dimensions, and provides attached flow with minimum separation of airflow thereover for airflows experienced by high speed jet aircraft, and reduces or eliminates RF reflections within the fairing from the RF beam of the antenna.
US07967247B2 Method and device for driving an aircraft during the ground run thereof
The method of the invention includes forming a difference between left and right braking commands, by converting the difference into an additional control command for rudder and for a steerable nose gear, and applying the additional control command to the rudder and steerable nose gear according to both of the following conditions: the difference is greater than a first threshold and the combined control command transmitted to the rudder and steerable nose gear by a rudder bar is less than a second threshold.
US07967246B2 Flying wing boat
A flying wing boat is provided, which comprising a fuselage provided with a cockpit at a bow thereof; a pair of main wings, each of which being pivotably connected to one side of the fuselage respectively and being provided with a flap; a pair of pontoons, each of which being provided at a tip of each main wings; at least one propeller provided at a fore part of the fuselage; and a driving system supplying power to the at least one propeller. The flying wing boat of the present invention could improve the safety and comfortability of navigation.
US07967243B2 Optimized configuration of engines for aircraft
The invention relates to a configuration of engines (3) for aircraft located in the rear part of the fuselage (2) of said aircraft, the engines (3) being attached in a fixed manner by pylons (5) to the structure of the aircraft, said structure comprising a torsion box (14) which traverses the fuselage (2) and is used to attach the pylons (5), the fuselage (2) comprising an opening (4) allowing the passage of the suspension pylons (5) for the engines (3), said configuration further comprising a pivoting area (8), an actuator (7) and a fitting (6) through which the actuator (7) is attached to the suspension pylons (5) and to the torsion box (14) of the aircraft, such that the assembly formed by the actuator (7) and the fitting (6) allow balancing the pylon (5) and engine (3) assembly of the aircraft through the pivoting area (8), thus achieving controllable and optimal thrust vectoring of the aircraft for each flight phase.
US07967242B2 Engine mounting structure interposed between an aircraft wing system and said engine
A device for suspension of an engine, configured to be inserted between an aircraft wing and the engine. The device includes a rigid structure and a forward aerodynamic structure mounted fixed on the structure through a suspension mechanism. The forward aerodynamic structure is configured to carry engine fan casings and to be inserted between the rigid structure and the wing. The suspension mechanism includes at least one adjustable length connecting rod of which one end is mounted on the rigid structure, and the other end is mounted on the forward aerodynamic structure.
US07967236B2 Arrangement for attenuating vibration of a roll assembly
An arrangement of attenuating the vibration in a roll assembly of a fiber web machine, in which assembly the roll (10) being rotatably suspended at its end on bearings in bearing housings (13a, 13b), and the bearing housings being supported on the frame or the foundation of the machine via viscoelastic intermediate piece or pieces (21a, 21b). The loss factor of the intermediate piece is greater than 0.1 at the normal operating conditions of the roll at a frequency range, which is ±10% calculated from the lowest bending eigenfrequency of the roll, and in the each end of the roll the spring constant of the total influence of the intermediate piece or pieces is in the range of 0.04 GN/m-1 GN/m.
US07967234B2 Method for automatic slip clutch tension on a reel
The method of preventing over tension to an umbilical wrapped on the spool of an offshore reel when the umbilical is being normally deployed or retrieved or when the umbilical is unexpectedly pulled from the spool on the reel, comprising providing a main disk, mounting the main disk on the spool of the reel with a slip connection which will be automatically controlled, connecting motor power for the reel to the main disk, connecting brakes to the main disk, such that when the diameter of deployment varies the slip connection torque will be automatically adjusted and prevent the umbilical from being subjected to tension higher than the desired amount.
US07967229B2 Adjustable grinder
An adjustable grinder, includes a container, a stator, a rotor, a drum, and a rotary slide. The container can hold a product to be ground. The stator is positioned on the container. The rotor is positioned opposite to the stator and can rotate with respect to the stator. The drum is positioned around the rotor. The rotary slide includes a pointer that can be adjusted such that a distance between the stator and the rotor increases or decreases.
US07967227B2 Agitation system for blowing wool machine
A machine for distributing blowing wool from a bag of compressed blowing wool is provided. The machine includes a chute having an inlet end. The inlet end is configured to receive the bag of compressed blowing wool. A shredding chamber is positioned downstream from the chute and is configured to shred and pick apart the blowing wool. The shredding chamber includes a plurality of shredders configured for rotation. The shredding chamber further includes a plurality of guide shells positioned partially around the plurality of shredders. The plurality of shredders seal against the plurality of guide shells and direct the blowing wool in a downstream direction as the plurality of shredders rotate.
US07967225B1 Garbage disposal blade guard
An inlet to an under-sink garbage disposal is guarded by a novel guard and splash-back baffle that comprises an outer tubular ring defining an exterior circumference approximately sized to coincide with an inside diameter of the plumbing inlet; an inner tubular ring coupled through at least one radially extending bar with the outer ring and defining an open and unobstructed inner circumference. The splash baffle comprises a resilient body affixed adjacent to the garbage disposal blade guard that extends generally across the plumbing inlet to constrict flow therethrough. The guard is divided into a plurality of resilient flaps, and is operative in combination with the garbage disposal blade guard to define a flexible one-way valve permitting matter to pass into a garbage disposal while substantially blocking matter from being ejected from the garbage disposal through the garbage disposal blade guard.
US07967222B2 Pressure washer
A pressure washer is provided including a housing. A pump is contained within the housing for pressurizing fluid received through a water inlet port and for pumping the pressurized fluid through an outlet port. An application wand is connected to the water outlet for outputting a pressurized stream of fluid. At least one wheel is supported on the housing so as to enable rolling movement of the housing. A first handle is arranged on the housing for movement between a retracted position in which a gripping portion of the handle is arranged relatively closer to the housing and an extended position in which the gripping portion of the handle is arranged relatively further away from the housing.
US07967221B2 Prefilming atomizer
A method of forming droplets comprises flowing a liquid through a channel; spreading the liquid into a thin film in the channel; and impinging the thin film with a flowing gas to atomize the liquid into droplets. The droplets may then be dried to produce dried particles, such as particles comprising a pharmaceutical active agent. The droplets formed by the disclosed process have improved size and/or size distribution characteristics.
US07967220B2 Manual sprayer with dual bag-on-valve assembly
A manual spray dispenser for dispensing a mixture of two compositions comprises a container having a first and second chamber and a single dispensing spray outlet for dispensing controlled amounts of liquids from each of the first and second chambers. At least one of the chambers has a separator in the form of a pouch for physically separating the contents of the container from an interior surface of the chamber. The first chamber can contain a first composition and the second chamber can contain a second composition having a reactive component that reacts with at least one compound upon contact or mixing. The dispenser further contains a dispensing system for simultaneously dispensing the first composition and the second composition from their respective first and second chambers, mixing the two compositions together, and dispensing a mixture of the two compositions from the container under pressure.
US07967219B1 Thrust nozzle for a gas turbine engine
Elbow nozzles in VTOL aircraft engines, are highly stressed when operating, in that they act as high pressure vessels.The invention provides a means for varying the outlet area of such a nozzle without weakening its structure. A single flap is inserted inside the nozzle and connected to the nozzle extremity for pivoting about an axis which lies across the outlet between a position wherein its edges seal against the nozzle side and so restrict the nozzle outlet area and, a position wherein it lies parallel with a wall of the nozzle so that exhaust gas can pass both sides and out of a bigger outlet.
US07967215B2 Systems, methods, and computer program products for supporting multiple contactless applications using different security keys
Systems, methods, and computer program products for supporting multiple contactless applications using different security keys on a wireless smart device are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for supporting multiple contactless applications using different security keys on a wireless smart device. The method includes, at a wireless smart device configured to communicate with a wireless smart device reader, the wireless device including a plurality of contactless applications and a contactless application memory for use by the plurality of contactless applications, initializing a portion of the memory such that access to the portion of memory requires the use of a shared secret key known to the plurality of contactless applications. The method includes reserving the portion of memory for use by one of the plurality of contactless applications by using the shared secret key to set access privileges for the portion of memory such that access to the portion of memory requires the use of a application-specific secret key associated with the one application and not known to the other applications.
US07967211B2 Method and apparatus for communicating information from a mobile digital device to a bar code scanner
Techniques are described for facilitating the reliable communication of information to bar code scanners from mobile digital devices, thereby enabling mobile digital devices to easily access the current commercial infrastructure. These techniques may be used to access many other goods and services in addition to conventional commercial services. The core enabling technology is the use of various elements commonly found on mobile digital devices to provide light that simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static bar code image, and to confirm completion of the scan. The control system may interpret the light provided by the mobile digital device as merely a conventional identification type bar code, although the control system may be enhanced to identify and receive other types of information, including identity and credit information.
US07967210B2 Imaging bar code reader having light emitting diode for generating a field of view
The disclosed bar code reader has an imaging system that includes a light monitoring pixel array and a focusing lens that is fixed with respect to the pixel array for transmitting an image of the target object onto the pixel array. The bar code reader also includes an illumination system for illuminating the target having a light source for emitting a diverging light outwardly from a light source location and a lens for bending the light including a first surface facing the light source and a second surface facing the target for bending the light emitted by the light source to more uniformly illuminate a rectangular, generally planar region at the target within the barcode reader's field of view.
US07967209B2 Method of blocking a portion of illumination rays generated by a countertop-supported digital imaging system, and preventing illumination rays from striking the eyes of the system operator or nearby consumers during operation of said countertop-supported digital image capture and processing system installed at a retail point of sale (POS) station
A method of illuminating objects on a countertop surface using an automatically-triggered digital image capture and processing system installed thereupon, and having a single array of LEDs disposed behind the upper edge portion of its imaging window, above which a light ray blocking shroud portion is provided. During object detection, illumination and imaging operations above the countertop surface, typically at a retail point of sale (POS) station, visible illumination rays are generated by the LEDs and projected substantially within the field of view (FOV) of the system, while the light ray blocking shroud blocks a portion of illumination rays generated from the single array of LEDs and projected above and beyond the FOV of the system, and thus prevents such blocked illumination rays from striking the eyes of the system operator or nearby consumers during system operation.
US07967206B2 Functional aiming system for an automatic data collection device, such as an image acquisition device
An automatic data collection device is provided for reading barcodes, matrix codes, stacked codes, or other machine-readable symbol. The data collection device generates an aiming beam that serves a dual purpose of target locating and data acquisition, such as data acquisition using imaging methods. The aiming beam defines the field of view of the data collection device for imaging. The illumination pattern provided by the aiming beam for imaging can have its shape, size, and/or intensity adaptively changed depending on conditions.
US07967204B2 Assembly comprising a functional device and a resonator and method of making same
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device. The RFID device comprises an antenna assembly and a resonator assembly. The antenna assembly comprises a first substrate and an antenna element. The resonator assembly comprises a second substrate having an integrated circuit connected to a resonator loop. The first substrate and the second substrate are attached to one another. The integrated circuit electrically couples to the antenna element without a direct mechanical contact.
US07967197B2 Integrated online door via electronic door handle
A door security apparatus including a door strike connected to a structure and electrically connected to a first energy transceiver. The door strike is in spaced mating relationship to a door. A door-locking device is coupled to the door for locking and unlocking the door to the door strike. The door-locking device is electrically connected to a second energy transceiver in spaced mating relationship and electrically communicating with the first energy transceiver. The door-locking device includes an access interface communicating with a microprocessor for receiving an access credential. A controlling device is electrically connected to the first energy transceiver, and the controlling device initiates unlocking and locking the door to the door strike using the door-locking device after evaluating the validity of the access credential received from the access interface.
US07967195B2 Methods and systems for providing guaranteed merchant transactions
A network arrangement is provided for processing credit transactions. A financial network is used to route communications securely between interfaces with the financial network. Merchant systems are coupled with the interfaces, with each merchant system transmitting requests for authorization of credit transactions through the financial network. An issuer system authorizes credit transactions in response to receipt of requests that specify at least a credit account to be used to support a particular credit transaction and a transaction amount for the particular credit transaction. A guarantor system separate from the issuer system determines whether to guarantee credit transactions in response to the requests and transmits responses indicating whether specific credit transactions are to be guaranteed through the financial network to the merchant systems.
US07967193B1 Automated banking machine that operates responsive to data bearing records
An automated banking machine operates responsive to data read from data bearing records to cause financial transfers. The machine includes a card reader that operates to read card data from user cards. The card data corresponds to financial accounts. The automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser and the machine carries out transaction functions for consumers including dispensing cash. The automated banking machine may comprise a trusted platform module in a computer of the machine. The trusted platform module may also be used to establish secure communication between components of the machine such as the card reader.
US07967192B1 Automated banking machine controlled responsive to data bearing records
An automated transaction machine can operate to carry out a financial transaction for a machine user responsive to communication with a financial transaction host computer. The machine includes a card reader that can read a user identifier from a magnetic stripe of a user card. The machine sends the read user identifier to a remote marketing computer. The marketing computer uses a user identifier to determine the next marketing presentation to be presented to a machine user corresponding to the user identifier. Responsive to a message received from the marketing computer, the machine operates to display the determined next marketing presentation to the machine user. A marketing campaign includes a sequence of presentations to be output in a predetermined order to a machine user. Machine communication with the remote marketing message computer is independent of machine communication with the transaction host computer.
US07967187B2 Easily unsealable packaging body and method of manufacturing the same
An easy-open packaging body 1 includes: a container body 10 with a flange 14 formed on a circumference of an opening 13, and a cover 20 heat-sealed to the flange 14 to close the opening 13. Inner and outer notches 15A and 15B enclosing the opening 13 are formed respectively on inner and outer circumferential sides on the flange 14. The flange 14 and the cover 20 are heat-sealed by a first seal part 16A having a predetermined width and formed between the inner and outer notches 15A and 15B to enclose the opening 13 and a second seal part 16B having a width narrower than that of the first seal part 16A and formed within an area of the first seal part 16A to enclose the opening 13 along the first seal part 16A, the second seal part 16B having a projected seal part 17 projected outward relative to the other part on a position corresponding to a tab 21.
US07967186B2 Package with reconfigurable handle
The present invention relates to a reconfigurable carrying device. The device includes a container and a handle. The handle is movably coupled to the container and reconfigurable between a collapsed or stored position and an extended or deployed position. In one position, the handle extends from the container to form a hand grip for carrying the container. In another position, the handle lies substantially flat against a wall or surface of the container from which the handle extends.
US07967185B2 Method of forming bonded body and bonded body
A method of forming a bonded body comprised of a first base member, a second base member, and a first bonding film and a second bonding film provided between the first base member and the second base member is provided. The first bonding film and the second bonding film are constituted mainly of copper. The method is comprised of: forming the first bonding film on the first base member by using a chemical vapor-film formation method; forming the second bonding film on the second base member by using a chemical vapor-film formation method; bringing the first bonding film formed on the first base member into contact with the second bonding film formed on the second base member so that the first bonding film faces the second bonding film; and applying a compressive force to the first base member and the second base member so that the first bonding film and the second bonding film are bonded together to thereby obtain the bonded body. Two base members can be firmly and efficiently bonded together with high dimensional accuracy at a low temperature, and the two base members can be efficiently separated (peeled off) to each other after use of the bonded body. Further, a bonded body is also provided.
US07967184B2 Padless substrate for surface mounted components
A semiconductor package having a low profile is disclosed. In embodiments, a surface mounted component may be mounted directly to the core of the semiconductor package substrate, so that there is no conductive layer, plating layers or solder paste between the component and the substrate core. The surface mounted component may be any type of component which may be surface mounted on a substrate according to an SMT process, including for example passive components and various packaged semiconductors.
US07967181B2 Rotary knife cutting systems
There are disclosed rotary cutting systems for use with circular surgical stapling devices. The rotary cutting systems generally include a circular knife blade and a mainspring for imparting rotary motion to the circular knife blade. A latch mechanism is provided to maintain the knife blade on a linear travel path during a first predetermined distance and to release the circular knife blade for rotation due to the bias of the mainspring along a second predetermine distance. The circular knife blade may be rotated by the mainspring itself or, in an alternative embodiment, may be driven by frictional engagement with a rotational hammer.
US07967177B2 Combustion-operated setting tool
A combustion-operated setting tool (10) for driving in fastening elements, includes a combustion chamber (15), a ventilator (16), and a motor (17) for driving the ventilator (16). The motor (17) is mounted in a receptacle (20) of a motor-supporting member (21) and is supported at least at one of its axial ends (24, 25) by an annular damping element (30) at a wall portion (22, 23) defining the receptacle (20), with an annular recess (33) arranged at the circumference of the annular damping element (30).
US07967174B2 Article carrier for an invalid vehicle
A carrier for carrying goods for an invalid vehicle, such as a wheelchair, having a seat. The carrier has a basket support and a foldable basket with a back wall. The basket support has vehicle connectors for detachably connecting the basket support to the vehicle with the support behind the seat. The basket support also has basket connectors for detachably connecting the basket to the support with its back wall against the support. The basket can be detached from the basket support and used alone. The support, with or without the basket attached to it, can be detached from the wheelchair when the wheelchair is to be folded.
US07967171B2 Air foaming pump trigger sprayer
A manually operated liquid foaming dispenser is attached to the top of a container of liquid and is manually reciprocated to dispense the liquid from the container as a foam. The dispenser includes a liquid pump chamber and an air pump chamber that respectively pump liquid and air under pressure to a discharge passage of the pump where the liquid and air are mixed, generating the foam dispensed from the dispenser. The air pump chamber has a tube valve controlling the discharge of air from the air pump to the discharge passage, and the air pump chamber is charged with air by opening the air pump chamber to the exterior environment of the dispenser.
US07967164B1 Leakage containment device
A leakage containment device for containing leakage from an oil tank supplying oil to a heating system includes a container including a bottom wall and a perimeter wall being coupled to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall to define an interior space. An upper edge of the perimeter wall defines an upper open end of the container to permit an oil tank to be placed in the interior space. A lid is hingedly coupled to the upper edge of the perimeter wall. The lid selectively closes the upper open end of the container when the lid is in a closed position over the upper open end. The lid is pivoted away from the upper open end to permit access to the upper open end.
US07967160B2 Assembly for storage and dispensing of unit objects, equipped with a first-opening seal
An assembly for storage and controlled dispensing of unit products, constituted by a container for bulk storage of the products, a device for reclosably closing the container, including a dehydrating device, and a flow-limiting device for dispensing products. The flow-limiting device includes (a) a tearable membrane connected to the edge of the dispensing aperture and totally blocking the aperture and equipped with a gripping and pulling device, and (b) a passage allowing for a gas exchange and preventing, by virtue of its restricted dimensions, the dispensing of the packaged products.
US07967159B2 Reversible child resistant cap and combination of a container and a reversible child resistant cap
The present invention relates to a reversible child resistant cap and a closure system having two positions, the first being a child resistant position and the other being a non-child resistant position.
US07967158B2 Mobile lift crane with variable position counterweight
A mobile lift crane includes a carbody, a rotating bed, a boom, a moveable counterweight unit, at least one linear actuation device and at least one arm pivotally connected at a first end to the rotating bed and at a second end to the linear actuation device. The arm and linear actuation device are connected between the rotating bed and the counterweight unit such that extension and retraction of the linear actuation device changes the position of the counterweight unit. In one method of operation, the counterweight is never supported by the ground during crane pick, move and set operations other than indirectly by the ground engaging members on the carbody. One embodiment includes a counterweight movement structure having a rectangular rack with at least first and third pinion gears engaged with teeth on one side and second and fourth pinion gears engaged with teeth on the opposing side.
US07967157B2 Stillage for transport and display of articles
An array of stillages mounted on top of each other or one stillage is able to be disposed at an angle to another. The advantage of this arrangement is that space between adjacent stillages in an array can be adjusted to hold a range of different sized articles during transport. A further advantage is that once the articles have reached their destination, the array of stillages can be further adjusted to angle one platform relative to another. In this way articles, which have been transported can then be displayed professionally by reconfiguring the array of stillages after reaching a destination.
US07967154B1 System for supporting and displaying products in containers
A display support system for releasably supporting a plurality of product-containing containers for display and sales of the products contained therein. The system includes at least one container having an open top end, a bottom end wall, and at least one generally vertical side wall adjoined to the bottom end wall defining a bottom corner and the open top end and forming an interior for containing a plurality of products; and a product display adapted to be supported on a flat surface, which may be formed of cardboard or wire rod. The display has at least one depending retention member for releasably receiving and engaging the top end of the container side wall, and at least one corner support member disposed a distance vertically below a respective retention member having a protruding support surface for receiving and supporting the bottom corner and a portion of the bottom end of the container having its side wall engaged with the retention member.
US07967145B2 Kit for fabricating and maintaining dentures and dental apparatus and for personal professional tooth whitening by autonomous dental impression taking
The present invention relates to a kit for whitening teeth and a kit for fabricating a dental apparatus and/or denture without visiting the dentist or stomataologist.
US07967142B2 Nestable crate
A nestable crate provides increased protection to the goods stored inside the crate. Panel portions connect the base to an upper band on each of the walls, while slats are oriented and positioned to provide stack/nest functionality. In an aligned orientation, a pair of crates will stack on one another. With one crate rotated one-hundred-eighty degrees relative to the other, the crates will nest with one another.
US07967140B2 Packaging and dispensers for adhesive backed elements
An element dispensing package suitable for dispensing adhesive strips or bandages. Each element is contained within an envelope formed by opposed upper and lower sheets. The lower sheet has a release liner secured thereto to protect the element while it is within the dispenser. The element is releasably secured to a first tab and is separated from the package when the envelope is opened. The first tab has one or more gripping means to facilitate dispensing of the element contained within the package. Additionally, the upper sheet and the lower sheet have optional gripping means (e.g., a second tab) to facilitate dispensing of the element contained within the package.
US07967135B2 Bifurcated beverage can with unified opening and mixing operation
A beverage can having a primary fluid volume and a segregated secondary container. The secondary container could contain a liquid or a granulated solid. The two containers are separated by a barrier which can be opened. The beverage can has a lid with a conventional pull-tab and downward-opening hatch. However, the hatch is equipped with a piercer extending down into the can. When the pull-tab is actuated, the piercer breaches the barrier separating the secondary container from the primary fluid volume. The contents of the secondary container can then be mixed with the primary fluid.
US07967133B2 Packaging for disposable soft contact lenses
The present disclosure provides a contact lens package containing a contact lens in a compressed state. In one exemplary embodiment, the overall internal depth of the package is less than the natural sagittal depth of the contact lens. Different single-use contact lens package shapes and configurations may be used. In some embodiments, a spring disc is included in the packages to help present the contact lens to the user when the package is opened. The contact lens packages may be adhered or clipped to a card or other carrier sheet, and may be housed in a number of different secondary packages.
US07967128B2 Article conveying device
An article conveying device 10 in which a floor surface 21 of each of a plurality of fixed floors 20 is arranged so as to form a descending slope towards a downstream side in a conveying direction with respect to each other, each of a plurality of moving floors 30 is adjacently arranged on a side in the conveying direction with respect to each fixed floor 20, and a raising/lowering operation of simultaneously positioning the respective floor surface 31 of each moving floor 30 at a high position and a low position with respect to the floor surface 21 of the adjacent fixed floor 20 is repeated to arrange the floor surface 31 of each moving floor 30 positioned at the high position so as to form a descending slope towards the downstream side in the conveying direction with respect to each other.
US07967122B2 Torque transmission device
A torque transmitting device in a drive train of a motor vehicle to transmit torque between an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft and a transmission having coaxial input shafts. The transmission input shafts are each non-rotatably connected with a respective clutch disc having friction linings. An intermediate pressure plate is positioned between the friction linings of the clutch discs and is non-rotatably connected to the engine drive shaft. The friction linings of the clutch discs are between the intermediate pressure plate and respective axially movable clutch pressure plates that are actuated by an actuation device. To provide support for the double clutch unit the intermediate pressure plate is radially mounted on one of the two transmission input shafts.
US07967118B2 Impact absorber device
An impact absorber device includes at least one first portion having a short tubular shape, and at least one second portion having a short tubular shape concentrically disposed in a stacked relationship with the first portion. The first portion and the second portion engage with each other at an engagement portion which is inclined with respect to a concentric axis of the first portion and the second portion. With this arrangement, impact energy is absorbed in the case of collision accidents of vehicles such as an automobile and trains, and the dropping accidents of lifts such as elevators.
US07967116B2 Load compensating hydraulic rate control
A rate control device includes an outer cylinder defining an interior chamber having a longitudinal axis and containing a hydraulic fluid. A piston head mounted to a proximal end or a piston rod is slidably positionable within the interior chamber. A rate control valve is disposed within an interior cavity of the piston head coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the interior chamber of the cylinder. The rate control valve includes a variable flow rate orifice and a fixed flow rate orifice disposed in series relationship with respect to fluid flow through the rate control valve.
US07967114B2 Clamp device
A clamp device inserted between two parts can prevent a relative movement between a brake disc and a brake caliper of a vehicle brake. The device includes two plates, with adjustable separation by way of at least two rollers running against each other and rolling on roller surfaces on facing inner sides of the plates. When the rollers are located in the region of a first section of the roller surfaces, the separation of the plates for bringing about clamping in an extended state is greater than the separation adopted by the plates to generate clamping in a withdrawn state when the rollers are located in the region of a second section of the roller surfaces. The position of the rollers relative to the roller surfaces may be altered by an actuator.
US07967112B2 Check stand with a two belted input and a slidable scanner
This invention provides a high-volume check stand with a front transport that has two belted input conveyors so that a customer can load one belt while the cashier is checking out products purchased by a second customer on the second belt. This two belt module has a flush rear end to which is attached a scanner that can be slid from one belt to the other. Preferably this check stand has an output module which has two belts and two rollers so that the check stand can use a bagger on each side for bagging the items, to speed checkout time. Embodiments of this check stand may have an output module that is a carousel or a turntable. It could also have any combination of one or two conveyor belts and one or two rollers on an incline for use in packing the products. A scanner is placed between the flush rear end of the front transport and the flush front end of the output module. The scanner has means for either being slid transversely or rotated by the cashier between one belted conveyor and the other conveyer so that the cashier can move from scanning products on one conveyor to the other.
US07967110B2 Tubular access ladder and method
An access ladder includes a plurality of sections connected together to telescope between an extended position and a retracted position that has an increasing reactive force to counterbalance the weight of the sections as they extend. A method for accessing a room with a ladder connected to a ceiling including the steps of moving the ladder to a fully extended position subject to an increasingly active force to counterbalance the weight of the ladder as it extends. There is the step of retracting the ladder into a retracted position in the ceiling.
US07967107B2 Muffler apparatus for vehicle
A muffler apparatus for a vehicle, may include a muffler housing; baffle plates that are disposed in the muffler housing and divides an internal space of the muffler housing; an intake pipe that is supported by at least one of the baffle plates and takes in exhaust gas; and an exhaust pipe that is supported by at least one of the baffle plates and takes in the exhaust gas discharged from the intake pipe and discharges the exhaust gas outside the muffler housing, and of which a pipe line of the exhaust pipe circulates through the internal space of the muffler housing.
US07967101B2 Combination drive and suspension system for a vehicle
The invention is a combination drive and suspension system that includes an upper drive assembly and a lower drive assembly pivotally connected. The pivoting drive system provides improved ground clearance for a farm vehicle capable of carrying a large quantity of field application material.
US07967100B2 Utility vehicle
A vehicle includes a center console provided with left and right walls, and a top wall, provided to the rear, in the front/back direction of the vehicle, of a front panel. The top wall, extends rearward, in the front/back direction of the vehicle, from a center portion, in the direction of width of the vehicle, of the front panel to at least a front end of a front seat. The top wall is provided at a position that is higher than a bottommost end of a front portion of a seating surface of a seat cushion portion of the front seat and higher than a top end of an engine, and at a position that is lower than a top end of the front panel.
US07967099B2 Method and arrangement of a plurality of propel pumps in a hydrostatically driven compactor
Fluid control propulsion system, machine including the system, and method of controlling the propulsion of a machine having a compacting drum and a wheel mounted on an axle, drum and axle motors operatively connected with the drum and the axle, respectively, and drum and axle pumps operatively connected to an engine and fluidly connected to the pumps. A fluid control orifice disposed in fluid communication between the pumps is selectively disengageable in response to at least one of operator instruction, sensed pressure differential between the drum and axle pumps, and sensed disparity in rotational speed between the drum and axle.
US07967097B2 Motorcycle suspension method and apparatus
A motorcycle suspension apparatus and method is provided. In one embodiment, a motorcycle suspension assembly includes a shaft and at least two asymmetric bushings, with each bushing comprising an inner element and an outer element, with the outer element and inner elements constructed of different materials. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
US07967096B2 Lean steering truck with a torsion spring assembly
A mechanical assembly which enables multi-track vehicles to lean into turns and return to a neutral position thereafter.
US07967095B2 Collapsible vehicle
A powered vehicle has a rear frame assembly and a front frame assembly that are pivotally attached to one another, and can be pivoted from a normal fully-extended operating position to a folded position in which the frame assemblies are positioned substantially adjacent to one another, effectively reducing overall vehicle length to about half. One or more latch members lock the front and rear frame assemblies in the fully-extended, normal operating position, and they may be used to lock the frame assemblies in the folded position. The seat support structure may be integrated with the front and rear frame assemblies such that pivoting the frame assemblies toward the folded position collapses the seat support. The steering tiller may also be collapsible toward the front frame assembly. The rear wheels may be mounted on a transaxle that is pivotally mounted on the rear frame assembly. An extendable handle may be provided to assist in the folding operation and to tow the collapsed vehicle on its anti-tip rollers.
US07967091B2 Hybrid electric vehicle powertrain with engine start and transmission shift arbitration
A control method and control system for a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain with a multiple-ratio transmission is disclosed in which engine start events are separated in time from transmission ratio shift events to effect a smooth transition from an electric drive state with the engine off to a drive state in which the engine delivers driving power.
US07967089B2 Children's ride-on vehicles with powered window mechanisms
Children's ride-on vehicles having powered window mechanisms, and window mechanisms for such vehicles. The window mechanism includes a window drive assembly that selectively drives movement of a window member relative to the vehicle body. In some embodiments, the window drive assembly includes a window motor assembly and a window linkage to couple the output of the window motor assembly to the window member. In some embodiments, the window member includes a receiving region coupled to the window linkage. In some embodiments, the window mechanism includes a window support assembly that maintains the window member in a predetermined orientation relative to the vehicle body.
US07967083B2 Sensor for determining a position of a jack element
A drill string having a drill bit with a bit body located between a shank and a working face. The working face has at least one cutting element and a jack element disposed partially within the drill bit body and partially protruding from the working face. The jack element is adapted to be rotated with respect to the bit body by a driving mechanism disposed within a bore of the drill string. A generator or motor with a rotor is incorporated into a torque transmitting mechanism that links the driving mechanism to the jack element, and configured so that at least one waveform is produced in the generator or motor when the jack element is rotated. The waveform is processed by an electronic processing device to determine the rotational position of the jack element.
US07967082B2 Downhole mechanism
A tubular downhole tool string component having a sidewall with a fluid passageway formed therein between a first end and second end, and a valve mechanism disposed within the fluid passageway adapted to substantially cyclically build-up and release pressure within the fluid passageway such that a pressure build-up results in radial expansion of at least a portion of the sidewall and wherein a pressure release results in a radial contraction of the portion of the sidewall. The valve mechanism disposed within the fluid passageway comprises a spring. Radial expansion and contraction of the portion of the sidewall varies a weight loaded to a drill bit disposed at a drilling end of the drill string.
US07967080B2 Boring tool tracking fundamentally based on drill string length, pitch and roll
A boring tool moves having a pitch orientation, a yaw orientation and a roll orientation and is steerable underground using the roll orientation. A maximum drill string curvature is established for steering. The boring tool is advanced over a path segment. An averaged roll characteristic is determined for movement of the boring tool along the path segment. A path segment pitch orientation is established based on at least one measured pitch orientation along the path segment. Using the maximum drill string curvature in combination with the averaged roll characteristic and the path segment pitch orientation, the yaw orientation is determined. The averaged roll characteristic is determined based on a series of incremental roll measurements that are spaced across the path segment. A set of coupled ordinary differential equations is used to characterize movement of the boring tool.
US07967066B2 Method and apparatus for Christmas tree condition monitoring
A method for monitoring a Christmas tree assembly installed on a subsea hydrocarbon well includes receiving a plurality of parameters associated with the Christmas tree assembly. A health metric for the Christmas tree assembly is determined based on the parameters. A problem condition with the Christmas tree assembly is identified based on the determined health metric.
US07967065B2 Caisson system
An example of a caisson system that surrounds a conductor that extends from a head member positioned above a water surface to below a mud line includes a caisson positioned about the conductor, the caisson having a lowest end; a lower centralizer connected within the caisson proximate the lowest end of the caisson; and a second centralizer connected within the caisson above the lower centralizer relative to the mud line; wherein each centralizer includes a plurality of bow members extending between a first and a second collar, the first collar immovably connected within the caisson and the second collar moveable relative to the first collar, and each bow member curving inward from the caisson defining a bore disposing the conductor.
US07967064B2 Apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming a tubular member
An apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming a tubular member includes a support member with a fluid passage. A mandrel is movably coupled to the support member and includes an expansion cone operable to radially expand and plastically deform the tubular member when moved relative to the tubular member. A pressure chamber is positioned between the support member and the mandrel, and the pressure chamber is fluidicly coupled to the fluid passage. A releasable support is coupled to the support member and operable to selectively couple the support member to the tubular member.
US07967061B2 Mini-channel heat exchanger header
A heat exchanger includes a plurality of multi-channel heat exchange tubes extending between spaced inlet and outlet headers. Each heat exchange tube has a plurality of flow channels defining discrete flow paths extending longitudinally in parallel relationship from its inlet end to its outlet end. The inlet header has a channel for receiving a two-phase fluid from a fluid circuit and a chamber for collecting the fluid. The chamber has an inlet in flow communication with the channel and an outlet in flow communication with the plurality of fluid flow paths of the heat exchange tubes. The channel defines a relatively high turbulence flow passage that induces uniform mixing of the liquid phase refrigerant and the vapor phase fluid and reduces potential stratification of the vapor phase and the liquid phase within the fluid passing through the header.
US07967060B2 Evaporating heat exchanger
An evaporating heat exchanger (12) comprises a multitude of parallel channels (40) extending between vertical header pipes (30,32) and forming flow passages (44) from the inlet chamber (34) and to the outlet chamber (36). A venturi device (50) is positioned within the inlet chamber (34) to ensure even mass distribution of refrigerant to the flow passages (44).
US07967059B2 Heat dissipation device
A heat dissipation device includes a base, a fin group, a plurality of heat pipes connecting the base and the fin group, a fan cover covering the fin group and a fan located at a side of the fan cover. The heat pipes are received in the base and extend through the fin group. The heat pipes are received in two opposite sides of the fin group and sandwiched between the fan cover and the fin group. The fan cover includes a body and a pair of side walls extending from the body. The side walls each include a plurality of heat-dissipating fins formed on an outer surface thereof for increasing heat dissipating surface of the heat dissipating device.
US07967053B2 Process for casting a part from a pour of molten metal into a mold assembly
This invention relates to filters made from a refractory material, preferably an insulating material, and chemical binder. The filters are used in the foundry industry to filter molten metal. The invention also relates to a process for preparing the filters.
US07967051B2 Counterbalance system for upward acting door
A torsion coil spring type counterbalance system for an upward acting door includes one or more sleeves disposed over or within the spring coils and engageable with a pre-determined number of spring coils during operation of the spring to modify the spring rate to more closely approximate the required counterbalance forces exertable on the door when the door moves between open and closed positions. The counterbalance system is particularly advantageous for upward acting sectional doors which have one or more sections which are heavier than the other sections, including an uppermost section which may be heavier due to the provision of windows or other structural features of the section.
US07967050B2 Adjustable pitch power awning hardware
An awning assembly includes a canopy, a first and second arm assembly, and a canopy rod. The arm assemblies can each include an adjustable pitch arm assembly configured to adjust the pitch of the canopy. The canopy rod has a first end and a second end each supported by one of the arm assemblies. Manual adjustment of the adjustable pitch arm assemblies is configured to move the ends of the canopy rod. The canopy is movable from a first deployed position to a second deployed position when the adjustable pitch arm assemblies are both manually adjusted from an extended position to a collapsed position. The canopy can be movable from either deployed position to a retracted position without manually adjusting the adjustable pitch arm assemblies. The adjustable pitch arm assemblies can change positions in response to water being collected on the awning assembly to drain the collected water.
US07967049B2 Tape exfoliation apparatus and tape-affixing apparatus
An apparatus for automatically peeling a removal tape from a removal-tape-attached adhesive tape and affixing the adhesive tape to a battery module. A removal-tape-attached adhesive insulation tape supplied from an uncoiler is held in a folded state by means of a carrier plate. The carrier plate reciprocates between a first position and a second position. When the carrier plate has moved from the first position to the second position, a tape holding unit holds the tape by means of suction. Subsequently, as a result of movement of the carrier plate from the second position to the first position, the removal tape is peeled from the removal-tape-attached adhesive insulation tape T, thereby uncovering an adhesive surface of the adhesive tape. The battery module is dropped toward the adhesive tape at an inclination with reference to the vertical direction, whereby the adhesive tape is affixed to the battery module.
US07967048B2 Transferring device and transferring method
A transferring device 10 for transferring plate-like members such as a semiconductor wafer and the like among the first table T1, the second table T2 and the third table T3. The transferring device 10 includes a supporting unit provided with a supporting face for the semiconductor wafer W, and a multi joint robot 12 for transferring the supporting unit 11. The supporting face includes an adhesive sheet S in which an adhesive layer A is laminated on a sheet base material SB, and transferring among the table T1 through T3 can be performed through sticking and peeling operation between the adhesive sheet S and the semiconductor wafer.
US07967041B2 Fuel-dispensing nozzle inhibitor
A nozzle inhibitor is included in a fuel tank filler neck closure assembly. The nozzle inhibitor blocks full insertion of a small-diameter unleaded fuel nozzle into the filler neck closure assembly yet allows full insertion of a large-diameter diesel fuel nozzle into the filler neck closure assembly.
US07967039B2 Seal assembly for a source of pressurized fluid
A valve system includes a source of pressurized fluid comprising an orifice through which the pressurized fluid flows away from the source, and a poppet comprising a groove and a seal positioned in the groove, wherein the seal plugs the orifice when the poppet is in a closed position, and wherein the poppet and the seal move through the orifice against a flow of the pressurized fluid to allow the pressurized fluid to flow through the orifice and away from the source. The seal may include an O-ring.
US07967037B2 Apparatus and system for dispensing liquids
An apparatus for pumping fluids comprises a suction pump and an inlet tube extendible into a container containing the fluid. A sealing plate is provided over the liquid surface to form a circumferential seal with the inner wall of the container and the outer wall of the inlet tube. The sealing plate prevents air from entering the lower part of the container and thereby prevents the pump from cavitating once the container is emptied. A pumping system is also provided wherein a plurality of pumping apparatuses is provided on a frame. A dispensing system is also provided wherein a plurality of computer controlled nozzles are each connected to a respective pumping apparatus whereby specific volumes of desired fluids can be dispensed.
US07967035B2 Method and system for the quick refill of an irritant dispenser
A system and method for quickly refilling a pressurized irritant dispenser is disclosed. In the system and method, either the dispensing nozzle or the connection between the dispensing nozzle and the valve assembly is replaced with a quick connect fitting. The quick connect fitting allows for both the quick refill of irritant and the quick attachment (and detachment) of various accessories to the pressurized irritant dispenser.
US07967034B2 Device with needle penetrable and laser resealable portion and related method
A device and method are provided for needle penetrating and filling a chamber with a predetermined substance, and laser resealing a resulting needle hole in the device. A needle penetrable and laser resealable portion of the device is pierceable with a needle to form a needle aperture therethrough to fill the chamber through the needle, and is laser resealable to hermetically seal the needle aperture by applying laser radiation at a predetermined wavelength and power thereto. The needle penetrable and laser resealable portion defines a predetermined wall thickness in an axial direction thereof, and includes a thermoplastic that substantially prevents the formation of particles released into the chamber from the needle penetrable and laser resealable portion during penetration by and withdrawal of the needle. The thermoplastic includes a predetermined amount of pigment that allows the thermoplastic to substantially absorb laser radiation at the predetermined wavelength, substantially prevent the passage of radiation through the predetermined wall thickness thereof, and hermetically seal a needle aperture formed in the needle penetration region thereof in a predetermined time period.
US07967033B2 Papermaker'S fabric to develop caliper and topography in paper products
A papermaker's fabric including at least one system of warp yarns interwoven with at least first and second systems of weft yarns, with the weft yarns of the first system of weft yarns having a vertical dimension that is greater than a vertical dimension of the weft yarns of the second system. The fabric has a papermaking surface and a machine side surface, and in the papermaking surface, the yarns of the first system of weft yarns are interwoven with the warp yarns to provide groups of four weft yarn floats which form four corners of a box shape, the yarns of the second system of weft yarns are interwoven with the warp yarns so as to pass through the bottom of the box shape, and further provide support areas in pockets located adjacent to the box shapes, and at least one yarn from the second system of weft yarns interweaves with the warp yarns to occupy space in a center plane of the fabric so as to restrict or retard drainage and thereby increase a center plane resistance of the fabric.
US07967026B2 Coupling and decoupling assembly of pipe having double valve
A coupling/decoupling assembly of a pipe which can selectively open/close a flow channel of the pipe is provided. In the coupling/decoupling assembly of the pipe, a first valve and a second valve are respectively joined with each end of a first pipe and a second pipe. A first driving axis and a second driving axis are respectively joined with each end of the first valve and the second valve. An outer surface and an inner surface of the first and second valves are formed in a spherical body, and the inner surface of the first valve and the outer surface of the second valve are overlapped with each other to close the flow channel of the pipe, and the inner surface of the first valve and the outer surface of the second valve having an identical radius of a curvature.
US07967020B2 Hand held self contained pacifier or baby bottle nipple spray cleaner
A hand held self contained cleaning apparatus includes a reservoir containing a single use cleaning and/or disinfecting liquid, a pump, and a nozzle for directing a spray of the cleaning and/or disinfecting liquid against a soiled nipple of a pacifier or baby bottle cap. The apparatus includes a platform for supporting the pacifier or bottle cap, a mouth for inserting the nipple into an area just above the nozzle, and a separator for preventing dirty liquid from returning to the reservoir. The spray is directed against a soiled nipple to loosen and remove soil from the nipple. After cleaning the pacifier or bottle cap, the dirty cleaning liquid is released so new clean liquid may be used for the next cleaning. The apparatus may be carried with other related items and used to clean the pacifier or bottle cap at any location and in particular away from home.
US07967019B2 Method and apparatus for removing contaminants from substrate
A cleaning material is applied to a surface of a substrate. The cleaning material includes one or more polymeric materials for entrapping contaminants present on the surface of the substrate. A rinsing fluid is applied to the surface of the substrate at a controlled velocity to effect removal of the cleaning material and contaminants entrapped within the cleaning material from the surface of the substrate. The controlled velocity of the rinsing fluid is set to cause the cleaning material to behave in an elastic manner when impacted by the rinsing fluid, thereby improving contaminant removal from the surface of the substrate.
US07967009B2 Solar collector
A glazed solar collector with a frame surrounding an absorber (3a), an insulating layer (2) disposed beneath the absorber (3a) and a cover pane (4) spaced above the absorber (3a). Absorber tubing (3b) is connected to an supply header (15) and to an return header (16). The axis (X) of the supply/return header (15,16) is arranged at an angle to a plane (Z) coinciding with the cover pane (4) with the distance between the axis (X) and the plane (2) increasing along the axis (X) in a direction leading away from the collector.
US07967003B2 Windscreen for backpacking stoves
A windscreen configured for use with a backpacking type of stove and a cooking container. The windscreen more effectively and efficiently directs the heat from the stove to the sides of the container so as to utilize less fuel to warm the materials therein, thereby reducing the weight to be carried by the user. In one embodiment, a plurality of adjustable lower vents selectively partially or fully open to control the wind allowed into the interior area of the windscreen so as to better transfer heat from the stove to the sides of the container. In another embodiment, adjustable support tabs at the upper end of the windscreen allow the user to adjust air flow out of the windscreen. In yet another embodiment, the upper end of the windscreen engages the sides or lip of the cooking container and air flows from the interior area through upper vent holes.
US07967000B2 Low pressure paintball guns
A paintball gun comprises: a body defining a gas storage chamber for connection to a source of pressurized gas, a breech into which paintballs can be loaded, and a hammer chamber; a bolt slidable in the breech and having a bolt inlet port; a hammer slidable in the hammer chamber and connected to the bolt; and a poppet valve comprising a valve body defining a valve inlet connected to the storage chamber, a valve outlet connected to the breech, and a blow back port connecting the inlet to the hammer chamber, and a valve member slidable in the valve body and movable between an open position, in which it allows gas to flow from the storage chamber through the valve inlet to the valve outlet, and a closed position in which it closes the valve, and a pair of magnets arranged to bias the poppet towards the closed position.
US07966999B2 Paintball loader systems
A paintball loader system designed to efficiently deliver paintballs to a paintball gun. The drive mechanism is a screw-type design comprising a resilient auger. A microcontroller is programmed to automatically adjust the rotation of the auger based on data from multiple sensor points within the loader. The auger is mounted such that both rotational axial movements are enabled during operation. The axial movement of the auger is used to maintain a constant force on the paintballs awaiting loading within the paintball gun.
US07966994B2 System for metering a fuel supply
A system for metering fuel to an engine. The system includes a fuel metering valve having a throttled inlet and a throttled outlet. The system also provides regulation of redundant pump supplies of fuel to the engine. The throttling of the inlet to the fuel metering valve is provided by a valve that also functions to selectively couple a second fuel pump to the fuel metering valve.
US07966993B2 Fuel injection pump having a barrel expansion control sleeve
A fuel injection pump is provided. The fuel injection pump includes a barrel including an inner surface defining a bore. The fuel injection pump also includes a plunger movable inside the bore of the barrel. An outer surface of the plunger and the inner surface of the barrel form a clearance therebetween. One or more sleeves at least partially encircle one or more portions of an outer surface of the barrel, and are configured to apply a load to the outer surface of the barrel.
US07966992B2 Combustion control using ion sense feedback and multi-strike spark to manage high dilution and lean AFR
A system and method for operating a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine having at least one actuator for controlling charge dilution of at least one cylinder and at least one spark plug per cylinder include attempting to improve combustion quality by modifying ignition energy of the at least one spark plug before modifying charge dilution of the cylinder, and modifying both ignition energy and charge dilution substantially simultaneously to establish combustion if an ionization sense signal associated with the cylinder indicates a misfire.
US07966991B2 Method and apparatus for controlling combustion mode transitions in an internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine is operative in a spark ignition combustion mode and a controlled auto-ignition combustion mode. Operating the engine includes commanding a transition from a first combustion mode to a second combustion mode. A change in openings and closings of the intake and exhaust valves is commanded to a preferred duration of a negative valve overlap period corresponding to operating in the second combustion mode. Fuel injection parameters and spark ignition events are adjusted to effect operation in the second combustion mode only when a realized duration of the negative valve overlap period exceeds a predetermined threshold.
US07966987B2 Air-cooled engine
There is provided an air-cooled engine (10) that is cooled by cooling air. The air-cooled engine (10) comprises a cylinder block (33), and a cylinder head (28) that closes off one end of a cylinder (26). The cylinder head (28) includes a base part (81) that is superposed on and secured to the cylinder block (33) by a plurality of bolts (91), and a valve compartment (83) formed integrally on the base part (81). All of the bolts (91) are disposed near the outer periphery of the base part (81) at positions outside of the valve compartment (83).
US07966986B2 Cylinder head
An exhaust system includes a cylinder head having a plurality of exhaust ports. Integrally formed with the cylinder head are a plurality of independent and separate tubes. The tubes are cast, molded or otherwise integrally formed with the exhaust ports of the cylinder head. The cylinder head and tubes eliminate the need for an exhaust flange, welding the tubes to the exhaust flange and securing the exhaust flange to the cylinder head. As a result, the exhaust system has less weight and improved performance over prior art cylinder head and exhaust assemblies.
US07966985B2 Valve operating system and engine intake control system
A valve operating system that includes a drive shaft, a drive lever that is fixedly provided thereon and can pivot in a direction of movement of a valve body, a follower arm that is fixedly provided on the valve body, a link, a first connecting shaft that connects one end of the link and the drive lever, and a second connecting shaft that connects the other end of the link and the follower arm; in response to a movement of the valve body from a first position to a second position by pivoting of the drive lever, a center of the first connecting shaft approaches from one side a straight line connecting two centers of the drive shaft and the second connecting shaft, and after the valve body reaches the second position, further pivoting of the drive lever is carried out through a predetermined angle so that the center of the first connecting shaft moves to the other side of a dead point on the straight line. Thereby a valve body can be held at one position with hardly any dependence on the output of an actuator, thus greatly reducing the load on the actuator.
US07966984B2 Direct injection fuel system with reservoir
A method of operating a fuel delivery system for an internal combustion engine is described. The method may include, after or during engine shutdown, and during a fuel system cool down, activating the first pump; and varying the activation of the first pump responsive to temperature to maintain a higher pressure for high temperatures. By utilizing the pump to generate increased pressure at an appropriate condition during the cool down, for example, the pressures in the system can be managed to reduce the likelihood of fuel migrating to the rail.
US07966983B2 Concentric camshaft with varying wall geometry and method of assembly
A camshaft may include a first shaft, a first lobe member, and a second lobe member. The first shaft may include an annular wall defining a first bore. The wall may include a first portion having a first radial outer surface and a second portion having a second radial outer surface that is radially offset relative to the first radial outer surface. The first lobe member may define a second bore having the first portion of the first shaft located therein and frictionally engaged with the first shaft for rotation with the first shaft. The second lobe member may define a third bore having the second portion of the first shaft located therein. The second lobe member may be rotatably disposed on the second portion of the first shaft.
US07966976B2 Safety bypass gate for emergency exit from watering area to feeding area in livestock facility
A safety bypass gate is provided for use with a livestock management system having a sorting scale arranged between watering and feeding areas. The safety bypass gate changes from a closed position to an open position to provide an emergency exit from the watering area when a condition exists that prevents animals from passing over the sorting scale. The safety bypass gate includes a pair of pivoting gate members and a channel member that fits over the top edges of the gate members to secure them closed. The channel member is attached to a pneumatic actuator that uses air pressure to hold the channel member in its locked position, and a spring return that moves the channel member to its unlocked position upon a drop in air pressure. Springs bias the gate members from their closed positions to their open positions when the channel member moves to its unlocked position.
US07966973B1 Suspension container for incubating reptile eggs
An incubation container, for stabilizing reptile eggs during incubation, having a main part and a lid. The main part has side walls, a bottom, and an open top which together define an interior volume, and a lid for selectively closing the open top and making the interior volume air-tight. A ledge extending around the side walls substantially parallel to the bottom and supports a support surface having a plurality of openings arranged in a grid. Reptile eggs rest upon the support surface during incubation. Stabilizing rods are secured to the support surface to hold the eggs in a consistent position using plugs which extend downwardly from a lower surface of the rods. Moisture absorbing material is located on the bottom of the container to maintain humidity during incubation.
US07966957B2 Magnetic fabric retaining device
A device for use with an embroidery machine to hold an item or material to be embroidered between upper and lower hooping members, with the hooping members being secured to one another by use of a magnetic force, preferably with rare earth magnets, is disclosed. The magnets provide a solid, secure mating arrangement between the upper and lower hooping members without the need to adjust for different thicknesses of material. Compressible and/or frictional material may be attached to at least one hooping member to securely retain the item or material to be embroidered. One hooping member has interchangeable arms for attaching the mating hooping members to different brands of embroidery machines. One hooping member may also include a locating device for attaching the hooping members to a hooping device such as a hooping board.
US07966955B2 Boring device and multi-needle embroidery sewing machine equipped with the same
A boring device that can be attached to and detached from a lower end of one of a plurality of needle bars provided on a multi-needle embroidery sewing machine, and includes a boring knife that makes a cut in a work cloth and a first engagement portion to be engaged with a second engagement portion provided on the one of a plurality of the needle bars. The second engagement portion restricts horizontal rotation of the boring device, and a horizontal position of the boring knife with respect to the one of the needle bars is determined when the first engagement portion is engaged with the second engagement portion.
US07966954B2 Air/product flow splitting apparatus for use with product distribution system of an agricultural seeding machine
A splitter divides an air/product mixture flow, delivered thereto in an air-powered distribution line, between a primary and a secondary distribution channel, which may be flow-coupled to a product hopper or a hose flow-coupled to another product hopper or another splitter. The air/product mixture enters the inlet of the splitter along an angled downward flow path and exits a primary outlet, flow-coupled to the primary distribution channel, along a vertical downward flow path. Air/product flow is exhausted by a secondary outlet, which is flow-coupled to the secondary distribution channel, at an angled upward flow path. The velocity flow vector along which the air/product mixture is exhausted from the secondary outlet is at an acute angle relative to the velocity flow vector along which the air/product mixture is received by the inlet of the splitter.
US07966952B2 Foldable table for aircraft interiors
An exemplary implementation of an aircraft interior table includes a base unit which includes a storage compartment having laterally projecting ends. A bi-fold table comprised of a table panels is horizontally stowed and supported on the upper surface of the base unit. Thus, in a stowed condition, one of the table panels is folded so as to be sandwiched between the other of the table panels and the upper surface of the base unit. The edge of the other table panel opposite to its hinged edge adjoining both table panels is pivotally connected to the base unit by means of a primary hinge. In use, the table panels may be rotated as a unit about the primary hinge so as to achieve an intermediate fold-out condition. While in such a position, the table will present itself half-sized so as to provide the associated aircraft seat occupant with minimal forward obstruction. From the intermediate fold-out condition, the other of the table panels may then be pivoted so that both table panels are positioned horizontally adjacent to one another. The fully deployed table panels will thus be supported in a cantilevered manner by the primary hinge attached to the base. Reversing such a procedure will fold the table panels and place them in a stowed condition.
US07966951B1 Apparatus for dispensing utilities at a selected location of a workstation
An apparatus for dispensing utilities at a selected location of a work station. The apparatus has a housing that has an upper peripheral portion and a pair of oppositely positioned sidewalls that extend downwardly from the upper peripheral portion. The housing defines a spatial region between the sidewalls. The housing has an opening that is bounded by the upper peripheral portion and in communication with the spatial region. An inner support structure is attached to and between the sidewalls of the housing and located within the spatial region of the housing. The inner support structure has sidewalls, a bottom portion and a pair of lengthwise panel members that define a spatial region of the inner support structure. The inner support structure has a generally “V” shape cross-section wherein the lengthwise panels are angulated with respect to the bottom portion and away from each other. A utility receptacle module is attached to each lengthwise panel. Each utility receptacle module has at least one utility receptacle that is in communication with and accessible through the spatial region of the inner support structure. A cable extends from each utility receptacle module and is in electrical signal communication with the utility receptacle. Two lid members are movably attached to the housing of the inner support structure. Each lid member is movable between a closed position and an open position that provides access to the spatial region of the inner support structure and the utility receptacles.
US07966945B1 Isolation and support structures for hydrogen hybrid locomotives and hydrogen hybrid locomotives using the same
A hydrogen hybrid locomotive driven by a set of electric traction motors powered by at least one hydrogen fuel cell power module and plurality of batteries includes a chassis, an isolation structure disposed on the chassis for isolating the at least one hydrogen fuel cell power module from shock and vibration and a battery rack disposed on the chassis for supporting the plurality of batteries. A hydrogen containment module is disposed above the battery rack and includes a support rack supporting a plurality of hydrogen tanks and a manifold coupled to each of the plurality of hydrogen tanks for allowing charging and discharging of the hydrogen tanks.
US07966940B2 Load-minimizing, trolley arrester apparatus and method
A system comprising a cable held in suspension and a trolley traveling along the cable relies on a brake to control velocity and limit net downhill acceleration of the trolley. The trolley may include a brake pad positioned to contact the cable. At the downhill end of the ride, the lever actuating the brake is caught and lifted by a capture ring, thus relieving the braking load on the trolley. Also, the trolley engages a comparatively modest, second resistance mechanism, such as, for example, a system of springs, that gradually increases in resistance with distance of motion of the trolley thereagainst, bringing the trolley to a gradual halt at a rate to improve comfort of a rider and reduce acceleration forces (loads) on the trolley.
US07966939B2 Rotating structures
An embodiment of the present invention is a rotating structure. An outer ring is placed on a first surface of a trench in a foundation having a ground surface. An inner ring is positioned inside the outer ring on the first surface. A bar assembly is positioned between the outer ring and the inner ring. A plurality of rollers supports the bar assembly. A plurality of motors engages to the bar assembly to cause the bar assembly to rotate when activated.
US07966933B2 Apparatus and method for clamping printing plates on a plate cylinder
An apparatus and method for clamping printing plates on a plate cylinder is disclosed. A clamping element is integrated into a lockup slot of a plate cylinder with an actuating element. The clamping element is transferred by the actuating element between a first position, where the clamping element clamps the leading end and/or the trailing end of the printing plate, and a second position, where the clamping element releases the leading end and/or the trailing end of the printing plate. The clamping element can be adjusted exclusively in the radial direction of the plate cylinder and the actuating element exclusively in the axial direction of the plate cylinder such that, depending upon the relative axial position of the actuating element with respect to the clamping element, the clamping element is displaced either radially outwardly for clamping the printing plate or is displaced radially inwardly for releasing the printing plate.
US07966930B2 Production spring striper
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for applying markings, particularly to springs, that are clean (ink in self contained storage units), allows quick color changes and reduces wasted ink or paint. An application means that does not dry out during short down time periods, keeps up with production rates, and is cost effective.
US07966929B2 Can processing
An apparatus for heat-treating products, has a retort into which the products to be treated are receivable a heating unit for heating the retort; coolant spray for spraying a liquid coolant onto products received in the retort; and a shield to substantially prevent coolant sprayed from the coolant spray from impinging on the interior of the retort. A method of protecting a retort has a retort wall defining a volume into which products to be treated are receivable, a heating unit for heating the retort, and coolant spray for spraying a liquid coolant onto products received in the retort against thermal shock, the method including a mounting shielding apparatus within the retort to substantially prevent liquid coolant sprayed from the coolant spray within the retort from impinging on the interior of the retort wall.
US07966926B2 Funnel blocking apparatus and methods of use
Disclosed is a blocking device for use with a beverage making machine of the type having a housing (22) and a funnel (30) positionable relative to the housing. The blocking device (40, 40a, 40b) prevents unintended disengagement of a funnel from a corresponding housing to which at least a portion of the blocking device is attached. The blocking device includes a first engager (16) and a second engager (18). The first and second engagers are engageable when positioning a funnel on a housing. The first and second engagers are selectively disengageable when removing a funnel from a housing. The blocking device as disclosed also includes a method of retaining a funnel on a housing and a kit for attaching a blocking device to a beverage making machine which does not include a blocking device.
US07966922B2 Electro-magnetic restraint
A restraint for immobilizing a projectile with respect to its launch system is disclosed. When electromagnetic force is applied to the restraint, the restraint releases the projectile, thereby enabling its launch.
US07966921B1 Aircraft wing-pylon interface mounting apparatus
An apparatus for interfacing an external store to an under-wing pylon suspension rack on a tactical aircraft.
US07966917B2 Microtome having a lever arrangement
A lever arrangement for a microtome including a first and second lever. The first lever mounted rotatably about a first axis. The second lever is mounted rotatably about a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis. One lever comprises two guidance surfaces. The other lever comprises a guidance segment. The guidance segment coacts with the two guidance surfaces such that a rotation of the first lever in a first direction rotates the second lever in a target direction, and a rotation of the first lever in a direction opposite to the first direction rotates the second lever in the target direction.
US07966914B2 Screwdriver handle
A screwdriver handle comprising a base portion adapted to accommodate a screwdriver shaft member; at least one arm pivotally connected to the base portion; a locking sleeve mounted on the base portion; and an electric motor operatively connected to the base portion and adapted to rotate the screwdriver shaft member in any of a clockwise and counter-clockwise manner. The screwdriver handle may further comprise a switch adapted to turn the motor on and off. Additionally, the screwdriver handle may further comprise an electromechanical actuator operatively connected to each of the electric motor and the locking sleeve. Preferably, the locking sleeve is adapted to move along a longitudinal axis of the base portion, and wherein the electromechanical actuator is adapted to prevent the locking sleeve from moving along the longitudinal axis of the base portion.
US07966908B2 Self-blocking differential for a transportation means
The invention relates to the automobile industry, is usable in transportation means differential drives capable of automatically blocking the wheels, and aimed at simplifying the self-blocking differential's design, reducing dimensions, easing the manufacturing, increasing the differential's strength and efficiency. The differential comprises a drive housing, provided with half-axial elements, arranged therein coaxially to each other, whose external surfaces are provided with helical grooves of an opposite spiral direction, rolling members in the form of balls fill in a chain manner at least one closed-loop channel arranged in the housing, and a part thereof made open for insertion of segments of the balls into the grooves. According to the invention, the longitudinal section of the channel is made of a rectangular longitudinal cross-section with rounded external corners, the transversal cross-section of branches of the channel is equal to the ball's diameter and the number of balls in the channel is odd.
US07966893B2 Adjusting transducer frequency without ceasing fluid flow through a meter
A method comprises, without ceasing flow of fluid through a flow meter, transmitting an ultrasonic signal of a first frequency through the fluid, adjusting the first frequency to a second frequency, and transmitting another ultrasonic signal of the second frequency through the fluid.
US07966892B1 In line sampler separator
The in-line sampler separator utilizes an improved method of measuring the gas, oil and water components in a fuel material mixture being processed at high pressure in a processing system. A sampling loop obtains mixture samples to be collected in a sampler. The sampler releases the collected sample to a separator tank when a certain volume has been reached. The tank operates at or below a pressure that allows the gas component to be released in gaseous form. The oil and water components separate within the tank, and their respective volumes are determined.
US07966886B2 Method and apparatus for measuring pressure inside a fluid system
A disclosed method determines fluid pressure inside a vessel without compromising the integrity of the vessel. A sensor is positioned in operative communication with the external wall of the vessel such that expansion of the external wall of the vessel exerts a force against the sensor that is directed substantially radially outward with respect to the vessel. A substantially radially inward force is caused to be directed against the sensor in response to the substantially radially outward force exerted by the external vessel wall. The sensor can thus be used to detect the magnitude of the substantially radially outward force, which can be used to determine the pressure of the fluid within the vessel.