最新美国发明专利第2011-09-13期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US08017362B2	Method for producing L-methionine by fermentation The present invention provides a method for producing L-methionine by culturing a microorganism in a medium to produce and accumulate L-methionine in the medium, and collecting the L-methionine from the medium, where the microorganism is deficient in a repressor of L-methionine biosynthesis system and has L-methionine productivity.
US08017360B2	Detection of nucleic acids through amplification of surrogate nucleic acids Methods for detecting and optionally quantitating one or more target nucleic acids are provided, in which a surrogate nucleic acid is captured to each target nucleic acid, amplified, and detected. Compositions, kit, and systems related to the methods are also described.
US08017356B2	Endoribonuclease A polypeptide having a endoribonuclease activity; a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide; recombinant DNA having the nucleic acid therein; a transformant transformed with the recombinant DNA; a process for producing the polypeptide comprising the steps of cultivating the transformant and collecting the polypeptide from the culture; a process for producing a digest of single-stranded RNA comprising the step of reacting the polypeptide with the single-stranded RNA; and a method for the digestion of single-stranded RNA.
US08017354B2	Microorganism for producing recombinant pig liver esterase The present invention relates to a microorganism which comprises at least one copy of a polynucleic acid sequence which is foreign to the host and which encodes a protein having an enzymic activity, and comprises a chaperone system which assists the expression of the protein in the form of an active enzyme, and to a method for producing a protein having esterase activity using such a microorganism.
US08017351B2	Amylases for pharmaceutical use The pharmaceutical use of amylases related to Bacillus alpha-amylases of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3, optionally in combination with a lipase and/or a protease. Examples of medical indications are: Treatment of digestive disorders, pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI), pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, diabetes type I, and/or diabetes type II. The amylases of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3 are variants of amylases from Bacillus stearothermophilus, Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus sp. The amylases of the invention have an improved efficacy in vivo, an improved pH-profile, a high specific activity, and/or an improved starch degradation profile.
US08017348B1	Assay for Parkinson's Disease therapeutics The invention provides to assays for agent useful for treatment of Parkinson's Disease. Included are cell-based assays for agents that modulate the effect of Parkin proteins on proteasome function.
US08017347B2	Binder for C-reactive protein A polypeptide dimer is provided wherein both protomers have a sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1 and at least one phosphocholine derivative is attached to the polypeptide. The polypeptide shows a specific binding for C-reactive protein (CRP). The utilization of the polypeptide in assays for determining the concentration of CRP is described. The purification of CRP, and compositions comprising the CRP also are provided.
US08017346B2	Method of quantifying the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)/G protein coupling using a cell membrane array The invention relates to a method for quantifying G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-G protein binding by means of using a cell membrane array, which comprises (i) putting an unlabeled candidate compound in contact with a cell membrane array in the presence of labeled GTP or of a labeled, non-hydrolyzable analog thereof, in conditions allowing the interaction between said compound and said GPCR present in said cell membranes, and between said labeled GTP or analog thereof and said G protein present in said membranes; (ii) washing; and (iii) quantifying the signal obtained due to the binding of the labeled GTP (or analog) to said G protein. It is applicable in the analysis of the interaction between compounds and cell membrane receptor proteins and of the intracellular signaling mechanisms triggering this interaction mechanism mediated by said compounds.
US08017341B2	Transcription factors The present invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence coding for a PntR transcription factor comprising a nucleotide sequence that is the same as, or is complementary to, or contains any suitable codon substitutions for any of those of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3 or 5 or comprises a sequence which has at least 60% sequence homology with any of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3 or 5, as well as corresponding polypeptides, vector systems and host cells comprising the same. In particular, the invention relates to sequences which are obtained from an Aspergillus, Trichoderma or Penicillium cell. The invention further relates to methods for disrupting PntR expression in a cell as well as methods for expression or production of a POI in a host cell in which PntR expression has been disrupted.
US08017336B2	Method of examining zinc-deficient taste disturbance by determining expression level of taste receptor genes The present invention provides: a method for testing zinc deficiency dysgeusia, which is characterized in that it comprises correlating the expression levels of a gene encoding a gustatory receptor belonging to the THTR family and a gene encoding a gustatory receptor belonging to the T2R family obtained from a sample derived from the oral cavity of a subject, with a serum zinc level obtained from the sample of the subject; and a kit used for the aforementioned test.
US08017333B2	Methods for predicting the risk of diabetic nephropathy using genetic markers and arrays containing the same A method for detecting a Chinese diabetic subject suffering from, at risk for developing, or suspected of suffering from a nephropathy. The method includes determining whether a sample from the subject has at least one of the following polymorphic sequences: an I/D genotype of an ACE gene, an M235T genotype of an AGT gene, a (CA)n-5′(z−2) genotype of an ALR2 gene, an C106T genotype of an ALR2 gene in the promoter region, a G-308A genotype of a TNF-α gene, or a complement thereof, provided that the ALR2 gene cannot be used alone, in which the presence of the polymorphic sequence indicates the subject suffering from, at risk for suffering from a nephropathy. An array for detecting a Chinese diabetic subject suffering from, or at risk for suffering from, a nephropathy.
US08017332B2	Magnetic method for recovering nucleic acid from a mixed cell suspension A method for selectively recovering nucleic acid from a first cell type in a sample containing cells of at least a first cell type and a second cell type, and a cell suspension medium comprising extracellular impurities, is provided. The method entails combining the sample with particles responsive to a magnetic field in a vessel, the magnetic particles having the ability to sequester the cells from the cell suspension medium upon application of a magnetic field; exposing the vessel to a magnetic field for a time sufficient to cause sequestration of the cells by the particles; removing the impurities-containing cell suspension medium from the vessel while retaining the cells; lysing selectively cells of the first cell type; and isolating the nucleic acid from the lysed cells. Methods for recovering nucleic acid from the second cell type are also provided.
US08017329B2	Method of screening baff suppressor or inhibitor A method of screening a novel BAFF suppressor or inhibitor. More specifically speaking, a method which comprises adding a combination of TPA with ionomycin and/or an anti-CD3 antibody to a cultured human cell to thereby induce the production of BAFF by the cell; a method of screening a substance capable of suppressing the expression or activity of BAFF which comprises adding a test substance to a BAFF-production system prepared by adding a combination of TPA with ionomycin and/or an anti-CD3 antibody to a cultured human cell and measuring the expression amount and/or the activity of BAFF in the BAFF-production system; and a BAFF production inducer for a BAFF-producing cell which contains a combination of TPA with ionomycin and/or an anti-CD3 antibody.
US08017327B2	Single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping detection via the real-time invader assay microarray platform A method and apparatus for real-time, simultaneous, quantitative measurement for detecting a single nucleotide polymorphism in a target nucleic acid is provided. This method involves combining a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique with invader assay technique.
US08017324B1	ENPP1 (PC-1) gene haplotype associated with the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes and their applications The present invention is directed to a method for determining if a subject is at increased risk to develop obesity or pathology related to obesity by determining the presence of a haplotype comprising three specific SNPs in a DNA or RNA sample of this subject and/or an elevated serum ENPP1 protein concentration. The present invention also relates to a kit and to an isolated nucleic sequence, vector or recombinant cell comprises said ENPP1 gene haplotype. The invention further comprises a method for selecting a compound for the treatment or the prevention of obesity or pathology related to obesity and a method for determining the efficacy of a drug to reduce the risk of obesity or pathology related to obesity in a patient.
US08017321B2	Gefitinib sensitivity-related gene expression and products and methods related thereto Disclosed is the identification, provision and use of a panel of biomarkers that predict sensitivity or resistance to gefitinib and other EGFR inhibitors, and products and processes related thereto. Specifically, a method is described for selecting a cancer patient who is predicted to benefit from therapeutic administration of an EGFR inhibitor, an agonist thereof, or a drug having substantially similar biological activity as EGFR inhibitor. Also described is a method to identify molecules that interact with the EGFR pathway to allow or enhance responsiveness to EGFR inhibitors, as well as a plurality of polynucleotides or antibodies for the detection of the expression of genes that are indicative of sensitivity or resistance to EGFR inhibitors, an agonist thereof, or a drug having substantially similar biological activity as EGFR inhibitors. A method to identify a compound with the potential to enhance the efficacy of EGFR inhibitors is also described.
US08017310B2	Lithographic method A method of providing a pattern on a substrate is disclosed. The method includes providing a layer of photoresist on the substrate, providing a layer of top coating over the layer of photoresist, lithographically exposing the photoresist layer and developing the photoresist to form a structure, covering the structure with a coating layer, inducing a chemical reaction between the photoresist and the coating layer, which reaction does not occur in the top coating, to form regions of modified coating layer, and removing unmodified coating layer to leave behind a patterned structure formed from the regions of modified coating layer.
US08017306B2	Method for producing conductive film A conductive film producing method includes a metallic silver forming step of exposing and developing a photosensitive material having a 95-μm-thick long support and thereon a silver salt-containing emulsion layer, thereby forming a metallic silver portion to prepare a conductive film precursor, and a smoothing treatment step of subjecting the conductive film precursor to a smoothing treatment to produce a conductive film. In the smoothing treatment, the conductive film precursor is pressed by first and second calender rolls facing each other, and the first calender roll is a resin roll to be brought into contact with the support. The method satisfies the condition of 1/2≦P1/P2≦1, wherein P1 represents a conveying force applied when the conductive film precursor is introduced to an area where the smoothing treatment step is conducted, and P2 represents a conveying force applied when the smoothing-treated conductive film is discharged from the area.
US08017301B2	Photosensitive polymer, resist composition, and associated methods A photosensitive polymer, the photosensitive polymer including repeating units represented by Formulae 1 to 3: wherein R1 and R3 are independently hydrogen or methyl, R2 is a C4 to C20 acid-labile group, R4 is a lactone-derived group, AR is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl ring, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl having from two to three fused aromatic rings, carbon CAR is bonded directly to an aromatic ring of AR, l, m, and n are positive integers, l/(l+m+n) is about 0.1 to about 0.5, m/(l+m+n) is about 0.3 to about 0.5, and n/(l+m+n) is about 0.1 to 0.4.
US08017298B2	Method of forming patterns A method of forming patterns includes (a) coating a substrate with a resist composition for negative development to form a resist film having a receding contact angle of 70 degrees or above with respect to water, wherein the resist composition for negative development contains a resin capable of increasing the polarity by the action of an acid and becomes more soluble in a positive developer and less soluble in a negative developer upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation, (b) exposing the resist film via an immersion medium, and (c) performing development with a negative developer.
US08017297B1	Image transfer by sublimation to powder coated articles Imaged articles and methods for producing imaged articles in which an image has been transferred by dye sublimations techniques to a powder coated substrate are described. The powder coated substrates may include various metals or alloys. The powder coated substrate may include a white powder coating layer and an over cured clear coat layer. The imaged article may be subsequently formed into desired three-dimensional shapes without significant loss in image quality or image degradation.
US08017295B2	Laser induced thermal imaging apparatus and laser induced thermal imaging method and organic light emitting display device using the same A laser induced thermal imaging (LITI) apparatus, an LITI method, and an organic light emitting display (OLED) device. An LITI apparatus for forming a light emitting layer of an OLED device includes a substrate stage adapted to receive an accepter substrate and a donor film to be laminated, the accepter substrate having a pixel area of the OLED device and a magnet, the donor film having the light emitting layer transferred to the pixel area; a laser oscillator for radiating a laser to the donor film; a contact frame adapted to be placed between the substrate stage and the laser oscillator, the contact frame having at least one transmission portion corresponding to the light emitting layer transferred to the acceptor substrate and having a magnet for forming a magnetic force with the accepter substrate; and a contact frame transferring mechanism for moving the contact frame toward the substrate stage.
US08017294B2	Process for preparing photosensitive outer layer The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to an improved overcoat for an imaging member having a substrate, a charge transport layer, and an overcoat positioned on the charge transport layer, and a process for making the same including combining a resin having a reactive group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, carboxylic acid and amide groups, a melamine formaldehyde crosslinking agent, a crosslinkable fluoro additive, an acid catalyst, and a crosslinkable, alcohol-soluble charge transport molecule to form an overcoat solution, and subsequently providing the overcoat solution onto the charge transport layer to form an overcoat layer.
US08017289B2	Method for manufacturing a surface and integrated circuit using variable shaped beam lithography A method is disclosed in which a plurality of variable shaped beam (VSB) shots is used to form a desired pattern on a surface. In this method some shots within the plurality of shots overlap each other. Additionally, the union of any subset of the plurality of shots differ from the desired pattern. In some embodiments, dosages of the shots vary with respect to each other. In other embodiments, an optimization technique may be used to minimize shot count. In yet other embodiments, the plurality of shots may be optionally selected from one or more pre-computed VSB shots or groups of VSB shots. The method of the present disclosure may be used, for example, in the process of manufacturing an integrated circuit by optical lithography using a reticle, or in the process of manufacturing an integrated circuit using direct write.
US08017286B2	Method for design and manufacture of a reticle using a two-dimensional dosage map and charged particle beam lithography In the field of semiconductor device production, a method for manufacturing a surface using two-dimensional dosage maps is disclosed. A set of charged particle beam shots for creating an image on the surface is determined by combining dosage maps for a plurality of shots into the dosage map for the surface. A similar method is disclosed for fracturing or mask data preparation of a reticle image. A method for creating glyphs is also disclosed, in which a two-dimensional dosage map of one or more shots is calculated, and the list of shots and the calculated dosage map are stored for later reference.
US08017283B2	Electrode for alkali fuel cell and method for making a fuel cell including at least one step of making such an electrode An electrode for an alkali fuel cell comprises an active layer formed by a bilayer or by a stack of a plurality of bilayers. Each bilayer is composed of a catalytic layer comprising catalyst particles of nanometric size and of a porous layer comprising two opposite faces one of which is in contact with the catalytic layer. The porous layer is made from a porous composite material comprising a hydroxide ion conducting polymer matrix in which a metallic lattice is formed constituting a plurality of electronically conducting paths connecting the two opposite faces of the porous layer. Advantageously, fabrication of such an electrode is obtained by successively performing vacuum deposition of the catalyst particles and vacuum co-deposition of the hydroxide ion conducting polymer and of the metal on a free surface of a support.
US08017278B2	Moving object with fuel cell system This invention provides a moving object having a fuel cell system, which is capable of preventing the entry of fuel gas into a cabin even if the leakage of the fuel gas occurs. The moving object, having the fuel cell system (1), has an air introduction mechanism (5) for introducing air from the outside of the moving object into a cabin space inside the moving object, wherein an air introduction port (50) for the air introduction mechanism (5) is formed a given distance apart from the fuel cell system (1), so that gas leaking from the fuel cell system (1) does not reach the air introduction port (50).
US08017273B2	Lightweight, durable lead-acid batteries A lightweight, durable lead-acid battery is disclosed. Alternative electrode materials and configurations are used to reduce weight, to increase material utilization and to extend service life. The electrode can include a current collector having a buffer layer in contact with the current collector and an electrochemically active material in contact with the buffer layer. In one form, the buffer layer includes a carbide, and the current collector includes carbon fibers having the buffer layer. The buffer layer can include a carbide and/or a noble metal selected from of gold, silver, tantalum, platinum, palladium and rhodium. When the electrode is to be used in a lead-acid battery, the electrochemically active material is selected from metallic lead (for a negative electrode) or lead peroxide (for a positive electrode).
US08017269B2	Anode active material, method of preparing the same, and anode and lithium battery containing the anode active material An anode active material is provided. The anode active material includes a silicon thin film containing crystalline silicon having a Raman shift in a Raman spectrum ranging from about 490 to about 500 cm−1 and a full width at half maximum (FWHM) ranging from about 10 to about 30 cm−1. The volume of the anode active material does not change significantly during charging and discharging. Thus, a lithium battery employing the anode active material has an excellent capacity retention rate and a longer cycle lifetime.
US08017268B2	Lithium secondary battery including discharge unit Provided is a lithium secondary battery including a discharge unit capable of delaying or preventing a battery explosion. The lithium secondary battery includes a discharge unit disposed parallel to a battery body. The discharge unit includes a first electrode connected to a positive electrode of the battery body, a second electrode connected to a negative electrode of the battery body, and a discharge material film, disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, inducing a abrupt discharge above a predetermined temperature. The discharge material film, e.g., a abrupt metal-insulator transition (MIT) material film can induce a abrupt discharge, thereby preventing or delaying a battery explosion.
US08017267B2	Method for manufacturing sealed battery and sealed battery manufactured thereby A method for manufacturing a sealed battery according to one embodiment of this invention includes a first step of using an outer can 15 having an opening, and a sealing plate 16 having a flange provided with a groove 22 around or on a part of a fitting face of the sealing plate 16 with the outer can 15, and inserting the sealing plate 16 into the opening of the outer can 15 so that a top face of the outer can 15 is approximately flush with a top face of the flange of the sealing plate 16, and a second step of welding together the outer can 15 and the sealing plate 16 by radiating a high energy ray to the fitting portion therebetween. The invention thus makes it possible to provide a method for manufacturing a sealed battery in which a weld formed by welding a sealing plate fitted into an opening of an outer can of a battery with a laser or other high energy rays has a large breaking strength, and a sealed battery manufactured thereby.
US08017263B2	Separator and battery A battery in which a cathode and an anode are arranged so as to face each other an having a separator in between is provided. The separator is formed from a plurality of laminated microporous membranes and has a film thickness of 10x μm and a piercing strength of 150x gf or more, where 1≦x≦2. The air permeability of one layer among the plurality of microporous membranes is equal to or larger than 10% of the air permeability of the whole separator.
US08017260B2	Secondary battery having third terminal other than positive and negative electrode terminals and battery comprising it A secondary battery in which temperature rise (heat generation) can be measured accurately at the time of quick charge/discharge, and a battery which can be configured readily using the secondary batteries while realizing low resistance. Separately from the positive and negative electrode terminals of a flat laminate film secondary battery, a third terminal is fixed perpendicularly thereto. The third terminal is connected with the electrode current collecting parts of a power generating element body constituting the secondary battery (1) and imparted with a potential equal to that of any one of the positive and negative electrode terminals. Inner temperature of the secondary battery is determined by measuring the temperature of the third terminal and a cell balancer circuit, or the like, is connected with the third terminal. The battery is configured by connecting the positive and negative electrode terminals directly in series.
US08017258B2	System and method for enhanced information handling system battery safety Enhanced safety is provided in the event of an information handling system catastrophic battery failure by extending a flame container outward from the battery to vent flammable gases through holes having a quenching distance that retards transfer of flames from the battery. For example, telescoping cylinder sections disposed proximate the casing of a battery cell are forced outward as a telescoping assembly when pressure within the casing exceeds a predetermined safety threshold. The flame container vents flammable gases away from other cells of the battery and may direct the vented gases to the exterior of an information handling system housing or to the interior of the housing.
US08017257B2	Polymer, polymer electrolyte membrane for polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and membrane/electrode assembly A polymer electrolyte membrane made of a polymer having a low electrical resistance, high heat resistance and is strong against repeats of swelling and shrinkage. Thus, a membrane/electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cells having high power generation performance and excellent in durability can be provided. The polymer has repeating units represented by the following formula (U1 ) and repeating units represented by the following formula (U2):
US08017253B2	Organic electroluminescent element and photocatalyst containing coating solution for organic electroluminescent element A main object of the present invention is to provide an organic EL element having members such as an organic EL layer formed highly precisely in a pattern with preferable light emission characteristic of the organic EL layer, and a photocatalyst containing coating solution to be used for the production thereof. To achieve the object, the present invention provides an organic electroluminescent element comprising: a substrate; a first electrode layer formed on the substrate; an organic electroluminescent layer formed on the first electrode layer; and a second electrode layer formed on the organic electroluminescent layer, wherein a photocatalyst containing layer containing a photocatalyst, a characteristic providing agent, and a light emission characteristic improving material having the function of improving the activation of the photocatalyst and the light emission characteristic of the organic electroluminescent layer so as to have the characteristic of the characteristic providing agent changed by the action of the photocatalyst accompanied by the energy irradiation is formed at any position between the substrate and the second electrode layer; and the light emission characteristic improving material is a silver salt of a fluorine or an acid selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids, sulfinic acids, phenols, enols, thiophenols, imides, oximes, primary or secondary nitro compounds, clathrate compounds, a chloric acid and a perchloric acid.
US08017252B2	Light emitting device and electronic appliance using the same A light emitting device comprises a pair of electrodes and a mixed layer provided between the pair of electrodes. The mixed layer contains an organic compound which contains no nitrogen atoms, i.e., an organic compound which dose not have an arylamine skeleton, and a metal oxide. As the organic compound, an aromatic hydrocarbon having an anthracene skeleton is preferably used. As such an aromatic hydrocarbon, t-BuDNA, DPAnth, DPPA, DNA, DMNA, t-BuDBA, and the like are listed. As the metal oxide, molybdenum oxide, vanadium oxide, ruthenium oxide, rhenium oxide, and the like are preferably used. Further, the mixed layer preferably shows absorbance per 1 μm of 1 or less or does not show a distinct absorption peak in a spectrum of 450 to 650 nm when an absorption spectrum is measured.
US08017250B2	Method for production of a coating system Conventionally, cavities and cracks are filled with a solder metal which forms brittle phases with a subsequently applied coating, which have a negative effect on the mechanical properties. According to the invention, the components which form brittle phases are removed from the solder metal. The above is achieved, whereby a second material is applied which reacts with said component and which is removed again with the brittle phases, before the coating.
US08017244B2	Coated substrate with a very low solar factor A transparent soda-lime glass substrate coated with a stack of layers including at least two infrared reflecting layers, each being directly adjacent to two light absorbent layers is provided. The coated substrate has a light absorption value between 35 and 67% and colorimetric indices of reflected color of a* between 0 and −10 and b* between 0 and −20. Glazing units containing the coated transparent soda-lime glass substrate are also provided.
US08017239B2	Metamaterials and methods of making the same A metamaterial includes a non-linear organic material and a plurality of metallic resonators embedded substantially within the non-linear organic material.
US08017237B2	Nanoshells on polymers Nano-constructs comprising nanoshells and methods of using the nano-constructs for treating or ameliorating a medical condition are provided.
US08017236B2	Carbon coated high luster materials A platy pigment substrate having a carbon-containing coating thereon is provided wherein the coating comprises a pyrolyzed carbon-containing ionic species. The products of the present invention may be used in any application where pearlescent pigments have been used heretofore including but not limited to automotive and industrial paint applications.
US08017234B2	Structural object coated with superhydrophobic nanostructure composite and process for producing the same The present invention relates to a structural object coated with a superhydrophobic nanostructure composite, the structural object being obtained by densely coating a surface of a solid substrate having a desired shape with a nanostructure obtained by combining a polymer having a polyethyleneimine skeleton with silica on the nanometer order, and bonding a hydrophobic group to the surface of the nanostructure, and a process for producing the structural object. The present invention also relates to a structural object coated with a superhydrophobic nanostructure composite, the structural object being obtained by removing the polymer having the polyethyleneimine skeleton from the nanostructure and bonding a hydrophobic group to the surface of the residual nanostructure containing silica as a main constituent component, and a process for producing the structural object. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method of using the structural object as a container for transferring an aqueous solution.
US08017233B2	Fibers having excellent responsiveness to magnetic fields and excellent conductivity, as well as articles made of the same Fibers having excellent responsiveness to magnetic field and conductivity, made of a polymer having fiber forming functions which contains magnetic material particles in spherical form having a saturation magnetic flux density of no less than 0.5 tesla. The fibers can include: (a) the average particle diameter is no greater than 5 μm, (b) the coercive force is no greater than 1000 A/m, and (c) the fibers are complex fibers which are made of magnetic layers that contain 20 wt % to 90 wt % of magnetic material particles, and protective layers where the content of the magnetic material particles is less than 20 wt %.
US08017231B1	Heat shrinkable films containing single site catalyzed copolymers having long chain branching The present invention is directed to a heat-shrinkable, thermoplastic film or bag which contains at least one homogeneous ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer with at least some limited long chain branching. Oriented films made in accordance with the present invention exhibit improved processability as well as improved physical properties such as excellent optics and impact resistance. A homogeneous ethylene alpha-olefin with long chain branching may be present in a monolayer film either alone or in a blend or may be included in one or more layers of a multilayer film in accordance with the present invention.
US08017230B2	Ceramic powders and thermal barrier coatings made therefrom This invention relates to ceramic powders comprising a zirconia-based component, e.g., yttria-stabilized zirconia, and an (alumina+silica)-based component, e.g., mullite. The ceramic powders are useful for forming thermal shock resistant coatings having the same composition, through deposition by thermal spray devices. This invention also relates to thermal barrier coating systems suitable for protecting components exposed to high temperature environments, such as the thermal environment of a gas turbine engine. This invention further relates to forming free-standing solid ceramic articles.
US08017229B2	Polyurethane composite, its preparation and use A polyurethane composite is disclosed comprising rigid polyurethane and foamed thereupon a flexible integral skin (surface pore closed) polyurethane foam, wherein the rigid polyurethane having a density range of 600 kg/m3 to 1200 kg/m3, a Shore A hardness range of 90 to 99, a Shore D hardness range of 40 to 80, a tensile strength range of 10MPa to 60 MPa, a flexural strength range of 20 MPa to 60 Mpa, a elastic flexural modulus range of 800 MPa to 2500 Mpa, an elongation rate at break of 10-100% and an elongation at break of 25-150%; wherein the flexible integral skin (surface pore closed) polyurethane foam having a density range of 60 kg/m3 to 200 kg/m3, a tensile strength of 60 kPa to 250 kPa, an elongation at break of 70-180%, a tearing strength of 130-220 N/m, a resilience of falling ball of 40-70%, IFD25% of 200-600 N and IFD65% of 600-1800 N.
US08017228B2	Conductive composite compositions with fillers Composite materials with a polymer matrix, low resistivity graphite coated fillers having exfoliated and pulverized graphite platelets coated on an outer surface of high resistivity fillers, are provided. The fillers can be fibers or particles. The composite materials incorporating the graphite coated fillers as reinforcements can be electrostatically painted without using a conductive primer on the polymer matrix.
US08017210B2	Multilayer information recording medium and method for manufacturing the same A multi-layer information recording medium comprising a substrate that has an inner circumference and an outer circumference, three or more information recording layers and resin layers disposed between the information recording layers, wherein positions of the ends on the inner circumference side of the resin layers are different from each other in at least one combination of two neighboring resin layers, and the end on the inner circumference side of at least one of the resin layers is covered by another resin layer.
US08017208B2	Information recording medium, target and method for manufacturing of information recording medium using the same An information recording medium of the present invention includes a recording layer whose phase changes by irradiation with a laser beam or application of current. The recording layer contains, as its main component, a composite composed of Ge and Sb that are essential components, and Te that is an optional component. The composite has a composition within a region enclosed by: point (a) (35, 65, 0), point (b) (36.9, 60, 3.1), point (c) (3.2, 60, 36.8), and point (d) (5, 95, 0) in terms of a coordinate (Ge, Sb, Te)=(x, y, z) on the triangular coordinate shown in FIG. 1, where point (b) corresponds to a point at Sb=60 on Ge60Te40—Ge35Sb65, point (c) corresponds to a point at Sb=60 on Te—Ge5Sb95, and the region includes lines extending between point (a) and point (b), point (b) and point (c), point (c) and point (d), and point (d) and point (a).
US08017207B2	Degradable paper with long-shelf-life adhesive backing A degradable paper article with long-shelf-life adhesive backing, together with a related fabrication method. The article includes a layer of degradable paper, a layer of degradable pressure sensitive adhesive, a release liner on the adhesive layer, and a degradable polymer blocking layer disposed between the adhesive layer and the paper layer that blocks adhesive from bleeding into said paper.
US08017197B2	Plasma processing method and plasma processing apparatus A microwave is radiated into a processing chamber (1) from a planar antenna member of an antenna (7) through a dielectric plate (6). With this, a C5F8 gas supplied into the processing chamber (1) from a gas supply member (3) is changed (activated) into a plasma so as to form a fluorine-containing carbon film of a certain thickness on a semiconductor wafer (W). Each time a film forming process of forming a film on one wafer is carried out, a cleaning process and a pre-coating process are carried out. In the cleaning process, the inside of the processing chamber is cleaned with a plasma of an oxygen gas and a hydrogen gas. In the pre-coating process, the C5F8 gas is changed into a plasma, and a pre-coat film of fluorine-containing carbon thinner than the fluorine-containing carbon film formed in the film forming process is formed.
US08017192B2	Radiation cured coatings for image forming device components The present disclosure relates to the use of radiation cured coatings that may be used in a device within an image forming apparatus. The coating composition may include a reactive oligomer capable of radiation curing having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of greater than 1500. A reactive diluent may then be combined with the reactive oligomer, which diluent is also capable of radiation curing and which has a Mn of less than or equal to 1500. The reactive diluent may be present at a level of less than fifty percent by weight of the coating composition. The coating composition may be present at a solids level of 90-100%.
US08017190B2	Metal/fiber laminate and fabrication using a porous metal/fiber preform A metal/fiber laminate has a plurality of adjacent layers. Each layer is porous and includes an arrangement of fibers. At least one of the layers has its fibers coated with a metal. A polymer matrix permeates each such arrangement.
US08017188B2	Methods of making articles having toughened and untoughened regions Methods of making an article having at least one toughened region and at least one untoughened region involving providing a material, applying a toughening agent to a portion of the material, shaping the material to produce a preform, applying an untoughened resin to the preform, and curing the preform having the applied untoughened resin to produce the at least one toughened region and the at least one untoughened region wherein the toughened region comprises a toughened resin having a fracture toughness of at least about 1.0 MPa-m1/2.
US08017184B2	β-diketiminate ligand sources and metal-containing compounds thereof, and systems and methods including same The present invention provides metal-containing compounds that include at least one β-diketiminate ligand, and methods of making and using the same. In certain embodiments, the metal-containing compounds include at least one β-diketiminate ligand with at least one fluorine-containing organic group as substituent. In other certain embodiments, the metal-containing compounds include at least one β-diketiminate ligand with at least one aliphatic group as a substituent selected to have greater degrees of freedom than the corresponding substituent in the β-diketiminate ligands of certain metal-containing compounds known in the art. The compounds can be used to deposit metal-containing layers using vapor deposition methods. Vapor deposition systems including the compounds are also provided. Sources for β-diketiminate ligands are also provided.
US08017182B2	Method for depositing thin films by mixed pulsed CVD and ALD Films are deposited on a substrate by a process in which atomic layer deposition (ALD) is used to deposit one layer of the film and pulsed chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is used to deposit another layer of the film. During the ALD part of the process, a layer is formed by flowing sequential and alternating pulses of mutually reactive reactants that deposit self-limitingly on a substrate. During the pulsed CVD part of the process, another layer is deposited by flowing two CVD reactants into a reaction chamber, with at least a first of the CVD reactants flowed into the reaction chamber in pulses, with those pulses overlapping at least partially with the flow of a second of the CVD reactants. The ALD and CVD parts of the process ca be used to deposit layers with different compositions, thereby forming, e.g., nanolaminate films. Preferably, high quality layers are formed by flowing the second CVD reactant into the reaction chamber for a longer total duration than the first CVD reactant. In some embodiments, the pulses of the third reactant at separated by a duration at least about 1.75 times the length of the pulse. Preferably, less than about 8 monolayers of material are deposited per pulse of the first CVD reactant.
US08017181B2	Method for preparing core/shell structure nanoparticles A nanoparticle having a core/shell structure can be rapidly and reproducibly prepared by the inventive method which comprises: (i) dissolving a shell precursor in a solvent to form a shell precursor solution, and then allowing the shell precursor solution to be stabilized at a temperature suitable for the shell precursor to form an overcoat on the surface of a core nanoparticle; and (ii) adding a powder form of the core nanoparticle to the stabilized shell precursor solution.
US08017180B2	Process for decorating a wood cellulose web material The invention relates to a method for heat transferring high resolution digital images that are printed onto a heat transfer sheet with dye-sublimation inks. The dye-sublimated image/design/graphic is impregnated into a natural wood cellulose web material using a rotary heat transfer press. The imaged wood cellulose web material forms a continuous roll of pre-laminate material that can be bonded/laminated to a myriad of substrates and that can be stored easily in roll form, with or without adhesive backing. This is a unique process of formulating an imaged, environmentally sustainable wood cellulose web material. The raw material can be FSC certified from managed renewable forests and after imaging, the wood cellulose web material has no VOC or formaldehyde emissions. The claimed invention preferably uses a polyurethane reactive (PUR) acrylic top coating that provides a high quality and cost effective surface finish to the decorated wood cellulose web material. The PUR system technology provides surface protection with high wear and shock resistance and maintains the depth and quality of the imaged wood cellulose material.
US08017175B2	Manufacturing multilayer conjugate polymer optoelectronics device by using buffer layer A highly stable, multilayer organic molecular photoelectric element without interlayer miscibility phenomenon during manufacturing process, and a method for producing multilayer organic molecular photoelectric elements with simplified solution process are disclosed.
US08017172B2	Whole grain flour and products including same The present invention is a grain product. The grain product includes a first fraction including bran. The first fraction is milled to a first particle size of less than 500 micrometers. The grain product also includes a second fraction including germ. The second fraction is milled to a second particle size of less than 500 micrometers. The grain product is at least one of: a food product, a nutritional supplement, a dietary supplement, a fiber supplement, a digestive supplement, a functional food, and a medical food.
US08017170B2	Utilization of emulsion interface engineering to produce oxidatively stable lipid delivery systems A method for stabilizing lipid components is provided in which a protein-lipid emulsification product is formed, and the isoelectric point of the emulsification product is determined. The pH of the emulsion is adjusted below the isoelectric point of the protein component in the emulsion system to form an emulsification product having an overall positive net charge. The lipid oxidation rates of these protein-stabilized emulsions are significantly lower at this pH value than of those above the pI of the protein component used in the emulsion system. As the difference between the pH of the emulsion and the pI of the protein component in the emulsion is increased the inhibition of lipid oxidation is also increased. These stabilized emulsification products are particularly useful in the production of water-based foods requiring the addition of inherently unstable oil or lipid components.
US08017167B2	Food cooking basket for a rotisserie oven Enclosed rotisserie with added convenience, including a countertop resting box-like enclosure housing a safety rear mounted heating element and a power rotated dual rod spit assembly. The gear driven spit assembly may be easily inserted and removed straight into and out of the enclosure without need for angling or coupling the assembly to a power drive socket. The spit assembly may also be mounted at various distances from the heating element to decrease cooking times. The open front of the enclosure is from time to time covered by an inclined glass panel door which may be opened in various ways to facilitate food insertion into and removal from the enclosure, and which may be easily removed for cleaning or other purposes.
US08017164B1	Tomato peeling method A method for peeling fruits and vegetables, particularly those having thin skins, such as tomatoes includes immersing the fruit or vegetable in a boiling solution comprising carbamide and one of carborane and hydrogen chloride to loosen a peel thereof. In a particular embodiment, the carborane comprises trifluoromethanesulfonic acid. The fruit or vegetable is removed from the solution after a predetermined time period. The fruit or vegetable is cooled, and the loosened peel is removed from the fruit or vegetable.
US08017163B2	Rapid development of heat resistance in chocolate and chocolate-like confectionery products The invention relates to a process for manufacturing heat-resistant chocolate or chocolate-like confectionery products wherein (I) chocolate mass or chocolate-like confectionery mass which has been mixed with a water-in-oil emulsion or (ii) chocolate mass or chocolate-like confectionery mass having an increased water content is moulded and then subjected to a microwave treatment prior to, during, and/or after cooling. The heat resistance is developed essentially instantaneously and the obtained product can be subjected to temperatures of up to about 40 or even 50° C. without losing its form. The invention also relates to the products obtainable by that process.
US08017162B2	Anti-inflammatory agent This invention provides an anti-inflammatory agent or the like which is safer and less adverse and has the great effectiveness to prevent and treat arthritis, or the like. An anti-inflammatory agent or the like in this invention is characterized by comprising anthocyanidin and gingerol as an active substance. Also, the abovementioned anthocyanidin and gingerol are preferably extracted from red ginger.
US08017159B2	Phospholipid gel compositions for delivery of aptamers and methods of treating conditions using same The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions in the form of a gel for controlled- or sustained-release of an aptamer and to methods for treating or preventing a condition in an animal by administering to an animal in need thereof the pharmaceutical compositions.
US08017158B2	Granulated fertilizer composed of micronutrients and clay The invention consists of a granulated fertilizer which contains iron (11 to 13%), zinc (3 to 9%), manganese (0.1 to 2.5%), copper (0.5 to 0.7%), in the form of sulphates, also ammonium molybdate (0 to 0.1%) and a Caolinite, Illite or Montmorillonite clay (45 to 57%), or a mixture of them in any proportion. All the percentages by weight are based on the total weight of the fertilizer. The product is 100% soluble, the high cationic exchange capacity which clays have allows the micronutrients to be adsorbed by the clay and prevent its leaching or reacting, making its assimilation by the plant more efficient and better. The use of sulphates in the soil, in the presence of water provoks an acidification of the soil which allows a better assimilation of the micronutrients in alkaline soils.
US08017156B2	Long-acting colloidal insulin formulation and its preparation The invention relates to injectable long-acting insulin formulations for the treatment of types I and II diabetes in humans and animals.The essential object of the invention is to provide an injectable long-acting insulin formulation in the form of a colloidal suspension which is stable, which has a good local tolerance and toxicity compatible with the chronic treatment of diabetics, and which maintains a substantial hypoglycemic effect extending over at least 24 hours after a single administration, e.g. by the subcutaneous route.To achieve this object, the invention relates to a stable aqueous colloidal formulation of insulin-laden nanoparticles of at least one poly(Leu-block-Glu) in which the pH is between 5.8 and 7.0, the osmolarity O (in mOsmol) . . . : 270≦O≦800, and the viscosity v (in mPa·s) is low, namely v≦40. The nanoparticles of poly(Leu-block-Glu) have a mean hydrodynamic diameter Dh such that: 15≦Dh≦40.The invention relates to an antidiabetic drug based on this long-acting insulin formulation and injectable using needles of gauge 29 G, 30 G or 31 G.
US08017155B2	Methods for encapsulation of biomacromolecules in polymers A method for encapsulating a biomacromolecule in a pore-containing polymer comprising the steps of providing an encapsulating solution containing the biomacromolecule and the pore-containing polymer; contacting the biomacromolecule with the pore-containing polymer for a time sufficient for the biomacromolecule to enter the pores of the pore-containing polymer; and rearranging the polymer such that the surface pores of the polymer are closed thus encapsulating the biomacromolecule in the pore-containing polymer.
US08017150B2	Polyethylene oxide-based films and drug delivery systems made therefrom The invention relates to the film products and methods of their preparation that demonstrate a non-self-aggregating uniform heterogeneity. Desirably, the films disintegrate in water and may be formed by a controlled drying process, or other process that maintains the required uniformity of the film. The films contain a polymer component, which includes polyethylene oxide optionally blended with hydrophilic cellulosic polymers. Desirably, the films also contain a pharmaceutical and/or cosmetic active agent with no more than a 10% variance of the active agent pharmaceutical and/or cosmetic active agent per unit area of the film.
US08017145B2	Exfoliating personal care wipe article containing an array of projections A wipe article is provided for cleansing and providing gentle exfoliation. The article is a water-insoluble substrate laden with a fluid cosmetic composition that includes a skin benefit agent delivered in a carrier. The substrate is a woven or non-woven fibrous web with first and second major surfaces, at least one of the major surfaces having formed thereon an array of projections, the array including from at least 2 to about 20 projections per cm2. Each projection is formed of a material different than that of the substrate and is raised from the substrate at a highest point thereof a distance from 100 to 2,000 micron. The projections are formed of at least 20 microbeads per projection.
US08017142B2	Polysulfone block copolymers as drug-eluting coating material A polymeric composition comprising a polysulfone polymer and an elastomeric polymer for use as a coating composition for coating an implantable device, such as a DES, and methods of making and using the implantable device are provided.
US08017138B2	Composition and method for treating skin A method for the topical treatment of skin aging and acne and the improvement of skin appearance is disclosed. Compositions for use in this method and a kit containing such compositions are also disclosed. In some of the embodiments of the invention, either one, or both, of the acid composition and neutralizing composition useful in the method for the topical treatment of skin aging and acne and the improvement of skin appearance are of low viscosity. The compositions and methods are effective but gentle enough to be suitable for daily home use by the consumer.
US08017137B2	Customized retail point of sale dispensing methods Methods for customizing products at a retail point of sale. A user interface is provided at the point of sale for selection of the desired product. Based upon the selection, ingredients are dispensed for making the personalized consumer product.
US08017135B1	Lipid-drug conjugates for local therapy of eye diseases Methods are provided for treating pathological conditions of ocular tissue by administering to subjects in need thereof therapeutically active complexes that include amphiphilic analogs of the therapeutically active agents. These complexes exhibit low water solubility and are isolated in either crystalline form, amorphous form, or a combination thereof, within a well-defined particle size range. Administration of such complexes of therapeutically active agents to ocular tissue results in extended release of the therapeutically active agent. Indeed, certain complexes persist for up to about 20-30 weeks or longer after intravitreal injection, thereby providing a sustained release of therapeutically active agent into the structures of the eye.
US08017132B2	Mutant CyaA polypeptides and polypeptide derivatives suitable for the delivery of immunogenic molecules into a cell The invention relates to mutant CyaA/E570Q+K860 polypeptides suitable for use as proteinaceous vectors for delivering one or more molecules of interest into a cell, in particular into a cell expressing the CD11b receptor. The invention further relates to polypeptide derivatives suitable for eliciting an immune response in a host.The invention is more particularly directed to polypeptides derived from an adenylate cyclase protein (CyaA) either under the form of a toxin or of a toxoid, which are mutant polypeptides. Said mutant polypeptides are capable of retaining the binding activity of native CyaA to a target cell and preferably of also retaining the translocating activity of native CyaA through its N-terminal domain into target cells and furthermore have a pore-forming activity which is reduced or suppressed as compared to that of the native CyaA toxin.
US08017131B2	Clostridial toxin derivatives and methods for treating pain Agents for treating pain, methods for producing the agents and methods for treating pain by administration to a patient of a therapeutically effective amount of the agent. The agent can include a clostridial neurotoxin, or a component or fragment or derivative thereof, attached to a targeting moiety, wherein the targeting moiety is selected from a group consisting of transmission compounds which can be released from neurons upon the transmission of pain signals by the neurons, and compounds substantially similar to the transmission compounds.
US08017128B2	Cosmetic active ingredient composed of arginine ferrulate and a microalgae extract and its uses The invention relates to a novel cosmetic active ingredient composed of a microalgae extract and arginine ferulate, its uses for activating proteasome and the production of thioredoxin, a cosmetic composition containing it and the use of such a cosmetic composition for combating skin ageing.
US08017125B2	Copolymers for suppression of autoimmune diseases, and methods of use Random three- and four-amino acid copolymers having lengths of 14-, 35- and 50-amino acid residues are provided. Fifty-mers of FEAK were effective inhibitors of MBP 85-99- or proteolipid protein (PLP) 40-60-specific HLA-DR-2-restricted T cell clones. These copolymers efficiently suppressed the mouse disease EAE, which was induced in a susceptible SJL/J (H-2s) strain of mice with either whole spinal cord homogenate (WSCH) or with the encephalitogenic epitope PLP 139-151 (SEQ ID NO:4). YFAK 50-mer having a molar ratio of about Y 0.8:F 0.2 inhibited binding of biotinylated MBP 85-99 epitope to HLA-DR-2 molecules more efficiently than either unlabeled MBP 85-99 or Copaxone®. YFAK and FAK copolymers efficiently suppressed EAE induced in SJL/J (H-2S) mice with the encephalitogenic epitope PLP 139-151. Copolymers YFAK, VYAK and tryptophan-containing VWAK were efficacious in alleviating severity and duration of symptoms of EAE induced by MBP 85-99 (SEQ ID NO:2), in a humanized mouse model expressing genes for both an HLA-DR-2 linked to multiple sclerosis (MS) in humans and for a T cell receptor from an MS patient.
US08017121B2	Chronic rheumatoid arthritis therapy containing IL-6 antagonist as effective component There is provided a synovial cell growth inhibitor, or a pharmaceutical composition for treatment of chronic rheumatoid arthritis based on the synovial cell growth inhibitor.The pharmaceutical composition for treatment of chronic rheumatoid arthritis or synovial cell growth inhibitor contains an IL-6 antagonist, such as IL-6 antibody or IL-6R antibody, as an effective component.
US08017112B2	Transplantation of bone marrow stromal cells for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases The present invention relates to a treatment of an autoimmune demyelinating disease/disorder. Also included in the present invention is the use of bone marrow stromal cells for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).
US08017111B2	Method of introducing symbiotic fungus into plant A method of introducing a symbiotic fungus producing one chanoclavine as a final metabolic product into a plant, includes the steps of isolating symbiotic fungi from naturally existing plants, artificially cultivating the isolated symbiotic fungi, introducing the cultivated symbiotic fungi into target plants, infecting the target plants with the introduced symbiotic fungi, determining whether the introduced symbiotic fungi infecting the target plants produce the chanoclavine as the final metabolic product, and selecting the target plants which produce the chanoclavine as the final metabolic product.
US08017106B2	Aerosol cream mousse and method of treating hair The present invention provides stable aerosol cream mousse composition, preferably hair care composition, that can provide enhanced touch, combability, alignment and volume reduction to the hair, with low or reduced greasy, oily hair feel, while being formulated having a thick, rich, creamy, mousse-type rheology with excellent spreading, perception of spreading, and feel. The aerosol composition is based on the combination of component (A) a cationic surfactant, which is generally a quaternary ammonium compound such as e.g., ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride; (B) a fatty alcohol, such as cetyl and stearyl alcohol; and (C) carbon dioxide.
US08017105B2	Diagnostic imaging contrast agents with extended blood retention The present invention relates to contrast agents for diagnostic imaging with prolonged blood retention. In particular, this invention relates to novel compounds that are characterized by an image enhancing moiety (IEM); a protein plasma binding moiety (PPBM); and a blood half-life extending moiety (BHEM). This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and to methods of using the compounds and compositions for blood half-life extension and contrast enhancement of diagnostic imaging.
US08017103B2	Methods and compositions to diagnose trichomonas infection The present invention provides methods and compositions for diagnosing Trichomonas infection by detecting an antibody that specifically binds a Trichomonas α-actinin protein in a sample from a subject.
US08017102B2	Toxins and radionuclides coupled to IGF-1 receptor ligands for treatment of cancer The invention provides an insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) receptor ligand carrying a therapeutic radionuclide for treatment of cancer is provided. A method of treating cancer using the IGF-1 receptor ligand carrying a therapeutic radionuclide is also provided. An anti-cancer therapeutic agent containing an IGF-1 receptor ligand linked to a toxin is also provided, as are methods of using the toxin conjugates for treatment of cancer.
US08017098B2	Aluminum-containing precipitated silicic acid having an adjustable BET/CTAB ratio The present invention relates to precipitated silica containing aluminum, which has an adjustable BET/CTAB ratio, a process for its manufacture and its use.
US08017097B1	ZrOx, Ce-ZrOx, Ce-Zr-REOx as host matrices for redox active cations for low temperature, hydrothermally durable and poison resistant SCR catalysts The present invention relates to application of catalysts for the Selective Catalytic Reduction of oxides of Nitrogen using N-containing reductant. The catalysts are characterized as phase pure lattice oxide materials into which catalytically active cations are incorporated at high levels of dispersion such that conventional analysis reveals a highly phase pure material. The materials are further characterized by high activity, hydrothermal durability and poison tolerance in the intended application.
US08017096B2	Method of removing mercury from exhaust gas using chlorine compound There is provided an effective method for removing mercury comprising injecting NaClO2 into an emission gas containing elemental mercury and NOx; converting the elemental mercury to oxidized mercury by using oxidizing agents produced by the NaClO2 and the NOx; and removing oxidized mercury from the emission gas.
US08017093B2	Method and system for transporting and storing multiple reagent packs and reagent packs used therein A new method and system for transporting and sorting multiple reagent packs used in conjunction with an immunodiagnostic instrument is provided. The new system includes a multiplicity of reagent packs; a gantry movably mounted on a rack structure for carrying a gripper mechanism, wherein the gripper mechanism has gripping jaws for engagement with the reagent pack; a power assembly for actuating the respective movement of the gantry, the gripper mechanism and the gripping jaws; a storage nest having a multiplicity of compartments, each adapted for storing a one of the respective reagent packs; and a pipetting nest having a multiplicity of compartment, each adapted for retaining a respective one of the reagent packs for simultaneous pipetting. Methods of using the system and a novel reagent pack used in connection with the new system are also provided.
US08017089B2	Method and apparatus for conducting supercritical wet oxidation reactions contained within a fluid envelope A method and apparatus for conducting supercritical wet oxidation reactions wherein any precipitated solids do not contact the solid side walls of the containment vessel so as to prevent any of these precipitated solids from adhering to or corrode the vessel walls is provided. To do this, a controlled, continuous flow of clean fluid, preferably under supercritical conditions, is introduced to the process so as to form a film-like, clean fluid surface between the physical containment vessel walls and the supercritical wet oxidation reactants.
US08017086B2	Catalyst unit for reduction of NOx compounds A catalyst unit (1; 1′) configured for the reduction of NOx compounds in a gas stream and which includes a catalytically active material of the silver/alumina type. The catalyst unit (1; 1′) has at least one first reaction zone (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e) containing the catalytically active material and at least one second reaction zone (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e; 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e) which is arranged to permit breakdown of a gas species which is formed in the first reaction zone (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e), with N2 being formed, and in that the gas stream is conducted through the first reaction zone (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e) and the second reaction zone (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e; 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e). The invention results in an improved catalyst unit which in particular provides high-grade reduction of NOx compounds in an exhaust gas stream from a combustion engine.
US08017083B2	System for catalytically converting oxygenates and regenerating and stripping catalyst A system of converting oxygenate-containing feedstock to light olefins comprises charging a reactor with catalyst, feeding the feedstock into the reactor, contacting the feedstock with the catalyst and converting the feedstock to olefins while depositing byproducts on catalyst resulting in spent catalyst, regenerating the spent catalyst by combustion gases, and stripping the regenerated catalyst of gases entrained in the regenerating step. The stripping step is accomplished using nitrogen gas to strip the entrained gases from the regenerate catalyst. In one embodiment, regenerated catalyst is passed through a regenerated catalyst stripper before it is returned to the reactor.
US08017075B2	Oxygenator An oxygenator that inhibits or prevents bubbles in blood from exiting through a blood outlet includes an oxygenator part which performs gas exchange on blood and a heat exchanging part which performs heat exchange on the blood. The oxygenators part has a housing that is generally in a rectangular parallelepiped form, with a hollow fiber membrane bundle positioned in the housing. The hollow fiber membrane bundle is formed by a multiplicity of hollow fiber membranes adapted to perform gas exchange. Blood flows along a blood passage comprised of gaps between the hollow fiber membranes and contacts the surface of the hollow fiber membranes where gas exchange occurs with gas flowing through the lumens of the hollow fiber membranes. In addition, a filter member is arranged on a downstream side of the hollow fiber membrane bundle so that bubbles present in the blood are caught by the filter member.
US08017070B2	Direct to metal sintering of 17-4PH steel A method of sintering a 17-4PH alloy powder and a sintered 17-4PH sintered part are disclosed. The part is formed by selective laser sintering a 17-4PH alloy powder and binder mixture to form a green part that is sintered to form a part having a substantially pure martensitic structure. The metal powder includes boron. The sintered part may be further processed by shot peening to improve crack resistance.
US08017069B2	Ceramic seating stone and metallurgical vessel A ceramic seating stone is provided for use in or on a metallurgical vessel for holding molten metal. The stone is formed as a whole or in parts of ceramic fibers, hollow ceramic spheres and/or foam ceramics.
US08017065B2	System and method for forming a container having a grip region A container forming assembly and method includes receiving a parison within a cavity of a mold, enclosing the parison within the mold having a wall with a recess, inflating the parison in the mold to form a blow molded container where the blow molded container has a sidewall, a movable region formed at the recess, and a hinge circumscribing an interface between the sidewall and the movable region, and moving the movable region toward an interior of the blow molded container about the hinge before filling.
US08017064B2	Liquid or hydraulic blow molding An apparatus and method for simultaneously forming and filling a plastic container is provided. A mold cavity defines an internal surface and is adapted to accept a preform. A pressure source includes an inlet and a piston-like device. The piston-like device is moveable in a first direction wherein liquid is drawn into the pressure source through the inlet and in a second direction wherein the liquid is urged toward the preform. A blow nozzle may be adapted to receive the liquid from the pressure source and transfer the liquid at high pressure into the preform thereby urging the preform to expand toward the internal surface of the mold cavity and creating a resultant container. The liquid remains within the container as an end product.
US08017059B2	Composite fabrication apparatus and method A composite fabrication apparatus which may include a first tooling die and a second tooling die movable with respect to each other; a thermal control system having induction coils disposed in thermal contact with the first tooling die and the second tooling die; a first die susceptor provided on the first tooling die and a second die susceptor provided on the second tooling die and connected to the induction coils; and a cooling system disposed in thermal contact with the first tooling die and the second tooling die. A composite fabrication method is also disclosed.
US08017057B2	Method for making a pressed part with separations or voids The present invention is a process for producing molded parts from a polymeric powder or metallic powder, wherein the molded part has a separation or a void. The separation or void is formed by inserting a separator or void-forming material into the die cavity before, during or after filling the die cavity with the powdered molding material that is to form the pressed part. After the pressed part is formed the separator or void-forming material is removed to provide the separation or void.
US08017055B2	Three-dimensional printer A three-dimensional printer uses inkjet-type printheads to rapidly prototype, or print, a three-dimensional model. A powder feeder includes a conveyor system and a metering system to deliver powder to a build area in measured quantities. The powder feeder also includes a vacuum system for loading powder into a feed reservoir or chamber. The vacuum system can also be used to cleanup excess powder. Other powder control features include powder gutters and magnetic powder plows. During printing, a cleaning system operates to remove powder from the printheads. In the event of a printhead or jet failure, the failure can be detected and corrective measures taken automatically. After printing, the model can be depowdered and infiltrated in an enclosure.
US08017054B1	Systems and methods for fabricating composite fiberglass laminate articles A method of fabricating a composite article comprising the following steps. A plurality of support templates is provided. The support templates are arranged to define a shape of the composite article. A plurality of primary panels are provided, where each primary panel defines at least one edge, a first surface, and a second surface. The first surface of the plurality of primary panels is secured to the plurality of templates such that at least one edge of one of each the primary panels is adjacent to at least one edge of another of the primary panels and the primary panels conform to the shape of the composite article. The adjacent edge portions of adjacent primary panels are joined.
US08017048B1	Emergency shelter and associated methods An emergency shelter includes a domed foam structure that is constructed on-site or at a remote location from foam that can be mixed on-site. The structure can be made on-site by spraying foam in a flowable state in a predetermined pattern to build up walls to form a dome. The foam can be sprayed, for example, in a substantially helical pattern from a centrally located spray nozzle that is rotated to deposit a finite-thickness increment of foam over a time period sufficient that, by the time the nozzle reaches a previously sprayed area, the foam already deposited has had time to cure.
US08017047B2	Microcapsules comprising compounds containing carbodiimide groups Microcapsules wherein the capsule wall is formed from an organic polymer (capsule wall polymer for short) and the core of the microcapsules comprises compounds containing carbodiimide groups (carbodiimide compound for short).
US08017045B2	Composition for oxide semiconductor thin film and field effect transistor using the composition Provided is a composition for an oxide semiconductor thin film and a field effect transistor (FET) using the composition. The composition includes from about 50 to about 99 mol % of a zinc oxide (ZnO); from about 0.5 to 49.5 mol % of a tin oxide (SnOx); and remaining molar percentage of an aluminum oxide (AlOx). The thin film formed of the composition remains in amorphous phase at a temperature of 400° C. or less. The FET includes an active layer formed of the composition and has improved electrical characteristics. The FET can be fabricated using a low-temperature process without expensive raw materials, such as In and Ga.
US08017044B2	Bimodal metal nanoparticle ink and applications therefor A bimodal metal nanoparticle composition includes first metal nanoparticles having an average diameter of from about 50 nm to about 1000 nm, and second stabilized metal nanoparticles having an average diameter of from about 0.5 nm to about 20 nm, the second stabilized metal nanoparticles including metal cores having a stabilizer attached to the surfaces thereof, wherein the stabilizer is a substituted dithiocarbonate.
US08017042B2	Medical electrode containing a hydrophilic polymer Conductive compositions whose electrical properties do not change significantly due when stored open to the atmosphere, methods for preparing the compositions, and medical electrodes that comprise the compositions are disclosed. The compositions are hydrogels that comprise about 33 wt % to about 68 wt % of a humectant or a mixture of humectants; about 1 wt % to about 8 wt % of an electrolyte or mixture of electrolytes; about 6 wt % to about 20 wt % of water; about 18 wt % to about 45 wt % of a copolymer. The copolymer comprises, in polymerized form, about 80 mol % to about 95 mol % of a first monomer, which is a mixture of acrylic acid and a salt thereof, about 5 mol % to 20 mol % of a second monomer, preferably a salt of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, and, optionally a crosslinking agent. The conductive composition has a pH of about 7.0 or less.
US08017041B2	Methods and apparatus for solid carbonaceous materials synthesis gas generation Methods and apparatus may permit the generation of consistent output synthesis gas from highly variable input feedstock solids carbonaceous materials. A stoichiometric objectivistic chemic environment may be established to stoichiometrically control carbon content in a solid carbonaceous materials gasifier system. Processing of carbonaceous materials may include dominative pyrolytic decomposition and multiple coil carbonaceous reformation. Dynamically adjustable process determinative parameters may be utilized to refine processing, including process utilization of negatively electrostatically enhanced water species, process utilization of flue gas (9), and adjustment of process flow rate characteristics. Recycling may be employed for internal reuse of process materials, including recycled negatively electrostatically enhanced water species, recycled flue gas (9), and recycled contaminants. Synthesis gas generation may involve predetermining a desired synthesis gas for output and creating high yields of such a predetermined desired synthesis gas.
US08017040B2	Methods and apparatus for solid carbonaceous materials synthesis gas generation Methods and apparatus may permit the generation of consistent output synthesis gas from highly variable input feedstock solids carbonaceous materials. A stoichiometric objectivistic chemic environment may be established to stoichiometrically control carbon content in a solid carbonaceous materials gasifier system. Processing of carbonaceous materials may include dominative pyrolytic decomposition and multiple coil carbonaceous reformation. Dynamically adjustable process determinative parameters may be utilized to refine processing, including process utilization of negatively electrostatically enhanced water species, process utilization of flue gas (9), and adjustment of process flow rate characteristics. Recycling may be employed for internal reuse of process materials, including recycled negatively electrostatically enhanced water species, recycled flue gas (9), and recycled contaminants. Synthesis gas generation may involve predetermining a desired synthesis gas for output and creating high yields of such a predetermined desired synthesis gas.
US08017038B2	Green phosphor and plasma display panel including the same A green phosphor, a plasma display panel (PDP) including the same, and a method for making the same. In one example, the green phosphor includes strontium (Sr); aluminum (Al); europium (Eu); and at least one element (M) selected from the group consisting of phosphorous (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), and bismuth (Bi).
US08017032B2	Tablet composition for the in-situ generation of chlorine dioxide for use in antimicrobial applications A solid composition in the form of a tablet that generates and releases a biocidal solution comprising at least chlorine dioxide with an enhanced weight percent yield is presented. The composition comprises reactants capable of in-situ generation of chlorine dioxide comprising a chlorite donor that is coated with a gel-forming material that slows the rate of dissolution of the high solubility chlorite donor, a free halogen donor, and an acid source, resulting in an unexpectedly high weight percent yield and providing a controlled release of biocidal solution. The compositions of the invention show improved environmental stability which can reduce the cost of packaging and significantly increase the utility of the composition. The controlled release allows the use in multi-tablet chemical dispensers which may otherwise induce potentially explosive conditions or allow rapid release of the biocidal solution thereby inducing a spike in chemical concentration rather than a controlled and sustained release.
US08017030B2	Azeotrope-like compositions of heptafluoropropane and trifluoroiodomethane Provided are azeotrope-like compositions comprising heptafluoropropane and trifluoroiodomethane and uses thereof, including use in refrigerant compositions, refrigeration systems, blowing agents, fire suppressant compositions, and aerosol propellants.
US08017029B2	Plasma mask etch method of controlling a reactor tunable element in accordance with the output of an array of optical sensors viewing the mask backside A plasma etch method includes simultaneously illuminating an array of plural locations on front surface of the workpiece through the backside of the workpiece with light of a wavelength range for which the workpiece is transparent, while viewing light reflected from the array of plural locations to the backside of the workpiece. The method further includes determining plural etch depths at the array of locations from the light reflected from the array of locations on the front side of the workpiece, and deducing from the plural etch depths a spatial distribution of etch rate across the array of locations. The method also includes changing the etch rate distribution by adjusting a tunable element of the reactor.
US08017027B2	Semiconductor fabricating process A semiconductor fabricating process is provided. First, a substrate is provided. The substrate has thereon a stacked structure and a mask layer disposed on the stacked structure. Thereafter, an oxide layer is formed on a surface of the mask layer and a surface of at least a portion of the stacked structure. Afterwards, a first spacer is formed on a sidewall of the stacked structure. Then, a second spacer is formed on a sidewall of the first spacer. Further, a first etching process is performed to remove the oxide layer on the surface of the mask layer. Thereafter, a second etching process is performed to simultaneously remove the mask layer and the second spacer.
US08017015B2	Monolithic column chromatography Provided herein are methods of liquid column chromatography in which preparative chromatography is performed in-line with analytical chromatography. In particular aspects a monolithic preparative column is used to purify an analyte of interest from a mixture of other substances by applying the mixture to the column, reversing the flow through the column to elute the analyte, which is applied to an analytical column provided in-line with the preparative column. In other aspects, a single monolithic column is used to perform both the preparative chromatography and analytical chromatography steps in succession. In another aspect, a chromatography system is provided to perform preparative and analytical chromatography using a single monolithic column.
US08017007B2	Filtering unit for an aquarium A filtering unit (1) for an aquarium is described, said filtering unit (1) comprising a closed casing (2), which is to be immersed in a liquid, inlet means (3), a liquid path (4) passing through filters (8), outlet means (5, 15-18), an electric pump assembly (6) for forcing liquid to circulate along said liquid path (4). The outlet means (5, 15-18) comprise a multiple outlet selector (18) which may allow selection of outlets (15-17), in particular in a vertical direction.
US08017005B2	Adjustable, configurable storm inlet filter System and apparatus for filtering drainage which includes a configurable and adjustable rigid frame, hanger support structures adapted to contact a surface of a drainage structure, and a sediment bag. The frame may be adjusted or configured by modifying the location of connecting fasteners and/or by altering the orientation of frame components. Additional embodiments provide for an overflow gap comprising a vertical distance between an above grade surface of a drainage structure and the rigid frame, wherein the overflow gap is capable of allowing runoff to bypass the sediment bag when the sediment bag is obstructed. A configurable lifting tool device adapted to lift inlet grates and inlet filter devices includes a lifting bar, a plurality of connectors, a plurality of lifting arms, and a plurality of lifting hooks adapted to contact a grate and/or an inlet filter device lifting bar.
US08017003B2	Processing waste liquid treating apparatus In a processing waste liquid treating apparatus, a housing includes a bottom wall, an upper wall, a left lateral wall, a rear wall and an opening/closing door for opening/closing a front opening. A waste liquid tank is disposed on the bottom wall and close to the rear wall. A clear water storage tank is disposed adjacently to the waste liquid tank and at the central portion of the bottom wall. A pure water generating unit is disposed on the bottom wall adjacently to the clear water storage tank and close to the front opening. A waste liquid filtering unit is disposed above the pure water generating unit. A pure water temperature adjusting unit is disposed above the waste liquid tank. A control unit and a console panel are disposed above the waste liquid filtering unit and the console panel is disposed on the front side of the housing.
US08017002B2	Device for filtering a fluid, particularly for plastic processing plants The invention relates to an arrangement and a device for filtering a fluid, particularly for plastic processing plants, wherein the pressure drop, or the flow rate reduction, created by the withdrawal of material from the process is sensitively balanced in that pressure constancy and flow rate constancy are achieved at the discharge duct (3).
US08017001B2	System for mineral hardness management The disclosed systems and methods for maintenance of an enclosed body of water generally include mobile systems and/or methods for removal of mineral hardness and other particulate impurities via lime softening filtration. Chemicals are added to a body of water containing unwanted mineral hardness (or other particulate impurities) and mixed to assist dispersion. The chemicals react with the hardness minerals making them insoluble. The resulting precipitate falls out of solution to the bottom of the body of water for subsequent removal via filtration. This eliminates or otherwise reduces the need for draining water and/or adding new water to a body of water to maintain proper mineral hardness balance and/or concentration of other particulate impurities.
US08016999B2	Process for removing sulfur from fuels Provided are processes for removing sulfur-containing compounds from fuel, comprising contacting the fuel in liquid phase with air to oxidize the sulfur-containing compounds, the contacting being carried out in the presence of at least one transition metal oxide catalyst, wherein the catalyst is supported on a porous support and wherein the porous support comprises a support material selected from the group consisting of a titanium oxide, a manganese oxide and a nanostructured material of the aforementioned support materials.
US08016998B2	Electrochemical detection of arsenic Electrochemical methods and materials for the detection of arsenic. In one aspect, arsenic is detected using a working electrode comprising particulate platinum. In another aspect, arsenic is detected using an electrode comprising indium tin oxide and particulate gold. Also provided are methods for the production of electrodes which involve the electrodeposition of gold onto indium tin oxide.
US08016995B2	Electrochemical deposition method for surface metallization An electrochemical deposition method includes disposing a mold into an electrolytic bath for forming a first metal layer on a surface of the mold, bonding a first surface of a conductive component to the first metal layer, and disposing the mold bonded to the conductive component into an electrolytic bath for forming a second metal layer on a second surface of the conductive component.
US08016989B2	Exhaust gas sensor An exhaust gas sensor inhibits a detecting part of an exhaust gas sensor from being exposed to water and has high detection accuracy and high durability. The exhaust gas sensor has a sensor body and a protective cover. The sensor body has an outer housing. The outer housing has a plurality of gas inlets. A gas detection element for detecting a component of the exhaust gas (e.g., oxygen) disposed within the outer housing. The protective cover has a cylindrical shape and has a plurality of protrusions at its opposing ends. The protrusions provide a tight fit with the outer housing. The protective cover is attached to the outer periphery of the outer housing without closing gas inlets formed through the outer cylinder by press-fitting the outer cylinder into the protective cover.
US08016987B2	Evaluation of the corrosion inhibiting activity of a coating The corrosion inhibiting activity of a coating is determined from the effect of corrosion inhibiting species released by the coating on the oxygen reduction current for a cathode placed very close to the coating. A rotating disk electrode or pumped solution flow is used to sweep the corrosion inhibiting species from the coating surface to the cathode. The oxygen reduction current is measured under conditions of oxygen diffusion control.
US08016984B2	Ion-permeable diaphragm An ion-permeable diaphragm comprises a membrane material containing a calcium phosphate compound or calcium fluoride as a hydrophilic inorganic material. The calcium phosphate compound is preferably fluoroapatite or hydroxyapatite. The membrane material is obtained by incorporating a stretched organic fiber fabric into a membrane-forming mixture formed by the hydrophilic inorganic material and an organic binding material selected from among polysulfone, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride or the like. As a result, there can be provided an ion-permeable membrane of low electric resistance for use in alkaline water electrolysis devices.
US08016980B2	Paper products A paper product includes a paperboard comprising a substrate layer, a filler layer, and a cap layer, wherein the filler layer is disposed between the substrate layer and the cap layer, wherein the filler layer includes a filler material, wherein the cap layer includes a polylactic acid based resin, and wherein the cap layer is substantially free of filler material.
US08016971B2	Method for making a waist relief feature A method of making an absorbent article with a waist relief area includes providing a web of outer cover material moving in a machine direction; cutting a plurality of first relief holes in the web of outer cover material; at least partially covering the plurality of first relief holes with an overlay material to define a fringe; and cutting the web of outer cover material in a cross-machine direction to define a plurality of discrete absorbent articles wherein each cut extends through each first relief hole. The fringe may be made from the waist elastic material, liner material, fastening material, or facing material. The fringe may also be cut with a plurality of second relief holes having an area smaller than the area of the first relief holes.
US08016959B2	Thermal pre-ignition agents The invention relates to thermal pre-ignition agents and to their use as thermal fuses, in particular for use in gas generators of motor-vehicle safety systems.
US08016952B2	Ferromagnetic shape memory alloy and its use A ferromagnetic shape memory alloy comprising 25-50 atomic % of Mn, 5-18 atomic % in total of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of In, Sn and Sb, and 0.1-15 atomic % of Co and/or Fe, the balance being Ni and inevitable impurities, which has excellent shape memory characteristics in a practical temperature range, thereby recovering its shape by a magnetic change caused by a magnetic-field-induced reverse transformation in a practical temperature range.
US08016951B2	Low core loss grain-oriented electrical steel sheet and method for producing the same An object of the present invention is to provide a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet with low core loss and low magnetostriction and a method for producing the same. The grain-oriented electrical steel sheet is excellent in reduced core loss and magnetostriction while under a high flux density of 1.9 T, comprises a refined magnetic domain comprising a laser irradiated portion which has melted and resolidified to form a solidified layer, wherein the thickness of the solidified layer is 4 μm or less. The grain-oriented electrical steel sheet may further comprise a laser irradiated portion where a surface roughness Rz is small and a cross section viewed from a transverse direction has a concave portion having a width of 200 μm or less and a depth of 10 μm or less for further improvement.
US08016950B2	Hydraulic drive type partial inter-tube lancing system for cleaning steam generator in nuclear power plant A hydraulic drive type partial inter-tube lancing system for cleaning a steam generator in a nuclear power plant, which removes foreign matter, such as sludge, deposited around heat transfer tubes in the steam generator, is disclosed. More particularly, a hydraulic drive type partial inter-tube lancing system, which serves to clean a steam generator of a light-water reactor in a nuclear power plant by removing sludge, attached inside the steam generator, using high-pressure water, is disclosed.
US08016948B2	Method of removing contaminants from a coating surface comprising an oxide or fluoride of a group IIIB metal Disclosed herein is a cleaning method useful in removing contaminants from a surface of a coating which comprises an oxide or fluoride of a Group III B metal. Typically the coating overlies an aluminum substrate which is present as part of a semiconductor processing apparatus. The coating typically comprises an oxide or a fluoride of Y, Sc, La, Ce, Eu, Dy, or the like, or yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG). The coating may further comprise about 20 volume % or less of Al2O3.
US08016946B2	Movable sinks parts washer The disclosure is directed to a method for servicing a parts washer having a movable sink and movable lid connected to a support frame to facilitate replacement and maintenance of a cleaning solution reservoir. A pump is also pivotally connected to the sink to lift the pump during replacement and maintenance operations.
US08016942B2	Process for producing metal fluoride single crystal A metal fluoride single crystal pulling apparatus that upward pulling initiation through termination, in the state of shallow melt capable of highly effective inhibition of scatterer formation, can perform stable growth of single crystal and can suppress any mixing of air bubbles and occurrence of crystal break during crystal growth, etc; and a process for producing a metal fluoride single crystal therewith. As a crucible for accommodating a melt of raw metal fluoride, use is made of a double structured crucible composed of an outer crucible and an inner crucible. In the upward pulling of single crystal, the accommodation depth of inner crucible relative to the outer crucible is increased in accordance with any decrease of melt accommodated in the inner crucible according to the growth of single crystal, so that the melt accommodated in the outer crucible is fed into the inner crucible to thereby maintain the amount of melt accommodated in the inner crucible within a given range. Further, at the position of an opening that upward opens any gap space between an external surface of outer crucible and an internal surface of inner crucible, or an interstice, situated below the opening, between a side wall internal surface of outer crucible and a side wall external surface of inner crucible, there is disposed a cutoff member that cuts off at least part of the position.
US08016941B2	Method and apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor A method and apparatus for crystallizing a semiconductor that includes a first layer having a first crystal lattice orientation and a second layer having a second crystal lattice orientation, comprising amorphizing at least a portion of the second layer, applying a stress to the second layer and heating the second layer above a recrystallization temperature.
US08016939B2	Self-curing concrete A self-curing concrete is provided to absorb water from atmosphere from air to achieve better hydration of cement in concrete. It solves the problem that the degree of cement hydration is lowered due to no curing or improper curing, and thus unsatisfactory properties of concrete. According to the invention, high-performance self-curing agent about 0.1˜5 wt % of cement weight of the concrete is added to concrete during mixing. The self-curing agent can absorb moisture from atmosphere and then release it to concrete. The self-curing concrete means that no curing is required for concrete, or even no any external supplied water is required after placing. The properties of this self-cured concrete of this invention are at least comparable to and even better than those of concrete with traditional curing.
US08016938B2	Structures and components comprising blast-resistant concrete also suitable for limiting penetration of ballistic fragments Concrete structures and components with improved strength and toughness. A uniform mix of first constituents comprises: cement of Blaine fineness of 280-360 m2/kg; sand at a mass ratio of 0.75-1.25 of the cement; silica fume at a mass ratio of 0.15-0.4 of the cement; silica flour at a mass ratio of 0.15-0.3 of the cement; and microinclusions at a mass ratio up to 0.35 of the cement. This is then mixed with a blend of second constituents comprising a specified amount of an HRWRA and an amount of water at a mass ratio of 0.2-0.35 of the cement. This is mixed sufficiently to form a uniform cement-based paste to which an amount of macrofibers at a mass ratio of up to 0.35 of the cement is added to yield a uniform product. Nanoinclusions may be added to improve crack resistance and increase density.
US08016937B2	High strength cement, mortar and concrete including industrial by-products Cementitious compositions in which the cementitious properties of fly-ash are carefully controlled. The cementitious compositions may be substantially free harsh acids and bases such as citric acids (≈pH 2.2) and alkali metal activators including alkali hydroxides (≈pH 12-14) and metal carbonates (≈pH 11.6). The use of these harsh chemicals creates acid base reactions during use of the products. Instead of these harsh chemicals, a citric salt, for example potassium citrate, may be used as a reaction accelerator. Boric compounds may be used as a retarder in the compositions.
US08016935B2	Anti-corrosion pigments coming from dust of an electric arc furnace and containing sacrificial calcium An anticorrosion ferrite-based pigment, derived from a hydrometallurgical purification process of EAF dust. EAF dust is generated in an electric arc furnace for carbon steel production by processing scrap metal, direct reduced iron and/or pre-reduced hematite, and using CaO-rich slag; from a condensation reaction of metals vapors of Fe, or Zn and of Mn, Mg, Si and/or Al, and suspended CaO particles and oxygen. The pigment contains a non-toxic amount of lead, and includes condensed metal oxides, comprising ferrites MOFe2θ3, M being Zn, Fe, Mn and Mg, and combinations thereof. The condensed oxides have ferrite structures preserved from the EAF dust, and form aggregates thereof. The pigment includes CaO entrapped by the ferrite structures and being partially available to react with humid air and/or water to protect the substrate against corrosion. The pigments are coated or uncoated. They are used for antifouling or paint formulations.
US08016931B2	Ink set An ink set including at least three colors of inks of yellow ink with a hue angle ∠H°, as defined in CIELAB color space on a recording medium, in the range of about 80° to about 110°, magenta ink with a hue angle ∠H° in the range of about 330° to about 360°, and cyan ink with a hue angle ∠H° in the range of about 230° to about 260°, and the following ink (A) and ink (B): ink (A): ink with a hue angle ∠H° in the range of about 0° to about 80°; and ink (B): ink with a hue angle ∠H° in the range of about 0° to about 80° (where the ink (A) has higher saturation and lower brightness than the magenta ink, and the ink (B) has higher saturation and higher brightness than the magenta ink and higher saturation and lower brightness than the yellow ink, and the hue angle (∠H°) is determined as hue angle ∠H°=tan−1(b/a)+180 (when a<0) or ∠H°=tan−1(b/a)+360 (when a>0), a* and b* representing the perceived chromaticity index as defined in CIELAB color space).
US08016928B2	Water-based ink for ink-jet recording, ink cartridge and ink-jet recording apparatus A water-based ink for ink-jet recording includes a dye represented by the general formula (1); water; dipropylene glycol propyl ether (DPP); and a surfactant represented by the general formula (2). The dye, DPP, and the surfactant are blended so as to satisfy the conditions (A) and (B). (A) an amount of surfactant represented by general formula (2) relative to a total amount of the ink is in the range of about 0.5 wt % to about 2.5 wt % (B) an amount of DPP relative to a total amount of the ink is in the range of about 1 wt % to about 3 wt %.
US08016926B2	Plasma-treated textile surfaces for adsorption filter materials The invention relates to an adsorption filter material (1) that provides protection against chemical toxins, chemical weapons and pollutants, with a preferably multi-layer composite construction (2). The layer construction (2) includes at least one planar support layer (3) with two opposing sides (3′, 3″) and an adsorption layer (4), provided on the support layer (3) made from a material which adsorbs chemical toxins, the surface of at least one of the both sides (3′ and/or 3″) of the support layer (3) being modified by plasma treatment. The surface properties, in particular the surface finish and the surface reactivity can be adjusted and optimised to match the application by means of the plasma treatment.
US08016925B2	Mini-portable oxygen concentrator A compact and highly portable combination pressure swing adsorption apparatus and product gas conservation device for medical use, to produce efficiently a gas with a high concentration of oxygen and to deliver the oxygen concentrated gas to a user at selectable times and in selectable doses, in which the operating components are detachably mounted together as a single unit.
US08016921B2	Air vent filter and freshener container An assembly of structural components for supporting an air filtration member is disclosed. The assembly may include an air filtration member and a framework designed to provide support to the filtration member. The framework may include a first structural component forming a lower base of the framework for supporting the filtration member and a second structural component forming an upper base of the framework for supporting the filtration member. The framework may also have an arm that is slidable within and attachable to the framework, and may be configured to provide an adjustment mechanism for the framework, such that the framework and the filtration member can be located within a number of differently sized forced air heating or air conditioning ducts.
US08016920B2	System and method for slug control A riser-based slug control system and a method of controlling slugging in a fluid flowing through a riser are provided. The system includes a gas-liquid separation separator that has a housing defining an internal volume. An inclined inlet is connected to the housing and configured to receive a flow of multiphase fluid and direct the flow of fluid into the housing so that the fluid flows spirally in the volume and separates, with gas from the fluid collecting in an upper portion of the volume and liquid from the fluid collecting in a lower portion of the volume. A tubular passage, which extends at least partially through the internal volume of the housing, defines a plurality of orifices. The tubular passage is configured to receive liquid from the lower portion of the volume and gas from upper portion of the volume, and deliver the mixture of the combined liquid and gas through an outlet.
US08016915B2	Method and system for ultrasonic resin degassing A method and system for degassing a resin is provided. A degassing trough retains the resin, and an ultrasonic energy source applies ultrasonic energy to the degassing trough and resin. The application of ultrasonic energy to the resin reduces the amount of trapped gas bubbles contained within the resin.
US08016908B2	Metal powder production system and method A metal powder production system includes a vacuum chamber having a vacuum chamber interior, a stock feed mechanism communicating with the vacuum chamber interior, a radiation source provided in the vacuum chamber interior, a cooling chamber having a cooling chamber interior communicating with the vacuum chamber interior and a container communicating with the cooling chamber interior. A metal powder production method is also disclosed.
US08016905B2	Filter mat for the passage of contaminated air The invention relates to a filter mat, which is used in applications where it filters the flows of contaminated air that pass through it. In such mats, there are points where aerosols collect. This is disadvantageous as it lowers the efficiency of the mat. The present invention overcomes this by having, at these points, wicks (2) that absorb said collections.
US08016902B2	Cyclonic utility vacuum A vacuum cleaner including multiple cleaning stages comprises a first cyclonic stage and a second cyclonic stage, which is spaced from the first cyclonic stage. A housing defines a first particle collector that communicates with the first cyclonic stage. The first particle collector includes an opening. A removable lid covers the first particle collector opening. A second particle collector in communication with the second cyclonic stage is removable with the lid. A suction motor is supported by the vacuum cleaner. The suction motor establishes and maintains a flow of air through the vacuum cleaner.
US08016901B2	Aerodynamic separation nozzle Multiple designs and methods for aerodynamic separation nozzles and systems for integrating multiple aerodynamic separation nozzles into a single system are disclosed herein. These aerodynamic separation nozzles utilize a combination of aerodynamic forces and separation nozzle structure to induce large centrifugal forces on the gases that in combination with the structure of the nozzle are used to separate heavier constituents of the process gas from lighter constituents. In some embodiments a number of separation nozzles are combined into a single system suitable for dynamic processing of a process gas. In other embodiments the separation nozzles are temperature controlled to condition the incoming gas to a temperature in order to encourage a phase change in certain constituents of the gas to occur within the nozzle to further enhance separation.
US08016896B2	Separator with long-term stability for an electrochemical cell A separator for an electrochemical cell, comprising (A) a flexible perforate support, (B) a porous first ceramic material which fills the perforations in the support and which (i) has a pore structure which is characterized by an average pore size, and (ii) is suitable for receiving an ion-conducting electrolyte, wherein (C) the electrolyte-contactable pore surface of the first porous ceramic material is covered with fine particles of a further material to extend the use life, the average size of the fine particles being in the range from 0.5 to 30% and preferably in the range from 1 to 15% of the average pore size of the ceramic material.
US08016892B2	Prosthetic device utilizing electric vacuum pump A prosthetic device and prosthetic assembly operative to evacuate an interior of a prosthetic socket, and control systems for use therewith. The prosthetic device and prosthetic assembly employ evacuation devices for evacuating the socket. The evacuation devices preferably include at least an electrically powered vacuum pump and a power source, and are adapted for mounting to a universal adapter that is installed to the distal end of a prosthetic socket. Associated control systems may be of various design and may employ wired or wireless communication. When wireless communication is employed, a hand held controller may be used to remotely control operation of the evacuation device.
US08016889B2	Articulating diamond-surfaced spinal implants Articulating diamond-surfaced spinal implants are disclosed. The implants use sintered polycrystalline articulation surfaces which are attached to spinal endplates and which are implanted to replace damaged spinal joints. The implants provide a long wearing and biocompatible articulation surface. Materials which may be used to make the spinal implants and manufacturing and finishing techniques for making the implants are also disclosed.
US08016883B2	Methods and devices for rotator cuff repair Interposition and augmentation devices for tendon and ligament repair, including rotator cuff repair, have been developed as well as methods for their delivery using arthroscopic methods. The devices are preferably derived from biocompatible polyhydroxyalkanoates, and preferably from copolymers or homopolymers of 4-hydroxybutyrate. The devices may be delivered arthroscopically, and offer additional benefits such as support for the surgical repair, high initial strength, prolonged strength retention in vivo, flexibility, anti-adhesion properties, improved biocompatibility, an ability to remodel in vivo to healthy tissue, minimal risk for disease transmission or to potentiate infection, options for fixation including sufficiently high strength to prevent suture pull out or other detachment of the implanted device, eventual absorption eliminating future risk of foreign body reactions or interference with subsequent procedures, competitive cost, and long-term mechanical stability. The devices are also particularly suitable for use in pediatric populations where their eventual absorption should not hinder growth.
US08016876B2	Stent configurations A stent may comprise a plurality of serpentine bands, wherein adjacent serpentine bands are connected by at least one connector strut. A serpentine band may comprise alternating straight struts and s-shaped struts. Connector struts may comprise first connector struts and second connector struts, wherein the first connector struts are nonparallel to the second connector struts.
US08016875B2	Medical implant, in particular stent for use in bodily lumen A medical implant, in particular a stent for insertion in a bodily lumen, having a base structure (2, 3), wherein a passive electronic oscillating circuit configuration (4), comprising at least one inductor (L) and at least one capacitor (C1 through C4), is integrated in the base structure (2, 3), whose natural frequency (fres0) in the implanted state of the implant (1) is externally detectable by exciting the oscillating circuit configuration (4) using electromagnetic radiation such that a significant identification feature or a change of the base structure (2, 3) is detectable by the value or a change of the natural frequency (fres0) of the oscillating circuit configuration (4).
US08016873B1	Intravascular hinge stent A balloon or self expandable endoprosthesis formed of a single or multiple joined stent sections. Each section has a node and strut structure extending throughout in order to uncouple expansion forces of the stent to hold a blood vessel outward from crush forces that resist the formation of an oval shape during a crush deformation. The hinge can bend in the direction of a uniformly curved surface of the stent but not in the radial direction. The strut can bend in the radial direction but not in the uniformly curved surface of the stent. The widths, lengths, and radial dimensions of the hinges and struts provide a balloon-expandable hinge stent that is non-crushable. For a self-expandable stent the hinge and strut dimensions provide expansion forces that are controlled independently from crush forces. Expansion properties are determined by the hinge dimensions and crush properties are determined independently by the strut dimensions.
US08016872B2	Deployment and dilation with an expandable roll sock delivery system An expandable roll sock delivery catheter includes an inner tube, an outer tube having a distal outer tube end, and a medical device, such as a self-expanding stent, collapsibly disposed over the inner tube and concentrically oriented between the inner tube and the outer tube. A hollow tube of expandable balloon material extends from the distal outer tube end, the balloon material being substantially disposed in its entirety within a distal end portion of the outer tube. The balloon material is folded back into the outer tube and over the device as a single layer of balloon material connectively linked to the inner tube proximal to the self-expanding device so as to form an expandable roll sock balloon. The roll sock balloon defines an inflation lumen disposed between the outer tube and inner tube, whereby the inflation lumen is configured for expansion of the roll sock balloon following release of the device.
US08016866B2	Pedicle screw system with provisional locking aspects A tulip assembly configured to be coupled to a head of a bone fixation device includes at least one inner member configured to fix the tulip assembly to the head of a bone fixation device, and an outer member including at least one engagement surface configured to selectively fix a rod in the tulip assembly via rotation of the outer member, wherein the fixation of the tulip assembly to the head of the bone fixation device is independent of the fixation of a rod in the tulip assembly.
US08016865B2	Method of performing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using biodegradable interference screw A method of replacing an ACL with a graft. The method provides for the drilling bone tunnels in a femur and a tibia. A replacement graft is provided having first and second ends. A biodegradable composite screw is provided. The screw is made from a biodegradable polymer and a bioceramic or a bioglass. At least one end of the graft is secured in a bone tunnel using the biodegradable composite screw.
US08016862B2	Spinal stabilizing system A bone stabilizing system includes a collar that has a tubular sidewall with an interior surface and an exterior surface each extending between a first end and an opposing second end, the interior surface at least partially bounding a longitudinal passage extending therethrough. The collar also includes a pair of opposing spaced apart channels transversely extending through the sidewall at the first end thereof and a pair of spaced apart bayonet prongs projecting from the first end of the tubular sidewall. A screw has a threaded portion and a head disposed on an end thereof, the head of the screw being disposed within the longitudinal passage of the collar. A locking cap has a hole extending therethrough and a pair of spaced apart bayonet slots formed thereon, the bayonet slots being configured to receive and engage with the pair of bayonet prongs.
US08016860B2	Device and method for correcting a spinal deformity A device and method for correcting a spinal deformity are provided. A spinal implant for correcting a spinal deformity includes a multipoint connector that connects to at least one vertebra of a spine at a plurality of locations and a force directing device that applies a force to the vertebra through the multipoint connector. The force directing device may include a rod which extends generally along an axis of the spine and a force directing member which is adjustably coupled to both the rod and the multipoint connector and which applies a corrective force to the at least one vertebra.
US08016855B2	Surgical device A surgical device includes a first jaw and a second jaw in opposed correspondence with the first jaw. A first driver is configured to cause relative movement of the first jaw and the second jaw in a plane. The first driver is configured to engage a drive shaft rotatable about a rotation axis arranged in non-parallel, e.g., perpendicular, correspondence to the plane. The device may also include a surgical member, e.g., a cutting and stapling element, disposed within the first jaw. A second driver is configured to cause relative movement of the surgical member in a direction parallel to the plane. The second driver is configured to engage a drive shaft rotatable about a rotation axis arranged in non-parallel correspondence to the plane.
US08016853B2	Sacrificial anode stent system A sacrificial anode stent system comprises a stent having at least one sacrificial anode portion and a vaso-occlusive device. The vaso-occlusive device has at least one portion with a potential different from that of the sacrificial anode portion of the stent.
US08016849B2	Apparatus for applying wound treatment material using tissue-penetrating needles A surgical apparatus is provided including a disposable loading unit selectively operatively engagable within a distal end of a first half-section; and a wound treatment material applicator assembly for delivering wound treatment material to the target surgical site. The disposable loading unit includes a cartridge; a plurality of deployable needles supported within the cartridge, wherein each needle includes a lumen extending therethrough and at least one hole formed in an outer periphery thereof; and an actuation member translatably disposed within the cartridge for delivering a driving force to each needle to deploy the needles from the cartridge. The applicator assembly includes a first and second reservoir supported on the distal end of a respective first and second half-section; and a source of wound treatment material in fluid communication with each reservoir.
US08016848B2	Lancets and methods of use Lancets and methods of use are provided. Embodiments include lancets including a sleeve mounted to an elongated body having a needle terminating in a sharp tip.
US08016846B2	Micro-resecting and evoked potential monitoring system and method Surgical micro-resecting and evoked potential monitoring system and method. The system includes a micro-resecting instrument, handpiece, and evoked potential monitor. The instrument includes an outer tube forming a cutting window at which a cutting tip of an inner member is located. A hub assembly rotatably maintains the inner and outer members. An electrically non-conductive material covers a region of the outer tube, and wiring is connected to an exposed surface of the outer tube. The instrument defines a probe surface proximate the cutting window as part of an electrical pathway with the wiring. The hub assembly is powered by the handpiece, and the wiring is connected to the evoked potential monitor. Evoked potential monitoring is performed at the probe surface via stimulation energy delivered along the electrical pathway, and tissue/bone resection occurs with rotation of the cutting tip.
US08016838B2	Retrieval device An endoscopic device for retrieving an object from within a human body is disclosed. The device includes a support assembly, a transmitting assembly, a wire, and a net element. The support assembly has a base and a tubular member. The transmitting assembly includes a handle and a motion transmitting link fixed to the handle and extending through at least a portion of the tubular member. The wire defines a loop portion and two leg portions. A proximal end of each leg portion is secured to the link by a first connection and the two leg portions are secured to each other by at least a second connection distal from the first connection. The net element has a distal portion secured to the loop portion and a proximal portion secured relative to the leg portions. The loop portion is movable between an expanded position and a collapsed position.
US08016836B2	Bone screw driver A bone screw driver (12) for inserting a bone screw (14) into a bone region (218A) includes a driver shaft (12B) that selectively engages the bone screw (14). The bone screw (14) includes a screw threaded region (14A) and a screw engagement region (14B). The screw engagement region (14B) includes a screw shaft (14D) and an engager ring (14E). The driver shaft (12B) includes a shaft aperture (322), a first resilient member (324A), and a first shaft projection (326A). The shaft aperture (322) receives at least a portion of the screw shaft (14D), the first resilient member (324A) engages the screw shaft (14D) to inhibit movement of the screw shaft (14D), and the first shaft projection (326A) engages the engager ring (14E) so that rotation of the driver shaft (12B) results in rotation of the bone screw (14). With this design, in certain embodiments, the bone screw (14) can be removed with the bone screw driver (12) from a screw retainer (16) that retains the bone screw (14), and inserted into the bone region (218A) without the physician contacting with the bone screw (14). This reduces the likelihood of contaminating the bone screw (14) and increases the likelihood of success for the procedure.
US08016835B2	Rigidly guided implant placement with control assist A system for guiding an implant to an optimal placement within a patient includes a trajectory guide for guiding instruments along a selected trajectory and a trajectory fixation device for fixing the trajectory guide in a selected position. The trajectory guide defines a path configured to align with the selected trajectory. A movable support mounts the trajectory guide and selectively moves the trajectory guide to align the trajectory guide with the selected trajectory prior to fixing the trajectory guide in the selected position. The trajectory is aligned coarsely by hand, then the trajectory is aligned using a fine adjustment system. After fixing the trajectory guide, instruments can be inserted along the trajectory through the path defined by the trajectory guide.
US08016832B2	Installation systems for spinal stabilization system and related methods A system for implantation of a spinal stabilization system includes a vertebral anchor having a top portion. The top portion has a perimeter and a first engaging element. The first engaging element has a first longitudinal axis that is generally parallel to a second longitudinal axis of the top portion. The perimeter extends around the second longitudinal axis. The system also includes a driving tool that has a second engaging element that is configured to cooperate with the first engaging element to substantially restrict rotation of the driving tool relative to the top portion about the second longitudinal axis. The first engaging element is configured to slidably receive the second engaging element in a direction along the first longitudinal axis, and the second engaging element is configured to extend substantially within the perimeter of the top portion.
US08016829B2	Systems and methods for spinal surgery Disclosed herein are methods and devices for distracting adjacent vertebrae during surgical procedures for implanting spinal prostheses. In an exemplary embodiment, a distractor is disclosed that maintains the empty space between adjacent vertebrae following a discectomy, and that can removably mate with other surgical instruments, such as, for example, a filler bar, an implanting tool, or a funnel. In other embodiments of the present invention a distractor is disclosed having various features to assist in implanting a spinal prosthesis, such as, for example, an angled distal end and/or an expandable paddle. In another embodiment of the present invention, an articulating inserter is disclosed. Moreover, various implants and funnels are also disclosed herein.
US08016824B2	Electrosurgical pencil with drag sensing capability An electrosurgical pencil configured and adapted to support an electrocautery blade. A strain gauge is affixed to the proximal end of the electrocautery blade and measures the displacement of the blade as a result of resistance and drag acting on the blade. The electrosurgical pencil also includes a meter electrically connected to the strain gauge for monitoring either a change in voltage, a change in electrical current or a change in optical wavelength. The amount of blade displacement as measured by the strain gauge is available for display to the surgeon and/or as sensory input for a control circuit in the electrosurgical generator that modulates the generator output waveform. The electrosurgical pencil further includes a control circuit electrically coupled between the electrocautery blade and the electrosurgical generator. The control circuit is configured and adapted to control power supplied to electrocautery blade based on the displacement measured by the strain gauge.
US08016813B2	Anchor device and method Some embodiments of an anchor device may include bendable anchor mechanism that is deployable in a subcutaneous layer to releasably secure the anchor device to a patient's body. Certain embodiments of the anchor mechanism may include one or more barbs that flexibly bend in response to an insertion or removal force. As such, the anchor mechanism may be inserted into a subcutaneous layer, and removed from the subcutaneous layer, without the need for a separate actuation device to extend or retract the barbs.
US08016811B2	Method for transdermal delivery of permeant substances A method for delivering permeant substances transdermally into a membrane of an animal includes forming at least one delivery opening in the skin tissue, with the at least one delivery opening having a mean opening depth of between about 40 and about 90 microns.
US08016809B2	Liquid drug delivery devices for use with syringes with widened distal tips Liquid drug delivery device includes a housing with a syringe port for sealingly receiving a syringe having a syringe tip ending at a widened distal tip, a vial adapter port with a vial adapter for snap fit receiving a vial, and a drug administration port for administering a liquid drug. The vial adapter is intended to be rotationally detached after a mixing procedure for discarding together with a spent vial. The syringe port additionally includes a single use locking mechanism for securing the syringe to preclude inadvertent syringe detachment under normal use including agitation for reconstitution purposes. The drug administration port has a distal tip preferably similar to a syringe's widened distal tip for the same purpose of preventing conventional needles with a female Luer connector being slidingly mounted thereon.
US08016808B2	Device for piercing film bags The device for piercing film bags includes a piercing spike and means for preventing unintentional piercing by the piercing spike, the means for preventing unintentional piercing comprising a bag support plate that is connected to a baseplate by collapsible or tearable spacers. The device is preferably designed as a unit and insertable into a container of a dispensing assembly. This device provides a high safety against unintentional piercing due to shocks and transport vibrations and is inexpensive to manufacture and multifunctional.
US08016807B2	Refastenable absorbent article and a method of applying thereof Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders, training pants and the like, having elastomeric ear panels and a fastening system that provides the user with different options as to how the absorbent article may be fitted to and removed from the wearer. The absorbent articles allow the wearer to choose between conventional and pull-on diaper configurations, or combinations thereof, and properly and comfortably fit a large range of wearer sizes. Further, the absorbent articles can be pulled on and/or off as a pant. This feature is provided by the ear panels which maintain sufficient tension to hold the diaper on the wearer throughout the period of use without harming the wearer's skin, while providing enough stretch to allow the diaper to be pulled up or down over the wearer's hips. The fastening system is refastenable for convenience yet strong enough to maintain the diaper in a fastened configuration without becoming detached if the diaper is pulled on or off the wearer.
US08016806B2	Incontinence article in the form of pants An incontinence article comprising front and back belly sections connected at side seams forming belly and back bands, continuous in the hip direction having a hip opening closed in the hip direction, and a crotch section comprising an absorbent body, extending longitudinally between and permanently attached to the belly and back sections, wherein the crotch, belly, and back sections define leg openings, the belly and back sections have an edge contour extending towards a transverse center axis, wherein first elastification means in the belly and back sections extend parallel to each other in the hip direction and wherein, in the belly and back sections, second elastification means extend from two side seam areas towards a longitudinal center axis of the article in a curved shape, thereby fanning out with increasing separation from each other, where the second elastification means fan out, the restoring force from extensive stretching of this area is smaller than that from extensive stretching of an area on the hip side, having only the first elastification means.
US08016802B1	Method, apparatus and system for ostomy bag irrigation A manifold for ostomy bag irrigation, including an inlet member having a channel defined therein, a T-member having a channel defined therein and in fluid communication with the inlet member, a left tube having a plurality of apertures defined therein and having one end coupled to the T-member, a right tube having a plurality of apertures defined therein and having one end coupled to the T-member, a left cap having a channel defined therein and coupled to the second end of the left tube, and a right cap having a channel defined therein and coupled to the second end of the right tube.
US08016797B2	Needle protection device with a blocked protection position A needle protection device for use with an injection device, the needle protection device including a moveable needle protection element which moves through a release course of movement into a locking engagement position as a result of an elastic force, the locking engagement position being achieved when the needle protection element moves from a starting position to a triggering position, when the needle protection element moves over a small portion of the release course, and being maintained when the needle protection element is no longer subjected to an external force in the triggering position.
US08016796B2	Safety needle device with snap feature and method of making same The present invention safety device is a one-piece needle assembly that has a base and a housing pivotally connected to the base. The base has a distal portion to which a needle is fitted. At the base there is formed longitudinally along its distal portion a catch mechanism that may be in the form of an anchor projection. At the back wall of the housing there is extended another catch mechanism that may be configured in the form of two clasping fingers. Also providing in the housing is an integral hook. As the housing and the base are pivoted relative to each other, and as the needle makes contact with the hook, the respective catch mechanisms at the base and the housing also make contact with each other, resulting in the coupling of the catch mechanisms and the coupling of the needle to the hook. As a result, the catch mechanisms are interlocked and the needle is fixedly retained by the hook within the housing. The catch mechanisms may also be configured as a hook and a latch in the form of a rib with an opening whereto the hook is fixedly coupled. The catch mechanisms may further be configured as respective interlockable pairs of loops and bosses. The gauge of the needle may be determined by the color of both the base and the housing, which are molded as a unitary single unit.
US08016793B2	Universal catheter securement device A universal securing device for holding catheters of various shapes and sizes and the like in place includes a base and cover. The cover may be connected to the base by a hinge which allows the cover to be lifted open or pushed down into a closed position, over a catheter fitting. The base may have locating elements configured and arranged to fit around catheter fittings of various sizes, and the locating elements prevent substantial movement of a catheter fitting and catheter in various dimensions. The cover may include capture elements which act to grip and compress the catheter fitting when the securing device is in a closed position, thus preventing substantial movement of a catheter fitting and catheter in various dimensions. The base may be attached to a patient with an adhesive pad attached to the bottom surface of the base.
US08016790B2	Infusion status indicator An infusion status indicator disposed in the medical infusion line includes a housing with an opening through which the status of the infusion may be determined. A flexible membrane is located at the opening to indicate the status of fluid in the cavity. A recessed flexible membrane indicates insufficient flow of medical fluid into the cavity from the fluid supply, a level flexible membrane indicates correct flow of fluid through the indicator, and a concave flexible membrane indicates an insufficient flow of medical fluid out of the cavity, possibly indicating an occlusion of the fluid line downstream of the indicator. Check valves may be included upstream and downstream of the cavity so that a bolus of fluid may be forced out of the cavity to the patient by pressing the flexible membrane into the cavity.
US08016789B2	Pump assembly with a removable cover assembly An infusion pump assembly includes an enclosure assembly. A reservoir assembly is positioned at least partially within the enclosure assembly and is configured to contain an infusible fluid. A pump assembly is positioned at least partially within the enclosure assembly and is configured to effectuate the dispensing of the infusible fluid contained within the reservoir assembly. Processing logic is positioned at least partially within the enclosure assembly and is configured to control the pump assembly. A removable cover assembly is configured to releasably engage the enclosure assembly. A combination of the removable cover assembly and at least a portion of the enclosure assembly defines a power supply cavity configured to prevent a removable power supply assembly from being reverse-polarity electrically coupled to the processing logic.
US08016781B2	Knee brace and method for securing the same A knee brace divided into anterior and posterior sides by a frontal plane, and having first and second sides divided by a median plane. The knee brace having a frame, and at least one cross strap that is connected to the frame and extends across over at least a portion of the first and second brace sides. The at least one cross strap is arranged obliquely relative to the median plane. The brace also includes a tightening mechanism that is connected to the frame and is configured to incrementally tension the at least one cross strap at predefined settings and to release tension on the at least one cross strap. A first end of the at least one cross strap engages the tightening mechanism. A dosage meter is connected to the frame, and includes an indication feature representing tension settings of the at least one cross strap.
US08016780B1	Orthopedic brace An orthopedic brace is provided that provides for immobilization of an injured or postoperative extremity in an abduction position and also allows the user to control internal and external rotation of the extremity. A brace is provided with two opposing members, one opposing member having a torso resting surface and the other opposing member having a forearm support surface, and an adjustment mechanism that allows a user to expand or contract the orthopedic brace to provide for internal and/or external rotation of a humeral head of the user through the forearm of the user.
US08016779B2	Compression device having cooling capability A compression device has improved cooling capability. The device includes a wicking layer adapted to move moisture. A portion of the wicking layer is exposed from under bladder material defining a bladder. In use, the wicking layer wicks moisture from the patient's limb and the wicked moisture is able to evaporate through the device at the portion of the wicking layer that is exposed.
US08016778B2	Compression device with improved moisture evaporation A circumferential compression sleeve has bladder openings extending through a bladder, making the sleeve generally breathable and comfortable for the wearer. The openings include at least about 4% of a total surface area of the bladder. The device also has a static evaporation rate through the device of at least about 20 mg/minute. In one example, the device includes a wicking layer for contacting the wearer's skin. The wicking layer wicks moisture from the wearer's skin and generally moves the moisture to portions of the layer in registration with the openings where the moisture is allowed to evaporate therethrough.
US08016777B1	Hand-held probe for prostate cancer screening A hand-held probe is configured for a prostate cancer screening test and includes a pressure sensor array, a test progression indicator, a display, and an electronic circuit for processing pressure data. The test progression indicator is configured to guide the operator during the test as to the proper position of the probe about the prostate and the progress of collecting and accumulating test data. Data quality thresholds are used to accept or reject readings from the pressure sensor array. The results are presented as either a high or low probability of prostate cancer. The probe is adapted for easy use in an office of a general practitioner.
US08016773B2	Lancing apparatus The present invention provides a lancing apparatus (A) which includes a lancet (3) which is movable to advance in a first direction from a deeper portion in a housing (2) toward a front end of a cylindrical member (8) and an analysis component (4) disposed in the cylindrical member (8). The analysis component (4) is movable in a second direction opposite to the first direction upon receiving a force in the second direction. When skin (S) bulges, the analysis component (4) moves in the second direction following the bulging of the skin, whereby blood (b) bleeding from the skin (S) is properly introduced to the analysis component (4).
US08016767B2	Surgical access system and related methods A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue retraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.
US08016766B2	Central venous catheter assembly for measuring physiological data for cardiac output determination and method of determining cardiac output The central venous sensor assembly comprises a catheter body with several proximal ports. The catheter portion placed in the vena cava superior is equipped with a proximal flux measurement unit, and the catheter portion placed in the vena cava inferior is equipped with a distal flux measurement unit. A first input channel supplies a measurement signal indicative of a flux vp to the evaluation unit from which the latter calculates a blood flow in the vena cava superior. Likewise, a second input channel supplies a measurement signal indicative of a flux vd to the evaluation unit from which the latter calculates a blood flow rate in the vena cava inferior. Due to continuity, the sum of the flow rates in the upper and lower central veins corresponds to the flow rate through the right heart and in the pulmonary artery and thus to cardiac output.
US08016764B1	Systems and methods for evaluating ventricular dyssynchrony using atrial and ventricular pressure measurements obtained by an implantable medical device Techniques are provided for exploiting left atrial pressure (LAP) measurements to determine various ventricular mechanical and electromechanical contraction intervals and for evaluating ventricular dyssynchrony based on those intervals. In one example, LAP measurements are combined with right ventricular pressure (RVP) measurements to determine the interventricular mechanical delay, which is the primary parameter representative of ventricular dyssynchrony. Other intervals determined based, in part, on LAP measurements include the electromechanical delay for the left ventricle (LV), as well as the LV systolic and diastolic intervals. Techniques are also described herein for detecting various RV intervals including the electromechanical delay for the RV, as well as the RV systolic and diastolic intervals.
US08016763B2	Method for analysing pressure signals derivable from a body cavity A method for analysing pressure-signals derivable from pressure measurements on or in a body of a human being or animal, includes the steps of sampling said signals and converting the signals to pressure-related digital data with a time reference, wherein the method comprises the further steps of: identifying from said digital data features related to absolute pressures relative to atmospheric pressure, recording repeatedly at specific time intervals, intermittently, in any reiterated manner, or continuously absolute pressure data to create a pressure trend plot against time, determining from said recording either a) a plurality of different pressure levels and duration thereof, or b) a plurality of different pressure changes of different levels and duration thereof, and presenting a) numbers of different pressure levels of various time durations in format of a matrix, or b) presenting numbers of different pressure change levels of various time durations in format of a matrix.
US08016762B2	Device and method for outputting bioinformation and bioinformation report Blood pressure values measured in four limbs are plotted on first to fourth linear axes which extend from an origin in an upper right direction, an upper left direction, a lower left direction, and a lower right direction respectively, and a rectangle composed of vertices which are determined by the plotted blood pressure values is illustrated to present the blood pressure values. This allows a specific measured value in each site to be easily known, and the relationships between the blood pressure values in the four limbs are intuitively understood from the shape of the rectangle.
US08016760B2	Systems and methods for determining organ wall mass by three-dimensional ultrasound An ultrasound system and method to measure an organ wall weight and mass. When the organ is a bladder, a bladder weight (UEBW) is determined using three-dimensional ultrasound imaging that is acquired using a hand-held or machine controlled ultrasound transceiver. The infravesical region of the bladder is delineated on this 3D data set to enable the calculation of urine volume and the bladder surface area. The outer anterior wall of the bladder is delineated to enable the calculation of the bladder wall thickness (BWT). The UEBW is calculated as a product of the bladder surface area, the bladder wall thickness, and the bladder wall specific gravity.
US08016759B2	Ultrasound system and signal processing unit configured for time gain and lateral gain compensation The present invention provides an ultrasound system, which comprises: a signal acquiring unit to transmit an ultrasound signal to an object and acquire an echo signal reflected from the object; a signal processing unit to control TGC (Time Gain Compensation) and LGC (Lateral Gain Compensation) of the echo signal; a TGC/LGC setup unit adapted to set TGC and LGC values based on TGC and LGC curves inputted by a user; and an image producing unit adapted to produce an ultrasound image of the object based on the echo signal. The signal processing unit is further adapted to control the TGC and the LGC of the echo signal based on the TGC and LGC values set by the TGC/LGC setup unit.
US08016756B2	Medical system and method of switching antenna A medical system includes a capsule type medical apparatus introduced into a subject and having an antenna having directionality and a communication unit which executes a communication through the antenna, an external antenna, which is disposed outside of the subject and has an antenna having directionality and an antenna disposed together with the antenna and having directionality in a direction different from the antenna, and an external machine having a selection unit which selects any of the antennas in the external antenna and a second communication unit which executes a communication with the first communication unit through the antenna whose polarized wave surface is selected by the selection unit.
US08016751B2	Optical instrument An optical instrument has an outer shank (15) with a viewing window (31) arranged near the free shank end and a handle part (1) at the other end of the outer shank. An opto-electrical a transducer (26) is rotatably arranged within the outer shank, and is attached on an inner shank (12) which is rotatably mounted within the outer shank. Actuation means (10) for rotating the transducer (26) are provided in the outer shank. An axial bearing is provided between the outer shank and the inner shank (12). Moreover, a spring element impinging the inner shank (12) with force in the direction of the axial bearing is provided.
US08016745B2	Monitoring of a food intake restriction device An implantable restriction device is configured to provide a restriction in a patient as a function of the pressure of fluid. The implantable restriction device includes one or more pressure sensors configured to sense pressure of the fluid within the implantable restriction device. Pressure data obtained by the one or more pressure sensors may be communicated to a device located external to the patient, such as a data logger, using telemetry coils or other communicators. The data logger may store the pressure data, and may communicate the pressure data to a remote location via a network such as the Internet. A docking station may be provided to couple the data logger to a network and/or to recharge a cell in the data logger.
US08016743B2	System for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence The inventive system includes an elongated band, which includes a urethral area at a central part of the band, the band including a first set of holes, one of the first set of holes located on one side of the central part and another of the first set of holes located on the other side of the central part along the length of the band, first threads passing through the first set of holes and configured to permit loosening of the band following the placement of the band and the conclusion of the operation, and a second set of holes located closer to distal ends of the band than the first set of holes, and second threads passing through the second set of holes and configured to permit tightening of the band following the placement of the band and the conclusion of the operation.
US08016742B2	Endourethral device and method An endourethral device is provided having an elongate member having proximal and distal segments, the elongate member positionable within a lower urinary tract so as to at least partially traverses a prostatic urethra. A proximal anchor, adapted to abuttingly engage portions of a bladder neck so as to at least proximally anchor the device, is supported at least indirectly by the proximal segment of said elongate member. The proximal anchor includes bladder engaging elements radially extending from the proximal segment of said elongate member, urine being freely dischargable about at least the proximal segment so as to substantially bathe the bladder neck therewith.
US08016741B2	Systems, devices, and methods for sub-urethral support Disclosed are single-incision surgical procedures for treatment of urinary incontinence and/or pelvic floor disorders and related uses, devices, kits, and methods. Implants are also disclosed for use in the exemplary procedures. In certain embodiments, soft tissue anchors are used to anchor the surgical implants to obturator membranes of a patient.
US08016737B2	Method for removing a fluid from a container and device therefor Provided is a method for removing a liquid, in particular a supernatant, from a container with a sample, by creating an opening in a container with a sample consisting of solid constituents and a liquid, and subsequently centrifuging the container so as to cause the liquid to flow out of the container through the created opening. Also provided is a device for making a container suitable for use in the method.
US08016736B2	Methods for washing a red blood cell component and for removing prions therefrom A method for washing multiple units of blood product including providing a centrifuge having a wash cell for each unit of blood product, balancing the centrifuge to accommodate for differences in the wash cells, and transferring supernatant including any wash solution from each unit of blood product on the centrifuge.
US08016734B2	Apparatus and methods for non-contact adhesive dispensing to manufacture bags Various methods of forming bags include applying hot melt adhesive to material without contacting the material with the dispenser that applies the adhesive. The material may be provided in various forms, such as elongate sheet material dispensed from a roll, or elongate tube material that is flattened to define first and second oppositely disposed sidewalls, for example. The material may be provided in single plies, multiple plies, or as separate sheets that are cut, folded, or otherwise manipulated to form bags, with the adhesive joining selected portions of the bag. A nozzle for dispensing hot melt adhesive includes an air passage that is inclined in a direction toward a liquid outlet. The air passage communicates with an air outlet disposed in a common plane with the liquid outlet.
US08016732B2	Exercise device An exercise device for exercising the human body; said device including a first lower platform supported on rolling elements for omni-directional movement over a supporting surface; said device further including a second upper platform rotatably mounted to said first lower platform; said exercise device adapted for support of at least one portion of the body of a user; a further at least one portion of the body of said user in contact with said supporting surface.
US08016729B2	Exercise machine having rotatable weight selection index A weight exercise machine may include an exercise member, one or more weights, and one or more weight selectors. When using the machine to exercise, the user exerts an exercise force against the exercise member. A weight selector may be rotated, pivoted, or otherwise moved to operably couple the exercise member to at least one of the weights such that displacement of the exercise member causes at least one of the weights to displace, thus providing resistance to displacement of the exercise member. The weights may include main weights and add-on weights for operative coupling to the exercise member via a movable frame. The one or more weight selectors allow for selection of different combinations of weights for providing resistance to displacement of the exercise member.
US08016728B2	Crossbar positioning apparatus and method An extender device and system for adjusting the height of a crossbar analogue in pole vault, high jump, horse jumping or other crossbar clearing activities. The system may include a plurality of pulley like devices that maintain a cord spaced about a practice structure. A crossbar analogue is coupled to the cord and the cord arranged so that the crossbar analogue may be readily moved upward or downward. An extender is disclosed that facilitates arrangement and movement of the cord and crossbar analogue in this manner.
US08016724B2	Drive train of a motor vehicle A drive train of a motor vehicle, with a drive engine, a torque converter, an additional brake, a retarder, a manual actuator device for a power control element, a manually operated preselector element for an operating range of the torque converter, a manually operated preselector element for selecting braking resistance of the additional brake, a manual control element for actuating a brake that decelerates the motor vehicle and an electronic control unit for exchanging and processing signals and data of the drive train and/or of the motor vehicle. The preselector element for the additional brake is connected to the electronic control unit such that starting from a zero position “0”, it can be actuated in a direction “I” for signaling the selection of a braking resistance of the additional brake, and also in another direction “II” for signaling the activation of a drive-power-off rolling or coasting operation mode.
US08016723B2	Vehicle engine control apparatus A vehicle engine control apparatus provides rotational speed synchronization control during a shift operation. A shift operation detecting component detects a shift position resulting from a manual shift operation of a manual transmission connected to an engine. A vehicle speed detecting component detects a vehicle speed. The computing component computes an input side transmission rotational speed value based on the vehicle speed and a gear ratio. A driving intent determining component determines a driver's driving intention. A rotational speed synchronization control component performs rotational speed synchronization based on a first target engine rotational speed value that is smaller than the input side transmission rotational speed value when a clutch is disconnected and a deceleration intention exists by the driver, and based on a second target engine rotational speed value that is equal to the input side transmission rotational speed value when the clutch is disconnected without the deceleration intention.
US08016721B2	Semiautomatic gearbox for vehicles A semiautomatic vehicle gearbox comprising, for said gearbox, a shift lever (10) directly coupled to the gearbox itself; a shaft of said gearbox; and connection means between said shift lever and said shaft; characterised by comprising a sensor (20) for sensing the operation of said shift lever coupled to said connection means.
US08016720B2	Hold function for temporarily holding an operationally ready motor vehicle in a stationary state A method is provided for operating a hold function for temporarily holding an operationally ready motor vehicle in a stationary state by use of a service brake. The service brake is actuated by electrohydraulic, electropneumatic or electromechanical mechanisms. The service brake can be activated within the framework of the hold function, when the speed of the vehicle is less than a preset first speed threshold, and the presence of the driver in the driver's seat is detected. The presence of the driver in the driver's seat is detected as a function of the signal of a flap sensor for detecting an opened or closed position of the flap, assigned to this flap sensor.
US08016718B2	Vehicle drive unit A vehicle drive unit is provided which includes a hydraulic circuit capable of efficiently supplying a hydraulic pressure from an accumulator to a hydraulic servo while minimizing the capacity of the accumulator. In a hydraulic circuit included in a continuously variable transmission, an accumulator is connected through an electromagnetic switch valve to an oil passage connecting a clutch pressure control valve and a manual valve, a one-way valve for allowing oil to flow only in the direction from the clutch pressure control valve toward the accumulator and the forward clutch is provided in the oil passage. The electromagnetic switch valve switches an oil passage to a communicating state when the oil pump is driven and switches the oil passage to a shut-off state when the oil pump is stopped.
US08016715B2	Multi-speed transmission having three planetary gear sets A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes.
US08016714B2	Multiple speed transmission utilizing co-planar gear sets A multiple speed power transmission, comprising an input shaft; a transmission case; a co-planar gear set; a rear epicyclic gearing assembly with four rotating members; a first clutch connecting the output of the co-planar gear set to the fourth rotating member; a second clutch connecting the output of the co-planar gear set to the first rotating member; a third clutch connecting the input shaft to the third rotating member; a first brake holding the fourth rotating member against rotation; a second brake holding the third rotating member against rotation; and an output shaft connected to the second rotating member.
US08016712B2	Eight speed automatic transmission An automatic transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may be either clutches or brakes.
US08016709B2	Multi-speed transmission having three planetary gear sets A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes.
US08016706B2	Plate-link chain A plate-link chain composed of a plurality of plates that form plate sets, which are connected to an adjacent plate set with a hinge joint. At least some of the plates have a stopping means that limits bending of the plate-link chain in a direction opposite to the bend direction the chain undergoes when it passes over and around a pulley or a gear with which the chain comes into contacting engagement when the pulley or gear rotates.
US08016699B1	Baseball pitch stop with ball return An air driven ball return pitching apparatus that is unique in that the motor, when activated creates a vacuum zone on part of the system and a pressurized zone on the remainder of the system. The motor housing is equipped with a blower that acts upon the system through a Y connection in the pipe. When activated the blower forces air into the pressurized zone and creates the vacuum in that zone. The ball is pitched at the target of the back stop; the ball falls to the bottom which is graded to direct the ball to the return system. The vacuum acts upon the ball causing it to enter the return system and travel to the motor housing where it switches zones into the pressurized zone returning the ball to the pitching position for reuse.
US08016697B2	Multi-layer golf ball Multi-layer golf balls having a relatively hard outer core surrounding a relatively soft, low compression inner core are provided. The inner core generally has a compression of less than 50 and the inner core and outer core generally have a combined dual core compression of 50 or greater. The outer core generally has a Shore C hardness of 80 or greater. A cover, which can be a single-, dual-, or multi-layer cover, is provided to surround the outer core. A moisture barrier layer is optionally provided between the outer core and the cover. The moisture vapor transmission rate of the moisture barrier layer is preferably less than the moisture vapor transmission rate of the cover.
US08016696B2	Golf ball core with soft outer transition volume and negative hardness gradient A golf ball including a unitary core having a volume, an outer surface, a geometric center, and an outermost transition volume adjacent to the outer surface, the core being formed from a substantially homogenous composition; and a cover layer including ionomer, metallocene-catalyzed polymer, polyester, polyamide, non-ionomeric thermoplastic elastomer, copolyether-ester, copolyether-amide, polycarbonate, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, or polystyrene block copolymer. The outermost transition volume is disposed between the core outer surface and the geometric center, the transition volume has an outer portion congruent with the core outer surface, and comprises the outermost 45% of the core volume or less. Both a hardness of the core outer surface and a hardness within the outermost transition volume are less than the hardness of the geometric center to define a negative hardness gradient.
US08016695B2	Golf ball with improved flight performance A golf ball with aerodynamic coefficient magnitude and aerodynamic force angle, resulting in improved flight performance, such as increased carry and flight consistency regardless of ball orientation. In particular, the present invention is directed to a golf ball having increased flight distance as defined by a set of aerodynamic requirements, at particular spin ratios and Reynolds Numbers. The invention is also directed toward golf balls having high spin decay rates during the first second of flight that yields improved flight performance and longer ball flight.
US08016693B2	Golf club A golf club having a shaft, a grip, and a head provides improved balance and feel. The shaft has a shaft distal end, a shaft axis defining a vertical plane, and a forward bend section proximate the shaft distal end. The head is secured to the shaft distal end and includes a striking face, a trailing edge, a club head center of gravity, a heel section having a heel section center of gravity, and a toe section having a toe section center of gravity. The heel section center of gravity is forward of the striking face and the club head center of gravity is further from the trailing edge than the striking face. The forward bend section of the shaft projects from the vertical plane at an attachment angle such that the shaft distal end is forward of the heel section center of gravity.
US08016692B2	Golf club and grip for golf club A golf club (2) includes a head (4), a shaft (6) and a grip (8). At least one siping groove (g1) is provided on a surface of the grip (8). The siping groove (g1) is bent in a direction (Dd) of a depth of the grip. A width (Wg) of the siping groove (g1) is set to be equal to or greater than 0.15 mm and is equal to or smaller than 1.5 mm. It is preferable that an opening edge (e1) of the siping groove (g1) should be bent. The width (Wg) is more preferably equal to or greater than 0.20 mm. The width (Wg) is more preferably equal to or smaller than 1.4 mm and is further preferably equal to or smaller than 1.3 mm. A depth (F1) of the siping groove (g1) is preferably equal to or greater than 0.5 mm and is preferably equal to or smaller than 3.5 mm.
US08016691B2	Golf club head or other ball striking device having 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 contacting an inner surface of the face, to provide locally increased stiffness to particular areas of the face. The stiffening element includes a chamber adapted to contain a viscous substance. The viscous substance can be selected and inserted into the chamber 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.
US08016687B2	Parlor game A method for play of a parlor entertainment unit including a remote activation assembly and an activation-sensing unit. The activation-sensing unit, which may be battery operated and housed in the entertainment unit, may be in an energy-conserving sleep mode until the activation-sensing unit receives a wake-up signal. In one embodiment, the wake-up signal may be generated by the engagement of an activation mechanism, such as a coin slide. After being awoken, the activation-sensing unit may transmit an inquiry to the remote activation assembly as to whether the associated entertainment unit has been selected for play and/or whether there is a sufficient number of credits available for play. If that entertainment unit has not been selected for play, the activation-sensing unit may return to a sleep mode. However, if sufficient play credits are available for the entertainment unit, play may commence.
US08016685B2	Power transmission apparatus In a power transmission apparatus, a driving rotary body is rotated by power from a driving device. A driven rotary body includes a driven rotary member attached to a rotating shaft of a driven device and a holding plate attached to the driven rotary member. A damper mechanism includes a cylindrical elastic member attached to the driving rotary body and a connecting member which is engaged in the elastic member to be movable forward/backward. At least one rotation transmission member is attached to the connecting member, has one end connected to the driving rotary body through the damper mechanism and the other end separably connected to the driven rotary body, and transmits rotation of the driving rotary body to the driven rotary body. A preset load setting member is mounted between the driven rotary body and the connecting member to elastically deform the rotation transmission member, thus applying a preset load.
US08016680B1	Massively multiplayer educational online role playing game A massively multiplayer educational online game presents a computer generated gameplay world where acquiring and demonstrating mastery of educational skills is a requirement for survival and advancement of a learner's game character. The game provides a method for effectively teaching a set of target educational skills by motivating the learner to improved understanding of the skills by having to demonstrate the skills as part of the game. The skills become immediately meaningful and relevant to the learner within the game itself, as feedback on skill understanding is provided directly, indirectly, or both directly and indirectly through game performance, motivating the learner to improve understanding of the skills.
US08016679B2	Universal game modules for message communication between at least two casino controllers Two-way communications between casino games and diverse master controllers using a universal game module there between allows routing event messages with standard protocols. The universal game module with a computer processor, circuitry, connection ports, interfaces and protocols allows the communications by evaluating, prioritizing, polling and routing communications. A jackpot group of differing games is possible because the win cycles of the various games can be equalized. The volatility of the games in the group is increased by randomly segregating a percentage of the machines to be eligible to win the progressive jackpot for a limited time period. A life changing jackpot is thus payable for a variety of games in a casino on a relatively frequent basis.
US08016675B2	Network-based game system and method A network-based game system includes a game processing subsystem for providing a virtual game environment in which player-controlled virtual game entities can move. Players communicate with the game processing subsystem via connectivity subsystems, such as wireless and wired LANs, that each permit access by multiple players. The processing subsystem associates each connectivity subsystem with a respective particular location in the game environment. Each particular location has at least one special game-play significance for a virtual game entity associated with a player communicating with the processing subsystem via the corresponding connectivity subsystem; for example, the game entity can only enter and leave the game at this location.
US08016674B2	Gaming device having changed or generated player stimuli A gaming system which maintains a count of the consecutive plays of a game. The system produces a same player stimuli for a designated quantity of the consecutive plays, and the system produces a different player stimuli for one or more of the plays which occur after the designated quantity is reached.
US08016668B2	Method and system for remote entry in frequent player programs The field of the invention relates generally to casino frequent player programs, and more specifically to providing special incentives for remote entry of casino affiliation or membership cards. The special incentives may include providing a prize or award to frequent player program members that remotely use his or her membership. The member may or may not be told of any winnings upon entry. In one example, the player is provided an indication of winning an incentive during play of an online game. In another example, the player may be required to obtain the winnings at the casino to encourage players to return to the casino. Also, the player may be required to redeem any winnings within a specified period of time. Further, the player incentives may be offered periodically, encouraging the player to periodically check their status remotely.
US08016666B2	Linking component, system, and method for providing additional services at a gaming machine Methods and apparatus consistent with the present invention provide additional services, such as cashless gaming and player tracking, at a gaming machine. One such gaming machine includes a game processor, a peripheral device, and a linking component connected between the game processor and the peripheral device. The linking component emulates or relays communication signals sent between the game processor and the peripheral device using the communication protocol used for communication between the game processor and the peripheral device.
US08016660B2	Systems and methods for conducting a sweepstakes in a gaming environment Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for sweepstakes awards in a gaming environment. Certain embodiments provide a method including accumulating sweepstakes entries for a player based on at least one sweepstakes entry criterion and randomly selecting a winner from the pool of sweepstakes entries. The sweepstakes entries are associated with the player and incorporated in a pool of sweepstakes entries. In certain embodiments, the at least one sweepstakes entry criterion comprises at least one of one entry per player, accumulating points based on play, accumulating points based on machine outcome, and coin in. In certain embodiments, the method further includes determining eligibility of a player for the sweepstakes. In certain embodiments, eligibility is determined based on at least one of a player group, a machine group, a machine denomination, a machine type, a machine manufacturer, a game manufacturer, a game theme and a game title, for example.
US08016657B2	Method and apparatus for determining a game series comprising a plurality of individually selectable wagering games A wagering method is provided that allows players or gaming establishments to specify conditions which when satisfied, reconfigure the gaming device to change game play from a first game to a second game. The condition may depend upon the value of a parameter—generally related to game play—to determine if the condition is valid and triggers the reconfiguration. The second game may be selected from a game on the same gaming device, from a game on a different gaming device, or a game played by a specific player.
US08016655B2	Card gaming machine comprising a plurality of terminals at which single player can execute card game and card game playing method In a liquid crystal display 201, when a sub player touches a select button area 1206 arranged under a main game display area 2001 through a transparent touch panel 202 covering the liquid crystal display 201, the sub player can select the play of a main game. In addition, when the sub player touches a select button area 1206 arranged under the sub game display area 2002, the sub player can select a back bet game serving as a sub game. Selection by the sub player is made prior to starting the main game and the sub game.
US08016654B2	Arm-wrestling robot and the control method An arm-wrestling robot is disclosed, comprising basically an arm-force generation mechanism 10 and a control system 100 that detects the maximum arm-force of a user in the early stage of the match, generates a different game scenario each time, and executes force feedback control to implement the scenario.
US08016646B1	Saw blade sharpening assembly A saw blade sharpening assembly includes a sharpening disk, a blade support panel disposed generally adjacent to the sharpening disk and a generally sloped blade support base carried by the blade support panel.
US08016644B2	Method and apparatus for micro-machining a surface An apparatus and method for micro-machining a surface of a workpiece having a complex surface profile including desired profile features and finer undesired profile features to be removed, including shaping a formable polishing tool using either the workpiece itself or a replica of the workpiece to have at least said desired profile features, and using said formable polishing tool to micro-machine said surface to remove said finer undesired profile features while maintaining said desired profile features. The formable polishing tool can be shaped to have at least said desired profile features by pressing the formable polishing tool against either the workpiece itself or the replica of the workpiece when the formable polishing tool is in a formable state, and the formable polishing tool can be used for micro-machining when the formable polishing tool is in a solid state.
US08016635B2	Joining apparatus with rotatable magnet therein and built-up type toy with the same Disclosed is a built-up type toy having plural parts 10a of polyhedron shape equipped with joining surfaces 11a that are joined with other joining surfaces 11b of other parts 10b. The built-up type toy of the present invention has the parts respectively having magnet portions 100a on the joining surfaces 11a thereof, wherein the magnet portion 100a of the part 10a and the magnet portion 100b on the joining surface 11b of the parts 10b are joined with each other by magnetic force thereof.The built-up type toy of the present invention provides the effects that it is easy to assemble and disassemble, the assemble state is not likely to be demolished easily, and it is helpful to develop the initiative of infant as it can be assemble to various shapes.
US08016633B2	Method for making field emission device incorporating a carbon nanotube yarn A method for making a field emission device includes the following steps. A base and at least one carbon nanotube yarn are provided. The at least one carbon nanotube yarn is attached to the base. The at least one carbon nanotube yarn includes a plurality of carbon nanotube segments. The carbon nanotube segments are joined end to end by van der Waals attractive force.
US08016628B2	Method of joining and method of fabricating an organic light emitting diode display device using the same A method of joining a flexible layer and a support includes forming a first metal layer on one surface of the flexible layer, forming a second metal layer on one surface of the support, cleaning the first metal layer and the second metal layer, and joining the first metal layer to the second metal layer, such that the first metal layer is between the flexible layer and the second metal layer.
US08016624B2	Electric contact and socket for electrical part A contact pin includes a base material composed of a material having a conductive property and an outermost surface layer made of a material into which Sn is dissolved and diffused by applying heat.
US08016621B2	Electrical connector having an electrically parallel compensation region An electrical connector including a connector body that has mating and loading ends and is configured to receive a modular plug at the mating end. The electrical connector also includes a contact sub-assembly that is held by the connector body. The contact sub-assembly includes an array of mating conductors that are configured to engage plug contacts of the modular plug at mating interfaces proximate to the mating end. The mating conductors transmit a signal current along an interconnection path between the mating and loading ends. The contact sub-assembly also includes a plurality of open-ended conductors electrically connected to corresponding mating conductors. The open-ended conductors are electrically parallel to the interconnection path of the array of mating conductors and generate crosstalk compensation as the signal current is transmitted through the mating conductors.
US08016620B1	Electrical connector An electrical connector includes a connector body having an electrically insulative base block with a front vertical stop wall and a locating notch on the middle of front vertical stop wall, an electrically insulative front extension portion forwardly extended from the electrically insulative base block and conducting terminals mounted in the electrically insulative base block and the electrically insulative front extension portion, and a metal shielding shell surrounding the connector body and having a positioning block downwardly protruded from the top wall thereof and engaged into the locating notch of the electrically insulative base block of the connector body to assure connection stability between the connector body and the metal shielding shell and positive contact between the conducting terminals and an inserted external electrical connector.
US08016618B2	Multiple integrated circuit card connector with a card detection terminal An integrated circuit (“IC”) connector includes a card detection contact terminal which is provided substantially at a central part of a housing unit and between a first grounding contact terminal and a second grounding contact terminal, and first and second contact terminals located so as to face each other along a direction of mounting and demounting of a first IC card, the first contact terminals provided adjacent to and both sides of the card detection contact terminal, the second contact terminals provided adjacent to both sides of the card detection contact terminal.
US08016615B2	Phone plug connector device A phone plug connector device having a preassembled three conductive phone plug and connector, wherein the phone plug includes a conductive tip and a stem, wherein the connector connects the phone plug to a triaxial cable, wherein the triaxial cable comprises a center conductor surrounded by a first dielectric, the first dielectric being surrounded by a first conductive sheath, and the first conductive sheath surrounded by a protective outer jacket, wherein the connector connects the triaxial cable to the phone plug mechanically and electrically by compression.
US08016613B2	Coaxial connector with locking sleeve for terminating cable A connector for terminating a coaxial cable that comprises a connector body that has a first end adapted to receive the coaxial cable and a second end adapted to couple with a mating connector. A locking sleeve that has an interface end is engageable with the first end of the connector body. The locking sleeve includes an outer engagement ring spaced from the interface end thereby defining an outer annular receiving area between the outer engagement ring and the interface end. The outer annular receiving area is configured to receive the first end of the connector body in an interference fit. The locking sleeve is axially moveable relative to the connector body between a holding position in which the locking sleeve is detachably coupled to the connector body and a locked position in which the locking sleeve is inseparably coupled to the connector body.
US08016612B2	Locking ratcheting torque aid A torque aid for a coaxial connector is provided. The torque aid has a tubular grip element and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is moveable from a first position to a second position. When the locking mechanism is in the first position, rotation of the torque aid is inhibited in at least one direction. When the locking mechanism is in the second position, the torque aid is rotatable in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
US08016611B2	Electrical power supplying device having a ring-like structure for receiving the power plugs and/or power adapters associated with a plurality of electrical appliances, and an integrated thermal management system An electrical power supplying device for supplying electrical power to a group of electrical appliances located in an environment, includes a power supply cord for plugging into a standard power receptacle by way of a supply power plug, and also a base housing portion having a bottom surface. A power-ring subassembly is supported on the base housing portion, has a central aperture defining the boundaries of a 3D interior volume, and is adapted for supporting a plurality of electrical receptacles and one or more electronic circuits, which are electrically connected to the power supply cord. A power-ring housing portion covers the power-ring subassembly, has a set of plug apertures, is aligned with the electrical receptacles, and allows appliance power plugs associated with the electrical appliances to plug into the electrical receptacles. A power cord portal allows a group of electrical power cords associated with the group of electrical appliances to enter/exit the 3D interior volume in a bundled manner, and the appliance power plugs associated with said group of electrical appliances to be plugged into the electrical receptacles. A cover housing portion is provided and adapted to cover the central aperture of the power-ring subassembly, and conceal appliance power plugs plugged into the electrical receptacles and appliance power cords associated with the electrical appliances. Also, a thermal management subsystem is integrated within the device, so that heat energy, generated by the power adapter plugs and/modules contained within the 3D interior volume, is transferred by air flowing from the 3D interior volume to the external ambient environment.
US08016610B1	Battery connector for a mobile terminal A mobile terminal includes a battery having at least one contact pad that has a first pad portion and a second pad portion positioned on adjacent surfaces of the battery. A connecting device configured to electrically couple the battery to a terminal body includes an electrically conductive flexible terminal having first and second contact portions biased to contact the first and second pad portions of the battery. The mobile terminal also includes an insulation mount configured to support the flexible terminal. One end of the flexible terminal is coupled to the insulation mount and the other end of the flexible terminal is free. The flexible terminal is configured to increase contact pressure of the second contact portion against the second pad portion of the battery when force is applied to the first contact portion of the flexible terminal in a direction away from first pad portion of the battery.
US08016609B1	Electrical device An electrical device includes a housing having a receptacle defined therein, an USB connector received in the receptacle, two first retaining members and a second retaining member. The USB connector includes a front end for coupling with a coupling USB connector and a rear end retainably received in the receptacle. The first retaining members and the second retaining member each includes a V-shaped profile. The first retaining members respectively clamps opposite lateral sides of the USB connector. The second retaining member clamps the rear end.
US08016607B2	Connector assembly for electric vehicle charging A connector assembly is provided with a housing having an inlet for receiving an electrical harness, and an outlet for engaging a vehicle receptacle for facilitating electrical charging of a vehicle. The housing includes a plurality of transverse support ribs, a fulcrum and a series of guides. The housing is configured for supporting a distributed load. A latching mechanism, including a lever, linkage and trigger, is externally connected to the housing for selectively attaching the housing to the vehicle receptacle. The lever is pivotally connected to the fulcrum. The linkage is coupled to the lever for pivoting the lever. The trigger is mounted for translation and includes a series of apertures each sized for receiving one of the guides. The trigger actuates the linkage. A shell is disposed over the housing for retaining the latching mechanism to allow repair and/or replacement without exposing electronic components enclosed in the housing.
US08016604B2	Charging connector To provide a charging connector to prevent the charging connector from removing while a lock system is locked by helping a user recognize that 5 the lock system is locked. A charging connector B including: a lever 44 received in a connector case main body 23, and of which center part is pivotally supported; a locking claw 45b integrally formed with one end of the lever 44; and a release button 46a disposed at the other end of the lever 44, wherein 10 when the charging connector B is completely fitted into a secondary battery-side connector, the locking claw 45b is locked with a locking projection 19 provided at the secondary battery-side connector, and wherein when the release button 46a is pushed down, the locking between the locking claw and the locking projection is unlocked, and the charging connector B further including: a lock 15 system 100 having a lock device 101; and an operation regulator 102 which is moved to a preventing position to prevent the release button 46a from being pushed down when the lock device 101 is in a locking state, and moved to an allowing position to allow the release button 46a to be pressed down when the lock device 101 is in an unlocking state.
US08016603B1	Quick-connection outdoor waterproof electrical connector A quick-connection outdoor waterproof electrical connector is provided, having the following features: All of the male terminals and the female terminals are all positioned in a peripheral direction with the same diameter; the female terminal is provided at its connection portion with a “U-shaped” structure; for the internal wall of the cylindrical hole and the external edge of the cylindrical plug, one is provided with an “L-shaped” guide slot and the other with a convex guide pole, with the cylindrical hole being provided at its bottom with an end-plane waterproof washer.
US08016600B2	Electronic device and power adaptor and method for automatically disconnecting electronic device and power adaptor A power adaptor is connected between a power supply and an electronic device. The electronic device includes a device charging connector, and an electricity storing unit connected to the device charging connector. The power adaptor includes a power source connector and a first magnetic body. The power source connector is capable of electrically connecting with the device charging connector such that the electricity storing unit is charged by the power supply. The first magnetic body is arranged on the power source connector. The electronic device further includes a second magnetic body. When the electricity storing unit is fully charged, a direction of magnetic field of the second magnetic body is set such that a repelling force is generated between the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body, thus an electrical connection between the power source connector and the device charging connector is disconnected.
US08016598B2	Interactive education system for teaching patient care A newborn simulator for teaching patient care is provided. The newborn simulator includes a body comprising one or more simulated body portions sized to simulate a newborn baby and a head portion movably connected to a portion of the body. A simulated heart is positioned at least partially within the body along with a pair of simulated lungs. The simulator is operable without physical connection to an external device to provide a simulated heart beat and respiratory pattern.
US08016593B2	Implant arrangement An implant is arranged with a thread which can be exposed to a jaw bone and which has a first extent in the longitudinal direction of the implant. Thread flanks are assigned second extents between the inner and outer peripheries of the thread. Along all or most of the first extent, the thread flanks are arranged with one or more grooves that can extend in the peripheral direction and can be situated on the second extents. The groove or grooves are arranged to participate in the process by which the implant fuses with the jaw bone (2).
US08016592B2	Method and system for thermal processing of objects in chambers A thermal processing system is disclosed. The thermal processing system includes a transfer stage, one or more thermal processing chambers and an interface to a deposition equipment. The transfer stage is provided to receive workpieces for thermal processing. Further the transfer stage is provided as a mechanism to move workpieces from one chamber to another chamber. The thermal processing chamber includes a heat manipulation system to heat up or cool down the workpieces. The thermal processing chamber is designed to accommodate a platform that positions each of the workpieces vertically. As a result, all workpieces are moved together with the platform to be transferred, for example, from one chamber to another chamber. Depending on implementation, the platform may be implemented to include a fixture or a plurality of fixtures, where all of the workpieces may be removably held up by the fixture or each of the workpieces is removably held up by one of the fixtures.
US08016591B2	Fire lighter A fire lighter apparatus and method for using the apparatus are described herein. The fire lighter apparatus comprises a containment pot that stores a flammable liquid and a wand torch that removably inserts into the containment pot. The wand torch includes a shaft, a handle at one end of the shaft, and an igniting head located at an opposing end of the shaft. The igniting head is removably affixed to the shaft through a non-threaded fastener. This fastener includes a first and a second component, which generally positions the igniting head. The handle further comprises a bended loop, which faces upward when the wand torch is laying flat upon a horizontal surface. The method for using the fire lighter comprises submerging the wand torch in the flammable fluid within the containment pot and lighting the igniting head attached after removal from the flammable fluid within the containment pot.
US08016586B2	Methods, tools, and products for molded ordered porous structures A mold for use in forming form a porous molded product via an injection molding process is provided. The method comprises injecting a material into the mold comprising multiple layers of shaping elements extending through a cavity, each layer of shaping elements including multiple shaping elements; and removing the molded product from the mold, the molded product having a porous structure formed by at least some of the shaping elements of the layers of shaping elements. The porous structure includes a multiplicity of ordered structural members defining the porous structure, the multiplicity of structural members intersecting to form structural member intersections, and a multiplicity of the pores defined by the multiplicity of structural members.
US08016581B2	Injection molding flow control apparatus Apparatus for controlling the rate of flow of fluid material from an injection molding machine to a mold cavity, the apparatus comprising: a manifold receiving the injected fluid material and having a delivery channel that delivers the fluid material to the mold cavity; a bushing or insert or plug mounted in an aperture in the manifold having a rate flow control channel communicating with the delivery channel of the manifold; a pin having a flow control member; the pin being adapted for back and forth axial movement within the rate flow control channel wherein a surface of the flow control member is controllably engageable or sealable against an interior surface area portion of the rate flow control channel of the bushing or insert or plug.
US08016580B2	Assembly and a method for extruding a tire component In order to facilitate the assembly of a tire component like an Off the Road tire shoulder wedge, it is proposed to extrude this component with a high tack compound coating at its periphery by using a dual extruder which otherwise can extrude the tire component with a first high tack compound coating on one side, combined with an assembly for the extruder comprising a splice bar, a holder and a die which are designed to provide a channel deriving and guiding a portion of the high tack compound of the extruder to the stream of compounds before extrusion through the die, on a side opposite to the first coating, thereby providing a coating at almost the whole periphery of the component.
US08016579B2	Superabrasive grain setting apparatus A superabrasive grain setting apparatus for arranging superabrasive grains on a surface of a manufacturing mold used in manufacturing a grinding tool includes a grip and raising mechanism for gripping the mold in a horizontal state and for turning the mold to a vertical state. A six-axis control robot is composed of a base arm mechanism with three controlled axes and a wrist unit with three controlled axes attached to the base arm mechanism. A superabrasive grain supply device has a grain storage for storing the superabrasive grains and a grain separation mechanism for separating the superabrasive grains in the grain storage one by one to a suction position. A suction nozzle is detachably mounted on an endmost arm of the robot and provided with a bent nose portion for drawing a grain of superabrasive to a nozzle end thereof at the suction position.
US08016578B2	Apparatus for vulcanization and moulding of vehicle tyres An apparatus for molding and vulcanization of tyres for vehicle wheels includes a vulcanization press and a vulcanization mold associated with the press. The apparatus includes a pair of plates and a plurality of mold sectors that are mutually movable between an open condition and a closed condition; at least one plurality of sector carriers designed to support the mold sectors and movable together with the sectors; and a plurality of guide means on which the plurality of sector carriers slide for movement of the mold sectors from the closed condition to the open condition and vice versa, at least part of the sector carriers having at least one spring device designed to exert a thrust action adapted to ensure sliding of the sector carrier on the guide element in a substantially parallel direction.
US08016577B2	Vane pump with vane biasing means A self-priming vane pump includes a cylindrical rotor disposed in a cavity in a housing including inlet and outlet ports. The rotor defines a plurality of axially extending slots which each receive one of a like plurality of vanes. A garter spring or similar resilient annulus is disposed within the rotor and provides a radially outwardly directed force on the vanes which maintains their contact with the cavity walls during pump start-up and rapidly self-primes the pump. The spring or annulus rests against a shoulder within the hollow rotor and is retained therein by a pressed in collar.
US08016571B2	Thrust and intake chamber for pump A pump end assembly has a centrifugal pump and a motor separated by a chamber. The chamber contains a thrust bearing as well as an intake for the pump. Fluid flowing into the intake flows through the thrust chamber and to the inlet of the pump. Some of the fluid also flows through the thrust bearing for lubricating the thrust bearing.
US08016570B2	Gas compressor with drier and radio emission controls A gas compressor unit according to the invention includes a single gas desiccant bed and condenser (which is inactive during the compression stage) inserted into the gas flow path of the compression cycle. In the case of a multistage compressor, the single gas desiccant bed is inserted between preferably the first and second stages. Moisture absorbed into this bed is periodically removed by exposing the bed to a regeneration cycle. The regeneration cycle employed is based on the closed re-circulation of gas present in the compressor and the desiccant bed itself, as well as other gas present in the re-circulation loop when the unit suspends delivery of compressed gas. Moisture removed from the desiccant bed is condensed and preferably evaporated into the environment through a semipermeable membrane. The motor and motor controller are located with the compressor in a common casing to minimize electromagnetic emissions.
US08016566B2	High performance low noise rotorcraft blade aerodynamic design One embodiment of the present invention is a main rotor helicopter blade for generating higher lift with less drag and delaying stall at high Mach numbers. A cross-section of this blade includes aft camber. The difference between a chord line of the cross-section and a camber line of the cross-section increases from a leading edge of the cross-section to a maximum between a trailing edge of the cross-section and a midpoint of the chord line and decreases to the trailing edge producing the aft camber of the blade. The aft camber generates higher lift with less drag and delays stall at high Mach numbers.
US08016565B2	Methods and apparatus for assembling gas turbine engines A method of assembling a rotor assembly is provided. The method comprises forming at least one channel in a dovetail portion of at least one rotor blade assembly, wherein the rotor blade assembly includes an airfoil extending outwardly from the dovetail portion, inserting a sealing assembly within the at least one channel of the dovetail portion, and coupling the at least one rotor blade assembly to a rotor disk using the dovetail portion such that at least a portion of the sealing assembly is between the dovetail portion and the rotor disk.
US08016562B2	Turbine blade tip cooling system A turbine blade for a turbine engine having a cooling system in the turbine blade including a camber-line rib extending radially outward from a tip of the blade and extending from a trailing edge of the blade toward a leading edge. The camber-line rib may form pressure and suction side cooling slots at the tip of the blade. The camber-line rib my include a cooling channel positioned in the camber-line rib and in fluid communication with the at least one cavity forming the cooling system in the blade for cooling aspects of the tip at the trailing edge.
US08016560B2	Wind turbine rotor blade with actuatable airfoil passages A wind turbine rotor blade includes a pressure side and a suction side. At least one airfoil passage is defined through the blade between the pressure side and suction side. A respective cover is configured over the airfoil passage at each of the pressure and suction sides. The covers are actuatable between a closed position wherein the cover is flush with the respective pressure or suction side and an open position wherein the cover moves to open the airfoil passage.
US08016559B2	Cooling fan A cooling fan includes a stator formed of an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve that suspends in the outer sleeve and has a middle part fixedly connected to a middle part of the outer sleeve and a plurality of crevices equiangularly spaced around the top end thereof, a hollow axle bearing inserted into the inner sleeve of the stator and having top and bottom hook blocks respectively hooked on the top and bottom ends of the outer sleeve of the stator and a plurality of crevices equiangularly spaced around the bottom end, a steel ball rotatably supported inside the axle bearing, and a fan blade that has a center axle inserted into the axle bearing and stopped against the steel ball.
US08016556B2	Centrifugal fan A centrifugal fan includes a motor having an impeller and a housing for accommodating the motor. The housing has a sidewall surrounding an outer circumference of the impeller. An air inlet is formed in the housing and opposed to a center portion of the impeller. An air outlet is formed in the sidewall of the housing and opposed to an outer surface of the impeller. The housing includes a housing body and a housing cover. The housing body has a bottom with the motor secured thereon. The housing cover, formed by a pressed metal member, has an upper part and a cover sidewall extending from the upper part toward the bottom of the housing body and forming at least a part of the sidewall of the housing.
US08016555B2	Turbomachine A turbomachine is provided. The turbomachine includes a rotor, a stator and a plurality of blade discs mounted on the rotor. The rotor includes a turbulator cylinder where a plurality of turbulators are provided on a curved surface of the turbulator cylinder and the stator includes an annular shroud extending around the turbulator cylinder. The plurality of turbulators increase a heat transfer to a coolant flowing between the adjacent opposed surfaces of the turbulator cylinder and the annular shroud.
US08016551B2	Reverse curved nozzle for radial inflow turbines A nozzle for radial inflow turbines having an outer surface having a concave shape, and an inner surface having a non-concave, i.e. straight or convex, shape. Also a leading edge may have a hole that is capable of receiving a fastener to secure the nozzle vane to an assembly housing.
US08016541B2	Substrate handling system for aligning and orienting substrates during a transfer operation A system is provided for sensing, orienting, and transporting wafers in an automated wafer handling process that reduces the generation of particles and contamination so that the wafer yield is increased. The system includes a robotic arm for moving a wafer from one station to a destination station, and an end-effector connected to an end of the robotic arm for receiving the wafer. The end-effector includes a mechanism for gripping the wafer, a direct drive motor for rotating the wafer gripping mechanism, and at least one sensor for sensing the location and orientation of the wafer. A control processor is provided for calculating the location of the center and the notch of the wafer based on measurements by the sensor(s). Then, the control processor generates an alignment signal for rotating the wafer gripping mechanism so that the wafer is oriented at a predetermined position on the end-effector while the robotic arm is moving to another station.
US08016539B1	Chemical applicator trailer extendable hitch A telescoping adjustable length trailer hitch with an hydraulic actuator for adjusting the length of the trailer hitch. The hitch being adjustable to provide for a longer hitch for road travel and for a shorter hitch for use in farm fields what used with a chemical applicator. The adjustable length hitch having an outside roller on the top of the tube which telescopes into the main tube and a roller on the bottom of the outside roller for rolling on the inside of the main tube to prevent binding as one tube moves inside the other. The telescoping tubes having a hinged safety link connecting the telescoping tubes so that they will not separate. The distal end of the trailer hitch having a bracket for adjusting the height of the trailer hitch relative the towing vehicle and a safety chain for ensuring trailer and towing vehicle will not become separated.
US08016538B2	System for weighing containers The station for weighing containers comprises a line for transporting containers to be filled with a predetermined product, a zone for dosing and filling the containers with the product, a first transferring organ for picking up and transferring an individual empty container to a weighing organ, a second transferring organ for picking up and transferring the container to the weighing organ after filling. The transferring organs respectively comprise an oscillating arm which is activated with alternating motion between a pick-up and release position of the container to be weighed in proximity of the transport line and a position of release and pick-up of the container nearby the weighing organ. The oscillating arm bears a rotating head provided with gripping organs which is rotated angularly in opposite directions by a relative motor, in a suitable phase relation with the motion of the oscillating arm, in order to transfer the container to be weighed from the transport line to the weighing organ and vice versa.
US08016536B2	Pipe-handling apparatus and methods Apparatus and methods for moving a tubular member to and from an elevated drilling rig floor. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a support structure configured to be positioned adjacent a pipe rack. A carrier is moveably coupled to the support structure, and a carriage is moveably coupled to the carrier. A trough extends longitudinally over the support structure and is moveably coupled to the carriage, the trough being configured to receive a tubular member. The trough is operable to tilt relative to the support structure. A lift arm is operable to move the carriage relative to the support structure thereby also moving the tubular member received in the trough. Indexers may urge the tubular member toward or away from the trough. Pick up arms are operable to retrieve a tubular member from an adjacent pipe rack, or to place the tubular there for storage.
US08016528B2	Bed divider apparatus and method for use in a pickup truck bed A bed divider apparatus for use in a bed of a pickup truck. The divider apparatus includes a frame that supports first and second parallel disposed divider members each in the shape of a panel. The divider members are secured to one another so that one of the divider members is slidable relative to the other. A pair of user engageable fastening members can be used to secure the second divider member at a desired height relative to the first divider member. The frame is secured by end supports to a pair of tracks that are mounted on inside walls of the pickup truck bed. Thus, the divider apparatus can be positioned at various points along the lengths of the tracks. The apparatus enables larger cargo items to be restrained within the bed, while still enabling elongated items such as lumber planks, tubing, etc. to be supported on the full length of a floor of the bed without interference from the divider apparatus.
US08016527B2	Method for mounting logistics strips to an inner surface of a storage container sidewall A logistics strip defining at least one opening therethrough may be bonded to an inner surface of a storage container side wall. At least one channel may be formed in the inner surface of the side wall. A bonding medium may be applied to an underside of the logistics strip along opposite sides thereof with the at least one opening positioned therebetween. The at least one opening may then be aligned over the at least one channel. The underside of the logistics strip may then be contacted with the inner surface of the side wall such that the bonding medium contacts and bonds to the inner surface of the side wall on both sides of the at least one channel.
US08016525B2	Dunnage holder A dunnage holder for securing and positioning a freight bracing beam spanning across the width of a flatbed trailer has a vertically oriented stake member adapted for insertion into a stake hole of the flatbed of the trailer. A horizontally oriented arm is cooperative with the stake member for reciprocation along a direction that is transverse to the stake member. A corner pocket is fixedly attached to the arm for relative movement with the arm and has an opening sufficiently large to receive an end of a load bracing beam extending across the width of the flatbed trailer and transversely to the arm. An arm position locking pin is removably insertable through cooperating holes of the arm and the stake member, wherein the arm is locked in position relative to the stake member when the arm positioning locking pin is inserted through the cooperating holes.
US08016523B2	Irregular-shank tools and drivers therefor A tool has a distal operative portion and a proximal shank with a mounting portion, for mounting the tool in a holder. A substantial portion of the mounting portion has a cross-sectional shape with at least one and fewer than six 60-degree segments thereof having segment ends joined by a flat surface. The holder has a distal axial aperture or mounting hole for receiving the tool, the aperture having a cross-sectional shape which has 60-degree segments thereof having segment ends joined by a flat surface, but no more such flat surface segments than those corresponding to flat surface segments of the tool. The holder further has a ball-detent mechanism or other locking mechanism for engaging the mounting portion of the tool.
US08016522B2	Heat sink for drill bits of different sizes A heat sink for a drill press includes a main body having a receiving chamber which has a top provided with a limit tube, a guide unit mounted on the main body, and a sponge mounted in the main body. The guide unit includes an outer tube mounted on the receiving chamber and protruding from the limit tube, a plurality of inner tubes laminating each other and mounted in the outer tube, and a positioning tube mounted between the limit tube and the outer tube and abutting the inner tubes to position the inner tubes in the outer tube. Thus, the guide unit has an adjustable size by provision of the inner tubes and the outer tube so as to fit drill bits of different sizes and specifications, thereby enhancing the versatility of the heat sink.
US08016519B2	Installation of offshore structures A method and system for transporting an offshore structure such as a wind turbine generator includes a supporting frame in which the offshore structure is assembled on land in an upright configuration. The frame is used for lifting the structure onto a transport vessel, on which it is retained in the upright configuration. At its location of use, the offshore structure is transferred to a pre-prepared foundation. The foundation is provided with a frame which cooperates with the supporting frame. The supporting frame includes a plurality of legs having hydraulically controlled feet. The frame of the foundation includes an equal number of supporting formations on which the feet ultimately rest. The feet are moveable in response to the hydraulic control along a nominally vertical line of action and provide a damping arrangement for the mounting of the offshore structure.
US08016517B1	Ergonomic concrete screed handles A paired set of handles attaching to a board forming a concrete screed to minimize the strain on a person performing concrete finishing work allows for an ergonomic application of downward force applied to the lower end of the handles and application of an upward lifting force by the shape of the grip portion at the upper end of the handles, with the shape and contour of the handles requiring less strain and strength than current screed handles.
US08016516B2	Vehicle-mounted pothole patching apparatus A material dispensing vehicle broadly includes a material hopper supported by the vehicle and a swing auger with inlet and outlet ends. The swing auger is coupled to the vehicle for shifting into and out of an extended operating position where the inlet end is disposed to receive material from a discharge opening of the hopper and the outlet end can be outboard of the vehicle. From the operating position, the swing auger is shiftable into a compact storage position where the inlet end is spaced from the discharge opening and the outlet end is inboard of its outboard position.
US08016512B2	Device for fixing a vacuum pump A fastener system with a coaxial annular flange (14) having through holes (16), each serving to pass a screw (17) for screwing into an associated tapped hole (16) in the wall (2) of a stationary structure. Each through hole (16) has a circularly cylindrical distal segment (16a) followed by an enlarged proximal segment (16b) adjacent to the wall (2) of the stationary structure, allowing the shank (19) of the screw to bend and enabling a corresponding lateral offset (D). This prevents the screw (17) rupturing under high shear forces due to accidental destruction of a vacuum pump rotor while rotating at full speed.
US08016510B2	Joint for movably connecting two stabilizing elements The invention relates to a joint for movably connecting two stabilizing elements. The joint includes at least two joint segments, which can be rotated relative to each other. Each joint segment is connected to a respective stabilizing element. The joint can be releasably locked by locking means, and the locking means can be locked and/or unlocked by a fluid that is supplied and/or discharged via conduits.
US08016509B2	Robotic joint A driven joint for coupling two structural members is angularly adjustable in two polar or orthogonal dimensions and provides a pair of nonparallel, crossed axles, each having a middle section located between a pair of opposed side sections, wherein the pair of axles are mounted to each other along their respective middle sections and each axle of the pair of axles is rotationally mounted at its respective side sections to a respective structural member, a separate arcuate drive member orthogonally affixed to each respective axle and adapted to enable rotation of its respective axle and a separate drive mechanism mounted to each structural member and adapted to engage and rotate the respective arcuate drive member and the respective axle rotationally mounted to said each structural member.
US08016507B2	Directional dispensing valve A flexible, pressure-openable dispensing valve has a mounting base and has an outwardly extending head having at least three peripheral walls that each projects forwardly from the base. The head also includes an end wall that extends between, and connects, the outer margins of the peripheral walls. The end wall has a dispensing orifice surrounded by a spreading surface.
US08016506B2	Map pen An improved map pen comprises a fold up map or a stack of multiple sheets. A cocked flap or a sliding type knob or geared stopping mechanism is employed for holding the pulled-out map in any pulled-out position. The map pen is equipped with an additional pen mounted to the outside scroll end. A mini compass is mounted on top of map pen top button.
US08016505B2	Letter opener A letter opening device for use with a writing instrument having a writing end and a distal end includes an elongate clip and a protrusion generally perpendicular from the elongate clip for operative coupling to the writing instrument. The letter opening device also includes a cutting blade extending between the elongate clip and the protrusion to open a letter when the letter is passed between the elongate clip and the writing instrument from the distal end toward said writing end. The protrusion may alternatively be coupled to a sleeve for removable attachment to the writing instrument.
US08016494B2	Folding camera support with rotational inertia adjustment A folding, adjustable camera support having a central post secured in one or more central post holders. A first camera equipment support component having a distal end and a proximate end is adjustably attached at its proximate end to one of the one or more central post holders, and is configured to adjust between an operative position and a folded position via an adjustment mechanism. The distance of the camera equipment is adjustable radially from the central post. A second camera equipment support component is similarly configured and adjustable with respect to the central post, and can balance the first camera equipment component.
US08016491B2	Optical ferrule An optical ferrule butt-connected in an optical adapter, includes: a ferrule main body; a connection end face in a front surface of the main body; a pair of grooves on the connection end face of the main body; guide pin insertion holes in bottom surfaces of the respective grooves; optical fiber insertion holes in the connection end face, the holes being arranged in a line; and foreign material collecting portions at least at a pair of corresponding sides of the connection end face. The groove has a width larger than a diameter of the guide pin insertion hole. The foreign material collecting portions respectively have a wall for connecting the connection end face with a side surface of the ferrule main body to form a space for collecting a foreign material with an opposite connection end face of a corresponding optical ferrule and an inner wall of the optical adapter.
US08016489B2	Sliding bearing A sliding bearing 1 includes an upper casing 3 having an annular lower surface 2; a lower casing 5 which is superposed on the upper casing 3 so as to be rotatable about an axis O of the upper casing 3 and has an annular upper surface 4 opposed to the annular lower surface 2; an annular thrust sliding bearing piece 6 disposed in an annular space 36 between the annular lower surface 2 and the annular upper surface 4; and a seal means 38 disposed on an outer peripheral side of the annular space 36.
US08016485B2	Theater popcorn container featuring side pockets, handles, and a resealable opening A collapsible container for holding popcorn that is comprised of a front panel, a rear panel, and gusseted side panels. The front and rear panels have pockets mounted at the base of the container. The container also includes carrying handles incorporated into the top of the front and rear panels. The container also contains a releasably sealable opening that maybe sealed by a number of different methods and mechanisms. When the container is open, the user may add a topping, and then seal and shake the container in order to distribute the flavoring agent. Additionally, the user may seal the container, thereby trapping heat so as to maintain an elevated temperature for the popcorn. The resealable opening will also prevent accidental spillage of the popcorn. A fill line is located on the interior of the container in order to allow the user to know how much popcorn to put into the container such that it can still be easily closed.
US08016482B2	Method and systems of powering on integrated circuit Method and systems of powering on an integrated circuit (IC) are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a region in the IC including functional logic, a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature in the region when the IC is powered up and a heating element therefor; a processing unit including: a comparator for comparing the temperature against a predetermined temperature value, a controller, which in the case that the temperature is below the predetermined temperature value, delays functional operation of the IC and controls heating of the region of the IC, and a monitor for monitoring the temperature in the region; and wherein the controller, in the case that the temperature rises above the predetermined temperature value, ceases the heating and initiates functional operation of the IC.
US08016479B2	Dispersing apparatus, dispersion method, and method of manufacturing dispersion There is provided a dispersion method of stirring a material to be dispersed in a cavity of a container, so as to create a laminar flow of the material by the stirring action, and a dispersing apparatus including a bottom member and a column-shaped rotating shaft that rotates in the cavity of the container, in which the rotating shaft is provided with two vanes attached thereto with a predetermined inclination, at positions circumferentially spaced by 180 degrees, and the vanes are located at non-overlapping positions in an axial direction.
US08016478B2	Multistation device for mixing the contents of laboratory vessels The invention relates to a multistation mixing device for mixing the contents of laboratory vessels. The device comprises at least two adapter plates having a holder for receiving laboratory vessels and a drive mechanism capable of driving the adapter plates in a mixing motion with the same angular speed such that, in horizontal planes, each point of the adapter plates performs a circular motion with the same radius, the same angle speed and the same angular position around a respective center. The starting positions of the adapter plates, from which the adapter plates are driven by the drive mechanism, are rotated relative to one another by an angle in the direction of the mixing motion in their respective angular position, such that imbalances occurring during the mixing motion are at least partially compensated.
US08016474B2	Backlight unit and liquid crystal display having the same A backlight unit for a liquid crystal display which can achieve substantially uniform luminance over the entire display screen includes: a light-guide plate guiding incident light and having a diffusion pattern for emitting light upward, the diffusion pattern being formed on at least one of upper and lower surfaces of the light-guide plate; and a point light source assembly disposed on at least one side portion of the light-guide plate, the point light source assembly including a plurality of point-light-source elements and a support substrate, in which the point-light-source elements are disposed on the support substrate and supply the light to the light-guide plate. An edge portion of one surface of the light-guide plate, which is adjacent to the point light source assembly, includes a first region corresponding to the point-light-source elements and a second region corresponding to a position between the point-light-source elements. The diffusion pattern may be formed in such a manner that the second region has a higher density than the first region.
US08016471B2	Light emitting diode device and applications thereof A light emitting diode (LED) device and the applications are provided, wherein the LCD device comprises a light emitting direction and a cross-section perpendicular to the light emitting direction, wherein the cross-section has a first height perpendicular to the light emitting direction and a light emitting area having a second height perpendicular to the light emitting direction, the second height is substantially shorter than 70% of the first height.
US08016470B2	LED-based dental exam lamp with variable chromaticity An electrically powered light source including a light emitting diode (LED) having variable chromaticity, which is adapted for use in a dental operatory. A dental operatory lamp includes a thermally conductive housing having a front directed toward the operating area and a rear away from the operating area; a generally elliptical reflector located on the rear of the thermally conductive housing; at least one heat pipe; a plurality of color LEDs projecting light toward the elliptical reflector, the plurality of LEDs being in thermal contact with the at least one heat pipe; and an optical light guide for combining light from said LEDs. Another embodiment of the lamp includes at least two user selectable light spectra, one of said spectra providing white light with color temperature in the range 4000° K-6000° K and one spectra having reduced output in the wavelength range 400-500 nm.
US08016469B2	Light emitting module and lighting device for vehicle A ceramic board is formed in an almost rectangular shape and has one side surface of an outer peripheral surface formed as an abutting surface, which is caused to abut on positioning surfaces of a radiating member, and one surface in a vertical direction formed as a device disposing surface on which a semiconductor light emitting device is to be disposed. Predetermined conductive patterns are formed on the ceramic board. A light emitting portion has a semiconductor light emitting device. A pair of positive and negative planar electrode portions are formed on the ceramic board and connected to the semiconductor light emitting device through the conductive patterns. At least a part of the pair of planar electrode portions are set to be exposure regions exposed to the device disposing surface of the ceramic board and the exposure regions are positioned in portions other than a portion linked to the abutting surface in an outer peripheral portion of the device disposing surface.
US08016466B2	Door mirror A reflector 30 is constituted as an aspherical mirror that forms a light distribution S1 in which spread of reflected light in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle is larger than spread of reflected light in a lateral direction of the vehicle. The light distribution expanded in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle 3 makes the light less likely to impinge on a side surface of the vehicle 3, so that the rear part of the vehicle 3 can be illuminated efficiently. As a result, maximum illumination can be achieved with the minimum amount of light. In addition, because the range of illumination is long in the longitudinal direction, not only the area around an occupant's feet outside a front door 5 but also an area around the feet outside a rear door 6 can be illuminated easily.
US08016461B2	Lamp lite Metal ornamental body for a hanging (ceiling) light (single white light bulb) fixture consists of three possible units, from simple to complex: single (in red, R), double (in green, G), corner (in blue, B), with a more complex unit(s) possible. The three lightweight materials, of metal, wire and/or plastic, are all derived from six modular pieces that slot and/or join together with lightweight metal or plastic rods. These inexpensive units can be grouped, are portable and disposeable. Designed, used and installed per current National Electrical Code, lamp light bulb socket/wire/wall plug assembly is packaged separately, and/or sold with/without accessories separately. Packages, posters, postcard, logos, light units and all designs and colors are with the digital world in mind: R 255+G 255+B 255=white light.
US08016450B2	Illuminating apparatus and display apparatus An illuminating apparatus is provided and includes a plurality of point light sources in one plane and a first optical sheet and a second optical sheet overlapped in a region facing the plurality of point light sources. The plurality of point light sources are arranged in a first direction and also arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The first optical sheet has a plurality of first three-dimensional structures extending in a direction parallel to the first direction and arranged in a direction parallel to the second direction. The second optical sheet has a plurality of second three-dimensional structures extending in a direction parallel to the second direction and arranged in a direction parallel to the first direction. Each of the second three-dimensional structures has a shape which generates a larger amount of return light from normal incident light as compared with the first three-dimensional structures.
US08016447B2	Backlight unit and liquid crystal display using the same A backlight unit and a liquid crystal display using the same are provided. The backlight unit includes a plurality of lamps, a first balance printed circuit board (PCB) that commonly supplies a high voltage AC signal to electrodes at one side of each of the lamps, a second balance PCB that commonly supplies the high voltage AC signal to electrodes at the other side of each of the lamps, and a bottom cover that receives the lamps and the first and second balance PCBs. A plurality of vibration absorbing holes are formed in an area where the first and second balance PCBs are formed.
US08016442B2	Illuminated indicating devices for instrument panels An illuminated indicating device includes a dial plate, a pointer, a first light source, a light guide and a light filter. The first light source emits a beam of light and the light guide diverts the beam of light into a first light to the pointer and a second light to a front side of the dial plate. The light filter includes a first filtering portion and a second filtering portion. The first filtering portion is located in a path of the first light to allow a first color of light to pass through and the second filtering portion is located in a path of the second light to allow a second color of light to pass through.
US08016441B2	One LED illuminated cluster An illuminated instrument cluster utilizes a single light emitting diode to backlight the entire dial surface. The LED is aligned with a light guide then directs light into a cavity of a light housing. The cavity includes a surface that reflects light upwardly onto a back surface of the dial face to provide the desired illumination.
US08016440B2	Interchangeable LED bulbs Disclosed are circuits that allow LED bulbs to be replaced regardless of color or construction of the LED element. When used for an LED light string, replacing an LED bulb does not affect the operation of the entire string. When used for other illumination purpose, for example, room light, the bulbs are interchangeable because they have the same operating voltage and current. A standardized input impedance is selected for all of the LED bulbs regardless of construction and color. A resistor circuit is used to create the standardized input impedance while optimizing the operating parameters of the LED element. The resistor circuit includes a bypass element so that if a LED element burns open, a series wired LED string will not go dark. This eliminates the necessity for parallel connected LED bulbs and allows enjoyment of other advantages and economies of series wired LED strings.
US08016435B2	Lamina comprising cube corner elements and retroreflective sheeting The present disclosure is directed to lamina(e) comprising cube corner elements, a tool comprising an assembly of laminae and replicas thereof. The disclosure further relates to retroreflective sheeting.
US08016433B2	Projector and control method thereof A projector that can be loaded with lamps of a plurality of kinds, each of a plurality of the lamps loadable into the projector being given a lamp serial code formed by arranging lamp information including at least a minimum wattage and a maximum wattage of the lamp and a check sum in predetermined order, the projector including: a lamp power supply for driving the lamp loaded in the projector, the lamp power supply being provided in advance with a plurality of mode ranges each as a range from a minimum wattage to a maximum wattage of output of the lamp power supply, and one predetermined mode range of the plurality of mode ranges being freely set in the lamp power supply; and a control circuit for controlling the lamp power supply.
US08016432B2	Projection apparatus A projection apparatus adapted to be disposed on a surface and adapted to project an image frame onto the surface is provided. The projection apparatus includes a housing, an optical engine, a projection lens, a containing sink, an extension rod, and a curved surface reflection device. The optical engine is disposed in the housing, and capable of providing an image beam. The projection lens is disposed in the transmission path of the image beam. The containing sink is disposed on the housing and has a containing space. The extension rod is movably connected to the containing sink. The curved surface reflection device is pivotally connected to the extension rod. The extension rod and the curved surface reflection device are adapted to be contained in the containing space. The curved surface reflection device has a curved reflective surface capable of reflecting the image beam to the surface.
US08016431B2	Image projection apparatus having configuration for dustproffing and efficient cooling An image projection apparatus that illuminates an image forming element arranged downstream of the image forming element and configured to form an original image by using light form a light source, and projects light from the image forming element onto a projected screen includes a housing having an inlet port with a dust removal filter, a fan configured to draw air into the housing through the inlet port, a duct configured to lead the air drawn from the inlet port into a space that contains the image forming element, and a chamber provided between the inlet port and the duct, wherein a sectional area of the chamber is larger in a direction orthogonal to an inflow direction of air into the duct at a connection part between the chamber and the duct than a sectional area of the connection part.
US08016428B2	2-dimensional image display device or illumination device for obtaining uniform illumination and suppressing speckle noise A 2-dimensional beam scan unit reflects emission beams from a red laser light source, a green laser light source and a blue laser light source and scans in a 2-dimensional direction. Diffusion plates diffuse the respective light beams scanned in the 2-dimensional direction to introduce them to corresponding spatial light modulation elements. The respective spatial light modulation elements modulate the respective lights in accordance with video signals of the respective colors. A dichroic prism multiplexes the lights of the three colors after the modulation and introduces the multiplexed lights to a projection lens so that a color image is displayed on a screen. Since the 2-dimensional light emitted from the beam scan unit is diffused to illuminate the spatial light modulation element, it is possible to change the optical axis of the beam emerging from the light diffusion member for irradiating the spatial light modulation element moment by moment, thereby effectively suppressing speckle noise.
US08016427B2	Light source device, and two-dimensional image display device There is provided a light source device which can miniaturize a two-dimensional image display device as small as possible. The light source device is provided with three coherent light sources (11a), (11b), and (11c) corresponding to red, blue, and green; prisms (12a) and (12c) for reflecting lights emitted from the coherent light sources (11a) and (11c); and a diffraction part (20) comprising a single volume hologram on which plural gratings are multiply-formed, which gratings diffract the light emitted from the coherent light source (11b), and the lights that are emitted from the coherent light sources (11a) and (11c) and reflected by the prisms (12a) and (12b) so that these lights propagate in the same optical path.
US08016424B2	Rear projector and projection system A rear projector includes: a screen; a display light source that emits a display light; a first optical modulation element that modulates the display light emitted from the display light source; an excitation light source that emits an excitation light; a second optical modulation element that modulates the excitation light emitted from the excitation light source; and a projection unit that projects, onto the screen, the display light being a result of modulation by the first optical modulation element and the excitation light being a result of modulation by the second optical modulation element. In the rear projector, the screen includes a scattering plate configured by a chassis with a space therein and with at least one surface being light transmissive, and a scattering element filled in the space of the chassis with a light scattering material dispersed in a scattering medium, and the scatting element of the screen is irradiated with the excitation light being the result of modulation by the second optical modulation element.
US08016423B2	Projection device for image projection with document camera device connected thereto, projection method, and storage medium A projection device comprises an input section for inputting an image signal, a storage section for storing the image signal input by the input section after adding identification information thereto, a projection section for forming and projecting an optical image corresponding to the image signal, and a projection control section for using an image signal currently input by the input section and the image signal already stored in the storage section to cause the projection section to project, as one image, a plurality of screens together with indications based on the identification information for the respective screens.
US08016419B2	Systems and methods for photoacoustic opthalmoscopy Various embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for multimodal functional imaging based upon photoacoustic and laser optical scanning microscopy. In particular, at least one embodiment of the present invention utilizes a contact lens in combination with an ultrasound transducer for purposes of acquiring photoacoustic microscopy data. Traditionally divergent imaging modalities such as confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and photoacoustic microscopy are combined within a single laser system. Functional imaging of biological samples can be utilized for various medical and biological purposes.
US08016418B2	Eye axial length measurement apparatus An eye axial length measurement apparatus includes a light source, a non-contact eye axial length measurement unit for optically measuring axial length of a patient's eye in non-contact manner, an XYZ driving unit, and a determination means which determines whether a cloudy portion which is an obstacle to measurement by the non-contact eye axial length measurement unit is present, based on one of a measurement result of the non-contact eye axial length measurement unit and an imaging result of an anterior segment section imaging unit placeable in the non-contact eye axial length measurement unit.
US08016416B1	Automatic system and methods for measuring and evaluating at least one of mass vision, cognition, knowledge, operation skills, and the like Integrating automatic systems and methods for rapid and objective mass tests, evaluations, measurements, screenings, trainings, or any combination thereof are realized. In a preferred embodiment, a multifunctional system, constructed in the form of preferably a unitary housing, contains automatic methods such as those for evaluation and measurement of at least one of cognition, operation skills, vision, or the like. Authentication identification data of examinees may be processed according to at least one device-dependent process, which may be specific to particular manufacturers, device classes, or other partitioning schemes. The data may be iced, stored in a repository, and utilized for at least one of clinical, educational, medical, military, security, or transport purposes, such as controlling the issuance, restriction, or confiscation of one's license, or ability to operate a vehicle in motion. Automatic systems and methods are paramount to promoting safety and uniformity of testing.
US08016414B2	Drive mechanism of a printer internal to a mobile phone Provided is a mobile phone having a chassis with a drive mechanism incorporated therein. A replaceable print cartridge received by the chassis is also provided. The replaceable print cartridge has a housing with ink-bearing structures and a printhead, as well as a media drive shaft rotatably mounted to the housing for driving print media past the printhead. The media drive shaft has a drive wheel driven by the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism has a piezo-electric element supported by an arm extending from the chassis. Actuation of the piezo-electric element causes an oscillating movement of the arm to contact the drive wheel upon each oscillation to thereby cause rotational movement of the drive wheel and the media drive shaft.
US08016413B2	Hand held printer color misalignment correction A method for correcting misalignment between a plurality of columns of color ink jetting nozzle arrays of a color printhead during printing with a hand held printer includes determining a misdirection angle of motion of the plurality of columns of color ink jetting nozzle arrays relative to a desired direction of motion of the hand operated printer; determining for each of the plurality of columns of color ink jetting nozzle arrays a respective usable nozzles subset to be used in printing a swath, based on the misdirection angle; determining an amount of shifting of at least one of the respective usable nozzles subsets to adjust for non-perpendicularity of the color ink jetting nozzle arrays relative to the desired direction of motion, based on the misdirection angle; and shifting the respective usable nozzles subset for a respective column based on the amount determined.
US08016408B2	Printing device A printing device includes a liquid spraying head unit and a light radiation head unit. The liquid spraying head unit is configured and arranged to spray a photo-curable liquid to a printing medium. The light radiation head unit is configured and arranged to radiate curing light rays to the photo-curable liquid on the printing medium to cause the photo-curable liquid to be cured. The light radiation head unit includes a light emitting body and a reflector. The light emitting body is arranged on a light source arrangement surface extending non-parallel to the printing medium. The reflector is configured and arranged to reflect the curing light ray emitted from the light emitting body toward the photo-curable liquid sprayed on the printing medium. The reflector is arranged on a reflector arrangement surface facing the light source arrangement surface and extending non-parallel to the printing medium.
US08016403B2	Solid ink stick with visual orientation indicator An ink stick for use in a phase change ink imaging device comprises an ink stick body configured for insertion in an insertion orientation into an ink loader of the phase change ink imaging device. The ink stick body has a plurality of surfaces. A visual orientation indicator is formed on at least one surface in the plurality of surfaces. The visual orientation indicator is configured to visually indicate a direction of orientation of at least one surface of the plurality of surfaces to place the ink stick body in the insertion orientation.
US08016402B2	Removable inkjet printer cartridge incorproating printhead and ink storage reservoirs A printer cartridge includes body configured to facilitate insertion and removal of the printer cartridge, by an end user of the printer cartridge, to and from a complementary cradle in an inkjet printer; one or more printing fluid storages mounted to the body, each printing fluid storage including a polyethylene membrane shaped as a pocket, the polyethylene membrane adapted to expand and collapse; a pagewidth printhead mounted to the body, the pagewidth printhead having a first print chip and a second print chip, the first print chip having an array of nozzles fabricated on a first monolithic substrate and the second print chip having an array of nozzles fabricated on a second monolithic substrate separate from the first monolithic substrate; and, a fluid connection between the printing fluid storage and the first and second print chips. The length of the first print chip added to the length of the second print chip is at least equal to the length of the pagewidth printhead. The pagewidth printhead and the printing fluid storage are mounted to the body such that removal and replacement of the body by an end user of the printer cartridge simultaneously removes and replaces the printing fluid storage, the pagewidth printhead and the fluid connection.
US08016400B2	Ink reservoir An ink reservoir includes a first portion defining one or more channels each for providing ink to a respective output port; a second portion bearing one or more ink bladders each containing a respective type of ink, each ink bladder adapted to be in fluid communication with a respective channel; and a third portion adapted to couple with the first portion to form a pressurived cavity containing the second portion. The first, second and third portions are adapted to be received within a former of a printer roll such that the first, second, and hird portions remain stationary while the printer roll rotates.
US08016399B2	Printing machine A machine (1) is equipped for printing a pattern on a substrate (20). The machine (1) comprises a table (10) for supporting and moving the substrate (20), and a print head (30) for firing ink droplets towards the substrate (20). Further, the machine (1) comprises a cover plate (40) which is arranged such as to encompass the print head (30), wherein the print head (30) partly extends through a hole in the cover plate (40). During a printing process, evaporation of solvent which is part of the ink droplets starts as soon as the ink droplets land on the substrate (20). The presence of the cover plate (40) has an equalizing effect on the evaporation rate over the printed pattern. As a result, a height distribution of all printed elements of the pattern is within predetermined limits, once the elements have dried up.
US08016394B2	Liquid droplet ejection head and liquid droplet ejection apparatus A liquid droplet ejection head includes: a substrate having first and second through-holes for reserving and supplying ejection liquid; a nozzle plate on one substrate surface and covering the first and second through-holes, a sealing plate on the other substrate surface and covering the first through-holes; a driver driving the liquid droplet ejection head to eject the ejection liquid from the nozzle plate; a first bonded portion bonding the substrate to the nozzle plate; and a second bonded portion bonding the substrate to the sealing plate, the first and/or second bonded portion including a bonding film formed by drying a liquid coating formed of a liquid containing a silicone material composed of silicone compounds, and the bonding film bonding the substrate to the nozzle plate and/or the sealing plate due to a bonding property developed in the bonding film by applying energy thereto.
US08016392B2	Liquid transport apparatus, liquid transport head, and piezoelectric actuator A liquid transport apparatus includes: a channel unit; a piezoelectric actuator which applies a pressure to a liquid in a pressure chamber and which has a first and a second piezoelectric layers, a first, a second, and a third electrodes, the first piezoelectric layer covering the pressure chamber and polarized in a thickness direction, the second piezoelectric layer being joined to a surface of the first piezoelectric layer and polarized in a thickness direction, the first electrode being formed on a surface of the first piezoelectric layer, the second electrode being formed on a surface of the second piezoelectric layer, the third electrode being formed between the first piezoelectric layer and the second piezoelectric layer; a driving mechanism which drives the piezoelectric actuator and which has a potential applying mechanism applying potentials to the first, second, and third electrode respectively, and a controller controlling the potential applying mechanism.
US08016383B2	Liquid ejection head and image-forming apparatus using the same A liquid ejection head according to the present invention includes a plurality of ejection openings arranged in a first direction and a plurality of electro-thermal transducers for ejecting liquid from the ejection openings, the liquid ejection head and a printing medium being subjected to the relative movement, wherein an arrangement pitch of the ejection openings forming an end group located in the respective opposite end section along the first direction is longer than an arrangement pitch of the ejection openings forming a central group located in the central section along the first direction. According to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate white streaks which may generate in a solid printing.
US08016378B2	Element substrate, printhead, and head cartridge This invention provides an element substrate having a heater selection circuit normally operable even in the use of voltage conversion circuits, which are arranged along the nozzle arrayed direction, each having a small-area in order to reduce the area of the element substrate. The element substrate according to this invention includes a heater selection circuit, which receives a signal output from a voltage conversion circuit, a block selection signal, and a print data signal, and generates and outputs a signal for performing switching by a switching element.
US08016375B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a recording head configured to jet a liquid; a liquid tank configured to store the liquid; and a supply tube having flexibility, the supply tube being provided between the liquid tank and the recording head, wherein the supply tube includes a first flow path through which the liquid flows from the liquid tank to the recording head, and a second flow path surrounding the first flow path, the second flow path being a path through which a temperature control liquid flows, the temperature control liquid controlling a temperature of the liquid flowing through the first flow path.
US08016372B2	Computer enclosure with EMI shielding clip A computer enclosure includes a cover and a chassis. The cover includes a clasp. The chassis includes a flange. The flange defines an engaging hole and a cutout adjacent to the engaging hole. An edge of the cutout extends in the cutout to form an elastic clip. The clip includes a driving portion which is located below the flange. The clasp penetrates the engaging hole to engage with the driving portion, and simultaneously pushes the driving portion to place the clip in contact with the cover.
US08016371B2	Portable bar with foldable extension for barbecue An extension for a portable bar is provided, the extension comprises: a first counter having opposing ends; a second counter having opposing ends; at least two support bars having opposing ends, the first end of each of the bars is pivotally connected to the first end of the first counter and the first end of the second counter is pivotally connected to and rotatable about the second end of each of the bars, the first and second counters are generally parallel to one another and generally perpendicular to the bars during an usage position, the second counter rotates about the second end of the bars and the bars are generally diagonal of the first counter during an intermediate position, and the first and second counters are generally parallel to the bars during a storage position.
US08016368B2	Structure of rubber crawler track A rubber crawler track having less wear at its left and right end portions to improve its durability. The rubber crawler track has steel cords 12 embedded in the longitudinal direction of the track and has a rubber lug 15 formed on the outer periphery side thereof. The rubber crawler track is constructed from three kinds of rubbers that are an inner peripheral side rubber (a), an outer peripheral side rubber (b), and an edge rubber (c) at the left and right of the rubber crawler track. The edge rubber (c) is a rubber layer having the highest hardness degree. The ground contact side, inner peripheral side and ends in the width direction have different kinds of rubber, and the edge rubber (c) having excellent wear resistance with a hardness degree of 72 (JIS A) or greater is placed in particular at the machine body side end of the rubber crawler track because of the significant wear at this location.
US08016365B2	Understeer suppressing apparatus for vehicle An understeer suppressing apparatus for a vehicle includes an electric power steering device S for suppressing steering when the vehicle is in the understeer state, an alarm device A for informing a driver that the vehicle is in the understeer state, and a braking force distribution device B for generating moment of the vehicle by applying braking forces different from each other to the left and right wheels. As the degree of understeer is increased, the electric power steering device S, the alarm device A, and the braking force distribution device B are operated in this order.
US08016363B2	Automated excavation machine The present invention is directed to an excavator that is operable in manual and automatic modes and uses state machines to effect unit operations, rotationally offset swing actuators to rotate boom and cutter head, a fail safe hydraulic system to maintain gripper pressure in the event of a malfunction of the hydraulic system, differing position and pressure control functions in the hydraulic actuators, a kinematic module to effect pitch and roll adjustments, a cutting face profile generator to generate a profile of the excavation face, and an optimization module to realize a high degree of optimization of excavator operation.
US08016359B2	Vehicle armrest An armrest for a motor vehicle seat includes an armrest body configured to coupled to a fixing mechanism. The armrest body includes axle pins and stop pins and the fixing mechanism includes a pivot bearing and a stop groove. The axle pins are configured to insert into the pivot bearings and pivot about an axis of rotation. The distance between the stop pins is smaller than the distance between the pivot bearings.
US08016358B2	Forward tiltable motor vehicle seat A forward tiltable motor vehicle seat has a seat carrier and a seat back, a hinge mounting is associated with the seat back and comprises an upper hinge arm connected to the seat back and a lower hinge arm hinged about a forward tilt axis to the seat carrier. The seat carrier forms a clamping flank. A cam is provided and is movable between a stop position and a release position. The cam is disposed on the lower hinge arm and rests against the clamping flank in the stop position.
US08016355B2	Seat cushion adjusting apparatus A seat cushion adjusting apparatus includes: a supporting member, forming a frame of a seat cushion; a seat member and forming an outer shape of the seat cushion; an adjusting member, engaging with an end portion of the seat member; a moving mechanism, rotatably connected to the adjusting member and moving the adjusting member in the front-rear direction of the seat relative to the supporting member; and an adjusting lever, one end thereof rotatably connected to the supporting member and the other end thereof rotatably connected to the adjusting member. The adjusting lever moves the end portion of the seat member by rotating the adjusting member around an axis to adjust the outer shape of the seat cushion in accordance with, a movement of the adjusting member in the front-rear direction of the seat relative to the supporting member by a means of the moving mechanism.
US08016353B2	Vehicle seat having monitor The present invention includes vehicle seat having monitor movable from a storage state to a use state, in the storage state the monitor is positioned in a backboard of a seatback and the monitor faces the backboard, in the use state a display surface of the monitor is exposed outside of the backboard facing a rear of the vehicle, wherein the backboard is semitransparent.
US08016352B2	Vehicle multimedia system for vehicle A vehicle multimedia system includes a head pillow, a display screen supported at the rear side of the head pillow, a central control, which is adapted for being installed at a predetermined location of the vehicle, electrically linked to the display screen via a connection cable running through one of the supporting arms such that the connection cable is extended between the display screen and the central control in a hidden manner, wherein the central control selectively generates a signal and transmits the signal to the display screen through the connection cable, so as to display on the display screen. Thus, the central control provides both the synchronizing mode and the discrete mode such that more than one function is selectively operated by the central control through the different display screen to meet the needs of passengers.
US08016351B2	Chair with onboard electrical power source A chair (1), bed, lounge or other similar type structure has electrical functions or features and also has an energy converter (21, 9, 59) which produces electrical power from conditions to which the structure is exposed on a regular basis to power the functions or features.
US08016343B2	Retractable room actuation assembly for recreational vehicle A slide-out or retractable room for a mobile living quarters, such as a recreational vehicle, is provided with actuating assemblies mounted on opposite side walls of the slide-out room and the adjacent wall of the main living area. The actuating assemblies include a pair of parallel gear racks mounted on the side wall, which are engaged by pinions rotated by torque shafts mounted on the main living quarters. Each torque shaft is rotated by a separate motor. A roller engages a bearing surface on the lower portion of the gear racks. Accordingly, the slide-out room is extended and retracted by rotating the torque shafts to cause the gear racks and the attached slide-out room to extend and retract. The weight of the slide-out room is supported by the rollers, thereby supporting the slide-out room off of the floor of the main living quarters as it extends and retracts. A synchronizing control operates the motors.
US08016342B2	Vibration dampener with floating positive mechanical connection A support brace supports the instrument panel above the floor pan of an automotive chassis and includes a lap joint that dampens the transmission of low range vibrations through the support brace to the instrument panel. The support brace is formed in two pieces, an upper member and a lower member, that have an overlap section between them, where an elastomeric pad joins the two members. The elastomeric pad can be bonded to the overlap sections or joined with rubber buttons inserted through holes formed in the overlap sections. The overlap sections are vertically spaced above the floor pan to position the elastomeric pad above the heat generated by the vehicle exhaust system. A floating positive mechanical connection in the form of an interlocking tab on one member engaged through an opening in the other member, which stays out of metal to metal contact unless the elastomeric pad fails.
US08016341B2	Stowable seat A motor vehicle seat comprises a backrest (3), a seating surface (2) connected to the backrest (3) by a pivotable connection (P1) and to the vehicle floor by a front leg support (P2). The inventive stowable seat also comprises a swing arm (7) connected to the backrest and the floor by two pivot joints (P4,P5), wherein the seat is movable between an unfolded state when the seating surface (2) is substentially parallel to the floor, the backrest (3) is in a substentially vertical position and, each swing arm (7) is placed in the backrest (3) extension, thereby enabling it to be upwardly displaced and a folded state when the backrest (3) is folded substantially horizontally onto the seating surface (2). During the transition from the unfolded state to the folded state, each swing arm (7) pivots in a direction opposite to the pivoting direction of the backrest (2) in such a way that it is placed therealong
US08016340B2	Floor spacer for vehicle A floor spacer for a vehicle constituted of an expanded resin molded article which can simultaneously satisfy sound absorbing performance while satisfying desired compression strength and reduction in weight is provided. A floor spacer A for a vehicle is constituted of a floor spacer main body 10 constituted of an expanded resin molded article having flat plate portions 12a and 12b to be on an inner side of a compartment, and a plurality of ridges 13a and 13b vertically provided at back surfaces of the flat plate portions 12a and 12b on a floor frame side, and a layer constituted of a sound absorbing material 20 formed to fill spaces 14a and 14b formed between the aforesaid ridges 13a and 13b. Through-holes 15 may be formed in the flat plate portions 12a and 12b of the floor spacer main body 10, and fastening holes 16 which a part of the sound absorbing material 20 enters may be formed in the ridges 13a and 13b.
US08016335B2	Dual handle adjustable drag strap A drag strap having a dual handle system for allowing one or more persons to use the strap when dragging an injure person. The drag strap is preferably constructed of a high tensile strength woven nylon tape which is flexible and weather resistant. The drag strap includes an adjustable connector system for quick attachment and adaptability in securing the strap to an injured person.
US08016330B2	Appliance safety apparatus, systems, and methods An apparatus, system, and method for locking objects together comprises at least one pair of correlated magnets. First and second correlated magnetic field structures comprising the pair of correlated magnets are capable of being aligned such that an attractive force secures or locks two objects together. The apparatus, system, and method can be used to lock appliance and cabinet doors, drawers, covers for electrical outlets and light switches, and the like.
US08016328B2	Locking device for the door of an apparatus comprising a rotary drum, and a latch for such device The invention relates to a locking device for the door of an apparatus comprising a rotary drum, and to a latch for one such device. The inventive device comprises a latch articulated to a moving leaf of the door, and a control box attached to a fixed frame of the door and configured to receive and immobilize the tip of the latch into a passage provided therein. The aforementioned tip acts primarily as a control tip. The latch comprises at least one second tip acting as a coupling tip which is spaced apart from the control tip and which is configured such that it can be coupled in a retaining stop that is attached to the fixed frame of the door in a position spaced apart from the passage in the control box.
US08016326B1	Mandrel system for fixing an orientation of a duct in concrete segmental construction An apparatus for fixing an orientation of a duct in concrete segmental construction has an elongated body, a frame having an inner surface facing the elongated body, and an angle adjusting means connecting the inner surface of the frame to the elongated body. The elongated body is orientable relative to the frame about the ball joint. The angle adjusting means includes a pin extending through the frame, a ball mounted on the pin, and a flange mounted to the ball so as to be in surface-to-surface contact with an end of the elongated body. The pin is operably connected to the ball so as to fix an orientation of the flange.
US08016320B2	Vibration dampening systems for overhead frame structures Embodiments of the invention relate to providing a vibration dampening system for an overhead frame structure used with a vehicle. The system involves the provision of one or more dampening members and/or components between portions of one or more members forming the overhead frame structure. The dampening members or components are compressed when certain portions of the members are set in position. As a result, the vibration and contact normally encountered between the portions and/or interconnecting brackets is limited, and in turn, the stress normally experienced by the one or more fastener assemblies holding the portions and/or the interconnecting brackets due to such vibration is also limited.
US08016318B2	Vehicle occupant restraint apparatus A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus includes: a retracting device that retracts one end side of a webbing for restraining an occupant so that the webbing can be withdrawn; a webbing holding portion that holds the other end side of the webbing; and a fixing member to which the retracting device and the webbing holding portion are attached.
US08016317B1	Airbag assembly An airbag assembly for use within a vehicle. The airbag assembly includes an airbag, an inflator configured to provide a gas to inflate the airbag and a housing with an inflator receiving portion and an upper mounting portion. The inflator receiving portion includes a cavity in which the inflator and the airbag are stored. The upper mounting portion is configured to mount a first side of the airbag housing to a cover. The inflator receiving portion and the upper mounting portion are integrated together in a single, unitary piece.
US08016316B1	Pneumatic drop frame trailer A pneumatic drop frame trailer has lateral wheels connected to the frame by pivotal wheel support arms with airbags between the support arms and frame, a pivotal tongue member with an airbag between the tongue and the frame, a deck having an inclined ramp portion at the rear end, and a control box on the deck containing an air compressor, air storage tank, and associated valves and controls. The wheel airbags and tongue airbag can be inflated or deflated while hitched to a vehicle to raise or lower the frame evenly and horizontally relative to the ground and may also be inflated to provide stiffness or shock absorbing characteristics. When the wheel airbags are deflated, the bottom of the frame is disposed substantially horizontally and very close to the ground surface with the ramp portion substantially flush with the ground surface in a loading and unloading position.
US08016308B2	Rear fender of motorcycle A rear fender of a motorcycle includes a hollow stay portion which extends in the vehicle rearward and downward direction from a base portion thereof arranged in the inside of a rear portion of a seat rail, the stay portion is configured to be dividable, and lines for electric components are encased in a hollow portion of the stay portion.
US08016295B2	Helical backup element A helical backup element includes a tubular body of material and a helical opening in the tubular body.
US08016290B1	Flying disk challenge game A flying disk challenge game involves two or more players, each positioned within a boundary ring to define a player position. The players in turn throw or toss a group of colored disks to each other. The disks each have a point value according to its color. The boundary ring may be formed of flexible tubing about five feet in diameter, and given a bright color. The boundary rings are spaced about twenty-five feet apart.
US08016280B2	Sheet processing apparatus and sheet processing method A sheet processing apparatus includes a hole punching section arranged orthogonally to a conveying path of a sheet, a moving mechanism which moves the hole punching section along a direction orthogonal to the conveying path, a detection unit which is arranged upstream from the hole punching section and which moves by being interlocked with the hole punching section and detects a lateral edge of the sheet conveyed thereto, and a control unit which controls the moving mechanism in accordance with the result of detection by the detection unit and varies the position of the hole punching section, thus controlling the punching processing position. The control unit causes the hole punching section to be moved in the direction to the retreat position along with the conveying of the sheet, causes the hole punching section to retreat by a prescribed quantity with reference to the result of detection by the detection unit, then causes the hole punching section to be moved in the opposite direction, and controls movement to the punching processing position in accordance with the result of detection by the detection unit.
US08016274B2	Antivibration device, and vehicle comprising same An antivibration device for supporting loads and damping vibration between external elements. The antivibration device comprises two rigid members and a resilient body for supporting loads and partially damping vibrations The antivibration device also comprises a damping unit for further damping of vibrations coincidentally with the resilient body. The antivibration also has an inhibitor apparatus which may be operated to drive the damping unit between two positions to selectively allow the transmission of loads and vibrations to the damping unit.
US08016269B2	Volatile agent diffusion device equipped with a blower for an automobile vehicle The invention relates to a diffusion device (1) for an automotive vehicle. The diffusion device (1) includes a housing (2) with an ambient air inlet (3), a treated air outlet (3), a diffusion chamber (4) and an insert (7). The insert (7) is located inside the diffusion chamber (4) and contains at least one volatile agent (AV1). The insert (7) can rotate via an electric motor (12) for selectively diffusing or not the volatile agent (AV1). The diffusion device (1) also includes a blower (13) fixed on the housing (2).
US08016268B2	Wind tower service lift An apparatus used for maintaining a wind tower structure wherein the wind tower structure may have a plurality of legs and may be configured to support a wind turbine above the ground in a better position to interface with winds. The lift structure may be configured for carrying objects and have a guide system and drive system for mechanically communicating with a primary cable, rail or other first elongate member attached to the wind tower structure. The drive system and guide system may transmit forces that move the lift relative to the cable and thereby relative to the wind tower structure. A control interface may be included for controlling the amount and direction of the power into the guide system and drive system thereby causing the guide system and drive system to move the lift relative to said first elongate member such that said lift moves relative to said wind tower structure.
US08016259B2	Refractory furnace covers and methods of constructing same Refractory furnace covers and methods for their construction are provided. A method includes providing a molding form base having a molding surface, providing an outer molding frame on the molding form base, and providing at least one inner molding member disposed across and dividing the molding surface into a first molding section and a second molding section. The inner molding member has a first molding surface and a second molding surface located adjacent to and facing the first and second molding sections, respectively, the inner molding member having a protrusion located along the length of the first molding surface. A first molded section of the furnace cover is cast between the outer molding frame and the first molding surface of the inner molding member, the inner molding member is removed, and a second molded section of the furnace cover is cast between the outer molding frame and the first molded section of the furnace cover. A refractory furnace cover includes a first molded section having an edge with a slot located thereon, and a second molded section formed against the previously cast first molded section and having an interlocking key formed in the slot of the first section.
US08016258B1	Suspension adjustment mechanism for low suspension seat A seat support assembly includes a base, a plurality of arms each mounted at a first end to the base for movement with respect to the base, and mounted to a seat at a second end opposite the first end for movement with respect to the seat. A torsion spring has a first end defining a length, a second end defining a length, and a coil defining an axis. A first bearing surface abuts the first end of the torsion spring at a first abutment point to define a first moment arm distance. A second bearing surface abuts the second end of the torsion spring at a second abutment point to define a second moment arm distance. An adjustment mechanism simultaneously causes relative movement between the torsion spring and the bearing surfaces to simultaneously change the first moment arm distance and the second moment arm distance.
US08016256B2	Temporary clamping structure for electronics A bracket includes a first surface being fastened to a mounting surface, and a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, to which second surface a body of the electronic device is fastened. A fitting concavity is formed in one of the electronic device body and the bracket. A fitting convexity is formed in other one of the electronic device body and the bracket and fittable into the fitting concavity. A cover, which covers the electronic device body, includes a cover attaching and detaching mechanism, which one of attaches and detaches the cover to and from the electronic device body. For a detached state the cover is rotated to be completely detached from the electronic device body.
US08016253B1	Stepless adjustable musical instrument stand A musical instrument stand includes a telescopic unit, a braking unit and an operation unit. The telescopic unit includes an outer tube and an inner tube. The braking unit includes a mounting sleeve, a plurality of locking pieces, a pressing block and an elastic member. The operation unit includes a connecting bar, a driven block and an operation handle. Thus, the inner tube is movable successively relative to the outer tube by pressing the operation handle and is locked onto the outer tube immediately by releasing the operation handle to adjust the distance between the inner tube and the outer tube so as to adjust the height of the telescopic unit freely so that the height of the musical instrument stand is adjustable in a stepless manner.
US08016251B2	Apparatus support console with adjustable support plate In an apparatus support console comprising a pedestal having a foot, a support column extending from the foot and pivot joint structures supported on the column and carrying an apparatus or an apparatus holder, a telescopic member is pivotally supported on the column that is between the pivot joint structures so as to be extendable or retractable and the telescopic structure is provided with locking means for locking the telescopic member to permit secure positioning of the apparatus and locking it in any position convenient to a user of an apparatus supported by the support console.
US08016242B2	Space shuttle with a device for docking to a satellite A device provided on a space shuttle for docking to satellites, has a linkage with a cone at its distal end and a spreader mechanism, actuatable from the shuttle, with lever spreaders having their proximal ends provided with inward projections towards the linkage. At least two lever spreaders are pivotally arranged at a retaining part concentric to the linkage; the curvature at the distal end of each lever spreader is adapted to the curvature of the nozzle neck of the jet nozzle of a satellite engine. A rotatable sleeve concentric to the linkage is provided below the retaining part. A distal annular portion of the sleeve is formed with respective alternating engaging positions of different heights, and wherein, from the proximal end portion of the sleeve, two pins project that are guided by associated obliquely oriented slide faces in a stationary housing, the pins being provided for setting the adjustment travel of the linkage.
US08016241B2	Self supporting cellular thermal acoustic insulation In one embodiment, a device includes first and second frames members, and a foam insulation member having first and seconds ends. At least one of the first and second ends is disposed at an angle greater than 0 degrees relative to a vertical plane. The first and second ends of the foam insulation member extend between the first and second frame members in compression. The foam insulation member is fixedly held in place between the first and second frame members due to a friction fit resulting from the foam insulation member being disposed between the first and second frame members in compression.
US08016238B2	System and method for enhancing the fuel storage volume and the fuel carriage capacity of external fuel stores carried by an aerial vehicle A system and method for enhancing the fuel stores volume of an aerial vehicle is disclosed. An extended external fuel stores configuration utilizes an alternative fuel transfer path. An external fuel tank is suspended on a external fuel tank carrier pylon uploaded on a outboard wing “pseudo-wet” stores station. The pylon is linked to a dual functionality external fuel tank carrier pylon uploaded on an inboard wing “wet” station. The pylon is capable of transferring fuel from an external fuel container to the aircraft fuel system and capable of transmitting, and controlling the fuel store in the auxiliary fuel container attached to the pylon uploaded on a outboard wing “pseudo-wet” station. An externally mounted stores transfer kit links the inboard pylon and the outboard pylon.
US08016237B2	Methods and apparatus for an integrated aerodynamic panel An integrated aerodynamic panel—e.g., for a trailing edge or leading edge of an aircraft aerodynamic surface—includes a first panel region defining inner and outer mold lines, and a second panel region contiguous with and extending from the first panel region in a tapering fashion. A splice plate region extends from the second panel region and includes an edge band region configured to accept a fastener. A filler region (e.g., a SYNCORE or fiberglass structure) adjacent the second panel region has an exposed surface substantially flush with the outer mold line.
US08016234B2	Airframe structure of an aircraft or spacecraft The present invention provides an airframe structure of an aircraft or spacecraft, with: a hollow body section which can be subjected to an internal pressure; a membrane arrangement which has at least one single-part, multi-curved membrane component for sealing off the internal pressure from an external pressure which acts on the hollow body section and differs from the internal pressure; and a joining structure for a pressure tight joining of the membrane arrangement to a region of the hollow body section; wherein the membrane arrangement forms a receiving well which is accessible from outside the hollow body section, extends at least partially into the hollow body section and is for receiving a component of the aircraft or spacecraft.
US08016233B2	Aircraft configuration An aircraft configuration that may reduce the level of noise, infrared radiation, sonic boom, or combination thereof directed towards the ground from an aircraft in flight. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an aircraft includes a tubular fuselage, two delta wings, at least one engine mounted to the aircraft and higher than the wings, and vertical stabilizers mounted on each wing outboard of the outermost engine. Each wing may include a wing strake at the leading edge of the wing and extending to the fuselage and an aft deck. The leading edge of the wing may extend forward of the intake of the engine, and the trailing edge of the aft deck may extend aft of the engine exhaust. The aft deck may include an upwardly rotatable pitch control surface at the trailing edge of the deck.
US08016232B2	Aircraft cabin pressure descent detection and control system and method Methods and apparatus are provided controlling aircraft cabin pressure, and more specifically engine bleed air manifold pressure, during aircraft descent. An aircraft engine bleed air manifold control pressure setpoint is to either a descent pressure setpoint or a cruise pressure setpoint by determining a rotational speed of an aircraft engine component, determining a component speed setpoint value, and determining aircraft vertical speed. The engine bleed air manifold control pressure setpoint is set to the descent pressure setpoint if either the determined rotational speed of the aircraft engine component is below the component speed setpoint value or the aircraft vertical speed is less than a predetermined vertical speed value.
US08016224B2	Edge guide for flexible web An edge guide is described that is adapted to restrict lateral movement of a flexible web as the web advances past the guide, the web comprising top and bottom face surfaces and two lateral edge surfaces, the guide comprising (i) a multi-sided body, and (ii) a cavity in one side of the body, the cavity comprising (a) a curved support surface adapted to receive a first lateral edge and to support a portion of the bottom face surface of the web as the web moves laterally into the cavity of and advances past the guide, and (b) a hard stop above, and in one embodiment, continuous with the curved support surface, the stop adapted to engage the first lateral edge of the web and block any further lateral movement of the web over the curved support surface.
US08016222B2	Wire and cable dispensing container and systems A container for the dispensing of wire or cable has an external carton which receives a reel of cable as supported by two caddies. Each caddy has an inwardly extending substantially cylindrical bushing which is received in a central hole of a respective cable reel flange. The cylindrical bushings are disposed on an axis which is a first distance from the upper surface of the bottom panel of the carton. The largest radius of each reel flange is preselected to be smaller than this such that the reel may freely rotate inside of the carton on the bushings. Cable is pulled through a slot in the carton's front panel. Preferably, left and right panels of the carton each have an arbor hole formed therein which receives an axial rod, the rod also extending through the reel and caddies. The axial rod may be used to join two or more containers together and may further serve as a support for attachment of a wheel truck on one end of the joined-together containers and a handle at its other end. An alternative, four-wheeled cart has multiple axial rods. An alternative hand truck likewise receives multiple axial rods through respective container passageways. In one embodiment, cable may be pulled through one or more pass-through slots formed in the tops and bottoms of stacked containers, such that cable from multiple containers is drawn through one slot on the top of the stack.
US08016217B2	Document shredding apparatus and document scrapping system using same A document scrapping apparatus is provided which allows the user to visually check again a document in each scrap job and make a final decision as to whether or not to scrap the entire document in each scrap job, thus avoiding an undesired execution of scrap job. The document shredding apparatus 10 comprises: a shredding mechanism 1 to shred sheets of a document S; an information reader 2 to read, for each scrap job, information written on the sheets of document S; an information display 3 to visibly display the document information of each scrap job read by the information reader 2; a temporary accommodation container 4 to temporarily accommodate the document S of each scrap job read by the information reader 2 so that document S cannot be seen from outside, the temporary accommodation container 4 having an extraction door 4a, accessible from outside, through which the document S accommodated in the container 4 can be taken out in an exceptional case; a selection means 5 to make a final decision as to whether or not the document S temporarily accommodated in the temporary accommodation container 4 should be scrapped; and a guide mechanism 6 to guide the document S temporarily accommodated in the temporary accommodation container 4 to the shredding mechanism 1 when the selection means 5 has chosen a document scrapping.
US08016215B1	Head for showering and the like A showerhead has a housing provided with an inlet for flowing of water into the housing and a plurality of openings; and a plurality of adjustable inserts associated with the openings, provided with water channels, and formed so that the inserts are individually movable to change their orientation so as to change a trajectory of a jet issued from each individual insert the inserts being formed so that water flowing out from the channels of each of the inserts forms as a single jet.
US08016213B2	Controlling temperature in air-powered electrostatically aided coating material atomizer A coating dispensing device includes a trigger assembly for actuating the coating dispensing device to dispense coating material and a nozzle through which the coating material is dispensed. The coating dispensing device further includes a first port adapted to supply compressed gas to the coating dispensing device and a second port adapted to supply coating material to the coating dispensing device. The coating dispensing device further includes a generator having a shaft and a turbine wheel mounted on the shaft. Compressed gas coupled to the first port impinges upon the turbine wheel to spin the shaft, producing voltage. The coating dispensing device further includes an electrode adjacent the nozzle and coupled to the generator to receive electricity therefrom to electrostatically charge the coating material and a regulator coupled to the generator for regulating the voltage generated by the generator. Compressed gas which spins the turbine wheel also flows past the regulator to remove heat from components of the regulator.
US08016212B2	Multiple function dispenser A dispenser for mixing and dispensing a liquid chemical concentrate with a dilutent from a container. The dispenser includes two slideable eductors one of which is also rotatable. Both a high and low flow rate can be obtained with simultaneous adjustment of concentration of the chemical concentrate. The dispenser has a high degree of accuracy of the amount of dilution of the chemical concentrate as well as positive positioning of the high and low flow rate.
US08016210B2	Self regulating fluid bearing high pressure rotary nozzle with balanced thrust force A high pressure rotary nozzle having a rotating shaft operating within a fixed housing wherein the of axial force which acts upon the shaft due to the fluid pressure at the shaft inlet is balanced by allowing passage of a small amount of the pressurized fluid to be bled to an area or chamber between the outside of the opposite end of the shaft and the inside of the housing where the fluid pressure can act axially in an opposing direction upon the shaft to balance the axial inlet force. The balance of axial forces is self-regulating by controlling escape of the fluid through a tapered or frusto-conical region between the shaft and housing. This further provides a fluid bearing between the two surfaces and allows use of interchangeable rotating jet heads having jet orifices which can be oriented in virtually any desirable configuration including axially forward of the nozzle.
US08016208B2	Echoing ultrasound atomization and mixing system An ultrasound apparatus capable of mixing and/or atomizing fluids is disclosed. The apparatus includes a horn having an internal chamber through which fluids to be atomized and/or mixed flow. Connected to the horn's proximal end, a transducer powered by a generator induces ultrasonic vibrations within the horn. Traveling down the horn from the transducer, the ultrasonic vibrations induce the release of ultrasonic energy into the fluids to be atomized and/or mixed as they travel through the horn's internal chamber. As the ultrasonic vibrations travel through the chamber, the fluids within the chamber are agitated and/or begin to cavitate, thereby mixing the fluids. Upon reaching the front wall of the chamber, the ultrasonic vibrations are reflected back into the chamber, like an echo. The ultrasonic vibrations echoing off the front wall pass through the fluids within the chamber a second time, further mixing the fluids.
US08016207B2	Systems and devices for emitting volatile compositions Methods and devices for emitting volatile materials are disclosed. In some embodiments, methods and devices for emitting two or more fragrance compositions are disclosed. In one non-limiting embodiment of a device, the device has a housing, and the housing is supported on an electrical outlet by a plug at least indirectly joined to the housing. The device contains a first volatile composition and a second volatile composition. The first volatile composition is emmitted in an alternating period relative to said second volatile composition. In one embodiment of the method, the volatile compositions are alternately emitted during periods that are greater than 15 minutes and less than 2 hours.
US08016206B2	Vehicle air conditioning system and automobile having the vehicle air conditioning system An air conditioning system for automobile having a heater core capable of heating the interior in good efficiency is to be provided. Such a heater core is supplied with the coolant having bubbles removed, and thereby the efficiency of heat exchange is enhanced and the noise is reduced. On the internal combustion engine is mounted a water outlet (bubble separating means) 3 having a receiving chamber 8 that the coolant after cooling the engine flows in. In the downstream position of the chamber 8 is formed a communicating portion 9 of narrowed sectional area and a feeding chamber 10 of increased sectional area in turn. The flowing velocity of the coolant is increased in the communicating portion 9 and decreased in the feeding chamber 10 and thereby it is possible to make bubbles in the coolant float up and separate out. As a result, the coolant without bubbles may be fed to the heater core 7 through a feeding portion 11.
US08016205B2	Thermostat with replaceable carbon monoxide sensor module A thermostat is provided that includes a peripheral edge that, at least in part, defines an opening in the thermostat. The thermostat further includes a carbon monoxide sensor capable of sensing the presence of carbon monoxide gas in the ambient air near the thermostat, and providing a measurable output value that is indicative of the level of carbon monoxide gas. The thermostat also includes a replaceable battery that applies a voltage to the carbon monoxide sensor. The thermostat further includes a microprocessor disposed on a circuit board. The circuit board, sensor and battery are together disposed on or in the thermostat. The circuit board is configured to establish an electrical connection with the carbon monoxide sensor and the battery. The microprocessor is configured to periodically read the carbon monoxide sensor output, and to activate an audible alarm in a continuous manner to indicate an emergency upon detecting a carbon monoxide level that exceeds a predetermined value.
US08016204B2	Coding pattern with fragments of common data distributed in each tag A substrate having a coding pattern disposed on a surface thereof. The coding pattern includes a plurality of target elements defining a target grid. The target grid has a plurality of cells, wherein neighboring cells share target elements. A plurality of data elements are contained in each cell. Tags are defined by a plurality of contiguous cells and each tag includes respective local tag data encoded by a respective set of the data elements. Each tag also has common data encoded by a respective set of the data elements. The common data is defined as data common to a plurality of contiguous tags. Each cell includes a fragment of the common data, and contiguous cells are arranged such that any tag-sized portion of the coding pattern is guaranteed to contain the common data irrespective of whether a whole tag is contained in the portion.
US08016203B2	Smartcard, telephone comprising such a card and method for executing a command in such a card A smartcard (1) includes: a first and a second microprocessor (110, 210), elements for receiving (14) commands each coming from a first or a second communications channel external to the card (1) and for transmitting the received commands to the first microprocessor, characterized in that the first microprocessor includes elements for determining (706) whether a received command has been received on the second communications channel so as to transmit (708) the received command to the second microprocessor (210) in the case of a positive determination. Notably, the determination can be carried out by detecting an electrical contact of the communications interface of the card, over which the command is received. Application of the invention to a card having a second microprocessor for executing a highly securitized application, of the banking transaction type, and a first less securitized application, of the mobile telephony application type.
US08016200B2	Handle and activation assembly for portable electronic device A scanning assembly is disclosed. The scanning assembly comprises a mobile electronic device comprising an optical sensor, the mobile electronic device adapted to perform a scanning operation, and a trigger assembly. The trigger assembly comprises a handle member adapted to be releasably coupled to the mobile electronic device, the handle member comprising a light source, and a switch assembly adapted to receive input from an operator of the trigger assembly, wherein the light source is adapted to emit a light signal in response to manipulation of the switch assembly, and wherein the mobile electronic device is adapted to perform the scanning operation in response to receiving the light signal with the optical sensor.
US08016195B2	Method and arrangement for verifying items of mail The present invention concerns a method and an arrangement for the verification of individually presented items of mail provided with individually unique machine-readable identification codes, where the identification code of a presented item of mail is read and the identification code that has been read is checked against machine-readable information about intended items of mail and their status, whereby the current item of mail is a) removed if the identification code is not present in the intended items of mail or if it is illegible, and b) the status of the current item of mail is checked against the machine-readable information about intended items of mail and their status in order to determine whether the current item of mail has previously been delivered. If the current item of mail has previously been delivered, the current item of mail is removed. If the current item of mail has not previously been delivered, the information about the status of the current item of mail is updated with information that the current item of mail has been delivered and the current item of mail is allowed to pass as a verified delivery. Furthermore, an item of mail that has been approved for delivery is retained until a subsequent item of mail has been identified and approved for delivery.
US08016194B2	Mobile data storage device reader having both radiofrequency and barcode scanners A mobile reader configured to compile a list of data storage devices for transport includes an interface electrically coupled to circuitry modules including RFID scanning circuitry configured to read a unique storage device identifier from each of the data storage devices, and barcode scanning circuitry configured to read the unique storage device identifier from each of the data storage devices. The barcode scanning circuitry communicates with the RFID scanning circuitry. The interface includes a user operable function that enables selectively reading the unique storage device identifier with one of the RFID scanning circuitry or the barcode scanning circuitry to compile a scan list of in-transit data storage devices.
US08016192B2	User-configurable priority list for mobile device electronic payment applications A mobile device as disclosed herein can support a plurality of electronic payment applications such as credit and/or debit applications. During a payment transaction, the mobile device communicates a priority list of the electronic payment applications to a point of sale terminal, which then selects one of the applications for completion of the payment transaction, where the selection is governed by the priority list. The data structure corresponding to the priority list is configured such that the end user of the mobile device has management access rights to at least some of the electronic payment applications. Such end user management access rights can be used to modify the relative priority of the electronic payment applications.
US08016190B2	Method and apparatus for ordering goods, services and content over an internetwork A billing system that allows a consumer to order products from computers connected to the Internet, wherein the consumer is automatically billed for the ordered good or service by its telephone service provider. When a consumer orders a product over the Internet, a plug-in component of the consumer's computer establishes an Internet connection to a billing server. A billing server component transfers an encrypted version of the product to the plug-in component. The plug-in component then disconnects from the Internet and establishes a point-to-point (PPP) connection with the billing server. During the PPP connection, the billing server component transfers an access key assigned to the order to the plug-in component so that the plug-in component may decrypt the product. The consumer is charged a unit rate or “drop-charge” for the product by the telephone service provider when the PPP connection is established using a premium telephone number assigned and administered by the telephone service provider.
US08016189B2	Electronic transaction systems and methods therefor The method includes the steps of receiving at the PEAD first digital data representing the transaction request. The PEAD provides information to the user regarding an ability to approve the transaction request. When the transaction request is approved by the user, the PEAD receives second digital data representing the electronic service authorization token. A remote agent server may provide a bridge between the electronic transaction system and the PEAD. In another embodiment, the private key is stored on the portable device, encrypted. The decryption key is stored outside of the device, at a trusted 3rd party location. When the user attempts to make a signature the software sends a request for the decryption key, along with the user's password or pass phrase keyed in at the keyboard of the PDA, smart phone, or cell phone, to a server belonging to the trusted 3rd party.
US08016188B1	Banking system operated responsive to data bearing records A system for use in banking operates responsive to data included in data bearing records. The system is suitable for securing the contents in safety deposit boxes or similar locked receptacles, and selectively permits access to key locks only to individuals who have been determined to be authorized to have such access. Each safety deposit box or other receptacle includes a door (16) with at least one key lock (22, 24) thereon. The assembly includes a body (32) that is held in a blocking position by a cover lock. A selectively programmable data bearing electronic key module (28) is operative to change the condition of a selected cover lock from a latched to an unlatched condition. Electronic key modules are appropriately programmed to enable the particular user access to key locks on a particular safety deposit box, through operation of a customer station (126).
US08016187B2	Mobile payment system using barcode capture The present invention proposes to streamline the process by replacing most of the manual entry and mobile navigation through a mobile client application that will allow the user to [a] capture a barcode using a camera phone or any other camera-equipped communicating device such as a PDA with a camera attachment or a internet connected computer with a web-cam and [b] automatically send—or prepare the transmission of—the relevant information to the vendor directly or through the usage of a centralized platform.
US08016183B2	Adjustable clamp system and method for wire bonding die assembly A method and an adjustable clamp system for clamping a die assembly during wire bonding. The system includes at least one pair of opposing base walls, each of the base walls has a base clamping surface. There is at least one pair of clamping members, each one of the clamping members being movable towards a respective base clamping surface to thereby clamp a lead frame of the die assembly. A die assembly support is disposed between the pair of opposing base walls and the die assembly support and pair of opposing base walls provide a cavity. There is a position sensor coupled to a controller and there is also a drive that is controllable by the controller. The drive provides movement of the die assembly support relative to each the base clamping surface to thereby adjust a depth of the cavity. In operation, after the lead frame is clamped between the base clamping surface and clamping members, the controller allows the drive to provide the relative movement until the position sensor detects that an underside of the lead frame has abutted the die assembly support.
US08016179B2	Friction stir welding tool having a scroll-free concentric region A friction stir welding tool having a shoulder section with a scroll pattern that terminates prior to the edge or boundary of the shoulder section to create a scroll-free concentric surface area.
US08016174B2	Indirect fire device for fixing fasteners in a substrate material An indirect fire device for fixing fasteners in a substrate material includes a piston for driving a fastener movably mounted in a barrel and a plug guide for guiding a fastener towards the substrate material. The device is adapted to receive a magazine for receiving a strip of fasteners in order to introduce the fasteners one by one into the plug guide. Each fastener is held in a sleeve comprising bridges for connection to another sleeve. The plug guide of the device includes a zone having an enlarged circular section at the opening of the magazine leading into the plug guide, extending axially over the length of a sleeve increased by the stroke of the plug guide for loading the device.
US08016167B2	Aerosol sprayer A pressurized aerosol sprayer and method of making a pressurized aerosol sprayer are disclosed. In one embodiment the aerosol sprayer includes an aerosol sprayer actuator attached to an aerosol container, wherein the sprayer actuator includes an actuator housing, a trigger piece having a trigger and operatively associated with the actuator housing to activate the release of fluid from the container, a nozzle in fluid communication with the container, and a trigger loop encircling the trigger.
US08016165B2	Fluid product dispensing device A fluid dispenser device including: a reservoir (10); a dispenser head (20) incorporating a dispenser orifice (21); a metering chamber (30); and a piston (40) that is slidable in the metering chamber (30) between a rest position and a dispensing position. The piston (40) is mounted in stationary manner on the reservoir (10) and made integrally with the reservoir (10) and/or with a fastener mechanism (100) adapted to be fastened on the reservoir (10).
US08016163B2	Fluid dispenser head A fluid dispenser head for mounting on an actuator rod of a dispenser member that is displaceable down and up along an axis (X), the head including an axial connection sleeve for engaging on the actuator rod and defining an inlet duct, the head further including a dispenser endpiece defining an endpiece channel that is connected to the inlet duct via a connection channel, the endpiece including a free dispenser end defining a dispenser orifice that is situated at a downstream end of the endpiece channel, the head further including a bearing surface on which axial pressure can be exerted so as to drive in the actuator rod, where the endpiece extends substantially parallel to the axis (X), and is offset away from the axis.
US08016158B2	Beverage lid dispenser The current invention is a lid dispensing device and method of use comprising a base unit, a lid holder operatively connected to the base unit, a blade operatively mounted to the base which moves between a first position and a second position, the blade supporting a stack of lids by engaging a first lid in the stack of lids while the blade is in the first position, and the blade allowing the first lid to fall through an aperture in the blade away from the stack of lids, and still support the remaining stack of lids as the blade moves to the second position.
US08016157B2	Dispenser The dispenser is comprised of a first hollow body and a second hollow body. The second hollow body fits into the first hollow body. The second hollow body has a closure at the open end. The second hollow body is maintained in the first hollow body by means of an interference fit. There also is at least one vent between the first hollow body and the second hollow body. The second hollow body will contain a medicament. In use the first hollow body and the second hollow body are separated, the lid on the closure of the second hollow body opened and a tablet dispensed into the first hollow body. A liquid such as water is added to the first hollow body to dissolve the tablet. This dissolved medicament is ingested in the usual way and the second hollow body placed back into the first hollow body.
US08016156B2	Cleansing wipe container having content-specific display A cleansing wipe container includes a bottom panel, a front panel, a rear panel, a pair of side panels and a lid. The cleansing wipe container may be filled with a plurality of cleansing wipes that are contained in a cartridge. The cartridge and container interact such that a message is displayed on or through a panel of the container. The message is based on the cartridge of wipes and may include a type of wipe, a list of ingredients of the wipes, and/or instructions for using the wipes.
US08016155B2	Dispenser capable of dispensing sheet-like articles A dispenser is disclosed which is capable of dispensing articles from two locations. The dispenser includes first and second members pivotally connected together by a first hinge to form a first entrance into the dispenser. The first and second members are capable of housing a plurality of wet or dry, sheet-like articles. The first entrance provides reach-in access wherein multiple sheet-like articles can be withdrawn at one time. The second member also has a second entrance formed therein from which the sheet-like articles can be individually withdrawn. The dispenser further includes a third member secured to the first member by a hinge that is coaxially aligned with the first hinge. The third member is capable of pivoting on its hinge to cover the second entrance.
US08016147B2	Lockable container with improved slide latch and lock A lockable container for an article comprises a frame which has an access opening, a closure member which is pivotally mounted in relation to the frame, and a latch member which is axially movable within the closure member between a latched position and an unlatched position. The latch member and the frame are each provided with one or more interengageable detents whereby when the closure member is in a closed position and the latch member is in the latched position the detents are engaged and prevent pivoting of the closure member. Movement of the latch member to the unlatched position causes the detents to disengage and permit pivoting of the closure member. The closure member is provided with a locking member for engaging the latch member to retain it against axial movement.
US08016137B2	Wall-mountable storage system A wall-mountable storage system, comprising a plurality of uprights having a mounting flange, an extending surface and a bracket interfacing flange, each upright having a plurality of openings spaced each of the mounting flange, the bracket interfacing flange and the extending surface for mounting the system to a wall, accepting passage of the brackets through the uprights, and mounting the brackets to the uprights, respectively. The configuration and load application of the system may increase the sheer component of loading on the system and decrease the bending moment component, thereby increasing the maximum load capacity of the system.
US08016136B2	Showcase An object is to provide a showcase in which an attaching height of a guard for preventing falling of goods can be easily changed without changing a shelf guard member for preventing the falling of the goods depending on a height of the goods. The showcase is constituted by bridging shelves for displaying the goods to front and rear supports comprising a plurality of vertically ranging engagement holes, and comprises the guard for preventing falling of goods, disposed above an edge portion of each shelf. This guard for preventing the falling of the goods comprises: a guard main body constituted of a stria or the like; and a guard receiver having a guard holding portion, and the guard main body is disengageably attached to the engagement holes formed in the front support via the guard receiver.
US08016134B1	Hunter gear organizer and hanger system A hunter gear organizer and hanger system preferably includes a mounting strut, a hanger arm and a gear holder arm. The mounting strut includes a rod member, a pair of U-shaped members and an attachment loop. A ratchet strap includes a strap and a ratchet mechanism. The strap is secured to the mounting strut and around a tree. The ratchet mechanism is actuated to secure the mounting strut to the tree. The hanger arm preferably includes a mounting clamp, a support tube, a bow hanger and a quiver hanger. The bow hanger includes a bow base member and a bow hook portion. The gear holder arm preferably includes the mounting clamp, a gear support tube, a gear pouch and a drink pouch. An accessory hanger includes the mounting clamp, an accessory base member, an accessory hook and a cross hanger.
US08016133B1	Personal rolling valet A personal rolling valet, for use organizing, supporting, and transporting several clothes outfits, having a vertical shaft. The vertical shaft has a top and a bottom. A horizontal rack is attached to the vertical shaft near the top. The horizontal rack has a pair of opposed hooked portions for supporting several clothes outfits. A lower rack is attached to the vertical shaft near the bottom. The lower rack has a hub attached to the vertical shaft, an outer ring, and spokes connecting the hub and outer ring. The outer ring has an opening between a pair of the spokes which facilitates stacking more than one personal rolling valet.
US08016129B2	Toothbrush stand A toothbrush stand having a base with a recess to support a distal handle end of a toothbrush thereon, an upright support post extending from the base for leaning at least one toothbrush there-against near a head end of the toothbrush when the distal handle end is supported on the base and an umbrella-like sheltering member adapted to cover a head of the toothbrush when the distal handle end of the toothbrush is supported on the base and the toothbrush is leaning against the support post. The sheltering member formed from at least four quadrants of individual compartments forming nodes that slide up and down with respect to one another.
US08016125B2	Materials, filters, and systems for immobilizing combustion by-products and controlling lubricant viscosity A chemical filter for use within an internal combustion engine lubrication system. The chemical filter employs filtration media including particles having internal pores and interstitial pores formed between adjacent particles. The internal pores and the interstitial pores collectively define filtration media pores, and a strong base material is associated with at least some of the internal pores. The filtration media has a surface area greater than or equal to 25 m2/gm that is derived from filtration media pores that are large enough to receive a combustion acid-weak base complex contained within oil flowing through the chemical filter. This enables an ion-exchange process to occur that immobilizes the combustion acids and regenerates the weak base, so as to extend the time intervals between oil drains, among other benefits.
US08016120B2	Method for purifying a viral suspension The invention relates to a method for obtaining viruses from a liquid viral suspension, according to which: the viral suspension is subjected to density gradient ultracentrifugation, the ultracentrifugation is carried out continuously, and the density gradient is a discontinuous gradient comprising at least 2 steps.
US08016116B2	Wash down dedusting apparatus An open configuration is provided for the housing of a particulate material dedusting apparatus through which particulate material passes to be cleaned by air passing through wash decks to separate dirt and debris from the particulate material for discharge from the housing. The front wall and side access doors of the housing are configured to be openable for full access to the front and rear chambers. The primary wash deck is detachably mounted within the housing for removal for cleaning purposes. The generally horizontal floors of the housing are formed with a slope to allow water to drain from the housing. The open configuration of the deduster housing facilitates cleaning, draining and drying of the housing to expedite changeover from one material to another. Furthermore, the open configuration allows access for improved welding to eliminate cracks and openings in joints which accumulate dirt and debris during operation.
US08016115B2	Waste separation apparatus Disclosed is a waste separation apparatus comprising a vortex initiator (10) and a vortex generator (20). The vortex generator (20) is arranged to direct the airflow from the vortex initiator (10) towards the waste to be separated. The airflow is used to separate less dense waste from more dense waste.
US08016114B2	Reduction of electric-field-induced damage in field-sensitive articles A continuously electrically-conductive container contains an electrically-insulating support for holding an electric-field-sensitive article, such as a reticle, so that the article is shielded from external electric fields and is not in electrical contact with a conductive container wall. A SMIF pod comprises an electrically conductive container for holding an electric-field-sensitive article. A system has boundary walls that form a chamber for a controlled environment. The system includes a load port for receiving a SMIF pod and an end effector made of insulating material for moving a field-sensitive article within the chamber to and from the SMIF pod. An ionizer neutralizes electric charges on the field-sensitive article.
US08016113B2	Storage system with improved pole securement system A stackable, collapsible container for flowable materials. The container utilizes an outer container and a flexible inner liner retained by a base, a top and a plurality of support poles. The support poles are retained in a plurality of holes in the base provided with a plurality of wedges to secure the holes against lateral movement. Providing wedges within tapered holes facilitates the compression molding of the depth of holes required for adequately supporting the support poles.
US08016112B2	Packing implement for thin article transportation To stably hold and pack a thin card-shaped article.A packing implement for article transportation includes a board 1 and a holding sheet 2. The board 1 is sectioned into a base 3 and a cover 4, and the cover 4 has a window hole 5, and the holding sheet 2 is stuck over the window hole 5. On the base 3, an article M is placed, and the cover 4 is folded double over the article, and further, the base 3 and the cover 4 are folded integrally along opening edges of the window hole 5 to build up a three-dimensional packing implement. By folding the base 3 and the cover 4, the holding sheet 2 facing the inside of the window hole 5 is tensioned, and the article M is pressed down by the holding sheet 2 and held at a fixed position on the base 3. The packing implement 8 packing the article M is housed as it is in an outer case 9.
US08016108B1	Tool box whose tool tips are rotated outward when the tool box is opened A tool box includes a housing, a receiving seat pivotally mounted in the housing and having a side provided with a driven gear, a rotation shaft pivotally mounted on the housing and having a side provided with a drive gear meshing with the driven gear, a restoring unit mounted between the rotation shaft and the housing to rotate the rotation shaft outward relative to the housing, and a top cover mounted on the rotation shaft to rotate the rotation shaft. Thus, when the rotation shaft is rotated by the restoring unit, the drive gear is driven by the rotation shaft to rotate the driven gear which rotates the receiving seat so that the receiving seat is rotated outward relative to the housing to expose the tool tips outward from the housing.
US08016105B2	Package for rod-like smoking articles A package for rod-like smoking articles includes a box having an inner frame, a lid for opening/closing the opening end of the box, and the contents contained in the box. The contents include wrapper that wraps a bundle of filter cigarettes therein. The wrapper has a separable area demarcated by a separating line. The separable area is bonded to the inner face of the lid at a glue-applied area. When the lid is first opened, the separable area is separated from the wrapper by the swing movement of the lid to form a separated piece. The separated piece is kept in the state bonded to the inside of the lid.
US08016103B2	Chain transport system with add-on components The invention relates to a chain-transport system containing chain links (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, . . . ) which are strung together and adjacent chain links (10-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50, . . . ) being rotatably joined together about an axis of rotation (11, 21, 31, 41, 51) common to one of the two chain links and all of the axes of rotation (11, 21, 31, 41, 51, . . . ) in the chain-transport system running parallel to each other. At least some of the chain links (10, 50, 90, . . . ) are adapted (10-12, 50-52, 90-92, . . . ) in such a way that respectively one add-on component (13, 53, 93) can be attached thereto. According to the invention, attachment of the respective component (13, 53, 93, . . . ) to the respective adapted chain link (10-12, 50-52, 90-92, . . . ) occurs in the form of a positive fit connection between a connecting area (13a, 13b, 13c, . . . ) of the add-on component (13, . . . ) and a connecting area (12a, 12b, 12c, . . . ) of the adapted chain link (10-12, . . . ). The invention also relates to a system for securing add-on components to a transport chain, whereby an add-on component (13, 53, 93, . . . ) is secured to each respectively selected chain link (10, 50, 90, . . . ). According to the invention, the respective add-on component (13, 53, 93, . . . ) is secured to the respective selected chain link (10, 50, 90, . . . ) with the aid of an adapter (12, 52, 92, . . . ).
US08016090B2	Collapsible container An insulated container has a front, back, top and bottom. Pairs of mating members are located on the front and pairs of mating members are located on the back to maintain the container in a collapsed state. The mating members on the front are positioned such that the mating members form a connection when the top of the container is folded on top of the front of the container. The mating members on the back are position such that the mating members form a connection when the bottom of the container is fold on top of the back of the container. In some embodiments, the mating members are positioned on portions of handles attached to the container.
US08016081B2	Elevator drive brake device monitor An elevator drive with a brake device has compression springs that act on brake levers, whereby brake linings generate a brake force on a brake drum. The more the brake linings wear due to abrasion, the smaller the distance of the plunger from the brake magnet housing becomes. Should the plunger come into contact with the brake magnet housing, the braking capacity of the brake linings is completely eliminated creating an operating condition that is dangerous for elevator users. A switch is provided that detects a minimum distance. The switch can be arranged on the plunger of the brake magnet and detect the minimum distance to the brake magnet housing or, in the case of a retrofit, the switch can be arranged on the brake magnet rod and, for example, detect the distance of the second joint from the brake magnet housing, and at the minimum distance the switch switches.
US08016077B2	Clip for transportation of ladders and method A clip for maintaining a first side rail of a first ladder adjacent to a second side rail of a second ladder which is in series with the first side rail. The clip includes a first portion connected to a support element and a second portion connected to the support element. The first portion, second portion and support element are one continuous piece. The first portion defines a hooking engagement with the first side rail and the second portion defines a receiving engagement with the second side rail. The first and second portion opening from opposite sides of the support element, respectively, which conform to the portion of the respective side rail that it receives for removably and frictionally holding the respective side rails in a self-gripping and form-fitting manner such that the side rails are maintained adjacent and in series to each other so that no damage is possible to the ladders by relative movement of the side rails under dynamic conditions brought about by motion during transportation. A method for securely transporting a first ladder which defines a first plane for climbing and at least a second ladder which defines a second plane for climbing.
US08016075B2	Paint tray A paint tray has side walls with hook-shaped extensions which are engageable with a rung of a ladder to enable the paint tray to be hung therefrom. The side walls also have wall-like extensions adjacent the opposite end. The base has an extension extending between the wall-like extensions and having a reversely bent portion to form a paint reservoir when the paint tray is upright. The wall-like extensions have hook-shaped portions adjacent the upper front edge of the paint reservoir which are engageable with a rung of a ladder with the paint reservoir behind the rung when the hook-shaped extensions are engaged with a higher rung.
US08016071B1	Multi-stage low pressure drop muffler A multi-stage low pressure drop muffler for a compressor including a first plate having a hole, a tube attached to the first plate, a plurality of holes disposed around the circumference of the tube, a plurality of tubes extending through a second plate, and an internal ring disposed on the second plate between the center of the second plate and the plurality of tubes. The muffler is designed to muffle a wide range of frequencies, minimize pressure reduction, improve fluid flow, and improve compressor efficiency.
US08016070B2	Powertrain According to a present powertrain, a first rotation shaft serving as an input shaft of a front side gear mechanism is located in a portion of a vehicle lower than a second rotation shaft serving as an output shaft, so that a crankshaft of an engine provided coaxially with the first rotation shaft is located in a portion of the vehicle lower than in a conventional example. Solely the engine having a heavy mass is thus disposed in a lower portion, so as to achieve a lower position of the center of gravity of the vehicle. In this manner, a powertrain having a layout structure attaining lower center of gravity as well as high rigidity of a body and improvement in aerodynamic characteristics is provided.
US08016069B2	Control system and method for operating a hydrostatically driven vehicle A hydrostatically powered vehicle includes an engine operatively associated with a pump that supplies fluid to a propel motor. Based on various sensed and engine operating conditions, a controller determines a desired operating condition for the engine while maintaining the travel speed of the vehicle constant.
US08016067B2	Vibration isolation assembly A vibration isolation assembly is disclosed. The vibration isolation assembly comprises a first body member, a second body member, a first isolation member, a second isolation member, and a least one fastener. The first and second body members are configured to matingly engage one another and the first and second isolation members are partially retained by portions of the first and second body members, respectively. The fastener serves to securing the first and second body members together.
US08016064B2	Snowmobile assembly Embodiments of the present invention relate to an improved snowmobile assembly yielding increased energy absorption in its suspension, improved handling, optimized engine positioning and lower center of gravity. In one embodiment, a rear snowmobile suspension comprises a frame comprising a pair of opposing, longitudinally extending, transversely spaced fixed rails, a pair of rear swing arms pivotably connected on respective first ends to a rear portion of the frame, one on each of a first and a second fixed rail, a front swing arm pivotably connected on a first end to a front portion of the frame on the first fixed rail, and a front drive arm pivotably connected on a first end to a front portion of the frame on the second fixed rail, opposing the front swing arm, wherein the front drive arm houses a portion of the drive assembly for driving the snowmobile.
US08016061B2	Hybrid fuel cell vehicle with multi-power source and multi-drive system and method of controlling the same A hybrid fuel cell vehicle with a multi-power source and a multi-drive system includes: a plurality of primary power sources sharing a single main bus terminal and connected in parallel to each other; a plurality of drive systems receiving power from the main bus terminal to generate output torque so as to drive vehicle wheels and connected in parallel to each other; and an auxiliary power source sharing the main bus terminal and disposed between the primary power sources and the drive systems to supplement power shortage of the primary power sources.
US08016057B2	Erosion resistant subterranean drill bits having infiltrated metal matrix bodies Subterranean drill bits having good erosion resistance, strength, toughness, and thermal stability are disclosed. The drill bits comprise a bit body carrying at least one cutting element and having an infiltrated metal matrix. The infiltrated metal matrix comprises a matrix powder composition bound together by an infiltrant. The matrix powder mixture includes cast tungsten carbide powder having a particle size of −30 (600 micron) +140 mesh (106 micron), a second component powder consisting of one or more other types of tungsten carbide particles, and a metal powder.
US08016056B2	Asymmetric graded composites for improved drill bits A cutting tool that includes at least one tungsten carbide cutting element disposed on a support, wherein at least one tungsten carbide cutting element has at least one localized region having a material property different from the remaining region, wherein the at least one localized region having a different material property is prepared by a method including determining at least one localized region needing a variation in a material property different from the remaining region; coating a portion of a surface of the at least one tungsten carbide cutting element with a refractory material such that a surface corresponding to the localized region is left uncoated; and treating the coated cutting element with a selected agent to diffuse the selected agent into the localized region is disclosed.
US08016053B2	Drill bit configurations for parked-bit or through-the-bit-logging Disclosed drilling systems offer multiple methods providing access to the open borehole without first tripping the drill string. In some embodiments, a drill bit has a tool port that is blocked by a plug during normal drilling operations. When a tool is deployed through the interior of the drill string, the tool port opens, enabling the tool to enter the borehole beneath the drill string and perform logging or sampling operations. The plug may be attached to the drill bit by a hinge or pivot, or alternatively, the plug may be discarded and a replacement seated in place after the tool is retracted into the drill string. In other embodiments, the drill bit itself is detachable, allowing the bit to be parked in the hole or in a side bore. If desired, the bit can be re-attached by lowering the drill string to the bottom of the hole.
US08016048B2	Electrical power tool An electrical power tool includes a housing, an electrical motor, an end-bit holding section, a transmitting mechanism, a cap, and a lighting section. The housing has one end. The electrical motor is accommodated in the housing and is configured to generate a rotational driving force. The end-bit holding section is provided at the one end and is rotatable about a rotational axis. The transmitting mechanism transmits the rotational driving force to the end-bit holding section. The cap is attached to the one end. The lighting section allows an entirety of the cap to be luminous.
US08016046B2	Combustion power source with back pressure release for combustion powered fastener-driving tool A combustion tool includes a cylinder having a lower end provided with a resilient bumper, a piston dimensioned for reciprocation within the cylinder to impact the bumper at an end of the cylinder and having a driver blade depending therefrom for impacting fasteners. At least one back pressure release opening is disposed in the cylinder to be in alignment with the piston and to be closed by the piston when the piston impacts the bumper.
US08016045B2	Method and apparatus for distributing particulate matter Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for distributing particulate matter over a surface by spreading. The apparatus for distributing particulate matter over a surface is adapted to be fitted to a prime mover. The apparatus includes a mounting frame for attaching the apparatus to the prime mover, at least one grading blade carried by the mounting frame and mounted moveable laterally sideways relative to the prime mover and an actuator to controllably move the grading blade to move the grading blade substantially sideways relative to the prime mover. The lateral sideways movement of the apparatus relative to prime mover enables particulate matter to be moved independent of the direction of travel of the prime mover.
US08016044B2	Soil shaping agricultural implement In an embodiment, an agricultural implement includes at least a first row of ground engaging tools, each of the tools spaced a first distance apart from one another, and a second row of ground engaging tools disposed behind the first row of ground engaging tools, each of the second row of ground engaging tools spaced a second distance apart from one another. The implement also includes a row of soil shaping disks disposed behind the second row of ground engaging tools, wherein a spacing between each of the soil shaping disks is not uniform and corresponds to whether the spacing is behind the first row of ground engaging disks or behind the second row of ground engaging disks.
US08016042B2	Stress distributing wellhead connector In accordance with certain embodiments, the present invention provides a connector for attaching to a multi-toothed profile on a wellhead features a tooth profile that staggers loading preferably starting at a loading surface furthest from the connector body sitting on the wellhead and moving toward the connector body. The staggered loading more evenly distributes stresses on the matching loading surfaces as compared to the result of using a tooth profile on the connector that nearly exactly matches the profile on the wellhead. The joint can then take advantage of an increased preload and exhibit improved stress characteristics when operating at high loading conditions.
US08016040B2	Fluid loss control A fluid loss control method uses a fluid loss control pill in a well in advance of a completion operation. An embodiment of the fluid loss control pill comprises polyester solids that are hydrolysable and can exhibit plastic deformation at formation conditions. An embodiment of the method comprises spotting the fluid loss control pill in the well adjacent to a formation to form a filtercake to inhibit fluid entry from the well into the formation, performing a completion operation comprising contacting the filtercake with overbalanced wellbore fluid, and degrading the filtercake wherein the polyester particles are hydrolyzed to remove formation damage.
US08016038B2	Method and apparatus to facilitate formation sampling A downhole tool for extracting a sample from a subsurface formation includes an emitter of electromagnetic energy configured to heat water in the subsurface formation. A method for extracting a sample from a subsurface formation involves conveying a downhole tool in a wellbore drilled through the subsurface formation, the downhole tool having an emitter of electromagnetic energy configured to heat water in the subsurface formation, and actuating the emitter to expose a portion of the formation to electromagnetic energy.
US08016036B2	Tagging a formation for use in wellbore related operations A system for positioning a wellbore tool in a wellbore intersecting a subterranean formation includes a tag embedded in the formation using a tag insertion device. The tag may be configured to transmit a signal that includes information. A wellbore tool may utilize a tag detection device to operatively link with the tag. This operative link may provide an indication of the relative position of the tag detection device or some other information.
US08016033B2	Continuous flow drilling systems and methods In one embodiment, a method for drilling a wellbore includes injecting drilling fluid into a top of a tubular string disposed in the wellbore at a first flow rate. The tubular string includes: a drill bit disposed on a bottom thereof, tubular joints connected together, a longitudinal bore therethrough, and a port through a wall thereof. The drilling fluid exits the drill bit and carries cuttings from the drill bit. The cuttings and drilling fluid (returns) flow to the surface via an annulus defined between the tubular string and the wellbore. The method further includes rotating the drill bit while injecting the drilling fluid; remotely removing a plug from the port, thereby opening the port; and injecting drilling fluid into the port at a second flow rate while adding a tubular joint or stand of joints to the tubular string. The injection of drilling fluid into the tubular string is continuously maintained between drilling and adding the joint or stand to the drill string. The method further includes remotely installing a plug into the port, thereby closing the port. The first and second flow rates may be substantially equal or different.
US08016032B2	Well treatment device, method and system System, devices, and methods are described relating to the treatment (e.g., perforating, fracturing, foam stimulation, acid treatment, cement treatment, etc.) of well-bores (e.g., cased oil and/or gas wells). In at least one example, a method is provided for treatment of a region in a well, the method comprising: positioning, in a well-bore, a packer above the region of the well-bore, fixing, below the region, an expansion packer, treating the region, the treatment fixing the packer, moving the expansion packer, and moving the packer after the moving of the expansion packer.
US08016031B2	Erosion resistant frac head An erosion resistant frac head with a convergence chamber, an expansion chamber and a mixing chamber provides improved resistance to erosion caused by abrasive frac fluids pumped through the frac head. A bottom leg of the erosion resistant frac head may be replaced in the field by field hands.
US08016030B1	Apparatus and method for containing oil from a deep water oil well An apparatus and method for containing oil from a deep water (greater than 1,000 meters) oil well is disclosed herein. The apparatus has an anchor section, a plurality of riser sections, an upper section and a flow tube. A pressure within the apparatus is equal to a pressure outside of the apparatus to prevent collapse of the apparatus, and to prevent crystallization. Oil is suctioned from the interior of the apparatus through the flow tube to a surface of the ocean.
US08016025B2	Heat exchanger and method of mounting The invention involves a heat exchanger in modular circuit board design, with a connecting plate, in particular a charge air cooler, which is located in a housing into which the charge air flows in and out, at which the air flows through the charge air cooler, and at which the housing has a mounting opening into which the charge air cooler can be inserted and installed by means of its connecting plate. The construction improves the absorption of oscillation and vibration, if, according to the invention, the body of the heat exchanger is equipped with mounting devices which work together with corresponding mounting devices in the interior of the housing.
US08016023B2	Method and an apparatus for cooling a computer A method including sensing a temperature of an electronic component in a portable computing device; circulating a fluid between one of a first heat transfer plate and a second heat transfer plate in response to a threshold temperature being sensed; and stopping the circulating in response to sensing a temperature is below the threshold temperature. A heat exchanging system including a first heat transfer plate coupled to an electronic component and to a second heat transfer plate; and a fluid for circulating through one of the first heat transfer plate and the second heat transfer plate in response to a threshold temperature being sensed by a sensor. An apparatus including a heat generating element; a first heat transfer plate coupled to the heat generating element; a second heat transfer plate; and a fluid for circulating through a tube, the first part and the second part of the portable computing device in response to a threshold temperature being sensed by a sensor.
US08016020B2	Oscillating table Oscillating table for thick slab production plants, comprising pairs of bars (8, 8′, 9, 9′), lying on at least one horizontal plane, which constitute the elastic support elements of the ingot mould (3), thus permitting an optimal guiding of the oscillation thereof exclusively in the casting direction (x), said pairs of bars (8, 8′, 9, 9′) constituting a tie rod-strut system working in bending that confers to the table very high torsional and lateral stiffness. It allows a high ingot mould (3) guiding precision thus consenting, for example, wide oscillations exclusively in the axial casting direction.
US08016019B2	Casting method The object of the present invention is to provide a casting method capable of simultaneously attaining the shortening of cycle time and the improvement in casting quality.The pressure allowing the molten metal level to go up to the positions of from P0 to P4 is applied to the molten metal within a molten metal reservoir 1. Then, the pressure of P4 is maintained for a predetermined time. During this time, the molten metal which comes into contact with an upper die 4 is cooled earlier than the molten metal being in contact with another die. Through this cooling the molten metal shrinks. However, since the pressure of P4 is maintained, the molten metal is supplied from the lower side to a shrunk portion, so as not to cause shrinkage cavity or underfill.
US08016018B2	Method of manufacturing a metal matrix composite The present invention relates to a metal matrix composite (MMC) and the method of manufacturing the MMC. The MMC includes a preform formed from a composition having ceramic particles and ceramic fibers. The metal matrix composite also includes a support element formed from a metal where the metal impregnates through the preform. The method of forming the MMC includes the step of extruding the composition through a multi-screw extruder to form an extrudate. The method also includes the step of heating the preform and positioning the preform within a mold. The method further includes the step of heating the metal for forming a molten metal and injecting the molten metal into a cavity of the mold under pressure for infiltrating the preform with the molten metal. The method also includes cooling the molten metal to solidify the molten metal and form the metal matrix composite and removing the metal matrix composite from the mold.
US08016015B2	Garage door lock An overhead opening door lock device for use with existing types of door systems having horizontally hinged panels carried on rollers confined within channeled roller tracks is attached on the interior side of the door and fixes the door in position relative to the roller track. One leg of a U-shaped device is inserted in the hollow interior of a tube that serves as an articulation axis for a pair of hinged panels. The other leg of the U-shaped device penetrates a suitably positioned aperture in the web of the adjacent channeled roller track. A shear pin or padlock shank may be inserted through an aperture in a tip portion of the other leg that projects past the outside plane of the roller track web.
US08016012B2	Flattening mechanism for dry film laminator A flattening mechanism for dry film laminator includes a lower member connected to a dry film laminator. The lower member has a base portion formed thereon. The base portion has a plurality of air holes defined therein. The lower member has a lifting holder movably disposed thereon for holding a wafer. The wafer has a dry film disposed thereon. An upper member is movably disposed above the lower member. The upper member has a pressing portion disposed on a bottom thereof. The pressing portion has a steel plate disposed thereon and a first electric heating layer mounted on a top of the steel. A release film is movably guided between the upper member and the lower member, such that the wafer is lifted to press against the steel plate via the release film for enhancing a lamination of the dry film to the wafer and flattening the dry film.
US08016011B2	Labeling apparatus An object of the present invention is to provide a labeling apparatus that allows a labeling operation to be carried out continuously for a long period without the need of cleaning, even if the easy-to-peel labels are used. To accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a conveying drum for correcting a position of a label applied with glue, while transferring the label. The conveying drum includes a predetermined groove extending circumferentially along an outer surface of the conveying drum.
US08016010B2	Rotary bonding tool which provides a large bond force A die bonder comprises a bond head having a load shaft which passes through the bond head and a collet located at one end of the load shaft for holding a die to be bonded. A bond force motor is operative to drive the load shaft along a travel axis in directions towards and away from a die bonding position. A rotary motor is operative to rotate the load shaft about a rotational axis parallel to the travel axis. A coupler which comprises a bearing couples the load shaft to the bond force motor to allow the load shaft to rotate about the rotational axis relative to the bond force motor.
US08016007B2	Method and apparatus for stringing thin film solar cells The present inventions generally relate to thin film solar cell fabrication, and more particularly, to techniques for interconnecting solar cells based on Group IBIIIAVIA thin film semiconductors. In a particular embodiment, a system is described that positions solar cells and conductive leads with respect to each other so that application of a conductive adhesive and formation of an assembled solar cell string, followed by curing and cooling of the conductive adhesive, can occur in a repeatable manner.
US08016003B2	Container filling assembly A container filling assembly includes a plurality of fluid storage containers, a fluid inlet for supplying a fluid to the containers, a vacuum source for creating a vacuum in the containers to draw the fluid into the containers, and a connective structure for connecting the vacuum source and the fluid source in fluid communication with the containers. Preferably, the container filling assembly is a sterile, closed system.
US08016001B2	Painting material charging device A painting material charging device may comprise a cartridge attaching unit, a painting material supplying path, a first switching unit, a painting material supplying unit, a discharging path, a second switching unit, a painting material sensor and a controlling unit. The controlling unit may be configured to be connected to the painting material sensor and the second switching unit. The controlling unit may be configured to cause the second switching unit to fully close the discharging path in a case where the painting material sensor detects the painting material.
US08016000B2	Processes and systems for transferring particulate substances from containers Preferred processes are provided for unloading a particulate substance from a container using a cover system comprising a cover and a wand extending through the cover. The processes can include installing the cover system on the container so that the cover mates with the container and the wand extends into the particulate substance, connecting a pipe or a hose to the wand, and drawing the particulate substance through the wand and the pipe or hose.
US08015989B2	Method and apparatus for dampening pressure fluctuations in a fluid delivery system A method and apparatus are provided for a cost effective pressure dampening device used in a fluid delivery system for substrate processing. In one embodiment, the pressure dampening device is disposed between a mounting substrate and a control valve within a fluid control assembly in fluid communication with a substrate processing chamber. The pressure dampening device is capable of dampening small pressure perturbations in a process fluid which is used for substrate processing.
US08015985B2	Substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing method using the same A fluid supply pipe is inserted through a motor supporting member, a spin motor, a rotating shaft, and a plate supporting member. A first flange is integrally formed in the vicinity of a curved portion of a straight portion, extending in the vertical direction, of the fluid supply pipe. The first flange is fixed to a motor supporting member. Thus, the fluid supply pipe is fixed to the spin motor through the motor supporting member. The fluid supply pipe has a configuration in which a gas supply pipe made of resin and a plurality of cleaning liquid supply pipes made of resin are accommodated inside a guide pipe made of stainless. Inside the guide pipe, the one gas supply pipe is surrounded by the plurality of cleaning liquid supply pipes.
US08015983B2	Surface treatment apparatus The surface treatment apparatus includes: a supply device for supplying an introduced workpiece to the inside of a treatment cell of a subsequent surface treatment device; a surface treatment device for supplying a surface treatment liquid to the inside of the treatment cell while rotating the treatment cell, thereby performing a surface treatment on the workpiece; a workpiece collection device for inverting the treatment cell, and squirting the inside of the treatment cell with water from below to flow out the workpiece, thereby collecting the workpiece into a collection vessel; a drying device for receiving the collection vessel from the workpiece collection device, and exposing the workpiece within the collection vessel to air, thereby drying the workpiece; and a carrying device for carrying the treatment cell between the surface treatment devices, and between the surface treatment device and the workpiece device, wherein the surface treatment apparatus includes the one or more surface treatment devices.
US08015982B2	Toothbrush and flossing system A toothbrush and flossing system comprising a toothbrush having bristles, a handle, and a removable floss cartridge/container. The handle may comprise a cavity for receiving the floss cartridge; the floss container may comprise all or a portion of the handle; or the floss container may slip externally over the toothbrush handle. The floss cartridge may comprise a housing having a closed end and an open end, with a cap adapted to seal the open end and to protrude from the housing and the cavity with a recessed cutter separated from a floss exit opening in the cap. The cap may have a decorative design, such as in the form of a human, animal, cartoon character, or the like. In another embodiment, an ornamental enclosure is provided that attaches to the handle. Toothbrush embodiments for receiving the floss cartridge and floss cartridge embodiments for use with such toothbrushes are also claimed.
US08015975B2	Spousal positional dependent snoring and positional dependent sleep apnea garment A garment designed to discourage supine sleep which intensifies snoring and apnea levels in some people. Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Snoring occur when the tongue and throat muscles relax during sleep. At that point they fall back and block the airways causing the apneas and worsening snoring. A significant percentage of snoring and OSA is position related and symptoms worsen by sleeping in a supine position. Garment or other embodiments have a (partial) less than ½ of the circumference mounted pouch which allows the insert to self center and pivot on the spine and have movement between shoulders as the user is sleeping and attempts to move towards the back from his or her side. The placement at lower neck area presses slightly against the spine to influence head to tilt up and slightly close mouth while sleeping thereby increasing the airway opening. The insert while comfortable to sleep against is of enough diameter or depth and made of a cushion type of material to discourage supine and encourage side sleeping without any discomfort to user. The garment or other embodiments have frontal body fasteners for ease of putting on and taking off.
US08015974B2	System for providing flow-targeted ventilation synchronized to a patient's breathing cycle An open system provides breath-synchronized, flow-targeted ventilation to augment respiration by a self-breathing patient. A sensor detects a physical property of a patient's respiratory cycle. A processor monitors the sensor and controls a gas source to deliver oxygen-containing gas through a tube extending into the patient's airway with the flow rate varying over each respiratory cycle in a predetermined non-constant waveform synchronized with the respiratory cycle to augment the patient's spontaneous respiration. Gas is delivered at a flow rate sufficient to significantly mitigate the airway pressure the patient must generate during spontaneous breathing and thereby reduce the patient's work of breathing.
US08015970B2	Respirator, welding helmet, or face shield that has low surface energy hard-coat lens A personal safety protective device that includes a lens and a support structure onto which the lens is secured. The lens includes a substrate and a hard-coat layer located on the substrate of the lens. The hard-coat layer has a low surface energy outer surface that is derived from a) an additive that includes at least one of i) a perfluoropolyether urethane that includes hydrolysable silane groups, and ii) an acrylate polymer that includes at least one perfluoropolyether moiety and at least one hydrolysable silane group, and b) a silsesquioxane-based hard-coat composition. The provision of such a lens on a personal safety protective device enables the lens to be durable to abrasion and to be easily cleaned without use of solvents that could shorten the service life of the lens.
US08015968B2	Throwing device A throwing device includes an approximately straight and elongate shaft extending distally from a proximal end thereof to a distal portion of the device. The distal portion includes projectile retainer and a projectile track extending distally from the retainer to a distal tip of the device. The projectile retainer, when in a closed position, holds a projectile in a fixed position with respect to the device. When the shaft is gripped and swung through an arc, and the retainer opens to release the projectile, the projectile is propelled along the projectile track, by the swinging motion.
US08015967B2	Air-fuel ratio control apparatus An air-fuel ratio control apparatus is applied to an internal combustion engine including a variable lift mechanism which changes a lift amount of an intake valve. An oxygen sensor, which outputs a signal indicating an oxygen concentration in exhaust gas, is provided downstream of an exhaust gas purification catalyst in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine. Air-fuel ratio control is performed to correct the fuel injection amount command value using the correction amount that is set based on the value output from the oxygen sensor. The relationship among the deviation of the correction amount from its reference value, the learned small lift value, the learned medium lift value, and the lift amount is learned. The learned deviation value is calculated based on the lift amount, using the learned relationship. Then, the fuel injection amount command value is corrected by the correction amount including the calculated learned deviation value.
US08015966B2	Oil circulating device for internal combustion engine An oil circulating device for an internal combustion engine including a separating-decanting device, a cylinder housing, a pressurized oil feeding pipe circulating pressurized oil to mobile parts of the engine, and a siphon-forming oil return circuit. The oil return circuit includes a canula with an upper end that opens into the separating-decanting device to collect therein decanted oil and a lower end immersed in an oil tank opening freely into a plane located between the upper and lower ends of the canula. The tank includes an insert tightly inserted in a passageway formed through a wall of the pressurized oil feeding pipe, the insert forming simultaneously a closure plug for the oil feeding pipe and for an oil tank.
US08015963B2	Fuel pressure control strategy at engine shutdown A fuel system control method may include determining when an engine transitions from an engine on condition to an engine off condition. The method further includes determining a first fuel pressure in a fuel system of the engine a predetermined time after the determined engine off condition. A fuel injector of the fuel system may be actuated during the engine off condition when the first determined fuel pressure is above a first predetermined pressure limit to bleed fuel from the fuel system and reduce pressure within the fuel system.
US08015962B2	Aircraft engine crankshaft position and angular velocity detection apparatus A crankshaft detection system includes a pickup element mounted to an end of a crankshaft and disposed within a rear portion of the aircraft engine's crankcase. The crankshaft detection system also includes pickup element sensor secured to a mounting location formed in the rear portion of the aircraft engine's crankcase and disposed in proximity to the pickup element. As the crankshaft rotates the pickup element relative to the pickup element sensor, the pickup element causes the pickup element sensor to generate a signal indicative of the angular velocity and rotational position of the crankshaft. In order to optimize engine performance, in response to the signal, the controller controls a spark event associated with each the cylinder assembly of the engine such that ignition of the fuel and air mixture occurs within each cylinder assembly at a time prior to each piston of each cylinder assembly reaching a top dead center position.
US08015959B2	Valve shaft support structure for variable intake manifold A valve shaft support structure is closed to improve its durability, lower its manufacturing cost and improve its quality, in which a valve shaft interposed between runners is formed as an eccentric shaft integrally formed with a valve. A valve and a valve shaft are formed in a body to support the valve. An eccentric circular protrusion is formed in a center portion of the valve shaft, and divided manifold bodies support the eccentric circular protrusion. The valve shaft and the manifold bodies are repeatedly in contact or non-contact with each other when the valve is opened or closed.
US08015958B2	Active intake manifold flap cartridge and method An active intake manifold system includes at least one flap cartridge assembly having a unitary cartridge housing including one or more flap valve housings. A flap valve is rotatable in the aperture of the flap valve housing between an open state and a closed state. A shaft is provided extending through the mounting ear apertures of the flap valves so that the flap valves change state in unison. A plurality of air intake runners provides air flow communication between the outlets of the flap valve housings and the cylinder intake valves of the engine. Each intake runner includes a main runner portion that then splits into a plurality of tracts of differing lengths with each tract tuned to a different predetermined engine speed and having a length and volume selected to optimize engine performance at the predetermined speed. The flap valves may be automatically operated by an actuator under control of an engine control system.
US08015948B2	Canine protective suit and method of use thereof A canine protective suit comprising a face mask, a upper body protector and a lower body protector, wherein the face mask is removably secured to the upper body protector, and wherein the lower body protector is removably secured to the upper body protector. The upper body protector comprises elastic bands, wherein the elastic bands secure at least two front leg panels. Similarly, the lower body protector comprises elastic bands, wherein the elastic bands secure at least two back leg panels. To use, a canine's two front legs are placed into the two front leg panels as the upper body protector is placed on the canine. Similarly, the canine's rear legs are inserted into the back leg panels as the lower body protector is installed on the canine. The face mask is then disposed on the canine's face and secured to the upper body protector.
US08015947B2	Animal harness A harness for inhibiting an animal from straining against a leash and inducing the animal to come to a halt or to a walk or run at a pace acceptable to the animal handler is provided. The harness may include a longitudinal strap having a set of loop straps extending from the longitudinal strap for placing around the body of the animal. Each loop strap in the set of loop straps may be adjustable to fit the size of the animal on which it is placed so that the harness may be suitable for animals of varying sizes. A continuous cord may be secured to the set of loop straps defining a front restraining member and a back restraining member. Pulling upwards on the cord causes the front and back restraining members to pull inward applying pressure to the front and back legs of the animal to restrain the animal.
US08015946B2	Cage free nest A cage free nest has nest bottoms that have raised/rounded portions proximate to the entranceways into the cage free nest. A ramp extends from a surface to connect to the nest bottoms proximate to the entranceway. Both the nest bottoms and the ramp are formed of a non-slip, woven galvanized steel wire. The cage free nest also has upper and lower top panels that make up a roof assembly of the cage free nest. The lower top panels can be moved relative to the upper top panels to an opened/raised position by a cable assembly to allow for visual inspection into the cage free nest through the entranceways. The upper top panels can be moved relative to the lower top panels to an opened/raised position to allow for visual inspection into the cage free nest through the roof assembly.
US08015945B1	Feeder with adjustable mounting apparatus An adjustable feeder attachable to a feed hopper includes a base plate that is connected to a motor. A series of recessions are evenly spaced along the outer edge of the base plate, and a plurality of arms are evenly disposed about outer edge of said base plate corresponding to the recessions. Each arm has a proximal end connected to the base plate and a distal end pivotable about the proximal end from a confined position proximate the base plate to an extended position away from the base plate. When the arms are in the confined position, the feeder is easily stored and transported. When the arms are in the extended position, the feeder is connectable to the bottom surface of the feed hopper, with a funnel attached to said base plate being positioned proximate a dispersing aperture in said feed hopper. Feed will travel through the funnel to a spin plate connected to the motor for the spin plate to distribute feed to the area surrounding the feeder.
US08015940B2	Coater/developer, method of coating and developing resist film, and computer readable storing medium A transfer flow is produced in accordance with a process recipe of a process to be carried out. In the transfer flow, a type of modules listed in accordance with a substrate transfer order is associated with a necessary staying time from when the substrate is transferred into a module by a substrate transfer unit to when the substrate is ready to be transferred back to the substrate transfer unit after the corresponding process is finished. A cycle limiting time is determined to be the longest necessary transfer cycle time among those obtained by dividing the necessary staying time by the number of the modules mounted in the coater/developer. The number of the modules to be used is determined to be a value obtained by dividing the necessary staying time by the cycle limiting time or a nearest integer to which the value is raised.
US08015935B2	Watercraft control apparatus In one embodiment, a watercraft control apparatus according to the present invention includes a control member that operates a power-consuming unit or load. The control member is operably connected to the power-consuming unit or load through a drive member that transmits a control force and/or a displacement from the control member to the power-consuming unit or load. The watercraft control apparatus further includes an actuator for actuating the power-consuming unit and a magnetic unit for transducing the force and/or the displacement of the control member into a corresponding electric/electronic signal for a corresponding operation of the actuator.
US08015933B2	Apparatus with double-shoot single pass implement A planting unit for depositing fertilizer and seed in a single pass, double shoot manner includes a rotating disc that cuts a furrow in a planting surface and a trailing seed boot, having a cutting edge, that cuts a vertically and horizontally offset trench in the furrow to form a seed bed in the planting surface. The disc has a mounting frame for mounting the disc to a linkage assembly that is, in turn, coupled to a toolbar mount. The seed boot is also attached to the mounting frame. This common attachment provides a relatively short and compact device without sacrificing fertilizer and seed stratification.
US08015931B2	Quick and easy assembly shelving unit and method for assembling the same A shelving unit includes a support frame and a plurality of support boards each mounted on the support frame. The support frame includes a front support bracket, a back board located opposite to the front support bracket, four first connecting tubes each having a first end connected with the respective corner of the front support bracket, and four second connecting tubes each having a first end connected with a second end of the respective first connecting tube and a second end connected with the respective corner of the back board. Thus, the shelving unit can be assembled and disassembled without using tools, thereby facilitating assembling the shelving unit. In addition, the shelving unit can be folded into a smaller overall volume to reduce the cost of packaging, transportation and storage of the shelving unit.
US08015930B2	Quick and easy assembly shelving unit and method for assembling the same A shelving unit includes a support frame and a plurality of support boards each detachably mounted on the support frame. The support frame includes a front support bracket, a first connecting bracket having a first end connected with a first end of the front support bracket, a second connecting bracket having a first end connected with a second end of the front support bracket, and a back board having a first end connected with a second end of the first connecting bracket and a second end connected with a second end of the second connecting bracket. Thus, the shelving unit can be assembled and disassembled without using tools, thereby facilitating a user assembling the shelving unit. In addition, the shelving unit can be folded into a smaller volume and reduces the cost of packaging, transportation and storage of the shelving unit.
US08015927B1	Cleaning tray A cleaning tray for removably engaging a table outer edge which has a parallelepiped main body having two internal wedges therein, a removable receptacle for receiving trash centered in the main body, and a rectangular compartment for holding cleaning supplies, the compartment attached to a rear side of the main body.
US08015923B2	Large calibre ammunition loaded via rear An ammunition comprising a projectile attached to a combustible skirt and enclosed by a base, a linking dome being provided between the skirt and the base, wherein the linking dome includes a first outer wall contacting with the skirt and a second outer wall extending from the first one and contacting with the base, and wherein the dome comprises a unit to ensure its joining with the skirt, the unit being able to be bent back by the base onto an outer wall of the combustible skirt when the base is disposed over the linking dome.
US08015917B1	Food product carrier A food processing system includes a food processing chamber for processing a food product, such as meat products such as hot dogs, sausages, poultry, fish, and other food items. A high speed serial to parallel loading station delivery system is provided. The food product is loaded onto a conveyor in the processing chamber having a plurality of two-piece food product cradles having openings receiving the food product at the loading station and discharging the food product at the unloading station and having gaps between food product carriers distally oppositely spaced from the openings and defining food product cavities therebetween, the width of the openings varying during traversal of the conveyor through the chamber from the loading to the unloading stations.
US08015916B2	Toaster chassis Provided is a toaster chassis, comprising at least one heating chamber, a pair of steel meshes, a bread-elevating mechanism, a pair of supporting plates, a pair of grooves, a pair of sliding rods and an extension spring; wherein the supporting plates are disposed on both ends of the heating chamber, the grooves are disposed on the supporting plate, the sliding rods are disposed on the steel mesh, pass through the supporting plate and abut against the grooves, the extension spring is disposed below the bread-elevating mechanism, and both ends of the extension spring are connected to the sliding rods. The invention is applicable for breads with different thickness and capable of ensuring uniformity of heat and consistency of colors on both sides and the upper and lower portion of each thereof.
US08015915B2	Wine fermentation vessel with lees containment apparatus There is provided a fermentation apparatus that allows the separation of a wine, beer or other brewed or fermented beverage from its lees using a single container. The vessel can be used in wine making operation and is constructed so that the lees that settle out during fermentation may be mechanically trapped at the bottom of the vessel and the wine then removed, typically through a spigot, without contamination by the entrapped lees.
US08015914B2	Pneumatic lift apparatus A pneumatic lift apparatus has a main body including a body tube, with a cross-section of the body tube being neither a perfect circle nor a polygon. A restricting device is slidably mounted on the body tube of the main body, with the body tube restricted not to rotate relative to the restricting device. The restricting device is coupled to an end of a housing, with the main body inserted through the restricting device and received in the housing, with the main body fixed in the housing opposite to the restricting device.
US08015912B2	Diaphragm pump having a twist and lock fastener A diaphragm pump for a pumped shower waste, comprises a diaphragm housing (12), a diaphragm (34) removably held in the diaphragm housing (12), an openable cover (16) on the diaphragm housing (12) for accessing the diaphragm (34), an electric motor (14), a connecting member (40) positioned in the diaphragm housing (12) and movable by the electric motor (14), and a non-screw-threaded twist and lock fastener (62) which releasably engages the diaphragm (34) with the connecting member (40). The diaphragm (34) can thus be disengaged and removed from the connecting member (40) without the use of a screwdriver.
US08015909B2	Ballistic armor A composite armor plate with a layer of pellets in a binder matrix, the pellets having domed front and planar back end and a reduced weight. A method of producing the plate comprises providing front and back layers, applying binder material to the pellets and the layers, and heating the binder material to form the matrix and bind the front and back layers thereto. Each pellet may be coated with a primer adapted to facilitate the binding.
US08015903B2	Method for cutting braking surface of wheel bearing device equipped with brake rotor In cutting the braking surface of a brake rotor-equipped wheel bearing device, which includes an outer member having a car body attaching flange in the outer periphery, an inner member having a wheel attaching flange in the outer periphery, a plurality of rows of rolling bodies incorporated between the two members and rotatably supporting the inner member, and a brake rotor attached to the wheel attaching flange, the cutting is performed such that subsequently to assembling the wheel bearing device in its mounted state, the end surface of a wheel pilot formed in the inner member is finish-cut. The brake rotor is then attached to the wheel attaching flange, whereupon the braking surface of the brake rotor is cut with the outer diameter of the wheel pilot gripped relative to the end surface of the wheel pilot.
US08015902B2	Machine tool and workpiece inner surface machining method using the machine tool To provide a machine tool including a workpiece inner surface machining tool which is not only capable of machining an inner surface of a workpiece into a spherical shape but also capable of machining a bearing surface which is a flat surface and machining the combination of a spherical surface and a flat surface. A machine tool 1 machines a surface to be machined m1 located on an inner surface of a workpiece 21 by a tool 20 having: a supporting member 22; a cutting tool 23 which is supported to be pivotable about a support shaft 19 located on a plane b′ perpendicular to an axis a of the supporting member 22 and has a cutting edge 23a at one end; a drive shaft 24 pivoting the cutting tool 23 by moving in an axis a direction; and a link member 25. The tool 20 is supported by a tool post 5, the drive shaft 24 is movable in the axial direction by the movable base 4, and an axial position of the movable base 4 and an axial position of the tool post 5 are controlled so as to cause a machining point P by the cutting edge 23a to move along a desired machining line while the workpiece 21 is rotated by the spindle headstock 3.
US08015900B2	Split-torque gear box A split torque gearbox system provides a multiple path, three stage power gear train that transmits torque from a high-speed engine to a low speed output shaft, while providing equal gear load distribution with a floating pinion in the second stage of reduction. The number of the split modules in the gearbox depends on gearbox configuration, number of high speed input shafts, and transmitted power. The split modules are located around a last stage output gear that combines power from each module and transmits the power to an output such as a main rotor system.

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