| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08021894B2 |
Retentate chromatography and protein chip arrays with applications in biology and medicine
This invention provides methods of retentate chromatography for resolving analytes in a sample. The methods involve adsorbing the analytes to a substrate under a plurality of different selectivity conditions, and detecting the analytes retained on the substrate by desorption spectrometry. The methods are useful in biology and medicine, including clinical diagnostics and drug discovery. |
| US08021893B2 |
Molecular recognition polymer enabling reconstruction of recognition field for target molecule and method of producing the same
A molecular recognition polymer enabling the reconstruction of the recognition field for a target molecule which is produced by applying the molecular imprinting method is disclosed. A molecular recognition polymer enabling the reconstruction of the recognition field for a target molecule which has a molecule interacting with the target molecule in the polymer and in which the recognition field for a target molecule has been constructed and the above-described molecule interacting with the target molecule is detachable and replaceable. This molecular recognition polymer can be produced by synthesizing a complex of the target molecule with a molecule capable of specifically and reversibly binding to the target molecule, copolymerizing this complex with a molecule interacting with the target molecule and a crosslinking agent to give a polymer, and then detaching the target molecule and the molecule interacting with the target molecule from the polymer thus obtained. |
| US08021885B2 |
Method for the determination of the oxidative stability of a lubricating fluid
The present invention concerns a method for the determination of the oxidative stability of a lubricating fluid, comprising the steps of: introducing a sample of the lubricating fluid under test in an reaction cell; introducing catalytic amounts of a catalyst to the reaction cell; heating the cell to the oxidation temperature of the lubricating fluid and maintaining this temperature; delivering oxygen containing gas at constant flow rate through the cell over the course of the reaction; delivering a gas comprising nitrogen dioxide at a constant flow rate through the cell for a specified time; applying and maintaining a specified vacuum on the reaction cell; allowing the mixture to react for a specified time; measuring the viscosity of the oxidized lubricating fluid. Additionally, the present invention describes an apparatus for the determination of the oxidative stability of a lubricating fluid. |
| US08021882B2 |
Production of neural protective and regenerative factors from stem cells and treatment of nervous system conditions therewith
A method for producing stem cell conditioned media for treatment of neurological insults is provided herein. By providing for the culture of adipose stem cells, and collecting the supernatants thereof, the supernatants have been shown to effect biological activity in preventing neural death when the supernatants are administered to a patient that has or is about to be subjected to a neural insult. |
| US08021875B2 |
Methods for expression of transgenes
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for increasing long term expression in vitro and in vivo, comprising sequences and gene expression cassettes that increase expression of genes to which they are operably linked. |
| US08021872B2 |
Flow cytometry for high throughput screening
The present invention, provides a flow cytometry apparatus for the detection of particles from a plurality of samples comprising: means for moving a plurality of samples comprising particles from a plurality of respective source wells into a fluid flow stream; means for introducing a separation gas between each of the plurality of samples in the fluid flow stream; and means for selectively analyzing each of the plurality of samples for the particles. The present invention also provides a flow cytometry method employing such an apparatus. |
| US08021864B2 |
Biomass-resource-derived polyester and production process thereof
The present invention provides a resin capable of contributing greatly to solve environmental problems and problems related to exhaustion of fossil fuel resources and having physical properties suited for practical use.The polyester according to the present invention has a diol and a dicarboxylic acid as constituent components and has an amount of terminal acid of 50 equivalents/metric ton or less. |
| US08021862B2 |
Process for preparing human G-CSF
The present invention discloses an improved process for the production of G-CSF in high yield via a high salt-induced increase in plasmid stability during the production phase. |
| US08021860B2 |
Method for producing human antibodies to a self physiological receptor by site-directed in vitro immunization of human lymphocytes
A method for obtaining agonist, antagonist and inverse agonist, to a given physiological receptor is disclosed. For the method, use is made of in silico design synthetic immunogens, which are caused to act in vitro on human lymphocyte-containing cell populations. A preferred receptor is human CD152, particularly the regions of CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 that elicit antibodies serving as antagonist, inverse agonist and agonist, respectively. Also provided is a method in the treatment of human peripheral lymphocytes for use in the screening of CD152 ligands that yield pharmacological effects. |
| US08021859B2 |
Modified clostridial toxins with altered targeting capabilities for clostridial toxin target cells
The specification discloses modified Clostridial toxins comprising a Clostridial toxin enzymatic domain, a Clostridial toxin translocation domain and an enhanced Clostridial toxin binding domain; polynucleotide molecules encoding such modified Clostridial toxins; and method of producing such modified Clostridial toxins. |
| US08021850B2 |
Universal tandem solid-phases based immunoassay
Universal tandem solid-phases based immunoassay (UTSIA) is a sandwich-ELISA equivalent assay for low abundance antigen determination that overcomes limitations of sandwich-ELISA (antibody inactivation by solid phase and strict requirement of a pair of primary and secondary antibodies) by using an affinity binding solid phase to capture antigen specifically from a fluid sample, sequentially dissociating the antigen, transferring, and coating the antigen to a non-affinity binding solid phase for specific antigen determination. Cell-based UTSIA is a cell-based ELISA equivalent assay that overcomes limitations of image method for determining an antigen in the cells or tissue immobilized on a solid phase by dissociating and transferring the detection antibody bound on the antigen of the cells or tissue immobilized on the solid phase to a second solid phase and immobilizing the detection antibody there for specific detection of the antigen via the detection of the detection antibody. |
| US08021844B2 |
Enzymatic labeling of RNA
Methods are described in which a sample containing RNA is contacted with an enzyme having an RNA ligation activity in the presence of a labeled substrate to provide labeled RNA. Methods of performing an array analysis of a labeled RNA sample are also described. |
| US08021838B2 |
Transcriptional regulation of target genes
The present invention describes a method of identifying inducible genetic regulatory sequences that can control the transcription of specific gene transcripts. Methods of using inducible genetic regulatory sequences are also discussed. In particular, the genetic regulatory sequences of the present invention can modulate the transcription of a nucleic acid transcript in vivo. |
| US08021836B2 |
Method of diagnosing infectious disease by measuring the level of soluble TREM-1 in a sample
The present invention concerns a method of diagnosing disease of bacterial or fungal origin in a subject, which method comprises the step of measuring the level of Strem-1 in a biological sample obtained from said subject. |
| US08021835B2 |
HCV coreceptor and methods of use thereof
The invention relates to the discovery that the Claudin-1 protein functions as a co-receptor for entry of HCV into cells. Methods of inhibiting, preventing or mitigating HCV infections by inhibiting HCV interactions with Claudin-1 are provided. Methods of identifying agents or compounds that interfere with HCV interactions with Claudin-1 are also provided. Finally, useful kits, cell culture compositions, agents, and compounds related to the inhibition of HCV interactions with Claudin-1 are also disclosed. |
| US08021834B2 |
Use of microparticles combined with submicron oil-in-water emulsions
Compositions are provided which include biodegradable microparticles with entrapped or adsorbed antigens, in combination with submicron oil-in-water emulsions. Also provided are methods of immunization which comprise administering to a vertebrate subject (a) a submicron oil-in-water emulsion, and (b) a therapeutically effective amount of a selected antigen entrapped in a microparticle. |
| US08021833B2 |
Method for reducing HIV viral budding by administering a VPS28-specfic antibody that disrupts Gag-TSG101-VPS28 binding interactions
The importance of interaction between TSG101 and Vps28 in the release of HIV-1 and other viruses is disclosed. Suppressing or interfering in this interaction may inhibit HIV-1 virion release from infected cells. Agents that modulate this interaction include antibodies that bind to Vps28, polypeptides that bind to Vps28, and nucleic acids that may be used in gene therapy to interfere with the expression of wild type Vps28. Administration of such agents in vitro for screening and diagnostic purposes, and in vivo for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, is disclosed. |
| US08021830B2 |
Method for increasing plasma volume by administering a plasma expander comprising basic alpha keratose
A liquid plasma expander or resuscitation fluid composition for use in a subject in need thereof, comprising, consisting of; or consisting essentially of: (a) a keratin derivative (preferably alpha keratose, gamma keratose, or combinations thereof, and with basic alpha keratose preferred over acidic alpha keratose); and (b) an electrolyte solution, with the keratin derivative solubilized in the electrolyte solution to form a homogeneous liquid composition. Blood substitutes formed therefrom and methods of making and using the same are also described. |
| US08021827B2 |
Materials for lithographic plates coatings, lithographic plates and coatings containing same, methods of preparation and use
This invention relates to iodonium salts, acetal copolymers and polymer binders comprising functional groups capable of undergoing cationic or radical polymerization, their method of preparation and their use in the preparation of coating solutions and coatings. This invention also relates to coatings containing the iodonium salts, acetal copolymers and/or polymer binders and to negative working lithographic printing plates comprising these coatings. |
| US08021821B2 |
Photosensitive conductive paste for transferring and photosensitive transfer sheet
A photosensitive conductive paste for transferring including a metal powder, an inorganic material powder, a photosensitive resin and a polymerization initiator, and to be applied onto a surface of a transfer support, comprising an acrylic resin or a rosin-based resin. |
| US08021818B2 |
Printing plate, method of manufacturing of printing plate and liquid crystal display device using the same
A printing plate to form a precise pattern, a method for manufacturing the printing plate, and a method for fabricating an LCD device using the printing plate in which the printing plate includes a substrate having at least one trench and sidewall elements formed at an inner perimeter of the at least one trench. |
| US08021817B2 |
Aggregate dispersant, method of manufacturing aggregate of resin-containing particles, toner, developer, developing apparatus, and image forming apparatus
A toner in form of aggregate of resin-containing particles is manufactured by aggregating the resin-containing particles which contain binder resin and the colorant, with the aid of an aggregate dispersant containing a polymer in which anionic polar groups are bonded to a main chain. To be specific, salt of divalent or higher valent metal is added to a slurry of the resin-containing particles so that a metal ion and the anionic polar group are bonded to each other, and a temperature of the slurry is increased so that a bond between the anionic polar group and a water molecule is broken. This decreases water-solubility of the polymer so that the resin-containing particles are aggregated. |
| US08021811B2 |
Photoreceptor and method of making same
Disclosed is an electrophotographic photoreceptor having a protective overcoat layer including a polyol binder; a hole transport material; a curing agent; and a surface-treated tin oxide particle filler. Also disclosed is a process for forming a photoreceptor that includes providing a photoreceptor substrate; applying a charge generating layer; applying a charge transport layer; and applying a protective overcoating layer over the substrate; such that the protective overcoat layer includes a polyol binder; a hole transport material; a curing agent; and a surface-treated tin oxide particle filler. Also included is a method of forming an image, including the disclosed photoreceptor. |
| US08021807B2 |
Reflective mask blank and method of producing the same, and method of producing a reflective mask
A reflective mask blank has a substrate, a multilayer reflective film formed on the substrate to reflect exposure light, a protective film formed on the multilayer reflective film, and an absorber film formed on the protective film to absorb the exposure light. The protective film is made of an Ru compound containing Ru and X (X being at least one kind of material selected from Nb and Zr). The protective film has an oxidized surface layer containing X as a main component. A reflective mask is obtained by forming a transfer pattern by patterning the absorber film of the reflective mask blank. |
| US08021805B2 |
Backside phase grating mask and method for manufacturing the same
A mask includes mask patterns formed over a frontside of a substrate and a phase grating formed over a backside of the substrate. The mask patterns correspond to a layout of diagonal patterns extending in a direction rotated toward a predetermined direction from an axis of a rectangular coordinate system. The phase grating extends in a direction parallel to the extending direction of the mask patterns. The phase grating includes first and second phase regions alternately arranged over the backside of the substrate with a phase difference of 180° therebetween. The first and second phase regions induce a phase interference that blocks a zero-order light of an exposure light incident to the substrate and allows a primary light to be incident to the mask patterns. |
| US08021804B2 |
Photomask manufacturing method
A photomask manufacturing method includes a defect information storage step of storing defect information of a mask blank, provided with an identification marker on an end face thereof, into an information storage device in correspondence to the identification marker, a placing orientation determination step of determining a placing orientation of the mask blank with respect to an exposure/writing apparatus, and an orientation correction step of performing rotation control of a rotating apparatus so that an orientation of the mask blank coincides with the determined placing orientation. |
| US08021801B2 |
Method for fabricating photomask in semiconductor device
In a method for fabricating a photomask in a semiconductor device, a phase shift layer, a first light blocking layer, an insulating (or intermediate) layer, and a second light blocking layer are deposited on a transparent substrate. A photoresist pattern selectively exposing a surface of the second light blocking layer is formed. A second light blocking pattern exposing a portion of the insulating layer is formed by etching the second light blocking layer using the photoresist pattern as a mask. A critical dimension (CD) of the second light blocking pattern is measured and the CD of the second light blocking pattern is adjusted. A first light blocking pattern and a phase shift pattern are formed by etching the insulating layer, the first light blocking layer, and the phase shift layer using the second light blocking pattern with the adjusted CD as a mask. A photomask pattern having a light blocking region and a transmitting region is formed by removing the second light blocking region and the insulating layer. |
| US08021798B2 |
Fuel cell electrocatalyst of Pt-Zn-Ni/Fe
A fuel cell catalyst containing platinum, zinc, and at least one of nickel and iron. |
| US08021794B2 |
Fuel cell with cross-shaped reformer
A fuel cell has a high heat recovery efficiency for effectively collecting heat discharged from a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell includes a power generating cell and a separator which are alternately laminated to constitute a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stacks are disposed in the central area of a power generating reaction chamber to form two columns-by-two rows array in a plan view. A cross-shaped fuel reformer is arranged between the opposing sides of the fuel cell stacks. |
| US08021793B2 |
Hydrogen producing apparatus and fuel cell system using the same
A hydrogen producing apparatus according to the present invention includes a hydrogen-generating-material containing vessel 1 for containing a hydrogen generating material, a water containing vessel 2 for containing water, a water supply portion for supplying water from the water containing vessel 2 to the hydrogen-generating-material containing vessel 1, a hydrogen outflow portion for leading out hydrogen from the hydrogen-generating-material containing vessel 1, a gas-liquid separating part 7 for separating water from a mixture of hydrogen and water discharged from the hydrogen-generating-material containing vessel 1, and a water collecting portion for collecting water separated by the gas-liquid separating part 7 into the water containing vessel 2. |
| US08021792B2 |
Fuel cell system having at least one fuel cell
A fuel cell system (1) including at least one fuel cell (2) having a cathode area (3) and an anode area (4) is disclosed. The cathode area (3) and the anode area (4) have feed conduits (31, 41) and discharge conduits (32, 42). Downstream of the anode area (4) and the cathode area (3), a junction (12) of the discharge conduits (32, 42) is provided. The junction (12) fluidically communicates with an area (13) which includes a material that is catalytically active with respect to a reaction of a fuel for the fuel cell (2) with an oxidant for the fuel cell (2). The feed conduit (31) leading to the cathode area (3) is configured in such a manner that it fluidically communicates with the cathode area (3) in at least two different sites (19, 20) in each of the fuel cells (2). A humidifying device (16) is provided in the feed conduit (41) leading to the anode area (4). |
| US08021791B1 |
Carbonate solvent for electrolytes in lithium and lithium ion cells
An electrochemical cell includes an anode composed of a salt, a cathode insulated from the anode and a non-aqueous electrolyte in contact with the anode. The electrolyte may include an organic solvent that comprises at least approximately one percent by volume trimethylene carbonate. |
| US08021789B2 |
Microporous membrane and manufacturing method
A microporous membrane having a structure in which its pore size distribution curve obtained by mercury intrusion porosimetry has at least two peaks, which is produced by extruding a combination of a diluent or solvent and a polyolefin resin composition comprising (a) from about 74 to about 99% of a first polyethylene resin having a weight average molecular weight of from about 2.5×105 to about 5×105 and a molecular weight distribution of from about 5 to about 100, (b) from about 1 to about 5% of a second polyethylene resin having a weight average molecular weight of from about 5×105 to about 1×106 and a molecular weight distribution of from about 5 to about 100, and (c) from 0 to about 25% of a polypropylene resin having a weight average molecular weight of from about 3×105 to about 1.5×106, a molecular weight distribution of from about 1 to about 100, and a heat of fusion of 80 J/g or higher, percentages based on the mass of the polyolefin composition; cooling the extrudate to form a high polyolefin content cooled extrudate; stretching the cooled extrudate in at least one direction at a high stretching temperature to form a stretched sheet; removing at least a portion of the diluent or solvent from the stretched sheet to form a membrane; stretching the membrane to a high magnification in at least one direction to form a stretched membrane; and heat-setting the stretched membrane to form the microporous membrane. |
| US08021788B2 |
Secondary battery having electrode for improvement of stability during overcharge
Disclosed herein is a secondary battery including an electrode assembly that can be charged and discharged, wherein the electrode assembly includes an electrode (‘safety electrode’) composed of a material that effects an electrochemical reaction when the secondary battery is overcharged (Overcharge reaction material’). The safety electrode according to the present invention is not directly added to components related to the operation of the secondary battery. Consequently, the safety electrode does not deteriorate the performance of the battery during the normal operation of the battery, and the safety electrode consumes the overcharge current through the electrochemical reaction, when the battery is overcharged, whereby the safety of the battery is fundamentally secured. |
| US08021785B2 |
Cathode active material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery and its production method
Provided are a cathode active material with high safety, with high discharge capacity even at high operating voltage, and with excellent cyclic charge and discharge properties, its production method and a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery containing the cathode active material.The cathode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises a surface-modified lithium-containing composite oxide particle, wherein the particle is a lithium-containing composite oxide particle represented by the general formula LipNxO2 (wherein N═NiyM1-y-zLz, M contains at least one element selected from Co and Mn, L is an element selected from alkaline earth metal elements, aluminum and transition metal elements other than Ni, Co and Mn, 0.9≦p≦1.1, 0.9≦x<1.1, 0.2≦y≦0.9, and 0≦z≦0.3), and a surface layer of the particle contains aluminum, said surface layer within 5 nm having an aluminum content of at least 0.8 as an atomic ratio to a total of Ni and the element M. |
| US08021781B2 |
Jelly-roll type electrode assembly and secondary battery employing the same
A jelly-roll type electrode assembly having a negative electrode plate having a negative electrode coated portion coated with a negative electrode active material layer, and a negative electrode uncoated portion disposed at an end of the negative electrode plate that is near a center of the electrode assembly, a positive electrode plate having a positive electrode coated portion coated with a negative electrode active material layer, and a positive electrode uncoated portion disposed at an end of the positive electrode plate that is near the center of the electrode assembly, a separator between the negative electrode plate and the positive electrode plate, and a negative electrode tab and a positive electrode tab electrically connected to the negative electrode uncoated portion and the positive electrode uncoated portion, respectively, wherein a width of the negative electrode uncoated portion is approximately 2 to 3 times that of the negative electrode tab. |
| US08021780B2 |
Electrical connection device for an output terminal of a storage battery
A storage battery (1) includes a container (2) containing an electrochemical stack (9) comprising alternating positive and negative electrodes flanking electrolyte-impregnated separators. A current output terminal (7) passes through a lid (5) of the container. A connector (10), which electrically connects the electrodes of one polarity to the terminal (7) passing through the lid, includes a flat connection (15) welded to the electrodes and an elastic connection (20) which nests into the terminal (7) passing through the lid. Manufacture of a sealed storage battery is simplified by obviating a manual operation of inserting and bending an elongated connection tab inside the container. |
| US08021778B2 |
Electrochemical apparatus with barrier layer protected substrate
The present invention relates to apparatus, compositions and methods of fabricating high performance thin-film batteries on metallic substrates, polymeric substrates, or doped or undoped silicon substrates by fabricating an appropriate barrier layer composed, for example, of barrier sublayers between the substrate and the battery part of the present invention thereby separating these two parts chemically during the entire battery fabrication process as well as during any operation and storage of the electrochemical apparatus during its entire lifetime. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention thin-film batteries fabricated onto a thin, flexible stainless steel foil substrate using an appropriate barrier layer that is composed of barrier sublayers have uncompromised electrochemical performance compared to thin-film batteries fabricated onto ceramic substrates when using a 700° C. post-deposition anneal process for a LiCoO2 positive cathode. |
| US08021777B2 |
Battery device and electronic apparatus
A battery apparatus and electronic equipment in which the battery apparatus has a characteristic compatible with the electronic equipment can be suitably attached to the electronic equipment. In a battery apparatus, an identification section of the battery apparatus serves to identify a characteristic of the battery apparatus, and which is provided on an end surface and on both sides of a battery-side terminal in the width direction of the battery apparatus. The identification section is configured with identification recesses formed in a manner open to the end surface, and at least one of the positions, cross-sectional shapes, and lengths on the end surface of the identification recesses, is formed on the basis of the characteristic of the battery apparatus. The cross-sectional shape and length of the identification recess is formed on the basis of the characteristic of the battery apparatus. |
| US08021774B2 |
Secondary battery and method of fabricating the same
A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly and a can having an opening at one end of the can. The electrode assembly is housed in the can. A cap plate seals the opening. The cap plate includes an electrolyte injection hole. An electrode terminal is coupled to the cap plate electrical connecting the electrode terminal and the electrode assembly. A gasket is located between the electrode terminal and the cap plate to insulate the electrode terminal from the cap plate. A plug seals the electrolyte injection hole, the plug being coated with an elastic film. |
| US08021772B2 |
Preservation assembly of polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack
A preservation assembly of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack is provided. The assembly includes an uninstalled polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack and sealing units. The uninstalled polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack is provided with an oxidizing agent passage having an inlet and an outlet and extending through a cathode and a reducing agent passage having an inlet and an outlet and extending through an anode. The sealing units include sealing plugs or containers and are configured to seal the inlet and the outlet of the oxidizing agent passage within which an oxygen concentration has been decreased and to seal the inlet and the outlet of the reducing agent passage within which the oxygen concentration has been decreased. The uninstalled polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack is in a state before an assembled polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack is incorporated into a fuel cell system. |
| US08021767B2 |
4-arylfluorene compound and organic light-emitting device using same
The present invention provides a high-performance organic light-emitting device, and a novel organic compound for use in the device. The novel compound of the present invention is a 4-arylfluorene compound having a specific structure. The organic light-emitting device of the present invention is an organic light-emitting device including: a pair of electrodes comprising an anode and a cathode; and an organic compound layer interposed between the pair of electrodes, wherein the organic compound layer contains the 4-arylfluorene compound. |
| US08021764B2 |
Phenylcarbazole-based compound and organic electroluminescent device employing the same
A phenylcarbazole-based compound is represented by Formula 1, and has superior electric properties and charge transport abilities, and thus is useful as a hole injection material, a hole transport material, and/or an emitting material which is suitable for fluorescent and phosphorescent devices of all colors, including red, green, blue, and white colors. The phenylcarbazole-based compound is synthesized by reacting carbazole with diamine. The organic electroluminescent device manufactured using the phenylcarbazole-based compound has high efficiency, low voltage, high luminance, and a long lifespan. |
| US08021760B2 |
Polymeric film with low blocking and high slip properties
A film includes first and second outer layers, a core layer, and first and second substrate layers, each layer including a polymer; at least one of the substrate layers includes an amidic wax, and at least one of the outer layers includes an amidic wax present in an amount of 1% to 50% of the amount of wax in the first and second substrate layers respectively. The wax can be blended with a transition metal salt of stearic acid, or ester of stearic acid. Alternatively, a film includes first and second outer layers, and a substrate layer, each layer including a polymer; at least one of the first outer layer, second outer layer, and substrate layer including a blend of an amidic wax, and a transition metal salt of stearic acid, or ester of stearic acid. |
| US08021759B1 |
Heat shrinkable films containing single site catalyzed copolymers
The present invention is directed to a heat-shrinkable, thermoplastic film or bag which contains at least one homogeneous ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer having a density of at least 0.90 g/cc. Oriented films made in accordance with the present invention exhibit improved optics and improved impact resistance. A homogeneous ethylene alpha-olefin 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. |
| US08021756B2 |
Microlens array
The present invention provides a microlens array produced by molding a resin obtained by reacting a silicon compound with a boron compound or an aluminum compound, in which the silicon compound is represented by the following formula (I): in which R1 and R2 each independently represent an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, or an aryl group, in which a plurality of R1's are the same or different and a plurality of R2's are the same or different; X represents a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, or an aryl group; and n is 4 to 250. This microlens array has excellent heat resistance and light resistance even when applied to LEDs having an increased power and to LEDs emitting blue light having a short wavelength. |
| US08021755B2 |
Low thermal expansion glass for EUVL applications
A low thermal expansion glass includes a base glass material having a front surface, a back surface, and a thickness and a glass coating material applied on at least the front surface of the base glass material. The base glass material consists essentially 10 wt % to 20 wt % titania and 80 wt % to 90 wt % silica. The glass coating material also consists essentially of titania and silica, but the total amount of titania in the glass coating material is lower than the total amount of titania in the base glass material. A silica-titania glass element suitable for extreme ultraviolet lithography applications consists of 12 wt % to 20 wt % titania and 80 wt % to 88 wt % silica and has a coefficient of thermal expansion of essentially 0 ΔL/L in a temperature range of −20° C. to +100° C. |
| US08021754B2 |
Decorative system composite and method
Decorative system composites and methods for forming the same are described. The composites employ new and improved support film systems that have enhanced tensile strength under typical thermoforming conditions, including elevated temperatures. An optional release film can be used in conjunction with the support film. The support film is particularly suitable for use with decorative films used to impart a surface effect, such as paint or color-containing film systems, to a thermoformed plastic component. The support film systems also possess enhanced bag/sag/drape control characteristics. |
| US08021752B2 |
Epoxy resin composition for carbon-fiber-reinforced composite material, prepreg, integrated molding, fiber-reinforced composite sheet, and casing for electrical/electronic equipment
The present invention provides a light-weight fiber-reinforced composite material that has excellent flame retardance and mechanical properties and never emits a halogen gas. The present invention also provides a prepreg and an epoxy resin composition suited to obtain the above described fiber-reinforced composite material. The present invention also provides an integrated molding which is produced using the above described fiber-reinforced composite material, thereby suitable for use in electric/electronic casings. The epoxy resin composition is such that it contains the following components [A], [B], [C], [D], and [E]: [A] epoxy resin, [B] amine curing agent, [C] phosphorus compound, [D] curing accelerator, and [E] thermoplastic resin, wherein the resin composition has a phosphorus atom concentration of 0.2 to 15% by weight. |
| US08021750B2 |
Insulated panel for mine safe rooms
A structural insulated panel for use in a mine safe room, which includes a carbon foam core having a high ratio of compressive strength to density, desirable fire retardant properties, and resistance to environmental stress. The carbon foam structural insulated panel also includes a first layer and a second layer bound to a first surface and second surface of the carbon foam core. |
| US08021749B2 |
Article with organic-inorganic composite film
The present invention allows abrasion resistance in silica-based films containing an organic material to be improved. Such a silica-based film contains silica as an inorganic oxide to be its main component, and a poorly water-soluble polymer as an organic material. Example of the poorly water-soluble polymer include a polymer having a solubility of 1.0 g or less with respect to 100 g of water at 25° C., such as polycaprolactone polyol, bisphenol A polyol and glycerol polyol. The silica-based film exhibits good abrasion resistance not only in the Taber abrasion test, but also in the steel wool abrasion test. |
| US08021748B2 |
Interlayer insulating layer for printed wiring board, printed wiring board and method for manufacturing same
A printed wiring board is provided which includes an interlayer dielectric layer formed on a substrate from a curable resin having flaky particles dispersed therein. The printed wiring board is excellent in cooling/heating cycle resistance and packaging reliability while maintaining a satisfactory heat resistance, electrical insulation, heat liberation, connection reliability and chemical stability. Also a method of producing a printed wiring board is proposed in which an imprint method using a mold having formed thereon convexities corresponding to wiring patterns and viaholes to be formed being buried in an interlayer dielectric layer is used to form the wiring patterns and viaholes by transcribing the concavities of the mold to the interlayer dielectric layer. The imprint method permits to form the wiring patterns and viaholes but assures an easy and accurate transcription without any optical transcription or complicated etching. Thus, a multilayer printed wiring board excellent in insulation reliability and interlayer connection and having fine wiring patterns formed therein can be mass-produced extremely easily and inexpensively. |
| US08021745B2 |
Semiconductor manufacture component
Disclosed herein are processes for making a consolidated or densified composite article comprising polymer, particularly fluoropolymer, and oriented carbon fiber, which provides suitability for use in chemical-mechanical applications. |
| US08021742B2 |
Impact resistant thermal barrier coating system
A thermal barrier coating system is provided. The thermal barrier coating system may include a first layer of ceramic insulating material (21) (see FIG. 1) disposed on a substrate surface. The thermal barrier coating system may also include a second layer of ceramic insulating material (25) disposed on the first layer of ceramic insulating material. The second layer of ceramic insulating material may include one or more crack arrestors therein. A third layer of ceramic insulating material (26) is disposed on the second layer of ceramic insulating material. The third layer may be configured as a sacrificial layer to absorb mechanical shock generated in the event of a foreign object collision with the third layer. The one or more crack arrestors in the second layer can avoid propagation towards the first layer of one or more cracks that can form in the event of the foreign object collision with the third layer. |
| US08021741B2 |
Thermoplastic planks and methods for making the same
A thermoplastic laminate plank is described wherein the thermoplastic laminate plank comprises a core, a print layer, and optionally an overlay. The core comprises at least one thermoplastic material and has a top surface and bottom surface wherein a print layer is affixed to the top surface of the core and an overlay layer is affixed to the top surface of the print layer. Optionally, an underlay layer can be located and affixed between the bottom surface of the print layer and the top surface of the core. In addition, a method of making the thermoplastic laminate plank is further described which involves extruding at least one thermoplastic material into the shape of the core and affixing a laminate on the core, wherein the laminate comprises an overlay affixed to the top surface of the print layer and optionally an underlay layer affixed to the bottom surface of the print layer. |
| US08021740B2 |
Radiation curable maskant and line sealer for protecting metal substrates
The invention provides a coated metal substrate comprising a metal substrate having an outer surface, a maskant film adhered to at least a portion of the outer surface of the metal substrate, the maskant film having a pattern of scribed lines therein, and a line sealant composition applied to the scribed lines in a maskant film. Both the maskant film and the line sealant composition are preferably radiation cured and substantially solvent-free. The invention also provides a method of protecting a metal substrate from chemical exposure by utilizing the radiation-cured maskant film and line sealant composition. |
| US08021737B2 |
Panelized cover system including a corrosion inhibitor
A protective cover system for inhibiting corrosion of a metallic object. The protective cover system includes a cover for defining a microenvironment adjacent a metallic object and a corrosion inhibitor source for releasing one or more corrosion inhibitors into the microenvironment. |
| US08021728B2 |
Polyamide resin composition having superior extensibility and flexing fatigue and pneumatic tire and hose using the same
A polyamide resin composition, having an excellent extensibility and flexing fatigue, composed of a polyamide resin (A), as a matrix, and a modifying polymer (C), dispersed therein, having a functional group (B) reactive with the polyamide resin (A), wherein a tensile stress at break of the modifying polymer (C) is 30 to 70% of the tensile stress at break of the polyamide resin (A), and a tensile elongation at break of the modifying polymer (C) is 100 to 500% of the tensile elongation at break of the polyamide resin (A) as well as a pneumatic tire and hose using the same. |
| US08021727B2 |
In-mold molding label and molded product using the same
The invention provides a label for in-mold forming which tenaciously adheres to molded articles regardless of the materials of the molded articles, is usable under a wide range of molded-article molding conditions, and has an excellent print finish. The invention relates to: a label for in-mold forming, which comprises a resin film comprising a heat-sealable layer and a printing layer, wherein the heat-sealable layer has a rate of surface aperture of 6-30%, the printing layer has a dot skipping of 5% or lower, and the printing layer has a Bekk's surface smoothness (JIS-P-8119) of 650-20,000 seconds; and a molded article using the label. |
| US08021725B2 |
Coated media for improved output stacking performance
The present invention is drawn to a coated substrate for ink-jet ink printing. The substrate can have an ink-receiving coating on the imaging side. On the opposite, or back, surface, the substrate can have two coatings: a curl control coating and a photo feel coating designed to provide scratch resistance. The curl control coating can be nearest the substrate, with the photo feel coating coated over the curl control coating. The photo feel coating can have a contact angle greater than about 90 degrees and a water vapor transport rate of greater than about 5 g/m2/12 hour. |
| US08021722B2 |
Method of making an industrial fabric
The present invention relates to a method of making an industrial fabric including the steps of applying a radiation-curable powder onto the surface of a fabric, melting the radiation-curable powder such that the powder forms a layer on the fabric surface and directing radiation at this surface layer so as to cure the constituent material of the surface layer. |
| US08021721B2 |
Composite coating with nanoparticles for improved wear and lubricity in down hole tools
A method of modifying a bottomhole assembly that includes metal plating at least a portion of a bottomhole assembly, wherein the metal-plating comprises superabrasive nanoparticles is disclosed. |
| US08021719B2 |
Method for masking cooling holes and device for using in a masking process for masking cooling holes
A method of masking cooling holes of a turbine component, in particular a turbine blade or vane, for a coating process is provided. The component includes an external surface to be coated, at least one internal cavity having an opening towards the outside of the component, and cooling holes extending from the at least one internal cavity to the external surface. The method comprises the steps of: filling the cooling holes with a masking material and hardening the masking material. The masking material, water, is used to fill in the cooling holes. The hardening is done by freezing the water to water ice. A method of coating an external surface of a turbine component and a device for use in a masking process for masking cooling holes in a turbine component are also provided. |
| US08021718B2 |
Heat treatment method
A silicon resin is applied to the outer wall of the transition piece of a gas turbine subjected to the thermal barrier coating by caulking the cooling holes provided in the inner wall by a resin. Then, the transition piece is heated in an atmosphere furnace in order to burn or decompose the resin. A part of the silicon resin applied to the outer wall of the transition piece is decomposed or evaporated by the heating to be discharged to the atmosphere in the furnace, but a part of the silicon resin remains and protects the outer wall. |
| US08021716B2 |
Polyelectrolyte-encapsulated pigments
The invention concerns a process for encapsulating pigment particles, which comprises (A) producing a dispersion of the pigment to be encapsulated, (B) then applying a polyelectrolyte layer to the surface of the pigment particles, (C) further applying a polyelectrolyte layer having opposite charge to (B), and/or adding low molecular weight, multivalent ions oppositely charged to (B), and (D) if appropriate repeating steps (B) and (C), said steps (B), (C) and if appropriate (D) being carried out in the presence of a nonionic surfactant. |
| US08021715B2 |
Cold gas spraying method
A method for coating a workpiece by cold gas spraying is carried out using a cold gas spray nozzle which generates a particle jet that is directed onto the surface. Additional energy is introduced into the layer that is being formed by way of an electromagnetic energy source, e.g. a laser, which the energy introduced into the particles by the cold gas spray nozzle also contributes to forming the layer. The cold spraying process can be used flexibly as a result of the additional activation by way of electromagnetic radiation. Moreover, layers having a complicated structure, e.g. strip conductors, can be created with the aid of the laser without further processing. A coating unit includes a generator for electromagnetic radiation in addition to the cold gas spray nozzle and is therefore suitable for carrying out the novel method. |
| US08021714B2 |
Front-projection screen with subsurface diffusion targets
An apparatus, system, and method for a front-projection screen having a subsurface diffusion target are disclosed herein. |
| US08021711B2 |
Organic EL display device and method for fabricating the same
In one mode of the present invention, there is provided an organic EL display device, which includes an organic light emitting layer provided between sets of electrodes, comprising color filters 22 and an overcoat layer 23 provided on a substrate 21; an inorganic solid layer 24 provided on the overcoat layer 23; a first set of transparent electrodes 25 provided on the inorganic solid layer 24; a light emitting layer 27 provided on the first set of electrodes 25; and a second set of electrodes 28 formed on the light emitting layer 27; wherein the inorganic solid layer 24 has routes for moisture passage formed in regions between adjacent electrodes of the first set so as to be uniform over an entire active area. |
| US08021710B2 |
Electronic device having an electrode with enhanced injection properties
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for producing an electronic device, such as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), having an electrode with enhanced injection properties. An example method according to the invention comprises the steps of providing an electrode, depositing a first layer of molecular charge transfer material on the electrode, and cross-linking the molecular charge transfer material. With the method according to the invention, an OLED with higher light efficiency, lower operating voltage, and longer lifetime can be produced. The present invention further relates to an electronic device having an electrode with enhanced injection properties. |
| US08021706B2 |
Frozen aerated products
A frozen aerated product having an overrun of between about 10% and about 250% and a pH, when melted, in the range about 3.5 to about 5.2, comprises water, 0 to about 20 w/w % fat, about 0.25 to about 20 w/w % milk solids not fat, about 0.05 to about 1.5 w/w % soluble dietary fibre and about 0.1 to about 5 w/w % of insoluble dietary fibre, about 0.1 to about 35 w/w % sweetener but no additional stabilisers or emulsifiers as herein defined. The soluble and insoluble dietary fibre may be derived from fruits or vegetables for example from one or more fruit purees, one or more vegetable purees or mixtures thereof. |
| US08021704B2 |
Food ingredients and food products treated with an oxidoreductase and methods for preparing such food ingredients and food products
A method of making an aldobionate product is described. The method may include providing a milk product having one or more reducing sugars, and maintaining a pH of the milk product at about 5.5 or more by adding a buffer compound to the milk product. The method may also include adding an oxidoreductase enzyme to the milk product, where at least a portion of the reducing sugar is oxidized into the aldobionate product. In addition, a method of making an aldobionate product is described that includes the steps of providing a milk product comprising a reducing sugar, mixing oxygen into the milk product, and adding an oxidoreductase enzyme to the milk product, where at least a portion of the reducing sugar is oxidized into the aldobionate product. |
| US08021703B2 |
Oil seed meal preparation
Canola oil seeds are treated for the production of a canola oil seed meal for recovery of canola protein isolates therefrom. The canola oil seeds are heat-treated to inactivate myrosinases and other enzymes and dehulled prior to crushing dehulled canola oil seeds and removing oil therefrom and to provide the canola oil seed meal. |
| US08021701B1 |
Composition to retard the onset of symptoms of alzheimer's disease
A composition and a method for using the composition to delay the onset of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in humans, comprising curcumin, piperine, oleic acid, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, galantamine, and huperzine A, among other compounds. Curcumin is an antioxidant, while galantamine and huperzine A inhibit the activity of acetylcholinesterase in the brain. Piperine and oleic acid increase the bioavailability and gastrointestinal absorption of curcumin, galantamine, huperzine A, and other nutrients. |
| US08021700B1 |
Topical skin salve and associated use therefor
A general healing ointment for use on cracked lips, rashes, burns and the like is herein disclosed. The ointment is manufactured from an all natural blend of petroleum jelly, vitamin E cream and oil, cocoa butter, and pine pitch. It provides relief for a variety of ailments such as cracked skin, cold sores, rashes, acne, boils, and the like. It is readily absorbed by the skin and not visible to others, but won't dry out the skin afterwards. |
| US08021699B2 |
Guava leaf extract powder and method for production thereof
The invention provides a method for producing a guava leaf extract powder, including extracting guava leaves with hot water at 90 to 98° C.; concentrating the obtained extract to a Brix level of 20 to 30; and lyophilizing the concentrated extract, and a guava leaf extract powder produced through the method which exhibits limited deterioration in quality after storage in solution for a long period of time. |
| US08021698B2 |
Method of improving cardiovascular health
A nutritional supplement including β-cryptoxanthin is found to be effective at lowering blood pressure in mammals. β-cryptoxanthin therefore may be used to maintain cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure, preventing high, elevated blood pressure and/or maintaining healthy blood pressure. Administration of β-cryptoxanthin in combination with safflower oil is particularly effective. |
| US08021690B2 |
Solid preparation coated with a film coating layer and film coating agent
The present invention provides solid preparations having two or more colors or a pattern of two or more different colors which can solve the problems of the prior art including the complexity of production processes and the low strength of solid preparations. Specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide solid preparations coated with a continuous film coating layer having two or more different colors or a pattern of two or more different colors which preparations are obtained by irradiating a part of the film coating layer containing one or more colorants with light, a process for the preparation of such solid preparations, and a film coating agent therefor. The present invention also provides a solid preparation treating apparatus for yielding a continuous film coating layer on the surface of a solid preparation with two or more different colors or a pattern of two or more different colors, which comprises a solid preparation loader movably disposed, a light controller for controlling the light-exposed surface area of the solid preparation and a light source for light irradiation. |
| US08021684B2 |
Haemostatic composition comprising hyaluronic acid
The present invention relates to a haemostatic composition comprising a biologically absorbable material and hyaluronic acid or a derivative thereof, methods of producing such compositions and the use of these compositions. In particular the method of producing said haemostatic composition comprises treating it with dry heat at a temperature between 110-200° C. |
| US08021681B2 |
Therapeutic process for the treatment of the metabolic syndrome and associated metabolic disorders
The present invention is directed to a method of treating a patient suffering from the metabolic syndrome and/or related disorders including obesity, Type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, pro-inflammatory state, and pro-coagulative state, and having the steps of (a) providing to the patient a dietary regimen that decreases overactive CNS noradrenergic tone; followed by (b) providing to the patient a dietary regimen that increases dopaminergic tone while maintaining the above decreased overactive CNS noradrenergic tone. The present invention is also directed to prepackaged meals and recipes useful in implementing the dietary regimens. |
| US08021680B2 |
Controlled release bioactive agent delivery device
The invention provides a controlled release bioactive agent delivery device that includes a body member having a direction of extension, a longitudinal axis along the direction of extension, and a proximal end and a distal end, wherein at least a portion of the body member deviates from the direction of extension, and a polymeric coated composition in contact with the body member, the polymeric coated composition including a first polymer, a second polymer, and a bioactive agent, wherein the first polymer comprises polyalkyl(meth)acrylate, aromatic poly(meth)acrylate, or a combination of polyalkyl(meth)acrylate and aromatic poly(meth)acrylate, and wherein the second polymer comprises poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate). The invention also provides methods of delivering a bioactive agent to a patient in a controlled release manner, as well as methods of making a controlled release bioactive agent delivery device. |
| US08021677B2 |
Immobilized biologically active entities having a high degree of biological activity
The present invention relates to immobilized biologically active entities having heparin cofactor II binding activity. |
| US08021675B2 |
Pesticide compositions
This invention is related to the field of compositions useful in the control of pests that eat cellulose, such as, termites, where said composition is compacted and where said composition comprises alpha-cellulose, water, and a pesticide. |
| US08021670B2 |
Vaccine against Mycoplasma PRRSV
The present invention relates to the use of an immunogenic dose of immunogenic material of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and an immunogenic dose of live attenuated PRRS virus for the manufacture of a vaccine, and to a vaccine kit comprising such a vaccine. |
| US08021668B2 |
Integrin alpha L I domain mutants with increased binding affinity
The present invention provides an isolated polypeptide capable of binding to aCAM-1, comprising the integrin (XL I domain or biologically active portion thereof, wherein one or more residues is substituted, wherein the substituted polypeptide binds ICAM-I at a higher affinity than wild type integrin CCL protein. The invention provides a method for inhibiting ICAM-I and a pharmaceutical composition comprising an integrin (XL I domain polypeptide or biologically active portion of the polypeptides. The invention also provides a method of treating or preventing an LFA-I mediated ICAM-1 associated disease such as inflammation, artherosclerosis, allograft rejection, diabetes, T-cell mediated sensitization reaction, psoriasis, HIV infection, or rheumatoid arthritis. |
| US08021661B2 |
Cripto binding molecules
The invention pertains to humanized forms of an anti-CRIPTO antibody and portions thereof. In one embodiment, the variable regions of these antibodies or polypeptides comprising them (e.g., full-length antibodies or domain deleted antibodies) can be used to treat disorders, such as cancer. |
| US08021658B2 |
Alternative splice forms of proteins as basis for multiple therapeutic modalities
Peptides or antibodies derived from alternative splice forms of proteins associated with a disease or physiologic condition are used as therapeutic or prophylactic agents. Peptides and antibodies derived from alternative splice forms of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family of proteins are particularly useful in preventing or delaying the onset of tumors and inducing tumor regression. |
| US08021657B2 |
Isolated phages and their use in food or pet food products
The present invention relates to phage isolates having a strong lytic activity against pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae such as Escherichia coli and/or Salmonella strains and their use in various human or pet food products for the treatment or prevention of bacterial diseases caused by pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae such as Escherichia coli, in particular for phage therapy of pediatric gastroenteritis, or Salmonella infection. It also relates to human or pet food products prepared thereof. |
| US08021656B2 |
Probiotics for gut neuromuscular functions
The present invention relates to a method of treating gut pain or gut discomfort related or linked to gut muscular abnormalities comprising the step of administering to a human or an animal having gut pain or gut discomfort an effective amount of a selected probiotic. |
| US08021651B2 |
Pulverulent styling composition
A pulverulent composition comprising 50 to 95% by weight of an aqueous solvent, hydrophobicized silicon dioxide powder and at least one film-forming and/or setting polymer for the temporary shaping of keratin fibers and a corresponding pulverulent styling composition. Upon mechanical stress, the powder releases the solvent and the film-forming and/or setting polymer so that the desired shaping or setting of, for example, a mechanically produced shape of the treated fibers is achieved. |
| US08021648B2 |
Hydrogen cyanamide pesticide formulations
Agricultural crops are protected from the growth of undesirable vegetation as well as nematode and insect infestations, by the application of hydrogen cyanamide in combination with a short-chain, water-soluble monocarboxylic acid, with improved pesticidal effect. |
| US08021647B2 |
In vivo optical imaging
Provided herein are methods for imaging an optically labeled target cell implanted in vivo using a reporter construct that encodes an enzyme that is not endogenous to the target cell. The disclosed methods include the steps of: (a) introducing target cell transformed with non-endogenous enzyme into a mammalian subject; (b) contacting the transformed target cell with a cell-permeable soluble fluorescent dye; and (c) observing a fluorescent signal generated by the target cell present in the mammalian subject. In some embodiments, the non-endogenous enzyme comprises a nitroreductase. In some embodiments, the methods may also include the step of tracking the fluorescent target cells in the mammalian subject over time. |
| US08021646B2 |
Compositions and methods for magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents
The present application provides for compositions and methods of creating and applying contrast agents that find use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In particular, contrast agents that comprise monodisperse, protein polymer backbones capable of chelating multiple paramagnetic ions resulting in high relaxivity for use in enhancing MRI signal intensity. |
| US08021643B2 |
MCM-22 family molecular sieve composition
An MCM-22 family molecular sieve having an X-ray diffraction pattern of the as-synthesized MCM-22 family molecular sieve including d-spacing maxima at 12.4±0.25, 3.57±0.07 and 3.42±0.07 Angstroms and at least one peak between 26.6° and 29° (2θ). The peak between 26.6° to 29° (2θ) has a two theta (2θ) of about 26.9°. A method of manufacturing an MCM-22 family molecular sieve, said method comprising the steps of (a) combining at least one silicon source, at least one source of alkali metal hydroxide, at least one directing-agent (R), water, and optionally one aluminum source, to form a mixture having the following mole composition: Si:Al2=10 to infinity H2O:Si=1 to 20 OH−:Si=0.001 to 2 M+:Si=0.001 to 2 R:Si=0.001 to 0.34 wherein M is an alkali metal; (b) treating said mixture at crystallization conditions for less than 72 hr to form a treated mixture having said MCM-22 family molecular sieve, wherein said crystallization conditions comprises a temperature range from about 160° C. to about 250° C.; and (c) recovering said MCM-22 family molecular sieve. |
| US08021641B2 |
Methods of making copper selenium precursor compositions with a targeted copper selenide content and precursor compositions and thin films resulting therefrom
Precursor compositions containing copper and selenium suitable for deposition on a substrate to form thin films suitable for semi-conductor applications. Methods of forming the precursor compositions using primary amine solvents and methods of forming the thin films wherein the selection of temperature and duration of heating controls the formation of a targeted species of copper selenide. |
| US08021640B2 |
Manufacturing carbon nanotube paper
Techniques and apparatuses for making carbon nanotube (CNT) papers are provided. In one embodiment, a method for making a CNT paper may include disposing a structure having an edge portion including a relatively sharp edge into a CNT colloidal solution and withdrawing the structure from the CNT colloidal solution. |
| US08021639B1 |
Method for rapidly synthesizing monolithic polycrystalline diamond articles
A method for rapidly synthesizing polycrystalline diamond, includes the steps of machining a large monolithic graphite piece, placing the starting graphite piece in direct contact with an activator piece composed of a nickel-base alloy, and subjecting the contacting pieces to high static pressure and high temperature for a time sufficient to cause the starting monolithic graphite piece to undergo complete transformation into diamond to yield monolithic polycrystalline diamond. |
| US08021634B2 |
Sulfate process
A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material (such as an iron-containing titaniferous material such as ilmenite) is disclosed. The process includes digestion and/or leach steps that form a process solution that includes an acidic solution of titanyl sulfate (TiOSO4) and iron sulfate (FeSO4) from the solid titaniferous material. The process also includes hydrolysis and other steps that form titania from the titanyl sulfate in the process solution. The process is characterised by a ferric ion treatment step of treating the process solution and lowering the concentration of ferric ions from the process solution. |
| US08021633B2 |
Process an apparatus for steam-methane reforming
Methane is reacted with steam, to generate carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a first catalytic reactor (14); the resulting gas mixture can then be used to perform Fisher-Tropsch synthesis in a second catalytic reactor (26). In performing the steam/methane reforming, the gas mixture is passed through a narrow channel in which the mean temperature and exit temperature are both in the range 750° C. to 900° C. the residence time being less than 0.5 second, and the channel containing a catalyst, so that only those reactions that have comparatively rapid kinetics will occur. The heat is provided by combustion of methane in adjacent channels (17). The ratio of steam to methane should preferably be 1.4 to 1.6, for example about 1.5. Almost all the methane will undergo the reforming reaction, almost entirely forming carbon monoxide. After performing Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, the remaining hydrogen is preferably fed back (34) to the combustion channels (17). The steam for the reforming step is preferably generated from water generated by the chemical reactions, by condensing (30, 32) the products from the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and by condensing (19) water vapour generated in the combustion. |
| US08021632B2 |
Reactor having titanium silicate recycling
The invention relates to a plant for carrying out chemical reactions, having a reactor (1), the reaction space of which contains hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and titanium silicalite (TS-1). The object of the invention is to improve such a plant such that continuous separation and recycling of the active catalyst to the reaction space is possible with a long filter service life. This is achieved in that the reaction space contains a solid silicon source, in that the plant comprises a water takeoff line (3) which is set up for drawing off water in addition to components which are dissolved and/or dispersed therein from the reaction space, in that the water takeoff line (3) leads to a filter (4) which separates off the components which are dissolved and/or dispersed in the water, and in that the plant has a return line (5) which is set up for recirculating to the reaction space components which are separated off by means of the filter (4). |
| US08021630B2 |
Anticoagulant-coated dipstick for use with a blood centrifuge rotor
An anticoagulant-coated dipstick is selectively receivable by the central fill port of a rotor of a blood centrifuge. The dipstick includes an elongated, rod-like member having a first axial end and an opposite second axial end, and a cap affixed to the second axial end. At least a portion of a surface of the rod-like member is coated with an anticoagulant. The elongated rod-like member of the dipstick is dimensioned in length and diameter to be receivable through the central fill port of the rotor to contact a blood sample contained therein. The cap is circular in shape, with a diameter that is greater than that of the rotor fill port to entirely cover and seal the fill port to prevent leakage therethrough of a blood sample contained in the rotor, especially when the rotor is gently agitated or inverted. |
| US08021629B2 |
Analyzer
An analyzer for analysis of a specimen in a testing chip that includes a micropump connecting section that is connected with a micropump to take in liquid from the micropump and includes a micro flow channel in which a reagent and the specimen are mixed so as to react with each other, the analyzer including: a mounting section for mounting the testing chip attachably and detachably thereto; a micropump unit that has a testing chip connecting section to be connected with the micropump connecting section of the testing chip which is mounted on the mounting section, and feeds liquid to the testing chip through the testing chip connecting section; and a pressing mechanism that presses the micropump connecting section and the testing chip connecting section against each other, the connecting sections being connected with each other. |
| US08021626B2 |
Method and device for laminar flow on a sensing surface
Methods and devices are provided for controlling a fluid flow over a sensing surface within a flow cell. The methods employ laminar flow techniques to position a fluid flow over one or more discrete sensing areas on the sensing surface of the flow cell. Such methods permit selective sensitization of the discrete sensing areas, and provide selective contact of the discrete sensing areas with a sample fluid flow. Immobilization of a ligand upon the discrete sensing area, followed by selective contact with an analyte contained within the sample fluid flow, allows analysis by a wide variety of techniques. Sensitized sensing surfaces, and sensor devices and systems are also provided. |
| US08021623B2 |
Examination method and examination assistant device for quartz product of semiconductor processing apparatus
An examination assistant device (3) is used for examination in which a process solution containing an etching solution is held in contact with an examination objective portion of a quartz pole member (21) of a semiconductor processing apparatus, and then the process solution is analyzed to identify a metal impurity contained in the examination objective portion. The pole member (21) includes a pair of concave portions (22) disposed one on either side of the examination objective portion. The examination assistant device (3) includes a pair of end plates (32) configured to engage with the pair of concave portions, a frame (30) connecting the pair of end plates, and a solution receiver (31) disposed between the pair of end plates. The solution receiver (31) has dimensions to store the process solution and hold the process solution in contact with the examination objective portion. |
| US08021617B2 |
Flue gas monitoring and dynamic spiking for sulfur trioxide/sulfuric acid
Systems and methods are disclosed for measuring sulfur trioxide/sulfuric acid content of flue gas. A probe is provided that extracts two separate lines of gas samples simultaneously from the flue gas. One of the two lines is dynamically spiked with a known quantity of sulfur trioxide, preferably generated in the probe. A comparison of sulfur trioxide/sulfuric acid content measurements from the spiked and unspiked lines helps identify and adjust for inherent biases in the measuring system. Also disclosed are catalyst structures and methods for use thereof for generating sulfur trioxide at known concentration. |
| US08021616B2 |
Gas sensor
A gas sensor including: a gas detection element; a metal shell extending in an axial direction; and a metal cylinder extending in an axial direction, wherein a leading end portion of the metal cylinder surrounds a base end portion of the metal shell and is fixed to the metal shell via a circumferential welded portion. The metal shell includes: Fe in an amount equal to or more than 50.0 mass %; C in an amount of 0.02 mass % to 0.15 mass %; Cr in an amount of 11.5 mass % to 18.0 mass %; and Nb in an amount equal to or more than twice amount of C in mass %. |
| US08021613B2 |
System and method for self-referencing a sensor in a micron-sized deep flow chamber
A system and method are described herein for self-referencing a sensor that is used to detect a biomolecular binding event and/or kinetics which occur in a sample solution flowing along side a reference solution in a micron-sized deep flow channel. |
| US08021611B2 |
Automated micro-volume assay system
An automated assay system is described with stations for placement of materials to be used in an assay of materials inside capillaries and an automated gripper for manipulating capillaries. The system includes a separation and immobilization station where reactions inside the capillaries take place and a detector station where photoemissions from the capillary reactions are detected. The photoemissions from the capillaries may be displayed as line graphs or in columns of a pseudo-gel image resembling the familiar Western gel blot. An automated control system has a user interface by which an operator can select a run protocol and define the locations of samples and reagents to be used in the protocol run. Following the setup the control system will cause the automated system to execute the protocol, then display the results in a selected display format. |
| US08021605B2 |
Titanium alloy
A titanium alloy which, even under the influence of high application temperatures, has a low tendency to becoming brittle as a result of coarse grain formation, comprises (in wt. %) Fe: ≦2%, Si: 0.01 to 0.8%, 0: ≦0.3%, C: ≦0.1%, one or more elements of the Lanthanide group at total levels of 0.01-2% and, optionally, one or more elements of Al and O at total levels of a maximum of 1%, one or more elements of Mo, Ta, Nb, Zr, Mn, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, V, Si, and H at total levels of a maximum of 3%, the remainder being titanium and unavoidable impurities. |
| US08021602B2 |
Hearth carriage coupling structure of rotary furnace hearth
A rotary furnace hearth wherein a hearth carriage carrying a hearth comprises a plurality of hearth carriages respectively having propulsion systems, wherein adjoining hearth carriages are coupled by coupling bolts and nuts via spacers interspaced in a single row in a horizontal plane, whereby even if the hearth carriages deform due to heat at the time of operation, they are structured to be able to freely deform without mutual constraint in the event of curved deformation, so the hearth carriages are maintained in individually stable states at all times. |
| US08021601B2 |
Plant for the heat treatment of solids containing titanium
A plant for the heat treatment of solids containing titanium includes a fluidized bed reactor. The reactor includes at least one gas supply tube being at least partly surrounded by an annular chamber in which a stationary annular fluidized bed is located, and a mixing chamber being located above the upper orifice region of the gas supply tube. The gas flowing through the gas supply tube entrains solids from the stationary annular fluidized bed into the mixing chamber when passing through the upper orifice region of the gas supply system. The plant further includes a solids separator downstream of the reactor. The solids separator includes a solids conduit leading to the annular fluidized bed of the reactor. |
| US08021591B2 |
Method and apparatus for incrementally stretching a web
A method and apparatus is provided which uses activation members for incrementally stretching a web at a low strain rate. The activation members include an activation belt and a single activation member wherein the activation belt and single activation member comprise a plurality of teeth and grooves that complement and engage one another at a depth of engagement in a deformation zone. The depth of engagement can be controlled to increase linearly over at least a portion of the deformation zone such that a web interposed between the activation belt and the single activation member in the deformation zone is incrementally stretched at a low rate of strain. |
| US08021590B2 |
Golf-ball-cover casting molds with self-centering mold-cavity inserts
Molds are disclosed for forming golf-ball covers by casting. An exemplary mold includes first and second support members that are placeable in face-to-face opposition to each other. At least one respective mold-cavity insert, defining a respective hemispherical cavity, is mounted to each support member. The mold-cavity insert is floatable in at least three (e.g., x, y, z) degrees of freedom relative to the respective support member. Each mold-cavity insert on the first support member is in face-to-face opposition to a respective mold-cavity insert on the second support member whenever the support members are in face-to-face opposition to each other, such that the respective hemispherical cavities of each opposing pair of inserts form respective spherical ball-cover cavities. A respective z-direction bias is associated with each mold-cavity insert. Also, a respective self-centering device is associated with each opposing pair of inserts. The self-centering device urges movement of at least one mold-cavity insert of the opposing pair in any of at least three degrees of freedom as required to center the mold-cavity inserts of the opposing pair with each other. |
| US08021584B2 |
Process for preparing polymeric fibers based on blends of at least two polymers
Blending of thermoplastic polyester with fiber-forming polyamide in the production of melt-colored melt-spun fibers results in improved color strength and aesthetics, and dimensional stability. |
| US08021578B2 |
Fused thiophene acenes and organic semiconductors made therefrom
This invention relates to fused thiophene acene compounds and their use in organic semiconductors. The compounds exhibit useful electronic properties such as high mobility and high on/off ratio. The compounds can be used in electronic devices such as field effect transistors (FETs), display devices, light-emitting diodes, photovoltaic cells, photo-detectors, and memory cells. Also provided are methods for making the fused thiophene acenes. |
| US08021574B2 |
Naphthalene derivative, material for organic electroluminescence device, and organic electroluminescence device using the same
A naphthalene derivative represented by the following formula (1) is provided. In the formula, Ar1 to Ar4 each represent an aromatic hydrocarbon cyclic group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms forming a ring. The aromatic hydrocarbon cyclic group has none of anthracene skeleton, pyrene skeleton, aceanthrylene skeleton and naphthacene skeleton. n, m and l each represent an integer in a range of 1 to 5. p represents an integer in a range of 0 to 5. When n, m, l and p each are 2 or more, a plurality of Ar1 to Ar4 may be mutually the same or different. |
| US08021565B2 |
Surface treatment method, etching method, and method for manufacturing electronic device
A surface treatment method includes: removing a fluorocarbon-containing reaction product from a surface of a workpiece by oxygen gas plasma processing. The workpiece includes a plurality of layers. The fluorocarbon-containing reaction product is deposited by successively etching the layers of the workpiece. The method further includes after removing the reaction product, removing an oxide-containing reaction product from the surface of the workpiece using hydrogen fluoride gas. |
| US08021560B2 |
Method for producing a radiation-absorbing optical element and corresponding radiation absorbing optical element
In a process for the fabrication of a radiation-absorbing optical element that contains a substrate (1) of plastic, a layer with a graduated refractive index (4) is fabricated on at least one surface (2) of the substrate (1) using a plasma etching process, after which a metal layer (7) is applied on top of the layer with a graduated refractive index (4). |
| US08021557B2 |
Method for desalination of seawater
A method and an apparatus for the modification of seawater, brine, or alike, to render it suitable for irrigation, industrial use, or for further treatment in a drinking water purification plant, as well as to extract desired substances from brines, such as boron, and to clear waste from mining processes, by reducing environment endangering contaminants, like petroleum hydro-carbons, or radioactive substances, as well as inactivating microorganisms and virus in biosolids, by means of exposing the substances to high-intensity macrosound, i.e., alternating mechanical energy radiation at (ultra-) sonic frequencies. The treatment enhances the separation of salt, or/and other desired materials, from the water, and activates in situ the adsorption of the materials on sorbefacient substances supplied to the desalination process in form of dust of pulverized, liquefied, or vaporized substances, or by elements (of walls) of treatment chambers, or filters. The separation of the adsorption material together with the adsorbed salt, or/and any other extract from the liquid, is accomplished by common techniques, such as sedimentation, decanter, filter, or (electrostatic) separator. |
| US08021551B2 |
Eco-treatment system
A system and method of treating wastewater from an animal confinement operation. The system including at least a first lagoon receiving water from the confinement operation. The system further including a free surface water wetland, a subsurface flow wetland and a vertical flow recirculating media filter. The first artificial wetland including a pipe such that water from the lagoon flows into the first artificial wetland through an inlet of the pipe and is contained within the wetland. The first wetland further including a plurality of wetland plants. A second subsurface flow wetland and a vertical flow recirculating media filter on top of the subsurface flow wetland and wetland plants contained within a first pea gravel bed on top of a coarse gravel bed of the subsurface flow media filter such that water from the lagoon is received by the first wetland. A recirculation pump receiving water from the horizontal coarse gravel bed and the pump recirculating water to the wetland plants of the vertical flow recirculation media filter such that ammonia in the water is converted to nitrate and water as it falls vertically through roots of the wetland plants and the nitrate is converted to nitrogen and water as the water flows horizontally through the subsurface flow wetland. |
| US08021540B2 |
Method of desulfurizing hydrocarbon oil
A method of desulfurizing/refining a hydrocarbon oil by which sulfur compounds are diminished to an extremely low concentration at a relatively low equipment cost and operating cost. The method of desulfurizing/refining a hydrocarbon oil comprises bringing a hydrocarbon oil containing at least one sulfur compound selected from the group consisting of thiophene compounds, benzothiophene compounds, and dibenzothiophene compounds and optionally further containing aromatic hydrocarbons into contact with a solid acid catalyst and/or an activated carbon having a transition metal oxide supported thereon to thereby desulfurize the oil. The solid acid catalyst preferably is a solid ultrastrong-acid catalyst selected among sulfuric acid radical/zirconia, sulfuric acid radical/alumina, sulfuric acid radical/tin oxide, sulfuric acid radical/iron oxide, tungstic acid/zirconia, and tungstic acid/tin oxide. |
| US08021538B2 |
Hydroconversion catalysts and methods of making and using same
Stable catalyst carrier impregnating solutions can be prepared using a component of a Group VIB metal, e.g., molybdenum, at high concentration, a component of a Group VIII metal, e.g., nickel, at low concentration, and a phosphorous component, e.g., phosphoric acid, at low concentration, provided that the Group VIII metal is in a substantially water-insoluble form and a particular sequence of addition of the components is followed, even when a substantially water-insoluble form of the Group VIB component is used. The resulting stabilized impregnating solution can be supplemented with additional Group VIII metal in water-soluble form to achieve increased levels of such metal in the final catalyst. Furthermore, uncalcined catalyst carriers impregnated with the stable solution and subsequently shaped, dried and calcined, have unexpectedly improved performance when used in the hydroprocessing of heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks. High conversion can be achieved at reduced levels of sediment, especially in comparison to standard commercial catalysts. |
| US08021536B2 |
Method and apparatus for achieving maximum yield in the electrolytic preparation of group IV and V hydrides
A method for generating a hydride gas of metal M1 in an electrochemical cell comprising a cathode comprising metal M1, a sacrificial anode comprising metal M2, an initial concentration of aqueous electrolyte solution comprising a metal hydroxide, M3OH, wherein the sacrificial metal anode electrochemically oxidizes in the presence of the aqueous electrolyte solution comprising M3OH to form a metal salt, and the hydride gas of metal M1 is formed by reducing the metal M1 of the cathode. The method comprises the steps of determining solubility profile curves of the metal salt as the M3OH is consumed and the metal oxide is formed by the oxidation reaction at various concentrations of M3OH; determining a maximum concentration of M3OH that, as it is consumed, does not yield a concentration of metal salt that precipitates out of the electrolyte solution; and choosing a concentration of M3OH that is in the range of at and within 5% less than the maximum concentration of M3OH to be the initial concentration of M3OH. |
| US08021532B2 |
Dielectrophoretic tweezers apparatus and methods
Dielectrophoretic (DEP) tweezers apparatus and methods for various applications, including particle trapping. Multiple electrodes (e.g., two or three) are disposed on or otherwise constitute an elongated object forming a tip. Exemplary electrode configurations include, but are not limited to, coaxial and triaxial arrangements. A voltage is applied across these electrodes to produce a non-uniform electromagnetic field proximate to the tip thereby creating a dielectrophoretic trap. Once trapped, a particle may be moved to desired locations via manipulation of the elongated object or the medium in which the particle is located. Multiple DEP tweezers apparatus may be arranged to form arrays of tips capable of respectively generating local electromagnetic fields confined to the tips. Such DEP arrays may be employed in nanofabrication processes involving nanolithography or nano-manipulation, as well as data storage and retrieval applications. |
| US08021531B2 |
Method for modifying the concentration of reactants in a microfluidic device
A method of carrying out a chemical reaction on a microfluidic device in which a first reactant at a first concentration is delivered into a reaction channel; within the reaction channel the concentration of the first reactant is changed from the first concentration to a second concentration; and while at the second concentration the first reactant is exposed to a second reactant. |
| US08021529B2 |
Ion measurement/calibration cell
A measurement/calibration cell for potentiometrically measuring ion concentration in a fluid interposes a barrier between measuring and reference electrodes and positions the measuring electrode at a sufficiently higher gravimetric potential above the reference electrode that seepage of electrolyte from the latter to the former is effectively precluded. A controller associated with the cell displays instructions and other desired information on a scrolling display such that a substantial amount of information can be presented in a relatively small display window. |
| US08021522B2 |
Reverse piezoelectric method for production of silane
The present invention relates to a method for production of silane where particulate quartz in a fluidized bed is treated with a gas containing hydrogen at a temperature below 0° C., with the quartz in the fluidized bed subjected to an alternating electric field having a frequency equal to the intrinsic resonant frequency of at least a part of the quartz particles to create vibrational energy in the particles, thereby causing a chemical reaction between quartz and hydrogen to produce silane. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method. |
| US08021520B2 |
Method and device for preparing liquid
The invention relates to a device and method for preparing liquid from solid materials such as medicinal materials. It includes liquid and materials for preparing the liquid at the beginning and the end of the process. The device uses a steam generator, an intermediate switch valve and a material chamber, which are connected sequentially with pipes, and further includes an outlet pipe, which is at the bottom of the material chamber. The method involves the steps of: distillation and absorption; immersion; and repetition. The device and method for preparing liquid alternates the distillation and immersion steps, which reduces harmful substance in the prepared liquid that would otherwise occur by conventional methods. The method not only extracts soluble effective matter, but also reduces loss of volatile effective matter. Ultimately, the method makes the steps for preparing liquid simple and clear, and it can prepare liquid quantitatively, effectively and without pasty and shrinkable characteristics. The device may be automatically controlled by an electric control circuit, thereby avoiding operational errors that are common with manually operated, conventional devices. |
| US08021518B2 |
Method of applying a super-absorbent composition to tissue or towel substrates
The invention provides a method of increasing the absorbency of an absorbent article. The method includes introducing a super-absorbent polymer composition to a paper web in a papermaking process to increase the absorbent capacity of an absorbent article made in the process. The polymer composition includes a super-absorbent polymer and a cross-linking agent applied to the paper web. The paper web is then subjected to heat in a heated drum or a through-air drier to cure or cross-link the super-absorbent polymer. |
| US08021515B2 |
Inductively coupled plasma processing apparatus
An inductively coupled plasma processing apparatus (100) comprises a plasma chamber (12) with a dielectric window (400) forming a self-supporting wall element of the plasma chamber (12). The dielectric window (400) has an external and an internal side with respect to the chamber (12). An electromagnetic field source (140) is arranged in front of the external side of the dielectric window (400) for generating an electromagnetic field within the plasma chamber (12). The field source comprises at least one magnetic core (301, 302, 303). The at least one magnetic core (301, 302, 303) is attached to the external side of the dielectric window (400), such that the at least one magnetic core helps the dielectric window (400) to withstand collapsing forces caused by negative pressure inside said chamber during operation. |
| US08021512B2 |
Method of preventing premature drying
An apparatus, system and method for preventing premature drying of a surface of a substrate between fabrication operations includes receiving a substrate for cleaning, performing wet cleaning operations to the surface of the substrate to remove contaminants and fabrication chemistries left behind during one or more fabrication operations from the surface of the substrate, identifying a saturated gas chemistry and applying the identified saturated gas chemistry in a transition region such that the surface of the substrate exposed to the saturated gas chemistry in the transition region retains the moisture thereby preventing the surface of the substrate from premature drying. The saturated gas chemistry is applied between two subsequent wet-cleaning operations. |
| US08021507B2 |
Tire building drum, and building system, process setup method and manufacturing method for tire built by same
The present invention provides a tire building, and a building system, process setup method and manufacturing method for a tire built by this tire building drum, which can suppress investment cost of the drum core of the tire building drum used in a tire building system for building tires in different sizes, and to shrink an inventory of reserve drum cores. Plural distance pieces having the same thickness and end pieces forming the both end portions in the width direction are aligned in the width direction of the drum core to configure plural rigid segment which constitute the tire building drum. The distance pieces which are detachably configured are so arranged that their thickness direction face in the width direction of the drum core. |
| US08021505B2 |
Drywall joint compound applicator for seam and patch surfacing
A drywall patch is coated with a premeasured amount of joint compound in its wet state making it immediately available for application to a wall surface. The patch with compound is sealed in an airtight wrapper or between unsealed wrapper halves which are in turn sealed in a surrounding airtight package so that the joint compound stays moist and will not harden over time. The wrapper includes a peel-away adhesive dry patch. In use, the dry patch is first applied over a crack or hole to be repaired. The wrapper and compound are applied directly over the dry patch and, while the wrapper remains in place, pressure is applied to smooth the compound over the patch and removed after the compound has dried. The wrapper is preferably composed of microporous breathable plastic film. |
| US08021504B2 |
Quality control method for ultrasound welding
A quality control method for ultrasound welding. The method provides for the generation of a tolerance range which is adjusted to the progress of the welding process and which is generated from measured values which influence the welding process. A measured value tolerance range is determined from measured values of executed welding processes, the measured values being associated with at least one parameter which influences the welding process and/or represents the goods of the welding process. Measured values are associated with an identical parameter of a further welding process following thereafter and are considered during the quality monitoring in such a way that the measured value tolerance range is changed in its form or composition to an average value for further welding processes, in accordance with the variance between the additional measured values and the tolerance range determined from previous measured values. |
| US08021503B2 |
Method for making flexible automobile interior material and sheet for the construction and its product made therefrom
Disclosed is a method of producing an automobile interior material or construction sheet with excellent processability, and its product made therefrom. More particularly, a method comprises by carding short fibers wherein short fibers are mixed with polypropylene fibers and polyethylene fibers in a mixing ratio of 3 to 7:7 to 3, on one side or both sides of a foamed layer produced by foaming any one selected from the group consisting of polypropylene chips, polyethylene chips, polyurethane chips, and expanded polystyrene chips; setting the short fibers with a shape of a truss in the foamed layer by interlacing the short fibers through a needle punching process; and thermally forming the short fiber layer(s) on the foamed layer by heating the portions of the short fibers exposed on the outside the foamed layer to 120 to 250° C. and pressing thereby melting, cooling and hardening the fused portions of the short fibers. |
| US08021502B2 |
Method for producing martensitic stainless steel pipe
A martensitic stainless steel pipe, which comprises specified quantities of C, Si, Mn, P, S, Cr, Ni, Al, N, Cu, Ti, V, Mo, Nb, B and Ca, and the balance being Fe and impurities, has satisfactory toughness at a high strength of 650 MPa or more by yield strength and also excellent hot workability. Therefore, it can be used as a high-strength martensitic stainless steel pipe for carbon dioxide gas corrosion resistant use, to be used in oil and/or gas well environments containing no hydrogen sulfide but carbon dioxide gas. This high-strength martensitic stainless steel pipe is an inexpensive martensitic stainless steel pipe, which does not require an addition of large quantities of expensive elements such as Ni and Mo, and moreover does not require the control of the content of P to a value less than 0.010% by mass. |
| US08021500B2 |
Aluminum alloy for die casting and molded article
Provided are an aluminum alloy for die casting that has excellent die-castability, a molding with high hardness, and a molded article with excellent sheen. The aluminum alloy for die casting includes 0.5 to 2.5 wt. % Mn, 0.2 to 1.0 wt. % Cr, 0.1 to 0.5 wt. % Ti, 0.1 to less than 0.5 wt. % Mg, and Al. The molding is obtained by die-casting the aluminum alloy for die casting. The molding obtained by die-casting the aluminum alloy has excellent die-castability and high hardness. By performing the alumite treatment on the surface of the molding, a molded article having excellent sheen is obtained. |
| US08021499B2 |
Functional member from co-based alloy and process for producing the same
A Co-based alloy having a fundamental composition of Co—Al system containing 3-15% Al and having lamellar structure wherein f.c.c. structure α-phase and β(B2)-phase are superimposed on each other in layers, and the Co-based alloy is modified so as to have a porous surface layer region effective for chemical retaining capability, sustained release, biocompatibility, etc. through selective removal of either the α-phase or the β-phase from the surface layer. As a third component, at least one member selected from among Ni, Fe, Mn, Ga, Cr, V, Ti, Mo, Nb, Zr, W, Ta, Hf, Si, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt, Au, B, C and P may be contained in a total amount of 0.001 to 60%. |
| US08021498B2 |
Magnetic core and applied product making use of the same
A magnetic core making use of an Fe-based amorphous alloy ribbon that simultaneously attains miniaturization and noise reduction through realization of high Bs; and an applied product making use of the same. There is provided a magnetic core making use of an Fe-based amorphous alloy ribbon, wherein the saturated magnetic flux density (Bs) of the Fe-based amorphous alloy ribbon is ≧1.60 T and wherein the ratio between magnetic flux density at a core external magnetic field of 80 A/m (B80) and Bs of the Fe-based amorphous alloy ribbon, B80/Bs, is ≧0.90. |
| US08021495B2 |
Pipette cleaning device and cleaning method
Provided are a simple and inexpensive cleaning apparatus and a method for cleaning capable of effectively cleaning the outer wall surface of a pipette. A pipette to be cleaned is positioned in a concave portion of the cleaning apparatus, and a cleaning liquid passed through inside of the pipette strikes an inner circumferential surface of the concave portion and bounces therefrom to splash against the outer wall surface of the pipette, thereby cleaning the outer surface. With above arrangement, without using an ejection apparatus of cleaning water, effect equivalent to that with the ejection apparatus can be attained. Furthermore, both the inner wall surface and the outer wall surface of the pipette can be cleaned by a single operation using the same cleaning water, thereby attaining easy internal cleaning work and short cleaning time. |
| US08021492B2 |
Method of cleaning turbo pump and chamber/turbo pump clean process
A method of cleaning a turbo pump is described. The turbo pump is coupled with a CVD chamber of depositing a material and thus accumulates the material therein. The method includes using another pump to pump a reactive gas, which can react with the material to form gaseous products, through the turbo pump. Thereby, the turbo pump is cleaned up and is prevented from being a particle source in subsequent CVD operations. |
| US08021490B2 |
Substrate cleaning processes through the use of solvents and systems
A method for removing common contaminates or residues which include but are not limited to ionic residues, particulate residues and moisture from semiconductor wafers used in the manufacture of IC (integrated circuits), liquid crystal displays and flat panel displays. The process includes the use of certain esters or certain esters combined with particular co-solvents. The cleaning method may be utilized in a variety of cleaning processes or process steps and offers economic and performance advantages. |
| US08021485B2 |
Positioning apparatus
In the present positioning apparatus, a positioning apparatus, comprising: a box body including a process chamber exposed to a decompression environment in the interior of the box body and an opening allowing said process chamber to communicate with an outside; a moving member for shielding said opening of said box body with a slight clearance between said box body and the moving member and movable with respect to said opening of said box body; and a differential pumping seal for sealing said slight clearance between said opening of said box body and said moving member, wherein a portion of said moving member to be moved into the interior of said process chamber, when said moving member moves, is formed as an adsorption preventive area. |
| US08021484B2 |
Method of manufacturing epitaxial silicon wafer and apparatus therefor
A method of forming an epitaxial layer to increase flatness of an epitaxial silicon wafer is provided. In particular, a method of controlling the epitaxial layer thickness in a peripheral part of the wafer is provided. An apparatus for manufacturing an epitaxial wafer by growing an epitaxial layer with reaction of a semiconductor wafer and a source gas in a reaction furnace comprising: a pocket in which the semiconductor wafer is placed; a susceptor fixing the semiconductor; orientation-dependent control means dependent on a crystal orientation of the semiconductor wafer and/or orientation-independent control means independent from the crystal orientation of the semiconductor wafer, wherein the apparatus may improve flatness in a peripheral part of the epitaxial layer. |
| US08021477B2 |
Methods of limiting hydroxyl ion concentrations or their effects in concrete pore solutions to interfere with alkali silica reaction
Methods of reducing hydroxyl ions in concrete pore solutions are provided. Such methods are useful in providing resistance to gels which form in concrete due to the alkali-silica (ASR) reaction. The methods comprise adding a salt or mixture thereof to the concrete, in aqueous or solid form, the salt or salt mixture having cations higher in valence than the anions. The methods also comprise adding an acidic phosphate or a silicon-containing alkoxide to the concrete. The methods further comprise resisting and/or inhibiting ASR in airfield runway concrete pore solutions by applying a soluble salt or a mixture of soluble salts in solution or a deicing salt mixture in situ to the runway concrete. All of the above methods are useful in reducing hydroxyl ions in concrete. Such methods can be used to resist ASR in fresh concrete, in concrete that is setting, or in hardened concrete. |
| US08021476B2 |
Gypsum mortar with added expanded vermiculite and method for obtaining same
The invention relates to gypsum mortar with expanded vermiculite added with citric acid and tartaric acid and to the method for obtaining same, containing the following elements in the following proportions: between 40% and 70% calcium sulphate; between 40% and 70% laminated expanded vermiculite; between 0.05% and 0.3% citric acid; between 0.05% and 1% tartaric acid; between 0.01% and 0.5% sodium or potassium citrate; and water q.s.p. 1000 ml, in which, for surface coating, the added vermiculite is obtained following treatment in a vertical furnace, which provides improved grain size and sheets of exfoliated vermiculite without water or air, and the mortar is provided with citric acid and tartaric acid, copper sulphate and sodium or potassium scitrate, with the water being added before the mixture is produced. |
| US08021471B2 |
Modified colorants with aliphatic poly-acid groups
Modified colorants which can be pigments or dyes are described wherein the colorant has attached at least one aliphatic poly-acid group. Ink and inkjet ink compositions, formulations, and systems are further described, as well as methods of generating a printed image. |
| US08021463B2 |
Method for producing spherical activated carbon
The invention relates to a method for producing spherical activated carbon, wherein polymer globules, which comprise thermally decomposing chemical groups, are carbonized. It is characterized by that during the carbonization, a supplier of free radicals is added to the polymer globules, the supplier of free radicals forming free radicals, which are different from the free radicals that are generated by the decomposition of the chemical groups. |
| US08021462B2 |
Variable flow rate dehumidification plant and process for granular materials
A dehumidification plant for granular material, comprising hopper having loading mouth and discharge mouth for granular material, upper feeding mouth in the hopper and lower delivery mouth of a gaseous medium, humidity absorbent material designed to absorb the humidity conveyed by the gaseous medium; towers arranged to contain the absorbent material; supplying arrangement designed to feed the gaseous medium to the hopper and the towers; electronic control unit; detection structure arranged to detect process variables of the plant and electrically connected with the electronic control unit. The plant further comprises distribution structure designed to distribute gaseous medium from of the towers thereby feeding it to another tower from among the towers, the distribution structure being controllable by the electronic control unit between open position, portion of the gaseous medium contained in the of the towers is fed to the towers, and closed position. |
| US08021457B2 |
Filter media and structure
In the filtration of fluid materials, the removal of particulate from the moving stream requires substantial pressure to maintain flow and substantial capacity for removing particulate. The filters of the invention are rugged, high wet strength materials having a basis weight, permeability and efficiency suitable to obtain substantial reduction in particulate loading from liquid streams without plugging or mechanical failure. In particular, the filters of the invention permit the removal of substantial proportions of particulate from non-aqueous streams including lubricant oils, hydraulic fluids and other contaminated streams. |
| US08021454B2 |
Disposable air filter sub-assembly
A disposable air filter sub-assembly that includes: (a) air filtration media; (b) a substantially planar air filter frame providing three-dimensional support for the air filtration media; and (c) an air filter frame-connecting means integrated into the air filter frame. The integrated air filter frame-connecting means are adapted to connect a plurality of identical air filter sub-assemblies into an air filter assembly with sufficient structural strength in at least one direction such that the air filter sub-assemblies resists separation when the air filter assembly is extracted from the filter track of a filter bank. |
| US08021453B2 |
Collecting chamber for a vacuum cleaner
A bagless vacuum cleaner includes a separating unit for separating dirt and dust from a dirt-laden airflow which is drawn in by the cleaner. The separating unit has a chamber with collection areas for collecting dirt and dust which is separated from the airflow. A base of the separating unit is movable between a closed position and an open position. A dividing wall between the collection areas is arranged so that its end is spaced from the base by different distances at different respective regions. This enables an enlarged opening, by which dirt and dust can be emptied from the chamber, to be provided, which facilitates emptying of the chamber. |
| US08021450B2 |
Abrasive wheels and production thereof
An abrasive device for a grinding tool. The abrasive device includes abrasive grains material-lockingly connected with one another by a bonding agent. The abrasive grains have an approximately spherical contour. The abrasive device further includes a porosity of at least 35 percent. The present disclosure also relates to a method for producing the abrasive device. |
| US08021447B2 |
Hydrogen-producing assemblies
Hydrogen-producing fuel processing assemblies for producing hydrogen gas. The assemblies include a catalyst chamber, a heat source adapted to heat the catalyst chamber, a hydrogen-producing region within the catalyst chamber adapted to produce hydrogen gas from a feed stream, and a conductive guide structure within the catalyst chamber adapted to conduct and distribute heat from the heat source within the hydrogen-producing region and to direct fluid through the hydrogen-producing region. In some embodiments, the conductive guide structure includes a helical member. In some embodiments, the assembly further includes a vaporization region within the catalyst chamber. In some embodiments, the fuel processing assembly is adapted to produce hydrogen gas via a steam reforming or other endothermic reaction. |
| US08021446B2 |
Self-regulating feedstock delivery systems and hydrogen-generating fuel processing assemblies and fuel cell systems incorporating the same
Feedstock delivery systems and hydrogen-producing fuel processing assemblies and fuel cell systems containing the same. The feedstock delivery systems include a liquid pump that draws at least one liquid feedstock from a supply and delivers at least one feed stream containing the feedstock(s) to a fuel processor, such as to the hydrogen-producing region thereof. The feedstock delivery system further includes a recycle conduit that establishes a fluid flow path for the liquid feedstock(s) from a location downstream of the pump back to a location upstream of the pump. In some embodiments, the feedstock delivery system further includes a flow restrictor associated with the recycle conduit and a pressure-actuated valve that selectively permits the recycled feedstock to bypass the flow restrictor. In some embodiments, the pump is configured to draw a greater flow rate of the feed stream from the supply than is delivered to the fuel processor. |
| US08021444B2 |
Fuel oil compositions
A fuel oil composition is disclosed. The fuel oil includes a major proportion of a fuel oil and minor amounts of: (a) at least one polar nitrogen compound effective as a wax anti-settling additive; and (b) at least one reaction product between a hydrocarbyl-substituted succinic acid or anhydride and hydrazine. |
| US08021442B2 |
Process for the preparation of common salt of high purity from brines in solar salt pans
The process of the invention is an improvement over the existing process of producing salt of high purity from alum-treated brine disclosed recently in the prior art. More particularly, the invention rectifies the ratio of Ca2+ to Mg2+ from a value <1 to a value in the range of 2-3 desired by chlor-alkali and soda ash industries. The improved process involves the adjustment of pH of clarified brine with aqueous HCl so as to carry out salt crystallization at a pH of 6.5 instead of at the natural pH of 7. The pH adjustment reduces the Mg2+ impurity in salt while slightly raising the Ca2+ impurity in the salt and thereby achieving the desired ratio. |
| US08021440B2 |
Method for the preparation of a carminic acid lake
A method for the preparation of carminic acid lakes, novel carminic acid lake compositions and their uses in foods, such as yogurt, fruit preparations, beverages, other miscellaneous food products that may need a stable red color, and in cosmetics. |
| US08021436B2 |
Cleaning and/or treatment compositions comprising a xyloglucan conjugate
This invention relates to compositions comprising a xyloglucan conjugate and processes for making and using such compositions including the use of such compositions to clean and/or treat a situs. |
| US08021435B2 |
Functional hand prosthesis mechanism
A functional prosthesis for a hand comprises an opening and closing mechanism for articulated fingers. A worm gear coupled to a DC actuator-motor provides linear movement to a displacement mobile which is coupled to articulated fingers of the artificial hand. When the actuator rotates in one direction, the displacement mobile moves in one direction, causing the fingers to open or close, depending upon the direction of rotation. Rotation of the actuator in the opposite direction will cause the fingers to move in the opposite direction. |
| US08021434B2 |
Ureteral stent
A stent is designed to be placed within a patient's ureter to facilitate drainage from the patient's kidneys to the bladder. An elongated portion of the stent includes a length sufficient to extend substantially within the ureter from the kidney to the bladder, and defines a lumen extending therethrough. A first end portion extends from one end of the elongated portion and is adapted to assume a retaining configuration when placed substantially within the kidney. A second end portion extends from another end of the elongated portion and flares outward when placed substantially within the bladder to maintain position. The second end portion allows fluids to flow through the lumen and into the bladder and is collapsible to prevent fluid from passing from the bladder to the kidney. |
| US08021432B2 |
Apparatus for use of porous implants
An acetabular cup assembly implantable at an acetabular socket can include an acetabular cup defining a partially spherical bone engaging surface and having a uniform thickness. A spacer can include a body portion formed of porous metal and define a radial support surface. The porous metal can be adapted to receive bone ingrowth through interstitial space at pores defined therein. The spacer can further comprise a piercing portion adapted to be advanced into the acetabular socket. The spacer can bridge a gap defined between the acetabular socket and the acetabular cup. Filler can be disposed between the acetabular cup and the acetabular socket in areas adjacent to the spacer such that the spacer and the filler collectively define a continuous support surface adapted to support the acetabular cup at the bone engaging surface. |
| US08021430B2 |
Anatomic spinal implant having anatomic bearing surfaces
The present application is directed to an interbody spinal implant having a structural configuration that provides for maintaining the normal anatomic relationship of two adjacent vertebrae of the spine. The spinal implant is sized to fit within the disc space created by the removal of disc material between two adjacent vertebrae and conform wholly, or in part, to the disc space created. The spinal implant of the present invention has first and second sides with upper and lower bearing surfaces that form a support structure for bearing against the end plates of the adjacent vertebrae. The upper and lower bearing surfaces of the first and second sides are shaped to create an anatomic fit with the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae. |
| US08021429B2 |
Deployable segmented TLIF device
A segmented intervertebral body fusion support includes a plurality of segments, the segments including an initial segment, a final segment and at least one intermediate segment. The intermediate segment has a generally trapezoidal configuration and the initial and final segments include tapered side walls providing triangular gaps between adjacent segments. A draw wire is fixed to the first segment and passes through the remaining segments. By pulling the draw wire relative to the segments, the segments are drawn together in a generally arcuate configuration. The draw wire includes an enlargement that passes through the final segment and engages a plurality of fingers on the final segment, which prevents the draw wire from retracting, maintaining the arcuate configuration. The segmented device can be inserted through a laparoscopic device into the intervertebral space and can be subsequently drawn into the arcuate configuration to establish the desired intervertebral spacing. |
| US08021428B2 |
Ceramic disc prosthesis
A prosthetic is provided for replacing a vertebral disc. The prosthesis can comprise first and second endplates formed of a ceramic material, each including an articulating contact surface and a bone facing surface. The contact surface of the first endplate can have a shape complementary to the contact surface of the second endplate, thereby facilitating articulation of the first and second endplates while in contact with one another. The device can further include at least one non-ceramic bone attachment element mated with at least one of the bone facing surfaces, such that the bone attachment element covers less than a full area of the bone facing surface. |
| US08021425B2 |
Versatile method of repairing an intervertebral disc
Systems for minimally invasive disc augmentation include an anulus augmentation component and, optionally, a nucleus augmentation component. Both are suited for minimally invasive deployment. The anulus augmentation component shields weakened regions of the anulus fibrosis and/or resists escape of natural nucleus pulposus and/or the nucleus augmentation component. Methods and deployment devices are also disclosed. Systems and methods for closing a defect in the anulus are also provided. |
| US08021421B2 |
Prosthesis heart valve fixturing device
A biologically implantable prosthesis is disclosed. The prosthesis can have a circumferentially expandable wall and elements that prevent the wall from collapsing once the wall is expanded. Methods of making and using the prosthesis are also disclosed. |
| US08021417B2 |
Prosthetic valve that permits retrograde flow
A prosthetic valve for regulating fluid flow through a body vessel is provided. The valve includes an expandable support frame and a valve leaflet, and includes at least one opening that permits a controlled amount of retrograde flow through the valve when the valve is in a closed configuration. A flap disposed adjacent the opening is able to temporarily and substantially close the opening to contribute to the regulation of retrograde flow proceeding through the valve. |
| US08021414B2 |
Intravascular stent
A stent in a non-expanded state has a first and second expansion column, each consisting of a plurality of expansion strut pairs. An expansion strut pair includes a first expansion strut, a second expansion strut and a joining strut that couples the first and second expansion struts at one end. Expansion strut pairs include expansion strut pair first and second corners formed where the joining strut couples the first and second expansion struts. A connecting strut column, formed of a plurality of connecting struts couples the first and second expansion columns. Connecting struts include a proximal section, a distal section and an intermediate section. The proximal section is coupled to the corner of an expansion strut pair of the first expansion column, and the distal section is coupled to the joining strut of an expansion strut pair of the second expansion column intermediate the expansion strut pair first corner and the expansion strut pair second corner. |
| US08021413B2 |
Low profile medical device
The disclosure relates to an intraluminal medical device. The medical device comprises a main graft, a first extension graft, and a second extension graft. The main graft comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a body extending between the proximal end and distal end. The distal end of the main graft comprises a first branch and a second branch, the branches extending distally from the body. The first and second extension grafts comprise at least one stent and have a body reinforcing portion and a branch reinforcing portion. The body reinforcing portions have a larger expanded dimension than the expanded dimension of the respective branch reinforcing portion. The body reinforcing portions, together, have an expanded dimension that is generally equal to the expanded dimension of the outer graft body. |
| US08021409B2 |
Deployment catheter
An inner catheter (36) for use in an endoluminal delivery assembly (10) includes a stiffening element positioned at a transition between a hypotube (36a), a middle tube (36b) and a distal tube (36c) of the inner catheter (36) having different flexibilities. The stiffening element comprises three stiffening wires (42) embedded within the internal wall of the inner catheter (36) at their proximal ends. The stiffening wires (42) extend inwardly and distally to meet at an apex (60). |
| US08021408B2 |
Inserting device of artificial blood stent
An artificial blood stent insertion device which includes a blood stent having a front end portion, a middle portion and a rear end portion compressed by a fixing wire having ring-shaped loops disposed at the sides thereof, and a core passing through the loops and extending through the moving tube so that one end thereof is accessible, whereby the artificial blood stent can be easily inserted and fixed to a desired position in a blood vessel without affecting blood pressure, and then the artificial blood stent is expanded by disengaging the core from the loops of the fixing wire. |
| US08021407B2 |
Patient cooling system
A patient cooling system comprises an inflatable patient mattress and a patient enclosure or tent supported by a framework of inflatable tubes drawing air off of the same air supply used to supply the mattress and to cool the tent. The framework of inflatable tubes is divided into left and right sections, which are further subdivided into lower body and upper body sections. An inflatable connector with a stem and protuberance is provided to secure the framework in a closed position. The patient-supporting mattress comprises a plurality of inflatable compartments extending transversely across the width of the mattress that can be alternately pressurized for pressure relief therapy. Radially collapsible, sleeved openings in the tent panel enable connection of conduits or patient care lines to the patient. |
| US08021406B2 |
Thermoregulatory device with absorbent material
The present invention is directed to a thermoregulatory device. The device has a first layer, a second layer, an enclosure, an inlet and a liquid absorbing material. The first layer has a first interior surface, and a first exterior surface. The second layer has a second interior surface and a second exterior surface. The enclosure is formed by sealing and/or attaching the first interior surface to the second interior surface. The inlet directs a liquid into the enclosure. The liquid absorbing material is positioned (a) at and/or near an aperture that allows a liquid to contact the liquid absorbing material; or (b) on the first exterior surface that is of a material that allows the liquid to contact the liquid absorbing material. In addition, the application is directed a method of using the thermoregulatory device to transfer the liquid's thermal energy from the enclosure to a patient's skin. |
| US08021403B2 |
Spinal staple system
A spinal correction system for the correction or arrest of scoliosis or spinal deformity in immature spines includes a bridge member, a pair of spaced apart legs extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, and a fastener retaining portion extending substantially longitudinally from each end of the bridge member. |
| US08021401B2 |
Systems, methods, devices and device kits for fixation of bones and spinal vertebrae
Featured are methods for fixing adjacent vertebrate of a spine that utilize an implant member, which preferably is arcuate. Preferred methods of the invention for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae of the spine, include forming an aperture in each of the adjacent vertebrae and inserting an implant into the apertures formed in each of the adjacent vertebrae so that the implant extends between the adjacent vertebrae and through the intervertebral space. An alternative method for fixing adjacent vertebrae of a spine includes the step of forming a common channel in and between the adjacent vertebrae and inserting an implant in the channel so as to bridge between the adjacent vertebrae. Also featured are methods for stabilizing adjacent segments of a bone, fixation systems and fixation kits. |
| US08021400B2 |
Spinal transverse connector
Disclosed is a spinal transconnector device for coupling longitudinal spinal rods on either side of the mid-sagittal plane. The device includes two interconnected rod engagement elements, a first rod engagement elements having a vaulted surface adapted to secure to a first longitudinal spinal rod via an interference fit comprising compression of the first longitudinal spinal rod against the generally vaulted surface; and an interference pin that advances into a bore of the first rod engagement element forming an interference fit between the interference pin and the rod engagement element. The interference fit can be associated with elastic deformation of the first rod engagement element occurring as a consequence of the interference pin being advanced through the bore in the engagement element and contacting a surface of the first longitudinal spinal rod. |
| US08021399B2 |
Rod extension for extending fusion construct
A rod extension for extending a fusion construct allows a surgeon to connect a stabilization rod implant to at least a portion of a patient's spine, and also to connect the stabilization rod implant to an existing implant that has been previously installed in the patient. The existing fusion implant typically includes at least one existing pedicle screw, at least one existing rod, and at least one existing connector interconnecting the existing pedicle screw to the existing rod. The extension implant comprises a rod, an offset beam connected to the rod, and a clamp interconnected to the offset beam, wherein the clamp can be secured to the existing rod, thereby extending the fusion construct. |
| US08021396B2 |
Configurable dynamic spinal rod and method for dynamic stabilization of the spine
A configurable dynamic spinal rod for connecting levels of a dynamic stabilization system to support the spine while providing for the preservation of spinal motion. Embodiments of the dynamic stabilization system have an anchor system, a deflection system, a vertical rod system and a connection system. The deflection system provides dynamic stabilization and load-sharing. The dynamic spinal rod connects different levels of the construct in a multilevel construct. The dynamic spinal rod cooperates with the deflection system to further reduce stress exerted upon the bone anchors and spinal anatomy. A configurable lock is provided which can selectably lock an angle between the dynamic spinal rod and a dynamic bone anchor. |
| US08021395B2 |
Interspinous vertebral implant
According to certain embodiments, disclosed is a vertebral interspinous implant including first and second supports (2,3) defining in their center part respective fixation bodies (7,8) to accept spinal processes of two respective vertebrae, these fixation bodies being located in a same sagittal plane, first and second elastically compressible bodies (4) being set between the first and second supports (2,3) and on each side of the said sagittal plane (P), first and second rigid guides (10) around which are arranged, respectively, the first and second elastically compressible bodies (4), each of these guides (10) optionally being connected at one of its extremities to the supports (2,3) and including at, at least, one of its extremities an abutment (13) adapted to cooperate with an abutment (14) of the corresponding support (3) in order to limit the separation of the supports (2,3) in the direction of the spine. |
| US08021393B2 |
Lateral spinous process spacer with deployable wings
Interspinous process implants are disclosed. Also disclosed are systems and kits including such implants, methods of inserting such implants, and methods of alleviating pain or discomfort associated with the spinal column. |
| US08021391B2 |
Tooth-hardening apparatus
A tooth-hardening apparatus 10 according to the present invention includes a tooth-hardening member 11 of a plate shape having a projection 13 on its surface, and a nipple 15 attached on the tooth-hardening member 11. The nipple has a predetermined hardness to provide a pacifier function and a tooth-hardening function. A space 21 is formed in the tooth-hardening member 11. The space 21 is covered with an upper transparent cover 18 and a lower transparent cover 19. |
| US08021390B2 |
Apparatus and method for anchoring sutures
A suture anchor having a conical surface and a bore in which an end of an insertion tool is inserted. The insertion end of the insertion tool is made of material having elastic properties. The bore and base of the suture anchor are angled with respect to the central axis of the suture anchor and preferably are parallel to each other. During insertion, the suture anchor is reoriented to fit into the hole, thereby bending the elastic end of the insertion tool. When the suture anchor is within cancellous bone tissue, the elastic properties of the insertion tool deploys the suture anchor to an orientation in which the suture anchor cannot fit through the bone hole, thereby firmly anchoring the suture anchor in the human bone. |
| US08021388B2 |
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 device has a static evaporation rate through the device of at least about 20 mg/minute. The device has a convective evaporation resistance of less than about 75. 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. |
| US08021386B2 |
Controlled release mechanism for balloon catheters
This invention relates to the field of balloon catheters and more particularly to catheter balloons having controlled failure mechanisms for the prevention of catastrophic failure of the balloon during overpressure conditions. |
| US08021375B2 |
Surgical clip applicator
A surgical clip applicator for applying surgical clips to body tissue includes an elongated ram housing that has proximal and distal ends and at least partially encloses a ram. A trigger housing includes a trigger that has an open position and a closed position. The trigger housing is mounted to the proximal end of the ram housing. The ram extends partially into the trigger housing and is operatively connected to the trigger. The trigger is spaced a first distance from the trigger housing in the open position and spaced a second distance from the trigger housing in the closed position. The first distance being larger than the second distance. A cartridge is removably mounted into the ram housing. The cartridge includes a plurality of the surgical clips. A retaining mechanism retains the trigger with respect to the trigger housing between the open and closed positions. Mounting the cartridge into the distal end of the ram housing urges at least a portion of the ram into the housing to set the trigger in the open position. |
| US08021373B2 |
Surgical device
A surgical device includes a first jaw and a second jaw disposed in opposed correspondence with the first jaw. The second jaw is mechanically coupled to the first jaw at a proximal end opposite a distal end. A cutting element is disposed within the second jaw, and a first driver is configured to move the cutting element proximally from the distal end toward the proximal end of the second jaw to cut a section of tissue disposed between the first and second jaws. The device may also include a stapling element disposed within the second jaw. The cutting element and the stapling element may be contiguous so as to define a cutting and stapling element, such as a wedge having a blade disposed thereon. As the wedge is moved proximally from the distal end of the second jaw to the proximal end, the wedge pushes a plurality of staples against a plurality of opposing staple guides disposed in the first jaw in order to staple a section of tissue while cutting the section of tissue. |
| US08021369B2 |
Navigated femoral neck resection guide and method
A femoral neck resection guide assembly for use in minimally invasive hip surgery is disclosed. The assembly includes a guide portion having at least two spaced resection guide surfaces for guiding a cutting tool. A bushing and fastener elements are also included in the assembly for cooperating with and fixing the guide portion to the bone. Preferably, the assembly allows for initial connection of the guide portion to the bone and polyaxial rotation of the guide before such is statically affixed. |
| US08021363B2 |
Dual-bend sphinctertome
Disclosed herein are devices and methods for forming multidirectional cuts in tissue. The tissue cutting devices disclosed herein generally include a flexible elongate member with at least first and second wires that are at least partially constrained within or along a portion of the member. A distal portion of the wires is anchored on or within a portion of the elongate member. When tension is applied to one of the wires, such as by an actuator at a proximal end of the device, the elongate member bows while an unconstrained portion of the wire becomes exposed relative to the adjacent portion of the elongate member, assuming a tissue-cutting configuration. |
| US08021361B2 |
Systems and methods for electrode contact assessment
Systems and methods are disclosed for assessing electrode-tissue contact for tissue ablation. An exemplary electrode contact sensing system comprises an electrode housed within a distal portion of a catheter shaft. At least one electro-mechanical sensor is operatively associated with the electrode within the catheter shaft. The at least one electro-mechanical sensor is responsive to movement of the electrode by generating electrical signals corresponding to the amount of movement. The system may also include an output device electrically connected to the at least one electro-mechanical sensor. The output device receives the electrical signals for assessing a level of contact between the electrode and a tissue. |
| US08021359B2 |
Transseptal closure of a patent foramen ovale and other cardiac defects
The present invention provides for therapeutic treatment methods, devices, and systems for the partial or complete closure or occlusion of a patent foramen ovale (“PFO”). In particular, various methods, devices, and systems for joining or welding tissues, in order to therapeutically close a PFO are described. In yet another aspect of the invention, various methods, devices, and systems for the penetration of the interatrial septum enabling left atrial access are also provided. |
| US08021358B2 |
Surgical tool kit
A tool kit for interchanging tools within an at least partially closed area is provided. The tool kit includes at least one tool, each tool being preferably provided within a tubular housing, and adapted to pivot out from the tool kit so that they can be attached to a receiving tool. The tool is designed to be returned to the tool kit after use, and if desired, switched with a different tool. In one embodiment, a surgical system permitting surgical tools to be interchanged within a patient's body is provided. A method of interchanging surgical tools within a patient's body is also provided. |
| US08021350B2 |
Hydroxyphenyl cross-linked macromolecular network and applications thereof
A dihydroxyphenyl cross-linked macromolecular network is provided that is useful in artificial tissue and tissue engineering applications, particularly to provide a synthetic macromolecular network for a wide variety of tissue types. In particular, artificial or synthetic cartilage, vocal cord material, vitreous material, soft tissue material and mitral valve material are described. In an embodiment, the network is composed of tyramine-substituted and cross-linked hyaluronan molecules, wherein cross-linking is achieved via peroxidase-mediated dityramine-linkages that can be performed in vivo. The dityramine bonds provide a stable, coherent hyaluronan-based hydrogel with desired physical properties. |
| US08021344B2 |
Medicament delivery device configured to produce an audible output
Medicament delivery devices are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a medicament delivery device and an electronic circuit system. The medicament delivery device includes a housing, a medicament container, and a medicament delivery member. The electronic circuit system is coupled to the housing and includes an audible output device and a cover. The housing of the medicament delivery device and the cover of the electronic circuit system collectively define an acoustic enclosure. The audible output device is configured to be disposed within the acoustic enclosure. |
| US08021343B2 |
Syringe for sequential expression of different liquids
A device (10,110,210) for the expression of liquids, such as for the maintenance treatment of vascular catheters. A syringe (16;116a,116b;216) has a support structure (15,215) and includes at least two separate compartments (11,12;111,112;211,212) in which liquids for treating the lumen (L,283) of a catheter (C,280) with which the device is associated. The syringe further includes a closure plug (13,213) to be associated with the lumen being treated, which is coupled, by virtue of a releasable securement arrangement, to support structure (15,215). At least one plunger (16;116a,116b;216) is also included for infusing, in preset order, the different treatment liquids into the lumen to be treated, and the syringe further includes a duct (17,217) which is in fluid communication with the two compartments and is arranged through a through hole through the closure plug (13,213) in order to allow access of the treatment liquid to the interior of the lumen (L,283) upon activation of the plunger. |
| US08021341B2 |
Self-suturing anchor device
A catheter anchor device for use with a catheter includes an adhesive layer configured to be secured to the skin of the patient proximate the catheter insertion site, a stationary base secured to the adhesive layer, a rotatable ring coupled to the stationary base and circumscribing the stationary base such that the rotatable outer ring can be rotated by the user relative to the stationary base, a first suture including a loop portion and first and second ends, the loop portion looping around a catheter when the anchor device is in place relative to the catheter insertion site, and a pull handle including first and second separable pull tabs, the pull handle being coupled to the first and second ends of the first suture, the pull handle being configured such that actuation of the pull handle actuates first suture to secure the catheter relative to the rotatable ring. |
| US08021338B2 |
Percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy access needle
An access needle suitable for use in percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy procedures. In one embodiment, the access needle includes a stylet assembly, a safety sheath assembly and a cannula assembly. The stylet assembly includes a stylet and a stylet hub. The stylet has a proximal end and a sharpened distal end, the proximal end of the stylet being mounted within the stylet hub. The safety shield assembly includes a sheath and a shuttle. The sheath, which has a blunt distal end, coaxially surrounds the stylet. The proximal end of the sheath is fixed to the shuttle, the shuttle being movable between a first position in which the sharpened distal end of the stylet is exposed and a second position in which the sharpened distal end of the stylet is shielded by the blunt distal end of the sheath. The cannula assembly includes a cannula and a cannula hub, the cannula hub being fixed to the proximal end of the cannula. The cannula hub is detachably engageable with the shuttle to move the shuttle between its first and second positions. |
| US08021337B2 |
Expandable surgical portal
Systems, kits, and methods for establishing percutaneous access are described. A system typically includes a deformable variable diameter cannula sleeve (DVDCS) and a guidewire. The DVDCS will generally have two states, an initial, un-activated condition and a second, activated condition, brought about and controlled under the discretion of the operator. The methods comprise creating an initial access point and tissue tract with a needle, positioning a guidewire through the initial tissue tract, passing the deformable variable diameter cannula sleeve over the guidewire through the tissue tract to a target blood vessel or cavity, and activating the DVDCS to effect radial deformation of the surrounding tissue. Use of the DVDCS reduces the risk of injuring tissue surrounding the tissue tract by lessening the axial forces imparted to the tissue. Kits comprise at least one deformable variable diameter cannula sleeve together with instructions for use. |
| US08021336B2 |
Pump set for administering fluid with secure loading features and manufacture of component therefor
A pump set for use in a liquid delivery pump of the type for delivering liquid to a patient, having an infrared radiation detector for detecting infrared radiation, and providing an indication that the pump set is properly loaded on the pump. The pump set comprises a conduit for the liquid and a safety interlock member which is carried by the conduit. The safety interlock member is formed of a material that transmits infrared radiation and blocks visible light. |
| US08021335B2 |
Prefilled syringe jet injector
A jet injector that includes a prefilled syringe. The syringe includes a fluid chamber that contains a medicament. The syringe also has an injection-assisting needle, and a plunger is movable within the fluid chamber. A housing is configured for allowing insertion of the needle to a penetration depth. An energy source is configured for biasing the plunger to produce an injecting pressure in the medicament in the fluid chamber of between about 80 and 1000 p.s.i. to jet inject the medicament from the fluid chamber through the needle to an injection site. |
| US08021333B2 |
Syringe spring retainer
A spring retainer (60) for a syringe (10) that has a barrel (40), a plunger (20), a spring (90) and a retractable needle (50) that can couple with the plunger for spring-driven retraction of the coupled needle and plunger. The spring retainer has first (70) and second (80) body members that cooperate to releasably maintain the spring in a compressed state until the plunger is coupled to the retractable needle after depression of the plunger to deliver the fluid contents of the syringe. Depression of the plunger triggers rotational disengagement of the first and second body members to allow decompression of the spring which forces retraction of the needle into the barrel. Rotational disengagement of the first and second body members also assists rotation of the plunger into a final, inoperable position. |
| US08021330B2 |
Balloon catheter for crossing a chronic total occlusion
A balloon catheter is disclosed including a “no-fold” balloon at a distal end thereof that surrounds a distal portion of a guidewire shaft having a compliant shaft or tubular section for selectively gripping a guidewire there within. Upon introduction of inflation fluid at low pressure values, the compliant shaft section of the guidewire shaft is radially compressed to “lock” onto the guidewire while an outer diameter of the no-fold balloon remains unchanged. The simultaneous compression of the compliant shaft section against a guidewire located within the guidewire lumen and the filling of the balloon with inflation fluid without expanding the balloon provides a clinician with a conjoined balloon catheter and guidewire ensemble that together may be pushed through a tight stenosis such as a chronic total occlusion (CTO). |
| US08021328B2 |
Rapid exchange infusion catheter
An infusion catheter and method, with an elongated shaft having a guidewire lumen which has a proximal section and a common distal section extending to a distal port at a distal end of the shaft, and an infusion lumen which is in fluid communication with the distal port of the guidewire lumen and which joins the common distal section of the guidewire lumen at a location distal to the guidewire proximal port. A restricted passage from the infusion lumen to the common distal section of the guidewire lumen has a smaller transverse dimension than the guidewire lumen and a guidewire slidably disposed in the guidewire lumen. |
| US08021327B2 |
Steering mechanism for bi-directional catheter
A bi-directional catheter with nearly double the throw in its catheter tip deflection defines a puller wire travel path having a U-turn a pulley which minimizes the offset angle between the puller wire and the longitudinal axis of the control handle while maximizing the travel distance of that puller wire for any given distance traveled by the pulley drawing the puller wire. In particular, the control handle of the catheter which includes a steering assembly having a lever arm carrying a pair of pulleys for drawing corresponding puller wires to deflect the tip section of the catheter. The pulleys are rotatably mounted on opposing portions of the lever arm such that one pulley is moved distally as the other pulley is moved proximally when the lever arm is rotated. Because each puller wire is trained on a respective pulley, rotation of the lever arm causes the pulley that is moved proximally to draw its puller wire to deflect the tip section in the direction of the off-axis lumen in which that puller wire extends. |
| US08021324B2 |
Venous access port assembly with X-ray discernable indicia
A venous access port assembly (10) having a housing base (28) with a discharge port (16), a septum (14) and a cap (48), with an interior reservoir (22). The housing base (28) is provided with X-ray discernable indicia (100,200) to identify an attribute of the assembly (10) after its implantation and clearly appear on an X-ray of the patient in a manner informing the radiologist or technologist and the medical practitioner of that particular attribute. Such indicia can be depicted as cutouts (102) through a disc of radiopaque material (100) where the cutouts are in the form of alphabetical letters such as “CT”, or can be a set (200) of discrete elements (202) of radiopaque material, that are affixed along the bottom surface of the housing base or embedded within the thickness of the bottom housing wall. |
| US08021322B1 |
Enteral feeding apparatus
Embodiments of the present invention include a enteral feeding apparatus and/or system in which an enteral feeding pump can be configured to deliver enteral formula to a patient in accordance with a delivery parameter determined using patient information associated with a patient to be treated and formula information associated with an enteral formula to be delivered to the patient. Exemplary embodiments can determine an estimated daily caloric intake for a patient and can configure the enteral feeding pump to satisfy the caloric requirements of the patient. Exemplary embodiments are also able to monitor the delivery of the enteral formula to ensure that the patient is being properly treated. |
| US08021320B2 |
Self-sealing device and method for delivery of a therapeutic agent through a pneumostoma
A pneumostoma management system includes a pneumostoma management device for maintaining the patency of a pneumostoma and a drug delivery device for pneumostoma care. The drug delivery device may be used to introduce therapeutic agents into the pneumostoma for direct treatment of the pneumostoma, treatment of the lung by way of collateral ventilation, and/or treatment of non-lung tissues by diffusion into the bloodstream. The drug delivery device includes a therapeutic agent dispenser for supplying a therapeutic agent and a propellant at positive pressure, an outlet and a connector for correctly positioning the outlet relative to a pneumostoma management device. The drug delivery device includes a self-centering and self-sealing connector for engaging the pneumostoma management device. |
| US08021313B2 |
Intensity control for massage devices
An air-tight foam-filled bladder is used for varying massage intensity in a massage chair, massage mat, or other massage device. The bladder may be compressed from a default or relaxed thickness by evacuating air from the bladder. The thickness of the foam-filled bladder may be reduced to a collapsed thickness in which the foam is compressed within the bladder. In use, the foam-filled bladder is placed proximate a conventional fixed massage mechanism in a massage device, such as in the back rest of a massage chair. By controlling the amount of air evacuated from the bladder, the intensity of the massage is controlled by varying the amount of pressure exerted by the fixed massage mechanism on the user. In the case of a massage chair, the user may advantageously sit back in the chair without discomfort when the user does not want a massage, and may control the intensity of the massage provided by the chair. In another embodiment, an active pump may be used to inflate one or more bladders that may or may not include a foam insert. The number, size and location of the bladders may be varied in any of the embodiments. |
| US08021307B2 |
Apparatus and method for sensor deployment and fixation
A delivery system for fixation of an implant assembly having an intracorporeal device at a deployment site using an anchoring structure. This invention provides an implant assembly having a an anchor for fixation within a vessel. The anchoring structure adapted to be delivered via a catheter. |
| US08021305B2 |
Ultrasound probe, ultrasonograph, and ultrasonography
A non-invasive (having sufficiently small diameter so as not to give much pain to a subject) ultrasonic ultrasound probe of high spatial resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio, an ultrasonograph using the probe, and an ultrasonography are provided. The ultrasound probe is inserted into the tissue under examination and transmits an ultrasonic wave. The probe is characterized by comprising a hollow outer frame having one of needle shape, a puncture needle portion having the one end and inserted into the tissue of the subject, and an extended portion having the other end, an ultrasonic wave generating source positioned in the hollow part of the extended portion and generating an ultrasonic wave, an acoustic waveguide disposed along the length direction in the hollow part of the outer frame, capable of ultrasonic vibration, and adapted to transmit an ultrasonic wave, and direction changing means for changing the direction of the ultrasonic wave beam transmitted by the acoustic waveguide to the direction toward the position of the tissue under examination. |
| US08021304B2 |
Ultrasonic probe
A technique for reducing the looseness of a wire and reducing the positional error of an ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. According to the technique, inside a tip portion 3 of an insertion portion 2, middle pulleys 11a, 11b are placed between pulleys 6, 7. The middle pulley 11a is attached to a slider portion 14, and the slider portion (and the middle pulley 11a) is supported slidably in the direction orthogonal to the rotation direction of the pulley 6 along a slider guide portion 15 formed at the tip portion, and the position of a sliding direction is supported so as to be able to be fixed at the tip portion by a screw 13. |
| US08021299B2 |
Correlating a non-polysomnographic physiological parameter set with sleep states
Values of a non-polysomnographic (non-PSG) physiological parameter set may be correlated to polysomnographically (PSG) determined sleep states. The correlated values of the non-PSG parameter set and sleep states may be analyzed, and a relationship between the values and sleep states may be determined. The relationship may allow determination of sleep states for any given patient based on values of the non-PSG physiological parameter set for the patient. The non-PSG physiological parameter set does not include physiological parameters typically required for PSG, such as brain electrical activity (EEG), eye movement (EOG), and jaw or neck muscular activity or tone (EMG). Medical devices, such as implantable medical devices (IMDs) that would generally be unable to monitor such physiological parameters, may apply the relationship to values of the non-PSG physiological parameter set for a patient to identify sleep states of the patient. |
| US08021298B2 |
System and method for mapping pain depth
A pain depth mapping system and method may be used to map the location and depth of pain experienced by a user (e.g., a patient). The pain depth mapping system and method is capable of displaying one or more body representations with symptom representations representing the location of the pain. The pain depth mapping system and method allows the user to delineate one or more user-defined pain depth regions on a cross-section of the body representation with the symptom representations to form a pain map. The symptom mapping system and method may also allow the user to vary the pain intensity represented by the symptom representations as the user delineates the user-defined pain depth region(s). |
| US08021297B2 |
Wearable device
A wearable device comprising at least two measuring devices (2,3,4,5,6) providing primary data, a processor (1) designed for calculating secondary data from the primary data, for calculating reference data from the primary and/or the secondary data and for comparing the reference data with at least two specific data pattern to automatically recognize an activity, and a memory (7) designed for storing the primary, the secondary data and the at least two specific data pattern each assigned to a certain activity. The activity recognition is performed by loading the primary and/or the secondary data to the processor (1), calculating the reference data, comparing the reference data with the specific data patterns, assigning the primary and/or the secondary data with the recognized activity and storing the assigned primary and/or secondary data in the memory (7). |
| US08021287B2 |
Restraint, reposition, traction and exercise device and method
A restraint, reposition, traction, and exercise device treats acute or chronic mechanical pain, particularly back, neck, hip, pelvis, shoulder, knees, and/or leg pain, and restores and/or increases range of motion in suitable users. The device may include two or more movable support structures and two or more restraints, such as straps. The restraints may be incrementally adjustable to stabilize two or more portions of a person's body, such as the back and/or pelvic regions, against the support structures in any number of three-dimensional orientations that produce a substantially pain-free position. The support structures may be moved apart to apply spinal traction to the portions of the person's body between the restraints. Exercises may be performed while in a substantially pain-free position before, during, or after spinal traction is applied. The user may reposition and restrain herself/himself in another substantially pain-free position and then re-apply spinal traction and/or perform further exercises. |
| US08021285B2 |
Endless cord exercise machine with rotary viscous dampers
An endless cord exercise machine in which a user applies a continuous pulling motion to a cord that is attached to a resistance mechanism is disclosed. The machine may be arranged to simulate the acts of rope climbing or of scaling a wall with the assistance of a rope, or may be arranged to provide other types of upper and lower body muscle development. The resistance mechanism is ideally comprised of a plurality of rotary viscous dampers of differing viscosities housed in a rotating drum. A spring-loaded adjustment key mechanism extending through the hub of the drum and dampers allows the user to selectively engage any combination of dampers to provide exercise resistance. |
| US08021283B2 |
Pressure muscle strength increasing apparatus, control device, and method being carried out by control device
To provide a pressure muscle strength increasing apparatus that allows accurate adjustment of the degree of blood flow restriction when a pressure muscle strength increasing method is carried out.The pressure muscle strength increasing apparatus is comprised of a tight fitting device 100, a pressure setting segment 200, quantification segments 300, and a control segment 400. The tight fitting device 100 is wrapped around a predetermined range on a limb. The tight fitting device 100 has an air-tight gas bag. The compression force applied to the limb can be varied by supplying the air to and removing the air from the gas bag. The pressure setting segment 200 controls the supply and removal of the air into and from the gas bag. The quantification segment 300 is intended to be rest on the limb which the tight fitting device 100 is wrapped around on the distal side thereof to quantify a quantification target that varies depending on the increase and decrease of the compression force. The control segment 400 controls the pressure setting segment 200 based on the quantification target. As described above, the pressure muscle strength increasing apparatus automatically controls the compression force based on the quantification target. |
| US08021282B2 |
Exercise device
An improved exercise device in the nature of a kettlebell. The device has a frame covered by a shroud that is configured to lessen the impact of the device on the user. There are a plurality of weights that can be easily attached and detached from the frame to increase or lessen the load to the user. The weights are designed so that they can be added or taken away without altering the center of gravity of the device or the external physical shape of the device. There is also a base that holds the device while the weights are being changed and which also interacts with the device to assist in that exchange. The attaching and detaching system includes a pin that is used to affix the weights to the frame. A dual locking system assures that the pin does not inadvertently come loose during use of the device. |
| US08021280B1 |
Recreational/athletic training system and strike pod therefor
A strike pod for use with an interactive recreational system includes a vibration conducting base, coupleable to a support frame of the interactive recreational system and being suitable to conduct vibration from one area of the pod to another. A strike receiving shell is disposed adjacent the vibration conducting base to receive a blow delivered by a participant. The strike receiving shell is formed of a material more pliable than the vibration conducting base. A vibrational transducer is in operable communication with the vibration conducting base to detect vibration in the vibration conducting base caused by the blow delivered by the participant to the strike receiving shell. |
| US08021277B2 |
Programmed exercise bicycle with computer aided guidance
The invention pertains to a stationary exercise bike along with a display that provides instruction to lead a rider through an exercise program. The invention allows a rider to obtain benefits of a group, instructor-led class though the rider's schedule does not permit the rider to participate in the class. The invention also describes a method of exercising with the foregoing bike and display. |
| US08021271B2 |
Walking exercise supporting device
A device can search for an appropriate walking route with an exercise condition such as of the calorie consumption and the walking speed. When a user enters information at least on the walking time, calorie consumption, walking speed, and distance as the exercise condition, the exercise condition is stored in a data storage unit of the device. When the user enters position information on the walking start point and the walking end point, the position information is also stored in the storage unit of the device. Map information is also previously stored in the data storage unit. A route searching unit of the device searches for the walking route and determines it according to the stored exercise condition, the position information and the map information. The determined walking route is presented to the user through a presenting unit of the device. |
| US08021270B2 |
Online sporting system
According to at least some embodiments of the present invention: (i) a user's non-stationary exertion is detected; (ii) a virtual terrain is provided; and (iii) the detected non-stationary exertion is normalized for the virtual terrain. This is different than any stationary exercise machines that may normalize exertion for a virtual terrain because non-stationary exertion is used. This allows the user to exercise in a non-stationary way, such as by running cross-country. Non-stationary exercise is an advantage of at least some embodiments of the present invention because users often prefer non-stationary exercise to stationary exercise. At least some embodiments of the present invention make it possible to use mapping onto virtual terrains possible even in the non-stationary context. It is further noted that the present invention uses a virtual terrain (see DEFINITIONS section), rather than a virtual course (see DEFINITIONS section) without virtualized terrain factors (see DEFINITIONS section). By virtualizing terrain factors into a virtual terrain, at least some embodiments of the present invention provide a more realistic, realistically competitive and/or pleasing exercise experience for the user(s). By using both non-stationary exertion detection and a virtual terrain, in a single system in combination, exercise can be made more fun, competitive, pleasant and/or less unpleasant. |
| US08021264B2 |
Gear train of automatic transmission for vehicle
A gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle includes a first planetary gear set being a simple planetary gear set and a second planetary gear set that is formed of two combined simple planetary gear sets. The gear train combines four clutches and two brakes and realizes seven forward speeds. The gear train may enhance transmitting performance and reduce fuel consumption. |
| US08021257B2 |
Hydraulic clutch control system
A transmission includes two blocking valves that control fluid pressure to a plurality of clutches. The blocking valves are characterized by a plurality of states that result in at least three transmission operating conditions. Each of the three operating conditions is characterized by fluid pressure being unavailable to at least one of the clutches. |
| US08021256B2 |
Electrically-variable transmission with compounded output gearing
An electrically-variable transmission is provided with first and second motor/generators and three planetary gear assemblies. At least one of the planetary gear assemblies is a planetary gear assembly having multiple planetary gear sets. As a result, the gears for the planetary gear assembly can be represented on multiple radial planes. Each of the planetary gear assemblies has continuous interconnections, and selective connections via a plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms, that provide three forward electrically-variable modes. Preferably, the planetary gear assemblies are connected to one another in such a manner as to allow shifting between one of the electrically-variable modes to occur at a point offset from a mechanical power flow of the transmission. This decreases the maximum power output required from the motor/generators. |
| US08021252B2 |
Sports ball with a woven fabric and method for manufacturing such a sports ball
The invention relates to a sports ball (1) comprising a core (2) and a cover (3) formed from a plurality of panel segments (4). One or more of said panel segments have an outer face covered with a woven fabric (7), preferably denim. The panel segments are connected at joints (6) and said woven fabric is attached to said outer face at said joints. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a sports ball. |
| US08021249B2 |
Two-piece solid golf ball
The invention provides a two-piece solid golf ball having a core and a cover, which ball has a plurality of dimples formed on the surface. The number of dimples is from 250 to 500, the dimples have a surface coverage (SR) of at least 70% and a volume ratio (VR) of at least 1.0%, and dimples of at least three types are used. In addition, the dimples have an average depth of at least about 0.18 mm and a diameter-to-depth ratio (DM/DP) of not more than about 23. The ball has a coefficient of lift CL at a Reynolds number of 70,000 and a spin ratio of 2,000 rpm which is maintained at 60% or more of the coefficient of lift CL at a Reynolds number of 80,000 and a spin rate of 2,000. This two-piece solid golf ball lowers fluctuations in lift and drag at high and low spin rates, enabling a stable trajectory to be achieved. |
| US08021246B2 |
Iron golf club heads and golf club sets with variable weight distribution
Described herein are iron golf club heads and sets of iron golf clubs that have variable weight distribution. Each iron golf club head has a cavity and a y-shaped cavity pad disposed on at least a portion of a back wall of the cavity. The y-shaped cavity pad provide reduced vibrations within the cavity when the iron golf club head strikes a golf ball. The y-shaped cavity pad also provides an enlarged sweet spot to provide increased forgiveness for off-center hits. Other aspects, features, and embodiments are also claimed and described. |
| US08021244B2 |
Golf club shaft
A shaft 6, which is a tubular body, includes a laminate of fiber reinforced resin layers. This fiber reinforced resin layer includes a matrix resin and a fiber. When a portion with a minimum thickness in the entire shaft is defined as a thinnest part, the entire thinnest part exists in a range of a first position to a second position. The first position is a position where an axial distance from a tip of the shaft is 50% of a full length of the shaft. The second position is a position where the axial distance from the tip of the shaft is 75% of the full length of the shaft. In this shaft 6, a flexural rigidity value EIc (N/m2) of the shaft at a point which is 175 mm away from a rear end of the shaft is two times or greater and three times or less of a flexural rigidity value EIm (N/m2) of the thinnest part. |
| US08021243B2 |
Rotary striking surface in a golf putter
A putter club head is provided with an elongate cavity communicating to the exterior through a rectangular opening in the striking face thereof spaced above the club head lower surface so that the portion of the club head between the cavity opening and the lower surface forms a lower shielding structure to deflect any plant growth in the path of a putting stroke. A conforming cylindrical roller is then mounted for rotation within the cavity to provide a ball striking surface on its periphery generally elevated above the bottom surface to a height corresponding to the elevation of the contact periphery of a golf ball resting thereon. In this manner little or no spin is imparted to the ball when struck by the roller since the lower club surface shields the roller from any moments imparted by the growth covering the green. |
| US08021241B2 |
Golf training aid for chipping and pitching
A golf training aid which incorporates a standard golf club, with a Nerf golf ball or a whiffle golf ball, and a target which is hung on the wall at adjustable heights, the target having a backboard removable secured to the wall, a face board positioned forward of the backboard, the face board having an aperture there through, the aperture in communication with a cavity positioned between said face board and said backboard for the collection of a Nerf golf ball or whiffle golf ball whose trajectory from the golf club has carried it through the aperture and into the cavity. |
| US08021240B2 |
Configurable multi-arch play systems
Embodiments of an arch-based play system are disclosed. The system incorporates an arch assembly or a group of arch assemblies. Play elements are connected to the arch assembly or assemblies. The system is modular in nature such that there are a wide variety of different possible implementation configurations. The wide variety of possible implementation configurations corresponds to a wide variety of different play experiences. |
| US08021239B2 |
Interactive water play apparatus
An interactive play structure is provided for facilitating team-oriented and/or group play to achieve a desired effect. The play structure includes play elements disposed at various locations and elevations throughout the play structure. Each play element can be activated or operated by one or more play participants to complete steps in a chain of triggering events. The overall completion of the chain of events results in a desired result or effect, such as a domino-like cascade of various mechanisms, balls, water the like. In one example, the effect includes the release of a cannonball from the top of a vertical structure. As the cannonball reaches the end of its descent, it causes water to be radially dispersed from a pool, such as onto nearby play participants. The cannonball is then advantageously returned to the top of the vertical structure through the use of one or more return conduits. |
| US08021237B2 |
Rotating vessel for recreational activities
The present invention is a system for recreational purposes. The system includes a vessel rotatably mounted, a support stand, and a drive system. The vessel has a wall that defines an internal cavity, sufficient for at least one occupant to be received wherein the occupant is in contact with the wall, and a tunnel for accessing the internal cavity. The wall has dampens the contact between the occupant and the vessel. The support stand has two connectors carried by elevated members on opposing sides of the vessel for supporting the vessel. A drive system that includes a motor mechanically connected to at least one of the connectors for rotating the vessel and the occupant within the internal cavity. |
| US08021236B2 |
Amusement ride system and method
An amusement ride system includes: a shooting device adapted to shoot a projectile; an aiming facility operable by a user to aim the shooting device; and a triggering device operable by the user to fire the shooting device. The user rides the vehicle, aims the shooting device, and fires the device to shoot the projectile. A method for a ride includes: providing a shooting device; providing a plurality of projectiles; and aiming and shooting the projectiles utilizing the shooting device. |
| US08021232B2 |
Video game method and apparatus for state-based scrolling
A game apparatus CPU turns on a scroll operating flag when it detects that a player object exists at a predetermined position, that is, within a scroll operating range while performing a predetermined action on a contact object. If the scroll operating flag is turned on, first scrolling is performed, and a screen display position is gradually moved so as to be close to a scroll target value. If the operating flag is not turned on, normal adjustment of a screen display position is performed as necessary. After disappearance of the contact object, the first scrolling is not performed, therefore preventing unnatural scroll display (e.g., displaying an item that it is no longer possible to reach due to change of state). |
| US08021231B2 |
Problem gambling detection in tabletop games
A gaming establishment may determine the existence of problem gamblers within its halls by monitoring player behavior with one or more sensors from an array of sensors. The player's behavior is then compared to normal behavior and/or problem gambling behavior to determine if the player is potentially a problem gambler. Behavior patterns that may be tracked are player movement, player betting patterns such as tracking player rate of play, facial expressions, physical clues, nonverbal clues, and the like. |
| US08021212B2 |
Apparatus for polishing edge surface of glass substrate for magnetic recording media, and process for producing glass substrate
An apparatus for polishing an edge surface of a glass substrate for magnetic recording media. The apparatus includes a grindstone including abrasive grains mixed with a resin. The grindstone is configured to polish at least the edge surface of the glass substrate. The grindstone has a reentrant groove with a bottom surface and sidewall surfaces such that the bottom surface of the reentrant groove contacts the edge surface of the glass substrate and the sidewall surfaces of the reentrant groove contacts chamfered sidewalls of the glass substrate. The reentrant groove and sidewall surfaces are formed in the resin of the grindstone by pressing the glass substrate into the resin of the grindstone with a force higher than a pressing force during polishing. |
| US08021210B2 |
Polishing head and polishing apparatus having the same
The present invention is a polishing head in which a rubber film is formed in a boot shape in such a manner that a position where the rubber film is held by a mid plate is distantly positioned from a work holding portion; an end portion of the boot shaped rubber film is formed in O-ring shape so that the rubber film is held by the mid plate with decreasing an area of contact between the mid plate and the rubber film as much as possible. As a result, there is provided a polishing head with rubber chuck method in which an occurrence of a surface defect, such as a scratch, on a surface of the work is suppressed as much as possible and the work can be uniformly and stably polished to the outer periphery. |
| US08021208B2 |
Magazine with constant-force spring for dispensing elastomeric foam projectiles
A magazine for a toy gun includes a housing, at least one projectile disposed within the housing, and a constant-force spring disposed within the housing for providing a biasing force against the at least one projectile. The at least one projectile is made of elastomer or polymer foam material having a density between about 0.020 g/cm3 (1.25 lbs/ft3) and about 0.833 g/cm3 (52 lbs/ft3), and a 25% compression resistance (compression deflection) between about 0.6 psi and about 20 psi. The magazine is capable of holding and dispensing the projectiles such that the biasing force of the constant-force spring does not excessively deform the projectiles. |
| US08021207B2 |
Child'S storybook play structure
A storybook kit for a child's play structure includes poles removably attached to one another and arranged to form a three-dimensional box-like structure of a size to permit a child to fully enter therein. A plurality of panels are attached to the poles. The panels have graphic representations thereon corresponding to at least a portion of a story or illustration depicted in an accompanying storybook. Three dimensional objects may be positionable within, or removably attached to the panels, and which correspond to objects in the storybook to enhance the play experience. Multiple structures may be placed side-by-side so that a child can move from one structure to another, and thus from one portion of the story to the next. |
| US08021204B2 |
Light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same
All lights generated in an organic compound layer are not taken out towards a TFT from a cathode as a transparent electrode. For instance, the light is emitted in a lateral direction (direction parallel to the substrate surface) but the light emitted in the lateral direction is not taken out resultantly, which leads to a loss. Therefore, a light emitting device structured so as to increase the amount of light taken out in a certain direction is provided as well as a method of manufacturing this light emitting device. As a result of etching treatment, an upper edge portion of an insulator (19) is curved to have a radius of curvature, a slope is formed along the curved face while partially exposing layers (18c and 18d) of a first electrode, and a layer (18b) of the first electrode is exposed in a region that serves as a light emitting region. Light emitted from an organic compound layer (20) is reflected by the slope of the first electrode (layers 18c and 18d) to increase the total amount of light taken out in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1A. |
| US08021199B2 |
Electrical connector having large locking force
An electric connector capable of fixing a small connection terminal by a large locking force. Two housings having a plurality of connection terminals are placed vertically symmetrically with their open surfaces facing each other, and a holder having a lock is interposed between the open surfaces of the housings. An assembly of the housings and the holder is accommodated in an outer cover, and a bottom cover is fixed to the bottom of the outer cover. The connection terminals are rigidly prevented from moving backward and vertically by the housings and the holder, and from moving forward by a front wall of the outer cover. |
| US08021196B2 |
Matching connector
A small matching connector which may prevent the occurrence of a positional deviation between male and female contacts when male and female connectors are fitted to each other and may remove foreign matter adhered to the female contacts is provided. The female contacts arranged along the inner peripheral surface of the female connector are inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the male connector into the female connector and parallel with the longitudinal direction of the inner peripheral surface. The adjacent female contacts whose inclined surfaces are opposed to each other are paired and have the same inclination angle with respect to the inner peripheral surface. |
| US08021191B2 |
Connector with two-piece housing
A connector includes a housing that is formed of a first and second section (the two sections which may be interlocking pieces) and has a hollow interior that is filled with a set of terminals. The housing pieces have a complementary engagement rail and channel that allows the two sections to be joined together in a structurally acceptable manner. |
| US08021187B2 |
Electric connector
An electric connector makes it possible to achieve downsizing excellently to improve electric connection reliability by preventing deformation when fitting to a mating connector. An engaging projection projecting is provided on an opening end edge of either an insulating housing or a conductive shell. An engaging hole into which the engaging projection is inserted is provided on the other opening end edge. The insulating housing and the conductive shell are fixed to each other in a direction orthogonal to the fitting direction by inserting the engaging projection into the engaging hole so that rigidity is largely increased. The fixation mechanism of the insulating housing and the conductive shell do not project inside the insulating housing so that it is possible to reduce the height and make pitches narrow. |
| US08021186B2 |
Electrical connector with improved board mounting peg
An electrical connector (100) is adapted for mounting to a circuit substrate having a board-mounting face (12) and a mounting peg (13) projecting from said board-mounting face (12). Said mounting peg (13) is bifurcated and defines a pair of legs (136,137) separated by an axial slit (132). Protrusions 134 are formed on the inner wall of both legs (136,137) to limit the deflection so as to prevent said legs (136,137) from breakage. |
| US08021183B2 |
Cold headed electric plug arm
This is directed to a power adapter plug arm manufactured from a single piece of material. The plug arm can include a plug operative to extend into a wall socket, an elongated plate coupled to an end of the plug such that the plug extends from a first surface of one end of the plate, and a pin coupled to the opposite end of the plate and extending from the opposite surface of the plate. The pin can be operative to engage a circuit board of the power adapter to provide power received from the wall socket to an electronic device coupled to the power adapter. To enhance the strength of the plug arm, the plate can be manufactured by creating a co-axial plug and a stem from a single piece of material, bending the stem, and cold heading the bent portion of the stem to form a plate. Because the cold heading process involves cold working the material, the arm and in particular the bridge member at the interface between the plate and the stem can become stronger as a result of the manufacturing process. |
| US08021181B2 |
Locking phono plug
A locking phono plug connector assembly having fingers that grip an interface port to prevent inadvertent disconnection from gravity or unintended disturbance of the wire is provided. A method of fastening/unfastening a plug is also provided, wherein an external sleeve is operated to fasten/unfasten the locking phono plug connector assembly. |
| US08021180B2 |
Electrical connecting device
The present invention discloses an electrical connecting device adapted to receive a chip unit. The electrical connecting device includes an insulation base, a terminal set, a circuit board, a cover and a driving mechanism. The insulation base is formed with a terminal area and a first pierced hole. The terminal set is disposed correspondingly in the terminal area. The circuit board is disposed under the insulation base. The circuit board is formed with a pad area, which is disposed correspondingly to and under the terminal area for the terminal set to be soldered on. The circuit board is formed with a through hole corresponding to the first pierced hole. The cover is horizontally and slidably covering the insulation base. The driving mechanism at least has a metal bushing covered into the first pierced hole and the through hole. The driving mechanism further has a cam, which has a driven portion extending to form a first cylinder into the first pierced hole. The first cylinder is jointed into the metal bushing correspondingly. A second cylinder which is off-centered with respect to the first cylinder is formed between the driven portion and the first cylinder and entering the second pierced hole. |
| US08021178B1 |
Card edge connector
A card edge connector includes an insulation body, a first assembly part, a second assembly part, a plurality of first terminals and a plurality of second terminals. The first terminals and the second terminals are respectively mounted into the first assembly part and the second assembly part. The first assembly part is assembled to the rear side of the insulation body, while the second assembly part is assembled to the lower side of the insulation body. |
| US08021177B2 |
Burn-in socket
A burn-in socket includes a base, a sliding plate mounted to the base, a number of contacts, and an actuator mounted on the base. The contact each has a base portion secured to the base and a pair of arms extending through the pin holes of the sliding plate. The actuator includes a frame and a number of actuating portion extending downwardly from the frame for driving the sliding plate to slide on the base in a first direction. The actuator includes a number of pushing portions contacting with the sliding plate and driving the sliding plate to move in a second direction opposite to said first direction. |
| US08021172B2 |
Rotary receptacle assembly
A new rotary receptacle assembly comprises a frame assembly and a drum assembly journaled to the frame assembly so that the drum assembly may rotate relative to the frame assembly. Mounted to the drum assembly is at least one receptacle. A motor assembly may be mounted to one of the frame assembly and the drum assembly for imparting rotary motion to the drum assembly relative to the frame assembly. A clutch assembly disposed on one of the frame assembly or the drum assembly is coupled to the motor assembly. At least one sensor assembly is mounted on the drum assembly and operably coupled to the motor assembly via a rotation control circuit for preventing, among other things, the motor assembly from operating or changing the direction of rotation when an object obstructs the rotation of the drum assembly. |
| US08021169B1 |
Electric ground clamp with pivoted jaws and single attached adjusting bolt
An adjustable ground clamp for easy positioning onto electric conduits of different diameters. A first and a second jaw are pivotally connected and have differently angled jaw surfaces. A distal end of the first jaw has an elongated hole and a distal end of the second jaw has a curved fork having a slot for receiving a bolt with a cylindrical nut. A fastener connects a ground conductor or wire to the ground clamp. The differently angled jaw surfaces, curved fork, cylindrical nut, and the elongated hole result in a ground clamp capable of securely holding electrical conduits of different sizes or diameters without disassembly. The jaws may be easily separated for placement of an electrical conduit without separating or detaching any parts from the ground clamp, making attachment to an electrical conduit quick, easy, and secure. |
| US08021163B2 |
Skill-set identification
Provided are, inter alia, systems, methods and techniques for facilitating identification of a skilled resource's skill set. Initially, a master set of previously identified skills is filtered in order to identify a subset of skills that appear to be potentially applicable to a skilled resource. Then, based on the identified subset, a query regarding skills actually possessed by the skilled resource is created and presented. A response that designates skills possessed by the skilled resource is received and incorporated into a user skills database. The above-referenced filtering is performed by utilizing an automated tool to analyze content from a set of computer files. |
| US08021162B2 |
Navigation surgical training model, apparatus having the same and method thereof
Disclosed is a navigation-training model comprises a base, a holding device for securing a surgical practice model bone to the base in a predetermined position, and a support for fixing a patient tracker onto the base at a predetermined orientation. With the fixed relative positions of the support and the holding device, constant orientation of the patient tracker and the surgical practice model bone is achieved each time they are placed on the navigation-training model. A navigation-training apparatus having the navigation-training model is also disclosed, which includes a navigation system and a surgical tool with a tool tracker. Fluoroscopic images of the surgical practice model bone are captured once and uploaded into a computer of the navigation system. The practice of the fluoroscopic images-guided orthopedic surgery can thus be carried out with the fluoroscopic images loaded onto the navigation system without the need for further fluoroscopy. This eliminates X-ray exposure and standardizes the procedures of navigation-training. |
| US08021161B2 |
Simulated heart valve root for training and testing
A simulated heart valve root used for training physicians in techniques of implantation of prosthetic heart valves as well as for more realistically testing the efficacy of prosthetic heart valves. The simulated heart valve root is made of the flexible, tubular body having an inner wall defining an annular ledge within which the prosthetic heart valve is implanted. Discrete nodes or areas of simulated calcification may be provided on the annular ledge. A simulated aortic root includes alternating cusps and commissures with calcification simulated at least at one of the commissures. A tear in the annular ledge may also be provided which simulates a tear that might occur from a valvuloplasty procedure. A reinforcing sleeve may surround the flexible tubular body to provide rigidity or hoop strength thereto. A method of testing includes mounting the simulated heart valve root in a flow conduit, implanting a prosthetic heart valve in the root, applying pulsatile flow to the assembly, and monitoring for leaks. The simulated heart valve root may also be incorporated within a larger simulated heart for use in training physicians to remotely implant prosthetic heart valves. |
| US08021160B2 |
Learning assessment method and device using a virtual tutor
Disclosed is a learning assessment method and device using a virtual tutor. The device comprises at least one action acquisition module, a virtual tutor synthesis module, and a learning assessment module. The method captures and analyzes a first and a second action-feature for a first and a second targets respectively, and constructs an intrinsic model of the second target based on a reference data of the second target. A virtual tutor is synthesized by applying the first action-feature to the intrinsic model such that the virtual tutor exhibits the intrinsic characteristics of the second target but performs a synthesized action-feature similar to the first action-feature. The method then assesses the difference between the synthesized action-feature and the second action-feature. |
| US08021156B2 |
Method and system for arranging and displaying project management intelligence
A method and system for arranging, displaying, conveying, learning, and communicating project management intelligence utilizes a device formed of a plurality of 3-dimensional geometric polytopes movably connected together and movable relative to one another. The polytopes represent the domain of project knowledge, the domain of project process groups, and the domain of project management competency, respectively and each polytope has surfaces or sections bearing indicia representing clusters of functional information and aspects of project management relative to the respective project management intelligence domain. The polytopes are manipulated individually to align selected surfaces or sections of each polytope relative to one another so as to collectively visually display selected combinations of interrelated and conjoined functional information and aspects of project management intelligence within the domains. |
| US08021154B2 |
Method for manufacturing dental prostheses, method for creating a data record and computer-readable medium
A method for manufacturing one or several dental prostheses, comprising the steps of: performing a rapid prototyping method for manufacturing one or several dental prostheses and subsequent working, such as reworking, of the one or several dental prostheses with a machining method, such as a milling method. In addition, a method for creating a data record which can be used for a rapid prototyping method for manufacturing a dental prosthesis wherein an end data record is obtained from a starting data record, so that in at least one area of a dental prosthesis manufactured with the end data record excess material is provided, compared to a dental prosthesis manufactured with the starting data record. |
| US08021151B2 |
Surgical device, in particular a dental device, comprising an instrument and a servo-control module
A surgical device includes a manual instrument provided with a rotary motor for driving a tool and at least one sensor for determining at least one operating parameter of the motor (1). The device further includes an electronic servo-control module of the motor, and a flexible connection for electrically connecting the instrument to the electronic module. The instrument includes a digital electronic circuit for processing output signals of the sensor and transmitting them to the electronic module through the flexible connection. |
| US08021150B2 |
Method for dental implant placement
Dental implant placement may be facilitated using a guide and/or placement system. The guide may allow an appropriate position for a dental implant to be determined. The placement system may position the guide in a patient. |
| US08021146B2 |
Apparatus and methods for controlling moisture during orthodontic indirect bonding procedures
An indirect bonding tray for orthodontic bonding procedures has moisture control structure that is located next to the patient's teeth when the tray is placed over the patient's dental arch. The moisture control structure tends to draw moisture away from the adhesive used to bond the appliances to the teeth. As a consequence, the probability that the resulting bond between the appliances and the teeth is adversely affected by the presence of moisture, blood or other fluids in the patient's mouth is decreased. |
| US08021142B2 |
Thermoforming apparatus and method
Method and apparatus are provided for thermoforming articles. The apparatus includes an in line series of processing stations including heating, forming, cutting and separating stations. A stacker is provided to receive formed articles and form an x-y array of stacks of formed articles. A stack picker is provided that is operable to pick up the stacks of articles during a sheet pause cycle portion and move the picked stacks from a storage magazine to a deposit area. The movement of the stacks for depositing and the picker assembly back to the stacker can occur while the apparatus is producing and stacking additionally formed articles. |
| US08021137B2 |
Wire cooling water trough
The present invention generally relates to a cooling process and system that can be utilized in the manufacture of flexible elongate extruded materials, such as tubing or jacketed electrical wire and cable. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cooling trough for cooling flexible elongate extruded materials after extrusion. Cooling trough embodiments have a base, a wet cooling chamber above the base, and an air dry chamber above the wet cooling chamber. The base contains a reservoir for collecting and storing a cooling liquid. An extruded material, such as a cable, enters the wet cooling chamber, where the cooling liquid from the reservoir is sprayed onto the material, the material is then passed to the air dry chamber where it is dried. |
| US08021135B2 |
Mold apparatus for forming polymer and method
Various mold apparatuses and methods for forming a polymer with induction heat energy are provided. In one embodiment of the present invention, a mold apparatus for forming polymer includes a mold having a top mold portion and a top mold surface that is magnetic. The bottom mold portion of the mold includes an induction heating unit that is at least partially embedded in the bottom mold portion that provides induction heat energy to the mold. The mold apparatus is constructed and arranged to dissipate greater than about 50% of the induction heat energy in the top mold portion. The induction heating unit of the bottom portion of the mold provides rapid heating to the top mold surface to provide high surface quality polymer parts and a shorter molding cycle time while utilizing less energy. |
| US08021132B2 |
Pump intake for electrical submersible pump
An electrical submersible well pump assembly having a pump, a pump motor, a seal section, and an intake in the head of the seal section for drawing well bore fluid into the pump assembly. A shaft extends from the motor for driving the pump, a shaft coupling is included within the intake for connecting the shaft to the pump. |
| US08021126B2 |
Compressor sound suppression
A compressor has first and second enmeshed rotors: rotating about first and second axes. The first rotor is supported by a bearing system carried by a bearing case. The bearing case has at least a first port to a discharge plenum. A first sound-absorbing material is positioned within the first port. |
| US08021125B2 |
Hermetic compressor
A hermetic compressor includes a housing accommodating a motor and a compressing mechanism driven by the motor, refrigerating machine oil, which is pooled in the housing, for lubricating the compressing mechanism, refrigerant gas sealed into the housing and to be refrigerant forming a refrigerating cycle, and an oil surface sensor including a thermistor having a given length. A part of the oil surface sensor is impregnated into the refrigerating machine oil, and the sensor senses a temperature immediately after energizing the thermistor and a rate of change in temperature onward, so that a position of an oil surface is detected. |
| US08021124B2 |
Capacity control valve
A capacity control valve includes a valve body having a first valve portion for opening/closing a discharge-side path and a second valve portion for opening/closing a suction-side path, a pressure sensitive body arranged in a third valve chamber in the middle of the suction-side path, a valve seat body provided at the pressure sensitive body, and a third valve portion connected to the valve body for opening/closing the suction-side path by engagement and disengagement with the valve seat body. One of an engagement face of the third valve portion and a seat face of the valve seat body is formed into a spherical shape with a radius of curvature R satisfying 9 mm |
| US08021123B2 |
Compressor unit with a damped pressure gauge
A compressor unit is particularly suitable for compressing air in portable and/or transportable devices. The compressor unit includes a motor, a compressor, and a pressure gauge (manometer). The pressure gauge is connected to the compressor unit through a threaded connection and the supply of the pressure medium to the pressure gauge travels through the threads. |
| US08021118B2 |
Turbine blade for a turbine with a cooling medium passage
A turbine blade for a turbine of a thermal power plant, with a platform for partial delimiting of a flow passage in the turbine, wherein the platform has at least one cooling medium passage, which extends inside the platform, for guiding a cooling medium, is characterized according to the invention in that the at least one cooling medium passage emerges from the platform at at least two connecting openings, and the turbine blade has at least one supplementary component which can be fastened on the platform, with a communicating passage, which is designed for interconnecting the connecting openings in a fluid-guiding manner. |
| US08021115B2 |
Active force generation system for minimizing vibration in a rotating system
A method and device for reducing vibratory noise in a system with an integral rotating member includes independently operable drive systems for controlling the angular velocity of at least two independently rotatable masses. Control signals manipulate the drive system to rotate each mass at optimal speed, direction and phase to reduce noise induced in the system by the rotating member. |
| US08021113B2 |
Twin-airfoil blade with spacer strips
The invention relates to a blade possessing a leading edge and a trailing edge, the blade comprising a first airfoil possessing an inner face and an outer face extending between said leading edge and said trailing edge, a second airfoil possessing an inner face and an outer face extending between said leading edge and said trailing edge, and at least one spacer strip interconnecting said inner face of the first airfoil and said inner face of the second airfoil, said at least one strip extending to said trailing edge, the distance between the inner face of the first airfoil and the inner face of the second airfoil being of the same order of magnitude as the maximum thickness of the first or the second airfoil. |
| US08021110B2 |
Tonal emission control for wind turbines
A system for the noise reduction of wind turbines comprises at least one acoustic sensor provided at the wind turbine, a detection unit and a control unit, wherein said detection unit is adapted to detect tonal components in a signal of said sensor, and wherein said control unit is adapted to control wind turbine operating parameters in dependence of an amplitude of a tonal component. |
| US08021106B2 |
Adjustable guide device
A guide device with adjustable guide vanes is provided with a drive for the adjustable guide vanes, in which a cylindrical driving pin and an adjusting lever are provided each with one surface pair which are matched to one another and which slide on one another in operation when the guide vanes are being adjusted. To adjust the guide vanes, the adjusting ring is moved, by which the driving pin attached to the adjusting ring slides in an elongated groove of the adjusting lever and applies a force to the adjusting lever. This approach yields an economical and durable structure which is easy to install. This results in surface support with the corresponding low compressive loads per unit area and consequently greatly reduced wear. |
| US08021102B2 |
Composite fan containment case and methods of fabricating the same
A method of fabricating a fan containment case for a gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes forming a core layer material, wrapping the core layer material about a cylindrically-shaped take-up spool, and transferring the core layer material to a cylindrically-shaped mandrel by wrapping a plurality of layers of the core layer material about the mandrel such that the mandrel is circumscribed by the layers and such that a size and a cylindrical shape of the fan containment case are defined by the layers of core layer material. |
| US08021101B2 |
Wind turbine and method of assembling the same
A method of assembling a wind turbine is provided. The method includes coupling a support flange to an inner surface of a tower, and positioning a yaw bearing on the support flange. The yaw bearing includes a plurality of horizontally oriented rollers. A base of a nacelle assembly is positioned on the yaw bearing such that the base is rotatable with respect to the tower. |
| US08021100B2 |
Wind turbine with mixers and ejectors
A Mixer/Ejector Wind Turbine (“MEWT”) system is disclosed which routinely exceeds the efficiencies of prior wind turbines. In the preferred embodiment, Applicants' MEWT incorporates advanced flow mixing technology, single and multi-stage ejector technology, aircraft and propulsion aerodynamics and noise abatement technologies in a unique manner to fluid-dynamically improve the operational effectiveness and efficiency of wind turbines, so that its operating efficiency routinely exceeds the Betz limit. Applicants' preferred MEWT embodiment comprises: an aerodynamically contoured turbine shroud with an inlet; a ring of stator vanes; a ring of rotating blades (i.e., an impeller) in line with the stator vanes; and a mixer/ejector pump to increase the flow volume through the turbine while rapidly mixing the low energy turbine exit flow with high energy bypass wind flow. The MEWT can produce three or more time the power of its un-shrouded counterparts for the same frontal area, and can increase the productivity of wind farms by a factor of two or more. The same MEWT is safer and quieter providing improved wind turbine options for populated areas. |
| US08021091B2 |
Rotatable captivated nut
A rotatably captive clinch nut includes a body having an axial threaded bore and a flange forming a base of the nut body. The flange includes a surface on a bottom side thereof preferably unitary therewith for providing a bearing surface of reduced friction. A displacer unitary with the nut body is located directly below the flange and has an outside diameter less than an outside diameter of the flange. A tubular flared shank unitary with the nut body extends coaxially from the displacer and includes a neck immediately adjacent the displacer, forming an undercut area between the outside of the shank and an underside of the displacer. The neck may include an axially extending cylindrical portion so that the thickness of the displaced material in the region of the undercut is substantially less than the axial length of the nut. |
| US08021086B2 |
Drilling apparatus and method
Embodiments include a method and apparatus for drilling holes or cutting at specified locations on a beam or other material, even if the beam is offset from an ideal beam configuration. In some embodiments, the apparatus is configured to determine the correct locations of holes in the beam despite the beam's offset and drill holes in the beam according to this determination. The apparatus may be capable of drilling holes at specified locations on a web of an I-beam. In some embodiments, the method comprises determining the correct locations of the holes in the particular beam using the apparatus and drilling the holes in the correct locations in the beam according to that determination. Some embodiments include using one or more clamping mechanisms and one or more drilling members to determine the correct locations of the holes in the particular beam. |
| US08021077B2 |
Self-moved device for colouring or spraying a surface
A self-moved device (1) suitable for spraying a fluid substance on a surface (50), comprising a moving system (6) for motion on the surface (50), at least one tank (4) suitable for containing said fluid substance, a spraying system (5) for spraying the fluid substance, a management and control system (7) for managing and controlling said moving system (6) and said spraying system (5), wherein the management and control system (7) is suitable for guiding the motion of said self-moved device (1) on said surface (50) and for activating said spraying system (5) in a plurality of spots of said surface (50) according to a predetermined scheme. |
| US08021067B2 |
Dental cleanser and stain prevention apparatus
A dental apparatus for cleansing and stain preventing on-the-go is provided in multiple embodiments. One embodiment allows a user to dispose of the apparatus after use. Another embodiment allows a user to seal and refill the dental apparatus for repeated use. Further, packaging of various types allows a user to house the dental apparatus in multiple ways. |
| US08021061B2 |
Lens barrier device
A lens barrier device 10 includes a pair of lens barrier members 12, 12 having a pair of toggle-lever engagement bosses 12e, 12e, a ring 14 having a pair of recesses 14d, 14d formed on its outer circumferential part, a pair of toggle levers 15, 15 having a pair of triangular cam part 15d, 15d and a base frame 17 supporting the toggle levers 15, 15, and a pair of torsion springs 16, 16 engaged with the toggle levers 15, 15 and the base frame 17. In assembling, the toggle-lever engagement bosses 12e, 12e are freely fitted into the recesses 14d, 14d, respectively. With forward-reverse rotating of the ring 14, by allowing the toggle-lever engagement bosses 12e, 12e to slide along the triangular cam part 15d, 15d while pressing the bosses 12e, 12e through respective ends of the recesses 14d, 14d, the pair of lens barrier members 12, 12 are held in their closed or opened condition by the toggle levers 15, 15 and the torsion springs 16, 16. |
| US08021053B2 |
Rotary wing aircraft ball bearing
In a rotary wing aircraft tail rotor head assembly having a ball bearing on a spindle at the head of a rotor wing, the ball bearing contains slug ball separators between the balls in the bearing. The separator may be made from PEEK, PTFE, or polyimide. The ball-to-ball separation between two balls of like diameter provided by the separator may about 3.2 to about 64% of the diameter of one of the balls. A separator may have an annular configuration that defines a passage therethrough, the passage having two ends and the interior of the separator being tapered to define a maximum diameter at each end and a minimum diameter therebetween. The taper of the chamfered surface of the slug ball separator may define a conical angle of about 75° to about 120°. A ball bearing as described herein may also be used in a rotary wing aircraft swashplate having a stationary plate, a rotating plate; and a thrust bearing between the stationary plate and the rotating plate. |
| US08021052B2 |
Sensor-equipped bearing for wheel
In a wheel support bearing assembly having rows of rolling elements interposed between an outer member and an inner member, spacers are interposed between vehicle body fitting holes in the outer member, which is a stationary member, and a knuckle. A sensor unit including a sensor mounting member and a strain sensor is fitted to the outer member. The sensor mounting member has at least two contact fixing portions fixed to the outer member and, also, has at least one recess between the neighboring contact fixing portions, the strain sensor being disposed in this recess. |
| US08021050B2 |
Bearing arrangement
A bearing arrangement having first and second components located for relative operational movement by a respective bearing. The bearing has a bearing element including a pack of resiliently flexible bristles or leaves for transmitting force between the components thereby locally to provide a relative kinematic constraint on at least one degree of freedom of the components during the relative operational movement. |
| US08021049B2 |
Bag of a heat-shrinkable gas-barrier thermoplastic film
A bag of a heat shrinkable, gas-barrier thermoplastic film for packaging an item comprises a first seal adjacent a bottom edge and connecting first and second side edges, and defining an area between it, the side edges and a top edge for receiving the item, a second seal along the bottom edge or between the bottom edge and the first seal and connecting the side edges, and having a shaped portion adjacent a corner of the bag at the first side edge and the bottom edge which projects towards the top edge, and a precut extending from the bottom edge towards an apex of the shaped portion, the first seal extending from the second side edge towards the shaped portion at a level below the apex and around the shaped portion to the first side edge, and a manually graspable tab being formed between the first side edge, the first and second seals adjacent the first side edge and the shaped portion. |
| US08021042B1 |
Beta variation cancellation in temperature sensors
An apparatus and method for canceling variations in the beta for a bipolar junction transistor so that the diode equation can be employed to accurately measure the temperature of the transistor based at least in part on a ratio of two target collector currents and two measurements of the base-emitter voltage of the transistor. If the determined collector current of the transistor is relatively equivalent to one of the first and second target collector currents, the transistor's base-emitter voltage is measured and stored. An analog feedback circuit can be employed to change the determined collector current to be relatively equivalent to the first and second target collector currents. The analog feedback circuit can include an optional sample and hold component to further reduce power consumption and reduce noise. A digital circuit can be employed to change the determined collector current to be relatively equivalent to the first and second target collector currents. Additionally, the transistor can be remotely located in another integrated circuit. |
| US08021040B2 |
Disposable thermometer probe sheath and fabrication method thereof
A disposable thermometer probe sheath includes a bottom piece and a plastic cover film sealed onto the bottom piece. The plastic cover film comprising an upper plastic sheet film and a lower plastic sheet film, each of which has a front edge provided with an opening, a rear edge provided with a tip, and a sealed peripheral edge except for the opening, so as to receive a thermometer probe. The plastic cover film is made of a flexible and deformable material, while the plastic cover film is provided with two notches respectively formed on two side edges adjacent to the tip. The upper plastic sheet film is provided with a first flap attached to the opening thereof, while the lower plastic sheet film is provided with a second flap attached to the opening. When the thermometer probe is inserted into the plastic cover film, the notches are tightly engaged with the thermometer probe. When separating the thermometer probe from the plastic cover film, one of the upper plastic sheet film and the lower plastic sheet film of the plastic cover film is torn from the opening thereof along a longitudinal direction of the plastic cover film under the assistance of the engagement between the two notches and the thermometer probe, and then the one of the upper plastic sheet film and the lower plastic sheet film will be overturned from the opening toward the tip of the plastic cover film, so that the thermometer probe is separated from the plastic cover film. |
| US08021038B2 |
Method for identifying a biomolecule
A method for identifying a biomolecule using a biomolecule detector having a field effect transistor (FET) is provided. The method comprises the steps of (a) heating a sample containing a biomolecule loaded in the detector to thereby elevate the temperature of the sample; (b) measuring electric current flowing through a channel formed between a source region and a drain region in the FET while raising the temperature in the step (a); (c) obtaining a transition temperature that is the temperature at maximum point of current variation from data measured in the step (b); and (d) identifying the biomolecule using the transition temperature obtained in the step (c). |
| US08021037B2 |
Curable material mixing and delivery device with cartridge
An apparatus and method for mixing two components and delivering the mixture to a patient. The apparatus contains a mixing chamber for mixing a liquid component and a powder component. The liquid component and powder component are mixed within the mixing chamber by rotation of a collapsible mixing element. A high strength cartridge capable of withstanding high opposing axial loads from the mixing chamber and a threaded rod generates force to drive the curable material from the mixing chamber. A plunger connected to the rod is then advanced through the mixing chamber to force the mixture out of the mixing chamber and deliver the mixture to the patient. |
| US08021033B2 |
Light guide member, planar light source device provided with the light guide member, and display apparatus using the planar light source device
A light guide member laminated on the upper face of a luminous device mounting substrate on which a luminous device is mounted and which is for diffusing and guiding upward light emitted from the luminous device. The light guide member includes a light reflecting portion formed on the bottom face of the light guide member in an area other than an area near the luminous device, and a section in which a light reflecting portion is not formed on the bottom face of the light guide member at a position near the luminous device. Also disclosed is a planar light source device provided with the light guide member, and a display apparatus using the planar light source device. |
| US08021031B2 |
Automotive head lamp bulb shield
A head lamp for a motor vehicle is disclosed with a reflector for reflecting light. A light bulb is oriented within the head lamp and spaced apart from the reflector for providing illumination that is reflected from the reflector and out of the head lamp. A bulb shield is provided with a peripheral region displaced about the light bulb for preventing glare light from exiting the head lamp. In one embodiment, the peripheral region is a polygon that is not radially symmetrical. In another embodiment, the bulb shield has a rear opening and a front opening for minimizing heat within the bulb shield. In yet another embodiment, the bulb shield has a front opening and the light bulb front portion is coated with an opaque material for blocking glare light. |
| US08021023B2 |
LED illuminating device
An LED illuminating device includes an optical module and a heat dissipation device. The optical module includes a plurality of LEDs. The heat dissipation device includes a housing and a heat sink. The heat sink includes a base and a plurality of spaced fins formed on the base. The LEDs are thermally attached to a heat absorbing surface formed at a bottom of a bottom plate of the housing. The heat sink and the housing cooperatively define a hermetical chamber therebetween. A closed sidewall of the chamber is sandwiched between the base of the heat sink and the bottom plate of the housing. A wick structure is received in the chamber and attached to the heat dissipation device at a periphery of the chamber. A working fluid is filled in the chamber and saturated in the wick structure. |
| US08021021B2 |
Authoring, recording, and replication of lighting
Systems and methods permit use of efficient solid state emitters for broad spectrum continuous spectrum lighting defined by illumination data. The illumination data, which can be sold as a commercial product, can be recorded or authored and include spectral, temporal, and spatial information. Intensities of individual emitters such as LEDs can be controlled through a combination of pulse width modulation (PWM) and amplitude modulation (AM) of drive currents. The combination of PWM and AM permits fine tuning of the spectrum of emissions and creation of free space optical data channels. |
| US08021019B2 |
Light-emitting diode lighting device with multiple-layered source
A lighting device includes a cover, a cap, a central post having opposite ends coupled to the cover and the cap respectively, and a plurality of first and second frames. The cover and the cap both form a plurality of circumferentially distributed slots opposite to each other. The first and second frames have ends respectively fit into the slots of the cover and the cap and each frame carries at least one light-emitting diode. As such, a light-emitting diode lighting device that is hollow, light-weighted, and exhibiting excellent heat dissipation is formed. |
| US08021016B2 |
Light source mounting system and method
A mounting system and method for a light source includes a light source support structure. The light source support structure positions the light source with respect to a source of electrical power which, when connected to the light source, will cause the light source to emit light energy. Further included in the mounting system and method of present invention is a mounting for a pair of electrical contacts which enable connection between the source of electrical power and the light source. Still further included in mounting system is a heat sink which is attachable to the light source support structure for conducting heat energy away from the light source. |
| US08021014B2 |
Floor light
The present invention relates to a floor panel and a flooring with a preferably continuous and unbroken front face, which is at least partially light transmitting and which has a light pattern/sign at the front face. |
| US08021012B2 |
Assembly for doorway illumination
An assembly for doorway illumination, the doorway having a door jamb and a door, the assembly for doorway illumination including an electrical circuit having first, second, and third electrical switches, the first and second electrical switches, upon closure of the third electrical switch, being electrically parallel to each other, and the first and second electrical switches, upon opening of the third electrical switch, being electrically isolated from each other; a base supporting the first switch; a door contacting spring biased push button adapted for alternatively closing and opening the first electrical switch; an electric torch including the second electrical switch; a plurality of “C” clips adapted for alternatively attaching and releasing the electric torch to and from the base; and a plurality of electrical contacts adapted for, upon the alternative torch attaching and releasing, alternatively closing and opening the third electrical switch. |
| US08021007B2 |
Concealed emergency lighting equipment with complete retrofit housing and method of installation
A concealed emergency lighting system that includes a lamp assembly box and a power source box and a method for installing the emergency lighting system is disclosed. The lamp assembly box has a face plate and a front door pivotably moveable between an open and a closed position and a lamp assembly. The power source box includes a battery and other electrical components that are connected to the lamp assembly. The emergency lighting system can also include a mounting bracket with screws, a flexible support and a flexible armored cable. The method of installing the concealed emergency lighting system includes the steps of: forming an opening in a wall; attaching the mounting bracket to a stud through the opening; connecting the power source; inserting the power source box and the lamp assembly box through the opening; and securing the lamp assembly box to the mounting bracket. |
| US08021006B2 |
LED array flash for cameras
A LED array flash for cameras includes a LED array and a controller. The LED array consists of at least one LED light source with first order lens. The LED light source may be further covered with a second order lens. Thus an oblong or round distribution pattern with uniform light intensity is emitted. The controller is used to control flash modes such as low brightness continuous lighting or high brightness pulse lighting with lighting time control so as to save power and avoid overheating. |
| US08021005B2 |
Exterior mirror element with wide angle portion
An electrochromic mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes front and rear glass substrates and an electrochromic medium disposed therebetween. The electrochromic mirror reflective element includes a principal planar reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion. The curved recess may have a cross-dimension size that is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 80 millimeters, and has a radius of curvature that is in the range from about 200 millimeters to about 1,000 millimeters, and has a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04 millimeters. The electrochromic medium is disposed between the second surface of the front glass substrate and the third surface of the rear glass substrate and may be in contact with the principal planar reflector portion and the auxiliary wide angle curved portion. |
| US08021004B2 |
Mirrored element
A mirrored element (101) includes a first section (201) that is translucent when a backlight (301) is on and mirrored when the backlight is off (301). A second section (203) provides a mirrored surface when the backlight (301) is on and when the backlight (301) is off. The mirrored element (101) may optionally be provided with an enclosure (103). A baking process may be utilized to provide the second section (203) of the mirrored element (101). |
| US08020997B2 |
Defining a bounding box for projected images
A system for defining a bounding box include one or more image projectors; one or more optical beam generators; a display surface; a computing element; and a digital image sensor. The digital image sensor is configured to sense a location of image orientation indicators generated by the optical beam generators. The computing element is configured to communicate with the digital image sensor to determine a bounding box defined by the locations of the image orientation indicators and to control the one or more image projectors to project an image in, and corresponding to, the bounding box on the display surface. |
| US08020989B2 |
Wireless interactive headset
A wearable wireless audio device includes a support, an electronics circuit, and a speaker. The support includes a first ear stem and an orbital, and is configured to support at least one lens in a wearer's field of view. The electronics circuit is supported by the support and is configured to receive at least one digital audio file and generate an audio signal indicative of the at least one digital audio file. The speaker is supported by the support, and is directed toward at least one of the wearer's ears. The speaker is configured to convert the audio signal into sound. The speaker has a speaker face, and the speaker is configured to rotate from a first position in which the speaker face is substantially parallel to a yz-plane to a second position in which the speaker is inclined at an angle with respect to the yz-plane. The speaker is coupled to the support with a speaker pivot, and is configured to rotate about the speaker pivot while maintaining the speaker face substantially parallel to a yz-plane. The speaker is configured to move along an axis substantially parallel to a z-axis with respect to the support. |
| US08020988B2 |
Eyeglass earstem with enhanced performance
An earstem for an eyeglass is provided that can exhibit a dampening effect as the earstem is over-rotated or deflected from a deployed position to a deflected position. In some embodiments, the earstem can comprise a suspension component and a rigid elongate body. The suspension component can be attached to the rigid elongate body along a posterior portion of the suspension component. The rigid elongate body can pivot relative to the frame to a deployed position and further, beyond the deployed position. However, pivoting of the rigid elongate body beyond the deployed position causes deflection of the suspension component, which dampens further pivoting of the rigid elongate body. |
| US08020987B2 |
Sunglasses structure
A sunglasses structure includes a glasses frame, having a position limit slot disposed at an internal edge of the glasses frame and a plurality of assembling portions disposed on an outward side of the position limit slot at the internal edge of the glasses frame; two glasses legs, pivotally coupled to either side of the glasses frame; at least one first lens, installed in the position limit slot of the glasses frame; and at least one second lens, installed outside the first lens, and having a plurality of connecting portions disposed at the periphery of the second lens and coupled to the assembling portions. The sunglasses structure uses the assembling portions at the internal edge of the glasses frame together with the connecting portions at the periphery of the second lens to achieve the effects of shading sunlight, preventing image distortion, and providing a secured mount and an easy dismount. |
| US08020985B2 |
Image-forming device
An image forming device includes a recording head, a first pair of conveying rollers, a second pair of conveying rollers, and a conveyance controller. The conveyance controller controls the first and second pairs of conveying rollers to halt a conveying operation of the recording medium when a trailing edge of the recording medium has moved to or exceeded a position downstream from the nip position of the first pair of conveying rollers by a first prescribed distance during a first prescribed period of time running from a time instant when the trailing edge of the recording medium has passed through the nip position of the first pair of the conveying rollers. |
| US08020984B2 |
Printing system having media loop dryer
A printing system is provided having a printhead for printing on a media web, a dryer and drying chamber for drying the printed web, and a feed mechanism for feeding the web past the printhead, dryer and drying chamber so that the printed web hangs into the drying chamber as a loop from opposite sides of an opening in drying chamber. The dryer directs heated air into the drying chamber through the opening to dry the printed web. |
| US08020983B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes an exhaust unit that discharges air accommodated in a second liquid accommodating unit; a liquid transfer unit that transfers liquid from a first liquid accommodating unit to the second liquid accommodating unit via a liquid supply path and retransfers liquid from the second liquid accommodating unit to the first liquid accommodating unit via the liquid supply path; and a control unit that activates the exhaust unit and the liquid transfer unit according to an air bubble detection result of an air bubble detection unit, controls the liquid transfer unit to transfer a predetermined amount of liquid from the first liquid accommodating unit to the second liquid accommodating unit, and controls the liquid transfer unit to retransfer liquid from the second liquid accommodating unit to the first liquid accommodating unit according to a liquid level detection result of a liquid level detection unit. |
| US08020980B2 |
Printer with reservoir headspace pressure control
An inkjet printer that has a printhead for printing onto a media substrate, and a reservoir for containing a quantity of ink, the reservoir having a lower portion for holding ink and an upper portion defining a headspace of air above the ink. A fluid connection extends between the printhead and the reservoir. A pump draws air from the headspace to lower its air pressure and thereby controls the hydrostatic pressure of the ink at the printhead. |
| US08020977B2 |
Liquid-jetting device
An ink jet recording apparatus includes a slide member slidably supported at a cartridge holder and a lock claw member rotatably supported at the cartridge holder. The slide member slides along an insertion direction of an ink cartridge with respect to the cartridge holder between a first slide position and a second slide position. When the slide member is located at the second slide position, the lock claw member is located at a first rotation position. At this time, the ink cartridge is incapable of being removed from the cartridge holder. When the slide member moves to the first slide position from the second slide position, the lock claw member is located at the second rotation position. At this time, the ink cartridge is removable from the cartridge holder. |
| US08020973B2 |
Method of manufacturing a liquid droplet spray device and such spray device
The invention concerns a liquid droplet spray device for atomising a liquid substance, Its housing consists of a at least a first substrate (15), a space (12) within the housing for containing the supplied liquid substance, an outlet means arranged in the first substrate (15) and comprising at least one outlet nozzle (19) and at least one output channel (20), said output channel (20) having straight side-walls, and a vibrating element (18) for vibrating the liquid so as to eject it. According to the present invention, each output channel (20) has a stepped shape having a lower portion (20a) and an upper portion (20b), the lower portion being arranged adjacent the space (12) and being of larger diameter than the upper portion (20b). The outlet nozzle (19) of each output channel is straight and does not show notching effects. The invention also concerns a method of manufacturing such device using a differential etching technique to obtain the stepped shape output channel without notching effects on the outlet nozzle. |
| US08020967B2 |
Liquid discharge apparatus and method for producing liquid discharge apparatus
There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus which includes a liquid channel which connects a discharge port and a pressure chamber; a piezoelectric layer one surface of which facing the pressure chamber; a power feeding electrode which applies a voltage to the piezoelectric layer; and a liquid electroconductive material which electrically connects the other surface of the piezoelectric layer and the power feeding electrode, and in an area on the other surface, of the piezoelectric layer, overlapping with the pressure chamber, a contact area which is an electrical contact between the piezoelectric layer and the liquid electroconductive material is formed. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a liquid discharge apparatus which is capable of realizing a small size channel unit and an improvement in a resolution of an image which is formed by a discharging liquid, and to change appropriately a shape of the piezoelectric layer. |
| US08020964B2 |
Liquid drop ejecting device and method for manufacturing same
A liquid drop ejecting device includes a housing supporting a plurality of head units that are arranged in two rows to be partially overlapping along a main scanning direction in a staggered configuration. The head unit includes a flow path unit having an ink flow path, a piezoelectric actuator ejecting ink from nozzles in the flow path unit, and a reinforcement plate for reinforcing the flow path unit. In the reinforcement plate, a smaller-width portion and a larger-width portion are disposed along the main scanning direction, such that an end face of the smaller-width portion of the reinforcement member in one row contacts an end face of a reinforcement member in the adjacent row. |
| US08020963B2 |
Wiping unit and inkjet printer
Provided is a wiping unit capable of reliably removing contamination of ink or the like adhering to a wiping blade after being wiped in spite of a simple configuration. Provided is a wiping unit having a wiping blade that performs wiping cleaning with respect to a recording head, including a first cleaning portion that cleans the wiping blade after performing the wiping cleaning, a second cleaning portion that performs secondary cleaning after passing through the first cleaning portion, and a blade transport portion that allows the wiping blade to move between the recording head, and the first cleaning portion and the second cleaning portion, in which the first cleaning portion and the second cleaning portion respectively include a cleaning tank which is filled with a detergent and in which the wiping blade is soaked in the detergent, and a blade wiping portion having a blade wiping member containing the detergent, which wipes a surface of the wiping blade having passed through the cleaning tank. |
| US08020962B2 |
Printer having rotatable capping/purging mechanism for dual printheads
A printer is provided which has two pagewidth printheads arranged to eject ink from ink ejection nozzles disposed along the respective pagewidth onto opposite surfaces of print media being transported therepast, and a capping/purging mechanism. The capping/purging mechanism has two rotatable turrets arranged so that each turret is associated with a respective one of the printheads and an actuating mechanism for selectively rotating and moving each turret. Each turret has located on respective faces thereof, a capping member, platen and purging chamber connected in fluid passage communication with a suction device. The actuating mechanism selectively rotates each turret to align the respective capping member, platen and purging chamber with the respective printhead and selectively moves each turret to engage the respectively aligned capping member or purging chamber with the respective printhead. |
| US08020958B2 |
Recording apparatus
A recording apparatus includes a conveyor mechanism, a placer, a recording head, and a controller that controls the conveyor mechanism, the placer, and the recording head. The controller determines a desired speed, which is a desired value of a driving speed of a conveyor belt of the conveyor mechanism during a recording, to be either one of a predetermined first speed and a second speed lower than the first speed. The controller determines the desired speed for a first recording medium to be recorded based on a record command, to be the second speed. |
| US08020957B2 |
Printing apparatus
A printing apparatus, having a recording system with a nozzle surface, a platen installed in a position to face the nozzle surface to hold the recording medium with a clearance provided between the nozzle surface and a surface of the recording medium held by the platen, a feeding system to carry the platen to a recording position, a detecting system which scans the surface of a recording medium to detect an object that may otherwise interfere the nozzle surface on the recording medium by scanning the surface of the recording medium, a scan objective area determining system to determine a scan objective area, which is an area to be scanned by the detecting system, and a scan controlling system which controls the detecting system to scan the scan objective area determined by the scan objective area determining system to detect the object on the recording medium, is provided. |
| US08020955B2 |
Liquid ejecting apparatus and method of setting signal for micro vibration
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes liquid chambers in which a liquid is filled, nozzles communicating with the liquid chambers, a signal generator generating a signal of potential change, and elements operating in accordance with the potential of the signal to be applied to cause a change in pressure in the liquid chambers. The signal generator generates a signal for micro vibration of a free surface of the liquid to be exposed from the nozzles such that the liquid is not ejected. The signal for micro vibration has a first potential change portion at which a potential changes from a first potential to a medium potential between the first potential and a second potential, a subsequent constant potential portion at which the potential is maintained constant at the medium potential, and a subsequent second potential change portion at which the potential changes from the medium potential to the second potential. |
| US08020953B2 |
Method for configuring the throughput rate of an imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes a print engine for printing on a print medium. A device is communicatively coupled with the print engine. The device is programmed to set a throughput rate for the print engine. A controller reads the device, and operates the print engine at the throughput rate designated by the device. |
| US08020952B2 |
Printing apparatus, printing method and computer program
There is provided a printing apparatus including a printing unit for printing visual information on a non-recording surface of a rotatably driven recording medium by discharging ink droplets; and a control unit for controlling movement of the printing unit in a radial direction of the rotatably driven recording medium, and controlling a discharge timing of the ink droplets discharged from the printing unit, wherein the printing unit includes a plurality of ink droplet discharge nozzles, arrayed in a line in the radial direction of the recording medium, for discharging ink droplets of different colors by the control of the control unit, and the control unit completes the printing of the visual information by reciprocating the ink droplet discharge nozzles for plural times in the radial direction of the rotatably driven recording medium. |
| US08020951B2 |
Rotation and pull-out fitting for a corner cabinet
Rotation and pull-out fitting for a shelf in a corner cabinet, includes a carrier supported in the corner cabinet to be rotatable about a vertical axis, and a pull-out guide on which the shelf is displaceable relative to the carrier, the pull-out guide being mounted on a intermediate carrier that is itself rotatable relative to the carrier about an axis that is parallel with the axis of rotation of the carrier but offset therefrom. |
| US08020948B2 |
Crawler traveling apparatus
A crawler traveling apparatus includes a traveling vehicle body having a rear axle case, a track frame supported via a pivot shaft to the rear axle case, a pair of front and rear driven wheels mounted at front and rear end portions of the track frame, a pair of the rear driven wheels being provided on the right and left sides across a rear end portion of the track frame, a free wheel mounted at an intermediate portion of the track frame, a crawler entrained about a drive wheel, the front and rear driven wheels and the free wheel, a rearwardly downward inclined face formed at an upper portion of the rear end portion of the track frame, the inclined face being configured to cause an amount of earth/sand to drop off its surface; and a rear upper cover provided at an upper portion of the rear portion of the track frame in the vicinity of said inclined face, the rear upper cover forming a rear upper inclined face that is oriented downward in the right/left outward direction, the rear upper inclined face being configured to cause an amount of earth/sand to drop off its surface. |
| US08020944B2 |
Wheel system with deformable tire
A wheel comprising means for providing one or more protrusions in a ground-engaging surface of the wheel. In some embodiments, the wheel comprises a first hub, a tire mounted on the first hub, a second hub rotatable with respect to the first hub, and means for deforming the tire in a generally radial direction in response to relative rotation between the first and second hubs. The invention also provides a wheel cover comprising an outer surface having one or more protrusions and, when the cover is fitted to a wheel, the outer surface of the cover provides the ground-engaging surface of the wheel. The wheel and wheel cover of the invention are particularly suited for use with prams and similar vehicles in order to impart a rocking motion to the pram during use. |
| US08020942B2 |
Method for the manufacture of cosmetic product applicators
A method for the manufacture of an applicator is described. The method is characterized in that: a) an application preform (5) is formed, b) at least one portion (50) of the preform (5) is transformed by machining, using a machining device (6) able to form in the preform (5) a plurality of typically transverse radial recesses (51) by removing material from the portion using a machining tool (60), thereby forming at least one machined component (7) fitted with a plurality of radial elements (70) of an application means (4), the machined component (7) being then, after cutting or possible lengthening, typically coupled to an axial rod (3). |
| US08020938B2 |
Chair or stool comprising mobile, elastic legs, permitting a dynamic sitting position
The disclosure relates to a chair comprising a seat part, at least one leg part, at least one foot part that consists of a predetermined plurality of foot elements and at least one spring assembly. According to the disclosure, at least one designated foot element and/or a sub-section of said element is configured to be mobile and is subject to a restoring moment under the action of a load. |
| US08020931B2 |
Seat cushion and method of use thereof
A seat cushion having a seat pad with a channel therein, the channel having a web with apertures for drainage of water away from the seat pad. The web provides a channel area on top of the web and a channel area below the web for egress of water. In one embodiment, the seat cushion is secured to a tree stand frame by straps and has a dual-section back portion that secures to a tree via a fastener at the top thereof. The dual-section back portion folds together to form a single planar construct and also folds to the seat pad portion, again to form a single planar package of collapsed ‘Z’ shape for transport or storage. In an alternate embodiment, the seat cushion, optionally with or without a back portion, is secured to a boat seat. |
| US08020930B2 |
Coupling mechanism for headrest of vehicle seat
A vehicle seat of the invention has an upper movable member (10) supporting a headrest (3), a lower movable member (30) provided inside a backrest, and a coupling mechanism for coupling the upper movable member and the lower movable member. The coupling mechanism includes an upper link mechanism (15) positioned in an upper part of a side frame (40) and coupled to the upper movable member, a lower link mechanism (32) positioned in a lower part of the side frame and coupled to the lower movable member, and a rod (27) extending along the side frame and coupling the upper link mechanism and the lower link mechanism. The upper link mechanism amplifies a backward moving amount of the lower movable member, and moves the headrest forward. |
| US08020928B2 |
Seal mechanical holder for sunroof assembly
A seal attachment assembly for a vehicle sunroof comprises a seal including one of an outward extending protrusion and hook and a deflector body including the other of the protrusion and the hook. A cooperative relationship between the protrusion and the hook resists a movement of the seal away from the vehicle body. A double-sided adhesive tape secures a planar base portion of the seal to the vehicle body. A resilient lip extends outward from the seal in a direction away from the sunroof opening along an outer edge of the planar base portion. This resilient lip maintains an elastic engagement with the vehicle body to shelter the double-sided tape from exposure to elements. The protrusion extends outward from the seal along an inner edge of the planar portion in a direction toward the sunroof opening. A terminal end of the protrusion includes a rounded bulb section. An outer leg of the deflector body extends beyond the planar base portion of the seal. The outer leg terminates at an outward extending hook; the hook catches the rounded bulb of the protrusion of the seal. |
| US08020925B2 |
Front structure of cab-over type vehicle
A front structure of a cab-over type vehicle 1 includes a side member 10, a cab mount bracket 3, and a stiffener inner reinforcement 4. The cab mount bracket 3 is fixed to the side member 10, and includes a bracket base 31 mounted on a front end portion 15 of the side member 10 and a shaft supporting portion 30 supporting a cab 5. The stiffener inner reinforcement 4 is fixed to the side member 10, and includes a vertical wall portion 44. The vertical wall portion 44 is disposed in a direction that crosses a front-rear direction, between an upper plate 11 and a lower plate 12 of the side member 10 and below a rear end edge 36 of the bracket base 31. When a load F toward the rear is applied to the cab mount bracket 3, the vertical wall portion 44 suppresses upward bending deformation of the front end portion 15 of the side member 10. |
| US08020923B2 |
Motor vehicle with a sliding door and an adjustable armrest
A motor vehicle is provided with a sliding door on which an armrest is provided that protrudes into the vehicle interior. The sliding door can be slid from a closing position, in which an entrance opening in a neighboring vehicle wall is closed, via an intermediate position, in which the sliding door is displaced to the outside relative to the vehicle wall into an opening position, in which the sliding door is arranged in front of an outer side of the vehicle wall and the entrance opening is opened. The armrest is connected with the sliding door in such a manner that the armrest through the sliding of the sliding door from the intermediate position into the opening position is slid in front of an inner side of the vehicle wall. |
| US08020921B2 |
Door trim panel having temporary support and pivot members and method of installing the door trim panel
A door assembly for an automotive vehicle is provided. The door assembly includes a support structure having an upper section and a lower section. A pair of apertures are formed on the upper section of the support structure. A trim panel has an interior surface facing the passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle, an outer surface facing the support structure, top end and a lower end. A pair of pivot members are located adjacent the top end of the trim panel to engage the pair of apertures on the support structure. The pivot members allow the trim panel to be pivoted between a first position and a second position where the lower section of the support structure is spaced apart from the lower end of the trim panel. |
| US08020920B2 |
Outer protective assembly of wire harness for door and arranging structure of wire harness for door
A wire harness for a door is spanned between a door inner panel of a motor vehicle and a vehicle body and is arranged near an indoor side over a weather strip. An outer protective assembly includes a flange outward fitting portion that is mounted on an outer surface of a flange projecting from a door facing surface of the vehicle body and that defines a wire harness threading space for passing the wire harness. The wire harness that passes through the wire harness threading space in the flange outward fitting portion can be arranged in a vehicle body inner panel. The outer protective assembly includes an inner cover and an outer cover. The inner and outer covers are coupled to each other to define a flat space for juxtaposing electrical wires of the wire harness. The inner and outer covers are bent in a U-shaped configuration around the flange to define the flange outward fitting portion. |
| US08020919B2 |
Trim door hardware carrier and methods of assembling vehicle door
A door module assembly for a motor vehicle door has a plate-like carrier holding a plurality of door hardware components in a pre-configured orientation, including one or more window regulator rails. The carrier seals the motor vehicle door and includes a flap that provides at least partial access to the window regulator rails. A first trim panel is pre-fixed to the carrier. A second trim panel articulates with respect to the first trim panel between an initial position generally parallel to the first trim panel and an installed position generally in-line with the first trim panel. With the carrier storing substantially all of the hardware required for the door and the trim panels covering substantially the entire surface area of the door, handling and assembly operations are minimized. |
| US08020917B1 |
Ice screen
The ice screen includes a plurality of brackets that attach said screen to a top surface of a tractor-trailer for securing ice formed atop said trailer. The brackets attach to the top surface of the trailer or box truck via attaching means comprising bolts, rivets, or screws. The ice screen is suspended above the top surface of the trailer or box truck via tubing, which forms channels of ice thereon. The ice screen enables ice to form between the ice screen and the top surface, but will prevent ice from accumulating above said ice screen in affect bonding the ice screen above the screen to the ice screen. The ice screen may be installed upon a utility trailer, flat top truck, tractor-trailer, or box truck. |
| US08020912B2 |
Rear closure assembly for a passenger vehicle
A passenger vehicle is provided with a body having an interior with a passenger compartment and a rear cargo region accessed through a rear opening. A liftgate and tailgate are pivotally coupled to the body at an upper and lower periphery of the opening respectively, and engage one another to enclose the opening. The liftgate and tailgate each enclose a portion of the opening in a closed position and provide access to the rear cargo area in an open position. A passenger vehicle is provided with a vehicle body having an interior and a rear opening with a first and second region facing generally upwards and rearwards respectively, both regions providing access to the rear cargo area. A rear closure assembly encloses the opening, provides access to the rear cargo area, and has first and second members pivotally connected to the body to enclose the first and second regions respectively. |
| US08020910B2 |
Shopping bag handle
An handle for carrying grocery bags and the like comprising a rod round cross section with a central portion adapted to be gripped by a human hand. On either side of the gripping portion are knobs with deep annular slots adapted to receive the handles of a grocery bag. Each bag loop handle is secured by one of the slots. The handle is attached to the bag transversely to the bag opening. The handle supports the bag in a balanced configuration without a tendency to rotate in the hand. Alternatively, one or more bags may be mounted in each slot and carried by the handle between them. |
| US08020908B2 |
Apparatus for handling layers of palletised goods
An apparatus for handling layers of palletised goods, including a vertically displaceable lift head (2) with a mainly horizontal suction face which is substantially adjusted in size for a pallet, and which comprises downwardly open suction chambers (8) which via individual ball valves and an air distribution chamber are connected to a centrifugal blower (4), which is the vacuum source of the apparatus. The suction face moves downwards against the upper side of an upper layer of goods on a pallet. The ball valves are light, thin-walled spherical valve bodies (10) which are closed if the associated suction chamber (8) is not blocked downwardly by contacting the upper side of the goods on the uppermost pallet layer. The lift head (2) comprises a vertically adjustable skirt with inflatable squeezing pads for exerting an inwardly directed pressure on the outer sides of the goods of the upper pallet layer. |
| US08020905B2 |
Engaging and fixing structure and engaging and fixing method
A bumper is provided with to-be-engaged projections, a radiator grille is provided with engaging projections. The radiator grille is allowed to move and approach bumper rearward of a vehicle. According to this configuration, the engaging projections engage the to-be-engaged projections and they are engaged with and fixed to each other. At this time, a bumper-side seizing unit of the bumper is fitted into a grille-side seizing unit of the radiator grille, thereby limiting the vertical direction. In an engaged state between the engaging projections and the to-be-engaged projections, an inclining surface of one of the engaging projections comes into contact with a rearward inclining surface of the one of the to-be-engaged projections, and an inclining surface of the other engaging projection is separated from a rearward inclining surface of the other to-be-engaged projection. |
| US08020904B2 |
Integrated tilt/sash lock assembly
An integrated sash lock and tilt latch assembly is mounted in a sash window having a top rail, a base, and two stiles connected together at their extremities. The integrated assembly contains a sash lock mechanism, a tilt latch mechanism, and a connector. The sash lock mechanism includes an actuator movable to adjust the assembly among a locked position, an unlocked position, and a tiltable position, and a rotor coupled to the actuator. The tilt latch mechanism includes a tilt latch housing supported by the top rail and a latch bolt slidably supported by the tilt latch housing and moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. At least a portion of the tilt latch housing has a generally circular cross-section. The connector has a first end of operably coupled to the latch bolt and a second end operably coupled to the sash lock mechanism. |
| US08020903B2 |
Motor vehicle door lock
A vehicle door latch with a locking mechanism including at least: a catch having a first axis of rotation; a pawl; at least one sensor for detecting the position of the catch; and an intermediate element having a second axis of rotation; wherein the intermediate element transfers movement of the catch around the first axis of rotation onto the sensor; the intermediate element directly contacts the catch and the sensor; and the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are not parallel in space with respect to each other. |
| US08020902B1 |
Integrated snap and handling feature
An integrated snap and handling apparatus is provided. The apparatus may be capable of being assembled with and disassembled from a mating component without damage. The apparatus may include a pair of features that provide an intuitive and easy user interface for removal, handling and installation. The pair of features may allow a user to use a pinching motion to engage and disengage the apparatus from the mating component without the use of a tool. The integrated snap and handling apparatus may provide for low removal forces when the user interface is properly actuated while resisting high separation forces when the user interface is not properly actuated. The integrated snap and handling apparatus may be incorporated into a wide variety of assemblies and devices. For example, the integrated snap and handling apparatus may be incorporated into a cooling duct for the control of airflow around an electronic component. |
| US08020901B2 |
Housing, operation panel including the housing, and image forming apparatus including the operation panel
A housing including a first member, a second member, a first locking mechanism, and a second locking mechanism. The first member is configured to engage with second member. The first locking mechanism locks the first member to the second member, and unlocks in accordance with pressure provided from external of the housing. And the second locking mechanism locks the first member to the second member, and unlocks by rotating either of the first member or the second member at the second locking mechanism. |
| US08020897B2 |
Joint structure of steel pipe and light metal pipe
A joint structure of a steel pipe and a metal pipe includes a socket; and a thermosetting resin, the steel pipe including a first joining end having a flat portion of the outer surface of the first joining end adjacent to the base, and an uneven portion of the outer surface of the first joining end adjacent to the front end, the socket covering the first joining end, the metal pipe including a second joining end, the second joining end being interposed between the socket and the first joining end, the first joining end being joined to the second joining end by crimping while the thermosetting resin is present in the gap between the inner surface of the socket and the outer surface of the second joining end and between the outer surface of the first joining end and the inner surface of the second joining end. |
| US08020894B2 |
Seat belt system
A vehicle occupant restraint system includes a seat belt webbing connected to a latch plate, wherein the latch plate is configured to be releasably connected to a buckle assembly in order to secure the webbing in a position capable of restraining the occupant. The buckle assembly includes a release button, a blocking component, a solenoid coupled to a connecting member positioned to engage the blocking component, and a solenoid actuator electrically connected to the solenoid. The blocking component is configured to engage the latch plate in order to connect the latch plate to the buckle assembly, and is configured to disengage from the latch plate in order to facilitate the release of the latch plate when the release button is depressed. When the solenoid actuator actuates the solenoid, the connecting member is configured to move to thereby change the position of the blocking component in order disengage the blocking component from the latch plate. |
| US08020893B2 |
Steering column assembly including a mechanical strut and machine using same
A machine includes a steering column assembly and a mechanical strut pivotably attached to the steering column assembly. The mechanical strut, free of pressurized gas, is positioned to tilt at least a portion of the steering column assembly about an axis. A tilt adjustment mechanism is movable to release a friction lock mechanism within the mechanical strut. The mechanical strut is telescopically movable through a continuous range of positions when the friction lock mechanism is released. |
| US08020885B2 |
Coupler lockout device
An assembly for restricting access to a coupler includes a body having a coupler engagement portion for engagement with a first surface of a coupler, a coupler engagement member laterally movable within a laterally extending slot in the body, with the coupler engagement member extending perpendicularly from the slot for engagement with a second surface of the coupler opposite the first surface. The assembly further includes a securing mechanism for selectively securing the coupler engagement member relative to the body against lateral movement away from the coupler engagement portion. When at least a portion of the coupler is received between the coupler engagement portion and the coupler engagement member and the coupler engagement member is secured in a coupler lockout position, at least one of the coupler engagement portion and the coupler engagement member prevents withdrawal of the coupler from the assembly. |
| US08020884B1 |
Bicycle handlebar stem assembly
A bicycle including a main frame, a front fork rotationally coupled to the main frame, a rear wheel rotationally coupled to the main frame, a front wheel rotationally coupled to the front fork, a handlebar, and a stem assembly coupling the handlebar to the front fork. The stem assembly includes a stem base coupled to the front fork, a face plate coupled to the stem base with the handlebar sandwiched between the face plate and the stem base, and an auxiliary retention system that holds the face plate engaged with the stem base. |
| US08020883B2 |
Logical third axle bicycle gear train
A logical third axle gear train for a bicycle, comprising a power gear operatively connected to at least one sprocket and adapted to be rotatably mounted on a bicycle frame. A drive gear is operatively connected to a hub assembly on which a drive wheel is mounted. A conversion gear adapted to be rotatably mounted on the bicycle frame is disposed between the power gear and drive gear to transmit torque from the power gear to drive gear. The drive wheel is removable from the bicycle frame without manipulation of a chain for driving the sprocket. |
| US08020875B2 |
Turbine friendly abradable material
The invention comprises an abradable material containing up to 30 weight percent of fumed silica having a maximum particle from about 5 nanometers to about 20 nanometers and about 1.5 to about 5 weight percent of an abradable organic microballoon filler within an abradable silicone polymer matrix having an elasticity of less than X percent. |
| US08020871B2 |
Board game with three-dimensional movement
A board game includes a board assembly and an operation unit mating with the board assembly. The board assembly includes at least one outer frame, at least one inner board mounted in the outer frame and a plurality of separating edges located in the outer frame and the inner board to separate the outer frame and the inner board respectively. The outer frame of the board assembly includes a plurality of sections which are juxtaposed and combined to form an endless loop. Thus, the outer frame and the inner board of the board assembly co-operate to function as a monopoly and a puzzle so as to enhance the amusement of playing the board game. |
| US08020867B2 |
Toy block assembly puzzle
A toy block assembly puzzle, which is arranged diagonally, ideal for advanced users, comprises: a game tray (20) and plurality of assembly pieces (10) which will be arranged in a concave recess (21) of said game tray (20), characterized in that: said concave recess (21) of said game tray (20) including 50 concave slots (22), arranged in 11 rows; each odd row (row 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11) having 5 slots and each even row (row 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) having 4 slots; all slots (22) of said odd and even row are staggered arranged, forming 10 diagonal rows, each having an angle of 45 degree enclosed by said diagonal row and a border of said game tray (20); said assembly pieces (10) comprise 11 building blocks (1A˜1K), each having a different shape and formed by 3˜5 adjacent units; a total sum of units of said 11 building blocks (1A˜1K) are 50 units; said building blocks (1A˜1K) are placed diagonally with an oblique angle of 45 degree, into said 50 concave slots (22), which are provided on the game tray (20). |
| US08020864B1 |
Printing system and method using alternating velocity and torque control modes for operating one or more select sheet transport devices to avoid contention
A printing system and method using alternating control modes for one or more, but not all, sheet transport devices in order to avoid contention. In a printer having first, second and third sheet transport devices in series (e.g., registration, image transfer and image fixing devices), the second device can always operate in a velocity control mode. However, the first and/or third devices can alternate between velocity and torque control modes. For example, the first device can operate in a torque control mode, when a sheet is concurrently engaged by both the first and second devices, and in a velocity control mode at other times. Additionally or alternatively, the third device can operate in a torque control mode, when a sheet is concurrently engaged by both the second and third devices, and in a velocity control mode at other times. Transition control modes can be implemented to generate smooth transitions between modes. |
| US08020859B2 |
Edge sensor gain calibration for printmaking devices
According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a method, a system, and a printmaking device for calibrating sensors. The method begins by transporting a media sheet along a media path, the sheet having a lead edge, a trail edge and a measurement edge. Next, the method halts the forward motion of the sheet after the lead edge of the sheet passes a fixed reference. After that, the method moves the sheet laterally relative to the media path across the at least one edge sensor using a sheet actuator. Then, the method records an actual position of the sheet actuator and an output of at least one edge sensor. Finally, the method calculates a calibration factor based on the actual position of the sheet actuator and the output of the at least one edge sensor. |
| US08020856B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section which forms normal images on sheets sequentially based on normal image data and forms sample images on sheets based on sample image data; a discharge section which discharges normal image sheets in a stack which are sheets on which the normal images were formed and sample image sheets which are sheets on which the sample images were formed; and a control section which is configured to control at least one of the image forming section and the discharge section to discharge the normal image sheets in the stack and the sample image sheets to the discharge section so as to enable timings at which the sample image sheets were discharged to be appreciated in the stacked normal image sheets. |
| US08020853B2 |
Image forming apparatus and sheet feeding apparatus
An apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a sheet housing unit which houses a recording sheet and which includes an opening portion formed on an upper end side thereof; a cover member configured to open and close the opening portion; a feed roller which feeds the recording sheet housed in the sheet housing unit; a push member provided in the sheet housing unit configured to push the recording sheet housed in the sheet housing unit toward the feed roller while moving between a distal position spaced apart from the feed roller and a proximal position closer to the feed roller than the distal position; a force application mechanism which provides a push force to the push member; and a cooperation mechanism which displaces the push member from the proximal position to the distal position cooperatively with the cover member being opened. |
| US08020851B2 |
Sheet supplier and image forming apparatus incorporating same with friction and electrostatic separators with overlapping planes of projection
In a sheet separator of a sheet supplier, a friction separator and an electrostatic separator separate an uppermost sheet from other sheets of a plurality of sheets loaded on a sheet tray by a friction force and an attraction force generated by a non-uniform electric field, respectively. A conveyance member is provided downstream from the friction separator and the electrostatic separator in a sheet conveyance direction to feed the uppermost sheet separated by at least one of the friction separator and the electrostatic separator in the sheet conveyance direction. The friction separator and the electrostatic separator are arranged in such a manner that planes of projection of the friction separator and the electrostatic separator overlap or coincide in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction in which the conveyance member feeds the uppermost sheet. |
| US08020849B2 |
Image recording apparatus
An image recording apparatus according to one aspect comprises: a first tray disposed within an opening of a main body to allow a recording medium to be placed thereon; a second tray disposed above the first tray, the second tray having a second end portion located on a side of the opening; a conveying unit; and a recording unit. The second tray is movable between a first posture and a second posture. When the second tray is in the first posture, a top surface of the second tray in the vicinity of the second end portion is positioned at a predetermined height relative to the first tray. When the second tray moves from the first posture to the second posture, the top surface in the vicinity of the second end portion is moved toward the first tray. |
| US08020842B2 |
Clamping or gripping tool comprising an autonomous compensation system
The clamping or gripping tool comprises a first member (18) and a second member which are capable of relative movement under the action of a drive system of the screw-nut type, the said nut being incapable of translational movement relative to the first member (18), and a compensation system (46) inserted between the first member (18) and a movable support (14) secured to the nut (12) to reset the position of this first member (18) with respect to the second member. The compensation system comprises a compensating disc (68) that rotates as one with a hub (50) screwed around the movable support (14), a measurement disc (80) mounted on the movable support (14) via a freewheel mechanism (76) and at least one energy-storing spring (74) inserted between the compensating disc (68) and the measurement disc (80) so that the memorizing of the degree of wear of the component parts is materialized in the relative angular position of the measurement disc (80) with respect to the movable support (14). Application in particular to welding grippers and disc-braking systems. |
| US08020841B2 |
Fastener for a car-body straightening device
A fastener (12) for a car-body straightening device (10), by means of which fastener (12) a vehicle is fastened to a straightening table (11) of the car-body straightening device (10) for the time of straightening work. The fastener (12) comprises an arm part (21), which provides additional support when during the car-body straightening work a force is applied to the area to be straightened, and a fastening device (24) for fastening the fastener (12) to the car to be straightened. The arm part (21) is movable in the fastener (12) and the fastener (12) can be placed moveably on a beam (13) of the car-body straightening table (11), and locked on said beam in a desired position. the fastener (12) comprises an upper frame part (16) and a lower frame part (17) of a fastener frame (15) and, between them, guides (18) to which an intermediate part (19) is connected floatingly. The fastening and the locking are carried out by means of a wedge part (20) such that in the locking the intermediate part (19) is pressed against the arm part (21) and against the beam (13). |
| US08020838B2 |
Contacting stages for co-current contacting apparatuses
Improved contacting stages for carrying out vapor-liquid contacting are described. Particular aspects are directed to co-current vapor-liquid contacting devices with non-parallel contacting stages that provide an efficient usage of column space for fluid flow and contacting, in order to achieve high capacity, high efficiency, and low pressure drop. The fabrication of such contacting stages is improved using one or more structural enhancements, preferably a combination of enhancements, to achieve easy installation and significantly improved rigidity between the various parts and thereby avoid movement/separation of these parts. This reduces the possibility of fluid leakage across, and consequently vapor and/or liquid bypassing of, the contacting stage. |
| US08020830B2 |
Mounting assemblies for securing electronic control unit and vehicles including same
A mounting assembly secures an electronic control unit upon a vehicle. The mounting assembly includes a bracket which can be attached to the vehicle's frame. The electronic control unit can be supported by the bracket. In one embodiment, a sleeve can be secured to the bracket and the electronic control unit can be at least partially disposed within a receptacle in the sleeve. In another embodiment, a guard can be secured to the sleeve. |
| US08020824B2 |
Adjustment assembly for a satellite antenna
An adjustment assembly for a satellite antenna has a first bracket, a second bracket, a pivotal bolt and an adjustment device. The second bracket is mounted pivotally on the first bracket. The pivotal bolt is mounted through the first bracket and the second bracket and serves as a fulcrum when the brackets pivot relatively. The adjustment device is mounted between the first bracket and the second bracket and has a positioning fastener, a driving fastener and an adjustment shaft. The positioning fastener is mounted on the first bracket. The driving fastener is mounted on the second bracket. The adjustment shaft is mounted rotatably through the driving fastener and into positioning fastener and has a threaded section and a positioning section. The threaded section allows the driving fastener to move along the adjustment shaft when the adjustment shaft is rotated. |
| US08020820B2 |
Methods, assemblies and kits for mounting articles to walls
Herein are disclosed methods and assemblies for adhesively mounting an article to two walls that meet at an angle (e.g., a corner). The methods and assemblies use first and second mounting plates that are deflectably and removably attachable to the article, with the first mounting plate being adhesively attachable to a first wall (e.g., by a piece of double-faced adhesive), and the second mounting plate being adhesively attachable to the second wall. |
| US08020813B1 |
Apparatus for routing cable across housing
A system for routing fiber optic cable includes a hinged housing, a cable storage device connected to a first portion of the housing, and a cable guide. The cable guide includes a flexible strap having a first end connected to the cable storage device and an opposite second end coupled to a second portion of the housing. The cable guide includes a first sidewall extending upwardly from a first side of the flexible strap and a second sidewall extending upwardly from an opposite second side of the flexible strap. The cable guide defines a channel configured for receiving a cable. |
| US08020812B2 |
Clamp for corrugated tube
A clamp for corrugated tubes capable of holding a corrugated tube, whether a corrugated tube of large diameter or a corrugated tube of small diameter, with adequate holding force. The clamp comprises a main fastener body, a body attachment part for attaching the main fastener body to a body panel, and a fastener cover that turns about a hinge of the main fastener body and presses and holds a corrugated tube to the main fastener body, which fastener cover comprises a small corrugated tube fastener cover for pressing against a corrugated tube of small diameter, and large corrugated tube fastener covers for pressing against a corrugated tube of large diameter, which small corrugated tube fastener cover and large corrugated tube fastener covers are arranged so as to be aligned in the axial direction of the corrugated tube being pressed against and held, and which, respectively, are coupled by the hinge to the main fastener body so that, with the main fastener body, they can separately press and hold a corrugated tube on the main fastener body. |
| US08020809B2 |
Direct torque actuator control for control moment gyroscope
A control moment gyroscope system for delivering a target torque to a spacecraft including a rotor assembly having a rotor and a motor to spin the rotor about a rotor axis. A gimbal assembly has a gimbal for supporting the rotor assembly and a gimbal torque motor to rotate the gimbal about a gimbal axis, which is normal to the rotor axis, to generate an output torque. A control system has a sensor for determining the output torque and a processor in communication with the rotor assembly, the gimbal assembly and the sensor. The processor requests the target torque and establishes a feedback control loop to generate a torque error signal based on the output torque for bringing the output torque within a predetermined range of the target torque. |
| US08020804B2 |
Ground effect vanes arrangement
A vehicle, particularly a VTOL air vehicle, includes a duct carried by the vehicle frame with the longitudinal axis of the duct perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle frame; a propeller rotatably mounted within the duct about the longitudinal axis of the duct to force an ambient fluid therethrough from its inlet at the upper end of the duct through its exit at the lower end of the duct, and thereby to produce an upward lift force applied to the vehicle, and a plurality of spaced vanes mounted to and across the inlet and exit ends of the duct about axes substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the duct and selectively operational to produce a desired horizontal control force in addition to the lift force applied to the vehicle. |
| US08020803B2 |
Rotorcraft engine and rotor speed synchronization
Systems and methods are provided in which an electrical control system independently effects acceleration of both driven and driving elements of a clutch to engage each other. In preferred embodiments the clutch is not a friction clutch, but a dog clutch, and forms part of a drive drain of a rotorcraft. A second clutch can be used, along with a mechanical interlock to prevent simultaneous engagement of the clutches. Speeds of the driven and driving elements can be sensed, and altered using at least one of a rotor, a brake, a generator, an electric motor, and a combustion motor. In rotorcraft embodiments, the gearbox can have a neutral condition in which no power is transmitted from the engine to the rotor. |
| US08020802B2 |
Dispenser for flexible cutting line
A dispenser for cutting line or string is provided. The dispenser for flexible cutting line includes a generally rectangular housing configured to accept a spool of cutting line, the housing being formed from two mateable side portions configured to snap together, wherein at least one portion of the housing is formed as a first opening to expose a view of an amount of cutting line on the spool; a donut portion disposed centrally in the housing configured for rotatably supporting the spool of cutting line in the housing; and at least one second opening formed in the housing configured for dispensing of the cutting line from the housing. |
| US08020800B2 |
Mobile rigs
A mobile rig for processing mineral material, comprising a feeder including a feed device for receiving mineral and a feeder conveyor arranged to convey mineral. The mobile rig includes a main chassis supporting a mineral breaker; and a discharge conveyor. The mineral breaker has an infeed region via which it receives mineral and a discharge region via which it discharges mineral after processing in the mineral breaker. The feeder conveyor is such as to convey mineral from the feed device to the infeed region of the mineral breaker and the discharge conveyor is such as to convey mineral from the discharge region of the mineral breaker. The rig includes a primary transport carriage on which the main chassis is supported. |
| US08020795B2 |
Shredder head adapted to vary power by thickness of material
A shredder head adapted to vary the power consumed by the shredder according to the thickness of the material to be shredded. |
| US08020791B2 |
Pivoting shoes for an impact crushing apparatus
The present invention provides an impact crushing apparatus that includes a housing, a chamber defined within the housing, a rotor assembly for receiving material and throwing the material radially outward, and a drive unit for rotating the rotor assembly. The rotor assembly comprises a plurality of shoes pivotable about a pin, the plurality of shoes having an impact surface configured to transport material received through the internal opening to the outer periphery of the chamber. |
| US08020789B2 |
Fuel injection valve
A fuel injector for fuel injection systems of internal combustion engines includes a solenoid coil; an armature acted upon in a closing direction by a restoring spring; and a valve needle, which is connected to the armature in force-locking manner and on which a valve-closure member is formed, which forms a sealing seat together with a valve seat surface. The armature strikes against a stop face of an inner pole of the solenoid coil by way of a stop face, and the armature stop face is provided with a coating. The coating has a surface structure. |
| US08020786B2 |
Shower head
The present invention provides in an adjustable shower head having a user-operable variable spray pattern. The shower head includes an adjustment mechanism that is hydropowered by water passing through the shower head, upon activation by a user. |
| US08020783B2 |
Radiant mat grid
An improved apparatus and method of attaching heated or cooled liquid filled tubing to a floor, wall or ceiling to create a radiant heating or cooling system. |
| US08020782B2 |
Transmission thermostat device
A transmission thermostat device includes a body having first and second input ports and first and second output ports. A first fluid path extends between the first input port and the first output port. A second fluid path extends between the second input port and the second output port. A bypass port is disposed between the first fluid path and the second fluid path. A temperature sensing mechanism is disposed within the housing. The temperature sensing mechanism element is operative in a first mode to close the bypass port and in a second mode to open the bypass port. The temperature sensing mechanism includes a bimetal element responsive to a change in temperature. |
| US08020779B2 |
Thermostatic valve and mixer tap with integrated TMV
There is described a mixer tap with integrated thermostatic mixing valve (TMV). The tap comprises in a single housing: hot and cold water inlets; an outlet for mixed water; hot and cold lever controls and a thermostatic mixing device within the single housing to prevent water above a certain temperature being emitted from the common outlet. The cold water control opens a fluid path from the cold inlet to the common outlet, bypassing said thermostatic mixing device, allowing better assurance of purity. The thermostatic mixing device and strainer/check valve cartridges are housed in an internal body so as to be readily accessible for servicing after installation of the device by removing only a cap part of the housing. |
| US08020778B2 |
Environmental apparatus control system
An environmental apparatus control system for a comfortable residential environment based upon demands from the residents. The system includes a project composer which relies upon a first reference (R1) and a second reference (R2) to determine a control project based upon the demands. The references are each determined by a first proportion of the count of the temperature lowering demands in the total number of the residents, and a second proportion of the count of the temperature raising demands in the total number of the resident. A first proportion of the count of the first demands in the number of the residents, and a second proportion of the count of the second demands in the number of the residents are obtained to give a current demand ratio which is compared with first and second references for determination of the control project. The first and second references and are defined respectively as different ratios of the first proportion to the second proportion. |
| US08020775B2 |
Payment cards and devices with enhanced magnetic emulators
A payment card (e.g., credit and/or debit card) or other device (e.g., mobile telephone) is provided with a magnetic emulator operable to communicate data to a magnetic stripe read-head. Such a magnetic emulator may comprise non-magnetostrictive material such that the magnetic emulator may be fabricated in a wide variety of fabrication processes. Additionally, magnets may be added to amplify the signal of a magnetic emulator. In doing so, a magnetic emulator may provide a large amount of signal while consuming a reduced amount of electrical energy when compared to a magnetic emulator that does not include the presence of one or more magnets. |
| US08020774B2 |
Tag label producing apparatus
This disclosure discloses a tag label producing apparatus comprises a feeding device that feeds a tag medium including an RFID circuit element having an IC circuit part configured to store information and a tag antenna configured to transmit/receive information, a communication device that transmits and receives information via a wireless communication to and from the RFID circuit element provided in the tag medium; and a communication facilitation processing portion that executes predetermined facilitation processing related to a communication during the wireless communication based on the communication device. |
| US08020767B2 |
Systems and methods for monitoring a quantity of waste in a waste transfer station environment
Systems and methods are provided for monitoring a quantity of waste in a waste transfer station environment. Embodiments of the invention maintain a running total of waste deposited within the waste transfer station by automating the process of recording the weights of vehicles depositing and removing waste from the waste transfer station. |
| US08020766B2 |
Verification of portable consumer devices
Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods, systems, and computer program products pertaining to obtaining, providing, and using dynamic card verification values for portable consumer devices, such as credit cards and debit cards. An exemplary method comprises receiving, at a server, a request for a device verification value for a portable consumer device associated with a user; obtaining, at the server, a datum indicative of a device verification value for a portable consumer device; and sending, from the server, the datum to at least one of a phone number or network address of a personal communication device associated with the user. |
| US08020764B2 |
Authentication using physical characteristics of tokens
A point of issuance cracking device for producing and recording intentionally created unique crack patterns in a brittle material layer of portable consumer devices and methods of using same for authentication are disclosed. When a conductive material is used for the brittle material layer, the electromagnetic field (EMF) signature of the intentionally created cracks can be detected, stored and compared for the purposes of the authenticating the portable consumer device. |
| US08020763B1 |
Method and system for assessing merchant risk during payment transaction
Systems and methods for assessing transaction risk. A consumer tenders a transaction card to a merchant to purchase a good or service. A payment device of the merchant, such as a payment terminal or mobile communication device of the merchant, is used to process the payment utilizing a risk assessment system. Card data received by the payment device is sent to the risk assessment system, which processes card data and generates an indicator representing the risk associated with accepting payment using the card. The indicator is sent to the payment device to provide the merchant input regarding risk associated with using the card (e.g., likelihood of fraud or chargeback) in a seamless manner. If the risk level is too high, the merchant may reject the card. The risk indicator may be based on different types of data from different sources, e.g., data from a first source related to the credit history of the consumer and data from a second source related to the identity of the consumer. |
| US08020761B2 |
Point-of-sale terminal system with integrated RF card reader and interchangeable base
A point-of-sale system includes a housing, processing device, and radio frequency card reader. The processing device and reader are disposed within the housing, which eliminates external electrical connections associated with the reader. The system may include a monitor and an interchangeable base, which receives the monitor and is selectively removable from the monitor. The interchangeable base houses the processing device. The housing may include the interchangeable base, which also houses electrical connections associated with the RF card reader. A method of displaying point-of-sale information includes providing a housing, disposing a processing device within the housing, and disposing a radio frequency card reader within the housing, thereby eliminating external electrical connections associated with the reader. The method may include providing a monitor with a display and receiving area, adapting the interchangeable base to receive the receiving area and to be selectively removable from the receiving area. |
| US08020759B1 |
Card activated cash dispensing automated banking machine
A card activated cash dispensing automated banking machine is provided which includes a safe and at least a portion of a cash dispenser positioned within the safe. The cash dispenser includes an input device which when manually operated from within the safe causes the cash dispenser to accept data usable to authenticate communicates received from a computer located outside the safe in the automated banking machine. The cash dispenser is operative responsive to authenticated communication to dispense cash. |
| US08020755B2 |
Methods of establishing credit
A method for enhancing credit of a cardholder of a pre-paid card may include issuing a pre-paid card to a cardholder. The cardholder may be charged a fee to establish a credit instrument associated with an account and the pre-paid card. The cardholder may be billed a portion of the credit instrument that includes the fee on a periodic basis, where the billing may be independent of billing for purchases of goods and services with the pre-paid card. A determination as to whether the cardholder timely paid the bill. If the cardholder timely paid the bill, then the payment may be recorded as being timely paid. Otherwise, a recording may be made that the bill was not timely paid. A reporting as to the timeliness of the payment may be made to affect a credit rating of the cardholder. |
| US08020748B2 |
Sputtering target assembly and method of making same
A method for producing a sputtering target assembly bonded to a backing plate. The method includes bonding a target (100) to a high strength backing plate (110) and further creating a vacuum seal between the target and the backing plate using friction stir welding processes. |
| US08020745B2 |
Solder ball
An object of the present invention is to improve a yield of electronic devices in a ball mounting process by preventing a micro-bonding and change in color of the solder balls, and to improve a bonding reliability of the solder balls by reducing an oxide film on a surface of the solder ball. The solder ball has a surface thereof coated with an organic compound containing a cyclic structure and an aliphatic hydrocarbon group. |
| US08020744B2 |
Methods for connecting a wire to a metalized circuit path on a plastic part
A method and apparatus for connecting wires to circuits, including the formation of at least one electrically conductive path having a plastic base with a metal foil formed of laser direct processes. |
| US08020743B2 |
Powered articulatable surgical cutting and fastening instrument with flexible drive member
A surgical cutting and fastening instrument is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the instrument may include a handle assembly that has an elongate shaft attached thereto. An end effector that is configured to support a staple cartridge may be pivotally coupled to the elongate shaft. The handle assembly may support a generator of rotary motion that interfaces with a rotary drive system that may include a flexible drive shaft. The flexible drive shaft may be configured to impart a driving motion to a knife supporting assembly supported within the end effector. Such arrangement enables the end effector to be fired while being articulated relative to the elongate shaft. |
| US08020737B2 |
Ratcheting strap-down system
A ratcheting strap-down system for use with a crossbar to securely transport any variety of objects. The ratcheting strap-down assembly includes a ratcheting receiver and a cam clamp receiver. The ratcheting receiver includes a ratcheting assembly and a locking mechanism and is adapted to engage a second end of a flexible strap. The flexible strap is preferably made from reinforced steel cog belt, making the system and the objects it's securing less susceptible to theft. The ratcheting strap-down system is particularly useful for securing one or more surfboards to the crossbars of an after-market roof rack assembly. |
| US08020736B2 |
Spare tire cover supporting structure
A spare tire cover supporting structure includes: a transverse rear door, provided on a vehicle; a spare tire cover, including a first end and a second end, the first end supported on the transverse rear door, the spare tire cover operable to cover a spare tire held on the transverse rear door; a mounting member, detachably mounting the second end on the transverse rear door; and a supporting member, provided on one of the transverse rear door and the second end of the spare tire cover. When the second end of the spare tire cover is mounted on the transverse rear door by the mounting member or the second end of the spare tire cover is detached from the transverse rear door, the supporting member positions the spare tire cover relative to the transverse rear door and restricts an opening movement of the spare tire cover. |
| US08020733B2 |
Keyed dispensing cartridge system
A dispensing system for dispensing cleaning product for hand washing at a faucet comprises a cartridge having an internal reservoir for containing hand wash cleaning product, a nozzle configured in one of a plurality of key shapes, and a dispenser having a receptacle opening adapted to receive and engage the nozzle of the cartridge when the receptacle opening is configured in one of a plurality of key shapes corresponding to the key shape of the nozzle, the dispenser having a fluid communication passage for dispensing fluid for hand washing, whereby only cartridges and dispensers which have matched key shapes will engage each other for operative discharge of the hand wash cleaning product. |
| US08020732B2 |
Squeeze foamer
The invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing a foam, comprising a manually compressible container (2) for storing a liquid and air, which container comprises an opening (3), a rigid housing (4, 5) to be fitted in or on the opening, the housing comprising an air passage (11, 12) and a liquid passage (9), which are in communication with a dispensing passage (14) which ends in a dispensing opening (8), and a valve body (6) which, in a rest position, covers a mouth of the liquid passage and a mouth of the air passage (10) in a sealing manner in order to prevent a flow from the liquid passage and the air passage to the dispensing passage, and which, during dispensing, opens the mouth of the liquid passage and the mouth of the air passage in order to allow mixing of air and liquid to take place in the dispensing passage. The invention is characterized in that the elastic valve body comprises an arcuate section (6c), which arcuate section extends in the mouth of the liquid passage in such a way that, initially, due to the liquid pressure in the liquid passage on the valve body, the arcuate section improves the sealing of the mouth of the liquid passage. |
| US08020728B2 |
Container and method for opening a container
A container for accommodating liquid and/or pasty substances is provided with a tubular outlet connector that is sealed via a film or a similar membrane relative to the substance accommodated in the container for storage. An inlet connector of a dispensing element can be inserted into the outlet connector. Furthermore, a piercing sleeve is displaceably accommodated in the outlet connector. The piercing sleeve can be displaced via setting on the inlet connector of the dispensing element so that the film or similar membrane is cut open. Furthermore, a combination of such a container and a dispensing element that can be connected with it, as well as a method for opening a container, are provided. |
| US08020727B2 |
Powered dispensing tool and method for controlling same
An apparatus and method for monitoring and controlling motor current during a dispensing of material from a dispensing tool (10) is provided, including a method for measuring the motor current of the dispensing tool during operation through a motor controller (U2). The method further includes sending a feedback signal from the motor controller (U2) relating to the measured motor current to an input of a microcontroller (U1) that is adapted to a dispensing tool (10). The feedback signal is compared to a prescribed threshold and the motor current is conditioned based on the comparing of the feedback signal to the prescribed threshold. |
| US08020723B2 |
Removable locking container lid with outer skirt
A container lid for use with a container with a neck. The lid includes a top and bottom, a skirt extending downward from the circumference of the lid, and a circumferential flange extending radially outward from the lid. The skirt preferably includes at least one integral bead shaped to engage the neck or rim of the container. The lid preferably includes a convex center section including at least one vent. The at least one vent is preferably integral with the lid, and is opened by the steam pressure buildup inside the container when the contents are heated. When the cover is locked on the container, the skirt provides a seal against the outside of the container neck. |
| US08020720B2 |
Stopper member, a fluid dispenser comprising such a member, and a method of manufacturing such dispenser
A stopper member (C) for mounting on an opening (31) of a fluid reservoir (P), said member being characterized in that it comprises: a base body (1) forming a fluid dispenser orifice (17); an assembly part (20) for mounting in stationary manner on the base body (1); and a closure lid (25) for closing the dispenser orifice (17), the lid (25) being connected to the assembly part via a hinge (26), characterized in that the lid (25) and the part (20) are made as a single piece, the lid (25) initially being connected to the assembly part (20), before the lid is opened for the first time, via at least one bridge (28) of material able to be broken at the first opening. |
| US08020719B2 |
Closure
The invention relates to a closure for a container for holding a fluid, more particularly an adhesion promoter composition, provided, having a base element which can be fastened in the region of a pour opening of the container and which has an opening through which the fluid can be withdrawn from the container, having a first closure element which in a closed position thereof effects fluid-tight sealing of the opening of the base element and which in an open position thereof releases the opening of the base element, and having a second closure element, which can be fastened to the base element in such a way as to be repeatedly releasable and which, in a container storage mode, secures the first closure element in its storage position and, for a container dispensing mode, releases the first closure element to bring it from its closed position into the open position. |
| US08020713B2 |
Storage rack for pilates exercise equipment
The present invention discloses a storage rack suitable for holding exercise springs and related equipment, having a support element with at least one bracket disposed on the support, the bracket being suitable for horizontally affixing the support to a wall or ceiling. The support having a plurality of eye hooks disposed thereon. The eye hooks keep the exercise rings at a sufficient distance from each other to prevent entanglement with other springs. The distance between the support and the point of affixation can be used as a separate rack to store other exercise components. |
| US08020708B2 |
Fuel filter housing with snap lock valve asssembly
A valve assembly that is useable with a fuel filter housing to control the flow of fuel through the fuel filter housing. The valve assembly comprises two primary parts that are connected together via a snap connection, and when the valve assembly is installed on the fuel filter housing, means on the fuel filter housing prevent disconnection of the snap connection. One or both of the primary parts of the valve assembly can be provided with a tamper evident feature that will indicate whether someone has tried to remove or disassemble the valve assembly. |
| US08020707B2 |
Cyclone, apparatus for separating slurry having the cyclone, and system and method of supplying slurry using the apparatus
A cyclone used in a separator apparatus includes a body and a vortex finder. The body includes an inlet passageway, a cylindrical passageway connected to the inlet passageway, and a conical passageway connected to the cylindrical passageway. The cylindrical passageway has an upper end through which first particles in a fluid are exhausted, and a lower end. The conical passageway has an upper end connected to the lower end of the cylindrical passageway, and an opened lower end through which second particles having a specific gravity greater than that of the first particle are exhausted. The vortex finder is connected to the upper end of the cylindrical passageway. A first exhaust passageway is vertically formed in the vortex finder so that the first particles spirally ascend through the first exhaust passageway from the cylindrical passageway. |
| US08020705B2 |
Screen assemblies utilizing screen elements retained in perforated supports
A screen retention mechanism for use with vibratory separators is disclosed. The screen retention mechanism includes a structural frame mounted to a vibratory separator into which a plurality of lightweight and flexible screen elements are inserted into multiple tows of perforated screen supports. The perforated screen supports are bonded to the structural frame and are aligned parallel to the direction in which solids are conveyed by a vibratory motion. The invention further features an improved retention mechanism whereby screen elements are conveniently and selectively restrained. |
| US08020704B2 |
Storing case
There is provided a storing case adapted to be disposed on top of an amplifier, an amplifier head, or an amplifier stack. The storing case is adapted to receive various accessories normally used by a musician and for storing them. The storing case has an external surface which is made of a material at least visually similar to the material of external surfaces of the amplifier, amplifier head, or amplifier stack. When the storing case is disposed on the amplifier, amplifier head, or amplifier stack, which is disposed on a stage, the storing case seems to be, for a spectator in front of the stage, an integral part of a set comprising the storing case and the amplifier, amplifier head, or amplifier stack. |
| US08020701B2 |
Device for emptying an open-topped mail item container and mail item container
A device for emptying a mail item container that is open at the top and serves for transporting mail items. The mail item container has sidewalls and a container underside. The device has a lifting device for moving the mail items relative to the sidewalls. In order to enable postal articles, such as, for example, letter mail items, to be emptied from a mail item container in an ergonomically favorable and efficient manner without adversely affecting its mechanical stability to too great an extent, it is proposed that the lifting device is provided for passing through the underside of the container. |
| US08020700B2 |
Packaging and dispensing nasal devices
Described herein are packaging systems for nasal devices, and methods of packaging and/or dispensing nasal devices. A packaging system may include one or a plurality of nasal devices removably secured to a support backing, and a dispenser. In some variations an applicator may also be included. Methods of using and methods of assembling packaging systems and dispensers are also described. |
| US08020696B2 |
Device and method for storing and mixing at least two materials
In one embodiment, a storing and mixing apparatus is provided and includes a container having a reservoir, a neck, and a seal protrusion extending toward the longitudinal center of the container. The apparatus further includes a cap having a compartment with an off-center funnel part that extends toward an inner surface of the neck and ends in a dispenser opening that engages or disengages with the seal protrusion upon actuation of the cap between a first position and a second position of the dispenser opening relative to the seal protrusion. A method of using such an apparatus is also disclosed. |
| US08020695B2 |
Basket carrier
A carrier includes multiple rows of container receptacles on each side of a central handle. The bottom of the carrier is reinforced with web panels. The container receptacles can be separated by longitudinal and transverse separator panels. The top edge of the longitudinal separator panel can be curved to facilitate erection of the carrier. |
| US08020691B2 |
Belt conveyor and crushing unit
A belt conveyor and a crushing unit includes a conveying upper run presenting a feed end and a discharge end, and a return lower run, with the conveying upper end including a curved extension, which is concave and ascending and presents an inlet lower portion and an outlet upper portion of the conveying upper run, where the belt conveyor imparts to the material a path that is substantially coplanar and opposite in relation to that imparted to the material in the inlet portion, and with ascending curved path presenting at a determined belt speed, a centrifugal force sufficient to maintain the material seated against the curved extension of the conveying upper run until reaching the discharge end. |
| US08020690B2 |
Singling machine for lollipops
The present invention is related to a singling equipment for a device for packaging articles, comprising a singling plate which rotates around an axis and a removing wheel which rotates around an axis and which comprises a plurality of removing units with two grippers for receiving and clamping the articles, whereas both grippers are pivotable around a respective gripper lever axis, each removing unit is ratable around an own pivot axis and each gripper has a gripper jab, whereas the distance between the gripper lever axis and the gripping jaw is equal at each gripper-pair and the gripper jaws are designed to grip the stick of a lollipop. |
| US08020687B2 |
Enhancement method and apparatus for escalator or moving walkway
An apparatus is used to enhance the standing-surfaces of platform-components of an escalator or a moving walkway which moves in a continuous loop. The apparatus is maintained in a constant position relative to the moving parts of the escalator or walkway such that, while in that constant position, all the standing-surfaces continually pass under the apparatus as a result of the continuous loop of the escalator. When the escalator is in operation, an applicator-means of the apparatus applies a flowable enhancement-material, in situ, to the standing-surfaces of the moving platform-components. The material solidifies thereon to enhance the surface characteristics of the standing-surfaces of the escalator, or moving walkway as the case may be. |
| US08020686B2 |
Recycling and environmental debris chute
A method and apparatus for a recycling and environmental debris chute that directs leaf, debris and recycling or other materials into a container for collection, and more particularly a foldable chute formed from a single sheet of material and insertable into a collection bag or flexible container to hold the bag or container open in an upright or laying down sideways position and facilitate directing leaves, debris and other material into the bag or container. |
| US08020685B2 |
Device for the control at least of a hydraulically operable switching element of an automatic transmission
A device for controlling a hydraulically operable switching element (2) of an automatic transmission of a vehicle with a position valve mechanism (3) having a main switch piston (6) which is spring biased into a first switch position and a second switch position with a pilot pressure (P_MV) which is adjustable through an electrically operated actuator (5). An additional switch piston (7) and the main switch piston (6) are axially actuated in a valve housing (8). Depending on the position of the pistons (6, 7), faces (6A, 7A) of the respective pistons are either spaced apart or adjacent. The additional switch piston (7) is adjustable depending on a pilot pressure (p_K) of a switching element which engages a gear for forward drive. |
| US08020684B2 |
Shift apparatus for inboard-outboard drive
A shift apparatus of an inboard-outboard drive in which shift operation can be carried out by electrical means without using known cables such as wires is provided.Solenoid valves 35 and 36 which carry out shifting operation in an oil-hydraulic circuit for operating an hydraulic clutch is attached to an oil-hydraulic control unit 31 in an upper casing 14 of an outer drive apparatus 4, and a waterproof cover 40 which covers the oil-hydraulic control unit 31 and the solenoid valves 35 and 36 are fixed on the upper casing 14. A connector 45 is interposed between electric wires 41, and arranged on a joint portion between a bell housing 18 and an upper casing 14. |
| US08020683B2 |
Magnetic friction clutch
A novel magnetic friction clutch is disclosed which is capable of relatively high torque transfer for friction discs of a given diameter, compared to prior art magnetic clutches. A friction coating with good magnetic permeability, such as Ferrous Aluminide or the like, is applied to inner and outer annular regions of the three friction discs and increases the frictional coefficient of the discs with little reduction in the clamping force developed through the clutch. |
| US08020677B2 |
Vibration damping device and manufacturing method thereof
A vibration damping device including a hollow housing having a fastening frame and a housing main body attached to the fastening frame for providing the hollow housing enclosing a mass member. With the housing main body inserted between top and base plate portions through an opening in the fastening frame, an urging force of a first spring projection is directed against the housing main body from one of the top base plate portions towards the other thereby holding the housing main body pressed against the other of the top and base plate portions, while an urging force of a second spring projection is directed against the housing main body towards the opening side from a back plate portion causing the housing main body to become engaged by a catch projection, for attaching the housing main body to the fastening frame and preventing it from slipping out through the opening of the fastening frame. |
| US08020675B2 |
Electromechanical brake
The invention relates to an electromechanical disk brake which has a switchable freewheel in order to be configured as a parking brake. The switchable freewheel includes a clamping roller freewheel having rollers for locking a motor shaft of an electric motor of the brake. A locating bearing of the motor shaft of an electric motor, and the freewheel are accommodated on a cover of a housing of the electric motor, and all the electric connections of the disc brake are routed via the cover. The number of components used can be reduced considerably by the integrated design. Moreover, the positional tolerances of the freewheel in relation to the motor shaft can be reduced with the aid of the invention. |
| US08020674B2 |
Disk brake for vehicle
A disk brake for a vehicle includes: a caliper bracket; a pair of caliper support arms; pad guide grooves that have outer side surfaces, inner side surfaces and opposed surfaces; and lug pieces that protrude on both side parts of back plates of friction pads supported by the pad guide grooves through a pad retainer, the pad retainer including a pair of retainer parts, a connecting piece and pad resilient parts, wherein: the retainer parts include inner side pieces arranged along the inner side surfaces of the pad guide grooves, outer side pieces arranged along the outer side surfaces of the pad guide grooves and interior pieces that connect the outer side pieces to the inner side pieces; and the outer side pieces include impact suppressing parts that restrain the lug pieces from colliding with the outer side surfaces through the outer side pieces. |
| US08020665B2 |
Lubrication system with extended emergency operability
A lubrication system, includes an auxiliary lubricant tank 48 and a supply conduit 58 extending from a source of lubricant 26 and through the auxiliary lubricant tank. A portion of the conduit resides within the tank and has an opening 136 for allowing lubricant transfer between the tank and the conduit. |
| US08020664B2 |
Isolation valve for the oil circuit of an airplane engine
The present invention relates to a turbomachine comprising an air compressor (3) and a lubrication circuit with an oil tank (1), said oil tank (1) being possibly isolated from the rest of the lubrication circuit (4,4A; 6,6A) by means of an isolation valve (7), wherein the isolation valve (7) is configured so as to: operate, i.e. to close and open respectively as the engine (2) stops and starts; remain open when the engine (2) is running; remain closed when the engine (2) is stopped. |
| US08020653B2 |
Vibration damping member for in-wheel motor
An in-wheel motor includes a rotating electric machine provided at a wheel and applying driving force to the wheel, a housing housing the rotating electric machine and rotatably supporting the wheel, and a vibration damping member provided between the housing and a ball joint as a mounting portion for mounting the housing on a vehicle body. |
| US08020651B2 |
Hybrid motor vehicle and method for controlling operation of a hybrid motor vehicle
A method controls an operation of a motor vehicle equipped with a hybrid drive unit having a combustion engine and at least one electric machine that can be selectively operated as a motor or as a generator. The electric machine, when in generator mode, charges an energy store and/or supplies power to a vehicle electrical system of the motor vehicle. In generator mode, the electric machine is operated in alternating intervals, while maintaining predefined boundary conditions. In a first interval, the electric machine is operated with a first high electrical power output that is higher than an actual power consumption of the vehicle electrical system of the motor vehicle. The electric machine is switched off in a second interval. This largely prevents the electric machine from approaching operating points under light load which have a low efficiency and achieves a fuel advantage in comparison to a continuous operating mode. |
| US08020648B2 |
Windrower tractor with rear wheel suspension
A tractor has front wheels mounted on the frame at fixed angles and a pair of rear wheels each mounted on a respective castor assembly. Each of the castor assemblies has a vertical pivot axis mounted in a swivel support of an axle of the frame and a bottom transverse tubular member connected to a pair of parallel forks carrying at a lower ends the transverse axle of the wheel. The mounting link includes a torsion spring defined by a rod attached to the forks which passes though a sleeve containing a resilient elastomeric spring of the tubular member allowing spring suspension pivotal movement of the upper ends of the forks relative to the bottom transverse member about an axis parallel to the wheel axis. |
| US08020647B2 |
Steering control system
A steering system for a vehicle wherein the first and second axle shafts are driven by a power shaft powered by an engine. A differential gear is interposed between the power shaft and the first and second axle shafts. The steering system has a first hydraulic unit associated with the first axle shaft, a second hydraulic unit associated with the second axle shaft, a hydraulic circuit connecting an input of the first hydraulic unit to an output of the second hydraulic unit and an output of the first hydraulic unit to an input of said second hydraulic unit. A control unit is connected to the hydraulic circuit for varying a flow rate of hydraulic fluid in the first and second hydraulic units and an actuator associated with the control unit for controlling said control unit. The actuator is responsive to rotation of a steering wheel. |
| US08020645B2 |
Method of fabricating polycrystalline diamond and a polycrystalline diamond compact
Embodiments of the invention relate to polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) exhibiting enhanced diamond-to-diamond bonding. In an embodiment, PCD includes a plurality of diamond grains defining a plurality of interstitial regions. A metal-solvent catalyst occupies at least a portion of the plurality of interstitial regions. The plurality of diamond grains and the metal-solvent catalyst collectively exhibit a coercivity of about 115 Oersteads (“Oe”) or more and a specific magnetic saturation of about 15 Gauss·cm3/grams (“G·cm3/g”) or less. Other embodiments are directed to polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) employing such PCD, methods of forming PCD and PDCs, and various applications for such PCD and PDCs in rotary drill bits, bearing apparatuses, and wire-drawing dies. |
| US08020644B2 |
Thermally stable polycrystalline diamond materials, cutting elements incorporating the same and bits incorporating such cutting elements
A cutting element is provided including a substrate and a TSP material layer over the substrate. The TSP material layer includes at least a property having a value that varies through the layer. |
| US08020642B2 |
Polycrystalline diamond abrasive elements
A polycrystalline diamond abrasive element, particularly a cutting element, comprises a table of polycrystalline diamond bonded to a substrate, particularly a cemented carbide substrate, along a non-planar interface. The non-planar interface typically has a cruciform configuration. The polycrystalline diamond has a high wear-resistance, and has a region adjacent the working surface lean in catalysing material and a region rich in catalysing material. The region lean in catalysing material extends to a depth of 40 to 90 microns, which is much shallower than in the prior art. Notwithstanding the shallow region lean in catalysing material, the polycrystalline diamond cutters have a wear resistance, impact strength and cutter life comparable to that of prior art cutters, but requiring only 20% of the treatment times of the prior art cutters. |
| US08020640B2 |
Impregnated drill bits and methods of manufacturing the same
A drill bit that includes a body having a lower end face for engaging a rock formation is disclosed. The end face has a plurality of raised ribs extending from the face of the bit body and separated by a plurality of channels therebetween. At least one of the plurality of ribs has a leading portion and a trailing portion, the leading portion comprising a first matrix material impregnated with super abrasive particles and the trailing portion comprising a second matrix material impregnated with super abrasive particles, wherein the first and second matrix materials differ from each other. |
| US08020635B2 |
Expandable reamer apparatus
An expandable reamer apparatus and methods for reaming a borehole, wherein a laterally movable blade carried by a tubular body may be selectively positioned at an inward position and an expanded position. The laterally movable blade, held inwardly by blade-biasing elements, may be forced outwardly by drilling fluid selectively allowed to communicate therewith by way of an actuation sleeve disposed within the tubular body. Alternatively, a separation element may transmit force or pressure from the drilling fluid to the movable blade. Further, a chamber in communication with the movable blade may be pressurized by way of a downhole turbine or pump. A ridged seal wiper, compensator, movable bearing pad, fixed bearing pad preceding the movable blade, or adjustable spacer element to alter expanded blade position may be included within the expandable reamer. In addition, a drilling fluid pressure response indicating an operational characteristic of the expandable reamer may be generated. |
| US08020633B2 |
Simultaneous drilling and open hole wireline logging for drilling rigs
A method of logging a wellbore comprises drilling a first wellbore to a depth using a drilling rig and drilling a second wellbore to a depth using the drilling rig. While the second wellbore is being drilled a logging operation is conducted in the first wellbore using the drilling rig. The logging operation can be conducted in the first wellbore via a wireline logging tool. |
| US08020624B2 |
Submersible pumping system
A technique is provided for pumping fluids in a subterranean wellbore. A submersible pumping system can be deployed in a wellbore for moving desired fluids within the wellbore. The pumping system energizes the desired fluid movement by reciprocating a working fluid between expandable members. |
| US08020621B2 |
Downhole applications of composites having aligned nanotubes for heat transport
In one aspect, an apparatus is disclosed that includes an anisotropic nanocomposite element in thermal communication with a heat-generating element for conducting heat away from the heat-generating element along a selected direction. In another aspect, a method of conveying heat away from a heat-generating element is disclosed that includes transferring heat from the heat-generating element to an anisotropic nanocomposite element that is configured to conduct heat along a selected direction, and transferring heat received by the anisotropic nanocomposite element to a heat-absorbing element. |
| US08020618B2 |
Solid gas migration control additives based on latex powders for cementing applications
Solid latex powders are employed as additives to control gas migration during the cementation of subterranean wells. Preferably, the latex additives are based on vinyl-acetate or styrene-butadiene based polymers. The additives are particularly useful in low-temperature applications. Methods to prepare cement slurries comprising the latex additives, and methods pertaining to the cementation of subterranean wells are also presented. |
| US08020612B2 |
Stacked plate heat exchanger for use as charge air cooler
The invention relates to a stacked-plate heat exchanger for cooling charge air, having at least one first flow duct (21) for at least a first medium LL to flow through, and at least a second flow duct (22) for at least a second medium (KM) to flow through in order to cool the first medium (LL), wherein the at least one first flow duct (21) and the at least one second flow duct (22) are formed between adjacent plates (8, 9), and at least one plate (8, 9) has at least a first opening (12) for the first medium (LL) to flow through and at least two second openings (13) for the second medium (KM) to flow through into the at least one second flow duct (22), the at least one first opening (12) being arranged at least in certain sections between the two second openings (13), wherein the first opening (12) is at a smaller distance, at least in certain sections, from a central section (MA) of the stacked-plate heat exchanger (1) than one of the second openings (13). |
| US08020611B2 |
Heat dissipating device having G-shaped heat pipes and heat sinks
A heat dissipation device includes two heat pipes, three extruded heat sinks and a heat conducting plate. Each heat pipe has a substantially G-shaped configuration and includes a heat absorbing section and first and second heat dissipating sections. The first and second heat dissipating sections extend along opposite directions, wherein the second heat dissipating section is located above the first heat dissipating section. Each heat sink includes a main body and a plurality of fins extending from the main body. The main body of each heat sink has a same profile with that of each heat pipe. Each heat pipe is sandwiched between the main bodies of two adjacent heat sinks. The heat conducting plate is attached to the main bodies of the heat sinks and the heat absorbing sections of the heat pipes. |
| US08020609B2 |
Heat sink assembly having a clip
A heat sink assembly includes a heat sink and a clip. The clip includes a main body, two pressing portions extending outwardly from two opposite ends of the main body, two extension portions each extending upwardly from an outer end of a corresponding pressing portion, a locking arm extending slantwise and upwardly from an upper end of each extension portion, a U-shaped operating portion extending from a far end of the locking arm and a J-shaped hook extending from a free end of the operating portion. The operating portion is provided for receiving a depressing force acting on the clip for moving the hook to engage with a clasp on a printed circuit board. |
| US08020607B2 |
Heat exchanger having a header
The present invention provides a pipe for a heat exchanger. The header includes a tube insertion hole for insertion of a tube, a filler metal groove formed in a length direction on one side or both sides at a point separated from the tube insertion hole, and a filler metal that flows down following the tube and the periphery where the tube and tube insertion hole come in contact. Filler metal is inserted in the filler metal groove so as to enable brazing fusion. A lead groove is formed between the tube insertion hole and filler metal groove and provides a pathway so as to enable smooth flow of the filler metal, and so that molten filler metal can flow smoothly into the fused areas between the tube and header pipe in desired locations and amounts. |
| US08020601B2 |
Machine for equipping articles with labels
A machine for equipping articles with labels, such as vessels or similar items, including at least one carousel which transports the articles, at least one exchangeable labeling aggregate which is arranged on the periphery of the carousel for equipping the articles, where, on the periphery of the carousel, at least one stationary floor-supported aggregate reception for a labeling aggregate is arranged. |
| US08020600B2 |
Sheet sticking apparatus
A sheet sticking apparatus includes a first feeding device for feeding out a first sheet having an adhesive layer on one surface thereof, a second feeding device for feeding out a second sheet, and a folding device for folding the second sheet. The sheet sticking apparatus further includes a pressing device for sticking the folded second sheet to the adhesive layer of the first sheet so as to overlap the folded second sheet and the adhesive layer of the first sheet together, and for pressing the first sheet in a state where the adhesive layer of the first sheet is partially exposed out of the second sheet. |
| US08020598B2 |
Label pasting device
A label affixing apparatus enables an RFID tag to be affixed to a product at a distance from the product. The apparatus comprises: a folding/affixing device which conveys a label, a label holder holds a front surface side of the label, a folding device causes a part of the label including a tag attachment site to project by folding the part from a rear surface side to the front surface side into an angular shape. Either traction is suppressed when the label is affixed to the product. A reader/writer has an antenna in a position facing the part of the label when the part of the label is folded, for reading and writing information from and to the RFID tag. A fold detector detects if the label is folded. The label holding device moves between a label suction position and a label affixing position. Folding is assisted from a rear surface side of the part of the label. |
| US08020595B2 |
Pneumatic tire with tread having sipes and shallow grooves
A plurality of shallow grooves which are shallower than a sipe are formed on land sections formed on treads of a pneumatic tire. The shallow grooves are configured so that a total sectional area of the shallow grooves per unit area in a cross section in a tire width direction in at least one of tread end areas arranged at end sides of the tread surface in the tire width direction or land end areas arranged at portions adjacent to a drain main groove on the land sections becomes larger than a total sectional area of the shallow grooves per unit on the other areas. |
| US08020591B2 |
Indexable stump cutter tooth
A stump cutter tooth held by a pocket member, which has first and second edge, and the pocket member being operatively attached to a driven wheel, which has opposite first and second side surfaces. The stump cutter tooth includes an elongate tooth body that has an axial forward end. A first hard region is at the axial forward end of the tooth body and defines at least one distinct cutting edge that has an orientation to engage the stump during operation. A second hard region is at the axial forward end of the tooth body and is distinct from the first hard region. The second hard region provides protection to at least a portion of the pocket member. |
| US08020586B2 |
One-step flow control for crossing channels
In one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for one-step flow control at a micro-channel crossing comprises a first micro-channel and a second micro-channel, a plurality of magnetic valves, and a guiding magnet. The guiding magnet produces a proximal magnetic field gradient at a location of each of the plurality of magnetic valves when an operator places the guiding magnet in a vicinity of the chip. The vicinity of the chip comprises a plurality of guiding magnet position ranges. The operator repositions guiding magnet in order to actuate the plurality of magnetic valves simultaneously. Depending on the position of the guiding magnet, the passages are blocked or unblocked to stop or let the fluid flow in a given crossing. |
| US08020584B2 |
Variable valve for impact dispersal device
A variable valve for impact dispersal of a force, such as a force caused by an impact or explosion. The apparatus includes a valve with a spring biased piston that engages an outlet bore as the piston moves in response to the pressure of a fluid at an inlet port. The valve is in fluid communication with a cylinder that receives an impulse force. The fluid flow from the cylinder is controlled by the variable valve, which disperses the force accordingly at a controlled rate. In one embodiment, a pressurized reservoir is connected to an extension valve and a check valve that allows the cylinder to be filled with fluid from the reservoir when the extension valve is actuated. Applications for such a system include connection to aircraft seats and to aircraft landing gear. |
| US08020583B2 |
Hydraulic valve arrangement
The invention concerns a hydraulic valve arrangement (1) with at least two valve modules (2-6), each having a supply channel arrangement with a high-pressure channel (9) and a low-pressure channel (15), a working connection arrangement with at least one working connection (A, B), one directional valve arrangement (16) between the supply channel arrangement (9, 15) and the working connection arrangement (A, B) and a compensation arrangement (19), which is acted upon by a pressure in a load-sensing arrangement. It is endeavored to increase the number of control possibilities. For this purpose, the load-sensing arrangement of at least one valve module (2-6) has a pressure influencing arrangement (25-29) that differs from a pressure influencing arrangement (25-29) of a load sensing arrangement of another valve module (2-6). |
| US08020581B1 |
Secondary drainage funnel for a laundry box
A secondary drainage funnel for use in combination with a laundry box having a bottom wall with a drain opening formed therein includes a generally hollow body having an upper end and a lower end. The upper end includes an inlet opening for receiving a secondary drainage discharge tube. The lower end has a discharge opening formed therein and is shaped to be supported on the lower wall of the laundry box proximate the drain opening with the discharge opening in fluid communication with the drain opening while leaving sufficient access to the drain opening to allow a laundry drain hose to be inserted therein. |
| US08020579B2 |
Fire hydrant security cap closure system
This invention provides a fire hydrant security system having an inner cap with an outlet port on a fire hydrant in a fixed position which includes a member capable of extending from the periphery of the inner cap into a slot in the inner part of an outer cap wherein the member's position can be retracted and retained in the inner cap, wherein said outer cap can be attached to the inner cap so that the outer cap can spin freely with respect to the inner cap, and a key wrench that's fits over the outer cap for aligning the outer cap and the key wrench in a fixed position so that a magnet located on the wall of the key wrench can be aligned with a slot on inner wall of the outer cap and wherein the rotation of the key wrench causes the magnet to align with the member and to extend the member into the slot on the inside of the outer cap thereby joining the outer cap to the inner cap. |
| US08020578B2 |
Solid product dispenser
A dispenser (10) uses first and second flow controls (70, 73). The flow controls maintain first and second flow ranges independent of diluent pressure within a pressure range, wherein the use solution's concentration is maintained over the pressure range. A third flow control (75) may also be utilized in a third diluent passageway for maintaining a third flow range independent of the diluent pressure within the pressure range. A bypass valve assembly (41) is operatively connected to the third incoming diluent passageway. The bypass valve has a temperature control valve. The temperature control valve having a bypass passageway, wherein additional diluent is added to the use solution, thereby controlling the use solution's concentration. |
| US08020577B1 |
Rupture disc assembly for pneumatic plugs
A rupture disc assembly for pneumatic plugs constructed and arranged to cooperate with an aperture in an end casting or other plug component to expel excess air from the plug interior when a predetermined internal plug pressure is reached. The rupture disc holder assembly may have a two part body structure and be mounted to the inside or outside of the pneumatic plug. The rupture disc assembly utilizes a rupturable member in a flanged holder structure positioned in communication with the pneumatic plug. |
| US08020576B2 |
Emergency shutoff valve for use in a fuel dispensing system
An emergency shutoff valve is provided that includes a housing defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a fluid flow passage extending therebetween. The valve includes a valve element disposed within the housing and releasably latched in an open position by a latching mechanism. An expansible member defines at least a portion of a sealed expansible chamber that is sealed at locations downstream and upstream of a weakened portion of the housing. The valve includes an access port in fluid communication with the chamber. The access port may be used to test the integrity of the expansible member. An expandable material may also be disposed in the chamber and used to shut off the valve on the occasion the housing is compromised to an extent wherein fuel can flow into the expansible chamber. |
| US08020575B1 |
Water line tapping method
A method for tapping a water line, the water line being buried below a subterranean frost line, the water line traversing a water meter box's lower end, and having first and second sections within the water meter box respectively extending upwardly to and extending downwardly from a water meter, the method for tapping the water line including steps of providing a flexible tube having an intake end and an output end, the flexible tube having a length sufficient for, upon attachment of the flexible tube's intake end to the water line within the water meter box, extensions and retractions of the flexible tube between first and second positions, the flexible tube's output end residing below the subterranean frost line while in the first position and the flexible tube's output end extending upwardly from the water meter box while in the second position; attaching the flexible tube's intake end to the water line within the water meter box; providing a spigot and attaching the spigot to the flexible tube's output end; providing a mounting bracket for releasably holding the spigot within the water meter box; and performing further steps of grasping the spigot, releasing the spigot from the mounting means, raising the spigot and the flexible tube's output end to the second position, opening the spigot for emission of water sample, closing the spigot, and lowering the spigot and the flexible tube's output end to the first position. |
| US08020571B2 |
Continual flow pin washer
A multi-chambered deposition pin wash station is provided. The wash station includes a lower chamber and an upper drain basin connected by a plurality of wash tubes. Cleaning fluid is provided to the lower chamber and passes through the cleaning tubes into the upper drain basin. The cleaning tubes are adapted to clean a single deposition pin with a single tube per wash cycle. |
| US08020570B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing method
A part of the opening of the nozzle insertion hole located in the liquid discharging direction relative to the nozzle inserted in the nozzle insertion hole is enlarged in the liquid discharging direction. Therefore, the droplets which have migrated to the nozzle insertion hole adheres to the internal surface in the liquid discharging direction relative to the nozzle, that is, to the slanted part via the enlarged part. Moreover, the slanted part is provided slanted from the central portion of the nozzle insertion hole toward the enlarged part and separated away from the central portion of the substrate top surface. Hence, the adhering droplets flow in the liquid discharging direction along the slanted part to be discharged from the opening of the nozzle insertion hole. |
| US08020566B2 |
Apparatus for dispensing a metered amount of liquid to a porous plug
A dispenser for dispensing a metered amount of liquid into a porous plug includes a casing which has an inlet passage adapted to receive a manually insertable porous plug. A reservoir disposed in the cavity contains the liquid. The reservoir has an outlet which is communicable with the inlet passage. A discharge mechanism disposed in the casing is actuable in response to the insertion of a porous plug into the inlet passage for producing a pressurized air flow which bears against a piston in the reservoir for discharging a metered amount of the liquid from the reservoir into the porous plug. The plug could constitute a filter attached to a tobacco column. |
| US08020564B2 |
System and method for analyzing medical treatment data
A system and method for compiling and analyzing treatment parameters associated with medical treatments provided to a plurality of patients is provided. A report of the analysis may be provided to a technician or physician for determining medical treatment guidelines representing acceptable values for a selected treatment parameter in accordance with the analysis. The system may further automatically determine medical treatment guidelines and/or adjust preestablished medical treatment guidelines in accordance with the analysis. |
| US08020562B2 |
Combination chin protector and mouth guard
The combination chin protector and mouth guard provides a device for protecting both the user's teeth and chin. The device is particularly adapted for use in combination with a motorcycle or motocross helmet, for example. The combination chin protector and mouth guard includes a chin protector having opposed front and rear faces, and a mouth guard, adapted for insertion into the mouth of the user, having a front face adapted for positioning against the lips of the user and at least one substantially U-shaped recess being formed in the mouth guard to receive and protect the user's teeth. A support having opposed upper and lower ends is further provided, the upper end thereof being attached to the mouth guard, and the lower end thereof being secured to the chin protector in order to tether the mouth guard to the chin protector. |
| US08020557B2 |
Apparatus and methods for administration of positive airway pressure therapies
The present invention provides an apparatus and methods for the administration of positive airway pressure therapies. The apparatus can include a housing, a blower and a mask. The housing is configured to be stably secured on the head of a patient. The blower is secured relative to the housing. A mask in fluid communication with the blower is configured to communicate pressurized air produced at least in part by the blower to the airways of a user. |
| US08020556B2 |
Respiratory apparatus
Respiratory apparatus comprising a ventilation mask (10) and means for supplying breathable gasses, under pressure, thereto and means for exhausting gases therefrom, is wherein the pressuring means is provided substantially at the inlet of the mask (10), thereby substantially reducing the length of the air supply hose to a ventilation mask (10), so that problems associated with high pressures and large volumes of dead space can be alleviated. |
| US08020555B2 |
System and method for improved treatment of sleeping disorders using therapeutic positive airway pressure
Described is a method and system providing therapeutic positive airway pressure to a particular area of patient's airways. The system may include a flow generator and a processing arrangement. The flow generator supplies an airflow to an airway of the patient. The processing arrangement is connected to the flow generator to control a supply pressure at which the airflow is generated by the flow generator. The processing arrangement continuously adjusts the supply pressure to maintain a pressure in a predetermined portion of the patent's airway substantially constant. The predetermined portion of the patient's airway includes a collapsible portion of an upper airway of the patient. The processing arrangement also controls the supply pressure to maintain the pressure in the collapsible portion of the patient's airway at a value at least as great as a tissue pressure below which the collapsible portion collapses. |
| US08020553B2 |
Ambulatory oxygen concentrator containing a three phase vacuum separation system
An oxygen concentrator comprises an oxygen reservoir and adsorbent columns that each have an inlet, an outlet, and a bed of adsorbent material. The concentrator also comprises an air inlet, an exhaust outlet, and a vacuum pump for pumping nitrogen rich gas from one of the column inlets to the exhaust outlet. A product control pump pumps oxygen rich gas from one of the column outlets to the oxygen reservoir. A control valve controls flow in and out of the columns by selectively connecting the air inlet to one column inlet, connecting the vacuum pump to another column inlet, and connecting the product control pump to a column outlet. A motor drives the vacuum pump and control valve to produce vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) cycles in which oxygen-rich product gas is separated and accumulated in the reservoir. |
| US08020551B2 |
Breathable gas apparatus with humidifier
A respiratory treatment device comprising a flow generator and a humidifier adapted to receive a supply of air at positive pressure from the flow generator and deliver it to an air delivery tube, wherein the humidifier includes a base, a humidifier lid, and a water tank, and the water tank includes a water tank lid, the water tank is removably receivable in the base to define a first air flow path from the flow generator to an interior of the water tank, and the humidifier lid is connectable to the air delivery tube, and is adapted to form a seal with the water tank lid to define a second air flow path from the interior of the water tank to the air delivery tube. |
| US08020546B1 |
Teppanyaki grill
An outdoor grill of a teppanyaki style provides a grilling surface fueled with a propane/butane canister and burner arrangement. The grilling surface is surrounded by cool zones, one of which is in the form of easily removable tiles or plates. The pedestal and top are uniquely configured to provide multiple sitting areas with knee areas in between the pedestal and top periphery. |
| US08020544B2 |
Archery bow with force vectoring anchor
In some embodiments, an archery bow comprises a rotatable member configured for rotation about a first rotatable member axis. A cable anchor is attached to the rotatable member and rotatable with respect to the rotatable member about an anchor axis. The anchor axis is offset from the rotatable member axis. The bow can further comprise a power cable anchored to said cable anchor. |
| US08020541B2 |
Positive crankcase ventilation system
A positive crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine comprises an intake manifold having a plurality of intake runners configured to deliver combustion air to the internal combustion engine. An intake manifold positive crankcase ventilation passage is disposed in the intake manifold and is in fluid communication with a source of blow-by gas from the engine. A positive crankcase ventilation distribution channel is formed adjacent to the sealing face of the intake manifold and a modular positive crankcase ventilation distribution conduit assembly is disposed in the positive crankcase ventilation distribution channel and extends from the positive crankcase ventilation passage to the plurality of intake runners for delivery of the blow-by gas thereto. |
| US08020540B2 |
Crankcase ventilation apparatus of an internal combustion engine
A crankcase ventilation apparatus of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, including an oil-mist separator for the separation of oil from the crankcase ventilation gas of the internal combustion engine and including an assembly for the return of lubricating oil from the oil-mist separator to an oil pan of the internal combustion engine. The oil-mist separator includes at least one preliminary separator and at least one fine separator, wherein the preliminary separator is connected to the oil pan via a first oil return flow passage allowing a continuous flow of oil there through during operation and wherein an oil collection chamber is provided downstream of an oil outlet of the fine separator, said oil collection chamber being connected to the oil pan via a second oil return flow passage which is equipped with a check valve to discontinue the flow of oil during operation. The first oil return flow passage is designed in the form of a siphon comprising a pipe section which immerses into a siphon reservoir comprising an overflow and the second oil return flow passage ends in the siphon reservoir downstream of the check valve. |
| US08020537B2 |
Fuel economizer fuel vapor system for internal combustion engine
A fuel vaporizer system for an internal combustion engine including a first closed chamber defining a first volume, the first closed chamber having a heat transfer surface; a second closed chamber at least partially surrounding the first closed chamber and defining a second volume; and a third closed chamber at least partially surrounding the second closed chamber and defining a third volume. A liquid fuel supply system including a liquid fuel supply line emits fuel into the first volume in an expanding pattern of liquid fuel spray from at least one orifice. A thermal fluid system from said engine is configured to circulate fluid, which may be engine coolant, through the second volume and transfer heat from the fluid through the first closed chamber and vaporize said liquid fuel. An exhaust system from said engine is configured to circulate exhaust through the third volume and transfer heat from the exhaust through the second closed chamber and heat said fluid. A vaporized fuel outlet is configured to direct vaporized fuel from the first closed chamber to supply fuel to at least one combustion region of the internal combustion engine via a combustion fuel supply line. |
| US08020535B2 |
Accessory for a fuel burning or processing engine or machine
An accessory for a fuel burning or processing engine or machine is provided. The accessory comprises a core formed of a material having ferri-magnetic properties. The core is of elongate form and defines a recess adapted to receive a high tension lead. The accessory further comprises a clamping device for clamping the high tension lead and retain it in the recess. The core is retained within a housing formed of a non-ferrous material. The housing is provided with a device for receiving calibrating elements formed of a material with high magnetic permeability at low field strength and low hysteresis loss. |
| US08020534B2 |
Carbon canister
A four-pass carbon canister includes a cover sealingly coupled to an injection-molded housing having a first chamber, a second chamber fluidly coupled to the first chamber, a baffle fluidly coupled to the second chamber, and a third chamber fluidly coupled to the baffle. The three chambers are filled with carbon pellets to absorb carbon pellets provided to the carbon canister from the fuel tank. The carbon canister is periodically purged by drawing fresh air into the carbon canister, with the fresh air desorbing the hydrocarbons and then provided to and consumed in an internal combustion engine. |
| US08020533B2 |
Fuel injection device, fuel injection control device, and control method of fuel injection device
To provide a fuel injection device for controlling a fuel injection valve including a solenoid and a magnetostrictive element to generate a drive force for driving the fuel injection valve, the fuel injection device including: a solenoid power source (31) for driving the solenoid, a solenoid drive circuit (10) adapted to control the electrification to the solenoid by the solenoid power source (31), a plurality of magnetostrictive element driving power sources (32, 33) for driving the magnetostrictive element, and a magnetostrictive element drive circuit (20) adapted to control the electrification to a magnetostrictive coil of the magnetostrictive element by the magnetostrictive element driving power sources. Since the plurality of the magnetostrictive element driving power sources can be respectively used when performing a valve-opening operation and when performing a valve-closing operation of the fuel injection valve of the fuel injection device, the opening/closing operation of the fuel injection valve of the fuel injection device can be properly performed. |
| US08020524B2 |
Exhaust heat recovery apparatus
An exhaust heat recovery apparatus includes an evaporator and a condenser. The evaporator and the condenser form an operation medium circuit such that an operation medium circulates through the evaporator and the condenser. The evaporator has tubes and is disposed in a duct part through which an exhaust gas generated from an engine flows. The condenser is disposed in a heated fluid circuit through which a heated fluid flows for heating the heated fluid by condensation of the operation medium. The heated fluid circuit is separate from an engine coolant circuit through which an engine coolant for cooling the engine flows. The evaporator further has a fin between the tubes. The fin is provided with an operation force reducing portion that is capable of reducing an operation force applied to the fin due to a thermal expansion difference between the tubes, which are exposed to the exhaust gas. |
| US08020519B2 |
Chicken coop door module
A chicken coop door module having a frame, a door, and a motor drive unit. The motor drive unit is configured to move the door toward the open position in response to receiving an opening signal so that the frame opening is unobstructed, move the door toward the closed position in response to receiving a closing signal so that the frame opening is obstructed, and prevent the door from moving when no signal is received. The door module receives an opening signal in the morning to let the chickens out of the chicken coop, and a closing signal in the evening to close the door to secure the chickens in the coop. When no signal is received, the door is prevented from moving by the motor drive unit so that when open, the chickens may freely enter and exit the coop; and when closed, predators cannot open the door and attack the chickens. The chicken coop door module may include a controller to provide the opening signal and the closing signal base on a signal from a timer or light detector. |
| US08020518B1 |
Multi-configuration animal play structure
A multi-configuration structure including a base member, a plurality of cylindrical tubular spacers and a plurality of shelf members. The structure is assembled by threadably inserting the male connectors of a first set of spacers into the threaded recesses of the base member, aligning the assembly holes of a shelf member with the threaded recesses of the first set of spacers, inserting the threaded male connectors of a second set of spacers into and through the assembly holes of the shelf member and threadably inserting the male connectors into the threaded recesses of the first set of spacers, installing additional shelf members, spacers and walls in a configuration desired by the user. |
| US08020516B2 |
Device and method for the capture of larvae and the sea-culture of sea urchins and abalone
A device and method for the sea-based culture of sea urchins and abalones includes two parallel lateral elements, where each one of their ends has a groove and a hole for the installation of four braces. The center areas of the braces have a plurality of parallel and equidistant guides for the installation of a plurality of vertically inserted plates, forming spaces between the plates that permit housing sea urchins or abalones on both faces of such plates. At the bottom of the device a horizontal tray holds algae for feeding sea urchins and the abalones; wherein, both the plurality of plates and the tray are enclosed in an elongated mesh, wherein the ends of the mesh are joined to the ends of the lateral walls of the tray, such that the length of the mesh wraps around the plurality of plates. |
| US08020515B2 |
Fish habitat
A fish habitat which provides a habitat for fish to congregate consisting of individual strands of a buoyant material, such as polyethylene, secured to a body for installation on the bed of a body of water. |
| US08020511B2 |
Film coating holder
An exemplary film coating holder includes a main body, a plurality of workpiece holders, and a driving module. The main body includes a plurality of through holes defined therein and a central axis. The main body is capable of rotating around the central axis. Each workpiece holder is arranged in each through hole and pivotally connected with the main body by an axle. A rotating guide groove is defined around each axle. The driving module includes a control unit and a shaft. The control unit inserts the shaft in the rotating guide groove of the workpiece holder. When the main body is rotating around the central axis, the shaft can drive the workpiece holder to turn over by the guiding of the rotating guide groove. |
| US08020508B2 |
Methods and apparatus for depositing nanoparticles on a substrate
The present invention is a process for uniformly depositing nanomaterials having particles smaller than 1 μm (i.e., nanoparticles) onto a surface of a base material (substrate or surface). The process is used to deposit any solid (nanoparticle) of any shape such as nanofibers, nanotubes, nanoclays (e.g., platelet shaped), nano-spheres, or irregularly shaped granules. The base material upon which the nano-particles are deposited can be made of any material. The method substantially prevents the deposition on the base material of larger particles (contaminants or clusters of the nanoparticles) which are often mixed with the nanomaterials. The amount of deposition and the range of particle sizes to be deposited can also be controlled by this method. Maintaining deposition uniformity, controlling the amount of deposition, and the elimination of larger particles enhances the utility of nanomaterials, and by subsequent processing, enables the development of multifunctional composite materials (or other coated substrates) to be used in commercial applications. In the present invention nanoparticles are applied to other base materials by substantially eliminating deposition of larger clusters or aggregates of nano-sized materials or other large impurities of other materials upon or in the base materials by positioning the base material within an upper portion of a deposition chamber. |
| US08020507B2 |
Food storage and management system
The present invention is directed toward a food storage container comprising a body with a mechanism for denoting a time in which a food item was placed in the storage container for storage. In one embodiment, the time designation mechanism comprises a plurality of rings where each ring comprises at least one marker. Time is denoted by aligning the marker with a label located proximate to said ring. |
| US08020506B2 |
Double level flight deck type aircraft carrier
A double level flight deck type aircraft carrier is disclosed to include a second level of flight deck so that aircraft launching and landing operations can be separately performed on the decks. The double deck design doubles the operation capacity and capability. |
| US08020505B1 |
Probe receiver device for recovering surface water vessels
A method and apparatus for securing a surface water vessel to a floating station. The surface water vessel may be an unmanned surface vehicle, and the floating station may be attached to a larger parent ship. According to the invention, the surface water vessel includes a forwardly projecting elongated probe and the floating station includes a receiver having a receiver opening for receiving the elongated probe therein. The elongated probe includes a spherical tip having a circumferential groove. The receiver includes movable spheres that are moved into engagement with the circumferential groove, thereby locking the probe within the receiver. This locking arrangement secures the surface water vessel to the floating station. |
| US08020502B2 |
Thread cutting device of sewing machine
The thread cutting device of a sewing machine provides a first thread catching member having a first thread catching portion for catching a thread positioned between the horizontal shuttle and the needle hole and carrying out forward and backward movements below the throat plate while the first thread catching portion catches the thread, a second thread catching member having a second thread catching portion for catching the thread laid between the needle hole and the first thread catching portion and guiding the thread caught by the first thread catching member to a fixed blade and to cut the thread by the fixed blade. |
| US08020500B2 |
Embroiderable sewing machine
An embroiderable sewing machine, including a plurality types of embroidery frames that hold a workpiece cloth to be embroidered; a carriage allowing selective attachment and detachment of the embroidery frames; a transfer mechanism that transfers the carriage independently in two orthogonal directions; a first detector that outputs a constant signal corresponding to the type of embroidery frame attached to the carriage; a second detector capable of outputting a detection signal based on presence and absence of a detection subject provided at the embroidery frame; and a signal converter that converts the constant signal outputted from the first detector into a periodic signal based on the detection signal outputted from the second detector. |
| US08020498B2 |
Methods and apparatus for enhanced incineration
The teachings of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for enhanced incineration. A method for improving the performance of an incinerator may comprise separating one or more substances from a process fluid using a classifying centrifuge, ejecting a first substance from the classifying centrifuge, the first substance having characteristics optimized for incineration, incinerating the first substance, and using heat generated from the incineration of the first substance to enhance the combustion efficiency of an additional substance separated from the process fluid. |
| US08020494B2 |
Anti-roll back assembly with linear magnetic positioning
An anti-roll back (ARB) assembly for use with vehicles that ride on a track, which has inclined portions that include a set of ARB or lift pins. The assembly includes a linear magnet assembly positioned along the track in the ARB portion, and this assembly includes spaced apart magnet arrays that define a slot or elongated magnetic force zone. The ARB assembly includes an ARB element with a body pivotally supported on a vehicle frame and further includes an electrically conductive reaction plate supported on the vehicle frame, and the plate passes through the magnet assembly slot when the vehicle travels on the track. The reaction plate is connected to the ARB body to pivot it in response to displacement of the reaction plate in response to magnetic forces to rotate it up into a suspended position in which the ARB body is spaced apart from the ARB pins. |
| US08020490B1 |
Method of fabricating MEMS-based micro detonators
The present invention provides a novel technique for the fabrication of MEMS igniters and detonators. According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the device is built based on two-plates. Plate one contains the resistive heating element and plate two contains the explosive cavity. With the present invention, micro igniters and detonators are batch fabricated utilizing a glue-less assembly technique and self-aligning capability. |
| US08020488B1 |
Strapping machine
A strapping machine includes a machine body, a strap chute, a strap supplying device, and a controlling device. The machine body has a working surface. The strap chute includes an access guiding portion and an exit guiding portion. The controlling device can control the access guiding portion and the exit guiding portion moving to suitable heights independently. So, an object to can be moved in for a strapping work and then be moved out. Hence, the vertical moving distances of the access guiding portion and the exit guiding portion can be adjusted independently. In addition, it can save the waiting time. |
| US08020481B1 |
Systems and methods for modular area denial
A system for performing a function with respect to a zone includes a controller, a network, and a plurality of subsystems. The controller issues a first series of commands. Each command of the first series has a first ordinal. The plurality of subsystems is coupled to the controller via the network. A particular subsystem determines a role in accordance with a physical position of the particular subsystem relative to another subsystem of the plurality of subsystems. The particular subsystem counts commands of the series to determine for a particular command the first ordinal. The particular subsystem performs a function with respect to the zone in accordance with the particular command of the series, in further accordance with the first ordinal, and in further accordance with the role. |
| US08020475B2 |
Method of simultaneous singulation and edge sealing of plastic displays
The production of liquid crystal displays (LCDS) on plastic substrates is desirable over glass substrates so that the finished product is thinner, lighter, and more robust. Plastic substrates can enable the use of new and different processing techniques which are not possible on glass such as roll-to-roll processing. This invention discusses an advancement which is laser cutting a plastic substrate and display layer. One aspect of the invention is laser cutting and welding together two or more plastic substrates and LCD layer therebetween from a larger sheet or roll of plastic LCDs. |
| US08020474B2 |
Vibration-damped tool holder
A tool holder (1) has a shaft (2) intended to be arranged in a tool holder in a manufacturing machine, a head (3) on which a cutter is intended to be arranged and a viscoelastic materials (4) arranged so that the cutter is in contact with the manufacturing machine solely via the viscoelastic material (4), in which at least those parts on the surface (5) of the shaft (2) that are intended to be in contact with the manufacturing machine are provided with the viscoelastic material (4). The viscoelastic material (4) is attached on a bearer material that is attached to the surface (5) of the shaft (2). |
| US08020473B2 |
Handle of a hand tool having grinding capabilities
The present invention discloses a handle of a hand tool, which comprises a handle body and grinding members. The grinding member is mounted on the handle body, and the grinding member contains abrasive particles and has at least a grinding face, so that the user can grind the sharp edge of articles straightly by grinding member possessed by the handle. Also the user can easily replace a new grinding member when the old one is out of use. Furthermore, the abrasive particles of grinding members have average diameter being different from each other so as to grind the article to have different fine degrees. |
| US08020470B2 |
Harmonic gear drive
A harmonic gear drive includes a flexspline and a rigid spline which are meshed with each other, and a wave generator which deforms the flexspline to displace meshing points between the flexspline and the rigid spline. The length of each contact part between the flexspline and the wave generator always becomes shorter as viewed in a sectional plane containing a rotation axis of the wave generator than the width of the wave generator. |
| US08020463B2 |
Rotation/linear motion converting mechanism
A rotation/linear motion converting mechanism includes a shaft 1 having an external thread 1a on an outer circumferential surface, a nut 2 having an internal thread 2a on an inner circumferential surface, and a roller 3 arranged between the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 1 and the inner circumferential surface of the nut 2. The roller has a thread 3a threaded to the external thread 1a and the internal thread 2a. A spur gear 3b and a spur gear 3c are provided in portions of the roller 3. A spur gear 1b is provided in a portion of the shaft 1. The spur gear 1b is meshed with the spur gear 3b of the roller 3. Internal teeth 4a are provided in a portion of the nut 2. The internal teeth 4a are meshed with the spur gear 3 of the roller 3. This improves the lead accuracy of the shaft 1 when the nut 2 is rotated. |
| US08020454B2 |
Torque detection device and electric power steering apparatus using the same
A torque detection device has a magnetic flux collecting ring, arranged outside an outer periphery of a magnetic circuit forming member which is provided in a rotating body applied with a torque, for collecting a magnetic flux generated by the magnetic circuit forming member; a detector for detecting the torque applied to the rotating body based on a density of the magnetic flux collected by the magnetic flux collecting ring; and a holding ring for holding the magnetic flux collecting ring and the detector and including an attachment part to be attached to a stationary object on an outer periphery on one side in a radial direction. An attachment-preventing convex part for preventing attachment to the stationary object by contacting the stationary object is formed on one end face in an axis line direction of the holding ring. |
| US08020453B2 |
Inductive position sensor
A system to measure the displacement of relatively moveable bodies along an axis comprising: a resonant electrical intermediate device further comprising an inductor, whose width varies along the displacement axis, and a capacitor in electrical series which co-operates with an antenna comprising transmit and receive windings whose mutual inductance varies according to the position of the electrical intermediate device relative to the antenna. |
| US08020450B2 |
Pressure gauge
The invention relates to a pressure gauge having a cylindrical housing to which a bushing is fixed, which penetrates the housing. The pressure gauge is furthermore provided with a pressure sensor together with an allocated electronic evaluation unit, said sensor is operatively connected to a pressure port coaxially positioned to the longitudinal axis of the housing. A turnable adjustment pin to engage with an adjustment device of the electronic evaluation unit in the pressure gauge is accommodated in the bushing in a liquid-proof manner, and is equipped with holding means by means of which it is undetachably secured to the bushing. |
| US08020448B2 |
Pressure sensor with nonlinear characteristic curve
A pressure sensor adapted to provide a high resolution at a low pressure and a high pressure of an operating range is provided. The pressure sensor includes a body having an interface sur ace, a membrane sealingly disposed in the cavity adjacent the interface surface, and a sensing element in communication with the membrane. A fuel cell system including the pressure sensor is also provided. |
| US08020446B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting flaws in a railhead
A method for detecting flaws in a railhead, which railhead (1) is provided with a top side (T), a bottom side (B) and longitudinal sides (S) extending between that top side (T) and bottom side (B), wherein at least one ultrasonic first signal (10) is transmitted into the railhead (1) via said head top side (T) and traverses such a transmission path (9) that: —the signal (10) is only once reflected by the railhead bottom side (B), and not by a railhead longitudinal side (S); —the signal (10) reaches at least one substantially central railhead part (C); and —the signal (10) can exit the railhead (1) via the head top side (T); wherein first ultrasonic signals exiting the head top side (T) are detected, wherein the transmission path (9) of the at least first signal (10) extends in a virtual transmission plane, which transmission plane extends substantially transverse to a longitudinal direction (L) of the rail. In addition, the invention provides an apparatus for detecting flaws in a railhead. The invention further relates to a positioning method. |
| US08020443B2 |
Transducer with decoupled sensing in mutually orthogonal directions
A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) transducer (90) is adapted to sense acceleration in mutually orthogonal directions (92, 94, 96). The MEMS transducer (90) includes a proof mass (100) suspended above a substrate (98) by an anchor system (116). The anchor system (116) pivotally couples the proof mass (100) to the substrate (98) at a rotational axis (132) to enable the proof mass (100) to rotate about the rotational axis (132) in response to acceleration in a direction (96). The proof mass (100) has an opening (112) extending through it. Another proof mass (148) resides in the opening (112), and another anchor system (152) suspends the proof mass (148) above the surface (104) of the substrate (98). The anchor system (152) enables the proof mass (148) to move substantially parallel to the surface (104) of the substrate (98) in response to acceleration in at least another direction (92, 94). |