最新美国发明专利第2011-10-04期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US08030189B2	Method for maintaining a smooth surface of crystallizable material A method for maintaining a smooth surface of crystallizable material is disclosed. First, a substrate is provided. A target material layer is then formed on the substrate, with the target material being a crystallizable material. A protecting layer is subsequently formed on the target material layer. Next, an annealing treatment is implemented, with the surface of the target material layer, facing the protecting layer, being maintained in its original smooth state by the pressure and/or adhesion of the protecting layer. Finally, the protecting layer is removed to leave an open and smooth surface of the processed crystallizable material.
US08030184B2	Epitaxial wafer and method of producing the same An epitaxial wafer comprises a silicon substrate, a gettering epitaxial film formed thereon and containing silicon and carbon, and a main silicon epitaxial film formed on the gettering epitaxial film, in which the gettering epitaxial film has a given carbon atom concentration and carbon atoms are existent between its silicon lattices.
US08030182B2	Semiconductor device manufacturing method and semiconductor manufacturing apparatus By hydrogen-terminating a semiconductor surface using a solution containing HF2− ions and an oxidant, the hydrogen termination can be quickly carried out. In this case, the semiconductor surface is silicon having a (111) surface, a (110) surface, or a (551) surface.
US08030179B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same The present invention provides a semiconductor device that includes: stacked semiconductor chips, each semiconductor chip including a semiconductor substrate and a first insulating layer that is provided on side faces of the semiconductor substrate and has concavities formed on side faces thereof; first metal layers that are provided in center portions of inner side faces of the concavities; and second metal layers that are provided in the concavities and are connected to the first metal layers formed on each semiconductor chip. The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device.
US08030178B2	Layer having functionality, method for forming flexible substrate having the same, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for forming a layer having functionality including a conductive layer and a colored layer and a flexible substrate having a layer having functionality with a high yield. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device that is small-sized, thin, and lightweight. After coating a substrate having heat resistance with a silane coupling agent, a layer having functionality is formed. Then, after attaching an adhesive to the layer having functionality, the layer having functionality is peeled from the substrate. Further, after coating a substrate having heat resistance with a silane coupling agent, a layer having functionality is formed. Then, an adhesive is attached to the layer having functionality. Thereafter, the layer having functionality is peeled from the substrate, and a flexible substrate is attached to the layer having functionality.
US08030177B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor devices using embrittled layers An object is to provide a method for manufacturing an SOI substrate including a single crystal silicon film whose plane orientation is (100) and a single crystal silicon film whose plane orientation is (110) with high yield. A first single crystal silicon substrate whose plane orientation is (100) is doped with first ions to form a first embrittlement layer. A second single crystal silicon substrate whose plane orientation is (110) is doped with second ions to selectively form a second embrittlement layer. Only part of the first single crystal silicon substrate is separated along the first embrittlement layer by first heat treatment, thereby forming a first single crystal silicon film. A region of the second single crystal silicon substrate, in which the second embrittlement layer is not formed, is removed. Part of the second single crystal silicon substrate is separated along the second embrittlement layer by second heat treatment, thereby forming a second single crystal silicon film.
US08030174B2	Method for manufacturing SOI substrate An object is to provide a method for manufacturing an SOI substrate, by which defective bonding can be prevented. An embrittled layer is formed in a region of a semiconductor substrate at a predetermined depth; an insulating layer is formed over the semiconductor substrate; the outer edge of the semiconductor substrate is selectively etched on the insulating layer side to a region at a greater depth than the embrittled layer; and the semiconductor substrate and a substrate having an insulating surface are superposed on each other and bonded to each other with the insulating layer interposed therebetween. The semiconductor substrate is heated to be separated at the embrittled layer while a semiconductor layer is left remaining over the substrate having an insulating surface.
US08030173B2	Silicon nitride hardstop encapsulation layer for STI region A semiconductor process and apparatus provides an encapsulated shallow trench isolation region by forming a silicon nitride layer (96) to cover a shallow trench isolation region (95), depositing a protective dielectric layer (97, 98) over the silicon nitride layer (96), and polishing and densifying the protective dielectric layer (97, 98) to thereby form a densified silicon nitride encapsulation layer (99) over the shallow trench isolation region (95).
US08030171B2	Method of forming element isolation film and nonvolatile semiconductor memory An element isolation film is formed by filling an oxide in a trench formed in an element isolation region of a semiconductor substrate to thereby form an insulation film for element isolation. A method of forming the element isolation film includes a first step of depositing a material in a plasma state including oxygen and silicon on an inner surface of the trench while applying no bias voltage (or a relatively low voltage), and a second step of filling the material in a plasma state including oxygen and silicon in the trench while applying a bias voltage (or a relatively high voltage).
US08030170B2	Methods of forming isolation structures, and methods of forming nonvolatile memory Some embodiments include methods of forming isolation structures. A trench may be formed to extend into a semiconductor material. Polysilazane may be formed within the trench, and then exposed to steam. A maximum temperature of the polysilazane during the steam exposure may be less than or equal to about 500° C. The steam exposure may convert all of the polysilazane to silicon oxide. The silicon oxide may be annealed under an inert atmosphere. A maximum temperature of the silicon oxide during the annealing may be from about 700° C. to about 1000° C. In some embodiments, the isolation structures are utilized to isolate nonvolatile memory components from one another.
US08030168B2	Methods of forming DRAM memory cells The invention includes methods of electrically interconnecting different elevation conductive structures, methods of forming capacitors, methods of forming an interconnect between a substrate bit line contact and a bit line in DRAM, and methods of forming DRAM memory cells. In one implementation, a method of electrically interconnecting different elevation conductive structures includes forming a first conductive structure comprising a first electrically conductive surface at a first elevation of a substrate. A nanowhisker is grown from the first electrically conductive surface, and is provided to be electrically conductive. Electrically insulative material is provided about the nanowhisker. An electrically conductive material is deposited over the electrically insulative material in electrical contact with the nanowhisker at a second elevation which is elevationally outward of the first elevation, and the electrically conductive material is provided into a second conductive structure. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.
US08030166B2	Lateral pocket implant charge trapping devices A charge trapping memory cell is described, having pocket implants along the sides of the channel and having the same conductivity type as the channel, and which implants have a concentration of dopants higher than in the central region of the channel. This effectively disables the channel in the region of non-uniform charge trapping caused by a bird's beak or other anomaly in the charge trapping structure on the side of the channel. The pocket implant can be formed using a process compatible with standard shallow trench isolation processes.
US08030161B2	Gate electrode for a nonvolatile memory cell A nonvolatile memory cell includes a substrate comprising a source, drain, and channel between the source and the drain. A tunnel dielectric layer overlies the channel, and a localized charge storage layer is disposed between the tunnel dielectric layer and a control dielectric layer. A gate electrode has a first surface adjacent to the control dielectric layer, and the first surface includes a midsection and two edge portions. According to one embodiment, the midsection defines a plane, and at least one edge portion extends away from the plane. Preferably, the edge portion extending away from the plane converges toward an opposing second surface of the gate electrode. According to another embodiment, the gate electrode of the nonvolatile memory cell includes a first sublayer and a second sublayer of a different width on the first sublayer.
US08030157B1	Liner protection in deep trench etching A method of forming a trench in a semiconductor device formed of a substrate and a first layer formed over the substrate includes forming an initial trench that passes through the first layer to the substrate, the initial trench having a diameter that decreases from a first diameter to a second diameter, the second diameter being measured at a distance closer to the substrate than the first diameter; exposing the trench to a dopant via an orthogonal ion implant to form doped regions sidewalls of the trench; and etching the trench to remove at least some of the doped regions.
US08030156B2	Methods of forming DRAM arrays Methods of etching into silicon oxide-containing material with an etching ambient having at least 75 volume percent helium. The etching ambient may also include carbon monoxide, O2 and one or more fluorocarbons. The openings formed in the silicon oxide-containing material may be utilized for fabrication of container capacitors, and such capacitors may be incorporated into DRAM.
US08030154B1	Method for forming a protection layer over metal semiconductor contact and structure formed thereon In one embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor device is provided that includes providing a gate structure on a semiconductor substrate. Sidewall spacers may be formed adjacent to the gate structure. A metal semiconductor alloy may be formed on the upper surface of the gate structure and on an exposed surface of the semiconductor substrate that is adjacent to the gate structure. An upper surface of the metal semiconductor alloy is converted to an oxygen-containing protective layer. The sidewall spacers are removed using an etch that is selective to the oxygen-containing protective layer. A strain-inducing layer is formed over the gate structure and the semiconductor surface, in which at least a portion of the strain-inducing layer is in direct contact with the sidewall surface of the gate structure. In another embodiment, the oxygen-containing protective layer of the metal semiconductor alloy is provided by a two stage annealing process.
US08030151B2	Configuration and fabrication of semiconductor structure having bipolar junction transistor in which non-monocrystalline semiconductor spacing portion controls base-link length A bipolar transistor (101) has a base (243) formed with an intrinsic base portion (2431), a base contact portion (245C), and a base link portion (243L) that extends between the intrinsic base portion and the base contact portion. An isolating dielectric layer (267-1 or 267-2) is provided above the base link portion. The length of the base link portion is determined, and thereby controlled, with a lateral spacing portion (269-1 or 269-2) of largely non-monocrystalline semiconductor material, preferably polycrystalline semiconductor material, provided on the dielectric layer above the base link portion. The lateral spacing portion is typically provided as part of a layer of non-monocrystalline semiconductor material used in the gate electrode of an insulated-gate field-effect transistor.
US08030143B2	Method of forming a display device by using separate masks in forming source and drain regions of MOS transistors A method of forming a display device is provided. The method includes the following steps: providing a substrate which includes a driving circuit region and a pixel region; forming a first island and a second island in the driving circuit region on the substrate with a semiconductor material; performing a first ion implantation process to dope ions into both of the first island and the second island; forming a first patterned mask on the substrate to cover the second island and expose a part of the first island; performing a second ion implantation process by using the first patterned mask as a mask to form a first source/drain region in the first island; removing the first patterned mask; forming a first gate and a second gate on the first island and the second island respectively; forming a second patterned mask on the substrate to cover the first island and expose a part of the second island; and performing a third ion implantation process by using both of the second patterned mask and the second gate as a mask to form a second source/drain region in the second island. The first island, the first source/drain region, and the first gate form a NMOS device, and the second island, the second source/drain region, and the second gate form a PMOS device.
US08030142B2	Semiconductor device and method of designing the semiconductor device A semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first region having patterns formed based on grid points as intersections of grid lines; and a second region including a plurality of layout cells an outer edge of which is defined by the grid points, the layout cells having patterns formed based on a wiring rule with patterns connected to patterns of the first region among the patterns being formed based on the grid points at a boundary with the first region.
US08030141B2	Thin film transistor and method for fabricating the same, and liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same A thin film transistor (TFT) including a nanowire semiconductor layer having nanowires aligned in one direction in a channel region is disclosed. The nanowire semiconductor layer is selectively formed in the channel region. A method for fabricating the TFT, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device using the TFT, and a method for manufacturing the LCD device are also disclosed. The TFT fabricating method includes forming alignment electrodes on the insulating film such that the alignment electrodes face each other, to define a channel region, forming an organic film, to expose the channel region, coating a nanowire-dispersed solution on an entire surface of a substrate including the organic film, forming a nanowire semiconductor layer in the channel region by generating an electric field between the alignment electrodes such that nanowires of the nanowire semiconductor layer are aligned in a direction, and removing the organic film.
US08030138B1	Methods and systems of packaging integrated circuits Panel level methods and systems for packaging integrated circuits are described. In a method aspect of the invention, a substrate formed from a sacrificial semiconductor wafer is provided having a plurality of metallized device areas patterned thereon. Each device area includes an array of metallized contacts and a die attach area. Dice are mounted onto each device area and electrically connected to the array of contacts. The entire surface of the substrate including the dice, contacts and electrical connections is then encapsulated. The semiconductor wafer is then sacrificed leaving portions of the contacts exposed allowing the contacts to be used as external contacts in an IC package. In various embodiments, other structures, including die attach pads, may be incorporated into the device areas as desired. By way of example, structures having thicknesses in the range of 10 to 20 microns are readily attainable.
US08030134B2	Stacked semiconductor package having adhesive/spacer structure and insulation Stacked semiconductor assemblies in which a first die is mounted active side upward on a first substrate and is electrically interconnected to the substrate by wire bonding; an adhesive/spacer structure is formed upon the active side of the first die; and a device such as a die or a package or a heat spreader, having an electrically nonconductive side, is mounted upon the adhesive/spacer structure with the electrically nonconductive side facing the first wire bonded die. The side of the device facing the first wire bonded die may be made electrically nonconductive by having an electrically insulating layer, such as a dielectric film adhesive. Also, methods for making the assemblies are disclosed.
US08030131B2	Semiconductor module A module having a semiconductor chip with a first contact element on a first main surface and a second contact element on a second main surface is disclosed. The semiconductor chip is arranged on a carrier. An insulating layer and a wiring layer cover the second main surface and the carrier.
US08030128B1	Method to form high density phase change memory (PCM) top contact every two bits Embodiments of the present invention provide a method that includes providing a substrate including an emitter layer comprising a plurality of emitters, each emitter defining an axis, forming a heater layer above the emitter layer, and forming a phase change memory (PCM) cell layer above the heater layer. The method also includes forming a top contact layer above the PCM cell layer. The top contact layer comprises a plurality of top contacts, where each top contact is located between two axes. Other embodiments are also described.
US08030123B2	Organic light emission display and fabrication method of the same An organic light emission display and a fabrication method thereof. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a fabrication method of an organic light emission display includes: forming a light emitting part on a first area of a substrate and a pad part on a second area of the substrate; forming a sealing substrate by etching an area of the sealing substrate corresponding to the light emitting part and etching an area of the sealing substrate corresponding to the pad part; and sealing the light emitting part by attaching the substrate to the sealing substrate.
US08030118B2	Method for producing single crystal silicon solar cell and single crystal silicon solar cell A method for producing a single crystal silicon solar cell including the steps of: implanting ions into a single crystal silicon substrate through an ion implanting surface thereof; closely contacting the single crystal silicon substrate and a transparent insulator substrate with each other via a transparent electroconductive adhesive while using the ion implanting surface as a bonding surface; curing and maturing the transparent electroconductive adhesive into a transparent electroconductive film; applying an impact to the ion implanted layer to mechanically delaminate the single crystal silicon substrate to leave a single crystal silicon layer; and forming a p-n junction in the single crystal silicon layer.
US08030106B2	Display device and method of manufacturing the same A method of manufacturing a display device includes forming a gate electrode on a substrate, a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode, and an active layer on the gate insulating layer, the gate electrode made of extrinsic polycrystalline silicon, the active layer made of intrinsic polycrystalline silicon; forming an etch stopper on the active layer; forming source and drain electrodes spaced apart from each other on the etch stopper; forming an ohmic contact layer each between a side of the active layer and the source electrode and between an opposing side of the active layer and the drain electrode; forming a gate line connected to the gate electrode; and forming a data line crossing the gate line.
US08030103B2	Liquid crystal display panel and method of manufacturing the same The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel and a method of manufacturing the liquid crystal display panel capable of reducing or eliminating metal erosion in an area in which a conductive dot is formed. In some embodiments, a display panel comprises a common electrode formed on an upper substrate, a first electrode formed on a lower substrate opposing the upper substrate and configured to receive a common voltage, a conductive dot formed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate and positioned to supply the common electrode with the common voltage, an insulating layer having a contact hole exposing the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the insulating layer to connect the conductive dot and the first electrode, wherein a cross sectional area of the conductive dot between the upper substrate and the lower substrate is greater than a cross sectional area of an opening of the contact hole.
US08030102B2	LED units fabrication method A method for fabricating a plurality of individual light emitting diode units includes forming a GaN epitaxial layer on a sapphire substrate, forming a plurality of exhaust trenches on the GaN epitaxial layer, wherein the exhaust trenches define a plurality of individual light emitting diode units, forming a reflective layer on the GaN epitaxial layer, attaching the reflective layer to a conductive substrate, removing the sapphire substrate from the GaN epitaxial layer via a laser lift-off process, wherein a gas produced during the laser lift-off process is exhausted via the exhaust trenches, and dicing the conductive substrate along the exhaust trenches to form the plurality of individual light emitting diode units.
US08030095B2	Gel microdrop composition and method of using the same A gel microdrop composition is provided. In certain embodiments, the gel microdrop composition contains a polymer matrix, an effector particle that releases an effector molecule into the polymer matrix, a first reporter particle that emits a first optically detectable signal and a second reporter particle that emits a second optically detectable signal that is distinguishable from the first optically detectable signal, where the effector particle and said first and second reporter particles are encapsulated by the polymer matrix. Methods of screening that employ the gel microdrop composition and methods of making the gel microdrop composition are also disclosed.
US08030091B2	Method for adding an apparent non-signal line to a rapid diagnostic assay A test device and method for determining the presence or absence of one or more analytes in a fluid sample, the test device including a support or member bearing a mark thereon, and a matrix or member containing a capture zone. In operation, an observation area in the test device becomes transparent, thereby allowing the user to view a mark that is present on a support that is disposed beneath the observation area. Typically, the mark on the underlying support is configured as a minus (−) sign. In the absence of analyte in the sample, the test device presents a negative result as a minus (−) signal. In the presence of analyte in the sample, however, the mark operates in concert with a perpendicular test line on the observation area to present a positive result as a plus (+) signal that is visible to the user.
US08030090B2	Method and apparatus for selectively severing and analyzing non-covalent and other bonds of biological macromolecules A biological sample solution is ionized by electrospray and the sample solution is irradiated with an infrared laser beam to dissociate biological macromolecules into the constituents thereof. As a result, only non-covalent bonds of the biological macromolecules can be selectively severed and analyzed.
US08030085B2	Method for discriminating between prostatic cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia The present invention provides a method for accurately discriminating between prostate carcinoma and benign prostatic hyperplasia based on a glycan structure of prostate specific antigen (PSA). The method of the present invention includes the steps of: purifying PSA from a sample derived from a subject; preparing a PSA derivative from the PSA; labeling the PSA derivative; and analyzing the labeled PSA derivative by the mass spectrometry method, in which the subject is identified as having prostate carcinoma when the ratio of the signal intensity of fucose-unbound glycan to the signal intensity of fucose-bound glycan in the labeled PSA derivative is greater than 1.0, and identified as having benign prostatic hyperplasia when the ratio is 1.0 or less.
US08030084B2	Thyroglobulin quantitation by mass spectrometry Provided are methods for determining the amount of thyroglobulin in a sample using various purification steps followed by mass spectrometry. The methods generally involve purifying thyroglobulin in a test sample, digesting thyroglobulin to form peptide T129, purifying peptide T129, ionizing peptide T129, detecting the amount of peptide T129 ion generated, and relating the amount of peptide T129 ion to the amount of thyroglobulin originally present in the sample.
US08030074B2	In vivo incorporation of unnatural amino acids The invention provides methods and compositions for in vivo incorporation of unnatural amino acids. Also provided are compositions including proteins with unnatural amino acids.
US08030072B2	Method of isolating epidermal neural crest stem cells The present invention describes novel methods for isolating a substantially pure cell population of non-embryonic epidermal neural crest stem cells from the bulge-region of mammalian hair follicles. Also disclosed is the substantially pure cell population of follicular bulge-derived neural crest stem cells for medical research and therapeutic use.
US08030071B2	Restoration of cholesterol independence and its use as a selectable marker in NS0 cell culture Gene complementation is used to restore cholesterol independence in NS lineage murine myeloma cells, such as NS0 and NS 1, yielding a selectable system for recombinant production of polynucleotides and polypeptides.
US08030067B2	Whitefly ecdysone receptor nucleic acids, polypeptides, and uses thereof The present invention relates to a novel isolated whitefly ecdysone receptor polypeptide. The invention also relates to an isolated nucleic acid encoding the whitefly ecdysone receptor polypeptide, to vectors comprising them and to their uses, in particular in methods for modulating gene expression in an ecdysone receptor-based gene expression modulation system and methods for identifying molecules that modulate whitefly ecdysone receptor activity.
US08030066B2	Methods and compositions for synthesis of nucleic acid molecules using multiple recognition sites The present invention provides compositions and methods for recombinational cloning. The compositions include vectors having multiple recombination sites and/or multiple topoisomerase recognition sites. The methods permit the simultaneous cloning of two or more different nucleic acid molecules. In some embodiments the molecules are fused together while in other embodiments the molecules are inserted into distinct sites in a vector. The invention also generally provides for linking or joining through recombination a number of molecules and/or compounds (e.g., chemical compounds, drugs, proteins or peptides, lipids, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, etc.) which may be the same or different. The invention also provides host cells comprising nucleic acid molecules of the invention or prepared according to the methods of the invention, and also provides kits comprising the compositions, host cells and nucleic acid molecules of the invention, which may be used to synthesize nucleic acid molecules according to the methods of the invention.
US08030063B2	Systems and methods for vitrifying tissue An apparatus for vitrifying a biological specimen includes a cap member, a tubular plunger, and a specimen chamber. The cap member includes a stem portion integrally formed with a receiving portion. The receiving portion has a disc-like shape and includes an outer surface. The outer surface includes a first skirt member comprised of a heat-sealable material. The first skirt member is attached along a circumferential portion of the outer surface. The specimen chamber has an open first end portion, a closed second end portion, and a cavity extending between the first and second end portions. The cavity is defined by oppositely disposed inner and outer surfaces. The specimen chamber further includes a second skirt member comprised of heat-sealable material. The second skirt member is attached along a circumferential portion of the outer surface.
US08030060B2	Gene signature for diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer and ovarian cancer A first embodiment is a breast cancer prognosticator comprising a detection mechanism consisting a 15-gene signature. In addition there are embodiments comprised of 23-gene signatures and 28-gene signatures. The 28-gene signature may also be used for the prognosis of ovarian cancer. A second embodiment is a method to determine metastatic potential, relapse potential, or both in breast cancer patients comprising collecting a sample from an individual, removing marker-derived polynucleotide from said sample, using a detection mechanism to search for positive matches of said polynucleotides and either the 15, 23, or 28-gene signatures, and developing a quantitative expression profile. Utilizing risk analysis the individual can be placed into one of two or more groups predicting risk and/or clincopathogic variables. Another embodiment is a method to determine relapse free potential in breast cancer patients comprising collecting a sample from an individual, removing marker-derived polynucleotide from said sample, using a detection mechanism to search for positive matches of said polynucleotides and a 24-gene signature, and developing a quantitative expression profile.
US08030053B2	Substitutional variants of hydroxynitrile lyase with high specific activity and methods of use An improved hydroxynitrile lyase characterized by having a mutation of substitution of at least one amino acid residue in the amino acid sequence of a wild-type hydroxynitrile lyase with another amino acid and by its hydroxynitrile lyase activity per transformant being higher than the hydroxynitrile lyase activity per transformant into which the wild-type hydroxynitrile lyase gene is introduced; and a method for producing a hydroxynitrile lyase, comprising expressing the improved hydroxynitrile lyase in a host and recovering the improved hydroxynitrile lyase from the resultant culture.
US08030051B2	Alanine 2,3-aminomutases and related polynucleotides The present disclosure relates generally to polypeptides having improved alanine 2,3-aminomutase (AAM) activity, the polynucleotides encoding the AAM polypeptides, and expression vectors and host cells for expressing the AAM polypeptides.
US08030050B2	Modified amylases from Pseudomonas species The invention describes a PS4 variant polypeptide derivable from a parent polypeptide having amylase activity selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid mutation at each of positions 33, 34, 121, 134, 141, 146, 157, 161, 178, 179, 223, 229, 272, 303, 307, 309 and 334; (b) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid mutation at each of positions 33, 34, 121, 134, 141, 145, 146, 157, 178, 179, 223, 229, 272, 303, 307 and 334; (c) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid mutation at each of positions 33, 34, 121, 134, 141, 146, 157, 178, 179, 223, 229, 272, 303, 307, 309 and 334; and (d) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid mutation at each of positions 3, 33, 34, 70, 121, 134, 141, 146, 157, 178, 179, 223, 229, 272, 303, 307, 309 and 334; with reference to the position numbering of a Pseudomonas saccharophilia exoamylase sequence shown as SEQ ID NO: 1, uses of such a polypeptide as a food or feed additive, and nucleic acids encoding such.
US08030049B2	Galactosidase with α-galactosyltransferase activity The present invention concerns a β-galactosidase with transgalactosylating activity isolated from Bifidobacterium bifidum. The β-galactosidase is capable of converting lactose to a mixture of oligosaccharides which are β-linked and unexpectedly produces the α-linked disaccharide galactobiose. The mixture may be incorporated into numerous food products or animal feeds for improving gut health by promoting the growth of bifidobacteria in the gut, and repressing the growth of the pathogenic microflora.
US08030046B2	Mutations in OAS1 genes Modified amino acid sequences of OAS1 proteins in non-human primates, and genes related thereto, are provided.
US08030037B2	Photoautotrophic growth of microalgae for omega-3 fatty acid production The invention provides methods of cultivating microalgae photoautotrophically outdoors to prepare concentrated microalgae products containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) docosahexaenoic acid, two long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids found in fish oil that are very important for human and animal health. It also provides concentrated microalgae products containing EPA and DHA and purified lipid products containing EPA and DHA purified from microalgae. One embodiment provides a concentrated microalgae composition prepared by a process comprising: (a) cultivating microalgae photoautotrophically outdoors in open ponds under filtered sunlight in continuous or batch mode at a dilution rate of less than 35% per day; (b) harvesting the microalgae in exponential phase when cell number is increasing at a rate of at least 20% of maximal rate; and (c) concentrating the microalgae; wherein at least 40% by weight of lipids in the microalgae are in the form of glycodiacylglycerides, phosphodiacylglycerides, or a combination thereof and at least 5% by weight of fatty acids are DHA, EPA, or a combination thereof.
US08030034B2	Nucleic acid purification with a binding matrix The present invention relates to methods, kits, and compositions for generating purified RNA samples and purified DNA samples. In particular, the present invention provides methods for generating a purified RNA or DNA sample from a sample containing both DNA and RNA molecules using a binding matrix that preferentially binds DNA or RNA in the presence of an acidic dilution buffer, or using a binding matrix that comprises acid zeolites, as well as compositions and kits for practicing such methods.
US08030027B2	Method for enhancing recombinant antibody production The present invention is a method for enhancing recombinant antibody production by co-expressing in a host cell a recombinant antibody and ERp23 protein, which facilitates oxidative folding and stability of the recombinant antibody thereby enhancing production.
US08030023B2	Nucleic acid encoding DR5 antibodies and uses thereof The invention concerns anti-DR5 antibodies with improved properties, compositions comprising such antibodies, methods and means for making such antibodies, and their therapeutic use, in particular in the treatment of cancer.
US08030022B2	Microorganism and method for producing carotenoid using it A carotenoid producing bacterium belonging to the genus Paracoccus that selectively produces canthaxanthin so that the amount thereof is not less than 90 percent by weight of the total amount of produced carotenoids including β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, echinenone, canthaxanthin, 3-hydroxyechinenone, 3′-hydroxyechinenone, zeaxanthin, phoenicoxanthin, adonixanthin, and astaxanthin. A method for producing canthaxanthin by culturing the above bacterium, and then collecting carotenoids from bacterial cells or a culture solution after the culturing.
US08030018B2	Method for measuring enzymatic activity in vivo by use of laser A method of measuring an enzymatic activity, includes measuring the quantity of a substrate metabolite produced upon metabolism of a substrate by an enzyme, through detecting a radiant wave generated from a multiple photon excitation process of the substrate or the substrate metabolite.
US08030015B2	Tumor-inhibiting protein and the use thereof The invention has disclosed a new tumor suppressor protein HCRP1, the polynucleotide sequences encoding this polypeptides, and methods for production of the polypeptide using the recombinant technology. The tumor suppression protein, HCRP1, is obtained through the positional candidate cloning strategy. It locates in 8p22 region of human chromosome. The full length cDNA for HCRP1 is 1916 bp, which encodes a protein of 397 amino acids. When introduced into liver cancer cells, HCRP1 can inhibit the malignant transformation of liver cancer cells.
US08030013B2	Methods and compositions for the diagnosis for early hepatocellular carcinoma Methods and compositions are provide to allow discrimination of dysplastic nodules from early HCC nodules. More specifically, it has been determined that TERT, GPC3, gankyrin, survivin, TOP2A, LYVE1, Ecadherin, IGFBP3, PDGFRA, TGFA, cyclin D1 and HGF are differentially expressed in HCC as compared to normal liver cells and liver cells that have dysplastic, non-cancerous nodules.
US08030007B2	Method for the detection of endometriosis using an ME-2 antigen A method for diagnosing endometriosis in a human subject comprising the steps of detecting a test amount of an antibody that specifically binds to SEQ ID NO: 6 polypeptide or a truncated peptide comprising an epitope of SEQ ID NO: 6 in a sample from the subject; and comparing the test amount with a normal range of the antibody in a control sample from a subject who does not suffer from endometriosis, whereby a test amount above the normal range provides a positive indication in the diagnosis of endometriosis.
US08030004B2	Cell free screening assay and methods of use Methods are disclosed for identifying agents for the treatment of cancer and/or Fanconi anemia using Xenopus egg cell free extracts from which the endogenous DNA has been removed. The assays and method described herein are easily adaptable to high throughput techniques for example to screen large numbers of agents as possible agents for the treatment of cancer and/or Fanconi anemia. Kits for carrying out the disclosed assays and methods also are disclosed. Agents identified by these methods are also disclosed as are methods for treating a subject with cancer and/or Fanconi anemia with these agents.
US08029999B2	Complexity management of genomic DNA The presently claimed invention provides for novel methods and kits for analyzing a collection of target sequences in a nucleic acid sample. A sample is amplified under conditions that enrich for a subset of fragments that includes a collection of target sequences. The invention further provides for analysis of the above sample by hybridization to an array, which may be specifically designed to interrogate the collection of target sequences for particular characteristics, such as, for example, the presence or absence of one or more polymorphisms.
US08029998B2	Genetic markers for prognosis of antifolate treatment efficacy Methods and kits for predicting the efficacy of antifolate (e.g., methotrexate) treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by detecting polymorphisms, particularly single nucleotide polymorphisms, in adenosine pathway genes.
US08029992B2	Methods of evaluating cells and cell cultures Methods of evaluating the composition of a cell culture (e.g., to distinguish chondrocytes from fibroblasts) and methods for evaluating the phenotype of an individual cell (e.g., as a chondrocyte) are disclosed. The methods may be used, for example, for assessing chondrocyte cultures used for treatment of cartilage defects. In some embodiments, the invention involves identifying cell culture composition or the identity of a cell based on expression level of a fibroblast marker. In other embodiments, the invention involves comparing expression levels of at least one chondrocyte marker and at least one fibroblast marker in a cell culture sample or in an individual cell. In illustrative embodiments, the chondrocyte marker is hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1 (HAPLN1), and the fibroblast marker is microfibrillar associated protein 5 (MFAP5).
US08029989B2	Method using snail transcriptional repressor Provided is a prognostic molecular marker for breast cancer recurrence. Expression of Snail, a zinc finger transcriptional repressor gene, is correlated to the risk of breast cancer recurrence, and to the likelihood of recurrence-free survival in subjects diagnosed with breast cancer. Further provided are methods of identifying therapeutic compositions for treating breast cancer to reduce recurrence associated with high expression of Snail, and methods of controlling Snail expression for research and therapeutic purposes.
US08029988B2	Oligonucleotide mediated nucleic acid recombination Methods of recombining nucleic acids, including homologous nucleic acids, are provided. Families of gene shuffling oligonucleotides and their use in recombination procedures, as well as polymerase and ligase mediated recombination methods are also provided.
US08029987B2	Method for detecting C. albicans A HWP1 gene sequence or fragment or variants thereof as a target region in a nucleic acid based assay for Candida albicans and an isolated nucleic acid molecule useful as a probe for identifying C. albicans in a sample. A method for the detection of C. albicans in a sample and quantification of HWP1 gene expression in C. albicans is also described.
US08029986B2	KASPP (LRRK2) gene, its production and use for the detection and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders The present invention refers to a newly discovered gene named KASPP for Kinase Associated with Parkinsonism with Pleiomorphic Pathology or alternatively named LRRK2 for Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2, its production, biochemical characterization and use for the detection and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson disease (PD) including, without limitation, sporadic PD, Alzheimer disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and other synucleinopathies and/or tauopathy as well as several polymorphisms and mutations in the KASPP/LRRK2 gene segregated with PD.
US08029980B2	Identification and use of agents that modulate oncogenic transcription agent activity Embodiments of the invention provides, among other things, methods for identifying agents that inhibit oncogenic transcription factors, induce apoptosis, inhibit the growth of transformed cells and cancer cells, and potentiate the effects of other agents that induce apoptosis and that inhibit the growth of transformed cells and cancer cells. Embodiments of the invention further provide compositions useful for the same comprising an agent the inhibits one or more oncogenic transcription factors and an agent that induces apoptosis, particular compositions wherein the apoptotic effect of the combination is greater than either agent by itself. Embodiments of the invention further provide for the use of such agents and compositions to treat cancer. In illustrative embodiments the agents that inhibit transcription factor activity are thiazole antibiotics, such as Siomycin and thiostrepton, and the apoptosis inducing agent is a member of the TNF ligand superfamily, such as TNF-alpha. In illustrative embodiments the cancers are those in which both the FoxM1 and the NF-kB oncogenic pathways are activated.
US08029978B2	Processing method for the long-term stabilization of biological red blood cell volume The present invention relates to a processing method for long-term stabilization of biological red blood cell volume. The red blood cells can be further used in reference materials and calibrators of a hematology analyzer. The method of the present invention comprises contacting the sample with a solution comprising a membrane-fixation reagent and an aldehyde for a processing period to terminate or slow down the red blood cell metabolism. It is provided by experiments that such process enables the volume of the red blood cells to be stable in a period over 120 days.
US08029977B2	Method for preserving organs or limbs using a composition containing a siloxane and a semifluorinated alkane and/or hydrofluoroether Use of a composition which contains at least one semifluorinated alkane compound and at least one liquid siloxane, wherein the composition is of a density in a range of 0.8 to 1.5 g/cm3, for preserving organs or limbs.
US08029975B2	Fused aromatic structures and methods for photolithographic applications A resist composition and a method for forming a patterned feature on a substrate. The composition comprises a molecular glass having at least one fused polycyclic moiety and at least one base soluble functional group protected with an acid labile protecting group, and a photosensitive acid generator. The method includes providing a composition including a photosensitive acid generator and a molecular glass having at least one fused polycyclic moiety and at least one base soluble functional group protected with an acid labile protecting group, forming a film of the composition on the substrate, patternwise imaging the film, wherein at least one region of the film is exposed to radiation or a beam of particles, resulting in production of an acid catalyst in the exposed region, baking the film, developing the film, resulting in removal of base-soluble exposed regions, wherein a patterned feature from the film remains following the removal.
US08029968B2	Positive resist composition and method for resist pattern formation A positive resist composition with a broad DOF and a method for resist pattern formation are provided. This composition is a positive resist composition which includes a resin component (A) that exhibits increased alkali solubility under the action of acid and an acid generator component (B) that generates acid upon exposure, wherein the component (A) is a copolymer that contains n [wherein, n is an integer from 4 to 6] structural units with mutually different structures, and the proportion of each structural unit within the copolymer is greater than 0 mol % but no higher than 100/(n−1) mol %.
US08029967B2	Method for producing toner Provided is a method for producing a toner including the steps of: preparing a resin liquid by mixing at least a binder resin made of polyester resin and a colorant with an ester organic solvent represented by the following general formula (1); dispersing the resin liquid in an aqueous medium to form an emulsion; and removing the ester organic solvent from the emulsion to produce a toner, in which the ester organic solvent before the preparation of the resin liquid contains water in an amount of not less than 1% by weight and up to the saturation solubility at 25° C. to the ester organic solvent: (in which R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms).
US08029964B1	Polymer-based pattern mask system and method having enhanced adhesion A polymer-based pattern mask system and methods of masking and patterning a substrate employ an organosilane to enhance adhesion between a pattern mask and the substrate. The substrate is compatible with the organosilane. The methods include applying a coating of the organosilane to a substrate surface and printing a pattern mask on the coated surface using a roll-to-roll printing process. The pattern mask is polymer-based. The organosilane enhances adhesion during printing of the pattern mask. The method of patterning further includes patterning the substrate surface and lifting-off the pattern mask. The organosilane further enhances adhesion during patterning and does not hinder lifting-off the pattern mask. The system includes the pattern mask, the organosilane and a lift-off agent to remove the pattern mask.
US08029963B2	Method for charging toner particles A charge adjuvant for promoting charging of toner particles comprising a dielectric carrier liquid; and an organic aluminum salt dissolved in the liquid, said organic aluminum salt being soluble in the carrier liquid at room temperature is disclosed. Also disclosed are solutions of the charge adjuvant with a charge director, a method of producing toner utilizing the charge adjuvant and a liquid toner.
US08029962B2	Developing agent A developing agent including a core containing an amorphous polyester resin and a fatty acid ester based wax, a shell provided on the surface of the core and containing a copolymer of an aromatic vinyl monomer and acrylic acid or an acrylic ester, and a coloring agent.
US08029961B2	Toner for developing latent electrostatic image, method for producing the same and apparatus for producing the same, and developer, toner container, process cartridge, image forming method and image forming apparatus There is provided a toner for developing a latent electrostatic image, obtained by a method containing: ejecting a toner composition fluid from an ejection hole so as to make the toner composition fluid into droplets; and solidifying the droplets in an atomizing space so as to form solid particles, wherein the toner composition fluid contains at least a colorant formed by reacting a polymer containing 10 mol % or more of a monomer unit having a sulfonic acid group or a salt thereof, or a monomer unit having a sulfuric acid group or a salt thereof as a constitutional unit, and a basic dye.
US08029959B2	Charge control agent and toner comprising the same Taught herein is a charge control agent comprising a specific type of gallic acid metal complex represented by the following Chemical Formula (1) or Chemical Formula (2): In the formula (1), R1 represents an alkyl group containing 1-12 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group containing 1-12 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group containing 6-12 carbon atoms, or a hydrogen atom; R2 and R4 can independently represent an alkyl group containing 1-12 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group containing 2-12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group containing 1-12 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group containing 6-12 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, or a hydrogen atom; R3 represents an alkyl group containing 1-12 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group containing 6-12 carbon atoms, a potassium atom, a sodium atom or a hydrogen atom. M represents a divalent to tetravalent metal atom, A is a counterion, m is a number from 1 to 3, and n is 1 or 2.
US08029958B2	Overcoat layer in photoreceptive device The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to an improved low wear overcoat for an imaging member having a substrate, a charge transport layer, and an overcoat layer positioned on the charge transport layer, and a process for preparing the same, where the overcoat layer includes an aromatic polyol binder, a hole transport molecule, and a melamine formaldehyde curing resin.
US08029956B2	Photoreceptor with overcoat layer An electrophotographic imaging member includes a substrate, a charge generating layer, a charge transport layer, and an overcoating layer, the overcoating layer being a cured film formed from a film forming resin composition including at least a melamine compound, a polyol, and a charge transport compound, where the charge transport compound is represented by: QL-OH]n. where Q represents a charge transport component, L represents a divalent linkage group, and represents a number of repeating segments or groups.
US08029955B2	Electrophotographic photoreceptor and image forming method Provide is an electrophotographic photoreceptor exhibiting excellent evenness of halftone images together with fine line reproduction, and an image forming method thereof, as to a photoreceptor in which an oxytitanium phthalocyanine pigment having a maximum diffraction peak at a Bragg angle (2θ±0.2°) of 27.2° in CuKα X-ray diffraction. Also disclosed is an electrophotographic photoreceptor possessing a body having cylindrical conductive support provided thereon photosensitive layer containing oxytitanium phthalocyanine pigment having maximum diffraction peak at a Bragg angle (2θ±0.2°) of 27.2° in CuKα X-ray diffraction, and flanges jointed at both ends of the body, wherein at least one of flanges is fitted with driving shaft having drive hole having at least 3 sides, and a ratio B/A of cross-sectional area B of engaging part of rotation shaft to rotate the electrophotographic photoreceptor with respect to cross-sectional area A of the drive hole is 0.890-0.998.
US08029948B2	Photomask blank, photomask, and methods of manufacturing the same A photomask blank has a light shieldable film formed on a light transmitting substrate. The light shieldable film has a light shielding layer which is formed of molybdenum silicide metal containing molybdenum in a content greater than 20 atomic % and not greater than 40 atomic % and which has a thickness smaller than 40 nm, an antireflection layer formed on the light shielding layer in contact with the light shielding layer and formed of a molybdenum silicide compound containing at least one of oxygen and nitrogen, and a low reflection layer formed under the light shielding layer in contact with the light shielding layer.
US08029942B2	Fuel cell system with flow field capable of removing liquid water from the high-pressure channels A fuel cell system having flow fields capable to operate like interdigitated flow fields, but in the same time allowing the removal of liquid water collected in the high-pressure channels, throughout individual exhaust passages. In a preferred embodiment, the channels follow radial-circumferential trajectories, each channel being provided with individual exhaust passages. In another preferred embodiment, each channel is provided with a valve control in both individual supply passages and individual exhaust passages allowing the system to operate alternatively as an interdigitated flow field as well as an open-channel flow field.
US08029941B2	Proton-conducting structure and method for manufacturing the same A proton-conducting structure that exhibits favorable proton conductivity in the temperature range of not lower than 100° C., and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. After a pyrophosphate salt containing Sn, Zr, Ti or Si is mixed with phosphoric acid, the mixture is maintained at a temperature of not less than 80° C. and not more than 150° C., and thereafter maintained at a temperature of not less than 200° C. and not more than 400° C. to manufacture a proton-conducting structure. The proton-conducting structure of the present invention has a core made of tin pyrophosphate, and a coating layer formed on the surface of the core, the coating layer containing Sn and O, and having a coordination number of O with respect to Sn of greater than 6.
US08029939B2	Fuel cell ejector with integrated check valve An ejector for a fuel cell stack is disclosed, wherein the ejector includes an integrated check valve that supports hydrogen recirculation and militates against a backflow of hydrogen flowing through the ejector.
US08029938B2	Electric power source comprising a fuel cell without discharge of matter to the outside and control process of such a power source The electric power source comprises a fuel cell and at least one flow channel the inlet and outlet whereof are respectively connected to a reactive fluid source and to a tank designed to contain the reactive fluid feeding the fuel cell and the water produced by the fuel cell. An inlet valve is arranged between the reactive fluid source and the inlet of the flow channel and is controlled by a control device. Once the tank has been filled with reactive fluid, the inlet valve is closed for a predetermined first time period. It is then opened for a predetermined second time period so as to evacuate the water accumulated in the fuel cell during the first time period to the tank, and to refill the tank with reactive fluid.
US08029937B2	Solid oxide fuel cell device and system The invention provides solid oxide fuel cell devices and a fuel cell system incorporating a plurality of the fuel devices, each device including an elongate substrate having a reaction zone for heating to an operating reaction temperature, and at least one cold zone that remains at a low temperature below the operating reaction temperature when the reaction zone is heated. An electrolyte is disposed between anodes and cathodes in the reaction zone, and the anode and cathode each have an electrical pathway extending to an exterior surface in a cold zone for electrical connection at low temperature. In one embodiment, the device is a multi-layer anode-cathode structure, and in another embodiment, the device is an electrode-supported device. The system further includes the devices positioned with their reaction zones in a hot zone chamber and their cold zones extending outside the hot zone chamber. A heat source is coupled to the hot zone chamber to heat the reaction zones to the operating reaction temperature, and fuel and air supplies are coupled to the substrates in the cold zones.
US08029933B2	Negative electrode for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, method for manufacturing the same, and non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery using the same A negative electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery reversibly inserting and extracting lithium ions, and including current collector having concave portion and convex portion on at least one surface thereof; and columnar body formed on convex portion of current collector and including columnar body portions laminated in n stages (n≧2) in which a content ratio of an element sequentially changes in the longitudinal direction of the current collector. The content ratio of an element is different between in an odd stage and in an even stage of columnar body portions.
US08029930B2	Positive electrode material for lithium secondary battery, method for producing the same, and lithium secondary battery A positive electrode material for a lithium secondary battery, which is high in safety, high in capacity, excellent in cycle performance, and high in charge/discharge efficiency, is provided. The positive electrode material for a lithium secondary battery is a powder containing a Li—Ni—Co—O or Li—Ni—Co—Ba—O system component as a main component and having an amorphous phase of an oxide mixed in each of particles or formed at the surface of the particle.
US08029928B2	Positive electrode active material powder The positive electrode active material powder of the present invention is a positive electrode active material powder, including primary particles and aggregated particles of primary particles, wherein an average particle diameter of primary particles and aggregated particles of primary particles in the powder is 0.1 μm or more and 3 μm or less on a volume basis, the percentage of [volumetric sum of particles having a particle diameter of 5 μm or more]/[volumetric sum of entire particles] is 10% or less, and a BET specific surface area of the powder is more than 2 m2/g and 7 m2/g or less. When this positive electrode active material powder is used for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, it becomes possible to exhibit a high discharge capacity and also exhibit a high output at a high current rate.
US08029926B2	Rechargeable battery with PTC device A rechargeable battery includes a PTC device including a cover member provided on the surface of the PTC body to prevent high-temperature hot-melt resin from making direct contact with the surface of the PTC body when the battery pack is being fabricated and to provide a space to allow the PTC body to expand during the operation of the PTC device.
US08029925B2	Electrochemical energy storage cell An electrochemical energy storage cell is provided, in particular an accumulator or a double layer capacitor. In the energy storage cell a core tube, which is open on its two ends, runs through the energy storage cell. Leads may be disposed inside the core tube and gaseous decomposition products, issuing from the energy storage cell, may be vented through the core tube. Furthermore, a cooling of the energy storage cell may take place by way of the core tube. An electronic circuit arranged in the cell monitors parameters of the energy storage cell.
US08029924B2	Thin film template for fabrication of two-dimensional quantum dot structures An apparatus includes a first seedlayer including a hexagonal close-packed alloy with a sigma phase addition, and an active layer including a plurality of quantum dots on the first seedlayer. The apparatus can further include a substrate, an adhesion layer on the substrate, and a wetting layer on the adhesion layer, wherein the first seedlayer is on the wetting layer.
US08029922B2	Forming electroplated inductor structures for integrated circuits Methods and associated structures of forming microelectronic devices are described. Those methods may include forming a magnetic material on a substrate, wherein the magnetic material comprises rhenium, cobalt, iron and phosphorus, and annealing the magnetic material at a temperature below about 330 degrees Celsius, wherein the coercivity of the annealed magnetic material is below about 1 Oersted.
US08029921B2	Growth of high quality low-loss ferrite materials on wide bandgap semiconductor substrates A semiconductor device including a ferrite layer, a widebandgap semiconductor material layer, and a buffer layer. The buffer layer comprises an interweaving of MgO and BaM. In addition the buffer layer allows a gradual reduction of the interfacial stress, and mediates the strain between a silicon substrate and a ferrite layer of the device. In addition, the buffer layer allows for high crystal alignment resulting in high crystal quality and thereby producing a low microwave loss semiconductor device. The buffer layer also minimizes chemical interdiffusion of atoms between the substrate and the ferrite layer.
US08029917B2	Coated articles A metallic biomedical article, preferably an orthopaedic implant, instrument or tool, for use in contact with internal human body tissue, having a first silver containing metal nitride coating thereon, and process for making the same, is provided.
US08029916B2	Brazing filler metal, brazing composite material and brazed structure brazed/bonded with the same A brazing filler metal capable of improving both of oxidation resistance and corrosion resistance is obtained. This brazing filler metal (1, 1d, 51 and 51a) consists of at least a three-layer structure of an Ni—Cr brazing layer (2 and 2a) consisting of an Ni—Cr alloy layer, a Ti brazing layer (3, 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d) consisting of a Ti layer or a Ti alloy layer and an Ni brazing layer (4, 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d) consisting of an Ni layer or an N alloy layer arranged between the Ni—Cr brazing layer and the Ti brazing layer.
US08029915B2	Highly corrosion-resistant hot-dip galvanized steel product excellent in surface smoothness and formability and process for producing same The present invention provides a highly corrosion-resistant plated steel sheet that can achieve excellent surface smoothness and formability and, according to the process of the present invention, a hot-dip galvanized steel product excellent in surface smoothness and formability having on the steel product surface a zinc alloy plating layer composed of 4 to 22% by mass of Al, 1 to 5% by mass of Mg, 0.000001 to 0.1% by mass of Ti, 0.000001 to 0.5% by mass of Si and the balance of Zn and unavoidable impurities, the plating layer of the plated steel product having a metal structure in which an [Mg2Si phase], an [Al phase], a [Zn2Mg phase] and a [Zn phase] are present in a mixture in the matrix of an [Al/Zn/Zn2Mg ternary eutectic structure], and the plating layer containing a Ti—Al base intermetallic compound in the [Al phase] and/or the [Zn2Mg phase] and/or the [Zn phase], is produced.
US08029912B2	Coated polyoxymethylenes The present invention relates to coated polyoxymethylene moldings comprising at least one polyoxymethylene homo- or copolymer A), and also, if appropriate, further additives B), which has been coated on the surface with at least one binder C) and one formaldehyde scavenger D), wherein the binder C) used comprises a polyalkylene oxide C1 or a polyvinyl ester C2 or a graft polymer C3 composed of C1 and C2 or a mixture of these, and the formaldehyde scavenger D) used comprises at least one imidazolidin-2-one compound.
US08029910B2	Resin composition and composite using the composition and production process thereof The present invention is directed to a composite comprising a resin element comprising a resin composition and a vulcanized rubber element formed by vulcanizing an unvulcanized rubber, wherein the resin composition comprises a resin, a vulcanization-activating agent for improving adhesiveness of the resin to a rubber, and a stabilizer, and the resin composition and the vulcanized rubber are directly joined together.
US08029908B2	Specific resin composition of polyphenylene sulfide, and molded component, electrophotographic transfer film and image-forming apparatus, using the same A resin composition comprises a polyphenylene sulfide resin and a nylon resin having a χ-parameter of 1.3 or more at 25° C., and has one glass transition temperature, and an image-forming apparatus comprises: a latent-image supporting member, and an intermediate transfer member that supports a toner image transferred thereon from the latent-image supporting member and transfers the supported toner image onto an image-receiving material, wherein the intermediate transfer member comprises a polyphenylene sulfide resin and a nylon resin having a χ-parameter of 1.3 or more at 25° C., and has one glass transition temperature.
US08029899B2	Coated particles and coating compositions comprising coated particles The invention relates to coated particles comprising particles and a crosslinked polysiloxane coating and to a process for the manufacture of said coated particles. Further, the invention relates to the use of the coated particles to improve surface properties of articles and to material compositions comprising the coated particles, in particular coating compositions. According to the invention there is provided coated particles comprising particles having a surface with hydroxy functional groups and a crosslinked polysiloxane coating comprising a reaction product of polysiloxane disilanol according to formula I: wherein n is 1 to 25, and wherein each R is a same or different hydrocarbon group, and a coating crosslinking agent, preferably an alkoxysiloxane having 3 or 4 alkoxy groups which polysiloxane coating is at least partly grafted to the particle surface by reaction with the hydroxy functional groups on the particles. The coated particles can be used to impart improved surface properties in particular in coatings.
US08029892B2	Breathable film A breathable film includes at least one polymer (a) taken from the group comprising an ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer (a1), an optionally neutralized ethylene/ (meth)acrylic acid copolymer (a2), an ethylene/vinyl monomer copolymer (a3), the (a1)/(a2) blend, the (a1)/(a3) blend, the (a2)/(a3) blend and the (a1)/(a2)/(a3) blend, and/or includes at least one functionalized polyethylene (b); and at least one copolymer (c) having copolyamide blocks or polyester blocks and polyether blocks.
US08029889B1	Prepregs, towpregs and preforms The present invention relates to prepregs, towpregs and preforms made from curable compositions of (a) benzoxazines, (b) a combination of adducts a first of which is prepared from hydroxy-containing compounds, isocyanate-containing compounds and phenolic compounds and the second of which is prepared from the first adduct and epoxy-containing compounds, (c) components reactive with the benzoxazine, such as epoxy resins, episulfide resins and oxetane resins, (d) tougheners, such as polyether sulfones, ATBN and core shell materials and (e) a silica component, where the silica has a mean particle diameter on the order of 10−9 meters.
US08029886B2	Transparent conductive laminate and touch panel therewith A transparent conductive laminate comprising: a transparent film substrate; a transparent conductive thin film provided on one side of the transparent film substrate; and a transparent base substrate bonded to another side of the transparent film substrate with a transparent pressure-sensitive adhesive layer interposed therebetween. The transparent conductive laminate has satisfactory reliability at high temperature and high humidity for touch panels and also has pen input durability and surface pressure durability.
US08029882B2	Porous silicon carbide and process for producing the same A silicon carbide porous object includes silicon carbide as an aggregate and metal silicon as a binder, the particles of silicon carbide being bonded to one another so as to have pores thereamong. A method for producing a silicon carbide porous object includes: firing raw materials formed by mixing silicon carbide and metal silicon with metal aluminum or an alloy including metal silicon and metal aluminum in an inert gas atmosphere or a reduced-pressure atmosphere to produce a metal aluminum-metal silicon-silicon carbide porous object; and oxidizing and firing the metal aluminum-metal silicon-silicon carbide porous object in an oxygen atmosphere.
US08029881B2	Radio frequency wave reducing material and methods for manufacturing same An improved radio frequency wave attenuating wall (ceiling or floor) or door material comprises a laminated structure having as an integral part thereof one or more layers of a viscoelastic material which also functions as a glue and one or more electrically conducting layers. An electrically conducting material such as tape or a formed metal channel provides an electrical connection between the electrically conducting material and an exposed outer surface of the laminated structure. In one embodiment the electrically conducting material is paint. In one embodiment, standard wallboard, typically gypsum, comprises the external surfaces of the laminated structure and one or more conductive layers are constructed between the gypsum exterior. In one embodiment, the conducting layer material is selected to provide physical security in addition to radio frequency wave attenuation. The construction is such that acoustical attenuation is also achieved.
US08029879B2	Display device having pair of glass substrates and method for cutting it A display device includes a pair of glass substrates. On the side of each of the pair of glass substrates, a press mark is formed between a first end of each of the pair of glass substrates and a position at least 0.3 mm but no more than 3 mm away from the first end, another press mark is formed between a second end of each of the pair of glass substrates and a position at least 0.3 mm but no more than 3 mm away from the second end, a scribing groove having a predetermined scribing amount is formed between the press marks, and there are rib marks in the scribing groove.
US08029875B2	Plasma immersion ion processing for coating of hollow substrates The present disclosure relates to a method for plasma ion deposition and coating formation. A vacuum chamber may be supplied, wherein the vacuum chamber is formed by a hollow substrate having a length, diameter and interior surface. A plasma may be formed within the chamber while applying a negative bias to the hollow substrate to draw ions from the plasma to the interior surface of the hollow substrate to deposit ions onto the interior surface and forming a coating. The coating may have a Vickers Hardness Number (Hv) of at least 500.
US08029873B2	Film deposition method and film deposition apparatus of metal film The present invention is a film deposition method of a metal film comprising the steps of: placing an object to be processed having a recess formed in a surface thereof, on a stage in a processing vessel; evacuating the processing vessel to create a vacuum therein; ionizing a metal target in the evacuated processing vessel to generate metal particles including metal ions, by means of a plasma formed by making the plasma from an inert gas; and by applying a bias electric power to the object to be processed placed on the stage to draw the plasma and the metal particles into the object to be processed, scraping a bottom part of the recess to form a scraped recess, and depositing a metal film on an entire surface of the object to be processed including surfaces in the recess and in the scraped recess.
US08029870B2	Method of coating fuel cell components for water removal A method for coating a fuel cell component is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a fuel cell component, and forming a coating on a surface of the fuel cell component with a plasma jet. The step of forming the coating may include applying a coating precursor to a surface of the fuel cell component and then reacting the coating precursor with the plasma jet to form the coating. The step of forming the coating may also include growing the coating on the surface of the fuel cell component by delivering the plasma jet containing the coating precursor.
US08029869B2	Structure fabrication using nanoparticles Techniques for fabricating a structure from nanoparticles are generally described. Some example techniques are methods for fabricating an apparatus from nanoparticles. Example methods may include providing nanoparticles that are electrically charged with a first polarity and collecting the nanoparticles on a particle collection device having a second polarity opposite the first polarity. The nanoparticles can then be transferred onto a base structure from the particle collection device.
US08029868B1	Method of forming composite roofing overlay containing paint waste A method of forming a composite roofing overlay is provided which includes applying a bedding cement to a roofing surface, embedding a porous fabric in the bedding cement, followed by application of a primer and an elastomeric sealer. The bedding cement includes water-based paint waste and sand.
US08029863B2	Method for fabricating a microfluidic component comprising at least one microchannel filled with nanostructures A microfluidic component comprises at least one closed microchannel filled with nanostructures. The microchannel is produced by previously forming an opening delineating a bottom wall and two opposite side walls of the microchannel in a surface of a substrate. The nanostructures filling said microchannel are formed by in situ growth to constitute a layer of metallic catalyst deposited on said side walls and on said wall bottom. The microchannel is closed, before the nanostructures are formed, by sealing a protective cover onto said surface of the substrate. Sealing is obtained by formation of an eutectic compound between a material of the cover and the metal of the catalyst used for in situ growth of the nanostructures and deposited on the surface of the substrate designed to come into contact with the cover.
US08029862B2	Composite fabric with engineered pattern A composite fabric article includes multi-filament, interlaced yams forming a knit construction. The fabric article has an inner surface and an outer surface where the inner surface has at least one region of raised fibers or fleece formed thereupon, and the outer surface has an area upon which a non-continuous coating of discrete coating segments of coating material is applied to bind individual yarn fibers together in bound groupings and to enhance abrasion resistance of the outer surface.
US08029859B2	Method of depositing Ge-Sb-Te thin film There is provided a method of depositing a Ge—Sb—Te thin film, including: a Ge—Sb—Te thin-film forming step of feeding and purging a first precursor including any one of Ge, Sb and Te, a second precursor including another one of Ge, Sb and Te and a third precursor including the other one of Ge, Sb and Te into and from a chamber in which a wafer is mounted and forming the Ge—Sb—Te thin film on the wafer; and a reaction gas feeding step of feeding reaction gas while any one of the first to third precursors is fed.
US08029858B2	Methods of forming material on a substrate, and a method of forming a field effect transistor gate oxide on a substrate The invention includes methods of forming material on a substrate and methods of forming a field effect transistor gate oxide. In one implementation, a first species monolayer is chemisorbed onto a substrate within a chamber from a gaseous first precursor. The first species monolayer is discontinuously formed over the substrate. The substrate having the discontinuous first species monolayer is exposed to a gaseous second precursor different from the first precursor effective to react with the first species to form a second species monolayer, and effective to form a reaction product of the second precursor with substrate material not covered by the first species monolayer. The substrate having the second species monolayer and the reaction product is exposed to a third gaseous substance different from the first and second precursors effective to selectively remove the reaction product from the substrate relative to the second species monolayer. Other implementations are contemplated.
US08029856B2	Film formation method and apparatus A film formation method is arranged to react carboxylic acid with an oxygen-containing metal compound to produce carboxylate salt gas of a metal of the metal compound. The method then supplies the carboxylate salt gas of the metal onto a substrate. The method applies energy to the substrate to decompose the carboxylate salt of the metal supplied onto the substrate, thereby forming a metal film.
US08029855B2	Fine inorganic oxide dispersion, coating composition, optical film, antireflection film, polarizing plate and image display device An inorganic oxide dispersion containing an organic solvent, and inorganic oxide particles surface-treated with at least one of a hydrolyzate and a partial condensate of an organosilane compound represented by formula (I), the inorganic oxide particles being dispersed in the organic solvent: (R10)m—SI(X)4-m (I) as defined herein, the surface treatment of the inorganic oxide particles being carried out in a presence of at least one of: (a) an acid catalyst; and (b) a metal chelate compound having Zr, Ti or Al as a center metal and at least one of an alcohol represented by formula: R3OH in which R3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and a compound represented by formula: R4COCH2COR5 as defined herein, as a ligand.
US08029854B2	Concrete repair process The present invention provides a process for repairing concrete involving filling one of a void, gap or seam in the concrete with a polyurethane sealant containing a silane terminated prepolymer (“STP”), and a catalyst, optionally, one or more of plasticizers, fillers, pigments, drying agents, light stabilizers, antioxidants. thixotropic agents and bonding agents and applying an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer containing polyurethane or polyurea coating to the silane terminated prepolymer polyurethane sealant.
US08029853B2	Fabrication process for magnetoresistive devices of the CPP type The inventive fabrication process for magnetoresistive devices (CPP-GMR devices) involves the formation of a zinc oxide or ZnO layer that provides the intermediate layer of a spacer layer, comprising Zn film formation operation for forming a zinc or Zn layer and Zn film oxidization operation for oxidizing the zinc film after the Zn film formation operation. The Zn film formation operation is implemented such that after a multilayer substrate having a multilayer structure before the formation of the Zn film is cooled down to the temperature range of −140° C. to −60° C., the formation of the Zn film is set off, and the Zn film oxidization operation is implemented such that after the completion of the Zn film oxidization operation, oxidization treatment is set off at the substrate temperature range of −120° C. to −40° C. Thus, excelling in both flatness and crystallizability, the ZnO layer makes sure the device has high MR ratios, and can further have an area resistivity AR best suited for the device.
US08029851B2	Nanowire fabrication Techniques for making nanowires with a desired diameter are provided. The nanowires can be grown from catalytic nanoparticles, wherein the nanowires can have substantially same diameter as the catalytic nanoparticles. Since the size or the diameter of the catalytic nanoparticles can be controlled in production of the nanoparticles, the diameter of the nanowires can be subsequently controlled as well. The catalytic nanoparticles are melted and provided with a gaseous precursor of the nanowires. When supersaturation of the catalytic nanoparticles with the gaseous precursor is reached, the gaseous precursor starts to solidify and form nanowires. The nanowires are separate from each other and not bind with each other to form a plurality of nanowires having the substantially uniform diameter.
US08029850B2	Method of manufacturing organic electroluminescent device and method of manufacturing device A method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescent device includes forming partition walls partitioning pixels on a substrate; subjecting a surface of each of the partition walls to a lyophobic treatment; coating a liquid composition on each of regions surrounded by the partition walls, the liquid composition obtained by dissolving and dispersing a forming material of a functional layer forming at least a portion of an organic electroluminescent element in a solvent; and drying the coated liquid composition so as to form the functional layer. In the coating of a liquid composition, a fluorine group-containing solvent which contains a fluorine group is used as a solvent.
US08029849B2	Multi-piece food product and method for making the same A multi-piece food product (10) comprising a plurality of strands (12A-12K) that are extruded and aggregated to form an aesthetically pleasing food product is provided. A formulation used to make each of the strands (12A-12K) includes a mixture comprising at least 20% sweetener, at least 15% starchy material, and at least 1% fruit by weight based a total dry weight of the mixture to yield a starch-based confectionary food product. One process for forming the multi-piece food product (10) includes extruding a food stream from a slurry, dividing the food stream into three separate food streams (24A, 24B), injecting color, flavor, and ascorbic acid into the food streams (24A, 24B), conveying the food streams (24A, 24B) into a former (26) and extruding the strands (12A-12K) therefrom, forming the strands (12A, 12B) into an aggregate food mass (31), cooling the food mass (31), and cutting the food mass (31) into individual portions.
US08029845B2	Compositions of sugar-containing sterol solids dispersions The invention relates to solids dispersions in the form of a solid solution containing a) at least about 0.1% by weight of sterols and/or stanols and/or esters thereof, and b) at least about 50% by weight of sugars and/or sugar alcohols, based on the total weight of the solids dispersion. These solids dispersions provide for simple further processing of the hydrophobic sterols and stanols, and sterol or stanol esters, through improved dispersion behavior in foods, and are distinguished by excellent stability upon storage.
US08029836B2	Non-perishable plant-derived decorative items and methods for making same Non-perishable plant-derived decorative food items are described, as are methods for making such articles.
US08029833B2	Herbal composition for treating CD33+ acute and chronic myeloid leukemia and a method thereof A method of treating CD33+ acute and chronic myeloid leukemia in animals including humans, using fraction nos. 1 and 9 obtained from water:methanol fraction by column chromatography, with ratio of water and methanol ranging between 1:5 to 5:1, wherein said water:methanol fraction is obtained from the polar extract of Piper betel by HPLC, with retention time of 3.6 and 24.0 minutes respectively, with said fractions used both individually, and in combination.
US08029831B2	Formulations containing thymoquinone for urinary health A novel dietary supplement or therapeutic composition is provided that serves to treat lower urinary tract disorders or to support normal urinary tract function in animals. The supplement comprises a thymoquinone formulation and at least one member of the group consisting of cranberry fruit, cranberry extract, cranberry juice and a pharmaceutical grade methionine.
US08029825B2	Low-dose tablets having a network of polymers The invention relates to low-dose tablets obtained by directly compressing microgranules essentially constituted of a neutral support covered by a polymeric layer containing at least one pharmaceutically acceptable polymer and permitting the modified release of active substances in an aqueous medium, to which an active layer containing at least one active substance is applied. The inventive tablets advantageously exhibit a matrix effect similar to that obtained with conventional matrix tablets that depends on the nature of the polymer(s) used for the constitution of the polymeric layer. This matrix effect makes it possible to modify the release profile of the transported active substance based on the type of the polymer used. These tablets are particularly suited for realizing low-dose tablets. The invention also relates to a method for producing these tablets and to the use thereof, particularly for administering active substances in low to very low doses.
US08029823B2	Controlled release and taste masking oral pharmaceutical composition Controlled release and taste masking compositions containing one or more active principles inglobated in a three-component matrix structure, i.e. a structure formed by successive amphiphilic, lipophilic or inert matrices and finally inglobated or dispersed in hydrophilic matrices. The use of a plurality of systems for the control of the dissolution of the active ingredient modulates the dissolution rate of the active ingredient in aqueous and/or biological fluids, thereby controlling the release kinetics in the gastrointestinal tract.
US08029822B2	Rupturing controlled release device having a preformed passageway The present invention provides a simple and improved osmotic device that is capable of providing a controlled release of active agent contained in the core first through a preformed passageway and then through an in situ formed second passageway into an environment of use. One or both of the passageways optionally increases in size during use of the osmotic device. The preformed passageway and/or the second passageway increase the release rate of the active agent, enable the release of large particles containing active agent, and/or enable the release of active agents that are substantially insoluble in the environment of use. By virtue of the in situ formation of the second aperture, the device is able to release a greater overall percentage of active agent than it would release in absence of the second aperture.
US08029820B2	Patches containing tulobuterol A patch containing tulobuterol in the low concentration and having the stable release-controllability, prepared by laminating an adhesive layer consisting of a rubber, an adhesive resin and a plasticizer on a backing, wherein 1 to 4 w/w % of tulobuterol in the lower concentration as an active ingredient and 0.1 to 3 w/w % of a higher fatty acid as a drug-releasing controlling agent are contained in the adhesive layer.
US08029817B2	Silicon substituted oxyapatite The invention is a silicon substituted oxyapatite compound (Si-OAp) for use as a synthetic bone biomaterial either used alone or in biomaterial compositions. The silicon substituted oxyapatite compound has the formula Ca5(PO4)3-x(SiO4)xO(1-x)/2, where 0
US08029810B2	Water-based delivery systems The invention relates to a water-based delivery system for an active substance, characterized by enhancing skin barrier restoration in the stratum corneum comprising water, a fatty acid, cholesterol, a ceramide and at least one skin lipid precursor.
US08029807B2	Outer membrane vesicles and uses thereof The present invention discloses a Gram negative bacterium in which the expression of a protein involved in LPS transport to the outer membrane is functionally downregulated such that the level of LPS in the outer membrane is decreased compared to a wild-type Gram negative bacterium. Down regulation of Imp and MsbA proteins can result in such a bacterium. Outer membrane vesicle preparations derived from the Gram negative bacterium of the invention can be used in vaccines to provide protection against bacterial infection.
US08029804B2	Recombinant chimeric antigens for diagnosis and prevention of scrub typhus Recombinant chimeric antigens comprising unmodified and modified reactive polypeptide fragments of expressed product of the recombinant 56 kDa proteins of multiple strain of scrub typhus, such as Karp, Kato (Ktr56), Gilliam (Gmr56), and TA763 (TAr56). The invention is useful for detecting prior exposure to a number of strains of scrub typhus, based on the strength of reaction toward the chimeric protein and as a component in vaccine formulations and production of immune globulins for passive prophylaxis and immunity in subjects against heterologous infections.
US08029795B2	Targeted iron chelator delivery system A targeted iron chelator delivery system that comprises an iron chelator, a targeting agent and a lipid carrier, e.g., a liposome, is provided. The iron chelator delivery system may be used to remove excess iron from specific organs such as, for example, heart and liver tissue. Methods for preparing and administering the targeted iron chelator delivery system are also provided. The iron chelator delivery system may be administered during a blood transfusion to prevent iron overload.
US08029791B2	Modified chimeric polypeptides with improved pharmacokinetic properties Modified chimeric polypeptides with improved pharmacokinetics are disclosed. Specifically, modified chimeric Flt1 receptor polypeptides that have been modified in such a way as to improve their pharmacokinetic profile are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the modified polypeptides including but not limited to using the modified polypeptides to decrease or inhibit plasma leakage and/or vascular permeability in a mammal.
US08029785B2	Therapeutic antibodies for treatment and prophylaxis of transmittable viral diseases The invention provides methods and compositions for the treatment and prevention of a transmittable disease in a subject, such as avians and mammals. The methods and compositions of the invention specifically make use of avian antibodies to the disease to be treated or prevented. Administration of such avian antibodies to a subject has been shown effective for reducing mortality in a population of subjects that are infected, or become infected, with the disease. The invention also provides kits useful for detecting the presence of transmittable diseases in subjects.
US08029781B2	Methods of treating a deficiency of functional tripeptidyl peptidase I (CLN2) protein The present invention relates to a method for treating a patient having disorder characterized by a deficient amount of functional CLN2 protein in the affected cells, which comprises administering to the patient an amount of CLN2 protein effective to reduce or eliminate the symptoms caused by the deficiency in CLN2 protein.
US08029778B2	Methods of using TICAM-1, an adapter protein that binds toll-like receptor 3 A novel adaptor protein and its gene are provided. The novel adaptor protein has a property of binding to mammalian Toll-like receptor 3, which controls type I interferon production that is effective for prevention/treatment of viral infectious disease such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and the like, treatment of tumors, and the other purposes. Novel adaptor protein TICAM-1, which has an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4, specifically binds to the mammalian Toll-like receptor 3 and induces production of type I interferon. A mutant of the adaptor protein TICAM-1 has similar properties, provided that it has TIR domain (an amino acid sequence ranging from 394-position to 532-position in the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 or an amino acid sequence ranging 396-position to 534-position in the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4). The gene is a gene encoding the adaptor protein TICAM-1.
US08029777B2	Helicobacter system and uses thereof Helicobacter based preparations comprising a pharmacologically active molecule of interest are disclosed, as well as methods of preparing and using said preparations. In particular, Helicobacter pylori vectors, vector plasmids and recombinant cells that include a sequence encoding a pharmacologically active molecule of interest useful in therapeutic treatments and/or vaccination against disease are provided. Delivery of the pharamacologically active molecules is provided at the mucosal surface, such as the gastric mucosa or nasal membranes, to provide effective and continuous delivery of a pharmacologically active agent. In some embodiments, the Helicobacter provides exposure of a desired molecule of interest though the surface of the Helicobacter, providing exposure of the antigen to the host at the gastric mucosa. Live Helicobacter pylori vaccines are also provided. Vectors and shuttle vector constructs of the Helicobacter are also disclosed.
US08029772B2	Stable surfactant compositions for suspending components A free-flowing surfactant composition comprising at least one anionic surface-active agent, an alkanolamide, an electrolyte, and water is described. In particular, the composition is a surfactant composition that has free-flowing non-Newtonian shear thinning properties and the ability to suspend components and is stable under at least one freeze/thaw cycle.
US08029766B2	Intravascular imaging device and uses thereof The invention is directed to a probe-type imaging device useful to visualize interior surfaces, e.g., the lumen of blood vessels. Specifically, the probe-type device is particularly useful for direct tissue imaging in the presence or absence of molecular imaging agents.
US08029765B2	SMMR (small molecule metabolite reporters) for use as in vivo glucose biosensors Small Molecule Metabolite Reporters (SMMRs) for use as in vivo glucose biosensors, sensor compositions, and methods of use, are described. The SMMRs include boronic acid-containing xanthene, coumarin, carbostyril and phenalene-based small molecules which are used for monitoring glucose in vivo, advantageously on the skin.
US08029764B2	Methods for detection of colorectal cancer Particular genes are aberrantly and consistently expressed in both adenomas and carcinomas of the colon. Products of such genes provide stool and serum markers for colorectal neoplasia. One particular tumor marker, Renal Dipeptidase (RDP), is expressed at high levels in tumors and at greatly reduced levels in normal tissues. The elevated expression of RDP occurs early and remains elevated during the neoplastic process. RDP may therefore be especially useful as a diagnostic tool for the early detection of colorectal neoplasia, even of presymptomatic colorectal neoplasia.
US08029759B2	Pretreatment method for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes and carbon nanostructures from coal and carbon chars Carbon nanostructures such as multiwalled carbon nanotubes are formed from electrolyzed coal char. The electrolyzed coal char is formed by forming a slurry of coal particles, metal catalyst and water and subjecting this to electrolysis, which generates carbon dioxide and hydrogen. This forms a coating on the particles which includes metal catalysts. These particles can be used as is for formation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes using a pyrolysis method or other method without the addition of any catalyst. The gelatinous coating can be separated from the char and used as a fuel or as a carbon source to form carbon nanostructures.
US08029753B2	Ammonia contact scrubber system for a fuel cell An ammonia contact scrubber system (10) for removing ammonia from a fuel stream for a fuel cell (16) includes a contact scrubber (12) having a scrubber fuel inlet (14) and a scrubber fuel exhaust (20) for directing flow of the fuel stream through support material (24) within the scrubber (12) and into the fuel cell (16). An acid circulating loop (26) has an acid holding tank (28) holding a liquid acid solution (30), an acid feed line (32) secured in fluid communication between the holding tank (28) and a scrubber acid inlet (36) of the contact scrubber (12), an acid return (38) for returning the acid solution from the scrubber (12) to the acid holding tank (28), and an acid circulation pump (42) for pumping the acid solution (30) through the acid circulating loop (26) and through the support material (24) within the scrubber (12).
US08029751B2	Reduction of lime consumption when treating refractory gold ores or concentrates The present invention is directed to a precious metal recovery process in which basic ferric sulphates and/or jarosites are controlled by a number of mechanisms, including control of the oxidation reaction conditions in the first autoclave compartment, hot curing of the autoclave discharge slurry, and/or contacting of the autoclave feed slurry with the hot cured discharge liquid.
US08029749B2	Cracking furnace The invention relates to piping for use as a pyrolysis tube in a cracking furnace. The tube is formed such that it has at least one section whose centerline curves in three dimensions, to induce swirl flow in the tube. Preferably, the tube is formed as a helix.
US08029744B2	Method of liquid droplet formation and transport apparatus therefor and particle manipulating apparatus The present invention provides an apparatus for efficiently transporting or dispensing transport objects including not only particles but also liquid samples. A liquid in a first liquid transport pipe (3) is fed at a liquid feed velocity (V1), and a liquid droplet is formed toward an open end of a second liquid transport pipe (4) disposed with an air gap (11) in between. The particle is released into the liquid droplet, so that the particle is enclosed in the liquid droplet. Suction with a liquid feed velocity (V2) is applied to the inside of the second liquid transport pipe. Since the relationship between V1 and V2 is V1
US08029742B2	Multi-channel pipettor with repositionable tips A hand-held, multi-channel pipettor has an electronically controlled motor to reposition pipette tips for different center to center spacing. Each repositionable tip fitting assembly has a cam following pin that is driven by cam tracks in a motor driven roller drum. Stationary ports for the multiple aspiration cylinders are strategically placed to simplify management of flexible tubes leading to the repositionable pipette tip fitting assemblies. The pipettor has a user interface that can be operated conveniently by one hand to reposition pipette tips. It has a pipette tip ejection mechanism with a sinusoidal stripper bar.
US08029740B2	Event-triggered self-sterilization of article surfaces Solutions for limiting the undesirable spread of pathogens by indirect contact are provided. The solutions involve event-controlled self-sterilization of contact surfaces on articles or fixtures. A self-sterilizing contact surface structure allows chemical sterilizing agents to controllably flow in response to a contact event, from within the article to exude upon a portion of the contact surface.
US08029738B2	Method and device for removing inflammable gases in a closed chamber and chamber equipped with such a device Methods and devices for removing inflammable gases produced by radiolysis in a closed chamber containing radioactive matters comprising organic compounds and possibly water, or radioactive matters in the presence of organic compounds and possibly water. Inside the chamber there may be placed a catalyst of at least one reaction for oxidizing the inflammable gases by oxygen contained in the chamber atmosphere, supported by an inert solid support; a catalyst of at least the reaction for oxidizing CO to CO2; possibly an oxygen source; and possibly a hygroscopic microporous inert solid support. Also, chambers for radioactive matters containing such devices.
US08029737B2	Honeycomb filter for exhaust gas decontamination, adhesive, coating material and process for producing honeycomb filter for exhaust gas decontamination A honeycomb filter for purifying exhaust gases includes columnar porous ceramic members and an adhesive layer combing the ceramic members with one another. Each porous ceramic member has a partition wall and through holes. The through holes are extending in parallel in length direction of the ceramic members. The partition wall is separating the through holes and filters particulates in exhaust gas. The through holes include ones sealed at inlet side of the ceramic members and ones sealed at outlet side of the ceramic members such that the exhaust gas enters from the inlet side, passes through the partition wall and flows out from the outlet side. The adhesive layer has thermal expansion coefficient αL. The ceramic members have thermal expansion coefficient αF. The thermal expansion coefficient αL of the adhesive layer and the thermal expansion coefficient αF of the ceramic members satisfy relationship, 0.01<\|αL−αF\|/αF<1.0.
US08029735B2	System and method for transferring calibration data A test system comprises a sensor container and a testing device. The sensor container has a base and a lid. The container encloses test sensors therein. The container includes a calibration label attached thereto. The label includes electrical contacts located thereon. The electrical contacts encode calibration information onto the calibration label. The testing device has an auto-calibration feature externally located thereon. The testing device is adapted to determine the analyte concentration in a fluid sample. The auto-calibration feature includes calibration elements that communicate with the electrical contacts on the calibration label. The testing device is adapted to determine the calibration information encoded on the calibration label in response to the calibration elements engaging the electrical contacts. The encoded calibration information is determined without inserting the sensor container or the calibration label into the testing device.
US08029734B2	Noncovalent sidewall functionalization of carbon nanotubes Carbon nanotubes are functionalized in a broadly applicable manner. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are noncovalently functionalized. The functionalized SWNTs are highly versatile, being useful for a variety of implementations, including for the immobilization of molecules, for circuit arrangements, molecular electronics and for molecular sensors. In addition, stable suspensions of functionalized SWNTs in solutions can be achieved, as well as the self-assembly of nanotubes with unperturbed sp2 structures and thus their electronic characteristics.
US08029729B2	Antigen exposure chamber system An object of the present invention is to solve the problems in conventional art antigen exposure chambers, and specifically, to provide an antigen exposure chamber system capable of simultaneously exposing a large number of test objects in a chamber to a uniform antigen (pollen, mite or house dust, etc.) in all seasons. In order to achieve the above object, in an antigen exposure chamber system according to the present invention, an outdoor air is supplied via an outdoor air diffuser 2 provided in a ceiling surface of an exposure chamber 1 into the exposure chamber from the ceiling surface of the exposure chamber in a horizontal direction, a fan unit 15, including a supply port and a suction port, is provided in each of the four corners of the exposure chamber to provide a circulating flow of air flowing with circulation in the horizontal direction in the exposure chamber, an air exhaust port 4 is provided at a floor surface of the exposure chamber to exhaust an air from the floor surface of the exposure chamber, an antigen is supplied from an antigen supply device to the outdoor air diffuser provided on the ceiling surface so that the antigen is mixed with the outdoor air, and a uniform concentration antigen exposure is enabled by the circulating flow of air.
US08029724B2	Method of making a cutting insert with a hole for clamping A method of making a cutting insert using powder metallurgical methods including using a press with a main pressing direction and a press tool setup with a die, a male core rod, a female core rod, a bottom punch, a top punch and a feed shoe. The insert has a noncylindrical hole perpendicular to the main pressing direction, herein referred to as a cross-hole. A cross-hole with increased dimensional accuracy is obtained if the powder also is compacted by the two core rods.
US08029719B2	Method and device for shaping of composite material A method and device for shaping of an article of composite material. The method includes arranging a blank of composite material on a top surface of a forming tool. A portion of the blank is arranged to protrude outside the top surface of the tool. At least one support is arranged in contact with an underside of the protruding portion of the blank. An air-tight foil is arranged over the arrangement. The air-tight foil is forced towards the blank. The support is lowered until the blank is shaped over the tool. The support is stopped and/or removed. The device includes a tool including a top surface and side surface for shaping at least one blank of composite material into an article having a predetermined profile; and a air-tight foil. The device further includes at least one support arranged to be in supporting contact with the underside of the protruding part of the blank.
US08029712B2	Method for collecting IV tubing tips Mandrel supported IV tubing is inserted within a mold of a mold assembly to heat the IV tubing and form a tapered end of the tubing. The tip of the tubing extending beyond the tapered end of the tubing is severed by the mandrel bearing against the mold to lodge the tip in an outlet of the mold. Cooling air is introduced to the mold assembly to cool the mold and to create a flow of turbulent air about the outlet of the mold to extract the severed tips. The turbulent air is exhausted through a channel, pipe and fitting into a collection chamber and causes translation of the severed tip to and into the collection chamber. Sensors may be incorporated to sense the translation of the severed tips.
US08029710B2	Gantry robotics system and related material transport for contour crafting Apparatus and methods are disclosed that are useful for robotic gantry systems that are lightweight while at the same time offering rigidity or stiffness for implementation in Contour Crafting construction and material delivery techniques. The present disclosure is directed to robotic gantry system and material transport apparatus that use of very light structural members that have sufficient compressive strength, but which may otherwise be weak in the presence of bending forces, in conjunction with cables that provide stiffness against bending. Use of such cables provides needed tension while at the same time allowing the robotic gantry system to be very light compared to solid structures, e.g., those with I-beams, etc. Material delivery systems including passive articulated arms are also disclosed.
US08029709B2	Liquid core capsules and methods of synthesis thereof through interfacial polymerization A process for the encapsulation of liquid particles within nanometer thick polymer shells utilizes an interfacial free radical alternating copolymerization process. Encapsulating a liquid material includes providing a mixture comprising the liquid material to be encapsulated, a hydrophobic monomer in a non-polar solution and a hydrophilic monomer in a polar solution. The liquid material is compatible in either the polar solution or the non-polar solution. The polar solution and the non-polar solution are not miscible in each other. The mixture is homogenized to form an emulsion, and then polymerized by an initiator which initiates an interfacial free radical alternating copolymerization process. The copolymerization process is optimally constrained to proceed only at the hydrophobic and hydrophilic interface thus forming a polymer around the liquid material.
US08029708B2	Methods of cutting or forming cavities in a substrate for use in making optical films, components or wave guides A method of forming a varying pattern of optical elements on or in at least one side of an optical panel member involves cutting or forming a pattern or patterns of cavities in a cylindrical or curved substrate or in a sleeve or sleeve segment of the substrate that corresponds to a desired pattern and shape of optical elements to be formed on or in the optical member. The substrate or sleeve or sleeve segment containing the desired pattern or patterns of optical element shaped cavities or depositions or mirror copies or inverse copies thereof is used in production tooling or as a master for production tooling to form the corresponding pattern of optical elements on or in at least the one side of the optical panel member.
US08029706B2	Vacuum transfer apparatus and method A vacuum transfer apparatus including an auxiliary vacuum chamber and a main vacuum chamber is used for transferring an uneven pattern to a disk substrate with a stamper. The auxiliary vacuum chamber is vacuumized or opened to air because the disk substrate is conveyed to and from the vacuum transfer apparatus through the auxiliary vacuum chamber. The disk substrate conveyed to the auxiliary vacuum chamber and then to the main vacuum chamber after the auxiliary vacuum chamber is vacuumized. In the main vacuum chamber, transferring of the uneven pattern with the stamper, curing of UV-curable resin, and removal of the stamper are performed to provide a disk substrate with the uneven pattern. Then, the disk substrate is conveyed from the vacuum transfer apparatus through the auxiliary vacuum chamber. An operation at the auxiliary-vacuum-chamber side and an operation at the main-vacuum-chamber side are performed in parallel.
US08029704B2	Flexible protective coating A composition made up of an inorganic fire-retardant having at least a bimodal distribution of particle sizes.
US08029703B2	Compound semiconductor and its manufacturing method, and thermoelectric conversion device using the same Disclosed is a new compound semiconductor represented by the chemical formula: Bi1-x-yLnxMyCuOTe where Ln belongs to the lanthanoid series and is any one or more elements selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu, M is any one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg, Cd, Hg, Sn, Pb, Mn, Ga, In, Tl, As and Sb, and 0
US08029691B2	Refrigerant A refrigerant that is azeotropic or near-azeotropic comprises a binary blend of R744 and R41. In one embodiment the binary blend has a molar composition of 20 to 60 percent R744, the remainder being R41.
US08029690B2	Process for production of highly pure quaternary ammonium salt A process for preparing a highly pure quaternary ammonium salt comprising: (1) adding a quaternary ammonium hydroxide salt or quaternary ammonium carbonate to a quaternary ammonium salt containing a protonic acid salt of a tertiary amine as an impurity and thereby neutralizing the tertiary amine protonic acid salt with the quaternary ammonium hydroxide salt or carbonate to convert the acid salt to a tertiary amine and water and to convert the quaternary ammonium hydroxide salt or carbonate to a quaternary ammonium salt at the same time, and (2) removing the tertiary amine and water produced from the system.
US08029682B2	Method of manufacturing magnetic recording medium According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium includes forming a first hard mask, a second hard mask and a resist on a magnetic recording layer, imprinting a stamper to the resist to transfer patterns of protrusions and recesses to the resist, removing residues remaining in the recesses of the patterned resist, etching the second hard mask by using the patterned resist as a mask to transfer the patterns of protrusions and recesses to the second hard mask, etching the first hard mask by using the second hard mask as a mask to transfer the patterns of protrusions and recesses to the first hard mask, subjecting the magnetic recording layer exposed in the recesses to modifying treatment to change an etching rate, and deactivating the magnetic recording layer exposed in the recesses.
US08029676B2	Non-recirculating, self-sanitizing carbon filter system A method and apparatus are provided for the non-recirculating self-sanitization of a carbon filter (14) in a water pretreatment system (12). The apparatus includes a heat exchanger (50) that can maintain an activated carbon bed (44) of the carbon filter (14) at a desired sanitization temperature during service operation of the pretreatment system (12) where the pretreatment system (12) is providing a pretreated water stream (32H) for final treatment.
US08029673B2	Vertical-horizontal filter unit for the biological purification of polluted water The present invention relates to a vertical-horizontal filter unit for the biological purification of polluted water, comprising an upper zone of a soil patch planted with plants, having inlets for the polluted water, and arranged underneath a sand layer with a lower filter zone made of gravel and at least one removal point for the purified water, wherein between the upper and lower filter zones a barrier layer with openings is arranged and the filter unit is sealed against the soil on the sides and at the bottom. The openings in the barrier layer are arranged along the edge and/or the barrier layer does not reach the edge of the patch completely. The invention is characterized in that the upper zone acts as an aerobically cleaning zone and the lower zone as an anaerobically cleaning zone.
US08029672B2	Filter head A filter head, designed to hold at least two filter elements. The filter head having a housing, into which feed channels to, and return channels from, the filter elements are integrated. A rotatable switching drum is provided for selectively opening or closing the channels to control the flow of fluid to the filter elements. The filter head has a cover, which closes off the housing, and a spring element, which produces an axial force which presses one of the sealing surfaces of the switching drum against the cover and the other sealing surface of the switching drum against the housing.
US08029668B2	Fluid treatment device and method An apparatus and method for treating raw water. The apparatus comprises a vessel having an inlet for the raw water and an outlet for the skimmed water, and wherein the vessel contains the raw water, and a rotor mechanism for creating a plurality of gas bubbles within the raw water. The apparatus further comprises a disperser device, operatively associated with the rotor mechanism, for dispersing the plurality of gas bubbles from the rotor mechanism within the vessel, and wherein the gas bubbles create an oily froth on the top of the raw water, and a skim tray, positioned about the rotor mechanism, is provided for removing the oily froth from the top of the raw water as well as a secondary skimmer positioned within the skim tray. In one preferred embodiment, an external skim tank that is configured to deliver a gas to the rotor mechanism and wherein the external skim tank is configured to receive the oily froth from the secondary skimmer.
US08029667B2	Filler and filter unit for a tank, in particular for the fuel of a motor vehicle fitted with a diesel engine The unit comprises a tubular filler, provided with an internal thread) suitable for coupling with a corresponding external thread of the mouthpiece of the tank, and with, internally, a plurality of essentially coplanar anchoring prominences which, in the fitted condition, rest on part of the top edge of the mouthpiece of the tank to which they are constrained by fixing elements in such a way as to prevent the unscrewing of the filler. The anchoring prominences have respective retention elements protruding radially towards the centerline of the filler and capable of being opened out elastically towards the outside. The unit also comprises a filter with, at the top, an annular flange protruding radially towards the outside. It is possible to introduce this filter through the filler prefitted on the tank until the said flange interferes with the retention elements of the prominences of the filler and, after passing beyond the said retention elements, is held between them and the top edge of the mouthpiece of the tank.
US08029656B2	System, apparatus, and method for measuring an ion concentration of a measured fluid An apparatus, system and method maximizes efficiency and accuracy of measuring an ion concentration of a measured fluid by varying a flow of ions within a measuring cell in accordance with an output signal of a sensor cell. The pump current through a pump cell is switched between a constant positive current and a constant negative current when upper and lower thresholds of the output signal are reached. The pulse width ratio of the square wave produced by the varying current is compared to a pulse width ratio function derived from a calibration procedure to determine the ion concentration of the measured fluid. In one embodiment, the functions of the pump cell and sensing cell are performed by a single electrochemical cell.
US08029654B2	Complex material An object of the present invention is to provide a complex material in which an ion conduction film is curved and deformed when a potential difference is applied, which is operated at small electric power, has a large deformation amount, quick response performances, large degree of freedom in shape, and is easy in control of deformation, while having strength and durability necessary for practical use and being excellent in an economical aspect. A conductive cloth (preferably having stretchability), which is made conductive through plating of metal on a cloth or metal complex implantation, is joined as an electrode to both surfaces of the ion conduction film (the film in which an ion exchange film or ion liquid is immersed) made of a fluororesin and the like. When the potential difference is applied, the ion conduction film is deformed.
US08029653B2	Electroplating apparatus and electroplating method An electroplating apparatus can form a plated film having a more uniform thickness and good film quality over an entire surface of a substrate having a conductive layer (seed layer) whose resistivity is equal to or higher than that of copper. The electroplating apparatus includes: a substrate holder for holding a substrate; a sealing member for contact with a peripheral portion of a surface of a substrate, held by the substrate holder, to seal the peripheral portion; a cathode contact for contact with a conductive layer formed in the surface of the substrate, held by the substrate holder, to feed electricity to the conductive layer; and a housing having therein an anode to be immersed in a plating solution, and a porous structure disposed at an open end facing the substrate held by the substrate holder, said porous structure defining a plating chamber in the housing; wherein the plating chamber is divided into rooms by a partition plate and the porous structure, and the anode is comprised of a plurality of divided anodes, each divided anode being disposed in each room of the plating chamber so that each divided anode can pass an independent plating current.
US08029651B2	Method for forming magnetic layer, magnetic recording medium, and magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus The invention provides a method of forming a magnetic layer with stable magnetic properties and stable recording-and-reproducing properties, by uniformizing the distribution of oxygen radical concentration upon reactive sputtering, and thereby uniformizing the concentration of oxygen to be taken into the magnetic layer along the plane direction. That is, the invention relates to a method of forming a magnetic layer by reactive sputtering, which comprises: placing a substrate in a reaction container; arranging a pair of electrode units comprising sputtering electrodes and targets which are disposed on surfaces of the sputtering electrodes and which contain chromium other than the oxide thereof, so that the electrode units respectively face both sides of the substrate while the targets are on the substrate sides; feeding an argon-water mixture gas to vicinities of the respective surfaces on the substrate sides of the pair of electrode units; and applying reactive sputtering so that the chromium other than the oxide thereof contained in the targets can be made into chromium oxide as a constituent to form the magnetic layer having the granular structure.
US08029650B1	Antifreeze recycling systems A method for purifying used antifreeze is disclosed. An antifreeze recycling systems uses a simple-distillation apparatus adapted to distill clean antifreeze from used antifreeze. A novel scraper blade is used in the simple-distillation apparatus. Also, antifreeze recycling methods that minimize waste and generate nontoxic, landfillable waste are provided. An antifreeze product produced by the present method, and a nontoxic, landfillable sludge product produced by the present method, are disclosed.
US08029645B2	Soft and strong fibrous structures and methods for making same Soft and strong fibrous structures and more particularly soft and strong fibrous structures that contains less softwood fibers than known fibrous structures and methods for making such soft and strong fibrous structures are provided.
US08029643B2	Apparatus and method for removing a temporary substrate from an optical disk An apparatus and method for removing a temporary substrate from an optical disk is disclosed. A holding fixture (102) provides an optical disk supporting surface. A force imparting tool (118) imparts a force against an optical disk wherein a reaction force to the force imparting tool is provided by the supporting surface. The optical disk is flexed to break away and remove a temporary substrate of the optical disk.
US08029641B2	Device and method for liquid treatment of wafer-shaped articles Method and device for wet treating a defined peripheral edge-region of a wafer-shaped article having a first surface plane W1, a second surface plane W2 and an edge surface. The device includes a support for holding the wafer-shaped article; liquid dispensing members for dispensing liquid onto the first surface plane W1 of the wafer-shaped article not facing the support and liquid guiding member connected to the support for guiding at least a part of the liquid around the edge surface of the wafer-shaped article towards the second surface plane W2 of the wafer-shaped article facing the support thereby wetting at least the edge surface, wherein the liquid guiding member has the form of a ring.
US08029640B2	Multilayer retaining ring for chemical mechanical polishing A carrier head for a chemical mechanical polishing apparatus includes a retaining ring having a flexible lower portion and a rigid upper portion.
US08029639B2	Method of joining a pair of tubular ends A method of joining a pair of tubular ends (1, 2) comprises: providing the tubular ends with intermeshing tapered edges (3, 4); joining the tubular ends by inserting an adhesive between the tapered edges and pressing the tapered edges (3, 4) together; arranging an axial load carrier collar (5) around the joined tubular ends; inserting an adhesive between the inner surface of the collar (5) and the outer surfaces of the joined tubular ends (3, 4); and inducing the adhesive to bond the inner surface of the collar (5) to the outer surfaces of the joined tubular ends. The axial load carrier collar (5) may be equipped with a series of flexible reinforcement strips (8, 9), which carry a majority of axial loads exerted on the tubular joint, such that only a minimal axial load is exerted on the bonded tapered edges (3, 4).
US08029637B2	System, method and apparatus for ultraviolet curing of adhesives with light beam shaping in disk drive manufacturing UV curing of adhesives with light beam shaping utilizes a spot curing process that focuses a limited amount of UV light onto a target area, such as glue dots. A focusing lens may be used to direct the UV light beam to the target area. The target areas have different geometrical shapes, and the UV light is advantageously concentrated in a more efficient manner. Beam-shaping optics or lenses are used to facilitate re-shaping and re-defining the UV-light beam. The UV beam may be defined and limited to a rectangular spot to improve the spot process quality and efficiency.
US08029632B2	Method for producing a belt package for a pneumatic vehicle tire A belt package for a pneumatic vehicle tire has at least two belt plies. The belt plies are built up in at least two sub-packages, which are automatically placed on a belt drum and automatically spliced independently of one another. The sub-packages are then joined together to form the complete belt package.
US08029631B2	Hygiene pants for single use Disposable hygiene pants with a front portion (2), a rear portion (3) and a crotch portion (4) provided with two leg openings (5, 6), the longitudinal edge portions (21, 22) of the front portion being connected by longitudinal weld seams (7, 8) to the longitudinal edge portions (31, 32) of the rear portion (3) in order to form a waist opening (9) and two leg openings (5, 6) in the crotch portion, which leg openings are outwardly delimited in the transverse direction by the inner end portions of the weld seams as seen in the longitudinal direction of the hygiene pants. The hygiene pants have an outer cover (10) and comprise an absorption unit (11). The cover is preferably made of an elastic laminate. The weld seams (7, 8) are each reinforced by at least one reinforcing strip (15, 16) containing thermoplastic fibers and have a tensile strength, in a direction transverse to the weld seam, in excess of 5 N/25.4 mm at least in the portions reinforced with said nonwoven strip (15, 16).
US08029630B2	Pyrotechnic composition that can be metered out for use as a thermal fuse in a gas generator and a gas generator including a compound having said composition The present invention concerns a composition for a pyrotechnic compound that can be used as a thermal fuse in a gas generator comprising a pyrotechnic charge, said pyrotechnic compound having a self-ignition temperature that is lower than that of the pyrotechnic charge of the generator so as to be capable of initiating combustion of the pyrotechnic charge in the event of abnormal heating of the generator before said pyrotechnic charge reaches its self-ignition temperature. This composition is characterized in that it can be metered out and deposited in the form of an adhesive onto any appropriate support of the generator.
US08029628B2	Noble metal alloy for spark plug and method for producing and processing the same An object of the present invention is to provide a material for a precious metal tip of a spark plug, which has more excellent durability, particularly oxidation wear resistance than a conventional one. The precious metal alloy for the spark plug according to the present invention contains 0.2 to 6.0 wt. % Cr as an essential component, further at least any one of Fe or Ni, and the balance being Ir. Here, the amount of Fe and Ni to be added is preferably 2.0 to 12.0 wt. % in total. According to the present invention, the surface may be oxidized to form an oxide layer made from a Cr—Fe oxide, a Cr—Ni oxide or a Cr—Fe—Ni oxide. The oxide layer is formed by a diffusion treatment by heating the precious metal alloy at 300 to 900° C. in an oxidative atmosphere, and preferably has a thickness of 5 to 100 μm.
US08029627B2	Corrosion resistant magnetic component for a fuel injection valve A magnetic component for a magnetically actuated fuel injection device is formed of a corrosion resistant soft magnetic alloy consisting essentially of, in weight percent, 9%
US08029625B2	Method and device for the simultaneous cleaning of a plurality of pipe conduits or pipe conduit systems Illustrated and described are a method and a device for the simultaneous cleaning of a plurality of pipe conduits or pipe conduit systems, particularly in each case having different pipe cross sections, wherein the cleaning takes place with a liquid cleaning medium, which is taken from a reservoir by a feed pump and fed to the systems to be cleaned. The invention makes provision for the cleaning medium stream to be fed to the first system to be cleaned and after leaving the first system to be cleaned, as cleaning medium stream, to be divided into two component streams, one component stream of which is used for cleaning the second or further system and the other component stream is again fed to the reservoir. In addition the second or further system to be cleaned is assigned a feed pump, whose speed and direction of rotation are variable for determining or regulating the cleaning method.
US08029624B2	Rinse method and developing apparatus A rinse method for rinsing a substrate having an exposure pattern thereon developed includes presetting conditions for a rinse process according to surface states of the substrate, measuring a surface state of the substrate, selecting a corresponding condition for the rinse process based on the measured surface state of the substrate, and performing the rinse process under the selected condition.
US08029623B2	Acid removal in cleaning processes Embodiments of the present disclosure include cleaning processes, cleaning machines, and methods of preventing acidification of a cleaning composition in a cleaning process. The cleaning process includes contacting an article having contaminants with a cleaning composition to remove the contaminants from the article, where the cleaning composition comes to have acidic components as a result of contacting the article with the cleaning composition, and where at least 85 percent by weight, based on a total weight of the cleaning composition, of the cleaning composition is an organic solvent, collecting the cleaning composition with the contaminants and the acidic components, separating the contaminants from the cleaning composition (114), and passing the cleaning composition with the acidic components over an ion exchange resin (125) to remove the acidic components from the cleaning composition.
US08029621B2	Raw material feeding device, film formation system and method for feeding gaseous raw material A raw material feeding device for feeding a gaseous raw material formed by sublimating a solid raw material to a film formation system includes a raw material container for holding the solid raw material therein, a first heating unit placed at a first side of the container, a second heating unit placed at a second side thereof, the first temperature control unit for conducting a first process of controlling the first and the second heating unit to make the temperature of the first side higher than that of the second side to thereby sublimate the solid raw material disposed at the first side, and the second temperature control unit for conducting a second process of controlling the first and the second heating unit to make the temperature of the second side higher than that of the first side to thereby sublimate the solid raw material disposed at the second side.
US08029620B2	Methods of forming carbon-containing silicon epitaxial layers In a first aspect, a method is provided for forming an epitaxial layer stack on a substrate. The method includes (1) selecting a target carbon concentration for the epitaxial layer stack; (2) forming a carbon-containing silicon layer on the substrate, the carbon-containing silicon layer having at least one of an initial carbon concentration, a thickness and a deposition time selected based on the selected target carbon concentration; and (3) forming a non-carbon-containing silicon layer on the carbon-containing silicon layer prior to etching. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US08029616B2	Bulk material cover composition A cover composition that can be applied to a bulk material pile, such as landfill refuse, to protect the pile from wind, precipitation, and access by animals and insects is provided. The cover composition is a mixture of a liquid, typically, water; bentonite clay; and synthetic fibers. The composition may be enhanced by the addition of one or more of the following additives: Portland cement, pregelatinized wheat starch, synthetic polymers, soda ash, and latex paint. Unlike prior art cover compositions, the disclosed composition adheres well to waste material, most notably plastics, whereby the composition is easy to apply and provides a substantially uniform, durable protective cover to landfill refuse piles and other bulk materials. Methods of applying the composition to bulk material piles are also disclosed.
US08029608B1	Furnace filter indicator A furnace filter indicator system comprises a pressure differential switch that monitors air pressure near a furnace filter, and a transmitter coupled to the pressure differential switch sends a signal to a receiver within a thermostat. The receiver includes an indicator for indicating the status of the furnace filter. If the pressure differential near the furnace filter triggers the switch, then the indicator will receive a “dirty” signal and will indicate that the furnace filter is dirty and should be replaced. The furnace filter indicator system is able to be installed on a previously installed furnace/thermostat system by utilizing the pre-existing wiring.
US08029606B2	Hood air scoop An apparatus and a system is provided that may be utilized to provide stability to air flow through a hood scoop. The present invention may also be utilized to straighten and smooth out air flow through a hood scoop and accompanying air filter media. The present invention utilizes an air filtration media which may be inserted into at least a portion of a vehicle hood scoop and may filter out particulate and may also slow air flow down temporarily in order to straighten and/or smooth turbulent air flow through the air filtration media. Additionally, the present invention may provide an apparatus that may facilitate more uniform pressure inside the hood scoop of the vehicle.
US08029604B2	Methods for applying microchannels to separate methane using liquid absorbents, especially ionic liquid absorbents from a mixture comprising methane and nitrogen Methods of using microchannel separation systems including absorbents to improve thermal efficiency and reduce parasitic power loss. Energy is typically added to desorb methane and then energy or heat is removed to absorb methane using a working solution. The working solution or absorbent may comprise an ionic liquid, or other fluids that demonstrate a difference in affinity between methane and nitrogen in a solution.
US08029603B2	Pressure swing adsorption cycle for ozone production A pressure swing adsorption cycle designed to reduce the variations in ozone concentration, and produce a higher average ozone concentration, in a product gas stream throughout the cycle. The cycle includes a relatively long air sweep stage and provides for the overlapping of the air sweep stage in two adsorber vessels. Effluent from an adsorber vessel in a feed rinse stage is routed to another adsorber vessel that is in an air sweep stage.
US08029599B2	Separating gas using immobilized buffers A layered structure can be formed having immobilized or segregated pH buffering groups that can be used to separate carbon dioxide or other gases. The pH buffering groups can be immobilized within a matrix, confined within a gel, or segregated by a semi-permeable membrane. The pH buffering groups can be configured to increase the efficiency of the system by maintaining a desirable pH profile within the cell and to permit the flow of the carbon-containing ions within the system while controlling diffusion of protons and/or hydroxyl ions.
US08029598B2	Method for recovering metal values from refractory sulfide ore A method for recovering metal values from refractory sulfide ores is provided. The method includes the steps of separating clays and fines from crushed refractory sulfide ore, forming a heap from the refractory sulfide ore, producing a concentrate of refractory sulfide minerals from the separated fines and adding the concentrate to the heap, bioleaching the heap to thereby oxidize iron sulfides contained therein, and hydrometallurgically treating the bioleached ore to recover metal values contained therein.
US08029590B2	Collapsible filtration tank for a dust collector A collapsible filtration tank for a dust collector includes an outer frame, an engaging base and a filter. The outer frame is formed cylindrical, having plural meshes formed in its circumferential wall. The engaging base is formed annular, installed around the opening of the outer frame. The filter is inserted in a chamber of the outer frame and restrictively blocked by the blocking edge of the engaging base. Thus, the filter can be independently replaced with a new one instead of shifting the whole filtration tank.
US08029585B2	Pocket filter assembly A pocket filter assembly includes a frame structure having a plurality of filter pocket openings and a corresponding plurality of filter pockets, each filter pocket having a pocket mouth securely sealed in a corresponding filter pocket opening. The frame structure includes an outer subframe and a corresponding inner subframe connected and locked to each other by means of locking elements at locking positions distributed along opening portions of the subframes defining the filter pocket openings. At each locking position, the filter pocket mouths are sealed clamped and sealed between co-operating opening portions of the subframes. The locking elements include an undercut hook-shaped projection on the inner subframe and a co-operating receiving hole on the outer subframe, such that an interlock of the subframes to each other is obtained, while including filter pocket mouth material of the associated filter pocket between said projection and said aperture such that said interlock is sealed thereby.
US08029579B2	Fatty acid blends and uses therefor Provided herein are blends oils or fatty acids comprising more than 50% medium chain fatty acids, or the fatty acid alkyl esters thereof, and having low melting points. Such blends are useful as a fuel or as a starting material for the production of, for example, a biodiesel. Also provided genetically altered or modified plants, modified such that the amount of medium chain fatty acids generated by the plant are increased. Further provided is a method of predicting the melting point of a blend of fatty acid methyl esters and the use of such a method for identifying blends suitable for use as, for example, a biodiesel.
US08029578B2	Thickened hair colourant and bleaching compositions The present invention relates to hair colouring and hair bleaching compositions comprising at least one oxidizing agent, a specified gel network thickener system comprising a specified tertiary component system, and a polysaccharide and a polyol. The compositions surprisingly provide hair colourant and bleaching compositions which deliver lightening and colour which are easy to manufacture and improve adhesion of the composition to the hair roots.
US08029576B2	Composition for dyeing keratin fibres This invention relates to a hair dyeing composition comprising at least one anionic and at least one cationic direct acting hair dyes and showing excellent dyeing ability and excellent resistance to hair washing and environmental influences. The coloring composition of this invention are ready to use coloring composition and, therefore, do not require any mixing prior to application with additional agents such as oxidizers. According to the invention the preferred cationic dyestuffs are selected from the following structures wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 stand for hydrogen, a CH3— or C2H5— group, and Y is an anion such as chloride, bromide, methosulfate.
US08029574B2	Prosthetic knee joint A prosthetic knee joint includes: (a) a femoral member comprising rigid material with a convex, wear-resistant femoral contact surface including a convex ridge; (b) a tibial assembly including: (i) at least one cup comprising rigid material with a body and a rim substantially thicker than the body defining a wear-resistant cup contact surface; (ii) a rigid base; and (iii) a spring support interconnecting the cup and the base, the spring support elastically deflectable permitting controlled pivoting of the at least one cup; (c) wherein the cup contact surface bears against the femoral contact surface, transferring axial and lateral loads between the cup and femoral member, while allowing pivoting between the cup and femoral member; and (d) wherein the at least one cup allows the rim to deform elastically, permitting the cup contact surface to conform in an irregular shape to the femoral contact surface, when the knee joint is loaded.
US08029570B2	Implantation of magnets in bone to reduce contact pressure Permanent magnets are implanted in bone to unload compressive forces at joints using the repulsive force therebetween. A porous metal container is implanted first and becomes fixed in place by bone growth. The permanent magnet is then inserted in the container and retained in place. A magnet prescription system includes a display and input device which enables a user to alter parameters such as magnet size, strength and placement and calculate and display the repulsive force that will result.
US08029562B2	Wettable ePTFE medical devices Methods are provided for surface modifying a hydrophobic polymer substrate to increase wettability comprising the steps of pre-treating the hydrophobic polymer substrate with a radio frequency (RF)-generated first plasma and a RF-generated second plasma wherein the first plasma and the second plasma are applied sequentially, coating the hydrophobic polymer substrate with a hydrophilic coating; and polymerizing the hydrophilic coating on the hydrophobic polymer substrate by exposure to a RF-generated third plasma.
US08029559B2	Anchoring barb for attachment to a medical prosthesis Disclosed is an anchoring element for an implantable prosthesis that includes a barb, wherein the anchoring element, which includes a basal portion, comprises a thin layer of material, such as a cannula or sheet of metal, that extends or wraps at least partially around the strut of the prosthesis to which it is attached. The barb is configured to extend outward from the basal portion to penetrate adjacent tissue. The anchoring element is either permanently affixed to the strut, such as by laser or spot welding, crimping, or some other method of bonding, or allowed to slide longitudinally over the strut between two points or stops in order to relieve any excessive loads placed upon the barb that could cause fracture. The anchoring element and strut may be configured to limit axial rotation of the barb, while still allowing longitudinal movement. In another embodiment, the slidable anchoring element may be manipulated following initial deployment to reorient the barb toward the implantation site.
US08029557B2	Esophageal valve An esophageal valve comprising a polymeric valve body having an outer support region, at least three valve leaflets, and a main body region extending between the support region and the valve leaflets. The valve has a normally closed configuration in which the valve is closed, an antegrade open configuration in which the valve leaflets are opened in response to an antegrade force to allow flow through the valve and a retrograde open configuration in response to a retrograde force which is substantially larger than the antegrade force.
US08029556B2	Method and apparatus for reshaping a ventricle The present disclosure concerns embodiments of a reshaping apparatus and methods for restoring the conical shape of a dilated heart ventricle, or at least reshaping the ventricle to a more conical shape to counter the effects of dilation, thereby improving pumping efficiency. In an exemplary embodiment, a reshaping apparatus comprises an implantable body that can be delivered to a dilated left ventricle via the patient's vasculature in a minimally-invasive procedure. When deployed inside the left ventricle, the body is adapted to apply a longitudinal (downward) force against the inner surface of the left ventricle that causes the ventricle to distend or elongate downwardly relative to the base of the heart so as to at least partially restore the conical shape of the heart. In other embodiments, one or more tension members can be secured to heart tissue inside a heart chamber or on the outside of the heart and placed in tension to reshape the geometry of the heart.
US08029555B2	Stent introducer system A stent delivery system for positioning a first and second stent the first and second branch lumens of a bifurcation. The stent delivery system includes stent introducers and a sheath or catheter having a frangible wall. A method of delivering stents to anatomies such as bifurcated ducts or vessels.
US08029547B2	Dynamic spinal stabilization assembly with sliding collars A dynamic spinal stabilization assembly includes a rod having a plurality of slidable collars thereon. The rod is mounted to at least one of the relevant bone anchoring element(s) via the collars. The collars are spaced from one another such that the bone anchoring element engages at least two collars. The collars may be arranged on the rod so that adjacent collars are longitudinally spaced from one another by a distance not more than one-half the length of the rod-receiving channel in the relevant bone anchoring element. There may be elastic elements slidably disposed on the rod between adjacent collars.
US08029537B2	Knotless suture anchor and method for knotlessly securing tissues A method for securing first and second tissues with a suture anchor. The method includes forming a borehole in the first tissue; threading a suture through the second tissue forming a loop in the suture with the tissue thereby secured in the loop, the loop defining two suture portions; attaching the two suture portions to the anchor whereby the two suture portions are threaded through the anchor and initially movable with respect to the anchor; and providing a force to a shaft of the anchor, the force causing clamping of the two suture portions in the anchor and deformation of a deformable portion of the anchor to cause the deformable portion to engage a wall of the borehole thereby to secure the suture anchor in the first tissue and the loop holding the second tissue to the suture anchor.
US08029536B2	Multiple offset eyelet suture anchor A suture anchor for securing soft tissue to bone may include a threaded body, a head extending along a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of eyelets that extend though the anchor head and that are each configured to receive a suture. The eyelets are offset from one another along an axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the suture anchor. Each eyelet may have a desired shape and cross section. Surgical kits including one or more suture anchors and one or more surgical tools are also described.
US08029532B2	Closure device with biomaterial patches A closure device includes a bioremodelable patch and a joining element linking one or more bioremodelable patches to tissue portions adjacent to a bodily opening. The closure device may include a pair of bioremodelable patches linked by sutures and compressively joined to overlapping tissue portions adjacent to the opening. The closure device may be further contained within an assembly additionally including a catheter having a hollow sheath and a pusher. The pusher may be used to dislodge one or more bioremodelable patches from the catheter to facilitate stable closure of a bodily opening, such as a septal opening in a PFO.
US08029521B2	Anastomosis apparatus and methods of deployment and manufacture A method and apparatus for making an anastomosis between a tubular duct and a vessel has an annulus having a longitudinal axis, a first set of fingers and a second set of fingers. The first set of fingers extend axially from the annulus in one direction and the second set of fingers extending axially from the annulus in another direction generally opposite the direction of the first set of fingers. The first and second sets of fingers are movable to penetrate the tubular duct and the vessel, respectively, as they move from a biased configuration to an unbiased configuration.
US08029519B2	Eversion apparatus and methods Surgical eversion apparatus for preparing a conduit for anastomosis in a human patient includes an everting member having a loop shaped portion adapted to be inserted into an end portion of a conduit harvested from a human patient and configured to fold a portion of the conduit end portion over itself when moved proximally away from the end of the conduit and along the conduit while a portion of the conduit is held fixed relative thereto. A method of everting a graft includes positioning a graft in a support device such that an end portion of the graft extends therefrom; introducing a generally looped shaped member into the end portion of the graft extending from the support device; and moving the looped shaped member over the support device to fold at least a portion of the end portion of the graft over the support device.
US08029518B2	Methods and devices for capturing and fixing leaflets in valve repair The present invention provides methods and devices for grasping, and optional repositioning and fixation of the valve leaflets to treat cardiac valve regurgitation, particularly mitral valve regurgitation. Such grasping will typically be atraumatic providing a number of benefits. For example, atraumatic grasping may allow repositioning of the devices relative to the leaflets and repositioning of the leaflets themselves without damage to the leaflets. However, in some cases it may be necessary or desired to include grasping which pierces or otherwise permanently affects the leaflets. In some of these cases, the grasping step includes fixation.
US08029516B2	Bracing of bundled medical devices for single port entry, robotically assisted medical procedures Medical devices robotically manipulated by a medical robotic system for performing a medical procedure on a patient are bundled together as a bundled unit and inserted into the patient through a single entry port. Bracing of the bundled unit at the surgical site so as to be constrained in one or more degrees of freedom of movement may be performed using an anchor secured to an anatomic structure at the surgical site and physically coupled to the bundled unit, or using a tool extending out of a distal end of the bundled unit that extends out to an anatomic structure at the surgical site.
US08029515B2	Corneal implants and methods and systems for placement A system comprising a hollow member is used to deliver a constrained corneal implant into a corneal pocket. The hollow member may be tapered and the system may further include an implant deformation chamber and an axial pusher to advance the implant through the hollow member.
US08029514B2	Bone screw removal system A bone screw removal system for a bone screw retaining system that includes an implant having a plate, which defines a plurality of transversely extending bores that are configured to receive a bone screw for engaging the plate to the cervical spine, and an elastically deformable spring member positioned therein a cavity of the plate such that portions of the spring member can extend into a portion of an upper region of each of the bores of a pair of opposing bores, the spring member being movable between a first relaxed, expanded position and a second, compressed position. The bone screw removal system having at least one tongue member that is configured to selectively act on the spring member of the bone screw retaining system.
US08029512B2	Spinal stabilization device and methods Devices and methods for immobilizing adjacent vertebrae are disclosed including the utilization of one or more implants inserted between adjacent vertebrae and having protrusions thereon for substantially fixedly securing with the vertebrae. In one form, an implant may be inserted in a first orientation and then rotated to a second orientation having a larger profile. A second implant may also be inserted in the same vertebral space in the same manner. A trial spacer may be used to determine the proper implant size. In another form, an implant may be inserted already in the fusion orientation. The implants and trial spacer, as well as a spreader and/or a scraper for preparing the intervertebral space, may be inserted in the vertebral space with the same insertion tool. The inserter tool may include a threaded member for attachment with the implants or other devices.
US08029508B2	Bone cutting apparatus A bone-cutting apparatus and associated method and system. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a guide removably attachable to a bone, and a rotatable mill coupled to the guide. The guide has a box-cut opening and the mill is pivotable within the opening. In one embodiment, the mill is laterally adjustable relative to the opening.
US08029507B2	Orthopedic method for correcting angular bone deformity An orthopedic device and method for correcting angular deformation of a bone structure having a growth plate. The device includes first and second hinge members connected together at a hinge joint. The device is adapted for mounting the orthopedic device to the bone structure with the pivot joint positioned over the growth plate. Alignment of the pivot joint with the growth plate promotes asymmetric growth of the growth plate to thereby correct the angular deformation.
US08029503B2	Nerve repair by selective surgical repair of axons Method and systems for nerve repair and for microfabrication. In specific embodiments, nerve repair is accomplished by repairing axons. In further embodiments, a modular, 3D system having very small dimentions is described. In further embodiments, a method ans system for performing surgery on axons is disclosed.
US08029502B2	Cryosurgical probe assembly with multiple deployable cryoprobes The cryosurgical probe assembly with multiple deployable cryoprobes includes a) a housing assembly; b) a plurality of elongated structural support elements, each securely connected at a first end to the housing assembly; c) a tip member securely connected to second ends of the plurality of elongated structural support elements, the tip member including a plurality of cryoprobe openings; and, d) a plurality of cryoprobes each having a shaft thereon, each shaft being deployable through a respective cryoprobe opening during operation to a deployed position used for ablating tissue. In an alternate embodiment, a cylindrical housing is utilized rather than elongated structural support elements.
US08029501B2	Laser selective cutting by impulsive heat deposition in the IR wavelength range for direct-drive ablation The present invention provides a method of laser processing of materials, specifically laser induced ablation processes for laser removal of material particularly important in medical and dental applications in which the laser removal of material should be done in such a way as to not damage any of the surrounding soft or hard biomaterial. The ablation process is achieved by impulsive heat deposition (IHD) by direct and specific excitation of short lived vibrations or phonons of the material in such a way as to not generate highly reactive and damaging ions through multiphoton absorption. The heat deposition and ensuing ablation process under prescribed time and wavelength conditions for laser irradiation is achieved faster than heat transfer to surrounding tissue by either acoustic or thermal expansion or thermal diffusion that otherwise would lead to excess heat related damage. The result is that all the deposited laser energy is optimally channelled into the ablation process in which the inertially confined stresses from both photomechanical expansion forces and thermally driven phase transitions and associated volume changes constructively interfere to drive the most efficient ablation process possible with minimal damage to surrounding areas by either ionizing radiation or heat effects. By choosing a specific range of wavelengths, spatial and temporal shaping of infrared laser pulses, the energy can be optimally deposited in a manner that further increases the efficiency of the ablation process with respect to minimizing collateral damage.
US08029500B2	Control program and method for ophthalmologic surgery The present invention relates to a method for generating a control program for ophthalmologic LASIK surgery, with which a pulsed laser system (12, 14, 16) can be controlled for the photodisruptive cutting of a flap, having the following steps: obtaining empirical data, which relate to the effect in particular of flap shapes and ablation profiles on postoperative refractive results, obtaining measurement data relating to the eye to be treated, calculating an optimal cutting shape for the photodisruptive cutting of the flap by taking into account the said empirical data and the said measurement data, and generating the control program on the basis of the calculated cutting shape.
US08029497B2	One-piece fluid suctioning device A mucous suction device, comprising in combination, a longitudinally elongated, generally tubular, one-piece plastic body, the body having an axially elongated tapered, first portion extending toward an inlet proximate one end of the body, the body having an axially elongated second portion extending toward an outlet proximate an opposite end of the body, radially outwardly extending annular retention rings in said body second portion, said rings having sharp annular peripheries and said rings being axially resiliently flexible and axially spaced apart, and there being body side porting between said body first and second portions, said side porting being manually controllable to control suction exertion.
US08029496B2	Method and device for delivering drug to the trigone of the bladder Methods of treating functional disorders of the bladder in mammalian females are disclosed. A therapeutic compound is delivered directly into the trigone of the bladder. The therapeutic may be delivered to the trigone through the vaginal wall. A device for delivering the therapeutic compound is also disclosed. The device may be an array of microneedles connected to a reservoir.
US08029493B2	Method for aspirating a space within a body Methods for aspirating a space within the body of a patient, such as the subdural space, including providing an evacuating port device having an evacuating lumen in fluid communication with the space in the body. A port aspiration device is mounted on the evacuating port device, creating fluid communication between an aspiration channel of the port aspiration device and the evacuating lumen. An instrument is positioned in the aspiration channel so that the instrument is capable of entering the evacuating lumen of the evacuating port device. The instrument can dispense medication and/or remove materials from the lumen or the space in the body. The evacuating port device can be mounted to a patient's skull.
US08029492B2	Method for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease A tube of a medical device is inserted into the lung of a patient through a passage, sealed from the pleural cavity, which passes through the chest wall, parietal membrane and visceral membrane into the lung. A flange of the medical device is secured to the chest of the patient. Thus secured, a proximal opening of the tube is positioned within the lung of the patient and an external opening is positioned external to the patient, permitting gasses within the lung of the patient to escape through the chest wall by entering the distal opening, passing through the tube and venting to atmosphere through the proximal opening.
US08029489B2	Body adhering absorbent article and method of adhering such article to a wearer In a body adhering absorbent article, an absorbent structure is configured for disposition adjacent a female wearer's vaginal region to absorb bodily fluids discharged by the wearer. A shell supports the absorbent structure at the vaginal region and has an adhesive on a body-facing surface thereof for adhering the shell directly to the wearer. A placement aid is disposed on at least one of the absorbent structure and the shell, and is configured for sensory perception by a wearer of the article upon placement of the article on the wearer to facilitate positive alignment of the absorbent article in a target placement region of the wearer with the absorbent structure disposed adjacent the wearer's vaginal region.
US08029488B2	Disposable pull-on diaper having a low force, slow recovery elastic waist A disposable pull-on diaper having a wearer-facing surface and a garment-facing surface; a longitudinal centerline and a lateral centerline; a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region disposed between the front and back waist regions. The front waist region and back waist region of the pull-on diaper interconnect to form a waist opening and leg openings. The pull-on diaper includes an absorbent assembly and an elastic belt. The absorbent assembly includes a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet. The elastic belt may exhibit less than about 80% of the maximum force after 15 seconds as measured by the Percent Release Test.
US08029486B2	Disposable wearing article A disposable wearing article is provided with a skin-contactable panel laid in a front half of a crotch region of the article and a liquid-impervious partition laid in a vicinity of a transverse center line of the article. The panel has transversely opposite side edges bonded to transverse opposite side portion of the article and a intermediate region defined between these side edges. The partition has an upper edge bonded to the panel, a lower edge bonded to a topsheet of the article transversely opposite side edges bonded to the side portions of the article and a middle portion defined between the upper and lower edges. The intermediate region of the panel describes an upward convex circular arc above the topsheet and the middle portion of the partition is unfolded in a thickness direction of the article so as to form a pocket-like barrier against movement of bodily wastes.
US08029484B2	Universal diaper A two-way stretch disposable diaper formed from four cooperating layers, a microfiber top layer to keep the wearer dry, an absorbent pad to collect body exudates, a waterproof layer to keep absorbed fluids within the pad, and a two-way stretch outer support layer. The top layer is formed as a cover for the absorbent pad which is designed to absorb urine and semi-liquid fecal material. The absorbent pad is backed by the waterproof layer or sheet which also covers the pad edges to prevent side leakage. The waterproof layer is anchored to a self-adhesive, two-way stretch support layer which constitutes an outer cover or support layer. The support layer derives its two way stretch and self adhesive qualities from its weave of alternate twist and/or crinkle threads. The support layer includes a plurality of holes in the waist band area which provide added ventilation and drainage when the diaper is used as swim-wear.
US08029483B2	Disposable absorbent articles having improved adhesive for garment fastening An absorbent article for personal hygiene, especially a sanitary napkin, panty liner and the like, having an adhesive for securing the article to a garment of a wearer. The present invention provides adhesives with an adhesion performance less dependent from panty material types and washing habits, such as treatment with softeners and the like, thus ensuring reliable fastening on non-treated panties as well as on softener-treated panties.
US08029480B2	Injection-volume regulating device of liquid medicine An injection volume regulating device for liquid medicine, including a fixing member, a regulating member, a passage recess-sealing member, an outflow hole-sealing member, and a fastening member. The fixing member includes an inlet connected to a medicine supply hose, an inflow hole to deliver the medicine to the regulating device, an outflow hole to be supplied with the medicine from the regulating member, an outlet to discharge the medicine to the hose to allow the medicine to be supplied to a needle, and an insertion hole to be equipped with the fastening member. The regulating member includes a passage recess that is connected to the inflow hole, a liquid medicine-delivering groove connected to the outflow hole, and an insertion hole to be equipped with the fastening member. The passage recess-sealing member communicates the inflow hole with the passage recess. The fastening member fastens the fixing member to the regulating member.
US08029473B2	Injection tube for catheter devices A medical device is provided including a catheter shaft having a lumen extending therethrough with a splittable wall portion along a side of the lumen, and a tube that extends through at least a portion of the lumen and is configured to provide a patent path of fluid communication.
US08029471B1	Circulatory system access preservation system An access device is disclosed that comprises two main assemblies. The first assembly is the cylindrical cannulation assembly. This is the needle-point-bearing assembly which facilitates cannulation (i.e., insertion of the assembly into the arm of the patient). The cylindrical cannulation assembly comprises a cannulation cylinder which has an insertion point (i.e., the needle puncture point) at a first end. The second main assembly of the invention is the cylindrical conduit assembly. This is the assembly that facilitates fluid flow during treatment free of the worry that the very needle which facilitated access will internally lacerate the blood vessel. The cylindrical conduit assembly comprises a cylindrical conduit which is telescopically positioned within the cannulation cylinder. The cannulation cylinder and cylindrical conduit longitudinally move relative to one another.
US08029470B2	Transmembrane access systems and methods Systems and methods for penetrating a tissue membrane to gain access to a target site are disclosed. In some examples, systems and methods for accessing the left atrium from the right atrium of a patient's heart are carried out by puncturing the intra-atrial septal wall. One embodiment provides a system for transseptal cardiac access that includes a stabilizer sheath having a side port, a shaped guiding catheter configured to exit the side port and a tissue penetration member disposed within and extendable from the distal end of the guide catheter. The tissue penetration member may be configured to penetrate tissue upon rotation and may be coupled to a distal portion of a torqueable shaft. In some embodiments, the stabilizer sheath and shaped guiding catheter may be moved relative to the patient's body structure and relative to each other so that a desired approach angle may be obtained for the tissue penetration member with respect to the target tissue.
US08029459B2	Method and system for providing integrated medication infusion and analyte monitoring system Method and system for integrating infusion device and analyte monitoring system including medication infusion device such as an insulin pump and an analyte monitoring system such as a glucose monitoring system are provided.
US08029458B2	Device for the injection of a solid or semi-solid implant The invention relates to a device which is used to inject an implant (6) into tissues (50). The inventive device is characterized in that it comprises: a main hollow body (2; 2′) having a hollow needle (4; 4′) fixed thereto, into which the implant (6) is introduced; a secondary body (26; 26′) which is disposed coaxially inside the main body (2; 2′) and which surrounds the needle (4; 4′); and a plunger rod (36; 36′) which can slide coaxially inside the hollow needle (4; 4′). The injection device (1; 1′) is arranged such that: (i) when it is pressed against the tissues (50), the main body (2; 2′) slides along the length of the secondary body (26; 26′) from a proximal position to a distal position such that the needle (4; 4′) can penetrate the tissues (50), whereby the movement of the main body (1; 1′) is accompanied by the concomitant movement of the plunger rod (36; 36′); and (ii) the plunger rod (36; 36′) remains fixed and maintains the implant (6) at the required depth in the tissues (50) until the needle (4; 4′) is removed therefrom when the main body (2; 2′) is returned from the distal position to the proximal position.
US08029457B2	Indwelling catheter with anti-clotting features A catheter for providing blood flow includes first and second lumen parts having a distal portion with at least one port for delivering and receiving flow from a patient and a non-linear profile along the distal portion.
US08029455B2	Satiation pouches and methods of use A method for controlling appetite by means of a satiation device is disclosed. The device, which includes a flexible webbing defining proximal and distal openings and a biasing structure, is attached to the patient's stomach with the proximal opening positioned adjacent and below the patient's gastro-esophageal junction. The biasing structure imparts pressure against the wall of the patient's stomach adjacent the gastro-esophageal junction.
US08029448B2	Telemedicine system, and method for communication with remotely located patients Breathing interval measurement apparatus for measuring breathing of a subject, the apparatus comprising: a breathing interval beginning determinator, a breathing interval end determinator, and a timer associated with said breathing interval beginning determinator and said breathing interval end determinator to measure an interval between activation of said determinators, and a processor operable with said timer to assign levels of importance to said measured time interval.
US08029436B2	Power supply apparatus for a body insertable apparatus A power supply apparatus supplies power to a body-insertable apparatus from outside a subject. The body-insertable apparatus is introduced into the subject and obtains intra-subject information. The power supply apparatus includes a first electric cable which is wound around a circumferential surface of a garment and forms a coil, the garment covering the subject, the coil having a non-directionality at a time of power supply; and a power supply unit which supplies power to the body-insertable apparatus in a contactless manner through the coil.
US08029434B2	Device for the prevention of incontinence, especially urinary incontinence The invention relates to a device for the prevention of incontinence, especially urinary incontinence, with an expandable balloon (3) that is connected to at least one fluid conduit (6) by means of which the volume of the balloon (3) can be adjusted. The band is embodied as a porous tube (1). The balloon (3) is located inside the porous tube.
US08029431B2	Method and apparatus for promoting restorative sleep Brain stimulation is used to promote or induce slow-wave activity thought to be associated with the restorative properties of sleep. In a preferred embodiment, transcranial magnetic stimulation is used to provide neural stimulation at a frequency approximating natural slow-wave activity.
US08029426B2	Mat for exercise Disclosed is a mat for exercise. The mat comprises a main mat having a foot hanger for a sit-up at a top surface of one side thereof and a plurality of grooves at a bottom surface of both lateral sides thereof, a plurality of sub-mats coupled with the main mat in use, and a plurality of attachment plates installed at corners of a bottom surface of the main mat and corners of bottom surfaces of the sub-mats, wherein the main mat is provided with female fabric hook-and-loop fastener (e.g., Velcro) tapes mounted at the grooves thereof, and the sub-mat is provided with male fabric hook-and-loop fastener (e.g., Velcro) tapes that laterally protrude corresponding to the grooves of the main mat.
US08029425B2	Portable multipurpose whole body exercise device A portable multipurpose whole body exercise device which can be used for general fitness, Pilates-type, core strengthening, therapeutic, and rehabilitative exercises as well as stretching and physical therapy and which includes storable accessories that can be withdrawn from storage within the device and subsequently secured to the main tubular portion of the apparatus. The storable accessories can be used for a variety of resistance, stretching, and strength training exercises.
US08029420B1	Blood clot risk reducing apparatus A blood clot risk reducing apparatus includes a frame forming a loop and including a first lateral section, a second lateral section, a front section and a back section. A rod extends between the first and second lateral sections. Two foot panels each include an upper surface, a lower surface, and a distal edge and a proximal edge with respect to the front section. The foot panels are pivotally coupled to the rod. A base is attached to the frame. A pair of foot supports is attached to and extends upwardly from the base. Each of the foot supports is attached to one of the foot panels. The foot supports are resiliently compressible and bias the distal edge of each of the foot panels upwardly. The distal edges of the foot panels are movable downward with a toe portion of a person's foot to exercise their leg muscles while seated.
US08029418B2	Partly-inlaid treadmill A partially-inlaid treadmill system includes a running deck, a wide belt assembled on two parallel rollers to slide over the running deck, side handrails, a panel for controlling and monitoring the treadmill system, a partition that separates a first part of the treadmill system positioned for access to the user from a second part of the treadmill system that includes mechanisms and electro-electronics for driving the belt, incline devices, belt lubrication, ventilation and regulating devices, an emergency control lever, a drawer, a plurality of directional ventilation openings, and an aisle provided on the same side of the partition as the second part of the treadmill for accessing components of the second part of the treadmill system.
US08029411B2	Systems and methods of monitoring exercises and ranges of motion Systems and methods are provided for remotely a monitoring an individual's ability to carry out a various exercise activities and to evaluate the individual's range of motion. The individual can stand or sit in the field of view of the camera and carry out a set of base line activities. The baseline activities can be stored for subsequent retrieval and analysis. Based on the results of that evaluation, other activities can be prescribed for the individual to systematically carry out. The results of the subsequent activities can be evaluated and compared to the result of the base line activities to determine how the activities should be revised or whether other treatments are required or appropriate.
US08029409B2	Method of preventing unauthorized movement of a transmission shift mechanism A method of preventing unauthorized movement of a transmission shift mechanism comprises the steps of: detecting a predefined event; moving a locking device into an engaged position with a shift mechanism upon the occurrence of the predefined event to retain the shift mechanism in at least one of a park, reverse, neutral, and drive position; and maintaining an ignition system in a substantially off position during the detecting of the event and the moving of the locking device into the engaged position. A vehicle assembly is also provided comprising the transmission shift mechanism and the locking device coupled to the shift mechanism. The vehicle assembly also includes the ignition system, which is movable between off, accessory, run, and start positions, and a controller with the controller energizing the locking device in response to the predefined event to move the locking device into the locked position while the ignition system remains substantially in the off position.
US08029408B2	Method and control device for implementing a startup of a combustion engine in a hybrid vehicle A method for compensating a transmitted torque of a clutch between a regulated drive motor, in particular an electromotor, and a combustion engine in the transition to an operation using only the drive motor, to hybrid operation in which an overall torque is supplied jointly by the drive motor and the combustion engine, and the engine speed of the drive motor is controlled with the aid of a manipulated variable; to implement the transition, the combustion engine is dragged by coupling it with the drive motor with the aid of a proportional clutch having a controllable transmitted torque, and the control of the engine speed of the drive motor is implemented as a function of the transmitted torque using which the drive motor is coupled with the combustion engine.
US08029406B2	Automatic transmission for a vehicle An output side transfer member 103 of a second clutch C-2 extends around the outer circumferences of the output side transfer members 101, 102 of the third and first clutches C-3, C-1, the output side transfer member 104 (or 13, 101) of a fourth clutch C-4 and the output side transfer member 101 of a third clutch C-3 are linked to a sun gear S2, the output side transfer member 104 (or 13, 101) of a fourth clutch C-4, an output side transfer member 101 of a third clutch C-3, and a sun gear S2, which rotate integrally, are disposed radially inward with respect to the output side transfer member 102 of the first clutch C-1. Thereby, it becomes possible to reduce the diameter of the output side transfer member 104 (or 13, 101) of the fourth clutch C-4, to reduce the weight and inertia, and to improve the controllability of the automatic transmission 1.
US08029393B2	Foam game ball with tubular holes A game ball is provided with the shape of a football with tubular symmetrically placed holes along the length of the ball. The ball is made of foam and when submerged in water the holes will fill with water. As the ball is thrown in a spiraling rotation, the centrifugal force will cause the water to be expelled through the holes producing multiple spiraling streams of water to spray away from the ball as the ball travels in the air.
US08029392B2	Expandable broadhead and blades therefor An expandable broadhead and blades therefor that are configured to break or fracture upon contact with bone or the like to reduce the size of the blade and improve broadhead penetration.
US08029388B2	Dimple patterns for golf balls The present invention provides a method for arranging dimples on a golf ball surface that significantly improves aerodynamic symmetry and minimizes parting line visibility by arranging the dimples in a pattern derived from at least one irregular domain generated from a regular or non-regular polyhedron. The method includes choosing control points of a polyhedron, generating an irregular domain based on those control points, packing the irregular domain with dimples, and tessellating the irregular domain to cover the surface of the golf ball. The control points include the center of a polyhedral face, a vertex of the polyhedron, a midpoint or other point on an edge of the polyhedron and others. The method ensures that the symmetry of the underlying polyhedron is preserved while eliminating great circles due to parting lines.
US08029387B2	Correcting golf tee A trajectory correcting golf tee constructed with a stem for inserting into the ground and for supporting a golf ball in a fixed position above the ground. The stem is tapered so as to easily insert into the ground in a generally vertical position. The golf tee further includes a top surface with a depression to accept and retain a golf ball. The improvement including an elevated portion along one or two opposing edges of the top surface so as to control and correct a golf ball trajectory.
US08029385B2	Golf club head A golf club head according to one or more aspects of the present invention comprises a striking surface having a face center, a crown portion, and a sole portion, four quadrants, and a linear stiffening element coupled to at least one of the crown portion and the sole portion. The linear stiffening element may extend from the heel region to the toe region of the club head. The stiffening element is disposed in at least three of the four quadrants, at an angle between 50° and 85° relative to an imaginary vertical plane oriented substantially perpendicular to the striking surface and containing the face center. The stiffening element has a survey length, the ratio of the overall width to the survey length being less than 0.97.
US08029383B2	Golf club A hosel portion (22) has a screw portion (32) formed on an internal surface or external surface thereof and a hosel hole (28). A screw member (10) has a through hole (30) for causing a shaft (6) and an inner member (8) to penetrate therethrough, a screw portion (32) and a downward surface (56). The screw portion (32) of the screw member (10) and a screw portion (26) of the hosel portion (22) are coupled to each other. The inner member (8) has a shaft inserting hole (40) opened on an upper end side thereof, a lower surface (42) which can be engaged with a receiving surface (60), and an upward surface (44). At least a part of the inner member (8) is inserted into the hosel hole (28). The shaft (6) and the shaft inserting hole (40) are fixed to each other through bonding and/or fitting. The shaft (6) and a head (4) are fixed to each other through an engagement of the downward surface (56) and the upward surface (44) and an engagement of the receiving surface (60) and the lower surface (42). In another embodiment, a shaft (6c) and a head (4c) are fixed to each other through an engagement of a downward surface (35c) and an upward surface (44c) and an engagement of a receiving surface (60c) and an engaging side surface (42c).
US08029379B1	Golf putting training apparatus and method of training a golfer to use a putter A golf putting training apparatus for improving a golf stroke along a line of intended travel of a golf ball. The golf training apparatus includes a pair of upright supports and an eye alignment tool for aligning a user's eyes above the apparatus and in a vertical plane that includes the golf ball and the line of intended travel. The eye alignment tool is supported by and connected between the supports and above the golf ball and includes a substantially linear top edge and pair of generally parallel planar sides depending from the top edge toward a bottom edge. A method of training a golfer to use a putter used by the golfer during a golf putting stroke is also disclosed.
US08029377B2	Child motion device A child motion device includes a frame that provides a structural support relative to a reference surface and that includes an arm pivotably coupled to the structural support. A child supporting device is coupled to the arm and spaced from the reference surface by the frame. A drive system is configured to move the arm such that the child supporting device reciprocates along a motion path at a frequency within a range from about 0.37 Hz to about 0.62 Hz. In some cases, a further drive system is configured to oscillate the child supporting device generally along the axis of rotation at a frequency in a range from about 2.85 Hz to about 3.15 Hz.
US08029376B2	Shock absorbing athletic field and method of constructing same An athletic field is constructed using side-by-side conjoined layers of resilient synthetic material placed over a drain blanket and extending to a peripheral trench drain. The primary material construction is a rollable layer approximately 4 feet wide by 200 feet long comprising a dimpled polyethylene core material with bonded top and bottom thin, flexible geotechnic fabric layers. A flange and flap system along one edge receives the opposite edge of the joining strip to bond the laterally adjoining layers together in a shingling or tiered manner to promote drainage and to keep water out of the resilient pliable structure. The top surface is overlaid with artificial turf.
US08029374B2	Fixed constant-velocity universal joint A fixed constant velocity universal joint is made compact, has little decrease in load capacity even when the fixed constant velocity universal joint is made compact and is at an operating angle, and has improved high angle strength and durability through lessening instances in which a ball runs over a track at a high angle. In the fixed constant velocity universal joint, a cage includes four pockets, the pockets including a pair of long pockets of which a circumferential direction spacing is wide and a pair of short pockets of which the circumferential direction spacing is narrow. The pair of long pockets are shifted by 180 degrees along a circumferential direction and the pair of short pockets are shifted by 180 degrees along the circumferential direction. As a result, the long pockets and the short pockets are alternately disposed along the circumferential direction. A long pocket houses two balls. A short pocket houses one ball. Two ball housing sections connected by a slit are formed in the long pocket by projections that project towards a long pocket inner side being provided on opposing long sides of the long pocket.
US08029373B2	Fixed constant velocity universal joint A fixed constant velocity universal joint of a structure, which easily allows incorporation of an inner ring into a cage without impairing a function of the joint, is provided. The fixed constant velocity universal joint has an outer ring having in an inner spherical surface thereof a plurality of track grooves arranged at equal circumferential intervals and extending axially toward an open end, an inner ring having in an outer spherical surface thereof a plurality of axially extending track grooves paired with the track grooves of the outer ring and arranged at equal circumferential intervals, a plurality of balls interposed between the track grooves of the outer ring and the track grooves of the inner ring, for transmitting torque, and a cage interposed between the inner spherical surface of the outer ring and the outer spherical surface of the inner ring, for holding the balls, in which an outer ring open end side of the outer spherical surface of the inner ring is cut off, with a boundary portion between a cutoff portion thereby obtained and the outer spherical surface being rounded.
US08029371B2	Rotary-wing aircraft torque coupling with pad bearings A torque coupling for a rotor head of a rotary-wing aircraft is configured for rotation with a mast and for causing rotation of an attached yoke. The coupling has trunnions that rotate with the mast and extend generally radially. Pad-bearing assemblies each have a central member coupled to one of the trunnions with a laminated spherical bearing and have laminated pad bearings affixed to opposing sides of the central member. The laminated bearings have alternating rigid and elastomeric layers. A bearing mount is affixed to each pad bearing and is connected to a yoke for rotating the yoke with the mast. The pad-bearing assemblies allow for relative motion between each central member and the associated trunnion and between each central member and the bearing mounts through elastic shear deformation, and this allows for gimballing of the attached yoke relative to the mast.
US08029370B2	Spring seat and damper disk assembly Second spring seats 62 each have a first support component 63, a second support component 64, and a reinforcing plate 66. The first support component 63 supports the ends of second coil spring 61a in the rotational direction. The second support component 64 extends in the rotational direction from the first support component 63 and supports the end of the second spring 61a in the radial direction. At least part of the reinforcing plate 66 is embedded in at least one of the first and second support components 63 and 64. The reinforcing plate 66 directly or indirectly supports the end of the second spring 61a along with the first and second support components 63 and 64.
US08029354B2	Gaming machine and gaming method thereof A gaming environment is described. If the predetermined condition is met and the free game is shifted, reels are changed to other reels to be used in the free game. Also, in the free game, reel display portion on which the WILD symbols are displayed on all of the symbol display portions, the reel display portion is held in following games. The WILD symbols are consecutively displayed with the predetermined number (which is greater or equal to the number of symbol display portions of one reel display portion) on the reels used in the free game. Therefore, the probability where WILD symbols fill on the all of the can be enhanced, one or more aspects of the invention can provide higher interest to the player.
US08029352B2	Method, system, and program product for grouping game players by class Game play requests in a bingo gaming system are associated with different play characteristic classes and collected into different game play groups simultaneously according to play characteristic class. Once a sufficient number of game play requests are collected in a respective game play group, a bingo game is conducted with the respective game play group and results are returned to the players associated with that game play group. Play characteristic class may be defined on the basis of the speed at which players take any required actions to claim results in a game so that players who may take the required actions relatively slowly will not be grouped for games with players who may take the required actions relatively quickly.
US08029351B2	Gaming machine including a wheel and a processor to specify a pocket of the wheel As a result of lottery using the roulette device 3, if the ball 27 enters in the bonus pocket 24 among the pockets formed on the wheel 22, the special bonus game using the WIN lamp 11 occurs and all credits betted to each station 4 in the present game are paid out (S15) to one station 4 which is determined based on the lottery (S123) by the server control CPU 81 that winning is obtained.
US08029349B2	Networked gaming system with secondary bonus game A method includes receiving a game play input preferably in a gaming network. This game play input specifies a wager in a primary game in which a player is participating through the network, and is typically entered through a player station connected in the network. A secondary game play is generated in response to the game play input. This generation of the secondary game play is separate from any actions taken in the gaming network in connection with the primary game in response to the game play input. The secondary game play includes one or more entries in a secondary game that is distinct from the primary game, and the number of entries included in the secondary game play is determined by the wager in the primary game. Each entry included in the secondary game play is associated with a chance in the secondary game and is ultimately analyzed to identify a result of the secondary game play for the secondary game. This secondary game result may then be presented to the player preferably at the same player station at which the game play input was made.
US08029347B2	Crop residue chopping-and-distributing arrangement for a combine The invention relates to a crop residue chopping-and-distributing arrangement for a combine, with a straw chopper (60) and two distribution blowers (100) arranged laterally alongside one another, on the periphery of which is provided a respective first shield (144), adjustable about axis of rotation (108) for modifying the distribution characteristics, that can be brought into an active position. It is proposed that the first shields (144) are respectively mounted on a rotary holder (176) rotatable about axis of rotation (84) of the associated distribution blower (100) and additionally carrying a second shield (146), which has a smaller dimension in the circumferential direction than first shield (144), so that second shield (146) can selectively be brought into an active position instead of first shield (144).
US08029346B2	Combine with grain tank extensions A combine (10) includes a support frame (12) that can be moved across a field in a forward operating direction and a grain tank (42) fastened to it. The grain tank (42) is provided with side walls (58) that can be moved by means of an adjusting drive (68) between a retracted position for operation on public roads and for the storage of the combine (10) and an extended position for the harvesting operation. Each side wall (58) is connected in the upward direction with a cover (84) that is a component of a ring-shaped grain tank extension. The grain tank extension can be moved between an extended position in which it forms a ring that enlarges the grain tank (42) in the upward direction, and a retracted position, in which it encloses the grain tank (42) in the upward direction.
US08029340B2	Quick mount adapter and backing plate surface care system and apparatus A quick mount adapter and backing plate is provided for use with a surface care tool of conventional manufacture, the tool including a male or female drive spindle with or without an adapter interface. A surface care media is attached directly to the backing plate. The quick mount adapter is configured with an inner sleeve member and an outer sleeve member, the sleeve members being axially movable and spring-biased in relation to one another. A plurality of keeper balls is disposed between the sleeve members to selectively engage and disengage a circumferential groove that is disposed within a hub of the backing plate. The backing plate is configured to be attachable to the quick mount adapter, the quick mount adapter being attachable to the threaded portion of a drive spindle, and to the threaded portion of the drive spindle itself.
US08029334B2	Device for modifying the position of the segments in the event of the inclination of a segmented grinding pad A device is described comprising: a segmented sanding pad having a plurality of segments, each segment having a longitudinal axis and corresponding to a respective contact roller having a longitudinal axis, wherein, when the sanding pad is moved obliquely, the segments align in accordance with a degree of oblique movement, characterized in that the longitudinal axes of the individual contact rollers and the respective segments are aligned with respect to each other when the gap between the segments is adjusted to the longitudinal axis of the contact rollers.
US08029333B2	Device for polishing peripheral edge of semiconductor wafer A device for polishing the peripheral edge part of a semiconductor wafer includes a wafer stage for holding the wafer, a wafer stage unit including devices for rotating the wafer stage, causing the wafer stage to undergo a rotary reciprocating motion within the same plane as the surface of the wafer stage, and moving the wafer stage parallel to the surface, a notch polishing part for polishing the notch on the wafer and a bevel polishing part for polishing the beveled part of the wafer. Pure water is supplied to the wafer to prevent it from becoming dry as it is transported from the notch polishing part to the bevel polishing part.
US08029331B2	Moveable electronic toy and moving method thereof A moveable electronic toy includes two wheels, two motors configured for driving the two wheels, a deviation detecting module, an adjusting module and a driving module. The deviation detecting module is configured for detecting angular velocities of the two wheels to determine an angular velocity difference between the two wheels. The adjusting module is configured for generating an adjusting signal indicative of the angular velocity of which wheel to be adjusted and an adjustment value of the angular velocity according to the angular velocity difference. The driving module is configured for receiving the adjusting signal and driving a corresponding motor using a pulse-width modulator.
US08029328B2	Method for manufacturing field emission electron source having carbon nanotubes A method for manufacturing a field emission includes: providing a CNT array; drawing a bundle of CNTs from the CNT array to form a CNT yarn; soaking the CNT yarn into an organic solvent, and shrinking the CNT yarn into a CNT string after the organic solvent volatilizing; applying a voltage between two opposite ends of the CNT string; bombarding a predetermined point of the CNT string by an electron emitter, until the CNT string snapping; and attaching the snapped CNT string to a conductive base, and achieving a field emission electron source. The field emission efficiency of the field emission electron source is high.
US08029322B1	Electrical contact assemblies and connectors including retention clips An electrical connector that includes a plug insert having a dielectric body and having a pair of contact channels. The contact channels have central axes that extend parallel to each other in a common direction. The contact channels are defined by respective channel walls and are separated by an inter-channel portion of the dielectric body. The channel walls have wall perimeters that extend around the corresponding central axes. The electrical connector also has a contact sub-assembly that includes mating contacts that are received in the contact channels and retention clips that are positioned within the contact channels between the mating contacts and the channel walls. Each of the retention clips has a concave body with an open side. The concave body extends partially about the wall perimeter with the open side positioned along a portion of the wall perimeter. The retention clips are oriented to face one another.
US08029319B2	Shielded connector structure A shielded connector structure includes a first connector and a second connector, each having a metal terminal element, an insulating connector housing that has a terminal container for accommodating the metal terminal elements, and a conductive shield shell which covers the terminal container of the connector housing. The shielded connector structure further includes a conductive connector mounting portion which contacts the shield shell of at least one of the first and second connectors to ground the shield shell; and a connecting portion which is provided on each of the shield shells of the first and second connectors, and is coupled to the connector mounting portion when the first and second connectors are engaged to shield-connect the shield shells each other.
US08029318B2	Electric power plug and method of producing the same An electric power plug comprises blades, a bridge and a plug body. The bridge includes sleeves for covering the roots of the blades and a core for holding the lower ends of the blades. The blades and the core are integrally molded. The plug body is molded so that the plug body embeds the bridge except the upper portions of the sleeves. The core may embed the lower portions of the blades, cords, a caulking portion for connecting the lower ends of blades and wire conductors of the cords. A cavity may be formed at the central portion of the core. The plug body may be molded so that the plug body embeds the bridge and the cords except the upper portions of the sleeves.
US08029314B2	Connector for mounting a flexible printed circuit board A connector is adapted to mount a FPC board. The connector includes a base and a cover. The base includes an opening and a first connecting portion located at two sides of the opening. The cover is pivotally connected to the base, and includes a second connecting portion, wherein when the cover is turned and then the second connecting portion is engaged with the first connecting portion, there is an accommodating space formed between the cover and the opening of the base for accommodating the FPC board, and the first and second connecting portions are adjacent to the position portion, whereby the position portion cannot escape from the accommodating space.
US08029305B2	Connector mounting structure, connector, a grommet and mounting method Connection resistance (Rc) resulting from the resilient deformation of a lock arm (26) is produced in the process of connecting two housings (10, 20), and connection resistance (Rb) resulting from a resilient restoring force of a grommet (30) held in contact with a panel (P) is produced with the two housings (10, 20) properly connected. In the process of connecting the two housings (10, 20), the connection resistance (Rb) resulting from the resilient restoring force of the grommet (30) increases after the lock arm (26) is resiliently restored.
US08029302B1	Strap with charging and data transmitting function An ornamental strap with charging and data transmitting function is disclosed, The ornamental strap comprises: a data cable; a base; a data connector rotatably connected to the base; and a USB connector; wherein a positioning groove is provided between the data connector and the base; the data cable has one end connected to the data connector, and the other end bent and turned back to connect with the USB connector after passing through the positioning groove. Therefore, the data cable forms a loop at one end of the base such that it can be carried about and will not be lost easily, and further it can be used as an ornament.
US08029298B2	Apparatus for preventing electrical shock in devices A device for preventing electrical shock from a device with electrical interfaces. A shutter or other barrier associated with the device that physically prevents access or contact to one of the electrical interfaces while another electrical interface is in use.
US08029294B2	Connector set and jointer for use therein A connector set includes at least one of a header and a socket and a jointer. The jointer extends in a direction and is configured to couple the header and the socket so as to be in parallel with each other. The jointer includes first jointer connecting portions provided at both end portions thereof and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and which are configured to engage first connecting portions provided at both end portions of the header, and second jointer connecting portions provided at both end portions of the jointer body and extending in a third direction opposite to the second direction, and which are configured to engage the second connecting portions provided at both end portions of the socket.
US08029293B2	Positionable lighting systems and methods A lighting assembly includes a lighting unit having a housing defining an internal cavity and an opening. A light source is assembled within the internal cavity of the housing. An electrical wire is electrically connected to the light source at a first end and is configured to be contained at least in part within the housing. The opening is configured to permit withdrawal of a user selected amount of the electrical wire from within the internal cavity and/or to permit a user selected amount of the electrical wire to be inserted into the internal cavity.
US08029289B2	Backlit map with interchangeable pictures This invention is directed toward a map overlaying a lighted display box. The map has a plurality of magnified eye holes though which a person can view lighted, magnified pictures or photographs. The map can be easily opened such that the pictures can be interchanged, such that a user may begin with a map containing generic, stock photos of various national parks, surf spots, or baseball stadiums, then, over time, as the user physically visits these locations he/she can replace the stock photos with personalized photos. The color of light can be changed as well once a location is visited, to give the user a sense of visual association and accomplishment.
US08029288B2	Computer implemented systems and methods for enhancing renewable energy educational activities Systems and methods are provided for collecting, aggregating, and analyzing data associated with the performance of systems. Energy systems, specifically renewable energy generation systems, are used as examples. The aggregated data serve as the basis for a variety of services that facilitate the adoption and deployment of these systems. Services are provided that aid in enhancing energy educational activities. The services represent the quantity of energy generation as energy demands that the students may appreciate. Furthermore, the services are interactive and may allow the students to change System Parameters so that they more fully understand the influence of these parameters on the energy generation efficiency.
US08029284B2	Implants, tools, and methods for sinus lift and lateral ridge augmentation Apparatus is provided that includes a dental implant having a proximal implant end and a lateral external surface. The implant is shaped so as to define a lumen therethrough having a lateral opening through the lateral external surface. The apparatus further includes an applicator, which is removably coupled to the proximal implant end. The applicator includes a delivery tube having a distal tube end that is removably coupled to the implant such that the delivery tube is in fluid communication with the lumen via the lateral opening. Other embodiments are also described.
US08029280B2	Intra-oral device and method An intra-oral device includes a tongue shield aspirator, a bite member, a bite grip, and an evacuation tube. The tongue shield aspirator may include a tongue retractor portion and a cheek retractor portion, and may be an open, unitary, and/or flexible component made of position-memory material. The bite member includes a conduit which receives the tongue shield aspirator through one end and the evacuation tube through the opposite end. The free end of the evacuation tube is connectable directly to a HVE valve to aspirate fluid/debris from the mouth. The device may be positioned in the mouth by bending the distal (free) end of the tongue shield aspirator, inserting the bite member into the mouth first, followed by the tongue shield aspirator as the device is moved towards the patient's cheek, releasing the free end of the tongue shield aspirator, and having the patient bite down on the bite member.
US08029275B2	Self-ligating orthodontic bracket A self-ligating orthodontic bracket including a base mountable on a tooth and having upstanding hinge members with aligned slots defining an archwire slot and for pivotally and slidably receiving a pair of openable and closable jaws and a spring member engaging said jaws and actuable upon opening and closing said jaws to selectively lock the jaws into open position for insertion or removal of an archwire and closed position for locking the archwire to the bracket.
US08029273B2	Burner A burner is disclosed which includes a vortex generator for a combustion air stream, means for the admission of fuel into the combustion air stream and air inlet ducts, the combustion air stream enters a vortex chamber of the vortex generator via air inlet ducts. The fuel is injected into the combustion air asymmetrically via the injection means.
US08029272B1	Self-activated candle extinguishing device This invention relates to a self-activated automatic candle snuffer. The device generally comprises a back plate connected to a base and to a spoon having a hole so that the back plate supports the spoon for spring movement with respect to the base. A candle mounted to the base so that the candle passes through the hole in the spoon. A set pin movably affixed to the spoon proximate the hole, operatively arranged to pierce and enter the candle so as to maintain tension in the spoon. A ball balanced on the spoon and a means for release of tension in the spoon which causes release of potential energy that allows the spoon to elevate to an inclined plane to cause the ball to roll down the spoon to settle on the hole and the wick and extinguish a flame.
US08029269B2	Blow air supply unit for blow molding machine Inner surface strain of a container is reduced by suppressing a temperature drop of blow air, and heat resistance of the container is increased by enhancing the degree of crystallization. A blow air supply unit for a blow molding machine for molding a hollow bottle container 1 by supplying heated blow air into a preform includes: a high-pressure air source 11 for generating high-pressure blow air; a high-pressure gate valve 12 for opening/closing a blow air channel on the downstream of the high-pressure air source 11; a heat exchanger 13 for heating the blow air on the downstream of the high-pressure gate valve 12; a throttle valve 14 for throttling the flow rate of blow air on the downstream side of the heat exchanger 13; and a switchover valve 15 for switching the blow air on the downstream of the throttle valve 14.
US08029268B2	Cooling fetch apparatus of performs The present invention discloses a cooling fetch apparatus of performs, and the apparatus includes: a first fetch mechanism, moved back and forth, for fetching each perform formed in a mold of an injection molding machine from the mold; a second fetch mechanism, moved back and forth, for fetching each preform on the first fetch mechanism. After the second fetch mechanism fetches a predetermined quantity of performs, the performs on second fetch mechanism are unloaded sequentially, such that the injection molding process and the cooling process of the performs are separated. The timing of fetching each perform on the second fetch mechanism is controlled for assuring a good cooling effect of each preform.
US08029267B2	Ejector apparatus An ejector apparatus moves a lift core extending through a core of a component of a resin molding mold to form an undercut portion in a molded piece and is installed so as to be capable of moving obliquely with respect to the core surface in a longitudinal direction. An ejector plate is arranged between the core and a base plate below the core, so as to be capable of moving up and down. A slide path is formed in the ejector plate extending in a direction in which a lower end of the lift core makes relative horizontal movement during ascent and descent of the lift core. A slide base is movably arranged in the slide path and coupled to the lower end of the lift core. A guide rod imparts a moving force within the slide path to the lower end of the lift core during ascent and descent of the ejector plate.
US08029265B2	Burger press A burger press includes a base having upward extending sidewalls, a lifter sized and shaped to fit within the base, and a plunger having a handle attached to a first side of a generally planar plate that is sized and shaped to fit within the base. At least one of a second side of the plunger plate and the lifter are shaped to include a surface feature selected from a plurality of ribs and a raised portion, the plurality of ribs and the raised portion being structured to press into a burger as the burger is formed in the burger press by compressing the burger between the plunger and the lifter.
US08029258B2	Automated plumbing, wiring, and reinforcement An apparatus may include a nozzle assembly configured to extrude material through an outlet; and a controllable robotic arm coupled to the nozzle assembly, the robotic arm having at one end a gripper configured to pick up an element and deposit the element at a desired position relative to the extruded material. The element may be one of: a reinforcement member for a structure being constructed; a segment of a plumbing pipe; an electric network component; and a tile.
US08029253B2	Finger-type peristaltic pump The invention provides a finger-type peristaltic pump (2) having a body (4) and a housing (6). The body contains two or more finger-type valves (16) and a processor (22) configured to operate the valves according to a predetermined temporo-spatial pattern. The housing has a passageway (18) configured to receive a conduit. The housing has a first position in which a conduit in the passageway is positioned adjacent to the valve fingers, and a second position in which a conduit in the passageway is not adjacent to the valve fingers. The invention also provides a housing for use in the pump of the invention.
US08029247B2	System and method for pressure compensation in a pump Systems and methods for maintaining substantially a baseline pressure in a chamber of a pumping apparatus are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention may serve to control a motor to compensate or account for a pressure drift which may occur in a chamber of the pumping apparatus. More specifically, a dispense motor may be controlled to substantially maintain a baseline pressure in the dispense chamber before a dispense based on a pressure sensed in the dispense chamber. In one embodiment, before a dispense is initiated a control loop may be utilized such that it is repeatedly determined if the pressure in the dispense chamber is above a desired pressure and, if so, the movement of the pumping means regulated to maintain substantially the desired pressure in the dispense chamber until a dispense of fluid is initiated.
US08029246B2	Pressure-operated mechanism and water pump including the same A pulley is fixed to a housing of a water pump, the pulley being connected to an output shaft of an internal combustion engine so that the pulley is driven through the output shaft. In the housing, a slider moves to and fro due to a change in pressure in a pressure chamber, which causes the magnetic flux passing through a magnet and an inductor ring of a rotary cylinder to vary, so that the driving force of the internal combustion engine is variably transmitted to the rotary cylinder. The pressure chamber is connected to an intake air passage and an atmospheric air introducing portion through a pressure path, and the state of communication is changed by a VSV. The pressure passage is provided with an orifice for preventing rapid change in pressure in the pressure chamber when the VSV is switched.
US08029237B2	Centrifugal fan and housing thereof A centrifugal fan. The centrifugal fan has at least one air inlet and one air outlet, and at least one set of rotor blades. A sidewall extends downward from an inner margin of the air inlet to define an air-gathering chamber in the housing of the centrifugal fan for increasing airflow pressure and heat dissipating efficiency.
US08029230B2	Turbine exhaust system and method for modifying the same A turbine exhaust system includes an exhaust hood inner casing that involves the turbine rotor; an exhaust hood outer casing that forms an exhaust hood, together with the exhaust hood inner casing; a flow guide that forms an annular diffuser flow path; and exhaust hood upper part flow guides each of which serves as means for separating annular plane upper part exhaust steam within a range including a vertical upward flow out of exhaust steam radially discharging from the flow guide into the exhaust hood, from other exhaust steam, to thereby introduce the separated steam to the condenser, wherein exhaust steam introduction-side end faces thereof are located further toward the upper side than the horizontal plane containing the central axis of the turbine rotor.
US08029229B2	Compensator for robotic arm A robotic arm compensator includes a housing, a lock mandrel, a first lock slide, a second lock slide and an instrument attached to the lock mandrel. A method of using the robotic arm compensator includes moving the first and second lock slides in a direction toward each other to engage the lock mandrel in a first state and moving the lock slides apart from each other to disengage the lock mandrel in a second state for providing exceptional radial movement, large lateral travel relative to overall size, zero force to utilize the compensation travel and no axial compressibility.
US08029225B2	Stacked process modules for a semiconductor handling system Methods and systems are provided for a vacuum-based semiconductor handling system. The system may be a linear system with a four-link robotic SCARA arm for moving materials in the system. The system may include one or more vertically stacked load locks or vertically stacked process modules.
US08029223B2	Screw and its combination with a conical sealing disk A screw (60) is provided, having a shaft (32) and a head (66), for fastening a component onto a substructure utilizing a tightly pressing conical sealing disk (50) against the component. The screw head (66) is configured at the bottom (64) thereof around the shaft (32) as a cone that is tapered in the direction of the top (68) of the screw head (66). The cone angle of the conical sealing disk (50) measured against a perpendicular line to the disk axis is equal to, or larger than the cone angle (alpha) of the screw head (66), which is measured against a perpendicular line to the screw axis. When the screw (60) is tightened, the conical bottom (64) of the screw head (66) and the conical top (58) of the sealing disk (50) are in mutual surface contact with each other. This maintains a sealing connection. Through the conical configuration of the bottom (64) of the screw head (66) the so-called “cupping” of the sealing disk (50) is prevented when the screw (60) is tightened.
US08029217B2	Machine adaptation The invention relates to the transmission of power and/or data from/to a stationary part of a machine tool 200 to/from an accessory 100 mounted in the spindle 210 of the machine tool 200. A first electrical link or interface 1a,1b,1c,1d provides electrical communication between the stationary part 200 and the spindle 210, and a second electrical link or interface 3 is provided electrically connected to the first electrical link at the accessory mounting area 230. The second link 3 is in the form of electrical contacts. The invention extends to an accessory shank 360 for mounting to the spindle 210 of the machine tool, and also to an accessory 100 e.g. in the form of a measurement probe, connected to the said shank 360.
US08029213B2	Indexable insert with nick An indexable insert with nicks for a rotary tool includes plurality of nicks are provided in an upper surface serving as a flank face. The nicks have their ends in the upper surface. The nicks divide a ridge line serving as a main cutting edge in a longitudinal direction. Each nick has a width gradually increasing toward the end.
US08029208B1	Apparatus and method for covering a surface of a body of water to inhibit evaporation A cover structure for covering a portion of a surface of a body of water includes a first plate having a brim, a second plate having a brim, the second plate overlying and spaced apart from the first plate, a support structure coupling the first plate to the second plate, and the cover structure having a specific gravity for maintaining the first plate in a position covering a portion of the surface of a body of water, and maintaining the second plate below the portion of the surface of the body of water.
US08029205B2	Retractable writing instrument A retractable writing instrument has a push-to-extend, push-to-retract operating mechanism assembled for life as a single module which is removeable from a body of the writing instrument. A prehensile member is connected to the operating mechanism and is moveable axially for displacing the writing tip of the cartridge between its extended and retracted positions. The prehensile member has resilient parts adapted for grasping the end of the cartridge inserted through an aperture in the operating mechanism module and pressed into a cavity in the prehensile member, thereby allowing users to readily replace the cartridge without the risk of releasing small easily-lost components of the operating mechanism.
US08029200B2	Printing apparatus which eliminated complexity of power-on operation and can enter in print preparation when print is enabled A printing apparatus includes a detection signal receiving device that receives a detection signal from a computer; where a printable condition determining device subsequently determines whether a predetermined printable condition is satisfied; where a power-ON device subsequently turns-ON the main power supply of the printing apparatus; and where a control device subsequently executes print preparation processing; wherein when the power-ON device turns-ON the main power supply of the printing apparatus, the printing apparatus is in sleep mode or energy saving mode in which electric power is supplied only to the control device and the detection signal receiving device; and the printing apparatus includes a power supply portion equipped with a battery, and when a power supply is started, first, the printing apparatus turns into sleep mode or energy saving mode in which electric power is supplied only to the control device and the detection signal receiving device.
US08029194B2	Restrained, reverse multi-pad bearing assembly A hydrodynamic fluid film bearing assembly has a stationary retaining member defining a central opening and having an inner surface lined by a foil assembly comprised of a plurality of foil subassemblies. Each foil subassembly comprises a first compliant foil, a second compliant foil, and a spring foil, and subtending a rotational segment, less than all, of the inner surface of the retaining member. The complaint foils and the spring foil of each foil subassembly are held within the retaining member in such a way that sliding travel of one compliant foil along the inner surface of the opening is in the opposite rotational direction of sliding travel of the other compliant foil and the spring foil. The foil subassemblies may be restrained from undesired movement during operation by a retention tab extending from the foil subassembly which engages a channel and recess feature formed in the retaining member.
US08029190B2	Method and articles for sensing relative temperature A method for determining the relative body temperature of a warm-bodied animal is described. The method, in part, involves an article of manufacture that provides a manifestation, or visually observable indication on an exterior surface, of a relative state of the warm-bodied animal's body temperature, either being too cold or too hot, as a measure against relative levels of hypothermia or hyperthermia, or poor circulation.
US08029182B2	LED night light with liquid optics medium An LED night light includes a liquid optics medium arrangement that lets visible wavelength light beams pass through the liquid optics medium to a viewer. The liquid optics medium may include miniature floating objects made from textile, metal, plastic, porcelain, ceramic, dry flower, wood, plants, and/or potpourri in the shape of toys, stuffed animals, blow-molded units, seasonal items, dolls, etc. for a variety of gift, toy, sports, seasonal, or holiday applications. The night light may further incorporate a heater element to cause the liquid medium to flow and cause movement of the miniatures.
US08029179B2	Planar illumination apparatus and liquid crystal display apparatus using the same Laser lights emitted from a light source 30 are diffused in a direction parallel to main surfaces of a light guide plate 9 by a one-dimensional diffuser 5. The diffused laser lights are converted to parallel lights by a first cylindrical lens 6, and are then converged in a direction of the thickness of the light guide plate 9 by a second cylindrical lens 7. The converged laser lights are reflected 90 degrees twice by a mirror 8, and are guided to a side surface of the light guide plate 9.
US08029174B2	Threshold lighting system A threshold lighting system for recreation vehicles and the like. The system includes a threshold with a first light cavity extending along one side of the threshold for emitting light inwardly into a recreational vehicle in a first direction generally parallel to the vehicle floor, and a second light cavity on the opposite side of the threshold for emitting light in a second direction down the stairs leading to the threshold. The light cavities are preferably part of an extrusion forming the threshold, and the threshold is typically part of a door frame assembly provided as a unit.
US08029173B2	Structure of overhead lamp and mounting bracket for constructional vehicle A structure of overhead lamp and mounting bracket for constructional vehicle has developed to tilt the illuminating angle by controlling the position of slits at the lateral sides of bracket. The lamp is securely fixing at the controlled position at one of 4 positions and the position controlling slits. The main case is securely fixed to the bracket by installing a connection screw and a hinge bolt for restricting unwanted rotation of the hinge bolt. Accordingly, since a position controlling rib having a position controlling slit is extended rearward from side supporters, the illumination angle can be controlled within a greater range. The main case can be supported at 4 points through the plurality of position controlling slits. Furthermore, by fitting the connection screw with an outer circumferential recess of a hinge bolt fastening lever, rotational separation of the hinge bolt and change of the illumination angle of the main case can be prevented.
US08029169B2	LED illumination device An LED illumination device includes a lamp housing, a heat sink, a cooling fan, and a light source. The heat sink, the cooling fan and the light source are received in the lamp housing. The heat sink includes a base and a plurality of fins extending from the base. The light source is attached to the base of the heat sink. The cooling fan causes ambient air to enter into the lamp housing and flow through the heat sink. A plurality of air-disturbing plates extends from the lamp housing towards the heat sink. The air-disturbing plates disturb the air in the lamp housing and guide the disturbed air into air passageways defined between adjacent fins of the heat sink.
US08029168B2	Projection type image display apparatus A projection type image display apparatus has a light source unit (11) that includes an arc tube (110) enclosed by a reflector (111) for reflecting the light emitted from the arc tube in one direction through its opening (111a). The opening (111a) of the reflector (111) of the light source unit (11) is covered with a transparent member (112). Formed in one side of the reflector (111), adjacent the opening is an air inlet port (113), while the side facing the air inlet port (113) is closed (i.e. has no port). Formed in the remaining two sides of the reflector (111), and adjacent the opening (111a), are air outlet ports (114) one for each side. This arrangement causes the cooling air to be uniformly circulated in the entire reflector (111) of the light source unit (11) without stagnation to regulate the temperature of the arc tube (110) in an easy and costless manner, and enables installation of the light source unit (11) at any angular position, free of angular limitation.
US08029166B2	Active enclosure for computing device A computing device is disclosed. The computing device includes a housing having an illuminable portion. The computing device also includes a light device disposed inside the housing. The light device is configured to illuminate the illuminable portion.
US08029157B2	Light refraction illumination device In an embodiment, a light refraction illumination device is disclosed. The light refraction illumination device may comprise or include a support member, and a plurality of lenses associated with the support member, wherein each lens from among the plurality of lenses may comprise or include a plurality of concave surfaces. The light refraction illumination device may further comprise or include at least one light source associated with the support member, wherein the at least one light source is configured to emit light, and wherein the at least one light source is positioned relative to the plurality of lenses such that the light is configured to travel through the plurality of concave surfaces.
US08029156B2	Optical module for LED array An optical module for LED luminaire is provided. The optical module can be used with LED arrays so that the luminaire with LED arrays can utilize the present invention to improve the luminance, brightness, luminance uniformity and coefficient of utilization to meet the user's demands. The optical module includes at least a radiation guiding unit and at least an anti-glare unit. The radiation guiding units are arranged abreast to adjust the radiation pattern to fit the coverage range. The anti-glare unit is formed on the both sides of the radiation guiding unit to prevent glare. The optical module of the present invention, when used in a luminaire, can form the expected distribution curve according to the objects to be lighted.
US08029153B2	Combination aromatic nebulizing diffuser and color light set assembly An aromatic nebulizing diffuser and color light set assembly includes a fluid container, a base panel carrying two electric fans beneath the fluid container for drawing in outside air, an oscillator for causing automation of an aromatic fluid in the fluid container, a color light set for emitting color light upwardly toward the inside of the fluid container, a power adapter mounted on the base panel for providing the electric fans, the oscillator and the color light set with the necessary working voltage, a shell supporting the fluid container on a flat surface, light guide tubes mounted in the fluid container for condensing emitted color light from the color light set into vertically extending color light beams, and a slotted cover covering the top side of the fluid container.
US08029152B2	Package for light-emitting device, light-emitting apparatus, and illuminating apparatus A package includes a base body having a mounting portion for mounting a light-emitting device, a frame-shaped first reflection member attached to the upper surface of the base body, an inner peripheral surface of which is shaped into a first light reflecting surface and surrounds the mounting portion, and a frame-shaped second reflection member attached to the upper surface of the base body, with a spacing secured between an inner peripheral surface of the second reflection member and an outer peripheral surface of the first reflection member, the inner peripheral surface surrounding the first reflection member and having a second light reflecting surface at a location above an upper end of the first reflection member.
US08029151B2	Back-up lighting system Embodiments of this invention provide a secondary, or back-up, lighting system for light fixtures having a primary light source. The back-up lighting system is configured to mount onto a support structure of the light fixture. The back-up lighting system includes a light source and a lens with optical properties. A housing retains the light source and lens. The back-up lighting system may include a controller that monitors the main power source for the primary light source of the light fixture. The controller activates the light source of the back-up lighting system upon detecting power restoration after a power loss. In some embodiments of this invention, the back-up lighting system includes a secondary power source that powers the back-up lighting system during a loss of power.
US08029150B2	Outer mirror for side door of a vehicle An outer mirror includes: a mirror base which is attached to a side surface of a vehicle body of a vehicle; a shaft which is erected on the mirror base; and a mirror housing which is rotatably attached to the shaft and is provided with a mirror for reflecting a rearward of the vehicle body. The shaft is exposed in a gap between a top surface of the mirror base and a bottom surface of the mirror housing. The shaft includes at least one of a concave portion or a convex portion on a part of an outer circumferential surface of the shaft which faces to a front side of the vehicle body.
US08029149B2	Illumination for projecting an image The invention is directed to a method for illuminating an object and projecting its image on a ground glass screen. Optical comparators conventionally use incandescent illumination, either mercury arc or halogen. The use of an array of high intensity LED devices, provides many options for packaging the required optical components used in comparators.
US08029146B2	Light source device and projector A light source device which produces illumination light for illuminating a target illumination area on a predetermined light receiving surface includes: a light source which emits light; a superimposing illumination element which superimposes the light emitted from the light source and applies the light to the target illumination area; an optical path converting unit disposed on an optical path between the light source and the superimposing illumination element to convert the optical path of the light emitted from the light source and supply the light having the converted optical path to the superimposing illumination element; and a shift unit which shifts the optical path converting unit.
US08029139B2	2D/3D switchable color display apparatus with narrow band emitters A 2D/3D switchable display system having a selector for selecting a two-dimensional (2D) or a three-dimensional (3D) image processing path; a first processor for processing image data through the two-dimensional image processing path; a second processor, independent of the first processor, for processing image data through the three dimensional image processing path; a first set of at least three emitters having corresponding first wavelengths; a second set of at least three emitters having corresponding second wavelengths; and a controller that during a 2D operation activates both first and second sets of emitters to present a single image, while during a 3D operation activates the first set of emitters to present a first image having one half of stereo image information and activates the second set of emitters to present a second image having a second half of stereo image information.
US08029136B2	Method and device for performing online aberrometry in refractive eye correction A device for correcting visual defects of an eye comprises a coherent light source, a beam modification device for shaping and deflecting a beam of the coherent light source, and a wavefront analyzer device for analyzing a wavefront of an optical path in the eye.
US08029134B2	System, apparatus, and method for correcting vision using an electro-active lens A spectacle lens is disclosed. The disclosed lens provides a vision correcting area for the correction of a wearer's refractive error. The viewing correction area provides correction for non-conventional refractive error to provide at least a part of the wearer's vision correction. The lens has a prescription based on a wave front analysis of the wearer's eye and the lens can further be modified to fit within an eyeglass frame.
US08029129B2	Cover support mechanism and image forming apparatus incorporating the same A cover support mechanism regulates an opening angle of an openable cover with respect to a chassis of an electronic device. The cover constitutes a portion of the chassis. The mechanism has a cord shaped or tape shaped stopper, and a support unit. The stopper has a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being fixed to the cover. The support unit supports the second end portion of the stopper. The support unit is provided to the electronic device. The support unit has a receiving portion, a biasing member, and a braking unit. The receiving portion has a space for pulling in the second end portion of the stopper. The biasing member applies force to the stopper for pulling in the stopper into the receiving portion. The braking unit applies frictional force to the stopper when the cover is opened.
US08029126B2	Image forming apparatus A disclosed image forming apparatus has a recording head for ejecting droplets of recording liquid and forms an image on a recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes a decurling unit configured to perform decurling of the recording medium and adjusts the decurling of the recording medium based on a first information piece about the degree of curl of the recording medium and a second information piece about a subsequent recording medium on which an image is to be formed after the image is formed on the recording medium.
US08029118B2	Ink jet print cartridge with independent adjacent sealing plugs A Multi-color ink-jet print cartridge includes an integrally shaped one-piece body with a reservoir portion including at least two ink chambers, and a manifold portion including at least two ink conduits, each ink conduit hydraulically connected to a corresponding one of the ink chambers through a port. An ink-jet printhead, includes at least two nozzle arrays, each of which arrays is hydraulically connected to a corresponding one of the ink conduits. A lid covers the reservoir portion of the body. Each of the ink conduits includes a channel portion in side to side relationship with the corresponding channel portion of the adjacent ink conduit. The channel portions have adjacent openings on one external wall of the body. Separate independent plugs are sealingly inserted into the adjacent openings.
US08029117B2	Selectable fill volume for ink reservoir A method for filling an ink tank to one of several selectable ink fill volumes, by providing an ink tank including an ink reservoir having a maximum fill volume V and selecting an ink fill volume Vi to store in the ink reservoir. One subsequently determines a quantity of pellets to add to the ink reservoir, wherein the total pellet volume Vp>(V−Vi−2) cubic centimeters. Upon adding the determined quantity of pellets to the ink reservoir, the ink reservoir is sealed with a lid. Whereupon, ink, in the amount Vi, is added to the ink reservoir.
US08029116B2	Ink cartridge The present invention provides an ink cartridge including a cartridge body defining an air vent at an upper section thereof and an ink discharge port detachably assembled to a lower section of the cartridge body. The cartridge body and/or the ink discharge port can be replaced separately when they are damaged and, thus, there is no need to replace the ink cartridge as whole.
US08029110B2	Droplet ejection head and droplet ejection apparatus A droplet ejection head comprises: a substrate having first through-holes forming reservoir chambers, a second through-hole forming a supply chamber, and a bonding film on one surface; a nozzle plate having nozzles for ejecting ejection liquid and a second bonding film on one surface, the first and second films being bonded together to cover the first through-holes and the second through-hole; a sealing plate on another surface of the substrate covering the first through-holes, one surface of the sealing plate contacting the substrate's another surface; and piezoelectric means on another surface of the sealing plate for driving the droplet ejection head. The bonding films contain an Si-skeleton of constituent atoms containing silicon atoms, with siloxane (Si—O) bonds and elimination groups bonded to the silicon atoms, the constituent atoms being randomly bonded together, and the elimination groups existing near a surface of the bonding films.
US08029107B2	Printhead with double omega-shaped heater elements An ink jet printhead has a plurality of nozzles and a bubble forming chamber corresponding to each of the nozzles respectively. The bubble forming chambers are adapted to contain a bubble forming liquid and a heater element is disposed in each of the bubble forming chambers respectively. The heater elements are configured for thermal contact with the bubble forming liquid and, a pair of electrodes for each of the heater elements are positioned adjacent each other such that the heater element provides a single current path between the electrodes of each pair. Each of the heater elements has a double omega shape in which a smaller, inner omega shape is concentric with, and encircled by, a larger, outer omega shape.
US08029105B2	Ambient plasma treatment of printer components A method of treating a printer component, a printhead, and a printer are provided. The method includes providing an electrode proximate to the printer component to be treated; introducing a plasma treatment gas in an area proximate to the printer component to be treated; and treating the printer component by applying power to the electrode thereby producing a micro-scale plasma at near atmospheric pressure, the micro-scale plasma acting on the printer component.
US08029093B2	Overprint trough for an image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a reference surface that is partitioned into an array of chambers; an image forming head for forming an image on a media; and a source of negative pressure. The array of chambers is in fluid communication with the source of negative pressure. An overprint trough is positioned neighboring the array of chambers. The overprint trough includes a side wall with a plurality of vent holes to direct airborne ink mist produced by the image forming head away from a back side of the media.
US08029090B2	Image forming method and image forming apparatus An image forming method including: forming a liquid receiving particle layer on an intermediate transfer member using a liquid receiving particle that is capable of receiving a recording liquid including a recording material; forming an image of the recording material on a surface of the liquid receiving particle layer by applying a liquid droplet of the recording liquid to the liquid receiving particle layer on the basis of image data and holding the recording material on the surface of the liquid receiving particle layer on the intermediate transfer member; applying a transfer auxiliary liquid in at least a portion of a formation range of the image; and transferring the liquid receiving particle layer to which the recording liquid is applied to a transfer receiving member from the intermediate transfer member, such that the image is interposed between the transfer receiving member and the liquid receiving particle layer is provided.
US08029088B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus and ejection inspecting method A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head which ejects a liquid from nozzles; a first electrode which charges the liquid with a first potential; a second electrode which is charged with a second potential different from the first potential; and an inspector which inspects whether the liquid is ejected from the nozzles based on a variation in a potential caused in at least one of the first and second electrodes by ejecting the liquid charged with the first potential from the nozzles to the second electrode and which determines whether the inspection of liquid ejection from the nozzles is normally executed based on the variation in the potential during a non-ejection period in which the liquid is not ejected from all of the nozzles.
US08029086B2	Printing device, control method thereof and computer-readable recording medium A printing device includes first and second print heads, first and second print head control units, a first print head feeding unit moving the first print head in a main scanning direction, a second print head feeding unit moving the second print head in the main scanning direction, a first medium feeding unit moving a first medium holding unit in an auxiliary scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, a second medium feeding unit moving a second medium holding unit in the auxiliary scanning direction in parallel with the movement of the first medium feeding unit, a first printing unit control unit (controlling the first print head control unit, the first print head feeding unit and the first medium feeding unit), and a second printing unit control unit (controlling the second print head control unit, the second print head feeding unit and the second medium feeding unit).
US08029077B2	Computer housing and flattenable frame for the computer housing A computer housing includes a frame and a face panel. The frame includes a plurality of pivotally interconnected frame panels such that the frame is convertible between an assembled state and a flattened state. In the assembled state, the frame panels form a rectangular frame for mounting electronic components, such as a motherboard, a disk drive and a hard disk. In the flattened state, the frame can be flattened out so that the frame panels lie in substantially the same plane, thereby reducing the space occupied by the frame.
US08029076B2	Jewelry cabinet A jewelry storage system for storing and allowing access to and removal of jewelry pieces includes a jewelry cabinet and a stand. The jewelry cabinet defines an interior space for holding jewelry items. The jewelry cabinet includes a box frame and a door connected to the box frame wherein the door extends substantially from the top wall to the bottom wall. A plurality of jewelry storage elements are attached within the interior space. In one embodiment, a stand is configured to receive the jewelry cabinet to hold the jewelry cabinet in an upright position so that the back wall of the jewelry cabinet forms an angle from the horizontal.
US08029075B2	Brake control apparatus and process A brake control apparatus includes a fluid pressure sensor to sense an actual master cylinder pressure, a pump to suck a brake fluid from the master cylinder through a hydraulic circuit connecting the master cylinder to a wheel cylinder and a controller to perform a brake assist control to supply a discharge pressure of the pump to the wheel cylinder in accordance with the sensed actual master cylinder pressure signal. The controller calculates a modified master cylinder pressure by modifying the actual master cylinder pressure in accordance with an operating condition of the pump, calculates a base pressure in accordance with a variation of the modified master cylinder pressure, and calculates a target wheel cylinder pressure in accordance with the base pressure, to control a braking force by controlling an actual wheel cylinder pressure of the wheel cylinder in accordance with the target wheel cylinder pressure.
US08029074B2	Fault tolerant aircraft braking control using alternate wheel speed information A method for providing anti-skid braking control for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, each wheel including a corresponding wheel speed sensor and brake, wherein when velocity data from at least one wheel speed sensor is lost, velocity data from a wheel speed sensor coupled to a different wheel is used as the wheel speed for the wheel with the non-operational sensor.
US08029073B2	Motor vehicle rapid braking brake booster The invention relates to a brake booster with a short operating travel, in which the three-way valve comprises a mobile valve seat borne by a sleeve (54). The movement of this sleeve is controlled by the piston. According to the invention, there is an elastic device (70) applying force to the sleeve (54) in the direction of the front of the booster, and tending to move this sleeve forward with respect to the pneumatic piston (12). In addition, there is a device for transmitting the pressure of the master cylinder (120) to the sleeve (54) and that tends to apply a rearward force to the sleeve (54).
US08029066B2	Backrest assembly A backrest assembly includes an annular front frame having a front surface on which inner and outer annular flanges are formed, defining a first annular groove therebetween. A plurality of pegs is formed in the annular groove. A net is mounted in front of the front frame in a tightened state and includes a plurality of peg holes. A periphery of the net covers the outer annular flange of the front frame and is received in the first annular groove. Each peg of the front frame extends through one of the peg holes. Inner and annular wall are formed on a front face of an annular rear frame and define a second annular groove therebetween. A plurality of stubs is formed in the second annular groove. Each stub includes a receptacle receiving one of the pegs. Fasteners are extended through engaging holes in the front and rear frames.
US08029060B2	Chair A chair has a supporting frame, a seat portion, a back portion, and a recline mechanism. The mechanism moves the seat portion upon a reclining action of the back portion. The mechanism has a rear deformable member and a front deformable member operatively connecting the seat portion and the supporting frame. The recline mechanism also has a lower deformable member operatively connecting a lower part of the back portion and the supporting frame, and a puller member above the lower deformable member. The recline mechanism is configured such that as the back portion is reclined, the lower deformable member deforms and the puller member applies a rearward pulling action which causes the seat portion to move and the front and rear deformable members to deform.
US08029059B2	Folding and stacking mesh chair system A folding and stacking chair system includes a plurality of folding and stacking chairs having an unfolded seating position in which the chairs are configured for sitting upon, and a folded and stacked position in which the chairs are folded and stacked together. Each chair has a seat and a backrest carried between opposite frame sides each with a backrest support, a front leg and a rear leg. The seat and the backrest each have a continuous sheet of flexible and elastic mesh or patterned open texture plastic held between the backrest supports of the frame sides.
US08029054B2	Energy-dissipation system A child restraint includes a juvenile vehicle seat and an energy-absorption apparatus coupled to the juvenile vehicle seat. The energy-absorption apparatus is configured to absorb external energy associated with an external impact force applied to the energy-absorption apparatus.
US08029046B2	Front vehicle body structure Dashboard panel, partitioning between an engine compartment and a passenger compartment, includes a reinforcing frame structure or connection member that extends, through the interior space of the dashboard panel, to linearly interconnect a horizontal rear end portion of each of left and right front side frames and a front end portion of a corresponding one of left and right side sills.
US08029043B2	Body structure for a motor vehicle For the reinforcement of a body structure of a motor vehicle which extends adjacent to a front side door of the vehicle, a hollow member structure formed by channel reinforcements is arranged in the body structure. The hollow member structure extends approximately in a horizontal plane from the B pillar into a rear region of the body structure. The channel reinforcements are intended to absorb, in a stable fashion, the forces which enter into the side part via the door in the event of a frontal crash.
US08029036B2	Apparatus for lifting pipelines Apparatus for the lifting of pipelines, includes a frame having two vertical side beams and a transverse top beam interposed between the vertical beams. Two concave and symmetrically disposed supporting members pivotally connect to the two vertical beams, respectively, and are configured to achieve a pipe supporting position without applying a radial inwardly directed force to the bottommost portion of the pipe when the frame is suitably lowered and the supporting members are suitably pivoted. A driving unit is disposed within, and fixedly attached to, each of the supporting members, for generating a linear downwardly directed force; a force transmitting element connected to a driving unit rod along which a corresponding driving unit housing is slidingly displaceable. A control unit independently controls each of the driving units; and at least one connector releasably connects the two supporting members to one another when the supporting members are in a pipe supporting position. The control unit is adapted to immobilize the force transmitting elements against a trench bed in a pre-lifting mode when a first force is generated by the driving units, and to lift each of the driving unit housings together with the corresponding supporting member with respect to the corresponding force transmitting element in a lifting mode when a suitable second force greater than the first force is generated by each of the driving units.
US08029032B1	Automotive door handle assembly with directly coupled-inertia activated mechanism A directly coupled-inertia activated mechanism that may be incorporated into a door handle assembly and counteracts inadvertent door opening during a side crash. An inertia lever with certain inertia moment in relation ship to that of the handle is coupled to the handle, such that it rotates in the opposite direction of that of the handle when the handle is being pulled. The inertia lever is capable of canceling totally the inertia force causing the handle to move inadvertently to unlatched position during side impact crash, and stops the handle's unlatching move.
US08029031B2	Power-actuated motor-vehicle door latch A motor-vehicle door latch has a housing, a latch mechanism in the housing operable to unlock a vehicle door, and an actuating element. A linkage in the housing is engageable between the actuating element and the latch mechanism and shiftable between a coupled position for operation of the latch mechanism by the actuating element and a decoupled position operatively disconnecting the actuating element from the latch mechanism. A blocking element connected to the linkage is operable to shift the linkage between its coupled and decoupled positions. A drive motor operates the blocking element. A quick-unlock element bears via the blocking element on the linkage.
US08029030B2	Lock device for use in motor vehicle A pair of restraining plates are pivotally installed in a housing of a lock unit. The restraining plates have respective cam portions that are arranged to put therebetween a striker when the restraining plates are pivoted in respective given directions. A biasing member is arranged to bias one of the restraining plates to pivot in the given direction thereof, and a transmission mechanism is arranged between the restraining plates to induce a synchronized pivoting of the two restraining plates. Thus, when one of the restraining plates is pivoted in the given direction thereof, the other of the restraining plates is pivoted in the given direction thereof. With this arrangement, once the striker is locked by the lock unit, at least one of the cam portions of the restraining plates is pressed against the striker thereby to suppress or at least minimize undesirable play of the lock unit relative to the striker.
US08029029B2	Rotary latch with joystick A rotary latch for selectively locking a closure, such as a tonneau cover, is provided with a joystick or toggle release lever. The joystick release lever enables the rotary latch to be installed in any position with respect to a remote handle because the joystick can be pulled in any direction, 360 degrees, to release the rotary latch. The joystick includes a trapped base supporting a spherical portion that is nested in a circular opening in the housing of the latch. The joystick is spring loaded, and is movable about its central axis in any direction, causing the base to pivot against the inside of the housing. The base of the joystick is positioned over a spring-loaded catch locking the rotary latch. As the base of the joystick rotates against the inside of the housing, it depresses the spring-loaded catch, releasing the rotary latch.
US08029025B1	Single taper wedge thread connection with mid-seal A tubular connection includes a pin member and box member. The pin member includes a pin thread formed on a small step and a large step and a first seal surface formed between the small step and the large step. The box member includes a box thread formed on a small step and a large step and a second seal surface formed between the small step and the large step. The pin thread and the box thread are wedge threads. The small step and the large step of both the pin member and the box member are formed on a single taper. Upon a selected make-up of the pin member with the box member, a seal is formed between at least a portion of the first seal surface and the second seal surface.
US08029017B2	Airbag inflator manifold An example airbag inflator manifold assembly includes a cap portion establishing a plurality of apertures that are operative to communicate flow from an inflator to an airbag interior. A baffle portion redirects at least some of the flow from the plurality of apertures. A mounting face extends radially from the cap portion and is securable to a flange extending radially from the inflator to hold the cap portion and the baffle portion relative to the inflator.
US08029016B2	Knee-protecting airbag device An airbag of a knee-protecting airbag device is prevented from being damaged during inflation and deployment, and the airbag is allowed to deploy evenly on the left and right sides to improve occupant protection function. The inside of an airbag (10) is defined into a plurality of air chambers (21), (22), and (23) by tethers (24) and (25). An inflator (2) accommodated in a diffuser (30) is disposed in the first air chamber (21). The diffuser (30) is provided with an opening (31) that allows gas from the inflator (2) to flow in the airbag (10) and is disposed so as to face the central portion of the first tether (24). This opening (31) is closed in such a manner that it can be opened by the gas from the inflator (2), and the entirety thereof is simultaneously opened by the gas pressure when the airbag (10) deploys. Thus, the gas in the accommodating portion (32) is supplied from the opening (31) to the airbag (10) evenly on the left and right sides. Furthermore, the diffuser (30) protects the airbag (10) from the gas generated by the inflator (2).
US08029009B2	Self-propelled vehicle propelled by an elliptical drive train including foot link guide track An apparatus including a frame; a drive wheel coupled to the frame; a first and a second foot link, operably coupled to drive wheel to transfer power to said drive wheel so as to propel the apparatus, each including a foot receiving portion for receiving an operator's foot, a front end, and a rear end; and a first and a second foot link guide track, each foot link guide track operatively associated with the front end of the foot link to direct the front end along a reciprocating path of travel while providing retention to the foot link.
US08029004B2	Snowmobile ski A snowmobile ski has an upturned front portion, a middle portion, and a rear portion. A longitudinally extending rib protrudes from a top of the middle portion and is laterally spaced from a longitudinal centerline of the ski. An aperture is disposed in the longitudinally extending rib for permitting attachment of the ski to a snowmobile. A ramp extends from a first point to at least a second point. The first point is disposed longitudinally between the front portion and the aperture, and closer to the top of the middle portion than the aperture. The second point is disposed longitudinally between the first point and the rear portion, and further away from the top of the middle portion than a lower end of the aperture. The longitudinally extending rib is disposed between the longitudinal centerline and the ramp. A snowmobile having a pair of the above-described skis is also described.
US08029003B2	Skate with adjustment unit A skate comprises a soleplate member including a heel support and a toe support overlapping and adapted to slide with respect to the heel support in a longitudinal axis and fixed in a desired position as to achieve a desired length of the soleplate member; wherein the toe support includes first and second teeth spaced from each other; and an adjustment unit including teeth adapted to selectively wedge with the first teeth and a wedging end adapted to selectively wedge with the second teeth.
US08029002B2	Device for setting the spring constant of a helical spring An inner and an outer spring plate are disposed, in a radially spaced relationship from one another, on a spring strut cylinder. In a first springing position (normal position), the helical spring is supported with a turn region of small diameter against the inner spring plate. In a second springing position (sports position) of the helical spring, the latter is supported with a turn region of larger diameter against the outer spring plate.
US08029000B2	Chuck A chuck for use with a driver having a rotatable drive shaft, the chuck including a body having a nose section and a tail section, the tail section being configured to rotate with the drive shaft and the nose section having an axial bore. A plurality of jaws is movably disposed with respect to the body and in communication with the axial bore. A first sleeve is rotatably mounted to the body in operative communication with the jaws so that rotation of the sleeve moves the jaws either toward a longitudinal center axis of the axial bore or away from the longitudinal center axis. A second sleeve is rotatably mounted to the body and is movable between a first position in which the second sleeve is rotatably fixed to the body and a second position in which the second sleeve is rotatable about the body. The second sleeve moves in a direction transverse to the longitudinal center axis of the axial bore when moving between the first position and the second position.
US08028999B2	Axle boot An axle boot for joint sealing, in particular on the drive train of motor vehicles, includes a substantially axisymmetric bellows, which is designed as a single piece with a connecting collar. The connecting collar has a plurality of indentations projecting towards the inside that are adapted to radial recesses in the external contour of the joint housing. To the outside of the connecting collar are attached compensating pieces that complete the external contour, forming a cylindrical circumferential surface on which a clamp is located.
US08028995B2	Electro-mechanical beer pong table and method of use One possible embodiment could be an electro-mechanical beer pong game table and a method of operating same. The game table could comprise a playing surface with a centerline axis; a plurality of movable platforms, the movable platforms being located over the playing surface; each movable platform reversibly and securely receiving a set of upright cups, each cup capable of containing beer and receiving a bear pong ball as played in the game of beer pong; one or more actuators that impart at least one motion to the movable platform relative to the playing surface; and an controller connected to the one or more actuators and controlling the at least one motion provided by the actuators wherein at least one movable platform is placed into motion relative to the playing surface and beer pong ball is thrown in the direction the moving movable platform.
US08028991B2	Image forming apparatus A supporting unit is mounted on a body of an image forming apparatus in a swingable manner around a swing fulcrum. A through shaft serves as the swing fulcrum, which is inserted into the supporting unit through the swing fulcrum so that both ends of the through shaft are supported by supporting members. The through shaft includes at least one of an operation member that is slidable on the through shaft in an axial direction and a biasing unit that biases a sliding force in one direction of the axial direction. When the supporting unit is opened with respect to the body, at least a part of a conveying path on which the recording medium is conveyed is exposed.
US08028990B2	Paper thickness detecting apparatus with applying electrodes A paper thickness detecting apparatus includes a first sensor and a second sensor in which the electrostatic capacitance changes when a piece of paper such as a bank note or a piece of copying paper is inserted, and a thickness detecting unit for detecting the thickness of the piece of paper from the signals obtained from the respective first sensor and the second sensor, in order to provide a paper thickness detecting apparatus that can reliably detect a foreign object adhered to the paper.
US08028987B2	Method and device for the separation of single flat articles from a lying stack For separating flat articles from a lying stack of articles, each foremost article of the stack is conveyed away one after the other in an upwards direction. For making such separation applicable also for mechanically relatively unstable articles, a preparatory step is implemented prior to the step of conveying-away upwards. In this preparatory step each foremost article of the stack is gripped, then separated from the front end of the stack in a direction essentially perpendicular to the main surfaces of the stacked articles and simultaneously or immediately afterwards accelerated upwards. Only when the article has a speed component in upwards direction of approximately the order of magnitude of the conveying-away speed is the article transferred to the conveying-away means. The preparatory step is carried out with a suction device that moves on a suction device track.
US08028979B2	Sheet folding apparatus, sheet folding method, and image forming apparatus A sheet folding apparatus includes an adjuster which supports a stack of sheets stacked on an inclined surface of a sheet path and adjusts a position of the stack of sheets along the inclined surface, a stapler which staples the stack of sheets set at a stapling position, a folding unit which folds the stack of sheets set at a folding position, and a guide provided between the stapler and the folding unit. The stapler ejects a staple from a staple surface by sinking from the inclined surface. The folding unit includes folding rollers and a folding blade which inserts the stack of sheets into a nip between the folding rollers. The guide includes a loading surface offset from the staple surface and an uprising member which is disposed on a part of the loading surface to keep the stack of sheets symmetric with respect to the folding rollers.
US08028975B2	Separation vessel or part thereof, and process relating thereto One exemplary embodiment can be a stack for a separation vessel adapted to receive a fluid having one or more phases. The stack may include one or more walls surrounding a void, a packed bed positioned within the void, and a distributor positioned above the packed bed. Generally, the stack has a height greater than its width. Usually, the separation vessel further includes a base having a length greater than its height, and the height of the stack is orientated substantially perpendicular to the length of the base.
US08028969B2	Valve seat and valve ball for vacuum solenoid valves A vacuum solenoid valve may comprise a valve body defining an interior cavity and include a plurality of ports configured to be in fluid communication with the interior cavity of the valve body. One or more valve seats may be disposed about an opening between at least one of the plurality of ports and the interior cavity. One or more valve members may be configured to be moveably disposed within at least a portion of the interior cavity of the valve body and to sealingly engage with the valve member. Either the valve seat and/or the valve member may comprise a material having a higher resistance to wear and erosion compared to valve body.
US08028968B2	Variable orifice gas flow modulating valve A temperature control system for a gas appliance utilizes an improved variable orifice gas flow modulating valve (10) capable of direct modulation of gas flow through an orifice (20) directly into a gas burner (54) to provide a constantly maintained temperature in an appliance working compartment, as selected by human interface via a temperature selector. An actuator (12) attached to a gas fitting body (14) of the valve provides for linear movement of a metering pin (16) into the taper inside the orifice, accomplishing the variable controlled modulated flow of gas directly into the burner. The actuator (12) is controlled by an input signal from a programmable controller (90) whose output is determined by calculations based on inputs from a temperature selector and a temperature sensor located in the gas appliance working compartment.
US08028966B2	Hanger device A hanger device includes an open-back metal housing having two sidewalls formed with a notch each, and a hook connected to a bottom thereof; a plastic seat embedded in the metal housing and having a transverse recess; a release control element vertically slidably connected to the plastic seat; and at least one tension spring located between the release control element and the plastic seat. The notches have outward and downward inclined upper edges and a vertical sectional shape the same as the recess. The hanger device can be firmly attached to a horizontal rail with the inclined upper edges of the notches tightly hooked to a rearward and downward inclined upper end surface of the horizontal rail and a projected block on a top of the release control element upward pushed by the tension spring into an open-bottomed channel at a lower end surface of the horizontal rail.
US08028953B2	Accelerating device Providing an accelerating device capable of safely and efficiently accelerating an aircraft even if the aircraft is a high-speed and heavyweight one.The accelerating device has a support base for supporting an aircraft so that it does not go backward or levitate and does not pitch; a guide way placed along a predetermined route; guide means for guiding the support base along the guide way; and drive means for driving the support base along the guide way.
US08028947B1	Depth finder retractor for ice fishing An embodiment of the invention comprises a retractor for use with a depth finder unit. The retractor includes a depth probe on a length of cord, a winding mechanism, a ratcheting slip ring assembly, and a housing.
US08028946B2	Refiner A refining surface (2) of a refiner stator (4) for a refiner for defibrating lignocellulose-containing material has a feed edge (17) oriented in the direction of the feed flow of the material to be refined, and a discharge edge (16) oriented in the direction of the discharge flow of the material refined. The surface (2) has blade bars (10) with grooves (11) therebetween, and at least one dam (12) in a groove (11). The dam has an upwardly rising guiding surface (13) from the blade groove bottom (15) for guiding the material to be refined and the material already refined out of the blade groove. The upward direction of the guiding surface (13) is from the direction of the discharge edge (16) of the refining surface (2) in the direction of the feed edge (17) of the refining surface (2).
US08028942B2	Bin full detection with light intensity sensing An assembly has a bin level detection system having at least one sensor positioned to receive radiation reflected off any material deposited in a bin and to determine an intensity of the reflected radiation. The intensity corresponds to an amount or level of shredded material deposited in the bin. The system may detect radiation from one or more emitters, or, alternatively, detect ambient light entering the bin via a window. A level indicator system may also be provided to indicate the amount of material deposited in the bin, including if the bin is full. The assembly may comprise a shredder and a shredder housing.
US08028939B2	Method for nickel concentration processing of saprolite ore The method for nickel concentration processing, which is low cost, simple and convenient, as well as having low environmental load, which is capable of enhancing nickel content of a saprolite ore with low nickel content, which was not conventionally used effectively as a raw material of ferronickel smelting due to having low nickel content, to a level to be utilized economically as a raw material of ferronickel smelting.
US08028936B2	Spray nozzle A spray nozzle, particularly well adapted for use in compressor spray cleaning systems, has a nozzle body with a right angle fluid delivery bore having a first passageway section extending longitudinally and at least one connected transverse nozzle bore section terminating in a reduced diameter spray bore at a sidewall of the nozzle body. A swirler is mounted in the nozzle bore section, and has a head section with a plurality of passageways formed between swirl vanes arranged about a periphery of the head section to pass fluid to the spray bore and an adjacent neck section of a reduced diameter. The neck forms an annulus between the neck and the nozzle body in fluid-passing contact with the first passageway section and head section to direct fluid from the first passageway through the head passageway for exit through the spray bore. The nozzle can be used in spray systems over a wide range of fluid delivery volumes and pressures.
US08028935B2	Low flow showerhead and method of making same A showerhead for a low flow rate may employ one or more of a showerhead housing, a showerhead engine, a flow restrictor and a flow regulation device. The showerhead engine may be moveably connected to the showerhead housing. The showerhead engine may include a back member, an intermediate member, and a front member defining various fluid chambers and apertures that allow for one or more spray modes. The showerhead may include a flow control device to selectively reduce flow to the showerhead engine. The flow control device may also be selectively pause fluid flow for more than one spray mode. The showerhead may include a flow restrictor. The flow restrictor may limit a maximum fluid flow rate of a fluid delivered from the showerhead engine to approximately 1.5 gallons per minute.
US08028933B2	Shower additive dispenser A shower additive dispenser assembly including an arm member. A receptacle is mounted to the arm member. A body member has a cavity formed therein for retaining a fluid, the body member is removably mounted to the receptacle. A microporous flow restrictor is disposed at the body member. The microporous flow restrictor is configured for allowing the fluid to exit the body member.
US08028932B2	Sprinkler with nutating mechanism and optional weight A rotary, nutating sprinkler head includes a housing supporting a nozzle; a starter tube axially adjacent the nozzle and extending in a downstream direction, concentric with a vertical center axis of the sprinkler head. A spool assembly is loosely supported on the starter tube, the spool assembly including a double-flanged spool and a water-deflection plate carried by the spool, the water-deflection plate formed with one or more grooves shaped to cause the spool assembly to rotate when impinged upon by a stream emitted from the nozzle. Either the starter tube or the spool is provided with at least one tilting lug located to keep the spool assembly in a tilted or angularly offset orientation relative to the vertical center axis, thereby facilitating a wobbling action of the spool assembly during rotation.
US08028928B2	Spreader apparatus for sand based formulations The present inventions relate to top dressing vehicles for coating, mixing, and dispensing compositions of top dressing materials comprising agriculturally active ingredients (A.I.s). More particularly, these inventions relate to apparatus for spraying liquid formulations comprising active ingredients A.I.s onto top dressing materials prior to and during delivering top dressing applications. Further, these inventions relate to applying liquids comprising A.I.s to top dressing materials at a point-of-application. Even further, these inventions relate to delivering treated top dressing, specifically, to broadcast spreading of top dressing comprising sand and agriculturally active ingredients as moist and dry compositions.
US08028925B2	Coding pattern with optimal number of target elements in each tag A substrate having a coding pattern disposed on a surface thereof is disclosed. The coding pattern has target elements defining a target grid. The target grid has cells, wherein neighboring cells share target elements. A plurality of data elements are contained in each cell. Tags are defined by a plurality of contiguous cells and each tag has respective local tag data encoded by a respective set of the data elements. Each tag has at least nine target elements, which facilitates accurate observation of a perspective distortion of the target elements.
US08028923B2	Electronic inlay structure and method of manufacture thereof An electronic inlay structure including first and second sheets of an inlay substrate arranged in generally side to side, spaced parallel arrangement, having a gap therebetween, a flexible web material arranged to overlie the gap and edges of the first and second sheets of the inlay structure adjacent the gap, third and fourth sheets arranged in registration with the first and second sheets respectively, over the first and second sheets of the inlay substrate and partially over the flexible web material and bonded thereto, electronic circuitry associated with at least one of the first, second, third and fourth sheets and lamination enclosing the first, second, third and fourth sheets, the electronic circuitry and the web material together to create the inlay structure.
US08028922B2	Electronic device having card reader and method of supplying power to card reader An electronic device includes: a card reader into which a card is inserted and which reads out information carried on the card; a power supply unit which supplies power to the card reader; a detection unit which detects the insertion of a card into the card reader and the ejection of a card from the card reader; and a control unit which controls the power supply unit. When the detection unit detects the insertion of a card, the control unit causes the power supply unit to start the supply of power to the card reader, and when the detection unit detects the ejection of the inserted card, the control unit causes the power supply unit to shut off the supply of power to the card reader.
US08028919B2	Imaging bar code reader with single prism focus adjustment The disclosed bar code reader includes an auto-focusing component for rapidly producing in focus images. An imaging system makes use of an aiming pattern that impinges upon the coded indicia of a target. The imaging system includes a light monitoring pixel array and a focusing lens that is fixed with respect to the pixel array for transmitting an image of the target object onto the pixel array. The imaging system also includes a moveable prism mounted for movement along a path of travel to transmit light passing through the focusing lens onto the pixel array. A drive motor moves the prism relative the lens to adjust a focus of an image of the object formed at the pixel array.
US08028918B2	Enhanced monitoring of laser output power in electro-optical readers Laser power monitoring arrangements interrupt power to a laser used in electro-optical readers upon detection of operating conditions not conforming to preestablished standards. An auxiliary light detector independently monitors the output power of a laser beam, and directly receives a portion of the laser beam reflected from an optical assembly operative for optically modifying the laser beam.
US08028915B2	Configuration migration for data capture systems A current data capture system has a set of configuration parameters operative for enabling the current data capture system to capture transaction data. A configuration host is operative for pulling the set of configuration parameters from the current data capture system, and for pushing a pulled set of configuration parameters to at least one additional data capture system to enable the at least one additional data capture system to capture the transaction data.
US08028911B1	Semi-automatic spring/cylinder mechanism in a hand-operated document reader/imager A hand-operated document processor has a base for receiving a document containing magnetic ink character data to be read and recognized. A manually operated moving magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) subsystem includes a MICR read head and is attached to the base. Movement of the subsystem causes the MICR read head to pass over the magnetic ink character data on the document. MICR reading and recognition logic receives the signal from the MICR read head. A spring/cylinder mechanism includes a spring providing the force necessary to drive the moving MICR subsystem, and includes a dashpot composed of a piston and cylinder arranged such that the spring moves the MICR subsystem across the document being processed and drives the piston in the cylinder, thereby damping the motion of the MICR subsystem.
US08028907B2	Method of recording receipt of shipped item A method of recording receipt of an item, the item comprising a product contained in a package, the package comprising an interface surface having disposed thereon coded data indicative of an identity of the item and of coordinates of a plurality of locations of the interface surface. The method includes the steps of: marking the interface surface using an optically imaging pen having a marking nib; sensing the coded data in the vicinity of the pen; generating indicating data using the sensed coded data, the indicating data including data regarding the identity of the item and positions of the pen relative to the interface surface; and transmitting the indicating data to a computer system.
US08028902B2	Methods for providing stand-in services for transaction card customization The present invention is directed to methods for providing stand-in services for transaction card customization, wherein a transaction card franchiser provides the stand-in services for the transaction card issuer with regard to transaction card applicant email notification with respect to approval/rejection decisions and/or billing the transaction card applicant for the cost of a new transaction card on behalf the transaction card issuer.
US08028894B2	System for providing information to user with every interaction with printed substrate A system for providing information to a user via a printed substrate. The substrate comprises user information and coded data. The coded data is indicative of a region identity associated with the substrate and of a plurality of locations on the substrate. The system includes an optically imaging sensing device for sensing the coded data and generating interaction data. Receipt of the interaction data by a computer system causes the computer system to identify and retrieve a page description corresponding to the printed substrate; determine whether the sensing device is positioned within a zone of a hyperlink on the substrate; and (i) if the sensing device is positioned within the zone of the hyperlink: send a hyperlink URI or a hyperlinked resource corresponding to the hyperlink to the user; or (ii) if the sensing device is positioned outside the zone of the hyperlink: generate a query expression, form a request and send search results to the user.
US08028890B2	Distribution services reservation integration Systems according to embodiments of the present invention include a core adapter module configured to receive reservation information from a reservation system in a first format useable be the reservation system, a web service module configured to identify a provider system based on the reservation information and to place the reservation information into a second format useable by the provider system, and a distribution module configured to send the reservation information in the second format to the provider system. Methods according to embodiments of the present invention include receiving reservation from a reservation system in a first format useable by the reservation system identifying a provider system based on the reservation information, processing the reservation information to place the reservation information into a second format useable by the provider system, and sending the reservation information in the second format to the provider system.
US08028886B2	Bonding tool, electronic component mounting apparatus and electronic component mounting method A bonding tool comprises: a horn which transmits an ultrasonic vibration; a ultrasonic transducer which is provided on one end of the horn, and produces the ultrasonic vibration; a heater disposition part, in which a heater is disposed, which is provided between the one end of the horn and the other end of the horn; a bonding action part which is provided between the one end of the horn and the other end of the horn, holds an electronic component, and is heated by the heater; a first cooling part, through which a fluid flows, which is provided between the heater disposition part and the one end of the horn; and a second cooling part, through which a fluid flows, which is provided between the heater disposition part and the other end of the horn.
US08028884B2	Cartridge for applying varying amounts of tissue compression A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge and an anvil member. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in rows of retention slots. The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface that includes a number of pockets arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge.
US08028881B2	Nailer strike plate A device for impacting a fastener in one embodiment includes a housing with an upper housing portion, a middle housing portion, and a side housing portion extending between the upper housing portion and the middle housing portion, a drive cylinder configured to vent within the housing, an air passage extending through the housing and including a mouth at the upper housing portion, and a strike plate extending over the upper housing portion and including a top portion positioned apart from the upper housing portion, and a first side extension extending downwardly from the top portion along the side housing portion to a location above and spaced apart from an outwardly extending first surface of the middle housing portion.
US08028879B2	Multi use bag The present invention relates and provides a versatile multi use bag which can be configured to serve as a shoulder-side or frontal suspended carrying bag, or as a neck suspended carrying bag or as a rucksack. The bag being a multi-compartment carrying bag and rucksack, comprising a multi-compartment openable body to contain whatever items are to be transported by the user, an extended-length strap with means at both ends thereof whereby the strap can be releasably anchored to the body of the bag. A tunnel-like portion attached proximate to an edge of the body wherethrough the strap can be inserted; and at least two spaced-apart anchor points positioned proximate to the outer perimeter of the body whereto the strap ends may be releasably attached.
US08028878B1	Collapsible vehicle-mounted equipment carrier A vehicle-mounted equipment carrier includes a hub portion to which is secured a number of vehicle-engaging and equipment-engaging support members. The various support members are each connected to sections of the hub that are movable relative to one another and that include engagement structure to hold the hub sections in desired angular positions with respect to one another. The hub sections can be moved upon disengagement of a clamping mechanism that compresses the hub sections into engagement with one another, and also holds each of the various components of the carrier in connection with one another.
US08028877B2	Connection device for connecting bag to side of bicycle carriage rack A connection device for connecting a bag to a bicycle carriage rack includes a transverse bar connected to a back board of the bag and two hook units are connected to the transverse bar. Each hook unit includes a flexible plate and a stud extends from the flexible plate. The stud can be engaged with one of positioning holes defined in the transverse bar by pulling the flexible plate to position the hook unit to the transverse bar. The hook units hook to a side of the bicycle carriage rack. A lower part is connected to a lower portion of the back board and has a second groove with which a sliding member is slidably engaged. Each sliding member has an I-shaped member which has one end pivotably engaged therewith and the other end of the I-shaped member is engaged with a support leg of the carriage rack.
US08028871B2	Baby carrier A baby carrier comprising a shoulder harness featuring a detachable adjustable pouch system that may be worn or alternatively fastened to a secured object for supporting an infant. The shoulder harness features retractable shoulder straps that may be used to securely extend the detachable adjustable pouch system away from wearer without having to detach the pouch or remove the infant while simultaneously allowing the wearer face to face access with the infant. The detachable adjustable pouch system may encapsulate and support an infant in a substantially upright sitting position. The detachable adjustable pouch system may be adjusted to accommodate infants of varying sizes. The weight of the infant may be incorporated as a design component of the seat portion of the pouch system.
US08028870B2	Eyeless sewing needle and fabrication method for the same In an eyeless sewing needle, a periphery of an axial hole at the base end is heated to make a fibrous structure be a granular structure without directionality, and at least a part of a heat-affected zone made between the fibrous structure and the granular structure due to the heating is within a range that is three times the diameter of the sewing needle and that extends from an effective base of the axial hole towards the needlepoint. This allows provision of a flexible sewing needle so that the hole periphery can be processed while keeping a hard state at the position of the needlepoint slightly away from the axial hole.
US08028868B2	Garment arrangement system Embodiment of the invention provide a garment support system, which may include a garment hanger and a garment bar physically unconnected to the hanger that can attach to the bottom of a garment supported by the hanger. The garment bar may include one or more clips for attaching the supporting to a garment. The support also may be weighted to provide additional support to the garment and/or to maintain a garment in a desired configuration.
US08028865B2	Two-way dispenser cap with metered and unmetered selection A two-way dispenser cap has a main cap member and a toggle valve. The main cap member has two passages that allow material from inside an attached container to dispense. The first passage leads to a trap chamber that is defined by the main cap member and the toggle valve walls. The second passage leads to an outlet passage for continuous pouring dispensation. The toggle valve pivots in relation to the two-way dispenser cap between one of three positions: no dispensation, metered dispensation from the trap chamber passage or continuous pour dispensation. When the toggle valve pivots to open the trap chamber passage, the trap chamber inlet is closed off. When the toggle valve pivots to open the continuous pour passage, the trap chamber outlet remains closed. When the toggle valve pivots to the closed position, both the inlet passages are in fluid communication with the attached container's interior, but both outlets are closed. The main cap member has a recessed top portion.
US08028860B2	Hermetically sealed liquid-containing bag with welded-in drinking or dispensing spout The liquid-containing bag is produced integrally from two sheets (4; 5) which are welded to on another along the edge region (3), and the bag forms two chambers (6; 7) which are separated from one another by a separating strip (8). A drinking or dispensing spout (2) is welded with sealing action in the separating strip (8), in which case this connects the two chambers (6, 7) in the open state, the one bag chamber (6) being intended for receiving the liquid, while the other bag chamber (7), as a protective chamber, encompasses the outer spout end (9) and encloses the same with sealing action.
US08028859B2	Foil container with foil bag chambers which are arranged next to one another A foil container (11) has two foil bag chambers (12, 16) arranged next to one another for compound components of a multi-component compound which are stored separately from one another, and a head (21) having a base plate (22) with a contact side (23) at which two receptacle portions (24, 25) are provided, each for one end of the respective foil bag chambers (12, 16), and a mixer connection (31) in which there are provided a first outlet opening (33) for one of the compound components of the multi-component compound and a second outlet opening (34) for an additional compound component of the multi-component compound and arranged in the first outlet opening (33).
US08028857B2	Method for dispensing a beverage and devices therefor A beverage dispensing assembly and a method for dispensing a beverage are provided in which a collapsible container provided with a base unit is mounted on a substantially flat base part of a dispensing assembly with the outlet of the container facing downwards. A free end of a dispensing tube is arranged at a closed dispensing tap located outside the dispensing assembly, and a hollow piercer connected to the dispensing tube is aligned with the outlet of the collapsible container. A cover is mounted on the base part in a hermetically sealed manner to form a pressure chamber between the collapsible container, the base unit, the base part and the cover. An increased pressure is provided in the pressure chamber, and the beverage is dispensed after the piercer has pierced the outlet of the container by opening the dispensing tap.
US08028855B2	Bottle display and dispenser device and method A dispenser for storing and dispensing containers having one or more passageways that provides a pathway for the containers. The dispenser includes an outlet for dispensing the containers and an inlet or opening for loading containers into the dispenser. The dispenser may include a plurality of shelves stackable on top of each other. The dispenser may include a housing and a moveable door. The dispenser may further include a stopper mechanism for blocking the movement of the containers within the passageway.
US08028852B2	Two-piece shipping cap for a seal A seal shipping system includes a seal having an outer diameter surface and an inner sealing lip. A sleeve member having a cylindrical body and a radially extending flange extending from the cylindrical body engages the inner sealing lip. An annular collar surrounds the radially extending flange of the sleeve member and frictionally engages the outer diameter surface of the seal.
US08028847B2	Baby bottle and method of creating infant formula A baby bottle comprising a first compartment and a second compartment. The first compartment comprised a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is comprised of at least one substantially open bore. The distal end is comprised of at least one partially closed port and a stabilization coupling mechanism first portion. The second compartment is comprised of a first end and a second end. The first end of one embodiment comprises a partially closed cavity and a stabilization coupling mechanism second portion. The stabilization coupling mechanism second portion may be adapted to mate with the stabilization coupling mechanism first portion. Furthermore, the first end may be adapted to couple to the first compartment distal end. The second end of one embodiment may have a substantially open bore and a removably coupled end cap.
US08028844B2	Sliding closet rack A hanger assembly includes a sliding rail assembly and a hanger attachment. The sliding rail assembly includes a fixed member, a sliding arm, and a hinge. The hinge has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is pivotally engaged to the second portion. The first portion is slidably engaged to the fixed member and the second portion is fixedly engaged to the sliding arm. The sliding rail assembly has a non-pivoted state and a pivoted state, wherein in the non-pivoted state the sliding arm is positioned substantially parallel to the fixed member, and in the pivoted state the sliding arm defines an angle with the fixed member. The hanger attachment is engaged to at least a portion of the sliding arm.
US08028841B2	Filter and filter cleaning apparatus and related methods Apparatus and methods include an improved filter and cleaning processes for same. A rotating cleaning element is actuated by vacuum pressure, and relatively precise controls ensure that all portions of the filter's surface are vacuumed cleaned during cleaning cycles. Longitudinal pressure on the rotating cleaning element is balanced to reduce wear and improve performance.
US08028840B2	Screening module A screening module (10) for a screening assembly includes a panel member (12) defining a plurality of screening apertures; and a support arrangement (16) with which the panel member (12) is fast. The support arrangement (16) includes a plurality of strengthening arrays (22) arranged, in use, beneath the panel member (12), each strengthening array (22) comprising a skirt portion (24) bounding an area on a bottom surface of the panel member (12).
US08028839B2	Shipping and dispensing carton A combination shipping and dispensing carton contains a plurality of articles. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. At least two end flaps are respectively foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels and are overlapped with respect to one another to at least partially form a closed end of the carton. The carton is for shipping articles to the point of sale vendor and can be converted to a dispensing carton that displays the articles and allows removal of the articles from the carton.
US08028837B2	Break-open package with shaped die cut for storing and dispensing substrates A package that is opened by deforming or bending the package along the die cut on the surface of the package is disclosed. The package will fracture or break at a die cut providing an opening in the package to access the contents inside. The package is formed with a semi-rigid layer affixed to a flexible backing layer forming an inner cavity. A die cut extends from at least an area adjacent one edge of the semi-rigid layer to at least an area adjacent another edge of the semi-rigid layer to provide a fracture point for the package to break. At least a portion of the die cut extends along both the lateral width and the longitudinal width of the semi-rigid layer to allow a greater surface area of the substrate to be accessible. Thus, dispensing of the substrate is easier for the user.
US08028836B2	System for product packaging and display A packaging assembly having an open design for displaying a product is provided. The packaging assembly is configured for storage and display in high density arrays of packaging assemblies, such as storage in pallets, and is configured to display visual information to a user from any perspective, even when the packaging assembly is packed in high density arrays of packaging assemblies. The packaging assembly includes an inner portion designed to contain a product and a housing designed to house the inner portion, wherein the inner portion includes a substantially transparent cover that facilitates display of the product. The packaging assembly includes an outer portion having a three dimensional window box frame, wherein portions of the window box frame are configured to couple to flanges provided on the inner portion.
US08028834B2	Medical tubing bag A medical tubing bag disclosed herein includes a housing having an open interior area and generally opposed first and second ends defining respective first and second openings. A first guide is adjacent the first opening for guiding tubing in and out of the first opening. In an embodiment, the first opening has a center axis being offset from a center axis of the first guide. In an embodiment, a second guide is inwardly adjacent the second opening for guiding tubing in and out of the open interior area. In an embodiment, a medical system includes a medical tubing bag, a medical device, and medical tubing. The tubing has a first end coupled to the medical device, the tubing extends into the medical bag, and the tubing continues from the medical bag to a user.
US08028830B1	Anti-ballistic composite structure for ordinance A structure is disclosed to protect explosive ordnance. The structure comprises an inner ceramic layer. A polyurethane layer encompassing the inner ceramic layer. A third layer is a stainless steel layer encompassing the polyurethane layer with a second polyurethane layer wrapping around the stainless steel layer. A fifth layer is an outer ceramic layer. A sixth layer through tenth layer comprises interconnected aramid fiber fabric (i.e., KEVLAR) impregnated with polyurethane. The structure may be part of an explosive handling system to include a shipping container that decelerates projectiles approaching the explosive device. The container comprises fifteen additional layers to encompass the structure. The first layer is steel encompassing the structure with a second layer through fifteenth layer of the container each being KEVLAR impregnated with polyurethane. Both the composite structure and the shipping container can be made from commercially available products.
US08028829B2	Laundry fragrance dispersion system using tumble sheets A laundry treatment system includes a carton holding a freestanding fragrance spray bottle of fragrance together with unscented laundry treatment sheets. The fragrance spray bottle may be used to apply fragrance to the sheets immediately before use by the consumer so as to enable dispersion of the fragrance among the clothing during a laundry cycle. The box may include apertures for supporting multiple bottles to allow the consumer to change or mix fragrances or apply no fragrance at the time of drying.
US08028819B1	Constant pressure and variable cleaning angle scraper blade and method for designing same A scraper blade for a conveyor belt cleaner is provided. The scraper blade being adapted, when appropriately tensioned against a conveyor belt, to maintain a plurality of predetermined cleaning angles, relative to the conveyor belt, as the scraper blade is progressively worn down through contact with the conveyor belt, the scraper blade having a first blade section and a second blade section. The first blade section is proximate a distal end of the scraper blade, the first blade section being configured to maintain a first predetermined cleaning angle relative to the conveyor belt. The second blade section substantially adjacent the first blade section, the second blade section being configured to maintain a second predetermined cleaning angle, relative to the conveyor belt, after the first blade section is worn away through contact with the conveyor belt. The second predetermined cleaning angle is different than the first predetermined cleaning angle. The first blade section and the second blade section each define a profile which approximately corresponds to a volute of a circle. Processes and computer implemented processes for designing outer profiles and inner profiles of primary scraper blades and secondary scraper blades are also provided.
US08028817B2	Conveyor and conveyor controller A conveyor, which has an area in its conveyor line and for adjusting intervals between articles, includes (1) a plurality of zones constituting the area and each having at least one driving motor and an article sensor, (2) structure for measuring either an interval between adjacent articles in the conveying direction or a difference of time points when adjacent articles in the conveying direction pass the sensor, and (3) a motor controller for each of the zones and for varying a rotational speed of the driving motor. When the measuring structure measures either the interval or the difference upon reception of signals from the sensor, the motor controller either accelerates or slows down the rotational speed of the driving motor in a zone where the article is placed.
US08028813B2	Shock absorber Disclosed herein is a shock absorber for damping vibration transmitted to a vehicle according to a road state. The shock absorber includes a cylinder and a piston valve disposed within the cylinder and connected to a piston rod to divide the cylinder into a first chamber and a second chamber. The shock absorber further includes a hollow chamber formed within the piston rod, a floating piston disposed within the hollow chamber to move up and down and to divide the hollow chamber into upper and lower chambers, first and second orifices formed in upper and lower ends of the hollow chamber and connected to the first and second chambers, respectively, and a resistance changing mechanism configured to cooperate with the floating piston and change a fluid resistance with respect to the floating piston where the resistance changing mechanism cooperates therewith.
US08028812B2	Brake rotors for vehicles Diffusion bonded brake rotor and hub formed by powder metallurgy including metals such as titanium powder.
US08028807B2	Remote recording of maintenance operations for an elevator or escalator installation A method and device for maintenance of an elevator installation or an escalator installation communicates the presence of a maintenance technician at the elevator or escalator installation to a remote service center. The service center is thus informed about that the maintenance technician has to maintain or is maintaining or has maintained a specific installation and is in a position of checking the quality of this maintenance. The maintenance operations are recorded as a maintenance record and communicated to the service center. For example, the maintenance record contains details about which maintenance technician on which day of the year and for how long has undertaken which maintenance operations on a specific elevator or escalator installation. The quality of a thus detected maintenance can then be compared with a quality standard. In addition, the maintenance operations performed are thus uniquely detected and can be evaluated.
US08028805B2	Access ladder with plungers An access ladder for accessing a ceiling from a floor. The ladder comprises a plurality of sections which telescope open and closed, and from a bottom section each section telescopes open to positively lock to the section below it with plungers that lock and unlock each section in sequence as the sections open and close, respectively. A method for using an access ladder for accessing a ceiling from a floor.
US08028802B2	Method and system for damped acoustic panels A method and system for an acoustic panel system are provided. The system includes a plurality of acoustic panel segments aligned circumferentially about an inner diameter of a fan containment case wherein each segment includes a radially inner surface defining a portion of a fluid duct, a radially outer surface defining a gap between the fan containment case and the acoustic panel segment, and an aft end lip configured to be inserted into a mating groove in the fan containment case. The system also includes at least one damping bumper coupled to the radially outer surface wherein the bumper extends from the radially outer surface to the fan containment case and comprises an energy absorbing elastomeric material configured to facilitate dissipating a forced response of a vibratory stimulus.
US08028797B2	System for joining acoustic cellular panel sections in edge-to-edge relation The invention includes a joint assembly for connecting first and second longitudinal edges of portions of an acoustic barrel or panel having an open cell core, a perforated inner skin, and an outer skin. The joint assembly includes at least one strip covering a plurality of openings in walls of cells along the first and second longitudinal edges. The strip is separate from the inner and outer skins. A plate includes a first portion connected to the outer skin proximate to the first longitudinal edge, and a second portion connected to the outer skin proximate to the second longitudinal edge.
US08028790B2	Sound projection device attachable to a user when not in use A megaphone comprises a rigid but bendable material with a tapered shape. When the material is folded, the produced megaphone has a small opening at one end and a larger opening at the other end. The megaphone has edges that form an opening along the side such that when pressure is applied to the edges the opening expands allowing the megaphone to be positioned on a person's arm or leg. Once positioned on the arm of leg the rigidity of the material causes the megaphone return to its original cone shape. The megaphone can enclose around a user's arm or leg for storage purposes during an event. Information can be displayed on the surface of the megaphone. The megaphone of the present invention can be folded and unfolded.
US08028784B1	Trailer with sliding axle A trailer is provided with a bed and a slidably adjustable axle assembly. The bed includes a frame with left and right, inverted U-shaped channels. The axle assembly includes left and right rails upon which the channels are slidably mounted. Pins extend through the channels, but not through the rails, to limit sliding movement of the bed relative to the axle assembly. The pins are inserted into the channels with a twist lock action under spring bias. Lock members are provided to prevent accidental removal of a pin from the channel during travel.
US08028782B2	Hood structure for vehicle A hood for a vehicle includes: a hood outer constituting a vehicle outer surface of the hood covering an engine room; a hood inner disposed on a rear face of the hood outer; an insulator for suppressing transmission of sound generated in the engine room to the outside; and an intercooler duct for guiding outer air flowing in the engine room to an intercooler. The insulator includes a through hole at least in a part of an overlap part overlapping the intercooler duct.
US08028778B2	Hybrid vehicle having torsional coupling between engine assembly and motor-generator A hybrid vehicle has a power system with a torsional coupling. The power system includes a battery system for receiving, storing and providing electrical power, an internal combustion engine configured to provide rotational power through a flywheel, a first motor-generator, a second motor-generator, a control system, and a torsional coupling. The torsional coupling may absorb rotational shock caused by angular or rotational speed differences between the engine and the first motor-generator. The torsional coupling includes a driven plate assembly, a cover assembly and an interconnecting plate assembly. The interconnecting plate assembly may include a plurality of shock absorbing elements that absorb shock and vibration between the engine and the motor-generator.
US08028776B2	Integrated hydrostatic transmission for left and right wheel drive A hydrostatic transmission mountable to a frame of a vehicle for driving a left side or right side drive wheel. A motor portion of the transmission can extend outwardly from the frame and a pump portion can extend upwardly from the frame. The motor portion can be configured to be at least partially received within a wheel for direct mounting of the wheel to an output shaft of the motor. The pump portion can include an input shaft extending from a lower side thereof for connection to a prime mover, such as an internal combustion engine.
US08028774B2	Thick pointed superhard material A high impact resistant tool includes a superhard material bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at a non-planar interface. The superhard material has a substantially pointed geometry with a sharp apex having a radius of curvature of 0.050 to 0.125 inches. The superhard material also has a thickness of 0.100 to 0.500 inches from the apex to a central region of the cemented metal carbide substrate. The diamond material comprises a 1 to 5 percent concentration of binding agents by weight.
US08028772B2	Internally dampened percussion rock drill A percussion drill, and methods of using the same, including a shank in mechanical alignment with a piston-hammer and a valve in fluid communication with the piston-hammer. The percussion drill further includes an internal hydraulic dampening system for reducing the velocity of the piston-hammer when the shank is forward of a power position relative to the velocity of the piston-hammer when the shank is in a power position. Preferably, the internal hydraulic dampening system includes mechanical alignment of a portion of the piston-hammer with a port in fluid communication with the valve, operable to reduce fluid flow into an area surrounding the valve when the piston-hammer is forward of its position relative to its normal operation.
US08028771B2	Polycrystalline diamond constructions having improved thermal stability Polycrystalline diamond constructions include a diamond body comprising a matrix phase of bonded together diamond crystals formed at high pressure/high temperature conditions with a catalyst material. The sintered body is treated to remove the catalyst material disposed within interstitial regions, rendering it substantially free of the catalyst material used to initially sinter the body. Accelerating techniques can be used to remove the catalyst material. The body includes an infiltrant material disposed within interstitial regions in a first region of the construction. The body includes a second region adjacent the working surface and that is substantially free of the infiltrant material. The infiltrant material can be a Group VIII material not used to initially sinter the diamond body. A metallic substrate is attached to the diamond body, and can be the same or different from a substrate used as a source of the catalyst material used to initially sinter the diamond body.
US08028766B2	Electrically powered tractor An electrically powered and controlled tractor system includes one or more electric gripper assemblies and one or more electric power train assemblies. Power and control signals for the gripper assemblies and power train assemblies can be delivered from a ground surface via a wireline. The gripper assembly employs a motor-activated lead screw and nut combination to expand passage-gripping elements, preferably by pushing the gripping elements radially outward from locations between opposing ends of the gripping elements. A failsafe mechanism can retract the gripping elements during a power interruption. The power train assembly employs a motor-activated lead screw and nut combination to expand and contract two or more telescoping members. The tractor system can include multiple tractor units that each includes one gripper assembly and one power train assembly. A tractor can include one power train assembly and two gripper assemblies.
US08028765B2	Drill bit, drilling system, and related methods A rotary drag bit for use in subterranean earth boring operations, the drag bit having blades, rows of cutters on the blades, and nozzles disposed within the rows. The nozzles are configured to discharge fluid during drilling.
US08028762B2	Shock absorber for a reciprocating tool assembly A tool assembly (10), for example a hydraulic or pneumatic hammer assembly, comprises a housing (11) defining a chamber (16), a reciprocating work tool (20) arranged in the chamber for cyclical movement in a work stroke and a return stroke, and a tool retention member (80) arranged to restrain the work tool at the end of the work stroke. The tool assembly (10) includes a shock absorber arranged to absorb impact from the work tool at the end of a stroke. The shock absorber comprises an annular resilient flange (102, 154), which may be cantilevered from the tool retention member (80) to absorb impact at the end of the work stroke or may be provided on a bushing (150) arranged to absorb impact at the end of the return stroke. The shock absorbing flange reduces the transmission of shocks into the tool assembly, thereby providing increased life for tool assembly components.
US08028760B2	Hammer drill The invention is to provide a hammer drill which is to be capable of restricting rotation of a bit in a hammer mode, and improve usability.A hammer drill includes a lock plate 51 in a housing 2, and the lock plate 51 engages with a second gear 31 so as to lock rotation of the second gear. The lock plate 51 is provided to be slidable between an engaging position with the second gear 31 and a non-engaging position, and is biased to the engaging position by a coil spring. The hammer drill further includes a restriction part 50 on an outer peripheral side of a holding tube 46 in a mode switching knob 44. The restriction part 50 abuts the lock plate 51 in one of two phases for engaging a clutch 37 with only a boss sleeve 32 so as to hold the lock plate 51 at the non-engaging position, and cancels the abutment with the lock plate 51 in the other phase to slide the lock plate 51 to the engaging position. In a hammer mode, a user can select a state for making rotation of a tool holder 3 free in one phase or a state for restricting the rotation of the tool holder 3 in the other phase.
US08028759B2	Prescision hoe opener with swing link between cylinder and shank A precision hoe opener assembly is provided with improved accuracy of seeding as well as improved control over the opener and packer wheel assemblies. The opener assembly includes a hydraulically-driven parallel linkage assembly, a lost motion linkage, a hoe opener, and a packer wheel. The design provides improved seeding accuracy, by adjusting assembly components to and compensating for changes in terrain elevation.
US08028750B2	Force balanced rotating pressure control device Force balancing adjusts hydraulic fluid pressure in an upper piston area of a Rotating Pressure Control Device (RPCD) that has an inner housing rotatably engaged within an outer housing by an upper bearing and a lower bearing. The hydraulic fluid pressure is adjusted to balance net force in a upper piston area and a lower piston area. The fluid pressure adjustment creates a force differential that balances the total load transmitted through the upper bearing and the lower bearing and thereby extends the life of the sealing element and bearings. Additionally, a wear indicator signals the end of the useful life of the drill pipe sealing element.
US08028749B2	Expanding multiple tubular portions Apparatus for expanding first and second portions of a downhole tubular in a single trip comprises a support and first and second expansion devices. The first expansion device is mounted on the support and is operable to expand a first portion of tubular. The second expansion device is mounted to a second portion of tubular and is adapted to be engaged by the support following the expansion of the first portion of tubular, and is then used to expand the second portion of tubular.
US08028747B2	Tube spacer, method of manufacturing the same, and heat exchanger A tube spacer S formed by bending a wire, includes a plurality of projections 20 and a base-bending portion 21. Each of the projections 20 is inserted between tubes, and has a pair of extending portions 201 extend in X direction and a front-bending portion 202 for connecting both front ends of the pair of extending portions 201. The base-bending portion 21 connects both rear ends of the projections 20 so that the projections 20 are arranged at interval in Z direction. With this structure, manufacturing cost for the tube spacer S can be low, and the tubes can be stably supported.
US08028746B2	Heat exchanger with finned tube and method of producing the same A heat exchanger for a gas boiler for producing hot water is provided with a casing extending along a first axis and through which combustion fumes flow; a tube along which water flows, and which is housed inside the casing and coils about the first axis to form a helix made of a succession of turns; and deflecting means for directing the fumes between successive turns; the tube being provided with a first and a second fins, which extend along the length of the tube, face one another, and are tangent to the tube.
US08028745B2	Heat transfer apparatus of a forced convection type A forced convection heat transfer apparatus wherein a large quantity of heat can be efficiently transferred even when a temperature difference is small, by transmitting power to a magnet, which is rotatable along a circulation flow path of a magnetic fluid, and obtaining a magnetic fluid circulation speed in proportion to the rotating speed.
US08028744B2	Heat sink system and assembly A heat sink system with reduced airborne debris clogging, for cooling power electronics, the heat sink system including a heat sink having a plurality of fins, a housing configured to direct air flow around the side, top, and/or bottom of the heat sink and then through the fins of the heat sink at a back of the heat sink, and an inlet airway passage formed between a wall of the housing and said side, top, and/or bottom of the finned heat sink to allow air to pass within the housing, wherein said side, top, and/or bottom of the heat sink comprises at least one of said plurality of fins disposed directly in contact with the inlet airway passage.
US08028737B2	Apparatus and method for removably attaching window treatments A mounting system is configured for removably mounting window treatments within and external to a window frame. Internal and external wall mounts are mounted respectively within and external to the window frame. Window treatment supports are alternately removably mountable on the internal and external wall mounts in order to mount the window treatments within and external to the window frame.
US08028735B2	Laminating apparatus There is provided a laminating apparatus laminating an object to be laminated by introducing a fluid into an upper chamber demarcated by a diaphragm and sandwiching and pressing the object to be laminated placed on a heater panel by the diaphragm expanded by the introduced fluid, the apparatus including: a tank part in which the fluid to be introduced into the upper chamber is stored; and a heating mechanism heating the fluid stored in the tank part.
US08028733B2	Green tire and method for manufacturing pneumatic tire A green tire includes a surface layer defining a green tire surface and made up of a plurality of windings of an unvulcanized rubber tape. A part of each of the windings is exposed on the green tire surface so that the exposed part has a width of from 50% to 80% of the width W1 of the rubber tape. Each of the windings has a substantially rhomboid cross section and has one end at an acute angle corner exposed on the green tire surface and the other end at the opposing acute angle corner. An angle theta of a diagonal line of the rhomboid drawn between the one end and the other end is not more than 30 degrees with respect to a tangential line to a profile line of the green tire surface.
US08028732B1	Tire inflation system Preferably, an embodiment of a tire inflation system includes at least an axle housing a pressurized fluid, a hubcap supported by the axle and having an interior and an exterior, and a rotary union axially aligned with the axle and mounted to the hubcap from the exterior of the hubcap. The rotary union preferably includes at least a rotating portion and a non-rotating portion, the rotating portion rotates with hub cap, and the non-rotating portion including at least a fluid conduit defining an air passage there through. The air conduit is preferably in fluid communication with the source of pressurized air, and is preferably configured for conducting pressurized air from said source of pressurized air to a tire mounted to the wheel of the vehicle, and for developing a dynamic seal between the fluid conduit and the rotating portion.
US08028730B2	Purse with interchangeable decorative liners A purse comprising a base formed of rigid transparent or translucent material, and a removable liner that is to be inserted in the base of the purse so as to be visible from outside the base, the removable liner being provided in a plurality of colors and textures and patterns and being made of a pliable, sturdy material, wherein the liner provider a creative, decorative design for the purse.
US08028729B2	Connecting subassembly for connecting an initial container and a target container The invention relates to a connecting subassembly for connecting an initial container and a target container.According to the invention, the connecting subassembly has an outlet cylinder and a control cylinder, wherein the outlet cylinder and the control cylinder can be displaced relative to each other, and the outlet cylinder and the control cylinder are designed such that they can be displaced with respect to each other, in an operating position in which the connecting subassembly is connected to a target container, between a closed position, in which the control cylinder interrupts a flow path through the outlet opening of the outlet cylinder, and an open position, in which the control cylinder releases the flow path through the outlet opening of the outlet cylinder.Use, for example, for motor vehicle fuels.
US08028726B2	Automatic venting of refillable bulk liquid canisters Methods, systems and apparatus for automatically maintaining a pressure differential for the continuous delivery of a liquid to semiconductor manufacturing equipment. A refillable bulk liquid delivery system includes a plurality of canisters residing along a liquid flow path, whereby an over pressure is detected within at least one of the canisters. The over pressure may be detected using an automatic venting circuit or a programmable logic controller programmed for detecting such over pressures. The over pressure is then exhausted by removing excess pressure from the canister through a venting valve to maintain a Delta pressure across the canisters for continuously delivering the liquid along the liquid flow path.
US08028725B2	Filling valve apparatus for a beverage filling machine A filling valve apparatus for filling a container with a fluid. The apparatus includes a body portion and a stem. A sleeve is disposed over the stem and is removable from the stem and the body portion when the filling valve apparatus is serviced. A seal is mounted to the bottom of the sleeve. At least one component is movably connected to the sleeve and remains connected to the sleeve when the sleeve is removed from the stem and the body portion during the servicing of the filling valve apparatus. Similarly, a valve assembly, having a housing and a movable plunger is removable from the body portion. At least one member is mechanically connected to one of the housing and plunger for creating a unitary valve assembly that remains intact when the valve assembly is removed from the body portion during servicing of the filling valve apparatus.
US08028724B2	LNG tank and unloading of LNG from the tank Disclosed is a liquefied natural gas storage apparatus. The apparatus includes a heat insulated tank and liquefied natural gas contained in the tank. The tank has heat insulation sufficient to maintain liquefied natural gas therein such that most of the liquefied natural gas stays in liquid. The contained liquefied natural gas has a vapor pressure from about 0.3 bar to about 2 bar. The apparatus further includes a safety valve configured to release a part of liquefied natural gas contained in the tank when a vapor pressure of liquefied natural gas within the tank becomes higher than a cut-off pressure. The cut-off pressure is from about 0.3 bar to about 2 bar.
US08028721B2	Heated garden hose for use cold weather The present invention is related to a heated garden hose that has a flexible hose with an inlet and an outlet. The garden hose has an inlet coupler and an outlet coupler. A heating cable coupler is connected between the inlet and the outlet of the flexible hose. A heating cable has a first end with an electrical plug and extends through the heating cable coupler into the interior of the flexible hose. The heating cable is free floating inside the flexible hose. A thermostat, attached to the exterior portion of the heating cable, controls the heating cable and is designed to turn the heating cable off just above the freezing temperature of water. A clip is inserted into the flexible hose near the outlet to hold the heating cable inside of the flexible hose.
US08028718B2	Quick coupling element and a quick coupling including such an element A coupling element including a body for fastening to a support and a coupling member fitted with a closure valve member and mounted in the body such that the member can pivot, a sealing gasket is disposed between the body and the coupling member and the element also includes a spring which exerts a resilient force on a flange portion of the coupling member, which force is directed towards the rear of the coupling element and is suitable for pressing a first surface of the coupling element against a surface of the body, and the coupling member is provided with a second surface for bearing against an axial abutment in the event of the coupling member moves towards a front of the coupling element relative to the body.
US08028717B2	High throughput double valve with reduced outlet pressure during a faulted state A double valve having inlet, outlet, and exhaust ports maintains an outlet pressure below one percent of inlet pressure during a faulted state while maintaining a relatively small exhaust for reduced overall valve size. Crossover passages receive inlet pressure through main crossover poppets when the respective valve units are not in a deactuated position. When the valve units are in a deactuated position, then the crossover passages receive inlet pressure through respective bypass passages whose flow rate can be controlled independently from the size of the crossover poppets. The use of bypass passages provides particular benefits for double valves for non-press applications which have a ratio of exhaust flow coefficient to inlet flow coefficient that is less than about 2.5.
US08028716B2	Pressure-reducing valve An annular mating portion extends from a fastening surface of a fastening nut. The mating portion has an inner diameter set to be substantially equal to an outer diameter of the portion of a piston in which an accommodating groove is formed. In a state in which the mating portion is inserted into the accommodating groove, and an inner circumferential surface of the mating portion slides in contact with a circumferential wall of the accommodating groove, the fastening nut is mated with a threaded portion, and a lip seal is held between the mating portion and the accommodating groove. This fixes the lip seal to the piston.
US08028714B2	Water control valve core with a segmented locking fuction The present invention provides a lateral draft tube for a water control valve core, which is defined by a through-type groove and upper and lower openings. The through-type groove is sleeved around the shell of the water control valve core. The upper and lower portions have different diameters on the external wall of the draft tube. A ring flange is formed on the upper portion, and a guide ring surface is formed on the lower portion. The ring flange is provided with a sealing ring, and a drainage portion is arranged at the lower end of the draft tube to connect the through-type groove and guide ring surface. The draft tube can be located higher than the water control valve core, such that upward flow of the guide ring surface is not limited by the water control valve core. Thus, the upward flow of the water control valve core improves.
US08028707B2	Cosmetic applicator An apparatus for applying a cosmetic, such as mascara to eyelashes, includes a handle, a boss coupled to the handle, and a stem defining a longitudinal stem axis and having a first end coupled to the handle and a second end, wherein the stem first end comprises a stem extension defining a socket sized to rotatably engage the boss. The apparatus further comprises an applicator head coupled to the stem. An actuator is operatively coupled to the applicator head for moving the applicator head in a vibrational motion. The actuator comprises an electric motor having a rotating motor shaft and an eccentric weight coupled to the motor shaft. Rotation of the eccentric weight generates a vibratory force.
US08028705B2	Tongue retention system A tongue retaining system is disclosed herein generally having, in one variation, a two-part system. A covering can be sized to fit at least partially over or upon a tongue of a patient, where the covering has an engagement mechanism positioned thereon. A retaining device, sized to fit within a mouth of the patient, may be positioned upon the teeth and have a corresponding engagement mechanism positioned thereon for temporarily coupling with the engagement mechanism on the covering. Such a system can be used to maintain or hold a natural position of the tongue within the mouth of the patient to maintain patency of the airway passages.
US08028704B2	Endoscopic bite block for use with cannula A bite block that is inserted into a patient's mouth during an endoscopic diagnostic or surgical procedure that has a channel for receiving an endoscope or other surgical instrument through the patient's mouth and additional channels transmitting a gas to the patient and transmitting expired gas from the patient.
US08028701B2	Respiratory monitoring A patient interface in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is configured to be at least partially carried by a patient and to receive gas exhaled by the patient. The patient interface includes first and second cannula tubes each having a first end and a second end, the first ends are configured to be inserted into the nostrils of a patient, the first and second cannula tubes are configured to direct exhaled gas from the patient from the first ends to said second ends. The patient interface also includes first and second sensors positioned near the second ends, and the first and second sensors are configured to provide first and second signals based upon the gas, wherein the first and second signals are indicative of a physiological parameter of the patient. The patient interface also includes a communications link configured to provide the signal to a physiological monitor.
US08028697B2	Ventilator circuit and method for the use thereof A ventilator circuit for use in administering medication to a patient includes a housing, a one-way inhalation valve and a one-way exhalation valve. A metered does inhaler receptacle is in fluid flow communication with an interior space of the housing holding chamber. An exhaust conduit communicates between input and output passageways disposed on opposite sides of the interior space.
US08028695B2	Apparatus and system for reducing mechanical ventilator noise A sound dampening apparatus to be disposed in pneumatic connection with a respiratory support system. The respiratory support system may comprise a source of medical gas, a plurality of pneumatic connections and a patient interface. The sound dampening apparatus comprises an inlet, an outlet, and an outer case which forms a sound dampening chamber. As the medical gas flows through the sound dampening apparatus, the noise energy associated with the flow of medical gas is reduced.
US08028691B2	Passive solar wire screens for buildings Passive solar wire screens mount vertically on an edifice. The screens have rods vertically arranged parallel to one another and have wires horizontally arranged parallel to one another. The wires attach to the rods and have first surfaces facing away from the edifice in an upward direction from vertical. The wires also have second surfaces facing toward the edifice in a downward direction from vertical. When the sun has a summer elevation on the horizon, the first surfaces passively reflect solar energy incident thereto away from the wire screens. When the sun has a winter elevation on the horizon, however, the first surfaces passively reflect solar energy incident thereto toward the second surfaces, which in turn passively reflect the solar energy toward the edifice. A concave surface on the wires can also reflect thermal energy back to the edifice.
US08028690B1	Fire pit A fire pit comprising a base assembly, the base assembly supported by a suspension assembly comprising a plurality of vertical supports, and a tower assembly disposed on a top surface of the base assembly, the tower assembly comprising a plurality of longitudinal apertures and configured to contain at least one solid fuel source. The plurality of longitudinal apertures are configured to release heat generated from the at least one solid fuel source in a substantially outward direction along at least substantially the entire length of the plurality of longitudinal apertures.
US08028689B2	Foldable charcoal starter Various embodiments of a collapsible charcoal starter are shown, described and claimed herein. In one embodiment, the charcoal starter includes six panels being hingedly interconnected to form a closed loop. The charcoal starter is configured to have an expanded position and a collapsed position, and can be moved therebetween without any disassembly of the charcoal starter. In the expanded position, the six panels form four walls or boundaries, whereby the walls define a volume for receiving charcoal briquettes. In the collapsed position, the six panels are oriented generally parallel. Moreover, four of the panels are sandwiched in between the two remaining panels. In this manner, the depth of the charcoal starter can be significantly reduced as compared to the expanded position, while the width is substantially the same in both the collapsed and expanded positions.
US08028684B1	Device and method of throwing objects A throwing device has a head for holding an object to be thrown on its distal end. Located near to the head is a catapulting mechanism that is used to further the distance. The catapulting mechanism comprises one or more catapulting devices. A plurality of these catapulting devices may be included thereon, and the flexibility of the spring-like member may be varied as required or desired. During the swing, the weight of the tennis ball and the head cause the spring-like member(s) to rearwardly flex. The user determines when to slow the swing of the head which causes one or more of the catapult devices to decelerate the head with the tennis ball therein wherein a hammer of the catapult device hits a stop and thereby transfers a significant degree of kinetic energy into the motion of the released ball to obtain the greater distance.
US08028683B1	Multifuel supply system A system for connecting a supply of alternative oil to a diesel engine which uses heated engine coolant and electric heat to prevent engine line restriction due to gelled alternative oil.
US08028682B2	Apparatus for improving efficiency and emissions of combustion with perpendicular ozone elements An apparatus improves the efficiency and emissions of a combustion process by producing sufficient amounts of ozone in the air flow to the combustion chamber to enable more complete and cleaner combustion of the fuel. An ozone cell comprises a plurality of cylindrical ozone elements for producing ozone disposed within a housing that is placed in the air intake to a combustion chamber such as a diesel engine. The ozone elements are bonded together in a block and placed perpendicular to the air flow in the cell. The ozone elements are bound together in the block with a block plate at the top and bottom of the block with the ozone elements running lengthwise from the top to the bottom of the block.
US08028678B2	Direct injection alcohol engine with boost and spark control Boosted engine operation and spark timing of an engine may be adjusted with alcohol content of the fuel in a direct injection engine. Further, various adjustments may be performed in numerous related systems to account for increased maximum engine torque, such as traction control, transmission shifting, etc.
US08028675B2	Ignition system for internal combustion engine and method for installation of same A novel method and apparatus useful for the installation of a flame cone within a respective throughbore in the head of an ICE having a pre-ignition system without removal of the head from the ICE, followed by threading a spark plug into the outboard end of the flame cone. This installation is effected from a location external of the head and while the head is affixed in covering relationship to one or more combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine. The installation further comprises employing unique interconnection between the flame cone and an installation tool. The flame cone includes a rotational position indicator which is aligned with an exit port in the flame cone and which contributes to the exclusivity of mating interconnection with the tool in a manner which converts rotational movements of the tool to like rotational movements of the flame cone, hence like rotation of the location of the exit port.
US08028674B2	Fuel processor apparatus and method There is disclosed a fuel nozzle, a pre-combustion fuel mixing device, and methods related to fuel processing. In an embodiment, a fuel nozzle includes at least one port for receiving fuel, a sidewall forming ports for introducing fuel into a pre-combustion chamber, and a plurality of conduits formed between the first end and the sidewall. In one embodiment, a method includes creating a gaseous, homogenous premixture of fuel and oxidizer in a first pre-combustion vortex chamber, which includes introducing fuel at an axis of the oxidizer vortex both axially and radially through an injector having a plurality of ports through a sidewall arranged in a plurality of rows substantially parallel to one another. In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a pre-combustion fuel mixing device having a housing with a first pre-combustion vortex chamber having a first compartment, a second compartment, and a third compartment.
US08028673B2	Fuel line protective cover A fuel line protective cover is disclosed. The fuel line protective cover includes a first leg configured to be mounted to a top surface of an engine and configured to extend the length of an engine. The fuel line protective cover further includes at least one second leg configured to be mounted to a side surface of an engine. The first leg and the at least one second leg cooperate to at least partially enclose a high pressure fuel system.
US08028671B1	Serpentine belt system A serpentine belt system for use in connection with an engine block for an automotive engine is disclosed. A spacer, which is preferably a pair of brackets, is provided for mounting on the face of the engine block. A bridge bracket is secured to the spacer brackets, and other elements of the automotive system, such as the air conditioner compressor and alternator, may be secured to the bridge bracket. The system may further include a tensioner having a tensioner housing mounted on and supported by the air conditioner compressor, and a tensioner pulley is mounted to the tensioner housing for adjusting the serpentine belt system.
US08028669B2	Power unit for motorcycle A power unit for a motorcycle includes an internal combustion engine provided with a crankcase rotatably supporting a crankshaft with an axial line extending in a vehicle-width direction. An oil pump is mounted on the crankcase with a balancer rotatably supported by the crankcase. Rotational power from the crankshaft is transmitted to a pump driven member provided on a pump shall of the oil pump and to a balancer driven member coaxially interlinked with and connected to the balancer so as to transmit power to the balancer. The power unit is downsized by bringing a balancer and an oil pump into a close arrangement. The pump driven member and the balancer driven member are offset from each other in a vehicle-width direction and are located at such a position so as to at least partially overlap each other as viewed from the side of the vehicle-width direction.
US08028660B2	Automated positioning and submersible open ocean platform An open-ocean fish-growing platform has a submersible cage structure for growing fish, an antenna for receiving positioning signals transmitted from an external source, a position-correction apparatus for calculating a position error signal from a target geostationary position, and an ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system for generating electric power for thruster units to maintain the cage structure in the target geostationary position. The OTEC system inducts colder ocean water from a deeper ocean depth for driving its heat exchange cycle, and is also of hybrid type using a fuel-fired unit as a heat source. The cold water effluent from the OTEC system is directed into the cage for flushing wastes generated by the growing fish. The self-positioning, self-powered open-ocean platform enables unmanned, extended marine deployment in deeper ocean waters without the need for tethering or anchoring to the ocean floor.
US08028656B2	Milking devices The present invention relates to devices and components for milking apparatus, in particular to milk extracting devices. Especially it relates to components of such devices such as liners (20). The novel devices include a material, selected from the group consisting of thermo-plastic elastomers, as defined in ISO 18064, plasticized PVC, Vinyl TPE, the material exhibiting the following properties: a hardness between 25 shore A and 50 shore D; a Young's modulus between 0.1 MPa and 50 MPa; a tensile strength above 0.5 MPa; and a minimum elongation of 50% without breakage.
US08028655B2	Plasma processing system with locally-efficient inductive plasma coupling An inductively coupled plasma source is provided with a peripheral ionization source for producing a high-density plasma in a vacuum chamber for semiconductor wafer coating or etching. The source includes a segmented configuration having high and low radiation segments and produces a generally ring-shaped array of alternating high and low energy concentrations in the plasma around the periphery of the chamber. Energy is coupled from a segmented low inductance antenna through a dielectric window or array of windows and through a segmented shield or baffle. The antenna has concentrated conductor segments through which current flows in lengths of closely-spaced windings of a single conductor to produce high magnetic fields that couple through the high-transparency shield segments into the chamber, and alternating distributed conductor segments through which current flows in lengths of more widely-spaced windings of the conductor to produce weaker magnetic fields aligned with more opaque shield sections that couple less energy to the plasma.
US08028654B2	Planar controlled zone microwave plasma system An apparatus and method for initiating a process gas plasma. A conductive plate having a plurality of conductive fingers is positioned in a microwave applicator. An arc forms between the conductive fingers to initiate the formation of a plasma. A transport mechanism may convey process materials through the plasma. A spray port may be provided to expel processed materials.
US08028652B2	Batch-type remote plasma processing apparatus A plasma processing apparatus comprises a processing chamber in which a plurality of substrates are stacked and accommodated; a pair of electrodes extending in the stacking direction of the plurality of substrates, which are disposed at one side of the plurality of substrates in said processing chamber, and to which high frequency electricity is applied; and a gas supply member which supplies processing gas into a space between the pair of electrodes.
US08028648B2	Rod cradle, instert to be used in a rod cradle, and method for inserting a rod in a rod cradle A rod cradle for a film, coating, or dam rod includes a frame profile (12) equipped with an insert groove (14), an insert (16) fitted into the insert groove, and the insert having a rod groove (18) and a rod (28) therein. The device has locking elements (24) for locking the insert (16) into the frame profile (12). There are, on the sides of the insert groove, edges (20) through which the insert passes into the insert groove when the rod is not present. On the sides of the rod groove (16) there are opposing lips (22). The lips (22) have vertices (74) through which the rod (28) can pass without damage to the rod or the insert so that the rod can be inserted in to the rod groove (18) and lock the insert (16) in the insert groove (14) of the frame profile.
US08028644B2	Cable driven tactor A tactor system transforms cable motion to tactor motion. A housing defining a plane is adapted for placement proximate to the skin of a user. A cable is operative to deform a tactor element in the housing, causing a portion of the element to move outwardly from the plane of the housing, thereby imparting a tactile sensation to the user's skin. For example, tension on the cable may cause a strip of flexible plastic or other suitable material to bend at a living hinge that moves outwardly from the plane of the housing. The cable may be driven by an actuator including. Two or more tactor elements may be disposed next to each other or in the same housing, with different elements being activated at different times to enhance the apparent frequency of the stimulus. For example, a reciprocating mechanism may be used to operate a pair of tactor elements out of phase with respect to one another. The cable may be controlled by a remote reciprocating mechanism, with a physical quick disconnect mechanism provided between the reciprocating mechanism and the cable.
US08028643B2	All-directional fall sensor The all-directional fall sensor of the present invention includes a first casing defining a first interior space filled with a liquid and a floater buoyed by the liquid inside the first casing. The floater includes an indicator having indicative materials therein. The indicator includes a body defining a chamber, which is divided into at least a first portion and a second portion with a first sealing member located therebetween. The indicative materials are contained in the second portion of the chamber and are sealed therein with the first sealing member. When the all-directional fall sensor is applied with a force, the first sealing member would be dislocated and thus the indicative materials are dispersed within the chamber.
US08028642B2	Whistle with finger grip A whistle for producing resonant frequencies comprising a body which includes a mouth piece having an inlet, and at least two sound chambers to which inlet air is blown from the inlet. The whistle further includes air passageways for communicating inlet air from the inlet to the sound box and sound chambers. The body further includes at least two exhaust ports in communication with the sound chambers for discharging air and sound. The two sound chambers are dimensioned to create peak principal frequencies which interactively produce a pulsating sound having a periodic pulse frequency of less than 100 hertz. The whistle preferably includes air intake ports for communicating additional port air into the sound box.
US08028641B1	Convertible bench seat/platform for pontoon boats A convertible bench seat/platform that is pivotally connected to the deck of a pontoon boat and is movable between an inboard position adjacent to the boat side rail for use as a bench seat and an outboard position for use as a platform for fishing, sitting, diving and swimming or for search and rescue operations.
US08028638B2	Method of dynamic positioning of a vessel A method of dynamic positioning of a vessel (16, 32), wherein a positioning system controls at least one positioning machinery (18), and where two or more buoys (1), each comprising at least one positioning machinery (18), are coupled to the vessel (16, 32).
US08028635B2	Feed-off-arm type sewing machine for flat seaming A needle bar supported in a head unit is connected with a needle bar lever extending from the inside of a sewing machine arm and the needle bar is moved up and down by swing of the needle bar lever about a supporting shaft generated by transmission from a sewing machine main shaft. The sewing machine arm and the head unit are fluid-tightly shielded by a shield plate, and a first sealing part is provided in the shield plate. The first sealing part supports the needle bar lever by fitting a portion of the needle bar lever into seal plates held between a presser plate and a back face of a seal support having a curved shape of a circular arc taken along a swinging locus of the needle bar lever. The inside of the sewing machine arm is oil-lubricated, and the inside of the head unit is grease-lubricated.
US08028629B2	Passenger rail car sliding door with high platform threshold An improved door assembly has a single movable door and may have a separate movable high platform threshold. The door assembly is formed of an upper door section and a lower door section which is fixed to the upper door section. A support member may be integral with or slidably engaged with the door assembly, disposed as an angle iron fixed to the door assembly, or disposed on the side of a stairwell of a rail passenger car.
US08028625B2	Missile separation device Disclosed is a device for separating a propulsion system from a missile, the device including a locking unit configured to fix a propulsion system to a missile, a string disposed to cross a rear portion of the propulsion system to be broken by heat of the propulsion system, and an unlocking unit configured to unlock the missile by the broken string, whereby the number of additional components of an unlocking system can be reduced as many as possible so as to simplify the configuration of the apparatus, resulting in guaranteeing an enhanced performance of the missile, an easy assembly of the missile, and a reduction of a fabricating cost.

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