最新美国发明专利第2011-10-18期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

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US08039152B2	Tin in an active support matrix An anode material made from nanoparticles, said anode material including a homogeneous mixture of lithium-alloying nanoparticles with active support matrix nanoparticles, is provided. The active support matrix nanoparticle is a compound that participates in the conversion reaction of the lithium battery. The compound is preferably a transition metal compound, with said compound including a nitride, carbide, oxide or combination thereof. An electrode manufactured from the anode material preferably has a porosity of between 5 and 80% and more preferably has a porosity between 10 and 50%. The anode material nanoparticles preferably have a mean linear dimension of between 2 and 500 nanometers, and more preferably have a mean linear dimension of between 2 and 50 nanometers.
US08039150B2	Agglomerated zinc powder anode Zinc electrodes for use in batteries, the electrode containing an organic gelling agent, an organic binding agent, calcium zincate and an electro-active element. A method of manufacturing such electrodes, and use of such electrodes in primary and secondary batteries.
US08039148B2	Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of this invention includes a positive electrode including a positive electrode mixture, a negative electrode including a negative electrode mixture, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The negative electrode mixture includes a material capable of absorbing and desorbing Li and a carbon material. The material capable of absorbing and desorbing Li includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si and Sn, and the amount of the carbon material is 3 to 60% by weight of the negative electrode mixture. At least one of the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the non-aqueous electrolyte contains a lithium perfluoroalkylsulfonyl imide represented by the following general formula (1): LiN(CmF2m+1SO2)(CnF2n+1SO2) (1) where m and n each represent an integer of 1 to 5 and may be m=n. The ratio of the weight of the lithium perfluoroalkylsulfonyl imide to the weight of the carbon material is 10−3 to 10.
US08039140B2	Separator for secondary electrical accumulators with gas recombination An absorbent battery separator comprising a substantially homogeneous blend of a thermoplastic polymer and of at least one inert filler, where the inert filler is pyrogenic silica, precipitated silica, titanium dioxide, magnesium carbonate, magnesium oxide and magnesium hydroxide, or mixtures thereof and, the separator has a volume porosity of at least 75% and an extraction pore size of greater than 2 microns.
US08039136B2	Battery cooling device, battery cooling air flow control device, and computer readable medium In a battery cooling device for cooling a battery with cooling air from a cooling unit, such as a cooling fan, the cooling fan is not to be driven more than necessary. A cooling air flow control unit calculates a battery temperature change rate indicating an amount of change in battery temperature over a predetermined time based on the battery temperature, and if the calculated battery temperature change rate satisfies a predetermined suppression control condition, the cooling air flow of the cooling fan is suppressed regardless of whether or not the battery temperature is at or below a reference temperature.
US08039134B2	Can type secondary battery and method of manufacturing circuit board for the secondary battery A can type secondary battery and a method of manufacturing a circuit board for the secondary battery that improves reliability by providing a consistent breakdown pressure of the circuit board used in the can type secondary battery. The can type secondary battery includes an electrode assembly, a can to house the electrode assembly and a cap assembly combined with the can. The cap assembly includes a circuit board, which includes fiber layers and is broken by a safety vent when an internal pressure of the can is increased. A woven direction of the fiber layers is inclined with respect to a length direction of the circuit board. Distribution of the breakdown pressure among the circuit boards is decreased, and thus the circuit boards are broken under a consistent pressure, thereby improving the reliability of the can type secondary battery.
US08039131B2	Class of pure piezoelectric materials A modification of PbTiO3 perovskite wherein at least part of Pb is replaced by a smaller atom with a similar ionic charge.
US08039130B2	Method of forming group-III nitride crystal, layered structure and epitaxial substrate Heat treatment is conducted at a predetermined temperature of not less than 1250° C. on an underlying substrate obtained by epitaxially forming a first group-III nitride crystal on a predetermined base as an underlying layer. Three-dimensional fine irregularities resulting from crystalline islands are created on the surface of the underlying layer. A second group-III nitride crystal is epitaxially formed on the underlying substrate as a crystal layer. There are a great many fine voids interposed at the interface between the crystal layer and underlying substrate. The presence of such voids suppresses propagation of dislocations from the underlying substrate, which reduces the dislocation density in the crystal layer. As a result, the crystal layer of good crystal quality can be obtained.
US08039127B2	Organic electroluminescence device and material for organic electroluminescence device An organic electroluminescence device includes: a cathode; an anode; and a single-layered or multilayered organic thin-film layer provided between the cathode and the anode. In the organic electroluminescence device, at least one layer of the organic thin-film layer includes: an organic-electroluminescence-device material represented by a general formula selected from the following formulae (1), (2) and (3); and at least one phosphorescent material. In the formula: A represents a group selected from a 3-fluoranthenyl group, 5-benzo[c]phenanthrenyl group, 6-benzo[c]phenanthrenyl group and 10-benzo[g]chrysenyl group; Ar represents a fused aromatic ring having 10 to 30 carbon atoms and having triplet energy of 2.10 eV or more; and A or Ar is allowed to be substituted by a phenyl group or a naphthyl group.
US08039125B2	Compound comprising phenyl pyridine units Organic compounds of formula I may be used in optoelectronic devices wherein R1 is, independently at each occurrence, a C1-C20 aliphatic radical, a C3-C20 aromatic radical, or a C3-C20 cycloaliphatic radical; R2 is, independently at each occurrence, a C1-C20 aliphatic radical, a C3-C20 aromatic radical, or a C3-C20 cycloaliphatic radical; a is, independently at each occurrence, an integer ranging from 0-4; b is, independently at each occurrence, an integer ranging from 0-3; Ar1 is a direct bond or heteroaryl, aryl, or alkyl or cycloalkyl; Ar2 is heteroaryl, aryl, or alkyl or cycloalkyl; c is 0, 1 or 2; and n is an integer ranging from 2-4.
US08039122B2	Anthracene derivative, material for light emitting element, light emitting element, light emitting device, and electronic device It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel material capable of realizing excellent color purity of blue, and a light emitting element and a light emitting device using the novel material. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide which is highly reliable, and a light emitting element and a light emitting device using the novel material. The structure for solving the above problems in accordance with the present invention is an anthracene derivative simultaneously having a diphenylanthracene structure and a carbazole skeleton in a molecule as represented by structural formula (1):
US08039121B2	Organic electroluminescence device An organic electroluminescent device (1) including an anode (2), a cathode (6), and at least a first layer (3), a second layer (4), and a third layer (5) provided between the anode (2) and the cathode (6) in that order from the anode side. At least one of the first to third layers (3), (4), and (5) includes a phosphorescent compound. At least one of the first to third layers (3), (4), and (5) is an emitting layer. At least three compounds respectively forming the first layer (3), the second layer (4), and the third layer (5) other than the phosphorescent compound are compounds of the following formula (1). wherein R1 to R7 each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, provided that adjacent substituents may form a ring.
US08039119B2	Textured substrate for epitaxial film formation and surface improving method of textured substrate for epitaxial film formation Orientation degree and smoothness of a substrate surface better than those of conventional ones are provided in a textured substrate for epitaxial thin film growth. The present invention is a textured substrate for epitaxial film formation, including a crystal orientation improving layer made of a metal thin film of 1 to 5000 nm in thickness on the surface of the textured substrate for epitaxial film formation having a textured metal layer at least on one surface, wherein differences between orientation degrees (Δφ and Δω) in the textured metal layer surface and orientation degrees (Δφ and Δω) in the crystal orientation improving layer surface are both 0.1 to 3.0°. Further, when another metal different from the metal constituting this textured substrate crystal orientation improving layer is added equivalent to a thin film which is 30 nm or less, and subsequently is subjected to heat treatment, the smoothness of that surface can be improved. At this time, the surface roughness of the substrate surface becomes 20 nm or less.
US08039116B2	Nb-Si based alloys having an Al-containing coating, articles, and processes Nb—Si based alloy articles comprising a Nb—Si based alloy upon which is disposed an environmentally-resistant coating are described. They include a coating comprising at least one phase selected from the group consisting of M(Al,Si)3, M5(Al,Si)3, and M3Si5Al2, wherein M is one or more of Nb, Ti, Hf, Cr. Such coating can improve the environmental (e.g., in oxidation-promoting environments) resistance of a Nb—Si based alloy and alloy articles. Methods for preparing these articles are described as well.
US08039114B2	Resin composition and multilayer structure using the same It is disclosed that a resin composition comprising EVOH resin (A), polyamide resin (B) and inorganic salt (C) capable of forming a hydrate wherein the content amount of the inorganic salt (C) is in the range of 2 to 50 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the EVOH resin (A), and the mass ratio ((B)/(C)) of the polyamide resin (B) to the inorganic salt (C) is in the range of 95/5 to 5/95. The resin composition exhibits excellent gas barrier property and less elution of EVOH resin even after hot water treatment, and excellent long-run processability.
US08039106B1	Engineered plant biomass feedstock particles A novel class of flowable biomass feedstock particles with unusually large surface areas that can be manufactured in remarkably uniform sizes using low-energy comminution techniques. The feedstock particles are roughly parallelepiped in shape and characterized by a length dimension (L) aligned substantially with the grain direction and defining a substantially uniform distance along the grain, a width dimension (W) normal to L and aligned cross grain, and a height dimension (H) normal to W and L. The particles exhibit a disrupted grain structure with prominent end and surface checks that greatly enhances their skeletal surface area as compared to their envelope surface area. The L×H dimensions define a pair of substantially parallel side surfaces characterized by substantially intact longitudinally arrayed fibers. The W×H dimensions define a pair of substantially parallel end surfaces characterized by crosscut fibers and end checking between fibers. The L×W dimensions define a pair of substantially parallel top surfaces characterized by some surface checking between longitudinally arrayed fibers. At least 80% of the particles pass through a ¼ inch screen having a 6.3 mm nominal sieve opening but are retained by a No. 10 screen having a 2 mm nominal sieve opening. The feedstock particles are manufactured from a variety of plant biomass materials including wood, crop residues, plantation grasses, hemp, bagasse, and bamboo.
US08039105B2	Amorphous submicron particles A process for milling amorphous solids using a milling apparatus can result in particles having a median particle diameter d50 of <1.5 μm. The process includes: operating a mill in a milling phase with an operating medium selected from the group consisting of gas, vapor, steam, a gas containing steam and mixtures thereof, and heating a milling chamber in a heat-up phase before the actual operation with the operating medium in such a way that a temperature in the milling chamber, the mill exit or both, is higher than a dew point of the operating medium.
US08039103B2	Pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet A pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet is characterized by having a substrate having a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on at least one side thereof, wherein the whole of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is formed of an aqueous dispersion type pressure-sensitive adhesive composition containing, as a base polymer, (A) an acrylic polymer containing a (meth)acrylic acid C4-12 alkyl ester as the major monomer component; and in a surface portion of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer within the range of up to 3 nm inward from the outer face of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, (B) an anionic emulsifier containing a sulfur atom is contained in a specific proportion, and (C) a hydrophilic polymer is contained in a specific proportion.
US08039102B1	Reinforced film for blast resistance protection Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a reinforced film for blast resistance protection and methods thereof. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a reinforced film comprising an elastomeric polymer laminate, and a scrim layer at least partially embedded in the elastomeric polymer laminate layer, wherein the reinforced film comprises a puncture resistance of at least five thousand pounds per square inch.
US08039100B2	High durability photocatalytic paving for reducing urban polluting agents The present invention concerns a composite cement paving with photocatalytic action for reducing urban polluting agents, composed of a bituminous or cement foundation, a resin having the function of interface, a superficial cement layer with photocatalytic properties able to reduce organic and inorganic polluting agents, said paving also comprising reinforcing materials and possible suitably positioned fibrous materials. The paving thus realised presents a strong photocatalytic action, prolonged overtime, even in the presence of high mechanical stress caused by heavy traffic.
US08039096B2	Friction- and wear-reducing coating A coating includes a first layer of a ceramic alloy and a second layer disposed on the first layer and including carbon. The coating has a hardness of from 10 to 20 GPa and a coefficient of friction of less than or equal to 0.12. A method of coating a substrate includes cleaning the substrate, forming the first layer on the substrate, and depositing the second layer onto the first layer to thereby coat the substrate.
US08039090B2	Porous composite containing calcium phosphate and process for producing the same A porous composite comprising a porous layer containing a calcium phosphate ceramic, and a dense layer formed on part of the porous layer and having a smaller average pore size than that of the porous layer. The porous composite can be produced by (1) introducing a slurry containing a calcium phosphate ceramic/collagen composite and collagen into a molding die having a high thermal conductivity, (2) rapidly freezing and drying the slurry in the molding die, to form a porous body comprising a porous layer and a dense layer formed on the porous layer, (3) cross-linking collagen in the porous body, and (4) removing the dense layer except for a portion thereof on a surface coming into contact with a soft tissue when implanted in a human body, so that the porous layer is exposed.
US08039089B2	Honeycomb structure and seal material A honeycomb structure is formed by adhering a plurality of honeycomb units provided with cells to each other through a layer of a seal material layer, in which the layer of the seal material comprises an inorganic binder and oxide particles having a particle size of about 0.01 to about 100 μm.
US08039086B2	Bonding material, process for producing the same, and honeycomb structure made with the same There is provided bonding material having a Young's Modulus after hardening of not less than 20% of articles to be bonded, and an average linear coefficient of thermal expansion after hardening of not more than 70% of the articles to be bonded. This bonding material can suppress deformation of a honeycomb segment due to thermal stress to be generated by a bonding material layer and can suitably be used at the time of manufacturing exhaust gas trapping filters capable of reducing the generation of defects such as a crack, and above all, a diesel particulate filter (DPF) for trapping particulate matter (particulates) in exhaust gas from the diesel engine.
US08039085B2	Honeycomb structure There is provided a honeycomb structure 10 comprising a honeycomb segment joined body 10 having a plurality of honeycomb segments 2 integrally joined with one another at a joint face of each of the honeycomb segments by means of a bonding material layer 9 and having a plurality of cells 5 functioning as fluid passages disposed in parallel with one another in a direction of central axis. Porosity in an outside portion of the bonding material layer 9 (portion from the interface of the joint face of honeycomb segments to the point corresponding to 20% thickness of the total bonding material layer) is smaller than that in the central portion located on the inner side of the outside portion.
US08039083B2	Hook-and-loop fastener made of fabric A fabric separable fastener member is provided which comprises a fiber for a base fabric and a fiber for a fastening element firmly anchored by the fused fiber for the base fabric and which is excellent in flexibility and durability without a back-coated layer.The separable fastener member comprises (α1) a ground warp, (α2) a ground weft containing a binder fiber, and (α3) a pile yarn, and the pile yarn (α3) is anchored by the fused binder fiber. In the separable fastener member, each of the ground warp (α1), the ground weft (α2) and the pile yarn (α3) comprises a polyester fiber, the mass ratio of the ground warp (a1) relative to the ground weft (a2) is 40/60 to 80/20, and the mass ratio of the total amount of the ground warp (a1) and the ground weft (a2) relative to the pile yarn (a3) is 90/10 to 50/50.
US08039082B2	Rubber access mat A rubber access mat includes a rubber slab having opposed side edges defining a width and opposed end edges defining a length. A rigidifying grid of reinforcing wire is embedded within the rubber slab. The grid consists of a plurality of parallel spaced wires extending between the opposed side edges for most of the width of the rubber slab and a plurality of parallel spaced wires extending between the opposed end edges for most of the length of the rubber slab. The reinforcing wire is not less than number ten gauge wire.
US08039077B2	Fire resistant encapsulated fiberglass products Fiberglass-based materials and fire retardant compositions are described, wherein the fiberglass materials and the fire retardant compositions are encapsulated in a plastic cover. Methods for making encapsulated fiberglass articles are also described.
US08039074B2	Protective film for temporarily lamination to electromagnetic wave shielding sheet, method for producing the same, and electromagnetic wave shielding sheet An electromagnetic wave shielding sheet with a protective film that is temporarily laminated on a copper mesh layer for shielding electromagnetic waves is disclosed. The electromagnetic wave shielding sheet includes a transparent substrate, at least a copper mesh layer provided on one surface of the transparent substrate and a protective film temporarily laminated to the copper-mesh-layer-side surface. The protective film includes a support and an adhesive layer containing a polymer having repeating units derived from an acrylic ester and/or a methacrylic ester on the support.
US08039072B2	Gas tank and method for producing the same According to the present invention, a gas tank having a gas-barrier inner shell and an outer shell that is formed so as to cover the inner shell and is made of a pressure-resistant FRP, such outer shell comprising reinforcing fiber bundles (A), a thermosetting resin (B), and an elastomer particles and/or thermoplastic resin particles (C), provided that elastomer particles and/or thermoplastic resin particles (C) that have been dispersed in a thermosetting resin (B) exist in reinforcing fiber bundles (A), is provided. Such gas tank is excellent in strength and heat resistance and has suppressed gas permeability.
US08039071B2	Gas barrier layered product and packaging medium, and method for producing gas barrier layered product Provided is a gas barrier layered product including a base material and a layer stacked on at least one surface of the base material, wherein the layer is formed of a composition including: a hydrolyzed and condensed product of at least one compound (L) containing a metal atom to which at least one characteristic group selected from a halogen atom and an alkoxy group has been bonded, wherein the compound (L) contains at least one compound (A) and at least one compound (B), wherein a mole ratio of the compound (A) / the compound (B) is in a range of 0.5/99.5 to 40/60; and a neutralized product of a polymer containing at least one functional group selected from a carboxyl group and a carboxylic anhydride group, wherein at least 55 mol % of a —COO— group contained in the at least one functional group has been neutralized with a metal ion having a valence of two or more. Also provided is a method for producing the gas barrier layered product.
US08039061B2	Method for producing hose with sealing layer In a method for producing a hose with a sealing layer, a hose body having a resin innermost layer is prepared, a rod-like core member is disposed through a center portion of a hollow interior of a connecting portion of the hose body so as to occupy the center portion, and the plasma gas is fed and distributed in an interior of an innermost layer of the connecting portion to modify an inner surface of the innermost layer. Then, the sealing layer is formed on the inner surface by coating an elastic material for the sealing layer on the inner surface of the connecting portion.
US08039055B2	Method to increase the efficiency of polymer drag reduction for marine and industrial applications A method for increasing the efficiency of additive drag reduction by establishing a drag-reducing viscoelastic coating on a surface. The method includes mixing a polymer into a concentrated solution that has approximately the same density as a fluid flowing over the surface, ejecting the mixture/solution into the flowing fluid in a manner such that a coating of polymer, which initially grows thicker with time, is adsorbed onto the surface, and reducing the ejection rate of the first fluid such that the coating of polymer then grows thinner with time. These steps may be repeated so that a desired minimum coating thickness is maintained over an extended period of time. The method reduces the polymer expenditure rate for a given drag reduction. Moreover, the produced viscoelastic coating impedes the attachment and growth of drag-producing natural organisms and may be applied without “down-time” (e.g., while underway).
US08039051B2	Method and apparatus for hydrogenation of thin film silicon on glass A method and apparatus is provided for hydrogenation of a target, such as a polycrystalline silicon film on a glass substrate, by using an atomic hydrogen source. The target is subjected to intermittent exposure of the atomic hydrogen field of the source until at least one area of the target has been subjected to the hydrogen field for a predetermined minimum period of time. The processing area of the source established by its atomic hydrogen field is smaller than the target, and after the target is moved into the high temperature processing zone it is translated within the high temperature processing zone to intermittently process successive areas of the target until the entire target has been processed for a predetermined minimum period of time. After the entire target has been processed, the target is cooled to a predetermined lower temperature while still intermittently subjecting the target to atomic hydrogen.
US08039049B2	Treatment of low dielectric constant films using a batch processing system A method and system for treating a dielectric film in a batch processing system includes exposing at least one surface of the dielectric film to a treating compound including a CxHy containing compound, where x and y represent integers greater than or equal to unity. The plurality of wafers are heated when the treating compound is introduced. The dielectric film can include a low dielectric constant film with or without pores having an etch feature formed therein following dry etch processing.
US08039044B2	Method for forming electrode for battery A plurality of gravure rolls are rotated while being allowed to abut against a surface of a moving electrode hoop, thereby applying a coating fluid serving as a precursor of porous layers onto a plurality of linear mixture layers. In this way, a plurality of linear porous layers are formed on the associated linear mixture layers formed on the surface of the electrode hoop. In this case, the location at which each gravure roll abuts against the surface of the electrode hoop is controlled according to variations in the lateral location of associated one of the mixture layers independently of the other gravure rolls.
US08039043B2	Method of forming resistance film The invention provides a method of forming a resistance film with even thickness and at high speed even in a substrate having micro depressions and projections in its surface. A fine particle dispersion solution is prepared by adding a solution which decreases the absolute value of a ξ potential at the fine particles and a solution which decreases dispersion stability of the fine particles into a solution in which metal oxide fine particles are stably dispersed, a substrate having an insulating surface is immersed in the fine particle dispersion solution to deposit a fine particle aggregation film, and then a resistance film is obtained by performing heat treatment.
US08039041B2	Electroluminescent devices with electrode protection A method of manufacturing an electroluminescent device which has an anode and a cathode and arranged between the anode and the cathode a light emissive layer, also includes an anode protection layer which protects the anode against the effects of converting a precursor polymer to a semiconductive conjugated polymer which constitutes the light emissive layer. This has been found to increase the brightness and half-life of devices.
US08039040B2	Method for luminescent layer formation and organic electroluminescent device A method for the formation of a luminescent layer having a uniform thickness in a desired pattern and an organic electroluminescent device that can realize high-quality display and is highly reliable. The luminescent layer is formed by providing a blanket having a resin film having a surface tension of not less than 35 dynes/cm as a surface layer and an ink for a luminescent layer, having a viscosity (ink temperature 23° C.) in the range of 5 to 200 cP as measured at a shear rate of 100/sec, and containing a solvent having a surface tension of not more than 40 dynes/cm and a boiling temperature in the range of 150 to 250° C., filling the ink into cells in a gravure form, allowing the blanket to receive the ink from the cells, and transferring the ink on the blanket onto a luminescent layer forming face.
US08039038B2	Process for the preparation of protein mediated calcium hydroxyapatite (HAp) coating on metal substrate This invention provides a process for the preparation of protein mediated calcium hydroxyapatite (HAp) coating on metal substrates particularly on stainless steel (316 L) by biomimetic route, capable of rapid and effective osteointegration with the host tissue following controlled interfacial reactions. For the purpose, calcium deficient, carbonated hydroxyapatite (HAp) coating was developed on metal substrates particularly on stainless steel (316L) alloy through biomimetic route after a surface treatment step using aqueous solution (4-10 wt %) of BSA at room temperature. The coating was characterized with respect to phase composition, crystallinity, morphology and thickness. The protein mediated calcium phosphate ceramic coating is porous (pore dia—100-200 μm) having uniform pore distribution and coverage. There is multifold enhancement in thickness and crystallinity (data provided) of the as-prepared coating. The process in the present invention is designed to mimic the structural and characteristic properties of the biological apatite to expedite osteointegration kinetics and to further improve biocompatibility of the metallic implant.
US08039037B2	Multi-textured ready-to-eat cereal with extruded rice pellets A multi-textured ready-to-eat cereal flake includes a plurality of rice based pellets embedded in a cooked cereal grain. The plurality of rice pellets are formed from a rice product and have a first moisture content. A cooked cereal grain mixture is then formed and has a second moisture content that is greater than the first moisture content of the rice pellets. The plurality of rice pellets are then embedded within the cooked cereal grain mixture to create a multicomponent mixture. A multicomponent pellet is formed from the multicomponent mixture. The multicomponent pellet is then formed into a flake. The flake is heated to create a multi-textured flake. Based on the moisture differential between the cooked cereal grain and the plurality of rice pellets, the plurality of rice pellets expand to create a blistered appearance on the multi-textured flake.
US08039036B2	Preparation of a beverage suitable for consumption A method for the preparation of a beverage suitable for consumption such as, for instance, cappuccino, wherein use is made of at least one extraction pad (44) at least filled with a product to be extracted such as ground coffee (45), and at least one additive holder (32) at least filled with a soluble substance such as a flavoring and/or odorant and/or colorant, more in particular such as an instant and/or liquid creamer (35), the method further having the following method steps: the extraction pad (44) and the additive holder (32) are positioned relative to each other such that they lie clear of each other; hot water is pressed under pressure through the extraction pad (44) and contacted with the soluble substance (35) for obtaining an extract with the soluble substance (35) dissolved therein;—the extract with the soluble substance (35) dissolved therein is fed under pressure to at least one nozzle (28) for obtaining an extract jet; and the extract jet is aimed at an impact surface (16) for obtaining a beverage suitable for consumption with a froth layer, such as cappuccino.
US08039029B2	Capsule for the preparation of a beverage The capsule (2) for brewing food fragments comprises a filtering means (22) delimitating one filtering side of a brewing enclosure (20). It also comprises an overflow wall (3) positioned in the path of brewed liquid after the filtering means. The filtering means (22) are integral with the overflow wall (3).
US08039028B2	Use of an extract of the orchid Vanda coerulea as a skin hydrating agent The present invention relates to the use, in a cosmetic composition, of an extract of at least one part of an orchid of the species Vanda coerulea, as an agent for maintaining or restoring the hydration state of the skin, said composition also containing a cosmetically acceptable excipient.This skin hydrating effect is obtained in particular by stimulating the expression of aquaporin 3 and of the LEKTI protein.The invention also relates to a cosmetic skincare method for the purpose of improving the hydration state of said skin.
US08039027B1	Treatment of autoimmune diseases with American ginseng extract Use of ginseng extracts designated CVT-E002, PQ2, PQ2A, PQ2B, PQ2C, PQ2D, and PQ223 in the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition suitable for treating an autoimmune disease.
US08039025B1	Methods and dosage forms for the treatment of human cancers Methods for the treatment of human cancers, daily dosage forms for cancer patients, and methods of formulating the dosage forms are provided wherein the daily dosage form contains from about 10-6,000 mg of each of β-sitosterol, isovanillin, and linolenic acid. Preferably, the dosage forms are formulated by first creating an aqueous decoction of Arum palaestinum Boiss, followed by fortification of the decoction with additional quantities of β-sitosterol, isovanillin, and linolenic acid.
US08039022B2	Aqueous hydrogen peroxide for sterilization The present invention provides a hydrogen peroxide solution for sterilization which has a hydrogen peroxide concentration of 30 to 45% by weight, an Fe concentration of 2 ppb or less and an Al concentration of at least 15 ppb and in which a concentration of a stabilizer comprising orthophosphoric acid is 40 ppm at the most. The above hydrogen peroxide solution for sterilization is used for sterilizing vessels filled with beverages and foods and packaging materials in an aseptic filling equipment. The above hydrogen peroxide solution for sterilization has less evaporation residue, does not clog a narrow piping part such as a spray nozzle and therefore makes it possible to stably operate an aseptic filling equipment. Further, an austenite base stainless material can be used as a material for the transporting facilities and the tanks.
US08039019B2	Pharmaceutical formulation containing a biguanide and an angiotensin antagonist A pharmaceutical dosage form comprising a controlled release component comprising an antihyperglycemic drug in combination with a second component comprising a angiotensin antagonist is herein disclosed and described.
US08039018B2	Solid dosage form of wetted heparin The present invention relates to a solid pharmaceutical composition (such as a solid dosage form) comprising a delivery agent and wetted heparin. The inclusion of wetted heparin rather than un-wetted heparin in the solid pharmaceutical composition results in increased delivery of the heparin. Without being bound by any particular theory, applicants believe that because the polymer chain of the wetted heparin is already in an “open” form, while un-wetted heparin is not, less of the wetted heparin is broken down in the gastrointestinal tract and is more readily absorbed in the stomach.
US08039014B2	3′-alkoxyspirocyclopentyl-substituted tetramic and tetronic acids The invention relates to novel compounds of the formula (I) in which W, X, Y, Z, A, B, D, Q1, Q2 and G are as defined above, to a plurality of processes for their preparation and to their use as pesticides and/or herbicides and/or fungicides and also to selective herbicidal compositions comprising, firstly, the 3′-alkoxyspirocyclopentyl-substituted tetramic and tetronic acids of the formula (I) and, secondly, at least one crop plant compatibility-improving compound, and also to boosting the activity of crop protection compositions comprising active compounds from the class of the 3′-alkoxyspirocyclopentyl-substituted tetramic and tetronic acids of the formula (I) by adding ammonium salts and/or phosphonium salts or by adding ammonium salts and/or phosphonium salts and penetrants, to the corresponding compositions, to processes for their preparation and to their use in crop protection.
US08039010B2	Sustained release intraocular drug delivery systems comprising a water soluble therapeutic agent and a release modifier A biocompatible, sustained release intraocular drug delivery system comprising a protein or polynucleotide therapeutic agent, a polymeric carrier for the therapeutic agent and a long chain fatty alcohol release modifier. The biocompatible, sustained release intraocular drug delivery system can be used to treat an ocular condition.
US08039004B2	Methods of preparing myxomavirus compositions The present invention relates to monoparamunity inducers based on paramunizing viruses or viral components of a myxomavirus strain from rabbits with typically generalizing disease, to a method for the production thereof and to the use thereof as medicaments for the regulatory optimization of the paramunizing activities for the prophylaxis and therapy of various dysfunctions in humans and animals.
US08039002B2	Influenza hemagglutinin and neuraminidase variants Polypeptides, polynucleotides, methods, compositions, and vaccines comprising (avian pandemic) influenza hemagglutinin and neuraminidase variants are provided.
US08039000B2	Nucleic acid and corresponding protein entitled 158P3D2 useful in treatment and detection of cancer A novel gene (designated 158P3D2) and its encoded protein, and variants thereof, are described wherein 158P3D2 exhibits tissue specific expression in normal adult tissue, and is aberrantly expressed in the cancers listed in Table I. Consequently, 158P3D2 provides a diagnostic, prognostic, prophylactic and/or therapeutic target for cancer. The 158P3D2 gene or fragment thereof, or its encoded protein, or variants thereof, or a fragment thereof, can be used to elicit a humoral or cellular immune response; antibodies or T cells reactive with 158P3D2 can be used in active or passive immunization.
US08038998B2	Methods of cancer therapy targeted against a cancer stemline Improved methods for treatment of cancer which involve the targeting of slow-growing, relatively mutationally-spared cancer stem line are provided. These methods are an improvement over previous cancer therapeutic methods because they provide for very early cancer treatment and reduce the likelihood of clinical relapse after treatment.
US08038996B2	Composition and method for cancer treatment Anti-CEACAM6 antibodies and antibody fragments, nucleic acids encoding them, methods of their manufacture, and methods to treat cancer using these compounds are provided.
US08038995B2	Human N-type calcium channel isoform and uses thereof The invention pertains to a human N-type calcium channel isoform, hα1B+SFVG, which is involved in central nervous system signaling, and nucleic acids relating thereto. The present invention also includes fragments and biologically functional variants of the human hα1B+SFVG channel. Also included are human N-type calcium channel hα1B+SFVG subunit inhibitors which inhibit human N-type calcium channel hα1B+SFVG subunit activity by inhibiting the expression or function of human N-type calcium channel hα1B+SFVG subunit. The invention further relates to methods of using such nucleic acids, polypeptides, and inhibitors in the treatment and/or diagnosis of disease, such as in methods for treating stroke, pain, e.g., neuropathic pain, and traumatic brain injury.
US08038992B2	Target for regulating multiple sclerosis Methods are provided for decreasing demyelinating inflammatory disease in a subject by inhibiting the activity of chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1). Methods are also provided for screening for agents that find use in treating demyelinating inflammatory disease in a subject.
US08038990B2	Compositions and methods for the prevention and removal of biofilms on inert and biological surfaces Organisms, compositions, and methods for at least partially reducing the formation of a biofilm and/or at least partially removing a biofilm are provided. The organisms, compositions, and methods may be used on biotic and abiotic surfaces.
US08038983B2	Fluorinated carbohydrate conjugates Disclosed are novel conjugates that include fluorinated carbohydrate molecules and methods for synthesizing the conjugates. The fluorinated carbohydrate molecule may include a radioisotope. The method of synthesizing the conjugate is useful for labeling selected molecules, and the conjugates may be useful in diagnostic or therapeutic methods. Particularly, the conjugates may be useful in diagnostic or therapeutic kits.
US08038980B2	Hydrogen storage materials containing ammonia borane According to at least one aspect of the present invention, an ammonia borane containing hydrogen storage material is provided to be present with substantially reduced formation of borazine or diborane. In at least one embodiment, the hydrogen storage material includes at least one ammonia borane (NH3BH3); and at least one amide of the formula M(NH2)x, wherein M is a cationic element or a combination of two or more cationic elements from groups 1 to 14 of the periodic table and x represents a total cationic charge to charge balance M.
US08038973B2	High purity silicon production system and production method The present invention provides a high purity silicon production system and production method suitable for using inexpensive metallurgical grade metal silicon as a material and using the slag refining method to produce high purity silicon with a purity of 6N or more suitable for solar battery applications, in particular, high purity silicon with a boron content of at least not more than 0.3 mass ppm, inexpensively on an industrial scale, that is, a high purity silicon production system and production method using the slag refining method wherein a direct electromagnetic induction heating means having the function of directly heating the molten silicon in the crucible by electromagnetic induction is arranged outside the outside wall surface of the above crucible and the crucible is formed by an oxidation resistant material at least at a region where the molten silicon contacts the crucible inside wall surface at the time of not powering the direct electromagnetic induction heating means.
US08038963B1	Garment bag A garment bag is sleeved over an ozone generator generating ozone therein. The garment bag includes a hollow bag body and an ozone filter unit. The ozone filter unit is disposed on the bag body. When the ozone in the bag body flows to the ozone filter unit, the ozone can be decomposed by the ozone filter unit.
US08038961B2	Apparatus and process for preparing silanes Provided is an apparatus for preparing silanes of the general formula HnSiCU n where n=1, 2, 3 and/or 4 by dismutation of a chlorinated silane in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the apparatus includes: a distillation column having a column bottom, a column top, at least one feed inlet, a plurality of product offtakes, and a chimney tray; and a side reactor containing a catalyst bed having an upper edge, the side reactor being connected to the distillation column via at least three pipes including a first pipe, a second pipe, and a third pipe.
US08038949B2	Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation system A modular germicidal light grid system for use inside an air treatment apparatus that has a plenum in which a stream of air is enclosed. The system comprises at least one elongate member and at least one lamp assembly. Each lamp assembly comprises a housing defining at least one socket and is mounted to one elongate member at a predetermined position. The system further comprises at least one linear germicidal light source. Each light source has a longitudinal axis and a distal end constructed and arranged to mount within one socket of the housing. The elongate member is mounted within the plenum and the lamp assembly is mounted to the elongate member such that the longitudinal axis of the light source extends therein the stream of air and is positioned at an acute light angle relative to the direction of flow of the stream of air.
US08038948B1	Gas sample analysis system A gas analyzer system for analyzing samples of compressed or ambient gas such as breathing air within a scuba tank, SCBA or ambient air within an industrial plant and informing the user as to the results of the sample's gas purity without the gas sample having to be physically transported to an accredited laboratory. The system comprises a gas analyzer situated at a user facility for receiving the contents of a gas sample and detecting gas purity characteristics, and a server situated at a remote certified testing site and electrically coupled to the gas analysis module via data transmission, such as a wireless or a computer network connection, wherein the server, maintained by a qualified third party receives and stores the gas purity characteristics in the form of computer-readable data signals. Computer instructions stored within the qualification server compares the computer-readable data signals representing gas purity characteristics with the contents of a database containing threshold gas purity parameters. After determining if the gas sample characteristics for that particular gas sample meet the required threshold limits, the user receives immediate notification, either by e-mail or by receipt of a fax at the user site, informing the user whether the given gas sample has achieved the required gas purity levels by a qualified third party.
US08038946B1	Discreet passive explosive detection through 2-sided waveguided fluorescence The current invention provides a passive sampling device suitable for collecting and detecting the presence of target analytes. In particular, the passive sampling device is suitable for detecting nitro-aromatic compounds. The current invention further provides a passive sampling device reader suitable for determining the collection of target analytes. Additionally, the current invention provides methods for detecting target analytes using the passive sampling device and the passive sampling device reader.
US08038941B2	Method for increasing throughput in an automatic clinical analyzer by duplicating reagent resources A method for maximizing analyzer throughput irregardless of the mix in demand of different assays to be conducted by duplicating the reagents required to conduct selected assays in at least two separate reagent servers and also enabling newly incoming selected assays to be conducted using reagents from whichever reagent server has the smaller backlog of such high-volume assays.
US08038939B2	Method and devices for improved disinfection process A method which enhances a disinfection process by using a catalyst which increases in effective surface area during the process. Also disclosed are contact lens disinfecting systems which are designed to maintain a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide solution for a longer period of time before increasing the overall surface area of catalyst exposed to the hydrogen peroxide solution. The devices utilize pressure from expanding oxygen generated within the system through use of a small catalyst, or through exposure of only a small portion of a large catalyst, to control deployment of the large catalyst for completing disproportionation of the hydrogen peroxide.
US08038938B2	Photocatalytic reactor and process for treating wastewater A photocatalytic reactor with a modular configuration, based on UV light sources and a catalyst, useful for purifying and disinfecting wastewater from confined aquaculture, using Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP), wherein the catalyst is supported over glass sheets as fixed strips within the reactor, at an established distance from the UV light source, and wherein the wastewater is treated as “batches” being re-circulated and returned to the circuit. The wastewater is fed through the lower end of the reactor and submitted to a strong turbulence when passing through perforations or holes made on the supports forming the floors that separate the reaction chambers.
US08038936B2	Cooking device with deodorization A cooking device includes a cooking chamber; a first deodorization region along which air from the cooking chamber flows and in which a plasma discharge is generated for removing odor-producing materials generated in the cooking chamber from the air; and a bypass region along which air from the cooking chamber flows to bypass the first deodorization region.
US08038935B2	Treatment of odors using nanocrystalline metal oxides Methods of removing odors, particularly odors within enclosed environments are provided which employ nanocrystalline metal oxide and metal hydroxide particles. The nanocrystalline particles are dispersed within an enclosed space so as to contact exposed surfaces located within the space such as walls, floors, upholstery, and the like and adsorb odor-causing materials located within the enclosed space.
US08038932B2	Metallurgical vessel Cooling panels (31) are attached to the shell (11) of a metallurgical vessel to form an internal lining of the shell. Each panel (31) comprises a coolant flow tube (36) bent to form inner and outer panel sections (37, 38) of zig-zag formation. Panel mounting pins (43) connected to the outer panel section (38) by connector straps project laterally outwardly from the panel through openings (45) in the shell and tubular shell protrusions (46) surrounding the openings (45). The ends of pins (43) are connected to the outer ends of protrusions (46) by welding metal discs (47) thus forming connections exteriorly of the shell in a way which seals the openings (45). Coolant inlet and outlet connectors (42) for the panel project outwardly through openings (48) in the shell and surrounding tubular protrusions (49) and connections are made by welding discs (51) between the connectors (42) and protrusions (49).
US08038925B2	Breathable and waterproof lining structure for footwear and garment A waterproof and breathable lining structure includes a sheet-like waterproof and breathable foaming cushion layer made of a composition of a predetermined amount of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and a predetermined amount of foaming agent such as azodicarbonamide (ADCA), and a fabric lining layer integrally adhered to one side of the cushion layer to form the lining structure. The cushion layer is made by a process including the steps of: (a) palletizing raw materials including the low density polyethylene and the foaming agent such as Azodicarbonamide (ADCA); (b) extruding the palletized raw material to make a solid sheet; (c) cross-linking the solid sheet by an E-beam to form an irradiated matrix; (d) foaming the irradiated matrix into the sheet-like foaming cushion layer.
US08038923B2	Methods of forming a part using shape memory polymers One method of forming a part includes deforming a shape memory polymer from a permanent shape into a temporary shape, where the permanent shape of the shape memory polymer is a predetermined part shape and the temporary shape is a shape larger than the predetermined part shape. The shape memory polymer in each of the permanent shape and the temporary shape defines a cavity therein. The method further includes introducing a molding material into the cavity of the shape memory polymer, and reverting the shape memory polymer back into its permanent shape. Other methods for forming the part are also disclosed herein.
US08038916B2	Solid-liquid separating method, solid-liquid separator and solidified product To provide a reliable solid-liquid separating method and apparatus for a slurry, even though the solid component of the slurry is finely divided particles and/or of a shape difficult to entangle, without exudation through gaps in processed portions and, also, with no need to exercise a maintenance work such as replacement of filters, a solid-liquid separating apparatus includes a mold having a cylindrical inner peripheral surface, a gate for opening and closing a second open end of the mold, and a pressing rod slidable into the mold to compress the slurry. Sheet-like fibrous filters are placed on a leading end face of the pressing rod and an inner surface of the gate to seal gaps between the mold and the pressing rod and between the gate and mold. With the filters so placed, the slurry within the mold unit is compressed to provide a solidified product, thereby accomplishing solid-liquid separation.
US08038914B2	Molded article production method and molded article In a method for producing a molded article having a resin part, the resin part is injection-molded to an opening of a main body part and the molded article has an excellent air-tightness between the resin part and the main body part. A foam sealant is attached to a peripheral portion around the opening of the main body part. Attached to the main body part is a retainer made of the same kind of resin as injected resin and adapted to keep the foam sealant compressed in its thickness direction. The main body part is placed within a mold so that the retainer is exposed inside a cavity of the mold. A molten resin is injected into the cavity of the mold. The injected resin and the retainer are integrated into the resin part.
US08038913B2	Installation of cured in place liners with dual gland air inversion and steam cure apparatus Installation of a flexible cured in place liner by inverting the liner with air and curing the liner with steam introduced through a perforated lay flat hose without deflating the liner between the inversion and cure. The installation is performed with an apparatus having two independently operable glands with at least one fluid inlet port installed on the line downstream of the second gland liner. As the liner reaches the distal end of the conduit to be lined, it enters a sample and porting pipe with an exhaust pipe gland and exhaust pipe and it is pierced by a rigid porting tool. Steam is then introduced into the lay flat hose to cure the resin and is exhausted through an exhaust hose connected to a controllable exhaust pipe. After curing steam is replaced with air to cool the liner, the ends are cut to restore service through the host pipe.
US08038912B2	Method and apparatus for the dry release of a compliant ophthalmic article from mold surface An apparatus for releasing a molded lens from a deformable mold includes a shear ring for temporarily retaining an annular portion of the deformable mold outside a periphery of the lens and a plunger for deforming an annular section of the deformable mold within the periphery of the lens. The apparatus can be employed to release a non-hydrated hydrogel lens from a deformable mold section.
US08038911B2	Lanthanoid-containing oxide target An oxide target including indium (In) and an element (A) selected from the following group A, wherein it contains an oxide shown by AInO3,Group A: lanthanum (La), neodymium (Nd), ytterbium (Yb), erbium (Er) and dysprosium (Dy).
US08038910B2	Low solar absorptance, high emissivity, inorganic electrostatic dissipative thermal control coating An electrostatic dissipative paint having a pigment. The pigment includes a composition according to the following formula: (Mg1−x,Znx)Ga2+yO4−δ wherein the value of x is a value from about 0 to 1, y is a value from about 0 to 0.04 and δ is in the range of about 0 to about 0.03. An electrostatic dissipative coating system, a method for making an electrostatic dissipative coating, and a method for protecting a spacecraft is also disclosed.
US08038908B2	Carbon nanotube assembly and process for producing the same An aggregate of carbon nanotubes satisfying all of the following requirements (1) to (3):(1) the volume resistivity is from 1×10−5 Ω·cm to 5×10−3 Ω·cm;(2) at least 50 out of 100 carbon nanotubes are double-walled carbon nanotubes in observation by a transmission electron microscope; and(3) the weight loss from 200° C. to 400° C. in thermogravimetry at a temperature rise of 10° C/min is from 5% to 20%.
US08038906B2	Process for the preparation of synthesis gas from black liquor A process for the adjustment of the composition of a synthesis gas produced in a high temperature black liquor gasifier. The process includes the steps of (a) generating a gasifier effluent stream from black liquor in the gasifier by a blast and optionally an atomising stream; (b) optionally quenching the gasifier effluent stream with a gas stream to form a gas quenched effluent stream; (c) quenching the gasifier effluent of step (a) or the gas quenched effluent gas stream of step (b) with a water stream to form a raw synthesis gas; (d) further cooling and cleaning and separating the raw synthesis gas to form a purified unprocessed synthesis gas with an appropriate H2/CO ratio; (e) partly converting the purified synthesis gas to dimethyl ether in a synthesis section, producing at least a product stream of DME and a hydrogen rich purge stream of processed; (f) splitting and recycling individual or combinations of split streams of the processed or the unprocessed synthesis gas to step a and/or step (b); and recycling a by-product stream of CO2 being further generated in step (e) in part or completely to step (a) and/or step (b).
US08038904B2	Method and structure for non-linear optics A compound for non-linear optics for use at 350 nm and below. The compound includes a material for non-linear optics comprising AxM(1-x)Al3B4O12. x is larger than or equal to zero and smaller than or equal to 0.1, A is selected from a group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Yb, and Lu, and M is selected from a group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Yb, and Lu. The compound is free from a molybdenum bearing impurity of at least 1000 parts per million.
US08038903B2	Organic semiconductor solutions The present invention relates to liquid compositions, in particular solutions, of at least one organic semiconductor which emits light from the triplet state, in an organic solvent or solvent mixture, which are characterised in that the content of certain compounds is below a certain limit value, and to the use thereof for the production of layers of the organic semiconductors on substrates, in particular for the electronics industry.
US08038902B2	Composition comprising at least one type of liquid crystal The present invention relates to a composition comprising at least one type of liquid crystal, to a liquid crystal cell and liquid crystal display device comprising such composition and to a method of preparing such a composition and/or such a liquid crystal cell.
US08038901B2	Polishing fluids and methods for CMP Provided are several polishing compositions useful for modifying a surface, such as a semiconductor wafer suitable for fabrication of a semiconductor device, especially when used in fixed abrasive planarization techniques. The polishing compositions include a synergistic mixture of water, an oxidizing agent, a complexing agent, and metal ions. Also provided are various methods of surface planarization.
US08038899B2	Refrigerant compositions having a siloxane solubilizing agent Provided are refrigerant compositions which are blends of one or more hydrofluorocarbons, siloxanes, hydrocarbons and lubricants, as well as methods for using these compositions in applications such as the recharging of refrigeration systems and for replacing a chlorofluorocarbon or hydrochlorofluorocarbon in a refrigeration system.
US08038898B2	Abrasive liquid for metal and method for polishing An abrasive liquid for a metal comprising (1) an oxidizing agent for a metal, (2) a dissolving agent for an oxidized metal, (3) a first protecting film-forming agent such as an amino acid or an azole which adsorbs physically on the surface of the metal and/or forms a chemical bond, to thereby form a protecting film, (4) a second protecting film-forming agent such as polyacrylic acid, polyamido acid or a salt thereof which assists the first protecting film-forming agent in forming a protecting film and (5) water; and a method for polishing.
US08038897B2	Method and system for wafer inspection A method for inspecting semiconductor wafers patterned by a photomask includes loading a first wafer and scanning a first image of the first wafer, loading a second wafer and scanning a second image of the second wafer, comparing the first and second images, and classifying a difference detected between the first and second images as a potential defect on the photomask. The potential defect includes a haze defect on the photomask.
US08038895B2	Method and appartus for detection of mechanical defects in an ingot piece composed of semiconductor material A method for detection of mechanical defects in a semiconductor ingot section which has at least one planar surface, and a thickness at right angles to this surface of 1 cm to 100 cm, involves scanning the planar surface by at least one ultrasound head which is coupled via a liquid coupling medium to the planar surface and, at each measurement point (x,y) producing at least one ultrasound pulse which is directed at the planar surface of the ingot section, recording the ultrasound-pulse echo as a function of time, such that an echo from the planar surface, an echo from a surface opposite the planar surface, and further echoes are detected, with the positions (xp, yp, zp) of mechanical defects in the ingot section being determined from the further echoes.
US08038894B2	Method of selectively stripping an engine-run ceramic coating A process for selectively stripping a coating from a component of a turbomachine, and particularly a coating having a ceramic matrix that contains metallic particles dispersed therein that render the coating more difficult to remove from the component after the component has been subjected to elevated temperatures during operation of the turbomachine. The process generally includes immersing the component in an aqueous solution containing ferric chloride, nitric acid, and phosphoric acid, for a duration sufficient to attack the metallic particles in the coating. The component is then removed from the aqueous solution and its surface rinsed of the aqueous solution. The immersing and removing steps are then sequentially repeated a sufficient number of times to sufficiently attack the metallic particles to enable the coating to be mechanically removed from the component.
US08038892B2	Method and device for strip and flat-shaping machining surfaces of glass panes The removal of partial areas of a coating (11, 12) on at least one surface (37, 38) of a glass pane (2) takes place by means of a plasma jet (14, 15) which emerges from a plasma nozzle (5, 6). The plasma nozzle (5, 6) is part of a plasma unit and two such plasma units are provided. Both of the plasma nozzles (5, 6) are oriented towards each other and form a pair of nozzles. A glass pane (2) is machined between both of the nozzles (5, 6). A distance sensor (23, 24) is arranged on both of the nozzles (5, 6), and said nozzles (5, 6) are positioned at the correct distance in relation to the surface (37, 38) of the glass pane (2).
US08038891B2	Method of manufacturing nozzle plate and method of manufacturing liquid ejection head The method of manufacturing a nozzle plate includes: a lyophobic film forming step of preparing a nozzle plate having a recess-shaped counterbore section and a nozzle opened in a bottom surface of the counterbore section, and forming a lyophobic film on a surface of the nozzle plate including the bottom surface of the counterbore section of the nozzle plate and at least a portion of an inner wall of the nozzle; an abutting step of preparing a protective plate having a projecting section, and abutting a top surface of the projecting section of the protective plate against the bottom surface of the counterbore section of the nozzle plate in such a manner that the top surface of the projecting section of the protective plate makes tight contact with an opening edge of the nozzle on a liquid ejection side of the nozzle plate; a lyophobic film removing step of removing the lyophobic film from the inner wall of the nozzle of the nozzle plate by etching the nozzle plate from a liquid supply side which is opposite to a side of the nozzle plate that is abutted against the protective plate; and a separating step of separating the protective plate from the nozzle plate.
US08038890B2	Piezoelectric-driven MEMS device and method for manufacturing the same A piezoelectric-driven MEMS device can be fabricated reliably and consistently. The piezoelectric-driven MEMS device includes: a movable flat beam having a piezoelectric film disposed above a substrate with a recessed portion such that the piezoelectric film is bridged over the recessed portion, piezoelectric drive mechanisms disposed at both ends of the piezoelectric film and configured to drive the piezoelectric film, and a first electrode disposed at the center of the substrate-side of the piezoelectric film, and a second electrode disposed on a flat part of the recessed portion of the substrate and facing the first electrode of the movable flat beam.
US08038884B2	Process to prepare chlorine-containing compounds The present invention relates to process to prepare a chlorine-containing compound using an aqueous salt solution containing at least 100 g/l of sodium chloride and a contaminating amount of polyvalent cations comprising the steps of (i) preparing an aqueous salt solution containing at least 100 g/l of sodium chloride and at least 0.01 ppm of polyvalent cations by dissolving a sodium chloride source in water, (ii) adding an effective amount of at least one positive retention enhancing component to the aqueous solution, (iii) subsequently subjecting the solution to a nanofiltration step, thereby separating the solution into a retentate which is enriched for polyvalent cations and a permeate which is the purified aqueous salt solution, (iv) reacting the chloride anions in the permeate to a chlorine-containing compound by an electrolysis step, and (v) recycling at least part of the retentate to dissolution step (i).
US08038880B2	Membrane bags with seamless membrane substance, uses thereof, filtration units therewith and manufacturing processes Disclosed are seamless membrane bags, for example, a membrane bag comprising a spacer fabric and a volume for permeate collection, the spacer fabric comprising a first part and a second part that are spaced apart and tied together at a predefined distance by monofilament thread and the first and second parts are at least partially embedded with membrane substance and the volume for permeate collection is interposed between the first and second parts. The membrane substance embeds portions of the monofilament thread and fills the spacer fabric along the border of the membrane bag. The membrane substance completely enclosing the volume is seamless. Also disclosed are processes for producing such bags, a filtration unit comprising such a membrane bag, and their uses in the separation of fluids, vapors and particles.
US08038875B2	Treatment apparatus for ship ballast water A practical treatment apparatus for ship ballast water, which can kill aquatic organisms contained in the ballast water, is provided by being easily incorporated in an existing ballast-water system piping in a ship. In a branch pipe 131 branched from the existing ballast-water system piping for taking in the ballast water into the ship by a first ballast pump 4 with high flow-rate/low pressure and transferring it to a ballast tank 2, an ozone mixing device for mixing ozone generated by an ozone generator, a second ballast pump 134 for discharging said ballast water with lower flow-rate/high pressure than those of said first ballast pump, a slit plate 135 provided on the secondary side of said second ballast pump 134 and having a plurality of slit-shaped openings for passing said ballast water, and a deaeration tank 136 for deaerating undissolved ozone from the ballast water are provided, and the apparatus is configured so that the ballast water after deaeration discharged from said deaeration tank 136 is returned to said ballast-water system piping.
US08038874B2	Treatment system A treatment system comprising a holding tank for a source liquid, a pump having a pump inlet for the intake of source liquid and a pump discharge, at least one conduit connected to the pump discharge and a liquid dispenser connected to the one conduit, the dispenser comprising a container for treating liquid, a feed conduit, a dosing chamber for receiving treating liquid via the feed conduit, a vent for breaking an airlock in the dosing chamber, a first valve connected to the dosing chamber for controlling flow of treating liquid through the first valve, a second valve connected to the first valve, the second valve being operative in response to pressure resulting from the pumping of source liquid through the at least one conduit to close the second valve and open the first valve, stopping of the pump resulting in opening of the second valve and introduction of the treating liquid from the dosing chamber and into the source liquid.
US08038864B2	Method of fabricating semiconductor device, and plating apparatus A method of fabricating a semiconductor device of the invention includes a plating process of filling a plurality of recesses provided to an insulating film formed on a substrate with an electro-conductive material, wherein the plating process includes a process step (S104) of performing the plating with a first current density which was obtained by correcting a predetermined first reference current density based on ratio of surface area Sr=S1/S2 of a first surface area S1 over the entire surface of the substrate which includes the area of side walls of the plurality of recesses over the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a second surface area S2 over the entire surface of the substrate which does not include the area of side walls of the plurality of recesses, when fine recesses not larger than a predetermined width, out of all of the plurality of recesses, are filled with the electro-conductive material.
US08038861B2	Laminated gas sensor element and gas sensor A laminated gas sensor element extending in a longitudinal direction and having a detection part including a plate-shaped element body which has a heater layer having an embedded resistance heating body and a detection layer laminated to the heater layer and having a vertical surface along a lamination direction and a horizontal surface perpendicular to the lamination direction; and a porous protective layer coating the vertical surface and the horizontal surface of the element body constituting the detection part, wherein a thickness of the protective layer formed on the vertical surface is thicker than a thickness of the protective layer formed on the horizontal surface.
US08038857B2	Thin film transistor, thin film transistor substrate, processes for producing the same, liquid crystal display using the same, and related devices and processes; and sputtering target, transparent electroconductive film formed by use of this, transparent electrode, and related devices and processes Provided are a thin film transistor substrate having a transparent electroconductive film in which residues and so on resulting etching are hardly generated; a process for producing the same; and a liquid crystal display using this thin film transistor substrate. A thin film transistor substrate, comprising a transparent substrate, a source electrode formed over the transparent substrate, a drain electrode formed over the transparent substrate, and a transparent pixel electrode formed over the transparent substrate, wherein the transparent pixel electrode is a transparent electroconductive film which is made mainly of indium oxide, and further comprises one or two or more oxides selected from tungsten oxide, molybdenum oxide, nickel oxide and niobium oxide, and the transparent pixel electrode is electrically connected to the source electrode or the drain electrode; a process for producing the same; and a liquid crystal display using this thin film transistor substrate.
US08038850B2	Sputter deposition method for forming integrated circuit A sputter deposition apparatus and method, and a substrate holder for use with a sputter deposition apparatus is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the invention, a sputter deposition apparatus is provided, including at least one sputter target, a first plasma, a substrate holder, and a further plasma. In one embodiment, the further plasma is an ECWR plasma. According to an additional embodiment of the invention, an anode is provided between the further plasma, and the substrate holder. According to a further embodiment, the substrate holder includes a dielectric layer with varying thickness.
US08038849B2	Process for producing a carbon-particle structure A process for producing a carbon-particle structure, including the step of irradiating opaque carbon dioxide at and/or near its critical point, as light is scattered, with a UV-wavelength laser beam to produce a carbon-particle structure.
US08038844B2	Method and a device for feeding pulp from a dewatering unit A device for feeding cellulose-containing pulp from a dewatering unit, the dewatered pulp being discharged via an outlet included in the dewatering unit to a reception means positioned below the outlet, whereupon the pulp is transported to a stand pipe via an inlet included in the stand pipe, in which stand pipe the pulp falls freely under the influence of gravity, the reception means being positioned at a higher level than the inlet of the stand pipe. At least one feeding down surface is arranged which extends from the reception means to the inlet of the stand pipe, and the transport of the pulp between the reception means and the inlet of the stand pipe is effected by feeding the pulp downwards along this feeding down surface under the influence of gravity, the pulp being diluted during the feeding of the pulp downwards.
US08038843B2	Use of a mineral-material steric dispersing agent in water, aqueous dispersion thus obtained and use thereof in paper making A method for manufacturing a sheet of paper from a pulp and a sheet of paper obtained by the present method, wherein said pulp comprises a mixture of natural and/or synthetic fibers, water, and at least one aqueous suspension and/or dispersion comprising at least one mineral material, wherein said dispersion or suspension comprises, as a steric dispersing agent of at least one mineral material, at least one copolymer comprising at least one vinylic monomer, at least one non-ionic monomer, or a mixture of several monomers having formula (I) in the present method, wherein said agent limits the presence of divalent ions in the aqueous phase and said agent is not a chelating agent.
US08038838B2	Spin head, method of operating the spin head and apparatus for treating substrates with the spin head A spin head includes chucking pins configures to chuck and unchuck a substrate. Contact portions of the chucking pins and the substrate are varied during a process to prevent a treating solution from remaining at the contact portions.
US08038837B2	Ring-shaped component for use in a plasma processing, plasma processing apparatus and outer ring-shaped member A ring-shaped component for use in a plasma processing includes an inner ring-shaped member provided to surround an outer periphery of a substrate to be subjected to the plasma processing and an outer ring-shaped member provided to surround an outer periphery of the inner ring-shaped member. The outer ring-shaped member has a first surface facing a processing space side and a second surface facing an opposite side of the plasma generation side. The second surface has thereon one or more ring-shaped grooves.
US08038836B2	Plasma processing apparatus A plasma processing apparatus includes a barrier wall member disposed between a plasma generation chamber and a processing chamber to separate the plasma generation chamber from the processing chamber. The barrier wall member assumes a fin structure achieved by disposing in a radial pattern numerous plate-like fin members extending from a central area thereof toward a peripheral edge. An upper end portion of each fin member overlaps a lower end portion of an adjacent fin member. The fin members are disposed with gaps formed between them and are made to range upward with a tilt along the circumferential direction.
US08038834B2	Method and system for controlling radical distribution A plasma processing system includes a processing chamber, a substrate holder configured to hold a substrate for plasma processing, and a gas injection assembly. The gas injection assembly includes a first evacuation port located substantially in a center of the gas injection assembly and configured to evacuate gases from a central region of the substrate, and a gas injection system configured to inject gases in the process chamber. The plasma processing system also includes a second evacuation port configured to evacuate gases from a peripheral region surrounding the central region of the substrate.
US08038833B2	Plasma processing apparatus In a plasma processing apparatus, a member for propagating high frequency from a high frequency power supply and/or to which the high frequency is applied. A power feed rod is electromagnetically shielded between a matching unit and a bottom plate of a chamber by a coaxial cylindrical conductor connected to a ground potential. A surface potential system disposed in an appropriate distance from the power feed rod in radius direction is installed in the cylindrical conductor, and measures in a non-contact state the electrostatic surface potential of the power feed rod through electrostatic capacitance and provides a controller with a surface potential detection signal including surface potential measurement value information. The controller performs a required signal processing or operation processing on the basis of the surface potential detection signal from the surface potential system, thereby obtaining the measurement value of the DC potential on the power feed rod.
US08038828B2	Process for laser welding resinous members, apparatus for the same and laser-welded resinous product A process is for laser-welding resinous members, and includes the steps of overlapping a transparent resinous member on an absorptive resinous material, and irradiating the transparent resinous member with a laser beam, thereby welding an interface between the transparent resinous member and the absorptive resinous member as a strip shape, wherein the energy of the laser beam acting on a side of a major-curvature-radius curved part of the strip-shaped welded interface and the energy of the laser beam acting on a side of a minor-curvature-radius curved part thereof are averaged.
US08038827B2	Tear tape applicator for ream wrap and other packaging materials The present invention relates to a method for applying tear tape to a wrapper by advancing a web by continuous movement in a machine direction. The tear tape is advanced in a cross direction, and cut in order to provide a cut portion of the tear tape. The cut portion of the tear tape is then advanced in the cross direction and into alignment with a width of the web and applied to the web without stopping the web from its continuous movement in the machine direction.
US08038826B2	Tabbed divider making apparatus and method An improved tabbed divider making apparatus is disclosed. The machine preferably improves upon existing tabbed divider making machines in its ease of use and efficiency. Among other elements, the machine may include a paper feeder, a processing section, and an output tray. An improved film delivery system is also disclosed, as well as methods relating to manufacturing of tabbed dividers.
US08038824B2	Sheet peeling apparatus and peeling method A sheet peeling apparatus 10 includes: a supporting means 11 for supporting a semiconductor wafer W stuck with an adhesive sheet S; a tape sticking means 14 for sticking a peeling tape T to the adhesive sheet S; a pulling means 13 for pulling the peeling tape T; a peeling assisting means 15 including an endless member 45 which is positioned on the adhesive sheet S, and wound on a guide member 41; and a sandwiching means 16 for sandwiching the adhesive sheet S between the endless member 45 and the sandwiching means 16. In the sheet peeling apparatus 10, the adhesive sheet S is peeled off due to the relative movement of the pulling means 13 and the supporting means 11 in a state that the adhesive sheet S is sandwiched between the peeling assisting means 15 and the sandwiching means 16.
US08038821B2	Preparing a pass-through for an occupant compartment—engine compartment ground block A special patch is adhered to the bare metal of a dash panel in covering relation to one or more pass-through holes and their margins before a truck cab is primed and painted. After painting, a cover of the patch is peeled off to expose an electrically conductive medium that remains adhered to the bare metal. A ground block is mounted on the dash panel with a stud passing through a pass-through hole. The electrically conductive medium establishes conductivity of the body of the ground block to the dash panel.
US08038820B2	Method of stacking flexible substrate A method of stacking a flexible substrate is provided. The method includes the steps of: preparing a carrier substrate; stacking an adhesive layer on the carrier substrate; and stacking a flexible substrate having at least one image display device on the adhesive layer using a laminating or pressing method. Thus, the flexible substrate is easily fabricated without modification of conventional mass-production equipment for fabricating a display, and thereby a lightweight, thin, and compact flexible display can be realized.
US08038819B2	Heat-resistant resin endless belt producing method A method for producing a heat-resistant resin endless belt includes preparing a heat-resistant resin sheet including a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other; forming a first inclined thinned portion at an end of the first surface and a second inclined thinned portion at an end of the second surface as the inclined thinned portion is formed to be gradually thinned toward the end, the end of the first surface being opposite to the end of the second surface; applying an adhesive composition by a screen printing method on at least one of the first and second inclined thinned portions; joining the first and second inclined thinned portions of the sheet to each other; and hardening the adhesive composition, in which the adhesive composition is an additive polymerized silicon adhesive composition containing ferric (III) oxide at between 6.5 and 9.9 weight % of a solid content of the adhesive composition; a viscosity of the additive polymerized silicon adhesive composition before being hardened at 23° C. is between 50 and 100 Pa s; and an expanding rate at shearing of the adhesive composition after being hardened is 250% or more on a tensile shear test.
US08038814B2	Apparatus and method for promoting cleanliness in commercial and institutional environments A mat, to be placed beneath an appliance, has a base layer, preferably made of cardboard, a liquid-resistant layer, preferably of plastic, and a layer of batting. The layers are held together by a peripheral rim. The periphery of the mat includes straight and curved portions, such that when two similarly constructed mats are placed in abutment, the curved portions define areas not covered by the mats. Thus, the mats can be placed under an appliance, without disturbing the legs of the appliance, while still covering a majority of the area under the appliance. The mats provide containment for spills of liquid from the appliance, and also define barriers for deflecting food items which might otherwise become lodged beneath the appliance.
US08038812B2	System for manufacture and delivery of an emulsion explosive A method for manufacture and delivery of an emulsion explosive having a discontinuous oxidizer solution phase, a continuous fuel phase, and an emulsifier, the method comprising: (a) providing an emulsion manufacturing system; (b) conveying an oxidizer solution phase to the emulsion manufacturing system at a pre-determined pressure; (c) conveying a fuel phase to the emulsion manufacturing system at a pre-determined pressure; (d) forming an emulsion from the oxidizer solution and the fuel phases using only a portion of the pre-determined pressures so as to provide a usable residual pressure after the formation of the emulsion; and (e) utilizing the residual pressure to non-mechanically deliver the emulsion to a pre-determined location.
US08038811B2	Process for producing bent pipe for line pipe A steel pipe is prepared, which contains, by mass, at most 0.009% C, at most 1.0% Mn, at most 1.0% Si, at most 0.04% P, at most 0.005% S, 0.01 to 0.2% Ti, 0.01 to 0.10% V, 0.001 to 0.1% Al, at most 0.1% N, 4.0 to 8.0% Ni, 9.0 to 15.0% Cr, and 1.5 to 7.0% Mo, the balance being Fe and impurities. The prepared steel pipe is bent into a bend pipe. The bend pipe is quenched at a quenching temperature lower than 950° C. The quenched bend pipe is tempered. Accordingly, the bend pipe in accordance with the present invention has excellent SSC resistance.
US08038809B2	High strength hot rolled steel sheet excellent in bore expanding workability and method for production thereof A high-strength hot-rolled steel sheet containing C: 0.05 to 0.15%, Si: no more than 1.50% (excluding 0%), Mn: 0.5 to 2.5%, P: no more than 0.035% (excluding 0%), S: no more than 0.01% (including 0%), Al: 0.02 to 0.15%, and Ti: 0.05 to 0.2%, which is characterized in that its metallographic structure is composed of 60 to 95 vol % of bainite and solid solution-hardened or precipitation-hardened ferrite (or ferrite and martensite) and its fracture appearance transition temperature (vTrs) is no higher than 0° C. as obtained by impact tests. (% in terms of % by weight).
US08038807B2	R-Fe-B rare-earth sintered magnet and process for producing the same First, an R—Fe—B based rare-earth sintered magnet body including, as a main phase, crystal grains of an R2Fe14B type compound that includes a light rare-earth element RL, which is at least one of Nd and Pr, as a major rare-earth element R is provided. Next, an M layer, including a metallic element M that is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, In, Sn, Pb, Bi, Zn and Ag, is deposited on the surface of the sintered magnet body and then an RH layer, including a heavy rare-earth element RH that is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Dy, Ho and Tb, is deposited on the M layer. Thereafter, the sintered magnet body is heated, thereby diffusing the metallic element M and the heavy rare-earth element RH from the surface of the magnet body deeper inside the magnet.
US08038802B1	Reuse of wash liquid in dishwasher A method of operating a dishwasher having a treating chamber for washing utensils for draining, capturing, and storing a portion of a wash liquid for subsequent use.
US08038795B2	Epitaxial growth and cloning of a precursor chiral nanotube A precursor chiral nanotube with a specified chirality is grown using an epitaxial process and then cloned. A substrate is provided of crystal material having sheet lattice properties complementary to the lattice properties of the selected material for the nanotube. A cylindrical surface(s) having a diameter of 1 to 100 nanometers are formed as a void in the substrate or as crystal material projecting from the substrate with an orientation with respect to the axes of the crystal substrate corresponding to the selected chirality. A monocrystalline film of the selected material is epitaxially grown on the cylindrical surface that takes on the sheet lattice properties and orientation of the crystal substrate to form a precursor chiral nanotube. A catalytic particle is placed on the precursor chiral nanotube and atoms of the selected material are dissolved into the catalytic particle to clone a chiral nanotube from the precursor chiral nanotube.
US08038790B1	High performance non-combustible gypsum-cement compositions with enhanced water durability and thermal stability for reinforced cementitious lightweight structural cement panels Structural cement panel for resisting transverse and shear loads equal to transverse and shear loads provided by plywood and oriented strain board, when fastened to framing for use in shear walls, flooring and roofing systems. The panels provide reduced thermal transmission compared to other structural cement panels. The panels employ one or more layers of a continuous phase resulting from curing an aqueous mixture of calcium sulfate alpha hemihydrate, hydraulic cement, coated expanded perlite particles filler, optional additional fillers, active pozzolan and lime. The coated perlite has a particle size of 1-500 microns, a median diameter of 20-150 microns, and an effective particle density (specific gravity) of less than 0.50 g/cc. The panels are reinforced with fibers, for example alkali-resistant glass fibers. The preferred panel contains no intentionally added entrained air. A method of improving fire resistance in a building is also disclosed.
US08038789B2	Pervious concrete comprising a geopolymerized pozzolanic ash binder A process for making a pervious concrete comprising a geopolymerized pozzolanic ash. Generally, the process includes mixing a solid aggregate and a geopolymerized pozzolanic ash binder together to form a pervious concrete mixture. Some examples of suitable aggregates comprise recycled carpet, recycled cement, and aggregates of coal-combustion byproducts. The geopolymerized pozzolanic ash binder is made by combining a pozzolanic ash, such as fly ash, with a sufficient amount of an alkaline activator and water to initiate a geopolymerization reaction. The activator solution may contain an alkali metal hydroxide, carbonate, silicate, aluminate, or mixtures thereof. In some aspects, the final concrete forms a solid mass in the form of pavement or a pre-cast concrete shape. The solid mass of concrete may have a void content of between about 5% and about 35%.
US08038785B2	Black ink composition, inkjet-recording method, recorded material, and black dispersion A black ink composition that contains metal particles having a silver tin alloy region as its colorant.
US08038783B2	Ink set, recording method, and recording apparatus An ink set includes a cyan ink composition containing C.I. pigment blue 15:6 as a pigment; a magenta ink composition containing a quinacridone pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. pigment violet 19, C.I. pigment red 122, C.I. pigment red 202, and C.I. pigment red 209, or a quinacridone solid solution pigment formed of at least two selected from the above group; and a yellow ink composition containing a pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. pigment yellow 74, C.I. pigment yellow 213, and C.I. pigment yellow 185.
US08038781B2	Ink composition, inkjet recording ink and inkjet recording method An ink composition includes a colorant represented by the following formula (I); water; a guanidine-based compound; and a colorless water-soluble planar compound having more than ten delocalized π-electrons within one molecule: wherein Pc represents a (k+l+m+n)-valent phthalocyanine nucleus represented by the following formula (II); wherein the symbols in the formulae (I) and (II) are defined in the specification.
US08038776B2	Apparatus for filtering gas turbine inlet air An inlet air filtration system for a gas turbine includes, in an exemplary embodiment, an air plenum, and a plurality of filter elements mounted inside the air plenum, with each filter element including a support structure. The inlet air filtration system also includes a plurality of electrodes positioned proximate the plurality of filter elements, where the electrodes are coupled to a power source which supplies a voltage to the electrodes. The voltage is sufficient to establish an electrostatic field between the electrodes and the filter elements, and is sufficient to produce a corona discharge from the electrodes, wherein an amount of current applied to the filter elements is about 0.1 μA/ft2 to about 15 μA/ft2.
US08038774B2	Ship flue gas desulphurization method and equipment This invention involves ship flue gas desulphurization method and system. It employs seawater to reduce SO2 and other pollutant discharged by ship. The method includes seawater scrub, acidic seawater transfer, deacidification, and discharge processes. The system includes a scrubber and a water-saving deacidification device. Upper portion of the scrubber comprises a scrubbing section which is connected with scrubbing seawater pump by pipelines. Lower portion of the scrubber comprises a cooling section. One end of the scrubber links the ship engine smoke pipe by a scrubbing inlet pipe, and the other end links the scrubber to a scrubbing outlet pipe. The water-saving deacidification device lies below the scrubber and is connected with it. The water-saving deacidification device is coupled to a blending seawater pump, fan, and total drain pipe for discharging seawater after deacidification. This invention provides high desulphurization efficiency, and requires small seawater quantity.
US08038773B2	Integrated capture of fossil fuel gas pollutants including CO2 with energy recovery A method of reducing pollutants exhausted into the atmosphere from the combustion of fossil fuels. The disclosed process removes nitrogen from air for combustion, separates the solid combustion products from the gases and vapors and can capture the entire vapor/gas stream for sequestration leaving near-zero emissions. The invention produces up to three captured material streams. The first stream is contaminant-laden water containing SOx, residual NOx particulates and particulate-bound Hg and other trace contaminants. The second stream can be a low-volume flue gas stream containing N2 and O2 if CO2 purification is needed. The final product stream is a mixture comprising predominantly CO2 with smaller amounts of H2O, Ar, N2, O2, SOX, NOX, Hg, and other trace gases.
US08038768B2	Exhaust gas treatment method and system in cement burning facility An exhaust gas treatment method and system of a cement burning facility, wherein a chlorine concentration of the collected fine powder dust is set in a range of 5 to 20% in such a manner that when a part of exhaust gas is extracted as extracted gas from a lowermost part of a preheater, or a kiln inlet part of a cement kiln, a cement raw material is dispersed and the temperature of the extracted gas is held in a range of 950° to 1150° C. By adjusting the dispersion amount of the cement raw material, the extracted gas is cooled to a melting point or less of a chlorine compound, and a classification particle size in a solid-gas separator is then adjusted in a range of 12 μm to 30 μm, to separate for removal and collection fine powder dust.
US08038767B2	Method of recovering metal values from ores An improved method for processing of nickel bearing saprolite and limonite ores to recover the valuable minerals contained therein, comprising leaching the ore with nitric acid to form a slurry; separating the iron values by precipitation, removing the iron values; forming a liquid/solid residue in which nickel, cobalt and magnesium are in solution, and manganese and aluminum are solid residues in oxide form; conducting a liquid-solid separation and removing the solids; and recovering the nickel, cobalt, and manganese from the liquid-metal concentrate. The leachate is recovered and nitric acid from the leachate is recycled.
US08038764B2	Rhenium recovery from superalloys and associated methods A method of recovering rhenium from rhenium-containing superalloy scrap is provided. The superalloy is usually a nickel-based superalloy. The method includes the steps of forming an oxidation feedstock of flaky morphology of the superalloy scrap, and oxidizing the oxidation feedstock to convert rhenium into a volatile rhenium oxide. The flaky morphology of the oxidation feedstock is achieved by increasing the surface area of the superalloy scrap.
US08038761B2	Iron-based sintered material and production method thereof There is provided an iron-based sintered material resistant to the metal fatigue developing from the voids therein functioning as the initial points and improved in the strength and machinability thereof. An iron-based sintered material, including a mixed structure of martensite, bainite, and pearlite and multiple voids formed in the mixed structure, wherein the ratio of martensite and bainite in the mixed structure is 70% or more; the ratio of martensite and/or bainite in the mixed structure forming the void surface is 90% or more; and the density of the iron-based sintered material is 7.4 g/cm3 or more.
US08038759B2	Fibrous cordierite materials A method of manufacturing a fibrous material includes mixing at least two cordierite precursor materials to form a mixture. One or more of the at least two cordierite precursor materials is in a form of a fiber and the mixture includes about 43% to about 51% by weight SiO2, about 36% to about 41% by weight Al2O3, and about 12% to about 16% by weight MgO. The method also includes extruding the mixture to create a fibrous body, and heat treating the fibrous body, at a temperature of about 1200° C. to about 1420° C., to form the fibrous material including about 50% to about 95% by weight cordierite. A fibrous body includes an extruded substrate having a plurality of fibers including about 50% to about 95% by weight cordierite. The extruded substrate has a coefficient of thermal expansion in at least one direction of less than about 3.8·10−6 per ° C.
US08038758B2	Mat material and exhaust gas treatment device A mat material includes an inorganic fiber, a first sheet material and a second sheet material. The first sheet material is provided on a first surface of the mat material. The second sheet material is provided on a second surface of the mat material. The first sheet material and the second sheet material show a different elongation amount in a longitudinal direction of the mat material under a same tensile load.
US08038755B2	Particle separator A particle separator for an air inlet unit, comprising at least one inlet channel, for a fluid flow contaminated with particles, defined between two opposing fluid guide surfaces, narrowing in the fluid flow direction and opening in an outlet channel for particles, connected to at least one fluid channel for the purified fluid which leads away from the inlet channel in a region outside the inlet channel. A method for the purification of the fluid flow contaminated with particles whereby the above is led along one of the fluid guide surfaces, which is curved, at least in a part before the outlet channel, towards the interior of the inlet channel.
US08038751B2	Coated abrasive products containing aggregates A coated abrasive product includes a particulate material containing green, unfired abrasive aggregates having a generally spheroidal or toroidal shape, the aggregates formed from a composition comprising abrasive grit particles and a nanoparticle binder. Free abrasive products, bonded abrasive products, and the particulate material also contain aggregates.
US08038749B2	Composition for removing photoresist layer and method for using it A composition for removing a photoresist layer and a method for using it are disclosed. The composition comprises a chemical portion which includes water and chemical constituents dissolving or softening the photoresist layer and a mechanical portion which is abrasive particles. Using the composition and the method according to the present invention can decrease the conventional two steps of removing a photoresist layer process to one step, thereby simplifying the procedure, shortening the removing time and reducing the cost. The chemical constituents in the composition according to the present invention are of low toxicity and flammability and the amount used is small, which makes it more friendly with the environment and decreases the expense of disposing the waste.
US08038748B2	Hydrogen-producing fuel processing assemblies, heating assemblies, and methods of operating the same Combustion-based heating assemblies and hydrogen-producing fuel processing assemblies that include at least a reforming region adapted to be heated by the heating assemblies. The heating assembly may include at least one fuel chamber and at least one heating and ignition source. The at least one fuel chamber may be adapted to receive at least one fuel stream at a first temperature. The fuel stream may include a liquid, combustible, carbon-containing fuel having an ignition temperature greater than the first temperature at which the fuel stream is delivered to the fuel chamber. The at least one heating and ignition source may be adapted to heat at least a portion of the fuel chamber to raise the temperature of at least a portion of the carbon-containing fuel to a second temperature at least as great as the ignition temperature and to ignite the carbon-containing fuel. Methods of use are also disclosed.
US08038741B2	Fuel composition A fuel composition comprising a water-in-oil phase emulsion comprises bio-diesel; water; and at least one type of polymeric surfactant.
US08038737B2	Method of modulating stability of sulfonated dye A method of modulating a stability of a sulfonated dye, particularly its ozonefastness is provided. The method comprises providing a salt of the dye, wherein the salt comprises at least one organic cation selected from the group consisting of: a first organic cation having a positive charge delocalized between a nitrogen atom and at least one other heteroatom; a second organic cation having a positive charge delocalized between a nitrogen atom and at least two other atoms; and a third organic cation of formula (A): wherein: Rp, Rq and Rr are each independently selected from a C1-6 alkyl group; s is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and Ar is a C6-12 aryl group or C3-12 heteroaryl group.
US08038736B2	Mixtures of fiber-reactive azo dyes The present invention provides dye mixtures containing a dye of the formula (I) and a dye of the formulae (II) where Z is —CH═CH2 or —CH2CH2Z1 and Z1 is hydroxyl or an alkali-eliminable group; and M is hydrogen, an alkali metal or one equivalent of an alkaline earth metal. The invention also relates to a process for their preparation and their use.
US08038729B2	Liquid fabric conditioner composition and method of use The invention includes a method of conditioning fabrics, comprising contacting fabric with a liquid composition comprising an amino-functional silicone and a quaternary ammonium, and drying said fabric at 200 degrees F. or greater. The invention includes a method of conditioning fabrics, comprising washing fabric in a detergent having a wash pH of greater than 10, contacting fabric with a liquid composition comprising an amino-functional silicone and a quaternary ammonium, and drying said fabric at less than 200 degrees F. The invention further provides a method of conditioning fabrics wherein softness, anti-static, and anti-wrinkle properties are imparted to the fabric wherein the conditioned fabric resists yellowing in industrial and institutional conditions wherein the wash pH is greater than 9 and/or the fabric temperature is 200 degrees Fahrenheit or greater.
US08038728B2	Methods of fabric treatment A method is described for treating fabrics, yarns and individual fibers to improve the mechanical properties thereof, for example their wrinkle-resistance, by treating the fabric, yarn, and fibers in a solution containing polymer nanoparticles. The nanoparticles include two sizes of particles and an appropriate selection of the nanoparticles to control the degree and mode of cross-linking in the fabric with corresponding control of the mechanical properties. The nanoparticles can be provided with an electrical charge that can be opposite in sign to any charge carried by the fabric in order to enhance the formation of a polymer film on the fabric.
US08038720B2	Methods and devices for intragastrointestinal prostheses An intragastric and/or intragastrointestinal device may include a prosthesis, which may reside within the gastrointestinal tract lumen. The device may include a restrictive element that constricts or restricts the gastrointestinal tract lumen, limiting the amount of food and/or fluid an individual consumes.
US08038715B2	Method and a kit for inserting prosthetic intervertebral discs into a spine Prosthetic intervertebral discs and methods for using the same are described. The subject prosthetic discs include upper and lower endplates separated by a compressible core member. The prosthetic discs described herein include one-piece, two-piece, three-piece, and four-piece structures. The subject prosthetic discs exhibit stiffness in the vertical direction, torsional stiffness, bending stiffness in the saggital plane, and bending stiffness in the front plane, where the degree of these features can be controlled independently by adjusting the components of the discs. The interface mechanism between the endplates and the core members of several embodiments of the described prosthetic discs enables a very easy surgical operation for implantation.
US08038712B2	Methods and devices for rhinoplasty and treating internal valve stenosis Methods and devices for rhinoplasty and treating nasal valve stenosis are disclosed herein. The nasal valve acts as a flow-limiter and can contribute to airway obstruction if resistance within the nasal valve is excessive. In one embodiment, a system for treating nasal valve stenosis includes a first elongate implant and a second elongate implant configured to support the nasal valves when implanted. The implants can be coupled together by connecting elements, such as eyelets, tethers, complementary socket joints, and button-rivet supports.
US08038710B2	Artificial valve prosthesis A self-expanding or otherwise expandable artificial valve prostheses for deployment within a body passageway, such as a vessel or duct of a patient. The valve prostheses include a support structure having an outer frame, a supporting member and a valve leaflet. The portion of the valve leaflet is supported by the supporting member and is positioned away from the wall of the body passageway when the device is deployed within the body passageway.
US08038709B2	Local delivery of therapeutic agent to heart valves The present invention relates to implantable medical devices and methods that employ these medical devices to treat heart valves. In one embodiment, a medical device is provided comprising a body. The body may have a portion thereof including therapeutic agent and can be configured to support the device proximate a heart valve. Methods in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may also include providing a medical device having a body with at least a portion thereof including a therapeutic agent. These methods may also include positioning the medical device in a location proximate to a downstream surface of the heart valve and securing the device. The therapeutic agent released may then be delivered to the heart valve.
US08038702B2	Device for securing spinal rods A device is disclosed for securing a spinal rod to the spine which includes a head portion configured to receive a spinal rod, a locking cap configured to engage the head portion and the spinal rod upon rotation of the locking cap relative to the head portion to secure the position of the head portion relative to the spinal rod, and a fastener portion depending from the head portion and configured to engage the spine. Methods of utilizing such a device are also disclosed.
US08038695B2	Consecutive acupuncture device A consecutive acupuncture device for consecutively inserting needles into afflicted sites of the body. The device comprises a cartridge charged with and storing one or more needles, a first magnet positioned at a side of the cartridge to pull a needle stored in the cartridge by magnetic force and automatically place the needle at a striking position, striking means positioned on the cartridge to strike the needle placed at the striking position and insert the needle into an afflicted site of the body, and a discharge section positioned underneath the cartridge and defined with a hole through which the needle struck by the striking means is discharged. By storing one or more needles in the cartridge in a disarranged state and pressing a button, the stored needles can be driven one by one into the afflicted sites of the body.
US08038691B2	Cutting balloon catheter having flexible atherotomes A cutting balloon catheter and method of making and using the same. The cutting balloon catheter may include a catheter shaft having a balloon coupled thereto. One or more cutting members or blades may be coupled to the balloon. The cutting members may configured to be more flexible.
US08038683B2	CAS system for condyle measurement A method of determining a reference point on condyles of a femur uses a computer assisted surgery system having a digitizer with perpendicular first and second planar surfaces, the digitizer being locatable and trackable in three dimensional space by the computer assisted surgery system. A digitized plane is created using the digitizer, the digitized plane being a posterior plane and/or a distal plane of the condyles. The posterior plane and the distal plane are respectively defined by the first and second planar surfaces of the digitizer. A location of the reference point in the digitized plane is then determined using the computer assisted surgical system. The reference point is a most remote point of the femur within the digitized plane.
US08038680B2	Drivers for inserts to bone anchors A driver for delivering an insert to a bone anchor, the bone anchor having an internal cavity with a set of internal threads, the driver adapted to rotate with respect to a bone anchor that is anchored in a vertebral body in order to engage external threads on the insert with the set of internal threads in the bone anchor and axially advance the threadedly engaged insert within the bone anchor while simultaneously preventing the bone anchor from rotating with respect to the vertebral body the driver having: 1) a threaded retention rod for engaging a bore in the insert; 2) a driver head to engage with the insert to apply torque to the insert and rotate the insert; and 3) an anchor stabilizer to engage with a proximal face of the bone anchor to prevent the bone anchor from rotating with respect to the vertebral body.
US08038677B2	Surgical instrument The invention relates to a surgical instrument comprising a handling part and a tool part that encompasses at least one movably mounted tool which is actuated via a force-transmitting and/or actuating mechanism. Said force-transmitting and/or actuating mechanism is operated from the handling part and is provided with a fluid-operated drive unit. In order to improve said surgical instrument such that the same can be operated with as much sensitivity as possible, the movably mounted tool can be impinged upon a first actuation force in a first driven position while being impinged upon by at least one second actuation force in a least one second driven position with the aid of the drive unit.
US08038676B2	Electrosurgical instrument The invention relates to an electrosurgical instrument that comprises two branches joined to one another in an articulated manner, which can be actuated to open or close in a manner corresponding to a clamping, spreading or cutting tool. The instrument further comprises electrode parts at distal ends of the branches, which are used for grasping tissue and passing a coagulation current through the tissue for the purpose of coagulating it and which are electrically insulated from one another, as well as current-supply devices to supply the coagulation current to the electrode parts. In addition, on at least at one electrode part, a cutting section designed as a cutting electrode is provided whereby the electrode part comprises the cutting section and a coagulation section. In addition a control unit is provided to control the HF current in such a way that when a threshold value characterizing a particular property of the grasped tissue has been reached, a cutting current different from the coagulation current is supplied to at least the cutting section.
US08038675B2	Apparatus for arrhythmia treatment based on spectral mapping during sinus rhythm Apparatus for curative ablation are provided to achieve the inactivation or destruction of fibrillar myocardium of the so-called AF nests. In addition, fibrillar myocardium may be identified and mapped by spectral analysis and phase study of the tissue during sinus rhythm. The procedure may be performed by transseptal puncture using only one catheter for ablation and mapping. The methods may be used to localize the application targets even during an arrhythmia.
US08038672B2	Energy based devices and methods for treatment of patent foramen ovale Methods and apparatus for treatment of patent foramen ovale (PFO) provide for applying energy to tissues adjacent the PFO with a catheter device to substantially close the PFO acutely. Apparatus generally includes a catheter device having at least one energy transmission member at or near its distal end configured to apply energy to PFO tissues to acutely, substantially close the PFO. Applied energy may be monopolar or bipolar radiofrequency energy or any other suitable energy, such as laser, microwave, ultrasound, resistive heating or the like. Some embodiments of a catheter device further include one or more tissue apposition members near the distal end for helping bring PFO tissues together, such as a PFO covering member, a vacuum applying member and/or the like. PFO closure via energy-based approaches of the invention may help prevent stroke, treat migraine headache, and possibly treat or prevent other medical conditions.
US08038670B2	Fluid-assisted medical devices, systems and methods Surgical devices for treating tissue are provided. Also provided are systems for treating tissue and methods of treating tissue. An exemplary surgical device has a handle, a fluid passage connectable to a fluid source, a tip portion and a distal end. The tip portion can simultaneously provide RF power and conductive fluid to tissue. The tip portion includes an electrode having a domed portion having a domed surface and a cylindrical portion having a cylindrical surface. The domed portion is located distal to the cylindrical portion and occupies at least a portion of the distal end of the surgical device. The device includes a fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage, the fluid outlet opening configured to provide the conductive fluid to a surface of the electrode proximal to the distal end surface of the surgical device.
US08038666B2	Safety needle with positive flush A safety needle device and method of supplying fluid to a vascular access port is described. The device may include a base member, a handle member, and a compressible member positioned between the handle member and a compression plate. The compressible member is coupled to a proximal end of a needle. Following the delivery of fluid to a vascular access port, the needle is removed by moving the handle member away from the base member, which collapses the compressible member, flushing fluid into the vascular access port to substantially replace a volume of the needle.
US08038654B2	Syringe having a hinged needle shield A syringe assembly includes a syringe barrel having an elongate body, a tip on its distal end surrounded by a barrel collar. A needle assembly includes a needle cannula attached to a hub having a cavity in its open proximal end. The hub is attached to the barrel with the barrel tip in the hub cavity. A plunger having a stopper positioned in fluid tight engagement on the inside of the barrel. A collar is rotatably connected to the outside surface of the barrel collar. An elongate needle shield is hingedly connected to the collar. The needle shield includes two side walls defining a longitudinal opening and a recess. A needle shield is capable of pivoting about the collar from an open position to a closed position wherein the distal end of the needle cannula is in the recess of the needle shield. Structure is provided to lock the needle shield to the collar and to trap the needle cannula in the needle shield when the needle shield is in the closed position. Structure is provided to prevent over-rotation of the needle shield past the needle protecting position and to guide a needle cannula into the recess of the needle shield. An over-center hinge facilitates moving the needle shield to the closed position.
US08038643B2	Device and method for loading a patient connector for peritoneal dialysis with a closure plug The invention relates to a device for loading a patient connector for peritoneal dialysis with a closure plug. To permit an arbitrary number of disconnection/connection procedures with patient connectors that insert a sterile closure plug into the patient's abdominal connector during disconnection, a device for loading a patient connector for peritoneal dialysis with a closure plug is suggested, said device consisting of a housing containing a closure plug and of means for transferring the closure plug out of the device and into a patient connector. This permits loading, under sterile conditions, of a patient connector whose closure plug has already been used with a new closure plug. By loading a new closure plug, the push-button with which the closure plug is inserted is returned to its starting position, so that the patient connector is again available for a connection/disconnection procedure.
US08038640B2	Diaphragm pump and related systems and methods In some arrangements, a pump for moving a fluid has one or more pump chambers and one or more flow control valves with diaphragm actuation regions. Motive fluid can activate the diaphragm actuation regions, and a pattern of fluid flow can be controlled by varying the pressure levels of the motive fluid.
US08038639B2	Medical fluid system with flexible sheeting disposable unit A kidney failure therapy system includes: (a) a dilaysate supply; (b) at least one valve actuator; (c) at least one pump actuator; and (d) a disposable unit including first and second flexible sheets sealed together for form: (i) at least one flow path configured to be placed in fluid communication with the dilaysate supply; and operable with the at least one valve actuator; and (ii) at least one pumping portion configured to operate with the at least one pump actuator.
US08038638B2	Plasma detoxification and volume control system and methods of use An extracorporeal circuit for removing toxins from the blood and plasma volume control in patients suffering from sepsis and renal failure. The extracorporeal circuit disclosed herein comprises a plasma filter, a toxin removal device and optionally a hemofilter that minimizes electrolyte and protein depletion from the treated plasma while effectively removing both free and protein-bound toxins. The toxin removal device comprises adsorbent materials selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, ion exchange resins and non-ionic exchange resins and the adsorbent materials are coated with albumin. Also provided are associated methods for treating patients suffering from sepsis and renal failure using the disclosed extracorporeal circuit and toxin removal device.
US08038637B2	Finger orthosis The same orthosis can be used to sequentially move joints of different fingers of a hand. A hand cuff of the orthosis is mounted on the hand. Mechanisms operable to move the joints are connected to the hand cuff at locations aligned with the fingers. The mechanisms are connected with the fingers. The joints of the fingers are moved by operating the mechanisms. The joints and first and second portions of the fingers define on one side of the joints outer sectors which decrease in angle as the joints are extended. Force is applied to the first and second portions of the fingers to move the joints by providing relative rotation between internally and externally threaded members disposed in the outer sectors. Actuator members connected with the internally or externally threaded members are moved along paths that extend through the joints.
US08038632B2	Vibrational and pulsating cushion device The present invention is a vibratory patient support system. The support system has at least one bladder, at least one vibrational device, and first and second control units that respectively control (a) the inflation and deflation of the at least one bladder and (b) vibrational device. The at least one bladder (i) inflates when receiving a fluid at a faster rate than the fluid exiting the bladder; (ii) deflates when the fluid leaves the bladder at a faster rate than the fluid entering the bladder, and (iii) has a top surface that allows a user to apply pressure thereon and a bottom surface. The vibrational device (a) is positioned (i) under the bottom surface of the bladder, or (ii) within the bladder and below the top surface of the at least one bladder so it does not contact the top surface; and (b) generates a vibrational force. The first control unit can adjust the inflation of the at least one bladder. The second control unit can adjust the vibration forces generated from the vibration device. The first and second control units can operate in conjunction with each other to provide the desired vibrational application to the user.
US08038629B2	Digital endotracheal tube sound acquisition and localization device An apparatus and method for determining proper endotreachal placement is disclosed. The apparatus includes an audio receiver having a body, a microphone mount in a center thereof the body and an audio cavity, an audio processing unit; and a signal cable connected at a first end to the microphone and at a second end, where the receiver is adapted to be positioned in a suprasternal notch of a patient and the acoustic signal detected after inflation of a balloon associated with an endotracheal tube. The method uses the apparatus to detect and analyze an audio signal. The audio signal is then used to confirm endotracheal tube placement.
US08038628B2	Torque device for a sensor guide wire The invention relates to a torque device for a sensor guide wire having a sensor provided at a distal portion and a male connector provided at the proximal end, which torque device comprises a grip body and a cap adapted to be joined to the grip body, and a number of chuck segments provided on the cap or the grip body, wherein the torque device is a one-way device defining an insertion direction for the sensor guide wire and wherein the chuck segments have free ends which are directed in the insertion direction.
US08038627B2	Biopsy device with translating valve mechanism A biopsy device comprises a cannula having a transverse tissue receiving aperture and a cutter that is movable relative to the cannula to sever tissue protruding through the aperture. A first valve assembly comprises a first valve body and a first actuator. The first valve body has a first port, a second port, and a third port. The first port is in fluid communication with either atmospheric air or a pressurized medium. The second port is in fluid communication with the cannula. The third port is in fluid communication with a vacuum source. The first actuator is translatable relative to the first valve body to selectively couple either the first port or the third port with the second port. An optional second valve assembly is operable to selectively couple the cannula with either a source of saline or the first valve assembly.
US08038624B2	System for the detection of cardiac events Disclosed is a system for the detection of cardiac events (a guardian system) that includes an implanted device called a cardiosaver, a physician's programmer and an external alarm system. The system is designed to provide early detection of cardiac events such as acute myocardial infarction or exercise induced myocardial ischemia caused by an increased heart rate or exertion. The system can also alert the patient with a less urgent alarm if a heart arrhythmia is detected. Using one or more detection algorithms, the cardiosaver can detect a change in the patient's electrogram that is indicative of a cardiac event within five minutes after it occurs and then automatically warn the patient that the event is occurring. To provide this warning, the guardian system includes an internal alarm sub-system (internal alarm means) within the cardiosaver and/or an external alarm system (external alarm means). If the guardian system is put into a pacemaker, the algorithm can utilize a different analysis of the electrogram depending on whether or not the pacemaker is actually pacing the heart.
US08038621B2	Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and catheter tip part detection method An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes plural ultrasonic transducers, a catheter signal detection unit and a position detection unit. The plural ultrasonic transducers are arrayed two-dimensionally for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from an object. The catheter signal detection unit is configured to acquire a reception signal of a frequency modulated continuous wave from reception signals from at least three of the plural ultrasonic transducers. The frequency modulated continuous wave is transmitted from a catheter inserted in the object. The position detection unit is configured to detect a position of the catheter based on the acquired reception signal of the frequency modulated continuous wave.
US08038619B2	Motor driver for ultrasound system A motor driver for an ultrasound system is provided. The ultrasound system includes a transmitter and receiver, both communicatively coupled to a transducer array of an ultrasound probe. The ultrasound system further includes a digital motor driver for controlling movement of the transducer array.
US08038618B2	Ultrasound-imaging systems and methods for a user-guided three-dimensional volume-scan sequence An ultrasound-imaging system and method is provided that permits an operator to acquire an image of a volume-of-interest in a time critical fashion, that is capable of referencing the volume rendering to a standard two-dimensional imaging mode, and permits the operator to selectively choose a number of display-mode parameters that result in an operator directed view of the volume-of-interest. The ultrasound-imaging system comprises an input device configured to receive a plurality of imaging parameters and a controller in communication with the input device. The ultrasound-imaging system generates an operator-directed transmit-beam scan sequence in response to the imaging parameters and transmits a spatially modified transmit-beam scan sequence over a portion of the volume-scan range of the ultrasound-imaging system. Moreover, the ultrasound-imaging system provides the flexibility for an operator to direct a plurality of operator-configurable multi-dimensional views.
US08038615B2	Inferring wellness from physiological conditions data A method for inferring the physiological condition an individual using a physiological monitoring system including providing a set of personal data regarding the individual, the personal data including wellness parameter data or semantic data or both, wherein the wellness parameters correspond to known physiological attributes for the individual; acquiring physiological data of the individual and associated capture condition data, during multiple capture events; calculating wellness parameter data for the individual, using the physiological data and the capture condition data; analyzing the wellness parameter data to identify changes in the wellness parameter data; and inferring the physiological condition of the individual from the changes in the wellness parameter data in view of the semantic data.
US08038613B2	Apparatus for determining association variables An apparatus, and related method, for determining one or more association variables is described. The apparatus includes at least one processor, at least one memory, and at least one program module. The program module is stored in the memory and is configurable to be executed by the processor. The program module includes instructions for determining a statistical relationship between one or more temporal onsets corresponding to one or more events and a pattern of occurrence of a compound variable. The compound variable corresponds at least to a pattern of occurrence of a first variable and a pattern of occurrence of a second variable. The determining includes contributions from presence and absence information in the pattern of occurrence of the compound variable.
US08038612B2	Virtual ports devices and method A device auxiliary to surgery, for anchoring and lifting cavity walls or internal organs of a patient. The device provides a virtual port, that is an instrument that can be non-invasively, or minimally invasively and removably attached to the undersurface of a patient's cavity, or to various tissues within a cavity, and to which various retracting means are attached. The device includes means allowing it to be moved from one position to another and reattached to the undersurface of the abdominal wall, or to various tissues within a cavity, without creating any additional openings in the cavity wall. The device includes means for attaching various retractors.
US08038611B2	Surgical methods and surgical kits This invention includes surgical retractors that comprise an expandable frame that includes at least two base components, a connector, and at least two retractor blades attached to the expandable frame. Also included are surgical retractors that comprise a housing component that includes a cylindrical portion and a contiguous blade portion, assemblies comprising a surgical retractor assembled to at least one obtruator, illuminated surgical cannulas, and methods of using the same during a surgical procedure.
US08038610B2	Medical instrument introduction device and method of introducing medical device A medical instrument introduction device for introducing a medical instrument into a living body provided with; a rigid main body provided with a lumen, a first fixing portion disposed on the main body to fix the main body on the first septate of the living body, and a second fixing portion disposed on a distal end side of the main body with respect to the first fixing portion and to fix the main body on a second septate which is different from the first septate.
US08038601B2	Wireless in-vivo information acquiring system, body-insertable device, and external device A pill inserted into a body of a patient acquires in-vivo information on the body of the patient. A receiver disposed on the outside of the body receives the in-vivo information on the body of the patient from the pill through an antenna. When a power supply signal is transmitted from the receiver to the pill through the antenna, a drive control signal for making the pill to execute a predetermined function is superposed on the power supply signal, which makes it possible to control various functions performed by the pill from outside.
US08038600B2	Medical system A medical system includes: a medical device to be inserted into the body cavity; a rotating device for the medical device for rotating the medical device around the insertion axis; an image pickup device provided to the medical device; and an image capturing timing detection device for detecting a signal regarding image capturing timing performed by the image pickup device. Furthermore, the medical system includes: a rotating angle acquisition device for acquiring the rotating angle of the rotating device for the medical device regarding the image capturing timing in response to the output of the image capturing timing detection device; and an image acquisition device for performing rotation processing for the image captured by the image pickup device based upon the information regarding the rotating angle acquired by the rotating angle acquisition device, thereby acquiring the image subjected to a rotation processing.
US08038598B2	Balloon endoscope device A balloon endoscope device having a shaft with a distal end that allows for blunt dissection is provided. The shaft utilizes a plurality of separately inflatable balloons that alone or together with exterior functional channels (e.g., instrument channels, air channels, water channels, suction channels) circumferentially surround the distal end of the shaft to better position and maneuver the distal end as it advances through tissue planes and once it reaches a target working space or operative site.
US08038591B2	Image forming apparatus component with triboelectric properties The present disclosure relates to an image forming device component that includes an elastomeric material having a surface and a triboelectric charging material that may be exposed on the elastomeric material surface. The triboelectric material may be exposed by a finishing process that results in removal of a portion of the material leaving voids in the surface. The surface may have a surface roughness in the range of about 0.1 to 5.0 Ra. The component may include a developer roller in an electrophotograhic printer and may provide contact electrification to a given toner during a printing operation.
US08038577B2	Personal workout management system The invention relates to an interactive exercise management system. The system may be used for improving a workout environment for a specific user or group of users, tracking exercise information, and providing future workout information. The system, and method of using the system, allows for a specific user or group of users to control their workout environmental conditions. The conditions that may be controlled include, but are not limited to, sight, sound, smell and climate.
US08038575B2	Safety control for releasable backstopping clutch A releasable backstopping clutch is provided with a safety mechanism to prevent uncontrolled release of the clutch. A support structure is fixed against rotation and releaseably coupled to the one of the inner or outer members of the backstopping clutch. The support structure inhibits rotation of the member when coupled to the member and permits rotation of the member when uncoupled from the member to release the clutch. A sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a characteristic associated with movement of the member and a controller is configured to cause recoupling of the support structure and the member if the characteristic meets a predetermined condition.
US08038572B2	Control apparatus for vehicular drive system A control apparatus for a drive system of a vehicle includes (a) an electrically controlled differential portion having a differential state between rotating speeds of an input and an output shaft being controlled by controlling an operating state of a first electric motor, (b) a switching portion operable to switch a power transmitting path between the output shaft and a drive wheel of the vehicle, between a power transmitting state and a power cut-off state, and (c) a second electric motor connected to the power transmitting path. The control apparatus includes an excessive speed preventing portion configured to limit a rotating speed of the output shaft or an operating speed of the second electric motor when the power transmitting path is switched by the switching portion from the power transmitting state to the power cut-off state.
US08038571B2	Control device for vehicular drive apparatus A control device is provided for a vehicular drive apparatus, having a differential mechanism and a transmission, for miniaturizing the differential mechanism and/or providing improved fuel economy while preventing a busy shift. With the provision of a switching clutch C0 or a switching brake B0, a transmitting mechanism 10 can be placed in a continuously variable shifting state and a step-variable shifting state whereby the vehicular drive apparatus has combined advantages including a fuel saving effect of the transmission, enabled to electrically change a gear ratio, and a high transmitting efficiency of a gear type transmitting device enabled to mechanically transmit drive power. With a total speed ratio γ T set to a lower vehicle speed gear ratio than that for a given running state, if a required drive force or a drive force source brake is unavailable or if load torque of an electric motor is deviated from an allowable range, switching control mean 50 switches a differential portion 11 to the step-variable shifting state for thereby obtaining larger drive force or drive force source brake than those for the given running state without causing load torque of the electric motor from deviating from the allowable range while preventing the busy shift.
US08038569B2	Transmission and power transmitting system A transmission includes: a plurality of rotating elements interposed between a driving source and an output portion; a rotating member that rotatably supports one of the rotating elements and is formed at a radially outer portion thereof with a plurality of recesses or protrusions; a support member having a surface, that is facing the rotating member, and a plurality of protrusions or recesses that are formed in a radially inner portion thereof and engage with the recesses or protrusions of the rotating member, the rotating member being mounted in the support member such that the rotating member is not able to rotate; and a friction producing mechanism that is provided between the rotating member and the above-indicated surface of the support member and is arranged to produce a frictional force between the rotating member and the surface of the support member.
US08038568B2	Multi-speed transmission A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, four external co-planar gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. Each of the external gear sets includes first and second gears. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes.
US08038567B2	Eight speed automatic transmission An automatic transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may be either clutches or brakes.
US08038559B2	Power transmission chain, method for manufacturing power transmission member of the power transmission chain, and power transmission device The end faces of a first pin contain bulging curved faces having an egg-like shape, when viewed along a chain width direction. Each bulging curved face includes a first end portion, a second end portion and a maximum width portion with respect to a chain advancing direction. With respect to perpendicular directions, the distance between the center of the maximum width portion and the first end portion is relatively large, whereas the distance between the center of the maximum width portion and the second end portion is relatively short. It is possible to enlarge the surface area of the bulging curved face.
US08038556B2	Tensioning device for a traction mechanism, particularly a belt or a chain A tensioning device for a traction mechanism, particularly a belt or a chain, including a tensioning lever over which the traction mechanism is guided and on which a tensioning spring is disposed with one end thereof, the other end thereof being provided on a spring holder by which the tensioning device can be fastened to an external object. A holding pin (11) extends through the tensioning spring (4), with the pin at one end (11) thereof being disposed in a fixed position on the tensioning lever (2) and at the other end thereof having a locking section (22) disposed on a locking element (17) provided on a spring holder (6). The locking element can be adjusted between a locking position of the holding pin end (16), in which the tensioning device (1) is fixed in a position with the pretensioned tensioning spring (4), and a released position of the holding pin end (16), in which the holding pin (10) is axially displaceable in the locking element (17), and limited by a stop.
US08038548B2	Low lift golf ball A golf ball having a plurality of dimples formed on its outer surface, the outer surface of the golf ball being divided into plural areas comprising at least first areas containing a plurality of first dimples and second areas containing a plurality of second dimples, the areas together forming a spherical polyhedron shape, the first dimples comprising truncated spherical dimples having a first, truncated chord depth and the second dimples comprising spherical dimples having a second, spherical chord depth, the first dimples are of larger radius than the second dimples and have a truncated chord depth which is less than the spherical chord depth of the first dimples, and the total surface area of all first areas being less than the total surface area of all second areas.
US08038543B2	Golf swing training device The golf swing training device of the present invention includes a base positioned on the floor or ground in front of a golfer. A leg extends pivotably upward from the base. An arm is pivotally attached to the leg and extends forwardly toward the golfer. A frame is provided on the arm, with an extension member extending pivotally forwardly from the frame. The leg, frame, and extension member are each adjustable to accommodate various heights and postures of different golfers. The device can also be used with both right-handed and left-handed golfers. In use, the golfer views the golf ball through the frame and swings the golf club through a proper swing plane with hands passing beneath the extension member without contact.
US08038542B2	Linear motor driven amusement ride and method A waterslide amusement ride having in a portion thereof, a linear induction motor to efficiently and effectively affect the motion of a vehicle sliding on the ride. The linear induction motor comprises linear induction motor units embedded below a sliding surface, and a reaction plate mounted to the bottom of the vehicle. Depending on the configuration of the linear induction motor units and the reaction plate, the linear induction motor drive can be used to accelerate the vehicle, decelerate the vehicle, maintain the speed of the vehicle up an uphill section, or rotate the vehicle.
US08038541B1	Motion based system A motion-based system includes one or more passenger units, gimbaled about three axes, movably attached to arms or slots in a planar system extending radially from a central hub. The passenger units may be positioned along the arms any distance from the central hub thereby providing means for varying forces to be exerted thereon while maintaining a constant rotational speed. The mobile passenger units further provide means for loading and unloading subjects during operation of the system. The means includes passenger units being moved to the central hub location where they are disengaged from the rotating system and safely loaded and unloaded. Computers control the rotational speed of the system and the movements of the passenger units about at least three axes based on inputted or real-time data. The data can simulate real events, be arbitrarily developed or be based on real time events. The motion-based system has both training and amusement purposes.
US08038536B2	Game system, game server device therefor, method of controlling game server device, and terminal device therefor and control program product for controlling terminal device A game system has a plurality of game devices (1), a game server device (3) that communicates with the plurality of game devices (1) to obtain a game result for each of a plurality of players, and a plurality of portable terminals (terminal devices) (4) operated individually by at least one of the plurality of game players. The game server device (3) stores private player identifiers for identifying each of the plurality of players and their game results. The game server device (3) also stores a private player identifier of one player in association with a private player identifier of a competitor player specified by the one player, and game server device (3), when it receives from a portable terminal (4) a view request instructing that a game result of the competitor player, transmits a view response containing the game result.
US08038535B2	Collaborative online gaming system and method A system, method, and computer program product for collaborative online gaming, including at least one of providing a central repository master browser system; providing an experience calibrated match-making service; providing a dynamic multiplayer server component auto deployment and aggregation system; providing a lobby centric simultaneous and collaborative client game play launching feature; and providing a video game screen over-layer technology giving users access to a control interface while inside a video game being played.
US08038534B1	Networked multiple bingo game system A system and method for providing more than one simultaneous and different bingo game, using single bingo ball draws from a central location. The present invention further provides for players to be highly distributed, for example throughout the US, while still using the single centralized ball draw and still supporting different bingo games in parallel.
US08038531B2	Recording medium recording game program, and game system A designated position of a topographic object provided in a virtual game space is detected from a position on a screen designated by an operation device. A shape of topography at the detected designated position of the topographic object and in a vicinity thereof, into a shape whose height is gradually changed, depending on a distance from the designated position. When the movable object contacts the topographic object, a physical calculation is performed with respect to a contact surface based on the changed shape, and based on a result of the calculation, movement of the movable object is controlled.
US08038524B2	Gaming machine with buy feature games A gaming machine including a display. The display includes a plurality of display positions for displaying combinations of symbols. A controller controls operation of the machine. The controller includes a processor for processing data and displaying selected data on the display. A selector is operable by the player of the machine for enabling the player to select at least one feature which can be added to a base game played on the machine.
US08038522B2	Spin keno Apparatus and method for playing a Keno type game. The game consists of a plurality of elements, wherein a player specifies the number of game elements (such as the number of stop positions in a reel-type gaming machine), in the same way that the player would decide how many numbers to bet on a Keno game.
US08038513B2	Manual power sander, and vibration isolation device of a manual power sander The invention emanates from a hand-held grinder, in particular an orbital grinder, with at least one handle (10) in or on a housing part (19) and with a drive unit (12) to drive a grinding disc (14) in or on a disc-shaped tool carrier (13) in a housing (11), wherein the grinding disc (14) is on a grinding disc plane (16) and the direction of force (17) is perpendicular to the plane (16) of the grinding disc. The invention proposes that the handle (10) is connected to the housing (11) through at least one vibration decoupling element (18, 71). The invention also relates to a vibration decoupling device of a hand-held grinder.
US08038509B2	Chemical mechanical polishing apparatus Disclosed herein is a chemical mechanical polishing apparatus. The apparatus comprises a carrier to hold a wafer and being capable of lifting, lowering and rotating, a polishing pad compressed onto the wafer through the lowering of the carrier to polish the wafer, a contact pressure sensor to detect contact pressure between the polishing pad and the wafer when the polishing pad is compressed onto the wafer, a support physical property controller to generate control signals corresponding to the contact pressure detected by the contact pressure sensor, a variable physical property support being adapted to come into close contact with the polishing pad and having physical properties varied in response to the control signals generated by the support physical property controller, and a rotational table to hold the variable physical property table.
US08038504B1	Toy vehicle A toy includes a vehicle body having a front portion and a rear portion. A pair of rear wheels is coupled with the rear portion and located on the vehicle so as to at least partially support the rear portion. A first electric motor is drivingly coupled with the at least one rear wheel. There is a pair of front wheels coupled with the front portion and located on the vehicle so as to at least partially support the front portion. An electrically operated steering actuator is mounted on the front portion and is drivingly coupled to the at least one front wheel to rotate the front wheels to steer the toy vehicle. When the vehicle is inverted, the sensor detects the orientation change and signals a microprocessor inside the vehicle, the microprocessor responds to the signal and changes the left/right motor control signal to the steering motor and the forward/backward motor control signal on the driving motor.
US08038500B2	Bubble generating assembly A bubble generating assembly has a housing having a motor, an air generator and a bubble producing device associated therewith. The assembly also includes a source of bubble solution, and a pump system provided inside the housing that draws bubble solution from the source to the bubble producing device. The bubble producing device includes a tubular member having an inner surface and an outer surface, and oriented so that air from the air generator will flow along both the inner and outer surfaces, and where bubble solution coats both the inner and outer surfaces.
US08038497B2	Methods of fabricating light emitting devices by selective deposition of light conversion materials based on measured emission characteristics A method of fabricating a light emitting device (LED) includes measuring emission characteristics for a plurality of LED chips configured to emit light of a first color. The plurality of LED chips are sorted based on the measured emission characteristics to provide a plurality of groups respectively including ones of the plurality of LED chips having similar measured emission characteristics. A respective light conversion material is selected for each of the plurality of groups based on the measured emission characteristics of the ones of the plurality of LED chips included therein and a desired color point. The selected light conversion material is configured to absorb at least some of the light of the first color and responsively emit light of a second color. For each of the plurality of groups, the respective selected light conversion material is deposited on the ones of the LED chips included therein to provide a plurality of packaged LEDs including the plurality of LED chips and respectively configured to emit light having the desired color point. Related apparatus is also discussed.
US08038495B2	Organic light-emitting display device and manufacturing method of the same A preparing method of an organic light-emitting display device, completely encapsulating a substrate and an encapsulation substrate with a frit and a supplement member is disclosed. It is an aspect of the present invention to provide an organic light-emitting display device comprising: a first substrate comprising a pixel region and a non-pixel region on the side thereof wherein an organic light-emitting element is formed in the pixel region and the non-pixel region is formed in the outer side of the pixel region; a second substrate bonded to one region including the pixel region of the first substrate; encapsulating member provided between the non-pixel region of the first substrate and the second substrate and adhering the first substrate to the second substrate; and supplement member configured of resin formed to be spaced from the frit.
US08038494B2	Organic electroluminescent device and method of manufacturing the same An organic electroluminescent device (OELD) and a method of manufacturing the OELD are provided. The OELD includes a substrate, an anode electrode stacked on the substrate, an organic light emitting layer that is stacked on the anode electrode and has a plurality of protrusions on the organic light emitting layer, and a cathode electrode that covers the protrusions formed on the organic light emitting layer and is formed of a metal.
US08038491B2	Boat A boat includes a connection structure that connects couplings via a transfer shaft on a rear end portion of a crankshaft extending rearward from an engine. The crankshaft and the transfer shaft are connected by screwing an external thread and a front internal thread, and the transfer shaft and the couplings are connected by screwing an external thread and an internal thread. There are provided an inner bolt that strengthens the connection between the external thread and the front internal thread, an end bolt that strengthens the connection between the transfer shaft and the couplings, and an outer nut that strengthens the connection between the crankshaft and the transfer shaft. The boat can prevent movement between the crankshaft and an intermediate member and between the intermediate member and a coupling both in a rotational direction and in an axial direction without causing an increase of processing time or processing cost.
US08038490B1	Wind powered boat A watercraft, typically a catamaran, has at least two spaced hulls; at least one seat mounted on or between the hulls; a vertical axis wind turbine (“VAWT”, e.g. Savonius) having a rotatable shaft operatively mounted to the hulls aft of the seat; and at least one propeller operatively connected to the wind turbine. A pedal driven propeller manual assist operable by someone sitting in a seat is also desirably provided. A mounting structure for the VAWT shaft includes an aluminum sleeve receiving the shaft; and at least two aluminum struts extending from each of at least four mounting points on the hulls to the sleeve, the struts operatively connected to the sleeve, one strut from each point vertically above the other. At least two counter-rotating VAWTs, with counter-rotating propellers, are preferred. Typically there are first and second airfoil configuration rudders, one operatively connected to the stern of each hull and controlled by a tiller and linkages to move substantially in tandem. First and second intermeshing gears are connected to the propeller and wind turbine shafts, respectively; and a sealed gear box filled with lubricant contains the gears and is connected to the bottom of the sleeve. A safety mechanism may be utilized, including a plurality of strips of material operatively connected to peripheral portions of the wind turbine so as to rotate with the wind turbine and extend radially outwardly therefrom. Desirably the strips of materiel are flexible and hang substantially limply when the turbine not rotating.
US08038488B2	Female terminal hardware A female terminal hardware (10) has a terminal main body (20) with a box-like terminal connecting section (21). A louver terminal (40) is housed in the terminal main body (20) and includes contact pieces (43) each juxtaposed in an inserting direction of a mating male terminal (TA). Contacting piece holding sections (45) hold the contact pieces (43). The terminal connecting section (21) has a terminal containing section (23) for housing the louver terminal (40) and with a louver terminal inserting aperture 25 for receiving the louver terminal (40). The louver terminal (40) is provided on a side area of the contact pieces (43) with a restraining section (51) that restrains the louver terminal (40) from being shifted and defines an inserting space for the male terminal (TA).
US08038484B2	ECG electrode connector Disclosed is an ECG electrode lead wire connector which provides improved electrical and mechanical coupling of the ECG electrode press stud to the lead wire, provides enhanced ergonomics to the clinician, and may alleviate patient discomfort associated with the attachment and removal of ECG leads. The connector may be engaged and disengaged with little or no force imparted to the patient or the ECG pad, which significantly minimizes the risk of inadvertent dislodgement of the pad. In one embodiment the disclosed connector provides a thumb cam lever which affirmatively engages the press stud to the connector, and provides tactile feedback to the clinician that the connector is properly engaged. In other embodiments, the connector provides a pushbutton to enable the clinician to easily engage and disengage the connector from the ECG stud. The disclosed connectors may also decrease clinician fatigue, and may provide more reliable ECG results.
US08038483B2	Image forming apparatus and electrode member for the same An image forming apparatus includes: a first electrode including a spring portion extending in an axial direction and an annular contact portion extending from a first side in the axial direction; a first frame including a through hole, through which the annular contact portion protrudes; and a second frame, which is relatively movable to the first frame along an elongated direction of the annular contact portion at a further extension of the first side in the axial direction, and which includes a second electrode electrically connectable with the annular contact portion. A diameter of the annular contact portion is larger than that of the spring portion. The first frame includes a lock portion that locks the annular contact portion to place a center of the annular contact portion on a second side, which is opposite to the first side, in the axial direction from an end of the through hole.
US08038480B2	Electrical connector An electrical connector comprises: an insulating housing having an accommodating chamber at a rear portion thereof and a tongue plate protruding forwards from a front portion thereof; a plurality of conductive terminals comprising an upper row of conductive terminals and a lower row of conductive terminals which are mounted on upper and lower sides of the tongue plate respectively, each conductive terminal including a butting portion, a soldering portion, and a bending portion connected between the butting portion and the soldering portion, the butting portions of said upper row of conductive terminals and lower row of conductive terminals being mounted on the upper and lower sides of the tongue plate respectively, the soldering portions of each row of conductive terminals extending from below the rear portion of the insulating housing and being arranged in a front column and a rear column; a shielding casing covering periphery of the insulating housing; and two positioning modules being mounted into the accommodating chamber of the insulating housing and enveloping periphery of the bending portions of said plurality of conductive terminals. The electrical connector can efficiently prevent bending portions of the conductive terminals from further bending and contacting with each other when an external force is applied and thus can prevent the short circuit failure.
US08038476B2	Network connector A network connector includes an electrically insulative housing accommodating an output circuit board and an input circuit board, output terminals and input terminals respectively and electrically bonded to the output circuit board and the input circuit board, a filter capacitor electrically connected between the input circuit board and the output circuit board, an electrically insulative partition block mounted in the electrically insulative housing to keep the filter capacitor away from the input circuit board and the output circuit board and to avoid accidental electrical sparks between the input terminals and the filter capacitor, and a filter module having filter coils electrically bonded to the surface contacts at the output circuit board and the input circuit board by surface mount technology.
US08038473B2	Coaxial cable connector seal A connector seal including at least one cylindrical coaxial cable connector, and an elastic sleeve rolled upon itself. The sleeve is configured to unroll to enclose at least a portion of the connector. The portion of the connector may be a connection location between two of the connectors. The portion of the connector may have at least one of differing surface shapes and differing diameters. The elastic sleeve may be fastened to an exterior portion of the connector, may be pre-positioned on the connector, and may be configured to be removed entirely from the connector. A release liner covering one side of the elastic sleeve may be rolled up with the elastic sleeve. The release liner may be elastic and may be latex.
US08038472B2	Compression coaxial cable connector with center insulator seizing mechanism A coaxial cable connector for terminating a prepared coaxial cable end includes a connector body having a center passageway. A compression sleeve attached to one end of the connector body is axially movable wherein movement of the sleeve causes the center conductor of an engaged coaxial cable end to be engaged by a plurality of spring contacts that are radially disposed in relation to a conductive member into which the center conductor is advanced. The center conductor is seized when advanced a predetermined distance into the conductive member.
US08038469B2	Electrical connection assembly An electrical connection assembly includes a faceplate defining a compartment extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom. The compartment being formed from the same piece of material as the faceplate and defining a biasing member biasing a component of the connection assembly. The electrical connection assembly also includes a one-piece conductive insert disposed within the compartment. The insert has a terminal enabling electrical connection of the insert to an electrical current source.
US08038468B2	Adapter equipped with a wire winding and holding apparatus An adapter equipped with a wire winding and holding apparatus comprises a circuit laying section to hold a conversion circuit, a wire holding section to define a holding space and a wire winder movably held in the holding space. The wire winder includes two conducting wire ends which are extensible and retractable and electrically connected to each other. One of the conducting wire ends is electrically connected to the conversion circuit. Two positioning arms are extended from the same side of the adapter to define the holding space. The wire winder is guided by the two positioning arms and movably pulled out or retracted in the holding space to be anchored. The two positioning arms have respectively an extended laying space communicating with the circuit laying space.
US08038466B1	Power receptacle with enlarged heat dissipation path formed on mating face and power connector assembly thereof A power connector assembly includes mateable power receptacle and power plug. The power receptacle includes an insulative housing and a number of receptacle power contacts received in the insulative housing. The insulative housing includes a mating surface, a mounting surface, a first slot recessed from the first mating surface, and a first through hole extending through the mounting surface to be exposed to an exterior. The first through hole is in communication with the first slot in order to form a heat dissipation path for eliminating heat generated by the receptacle power contacts.
US08038458B2	Fluorescent lampholder A fluorescent lampholder with a top portion for supporting a fluorescent lamp and a base portion with a wire opening located on the bottom surface of the base that receives wires without exposing the wires to the exterior surface of a fixture. The lampholder is capable of supporting various types and/or sizes of fluorescent lamps such as “tall”, “medium” and “small” T-8 fluorescent lamps as well as other types and/or sizes of fluorescent lamps.
US08038456B1	Tamper prevention system having a shroud to partially cover a release mechanism Apparatuses, devices, systems, and methods are provided for prevention of tampering with cables and associated systems. In one aspect, an anti-tamper adapter is provided that can inhibit or prohibit cable tampering for existing cables. In a further aspect, dummy plugs or blocking plugs can employ disclosed anti-tamper adapters to facilitate blocking ports or outlets that are intended to remain undisturbed for a period of time. The provided embodiments can economically and flexibly facilitate cable tamper prevention in a wide array of cable technologies.
US08038455B1	Connector assembly having retractable stabilizer including inward flexing securing member A connector assembly includes a retractable stabilizer moveable between a blade alignment position and a seated position in a shroud of a male connector. The retractable stabilizer is in the blade alignment position when the connector assembly is unmated and in the seated position when the connector assembly is mated. The retractable stabilizer includes a base and at least one position arm, at least one retention feature, and a securing member that extend from the base. When the connector assembly is unmated, the female connector pulls on the securing member which draws the retractable stabilizer to move from the seated position back towards the blade alignment position. When the at least one retention feature engages a blocking feature on the shroud, the at least one position arm flexes into at least one aperture defined in the shroud to secure the retractable stabilizer at the blade assembly position for reuse.
US08038454B2	Back-mount ganged electrical outlets An electrical ganged-outlet apparatus includes a unitary outlet body including a plurality of electrical outlets and a back surface. Each of the electrical outlets has at least a first and a second receptacle contact element, and a line terminal. The line terminal is electrically connected to the first receptacle contact element and extends from the back surface. The outlet body has at least one neutral bus bar disposed against the back surface, and the neutral bus bar is electrically connected to the second receptacle contact element.
US08038453B2	Ground connector A ground connector including a first section and a second section. The first section includes a first member with a threaded post, and a system including a screw configured to clamp the first section against opposite sides of a support. The second section is movably located on the threaded post and configured to directly contact and clamp a conductor towards the support.
US08038450B2	Coaxial connector and method of assembling the same A coaxial connector for connecting a coaxial plug includes an insulation housing including an insertion opening portion and a pressing deformation portion situated above the insertion opening portion; an outer conductive member including a pressing portion for pressing the pressing deformation portion; a stationary terminal including a contact portion; and a movable terminal fitted into the insertion opening portion and including a fixed portion and an elastic portion. The elastic portion is separated from the contact portion so that the movable terminal is electrically disconnected from the stationary terminal when the coaxial plug is inserted into the insulation housing. The elastic portion contacts with the central conductive member so that the movable terminal is electrically connected to the central conductive member when the coaxial plug is inserted into the insulation housing.
US08038449B2	System and method for generating an exam A method for generating an exam is disclosed. The method includes setting initial conditions for the exam, wherein the initial conditions comprises a number of true propositions p, a number of false propositions q, and a number of random propositions r, and determining numbers of different propositions in the exam according to the initial conditions. The method further includes selecting the p number of true propositions, and numbering each of the p number of true propositions with a running number, selecting q number of false propositions, grouping the q number of false propositions, numbering each of the groups with a group number, selecting the r number of propositions, grouping the r number of propositions, numbering each of the groups with a group number. The method further includes generating an exam according to the p number of true propositions, the q number of false propositions, and the r number of propositions.
US08038446B2	Hygiene training device and method A training device for nasal hygiene comprises a facial tissue sheet; where the facial tissue sheet has a first side, and where the facial tissue sheet also has a second side having an opposing planar relationship to the first side. A first-side tissue graphic is visible on the first side of the facial tissue sheet. The first-side tissue graphic comprises a permanent graphic and/or an active graphic. In addition, the first-side tissue graphic is a training mark.
US08038444B2	Automated treatment staging for teeth Apparatus, system, and methods for utilizing one or more computing devices to stage the movement of teeth during an alignment treatment are disclosed. The computing device receives an electronic representation of the patient's teeth in their initial position and an electronic representation of the teeth a final position for each tooth. A route each tooth will travel to reach its final position is determined, and the teeth are scheduled to move according to a movement pattern. Moreover, the schedule of movement takes into account a maximum rate of tooth movement for each tooth, the path of movement for each tooth, the distance each tooth needs to move, any needed tooth staggering, any needed round-tripping or tooth movement slowing. The invention also includes techniques for determining an optimum number of stages for the treatment based on the schedule of movement.
US08038442B2	Dental implant and dental component connection A dental implant, components, and kit are provided. The implant can include a body, attachment means for attaching the implant to bone, and a recess. The recess can be disposed within the body and open towards a proximal end thereof. The recess can include a proximally-disposed receiving chamber and a distally-disposed threaded chamber. The receiving chamber can include an interlock chamber, which can be disposed at a distal end of the receiving chamber and have a polygonal cross-section. The implant can be multi-functional such that components for various dental prostheses and procedures can be provided having portions that can, for example, engage the interlock chamber of the implant, mate with the receiving chamber of the implant, and/or mate with the proximal end the implant for supporting the prosthesis and/or facilitating the procedure.
US08038435B2	Venting device A venting device for venting a cavity of an injection mold via a venting opening of the injection mold which cavity can be filled with an injection molding material is provided. The venting device comprising a housing which has a through-opening and is designed and intended for an arrangement on an injection mold in such a way that air which is present in the cavity and which escapes from a venting opening of the injection mold when injection molding material is introduced into the cavity can exhaust through the through-opening of the housing into an exterior space surrounding the injection mold. A valve pin extending longitudinally along a direction of extent and being mounted in the housing movably along its direction of extent. The valve pin is designed for being moved from a venting position, in the direction of the cavity into a first cleaning position.
US08038422B2	Gear pump with a valve arranged between a suction side and a pressure side of the gear pump Gearwheel pump, having a housing with at least two intermeshing gears with shafts supported by slide bearings lubricated with pumping medium (M) fed from a suction side to a pressure side, a return duct which leads pumping medium which flows outward through the plain bearing back to the suction side, and a valve (5) having a stationary part and a moveable part (20, 21). The valve (5) has a setting characteristic which runs, as a first approximation, linearly at least in one region, wherein the setting characteristic is defined by a differential pressure (Δp) across the valve as a function of a setting path (x) in the valve (5) thereby significantly improving capability for setting the pressure in the transition region between the plain bearing and a dynamic seal of a driveshaft which is guided outward.
US08038421B2	Scroll compressor having an allowable angle of rotation A scroll compressor includes a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll, each including a spiral wrap protruding from an end plate and having the same tooth thickness (Tr) and the same base-circle radius (b) defining an involute surface. The fixed scroll and the orbiting scroll are offset from each other by an orbiting radius (ρ) and mesh such that the respective wraps face each other with a phase shift of 180°. The orbiting scroll revolves/orbits along a circular orbit with the orbiting radius (ρ) to compress a gas while a rotation-preventing mechanism prevents rotation of the orbiting scroll. The relationship between the involute surfaces of the spiral wraps of the two scrolls and the dimensions, dimensional tolerance, and assembly standards of the rotation-preventing mechanism are determined so that the median value of an allowable angle of rotation (φ) agrees with an upright position of the orbiting scroll.
US08038420B2	Variable displacement vane pump A variable displacement vane pump that assuredly suppresses seizing of mutually contacting surfaces of a pressure plate and a rotor where the pressure plate is formed, at one side surface thereof that slidably contacts the rotor, with an annular lubricating groove. The lubricating groove is on a seal surface of the side surface at a position between arcuate back pressure grooves formed on the seal surface and a through opening which is formed in a center part of the pressure plate to receive the drive shaft. A radial width of the lubricating groove is set to a range from 10% to 25% of a radial width of the seal surface, and a distance from a center of the radial width of the lubricating groove to an inner cylindrical surface of the through opening is set to a range from 24% to 70% of the radial width of the seal surface.
US08038415B2	Variable capacity swash plate type compressor Provided is a variable capacity swash plate type compressor. The variable capacity swash plate type compressor includes: a cylinder block; a front housing; a rear housing; a valve; a driving shaft; a rotor; a swash; an elastic; and a plurality of pistons, wherein at least one step portion perforating the rotor and the driving shaft, communicating the crank chamber and the refrigerant communication passage, and protruding toward its inner face so that a cross-section of the at least one step portion is reduced in a direction of the refrigerant communication passage from the crank chamber toward an inner face of the step portion, is provided, and at least one oil separation passage in which oil is centrifugally separated from a refrigerant gas flowing inside the driving shaft as the driving shaft rotates is formed.
US08038413B2	Idle down control for a pressure washer An idle down controller for pressure washers is responsive to the drop in pressure at the pump outlet. The controller includes a sensor disposed in the pump outlet manifold. When the fluid is being bypassed, the manifold pressure drop is communicated to an actuator. The actuator overrides the engine governor and forces the engine throttle to the idle speed. When an operator is discharging a pressurized fluid, the actuator allows the governor to operate the engine at its normal speed.
US08038410B2	Optimized aerodynamic airfoil for a turbine blade When cold and in the uncoated state, the aerodynamic airfoil is substantially identical to a nominal airfoil determined by the Cartesian coordinates X, Y, Z′ given in Table 1, in which the coordinate Z′ is the ratio D/H where D is the distance from the point in question to a reference plane P0, located at the base of the nominal airfoil, and H is the height of this airfoil, measured from said reference plane up to the tip of the blade. The D and H measurements being taken radially with respect to the axis of the turbine whereas the X coordinate is measured in the axial direction of the turbine.
US08038401B2	Wind turbine blade with a light beacon at the tip Wind turbine blade (11) with a flashing beacon on its tip which is connected to the wind turbine rotor hub (13) where this beacon includes a lighting module (21) in the tip area of the blade (11) which is supplied by a device that includes a light emitter (23) situated in the hub (13) or in the root area of the blade (11), a light to electrical energy converter (27) connected directly to this lighting module (21) and a conductor (25) of light but not electrical energy from this light emitter (23) to this converter (27).
US08038398B2	System and method of distributing air within a wind turbine An air distribution system for use with a wind turbine. The wind turbine includes a nacelle that is coupled to a tower and a rotor that is rotatably coupled to the nacelle with a rotor shaft. The rotor includes at least one rotor blade that is coupled to a hub. The air distribution system includes a conduit that is defined within the rotor shaft. The conduit provides flow communication between the nacelle and the rotor. An air-flow control assembly is coupled in flow communication with the conduit. The air-flow control assembly is configured to selectively channel air from the nacelle to the rotor and from the nacelle to ambient air.
US08038397B2	System and method of deicing and prevention or delay of flow separation over wind turbine blades A system for deicing a wind turbine blade includes an electrically powered active plasma actuator applied to a desired portion of a wind turbine blade. The activated plasma actuator energizes the air in the vicinity of the plasma actuator to increase the surface temperature of the wind turbine blade in the vicinity of the plasma actuator sufficiently to reduce or eliminate the collection of ice on a desired portion of the wind turbine blade.
US08038394B2	System and method of damping a 1P motion A rotor system includes a multiple of rotor blade yokes mounted to a rotor hub. A lead/lag damper is mounted to each of the rotor blade yokes and to a damper hub. An actuator system is operable to shift a damper hub axis of rotation relative the rotor axis of rotation to minimize 1P damper motions. A method of minimizing 1P damper motions within a rotor system includes shifting the damper hub axis of rotation relative the rotor axis of rotation to oscillate an inner connector of each lead/lag damper in phase with a 1P blade motion to minimize the 1P motion of the damper.
US08038392B2	Axial diffuser for a centrifugal compressor The effective efficiency of a centrifugal compressor can be improved by achieving a uniform distribution of fluid velocity across the outlet end of a fluid passage of an axial diffuser for the centrifugal compressor and a high static pressure recovery ratio Cp in the axial diffuser passage. The cross section of each axial diffuser passage is configured such that a relatively high velocity fluid flow in an upstream part of the diffuser passage is directed toward a negative pressure side of a cross section thereof. It can be accomplished by directing a minor axis of a cross section of the diffuser passage substantially perpendicularly to a direction directed from a center of the cross section of the diffuser passage to the central axial line of an impeller or directing the minor axis toward the central axial line of the impeller.
US08038390B2	Airfoil shape for a compressor An article of manufacture having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in TABLE 1. X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches. The profile sections at the Z distances are joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
US08038389B2	Method and apparatus for assembling turbine nozzle assembly A turbine nozzle assembly and a method for assembling the turbine nozzle assembly with respect to a combustor of a gas turbine engine are provided. The method includes coupling a radial outer retaining ring to an aft end of the combustor. A plurality of turbine nozzles are provided. Each turbine nozzle includes an inner band, a radially opposing outer band, and at least one vane extending between the inner band and the outer band. The outer band of each turbine nozzle is coupled to the outer retaining ring to define the turbine nozzle assembly. An inner retaining ring is positioned about an axis of the gas turbine engine and coupled to the inner band of each turbine nozzle.
US08038387B2	Bearing for variable pitch stator vane A bearing for a turbomachine variable pitch stator vane pivot mounted in a bore of the turbomachine casing is disclosed. The bearing includes an inner bushing secured to the pivot and an outer bushing secured to the bore. An elastomeric material is inserted between the inner bushing and the outer bushing to allow the vane to pivot about its axis and absorb at least some of the flexing of the pivot at right angles to the axis. The design makes it possible to reduce bearing bushing wear.
US08038378B2	Tape type binding apparatus and paper staple A tape type binding apparatus includes a cutter portion formed in a U-shape inside which a paper staple is held, a paper table formed with a drawing hole through which cutter blades of the cutter portion can be inserted, a pair of pressing members arranged on respective sides of the drawing hole, and a pressing piece arranged below the center of the drawing hole. The cutter blades and leg portions of the paper staple penetrate a stack of sheets placed on the paper table by moving down the cutter portion, the pair of pressing members folds the leg portions of the paper staple to inner sides by moving toward the center of the drawing hole through rectangular holes formed on respective cutter blades, and the pressing piece presses and bonds the folded leg portions by relatively moving up with respect to the paper table.
US08038374B2	Cargo restraint anchor A double-ended cargo restraint anchor for use with existing cargo tie-down straps on commercial transport vehicles, such as flatbed trailers, is disclosed. The restraint anchor allows cargo tie-down straps to always be situated inboard of the anchor bars or “rub rails” located on either side of the transport vehicle. The new restraint anchor complies with all governmental safety rules and transport regulations.
US08038369B2	Gabions The invention provides a gabion which may be used to protect military or civilian installations from weapons assault or from elemental forces, such as flood waters, lava flows, avalanches, soil instability, slope erosion and the like, the gabion comprising side walls connected together at spaced intervals by partition walls, the side walls comprising at least one substantially closed side wall element panel, which acts in use of the gabion to prevent a gabion fill material from falling through the side wall, the said action of the substantially closed side wall element panel being effective without the aid of a gabion lining material.
US08038367B2	Underwater pipe-laying apparatus and method A pipe-laying apparatus and method for laying or raising a pipeline from a vessel. The apparatus includes a first pipe gripping assembly disposed on a pipe laying path along which pipeline passes during laying, a second pipe gripping assembly disposed on the 10 pipe-laying path, and a drive unit for causing relative movement in a direction along the pipe-laying path between the first pipe gripping assembly and the second pipe gripping assembly. The first pipe gripping assembly includes both a pipe gripping arrangement for gripping a pipe during pipe-laying and a cable gripping arrangement for gripping a cable during an operation when a cable is connected to a length of pipeline.
US08038366B2	Wheeled concrete screeding device A wheeled concrete screeding device includes a wheeled unit having wheels for movably supporting a frame portion, and a screed head supported at the frame portion and following behind the wheeled unit when the wheeled unit is moved in a screeding direction. The screed head includes a grade establishing element and a vibratable member. The grade establishing element is generally vertically adjustable responsive to a signal from a laser receiver disposed at the screed head to establish a struck-off surface of the uncured concrete at a desired grade. The vibratable member is adjustably attached at the grade establishing element and the vibratable member at least partially floats behind the grade establishing element on the struck-off surface of the uncured concrete and is at least partially supported at the struck-off surface of the uncured concrete as the wheeled unit is moved in the screeding direction.
US08038365B2	Apparatus and method for improving the control of a concrete screed head assembly A soft landing control system for a screeding device is operable to automatically lower a vibrating member relative to a grade setting device after the grade setting device is lowered to the desired grade. The control may be operable to delay lowering the vibrating member relative to the grade setting device at least until the control receives an input indicative of at least a portion of the screed head assembly being moved to a position generally over a newly placed concrete area.
US08038363B2	Panel and panel fastening system A panel fastening system, especially floor panels, whose narrow sides are fitted with retaining profiles. The retaining profile of a front narrow side, the retaining profile of the opposite back narrow side, the retaining profile of a left narrow side and the retaining profile of the opposite right narrow side of a panel match each other in such a way that similar panels can be fixed to one another. The mutually matching retaining profiles have complementary hook elements that can be hooked into one another and the hook elements have retaining surfaces which hold the panels against each other when the panels are mounted in such a way that a gap-free surface is obtained.
US08038361B2	Ready lock ring binder mechanism A ring binder mechanism has a housing and hinge plates supported for pivoting movement by the housing. The mechanism has rings, each including a first ring member mounted on a first hinge plate and a second ring member. The first ring member is movable relative to the second ring member between open and closed positions. The mechanism has a travel bar and a locking element that are free of fixed connection to the hinge plates and movable in translation relative to the housing and hinge plates. The travel bar blocks pivoting motion of the hinge plates when the ring members are closed. An elongate link connects a pivotable actuating lever to the travel bar such that pivoting motion of the actuating lever produces translational movement of the travel bar. The elongate link is oriented so it extends longitudinally relative to the housing.
US08038360B2	Writing instruments for small children Crayons are formed of a unitary material with interior distances between surfaces to prevent insertion through the maximum mandibular opening of a child five years of age or younger.
US08038356B2	Hardened fiber optic connector with connector body joined to cylindrical cable by unitary housing A hardened fiber optic connector includes a unitary housing that mounts a connector body. The hardened fiber optic connector terminates a fiber optic cable including a strength layer and can be connected to a hardened fiber optic adapter. The unitary housing can transfer loads between the fiber optic cable and the hardened fiber optic adapter.
US08038353B2	Wheel bearing apparatus for a vehicle A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member double row rolling elements, and a constant velocity universal joint. A wheel hub of the inner member and an outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint are axially separably connected. The outer joint member shoulder portion abuts against a caulked portion of the wheel hub. A cap is interposed between the caulked portion and the shoulder portion. The cap is press-formed from a steel plate and has a surface roughness of 0.63 Ra or less.
US08038345B2	Sensor plug for combined pressure and temperature measurement A sensor plug for pressure and temperature measurement of a fluid medium includes a sensor body having a sensor body axis, as well as a pressure sensor disposed substantially concentrically on the sensor body axis. Also provided in the sensor body is a through orifice for connecting the pressure sensor to the fluid medium, and a temperature sensing element orifice having a temperature sensing element received therein. The temperature sensing element orifice has a temperature sensing element orifice axis that is inclined with respect to the sensor body axis in such a way that at its end pointing toward the fluid medium, it is inclined toward the sensor body axis.
US08038341B2	Unit that comprises a winding ratchet that is attached to a barrel arbor and barrel arbor for this unit A unit is formed by a winding ratchet (1) and a barrel arbor (4) having an end which includes a non-circular driving formation (5) and a groove (6) adjacent thereto that defines a small-section portion whose shape and dimensions are such that they extend into the section of the driving formation, whereby a shoulder (18) of the barrel arbor limits the height of the groove. The ratchet includes a central opening (2) corresponding to the driving formation and at least one off-centered tapping (3) relative to the ratchet. It includes an attachment washer (8) having a central passage (9) corresponding to the driving formation and engaged therewith in an assembled position, and at least one off-centered piercing (10), at least one screw for screwing the attachment washer onto the ratchet in a position angularly offset so that in this assembled position, the central opening is not aligned with the central passage.
US08038340B2	Timepiece A timepiece comprising a main energy storing device, a gear train coupled to the main energy storing device, a tensioning element coupled to the gear train, the tensioning element configured to be driven about a tensioning axis in cyclic steps, a tensioning control system configured to control the tensioning element, a storage hairspring having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the tensioning element, a wheel connected to the second end of the storage hairspring, a clockwork movement rotatably driven by the wheel, an escapement coupled to the clockwork movement and a device configured to be switched in a stepwise manner and driven rotatably in cyclic steps by an element of the gear train.
US08038337B2	Method and device for blending small quantities of liquid in microcavities A method for treating extremely small particles of recycled polyethylene terephthalate comprises providing a quantity of RPET particles having an average mean particle size ranging from about 0.0005 inch to about 0.05 inch in diameter, heating the RPET particles to a temperature sufficient to cause at least a portion of the RPET particles to adhere to one another, and forming the adhered RPET particles into pellets, said pellets having substantially the same average surface-to-volume ratio as the bulk, un-adhered RPET particles.
US08038336B2	Lamp holding tool, lighting device for display device using the same, display device using the same and liquid crystal display device using lighting device for display device A lamp holding apparatus for mounting a lamp to a base member includes a mounting plate having a pair of locking portions protruding to a base side. The locking portion is inserted into a mounting hole provided at the base and capable of being locked to a peripheral edge on its back side. Abutting portions, which protrude to the base side and are capable of abutting the base at the time of mounting, are provided on a bottom surface of the mounting plate that is an opposing surface to the base. The abutting portions are provided at three spots with one of the locking portions interposed therebetween. At the time of mounting, each of the abutting portions abut the base, and the mounting plate is elastically deformed so as to be warped, whereby the locking surface of the locking portion is kept in the state in which it is locked to a peripheral edge of a back side of the mounting hole by its elastic force.
US08038331B2	In-vehicle illumination device In an in-vehicle illumination device including: a room lamp section provided with a first light source section and a light guide plate, a map lamp section provided with a second light source section and a lens, a first switch for use by the room lamp section, and a second switch for use by the map lamp section, a light source configuring the first light source section and a light source configuring the second light source section are mounted on any same heat sink member. In the resulting in-vehicle illumination device, measures are taken against heat generation, and the reduction of size and weight is achieved. The design quality of the illumination device can be also improved.
US08038329B2	Bulb-shaped lamp and lighting device A bulb-type lamp having both heat dissipation and size/weight reduction properties with a lower thermal load on a lighting circuit. An LED module is mounted in a case with a base member to allow dissipation of heat. An LED mount member closes another end of the case and allows conduction of heat to the case. A lighting circuit receives power via the base member. The lighting circuit is disposed inside a circuit holder. An air space exists between the circuit holder and both the case and the mount member. The lighting circuit is isolated from the air space by the circuit holder. A relationship 0.5≦S1/S2, is satisfied where S1 denotes an area of a portion of the mount member in contact with the case and S2 denotes an area of the portion of the mount member in contact with a substrate of the LED module.
US08038328B2	Light-emitting device pressure ring structure A light-emitting device pressure ring structure includes a mounting base for mounting, a circuit board accommodated in the mounting base and having electrode pins connectable to an external power source, a holder member insertable in the mounting base, a light-emitting unit fixedly mounted in the holder member with a bottom heat sink thereof suspending outside the holder member and tubular electrodes thereof connectable to the electrode pins of the circuit board for power input, and a pressure ring cap detachably threaded onto the mounting base to hold down the holder member and to keep the heat sink of the light-emitting unit outside the mounting base for quick dissipation of waste heat from the light-emitting devices of the light-emitting unit.
US08038326B2	Ornamental lamp An ornamental lamp comprises a barrel holder, an LED lamp set and a lamp shade. The barrel holder includes an opening, two electric connecting ports communicating with the opening and two elastic holding struts held in the opening. The elastic holding struts and the inner edge of the opening form a housing space therebetween. The two elastic holding struts are divided by a notch in the middle. The LED lamp set has two conductive pins running through the electric connecting ports to receive electric power. The LED lamp set has a lower edge butting the elastic holding struts. The lamp shade is wedged in the housing space and pushes the elastic holding struts inwards during wedging to bend slightly towards the notch. The bent portion of the elastic holding struts generates an elastic returning force to clamp the lamp shade in a compact manner.
US08038322B2	Tubular LED lighting device A tube elementary LED includes an elementary glass tube through which light can be transmitted and includes two sealed ends respectively provided with a power plug and a power socket and a LED light emitting base plate disposed in the tube that is powered by the power plug and the power socket. A plurality of LED chips for emitting light are mounted on one surface of the LED light emitting base plate and supports fix the LED light emitting base plates in the chamber of the elementary glass tube. The tube elementary LED may include a reflector attached on an internal surface or an external surface of the elementary glass tube to reflect the light emitted from the LED light emitting base plate to outside of the elementary glass tube.
US08038316B2	3-D color synthesis displays and methods Color displays superpose a two color image component with a monochrome image component to yield full color images. Each image component may be generated by controlling an array of light sources. In some embodiments the monochrome image component is provided by a backlight and the two color component is provided by an array of sub-pixels of two types.
US08038312B2	Showcase An object is to provide a showcase capable of effectively illuminating commodities displayed on a shelf in a display chamber, especially commodities in shelf foremost parts. In the showcase in which the shelf for displaying the commodities is disposed in the display chamber constituted in a main body and in which a front-surface opening of the display chamber is openably closed by see-through doors and in which an illumination device is vertically attached to the main body on an inner side from the edge of the opening, the illumination device is constituted of LED elements, and light from the LED elements is emitted toward front parts of the shelf.
US08038311B2	LED utility light A LED utility light includes a light head and a light head carrier for supporting the light head, wherein the light head has a light housing, a power source, and a LED light arrangement. The light arrangement includes at lest a light source provided within the light housing, wherein the light head is rotatably and detachably coupling with the light head carrier, so that light source having different light effects is selectively and rotatably adjusted by rotating the light head.
US08038300B2	Image projector and method and program for controlling the operation of the projector An image projector apparatus includes a cooler having a variable capability to cool a light source, a commanding section which gives a command to terminate a lighting operation of the light source, a selecting section responsive to the command given by the projection light processor for selecting a cooling capability of the cooler, and a control section for causing the cooler to cool the light source with the cooling capability selected by the selecting section.
US08038297B1	Multifunctional glare tester A vision-testing device is disclosed that measures glare, macular photostress, and the blue-field entopic phenomenon. Utilizing a mirror, the effective brightness of a small energy efficient light bulb is increased which allows a compact assembly. One embodiment places lights in the line of vision to closely duplicate the glare experience from on coming automobile headlights. The invention provides for testing glare under diffuse and focal lighting conditions which closely mimic environmental lighting conditions.
US08038294B2	Contact lens and method of manufacturing the same A novel method for manufacturing a contact lens in which wearing comfort and stability in the circumferential direction that are aimed at can be achieved consistently with a high degree of accuracy irrespective of a profile of an optical zone. An optical zone provided in a center of a lens has a concave rear surface optical zone substantially matching a surface profile of a cornea and has a convex front surface optical zone imparting required spherical diopter power and geometrical center thickness, and a face of either the rear surface optical zone or the front surface optical zone is designed to impart thereto cylindrical power and axial angle required for a toric surface. Furthermore, a junction thickness is established in a joint zone that connects the optical zone with a peripheral zone at multiple sites in a circumferential direction about a geometrical lens center axis of the optical zone. Position of the joint zone is determined on the circumference from profiles established on the rear surface optical zone and the front surface optical zone so as to connect points satisfying the junction thickness thusly established.
US08038292B2	Head mounted display device A head mounted display device comprises a frame, an image display unit, an extension member and a retaining mechanism. The frame includes a front part, a connection part and a temple part. The front part is mountable on a user's nose and extends in a right-and-left direction in front of the user's eye. The connection part is fixed to at least one edge portion of right and left side edges of the front part and extends in a rearward direction from the one edge portion. The temple part is mountable on the user's ear and rotatably connected with the connection part around a rotation axis extending along an up-and-down direction. The image display unit includes an optical system and is configured to generate an image to be displayed for the user. The extension member extends in a forward direction from the one edge portion. The retaining mechanism is configured to detachably retain the image display unit in the extension member.
US08038289B2	Cartridge for printing system A cartridge for a printing system is provided which has a body, print media disposed within the body, and a sliding door in the body arranged to be opened during printing so as to expose the print media to enable a print media feed mechanism of the printing system to contact the print media.
US08038287B2	Image recording devices An image recording device includes a conveying roller which extends in an axial direction, and a guide member which extends in the axial direction and is configured to guide a recording medium toward the conveying roller. The guide member includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and a middle portion positioned between the first end portion and the second end portion in the axial direction. The device also includes a supporting member which extends in the axial direction and is separated from the conveying roller by a predetermined distance. Moreover, the first end portion and the second end portion are in a fixed position with respect to the conveying roller, and the middle portion is in a fixed position with respect to the supporting member.
US08038276B2	Ink cartridge and its recycling method An ink cartridge including a main body, a cover member, and an insulating seal member, which are components for constituting the ink cartridge for an inkjet printer, wherein the main body and the cover member are bonded to each other with an electrically-disbonding adhesive having a characteristic of causing a bond dissociation with a passage of an electric current so as to form an ink storing section, the main body has a first electrode for passing the electric current through the electrically-disbonding adhesive, the cover member has a second electrode for passing the electric current through the electrically-disbonding adhesive, the seal member is arranged in the vicinity of a bonding portion where the main body and the cover member are bonded to each other so as to prevent an ink stored in the storing section from being in contact with the first and the second electrodes.
US08038274B2	Ink tank for ink jet recording device There is disclosed an ink tank capable of inhibiting penetration of a gas even in an ink storage section made of a resin, having such a flexibility as to easily apply a negative pressure to ink, having an excellent resource protective property and applicable even to a small and inexpensive ink jet recording device having a large degree of freedom in design. In the ink tank for the ink jet recording device having the ink storage section made of a plastic, the ink storage section has a coating layer including a liquid retaining member capable of retaining ink on an inner surface or an outer surface thereof. The liquid retaining member can include a foam material, a fiber material or a gel-like substance. In the ink storage section, the liquid retaining member included in the coating layer including the liquid retaining member capable of retaining the ink on the outer surface thereof includes a moisture adsorbent which adsorbs a moisture.
US08038272B2	Liquid-droplet jetting apparatus An ink storage chamber has a middle wall and a damper wall, which are in parallel to a flow direction of ink and which face each other vertically with a distance therebetween, and a surrounding wall surrounding a circumference of a space between the middle wall and the damper wall. On the middle wall, there is formed a pair of flow regulating ribs projecting toward the damper wall and extending substantially in parallel to the flow direction in a state of having a distance from the damper wall. A space sandwiched by the pair of flow regulating ribs is a main flow region, and spaces between the flow regulating ribs and the surrounding wall is sub-flow regions. A distance between the middle wall and the damper wall in the sub-flow regions is smaller than that in the main flow region. Accordingly, a wasted ink amount during purging can be reduced.
US08038271B2	Image forming apparatus including recording head An image forming apparatus includes a carriage configured to movably scan, and including a recording head configured to discharge ink droplets and a sub tank configured to supply ink to the recording head; a main tank configured to supply the ink to the sub tank via a tube; a negative pressure detector configured to detect a state of a negative pressure in the sub tank; a count unit configured to count a number of scans conducted by the carriage; and a control unit configured to cause the negative pressure detector to detect the state of the negative pressure in the sub tank to return the negative pressure in the sub tank to a normal state based on a detection result obtained by the negative pressure detector when the number of scans carried out by the carriage as counted by the count unit reaches a predetermined scan count.
US08038265B2	Liquid-droplet jetting apparatus and liquid-droplet jetting method An ink-jet head includes a piezoelectric layer, pressure chambers, nozzles, first electrodes, and second electrodes. When electric potentials of the first and second electrodes respectively are changed at the same timing such that increase and decrease in the electric potentials are opposite between the first and second electrodes, volume of the pressure chamber is changed to apply jetting-pressure to ink in the pressure chamber, thereby jetting an ink droplet from the nozzle. When only the electric potential of the second electrode is changed, the volume of the pressure chamber is changed to apply a vibrating-pressure lower than the jetting-pressure to the ink in the pressure chamber, thereby vibrating meniscus of the ink, agitating the ink in the nozzle. This makes it possible to suppress increase in viscosity of the ink in the nozzle.
US08038262B2	Inkjet printhead unit cell with heater element A unit cell for an inkjet printhead includes a substrate that defines an ink inlet passage, the substrate incorporating drive circuitry. Side walls are arranged on the substrate. A nozzle plate is arranged on the side walls such that the nozzle plate and the side walls define an ink chamber in fluid communication with the inlet passage. The nozzle plate defines an aperture in fluid communication with the ink chamber. A heater element is connected to the drive circuitry. The heater element is configured to generate a bubble of ink to be ejected from the aperture on receipt of an electrical signal from the drive circuitry. The heater element is suspended in the ink chamber such that, when ink is supplied to the chamber, the heater element is immersed in the ink. The heater element is configured so that a collapse point of the bubble is at a position spaced from the heater element.
US08038260B2	Pattern of a non-wetting coating on a fluid ejector and apparatus A fluid ejector is provided, having an internal surface, an external surface, an orifice that allows fluid in contact with the internal surface to be ejected, a first non-wetting region of the external surface, and one or more second regions of the external surface that are more wetting than the first non-wetting region. A process for cleaning the fluid ejectors is provided that includes detachably securing a faceplate to the fluid ejector and moving a wiper laterally across the faceplate.
US08038258B2	Print head service shuttle A printer includes a first print head support carrying a plurality of print heads. The first print head support is movable towards and away from the media support and includes one or more guides movably supporting a first print head service shuttle along the media support.
US08038257B2	Inkjet recording apparatus An inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention includes: a drum which conveys a recording medium, a wiper extended in the axial direction of the drum, and inkjet heads aligned in the circumferential direction of the drum along the outer circumferential surface of the drum. The inkjet heads are moved by a head-moving mechanism to be in a recording position or a wiping position. The wiper-moving mechanism moves the wiper in the circumferential direction along the outer circumferential surface so that the wiper wipes ejection surface of at least one of the inkjet heads while the inkjet heads are in the wiping position.
US08038254B2	Ink set and image forming method The invention provides an ink set having at least an ink composition and a maintenance liquid. The ink composition comprises a pigment (i). The maintenance liquid comprises one or more solvents (ii) having a solubility parameter value of 27.5 or less. The content of the one or more solvents (ii) is 50 weight % or more with respect to a total solvent content of the maintenance liquid. The invention further provides a method of forming an image using the ink set including at least applying, with a liquid applying device, the ink composition to a recording medium, and applying a maintenance liquid to the liquid applying device.
US08038249B2	Ink jet recording apparatus, and method for controlling recording head temperature An ink jet recording apparatus for effecting recording using a recording head for ejecting ink, the ink jet recording apparatus including a heating section for heating the recording head, a detecting unit for detecting a temperature of the recording head, a setting unit for setting a target temperature of the recording head, and a controller for controlling the target temperature of the recording head at or above the target temperature. The controller controls the temperature by heating control for heating the recording head and by diffusing control for diffusing the heat supplied by the heating control.
US08038242B2	Droplet ejecting apparatus and current control method A droplet ejecting component of the present invention includes an ejecting component having a charge and discharge characteristic, an applying component being provided with a transistor, and an increasing component. The ejecting component ejects a droplet. When a control signal is inputted, the applying component applies an application voltage to the ejecting component, and the increasing component increases the impedance of the transistor.
US08038240B2	Adjustable docking pin A docking arrangement for establishing a gap between a first component and a second component comprises an adjustable spacer moveably positioned on the first component. The spacer defines a transverse channel and a cross pin extends through the transverse channel. The cross pin including a plurality of opposing surfaces with each of the opposing surfaces separated by a different distance. The cross pin further includes indicia representative of the different distances between the opposing surfaces. In at least one embodiment, the docking arrangement is configured for use in a printing machine with the spacer determining a gap between a print head mount and an imaging drum mount based on a selected set of the plurality of opposing surfaces.
US08038236B2	Device for patterning workpieces The invention provides a device for patterning workpieces, having: an ink-jet printing means having a plurality of nozzles from which drops of ink can be expelled, a workpiece carrier means for carrying the workpiece to be patterned, a conveyor means for bringing about a relative movement between the workpiece to be patterned and the printing means, and a detection means for detecting the relative position between the ink-jet printing means and at least one surface to be patterned of the respective workpiece to be patterned. The device according to the invention is characterised in that the detection means is disposed and configured so as to be in a predetermined, fixed relationship to the ink-jet printing means and/or to detect at least the distance between the ink-jet printing means and at least one surface to be patterned of the respective workpiece to be patterned, at least during printing.
US08038231B1	Control valve Pivotally mounted doors forming the floor of a railroad car are prevented from opening inadvertently through not allowing fluid pressure to be applied to a door opening piston until the fluid pressure exceeds a predetermined amount. A control valve can control the position of a spool.
US08038229B2	Brake system comprising a clutch shiftable by the brake pedal for disengaging the drive device from the piston-cylinder unit The invention relates to a brake system, comprising at least one piston-cylinder unit for producing a pressure in at least one working chamber, the working chamber being connected to at least one wheel brake via at least one hydraulic line, and the brake system comprising at least one drive device and an actuating device, particularly in the form of a brake pedal, and the drive device during normal operation acting on the at least one first piston of the piston-cylinder unit for building pressure and reducing pressure by way of a first force transmission means, and in the event of failure of the drive device the actuating device acting mechanically on the piston by way of a second force transmission means, wherein the adjustment of the second force transmission means disengages the connection between the first force transmission means and the piston by means of the actuating device.
US08038227B2	Brake control device improving driver's brake feeling An upper limit of a target value of a wheel cylinder pressure generated by a wheel cylinder is set. Specifically, the upper limit of the target value is predetermined and increases with elapsed time from the beginning of the control. Accordingly, the actual application pressure generated can be set to be equal to or less than the upper limit. Thus, it is possible to prevent the application pressure from being dramatically increased when the automatic brake control is switched to a manual brake control from automatic brake control. Accordingly, it is less likely that the driver will be caused to feel a sense of unease by a change from automatic to manual brake control.
US08038226B2	Electropneumatic braking device of a rail vehicle comprising a continuous regulating range The invention relates to an electropneumatic braking system of a rail vehicle, containing a direct-action electropneumatic braking device and an indirect-action compressed-air braking device. The system comprises at least the following components or modules: a) a pressure regulator which produces a pre-control pressure (Cv direct) of the direct brake according to an electric braking pressure request signal of the direct brake, b) a pressure control valve which limits the pre-control pressure (Cv direct) of the direct brake to a pre-determinable maximum pre-control pressure (Cvdirect max) of the direct brake, c) a control valve which generates a pre-control pressure (Cv indirect) of the indirect brake according to a main air guiding pressure (PHL) of the indirect brake, d) a selection device which, from the maximum pre-control pressure of the direct brake (Cv direct max) and the pre-control pressure (Cv indirect) of the indirect brake, transmits a force corresponding to the respectively larger pre-control pressure (Cv direct mas or Cv indirect) to a transmission in which the multiplication can be modified by a regulating device according to the respective load state of the rail vehicle. The transmission actuates a relay valve that controls a braking pressure (C) corresponding to the actuation by the transmission.
US08038225B2	Bicycle hub assembly A bicycle hub assembly includes two end caps which are two collar-shaped member and an axle is connected between the two end caps. A casing is mounted to two respective outer peripheries of the two end caps and accommodates the axle therein. The two end caps and the casing form a smooth and curved outer shape. Two collars are connected to two distal ends of the two end caps and two ends of the casing. Two positioning bolts extend through the collars and are threadedly connected to the two ends of the axle. Multiple copper heads are connected to the two end caps and protrude outward from the casing at an angle so as to be connected to spokes.
US08038223B2	Pick with carbide cap A high-impact resistant pick having a superhard material bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at a non-planar interface. The cemented metal carbide substrate is bonded to a front end of a cemented metal carbide bolster. A bore formed in a base end of the carbide bolster is generally opposed to the front end. A steel body has a shaft extending distally from a shelf, and which shaft is fitted into the bore of the bolster at an interface. A shank adapted for connection to a driving mechanism extends proximally from the steel body opposite the shaft. A washer is disposed intermediate the base end of the carbide bolster and the shelf of the steel body.
US08038221B2	Folding mesh chair with nesting hoops A folding mesh chair includes a seat and a backrest carried between opposite frame sides. The chair has an unfolded seating position in which the seat pivots to extend from the frame sides and bottoms of front and rear legs move apart, and a folded position in which the seat pivots toward the frame sides and the front and rear legs move together. One or both of the seat and the backrest have a continuous sheet of flexible and elastic mesh or patterned open texture plastic held across and substantially covering an opening in an all-plastic hoop fixed between the frame sides. The hoop includes inner and outer plastic mating hoops with the mesh extending over an outer perimeter of the inner hoop and into an interface between the inner and outer hoops.
US08038219B2	Adjustable head restraint for vehicle seat A vehicle seat is disclosed that provides longitudinal adjustment and height adjustment of a head restraint by actuation of a manual release. One embodiment discloses a vehicle seat with a rod extending from a seat back and a frame mounted to the rod. A head restraint is mounted to the frame by a linkage to extend and retract. A locking mechanism cooperates with the head restraint and the frame for permitting incremental locking positions of the head restraint relative to the frame. A manual release releases the locking mechanism to extend and retract the head restraint relative to the rod. Another embodiment includes an eccentric mechanism pivotally connected to the frame. A wire spring is mounted to the frame for engaging a notch in the rod. An actuator rotates an eccentric mechanism for disengaging the wire spring from the notch in the rod for permitting height adjustment.
US08038218B2	Tapered retainer clip for reclining mechanism for vehicle seats A recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat includes a guide plate and a gear plate. The gear plate has a plurality of internal gear teeth and a frustonical inner diameter. A hub is attached to a shaft that connects two recliners on opposite sides of the seat. The guide plate, the gear plate and a cam are retained on the hub by a retainer clip that has a frustoconical bearing surface. Two locking elements cooperate with the guide plate, and have a plurality of external gear teeth that selectively engage the internal gear teeth. When the cam rotates, the cam engages the cam surfaces with one of the engagement surfaces unlocking the external gear teeth from the internal gear teeth. Springs cooperate with the guide plate and the cam for locking the mechanism. The inner diameter of the gear plate is received on the frustoconical bearing surface of the retainer clip.
US08038215B2	Ergonomic support device for the body of the occupant, for chairs or seats, particularly for motor-vehicle seats A chair or a seat, in particular a seat for motor vehicles, includes an ergonomic device for supporting the body of the occupant, comprising a supporting panel having supporting laths, set at a distance from one another, which can be arched towards the body of the occupant, each independently of the others, by a respective actuator, which includes an actuator element constituted by a shape-memory material, which undergoes a reduction in length following upon heating above a predetermined transition temperature, higher than ambient temperature. Associated to the panel are electrical-supply means for supply of the shape-memory actuators and electronic control means for activating the laths independently and/or in succession according to any predetermined logic, in particular according to successive waves of activation, for example from above downwards, or from below upwards, or alternately from above and from below, so as to obtain a massaging effect.
US08038209B2	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.
US08038205B2	Vehicle having a passenger compartment body structure A vehicle having a body structure that defines a front portion of a passenger compartment. The vehicle includes first and second closure frame structures and a roof structure that interlocks with the first and second closure frame structures.
US08038200B2	Convertible vehicle A cabriolet includes a displaceable roof that can be secured in its closed position on a windscreen frame. To secure the roof, the cabriolet is equipped with at least two displaceable engagement bodies and at least one associated drive, which interacts with the engagement bodies to transmit the drive force via intermediary elements having a component that extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The drive includes a drive member, which is generally parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle on the plane of the intermediary elements and which is used to displace a gear that controls the displacement of one or more intermediary elements by means of a coupling member that lies on the plane of the drive member.
US08038197B2	Power seat apparatus for vehicle A power seat apparatus for a vehicle includes a lower rail, an upper rail, a screw member, a feed nut member fixed to the lower rail and meshed with the screw member, a retention member fixed to the upper rail, a fitting member rotatably held by the retention member and fixed to the screw member, a gear box mounted on the retention member and rotatably supporting an output rotation member, a drive unit transmitting a rotation drive force to the screw member, and first and second cut-and-lifted portions formed at first and second longitudinal walls of the upper rail respectively, the cut-and-lifted portions making contact with the fitting member when a load is applied to the screw member in an axial direction thereof to distribute the load to the upper rail, the cut-and lifted portions being formed by bending portions of the first and second longitudinal walls.
US08038192B2	Two-handed ice scoop An ice scoop is disclosed and has a scoop section and a handle section. The scoop section includes a bottom with a forward end, a rear end, and opposed side edges, two opposed side walls extending up from the side edges of the bottom, and a back wall connecting the side walls and connected to the rear end of the bottom. A scoop cavity is defined within the scoop section. The handle section extends rearward from the back wall and has two elongate, opposed, and spaced apart rails. First and second grips extend laterally between the two rails. The first grip is spaced from the back wall. The second grip is spaced from the first grip further from the back wall. The handle section is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the bottom and angles upward away from the back. The handle has an offset step formed in the side rails. The forward end is a reinforced edge. The scoop has a hand shield at the back wall and spaced from the first grip.
US08038189B2	Tool for picking and carrying dog dung In a tool for picking up and carrying dog dung that includes a container longitudinally swingably supported at the tip of a shaft part and a cover placed on the container to swing in a direction opposing the container. When an opening part of the container is covered with the cover, the container is upward positioned roughly perpendicularly to the shaft part When the dung is discharged, the container and the cover are opened to incline on one side of the shaft part, so that a tool washable by brushing because of the small number of support and operation members existing around the container. A shaft includes one shaft supporting unit at one end of the shaft part, the shaft supporting unit having a swing axis parallel to a cover swing axis. The container is longitudinally swingably supported so that its container supported part formed on one side of the rear outer wall near the opening part and having the same axis as the cover swing axis is supported on the shaft supporting unit. The operating member includes an operation unit retained on the shaft part. The container swings about the swing axis of the shaft supporting unit while the cover swings about the cover swing axis in a direction opposing the container.
US08038187B2	Food utensil A food utensil has an elongate member that has a first end, a second end and a longitudinal surface extending from the first end to the second end. The first end includes a plurality of protrusions disposed circumferentially around the longitudinal surface at the first end. A pair of tongs includes at least one such elongate member, hingedly interconnected to another such elongated member. In one embodiment, the utensil is a chopstick, and preferably is provided as a pair of two such chopsticks. A method of making a food utensil includes forming an elongate member having a first end and a second end, and forming a plurality of protrusions circumferentially around a first end of the elongate member.
US08038185B2	Locking device A locking device is provided for preventing an outside door handle assembly, having a handle, a stem extending out from the handle, and a counterweight operably connected between the handle and a release rod, from activating the release rod in response to a motor vehicle impact. The locking device includes a catch fixedly secured to the counterweight and engageable with the stem in response to the motor vehicle impact in order to prevent the handle from activating the release rod.
US08038182B2	Breakage resistant fitting An aspect of the invention, is directed to a luer fitting. The luer fitting may include a male luer, a luer collar disposed about the male luer, and a fulcrum disposed at a base portion of a receptacle between the male luer and the luer collar. Another aspect of the invention, is directed to a breakage resistant fitting. The breakage resistant fitting may include a male portion having a central fluid passage, a supplemental securement portion generally concentric with the male portion, and an annular receptacle between the male portion and the supplemental securement portion. The annular receptacle may include a base region having a mating clearance interspace sized substantially greater than a mating female fitting in a radial direction, or an axial direction, or a combination thereof.
US08038181B2	Connecting arrangement for a fluid-conducting tube A connecting arrangement for fluid-conducting tubes (1, 2) has a further fluid transporting component (16). The fluid-conducting tube (1, 2) has at least one collar (3, 4) facing radially outwardly which can be clamped against the further fluid transporting component (16) with the aid of a holder (5). The holder (5) has at least one U-shaped lateral receptacle (6, 7) formed by two arms (12). The predetermined length of the arms (12) is dimensioned such as to enclose more than half of the fluid-conducting tube (1, 2) during plastic deformation. The U-shaped receptacle (6, 7) has at least one relief region (13) in which holes, grooves, cavities or other material reductions are arranged. The cross section of the arms (12) changes little during deformation due to the relief regions because upset material can flow into the same.
US08038179B2	Threaded joint for steel pipes A threaded joint for steel pipes comprising a pin 1 having a tapered male thread 11, a tapered sealing surface 13, and an end shoulder surface 14 and a box 2 having correspondingly a tapered female thread 21, a tapered sealing surface 23, and a shoulder surface 24 which is capable of easy tightening and has improved air tightness by the sealing surfaces is arranged such that the pin and the box each have a noncontacting region B where the peripheral surfaces of the pin and the box do not contact each other between the sealing surfaces 13, 23 and the shoulder surfaces 14 and 24. At least a portion of the noncontacting region of the pin adjoining the to end of the pin is a tapered surface portion 18 having substantially the same angle of slope as the tapered sealing surface 13, and the noncontacting region of the box is a substantially cylindrical surface.
US08038175B2	HVAC duct assembly and support A support assembly for supporting a flexible duct includes a radius strap for maintaining the desired angle of bend for the flexible duct. The radius strap retains its shape through ribs along the back side of the strap. The assembly is secured at both ends to the flexible duct via arms branching off of cross pieces which branch off from the radius strap. The arms contain slots which allow varying connection devices to pass through and across indentations at the ends of the ribs to secure the flexible duct to the assembly itself and to varying pieces of HVAC equipment.
US08038168B2	Automotive P.S.I.R. milling burr control tape An injection molded plastic instrument panel P.S.I.R. hidden door milling method including applying a stiff tape, having a hardness greater than a hardness of the plastic instrument panel, to a plastic instrument panel surface to be milled to prevent flexing of the surface during milling. The method may further include milling the surface along a generally width-wise central location of the tape, and removing the tape upon completion of the milling, with the method thereby minimizing burrs along edges of the milled surface. The invention also provides an injection molded plastic instrument panel P.S.I.R. hidden door, and a plastic automotive panel made by method described herein.
US08038167B2	Two stage high retention fastener A fastener system for use with an air bag includes a fastener having a rounded base having a flat portion, and first and second arms oriented transverse to the flat portion. A first set of engagement devices is connected proximate the rounded base. A second set of engagement devices is connected spatially separated from both the first set and the rounded base. A vehicle component has a dog-house. The rounded base is received and engaged in a dog-house cavity connecting the fastener and vehicle component. The vehicle component displaces upon air bag deployment from a first engagement position having the first engagement device set engaged with a vehicle body panel, to a second engagement position having the second engagement device set engaged with the vehicle body panel. A second fastener sliding part allows telescopic extension of the vehicle component.
US08038165B2	Device for allowing a wheeled vehicle for individuals to be dragged in a folded configuration A foldable wheeled vehicle for individuals includes a main body, front and rear wheels joined on the body, and an anti-tip wheel joined on a rear end of the main vehicle body; the rear wheels will be in an immobilized state when the vehicle isn't in-use; the anti-tilting wheel will move to be below the rear wheels automatically when the vehicle is folded; thus, the vehicle in the folded position can be dragged with the front wheels and the anti-tip wheel contacting the ground; secondly, the anti-tip wheel will be in a higher position than the rear wheels when the vehicle is in an expanded in-use position; thus, when the vehicle is moving along a slope and tilting rearwards, the anti-tip wheel will contact the ground to prevent the vehicle from tilting rearwards excessively to overturn.
US08038163B2	Leading and trailing arm suspensions having a fully integrated arm A leading or trailing arm vehicle suspension system comprised of a fabricated vehicle axle and a fully integrated beam casting providing bending stiffness to control axle windup and longitudinal stiffness to control axle position is disclosed. The beam casting is attached to the vehicle axle with a thru-bolt connection. The beam casting includes rack and pinion mounting attachment holes and also includes other built-in features providing efficient transfer of loads into the vehicle axle.
US08038159B2	Caster locking system for medical transport cart A transport cart for attaching to a patient care apparatus having a locking system that converts the forward caster of the transport cart from an omni-directional pivotable caster to a fixed directional device by restraining its pivoting about a vertical axis. The forward caster is located at about the center of the footprint of the combined transport cart/patient care apparatus and the fixed directional movement of the forward caster provides stability in moving the combined apparatus. The locking mechanism may be internal to the caster or may have a pair of pivotable lock arms that contact the patient care apparatus as the two are brought together and the pivotable lock arms pivot to a locked position where they sandwich the caster therebetween to restrain its ability to pivot. The locking mechanism automatically or manually releases the forward caster to again freely pivot when the transport cart/patient care apparatus are separated.
US08038157B2	Skate strip-blade holder An ice skate strip-blade holder that provides a means to remove, replace, tension, and maintain tension in a strip-blade fastened and tensioned on the holder. In a preferred embodiment, the strip-blade holder assembly includes a front segment fixed to the skate plastic superstructure; a latched, pivoting rear segment arranged to apply and maintain tension in the strip-blade. In a preferred embodiment, the pivot and latch are positioned such that the pivot carries the majority of the tensile load maintained in the strip-blade and the latch carries a minor component of this tensile load. This arrangement provides for easy latch release. The latch provides release of the rear segment for subsequent pivoting and unhooking of the strip-blade for replacement.
US08038154B2	Method to play a poker game The present invention provides a poker game playing method wherein multiple five-card hands from once previously shuffled 52-card poker deck can be played without increasing probabilities against a casino, while maintaining maximum entertainment value, and with immediate certainty of winning or losing. The method of the present invention maximizes entertainment value derived from the poker deck by rewarding a gambler with free five-card hands when there had been five-card hand winning combinations, wherein the rewarding free five-card hands are from the remaining un-played cards of said same poker deck, thus, without increasing chances against a casino or gaming house, and wherein a gambler may have a false impression of increased probabilities in his favor because of the rewarding free five-card hands, therefore increasing his gambling desire to start anew waging against newly shuffled 52-card poker decks.
US08038147B2	Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus including the same A sheet processing apparatus includes an intermediate stacking portion which temporarily stacks, thereon, a sheet conveyed thereto; a discharge portion which discharges sheet stacked on the intermediate stacking portion; an aligning member which is provided downstream of the discharge portion in a sheet conveying direction and has a sheet holding surface capable of holding the lower surfaces of the sheet and a sheet aligning surface capable of abutting against end portions of the sheet in the widthwise direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, the aligning member being movable in the widthwise direction; a first stacking portion which is provided below the aligning member and stacks, thereon, a sheet discharged from the discharge portion; and a second stacking portion which is provided above the aligning member and stacks, thereon, a sheet conveyed thereto; wherein a standby position of the aligning member is at a position more inward than the outermost position in the widthwise direction, within the range through which the aligning member is movable.
US08038141B2	Document feeder and image scanning device provided with the same A document feeder includes a sheet tray loaded with sheets stacked thereon in a predetermined direction, a pickup unit pulling in sheets on the sheet tray and feed the sheets, a separation unit that separates a sheet from the sheets fed through the pickup unit and feeds the separated sheet, so as to convey the sheets sequentially on a sheet-by-sheet basis, and a guide unit that forms a carrying path extending from the sheet tray to the separation unit. The guide unit has an entrance portion provided at a side of the sheet tray relative to the separation unit, as an entrance of the sheets on the sheet tray into the carrying path. The carrying path has a longer length in the predetermined direction at a downstream side in a sheet carrying direction relative to the entrance portion than a length in the predetermined direction of the entrance portion.
US08038137B2	Device with a displaceable stacking device or charging device to produce print matter A device to supply flat products to produce print matter that includes a machine frame, a guide arrangement coupled to the machine frame, and a conveyor with a conveying direction arranged on the machine frame. The device additionally includes at least one sheet feeder arranged along the conveyor to supply a respective flat product to the conveyor in a clocked operation. The sheet feeder includes a stacking device to accommodate a plurality of flat products and a charging device coupled to the stacking device to remove a respective flat product from the stacking device. At least one of the stacking device or the charging device is operatively arranged with the guide arrangement to be displaceable to a non-operating position on a side of the conveyor.
US08038136B2	Hand having rocking mechanism and substrate delivering device having the same A hand 1 is constituted by a hand base 4 serving as a base portion, a rocking hand 3 disposed to be superposed on the hand base 4 and serving to support a substrate 2, and a rocking mechanism 5 provided between the hand base 4 and the rocking hand 3 and serving to support the rocking hand 3 to be tiltable and movable in parallel with respect to the hand base 4.
US08038135B2	Clamp assembly for sliding clamp A sliding clamp and clamp assembly are provided. The clamp assembly includes a cam member that, when actuated, biases a stationary clamp jaw assembly toward another jaw assembly. The cam member utilizes a ball-and-socket coupling to couple the cam member to the sliding clamp bar. The ball-and-socket coupling allows the cam member, and an extended actuator, to be pivoted and rotated into an infinite number of positions.
US08038133B2	Coaxial tube damper A vibrating device has at least one dampening portion. The dampening portion comprises a first tube, a second tube and a layer of resilient material configured so that the first tube is disposed about the second tube, and the layer of resilient material is positioned between the first and second tubes.
US08038131B1	Air-cushion type shock-absorbing device for a wheeled vehicle A shock-absorbing device includes a shock-absorbing cylinder, an air cell mounted on the shock-absorbing cylinder, an upper seal cover mounted on an upper end of the air cell and having a side provided with a mounting portion mounted on the shock-absorbing cylinder, and a lower seal cover mounted on a lower end of the air cell and having a side provided with a mounting section mounted on the shock-absorbing cylinder. Thus, the mounting portion of the upper seal cover and the mounting section of the lower seal cover are directly mounted on the shock-absorbing cylinder, so that the upper seal cover and the lower seal cover are directly mounted on the shock-absorbing cylinder easily and quickly to assemble the shock-absorbing device without needing aid of any screw or other hand tool.
US08038127B2	Method for manufacturing a hydrogen-added water and a device for the same The object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing hydrogen-added water containing a large amount of microscopic bubbles and manufacturing equipment for the same so as to expand the industrial applicability of hydrogen-added water by injecting a large amount of microscopic bubbles. More specifically, a plurality of tubular structures, in which the diffusion chamber (5), having double tubes, is provided, and a porous element (6) having predetermined pore diameters, in the diffusion chamber (5) is provided and are substantially linearly arranged in a longitudinal direction. The raw water and hydrogen are supplied with one of the tubular structures, so as to form the mixture of raw water and hydrogen by mixing supplied raw water and hydrogen in the diffusion chamber (5). The mixture is passed through the porous element (6) and diffused therein. The mixture fluid of raw water and hydrogen is then supplied to an adjacent tubular structure under high pressure.
US08038125B2	Apparatus and methods for lifting and lowering vertically mounted devices A lifting and lowering apparatus may include: at least one cable, at least one pulley connected to the at least one cable, at least one drive member connected to the at least one cable for driving the at least one cable in at least one direction, a moveable payload attachment member for attaching to a payload to be at least one of lifted and lowered, an attachment member guide attached to the moveable payload attachment member, and an alignment guide for positioning at a position. The moveable payload attachment member may be at least one of lifted and lowered by the at least one cable. Both the attachment member guide and the alignment guide may be shaped to force the attachment member guide into a pre-determined mating position and orientation against the alignment guide at the position.
US08038120B2	Magnetically coupled safety valve with satellite outer magnets A magnetically coupled safety valve with satellite outer magnets. A safety valve includes a housing having multiple chambers extending longitudinally in a pressure bearing wall of the housing, and multiple magnetic devices, each of the magnetic devices being reciprocably disposed in a corresponding one of the chambers. Another safety valve includes multiple first magnetic devices, a second magnetic device magnetically coupled to the first magnetic devices, with the first magnetic devices being circumferentially spaced apart and encircling the second magnetic device. Yet another safety valve includes a housing having a pressure bearing wall, and multiple magnetic devices, each of the magnetic devices being reciprocably disposed in the housing wall, and each of the magnetic devices being completely surrounded by the housing wall.
US08038111B2	Temporary fixing structure for information device A temporary fixing structure includes one hooking part 14a provided on a ceiling of a compartment or a room; the other hooking part 7a that is provided on an information device 1, and is rotatably hooked on the one hooking part 14a; and a stopper holding back rotation of the information device due to self-weight moment exerted on the information device 1 in hooked condition of these hooking parts 14a and 7a in a temporally fixed posture of the information device.
US08038109B2	Amplifier mounted guitar stand One embodiment of a support for a musical instrument, specifically a guitar. The Amplifier Mounted Guitar Stand is a device designed to hold a guitar while it is not being played and to attach to a wooden-side of an amplifier so that it is kept secure when not in use. The guitar and amplification device can be simultaneously moved around the stage as one unit. The device is made of molded plastic with foam covering on the arm and neck of the device to cushion the guitar. When not in use, pivoting supports, which enable the guitar to be stood upright against the attached plastic frame, are structured to be folded flat against the frame.
US08038108B2	Supporting apparatus for medical instrument An apparatus for supporting a medical instrument includes an arm, which has a support portion to support a medical instrument at one end, and an intermediate portion of which is supported by a base portion via a support column. The arm moves the support portion horizontally and vertically. The apparatus also includes a rotary connecting member, which is provided at a second end of the arm and moves to a position corresponding to a position to which the support portion has been moved. The apparatus further includes a counterweight, which is connected to the support column to be immovable in the horizontal directions and movable in the vertical directions, and generates vertically downward force. The rotary connecting member is connected to the counterweight so as to be movable in the horizontal directions relative to the counterweight and movable in the vertical directions together with the counterweight.
US08038100B2	Paneled partition with track for linear and rotational movement A paneled partition assembly is designed to close an opening and collapses to uncover the opening by a movement of at least one panel that initiates the rotation and translation of at least one other panel. When the paneled partition assembly is in a closed or extended position, the plurality of panels covers the opening regardless of the opening's shape, size, or irregularity. When the paneled partition assembly is in an open or retracted position, the plurality of panels collapse to a smaller configuration. In moving between the extended and retracted positions, the panels rotate and translate fluidly with minimum user interaction.
US08038098B2	Overhead luggage bin for aircraft interior An overhead luggage bin for an aircraft interior includes a stowage compartment, an upper door movably attached to the stowage compartment and a lower door movably attached to the aircraft interior, the upper door and the lower door being moveable between a closed position and an opened position. A floor of the stowage compartment includes a first portion and a second portion movably attached to the first portion that defines a ramp surface with the lower door in the opened position for improved accessibility. An overhead luggage bin is provided with handles at opposed ends of the stowage compartment and includes one or more non-linear ridgelines and/or increased reflectance on an exterior surface for a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. An overhead luggage bin includes an RFID reader for providing increased RFID functionality. An overhead luggage bin includes a stowage compartment having an integrated handrail.
US08038097B1	Vehicle recovery package The present disclosure includes various apparatus, system, and method embodiments for vehicle recovery. One embodiment includes an inflatable member for impact of a vehicle thereon, an inflation source for inflating the inflatable member, and where the inflatable member and inflation source are housed in a portable package.
US08038094B2	Hydraulic system for aircraft A hydraulic system for aircraft operating devices provides a secondary pressure source for direction and deceleration control in case of loss of pressure from a primary pressure source. The system includes multiple pressure accumulators that include a primary accumulator, which supplies pressurized fluid to a first actuator, and first and second secondary accumulators, which supply pressurized fluid to second and third actuators, respectively. If the primary accumulator is disabled, the first secondary accumulator will supply pressurized fluid to the first actuator. If the first secondary accumulator is disabled, the second secondary accumulator will supply pressurized fluid to the second actuator. By providing multiple, substantially independent accumulators, direction and deceleration control is maintained even in the event of loss of the primary accumulator.
US08038092B2	Engine assembly for aircraft An aircraft engine assembly including a turbojet engine, an engine mount, and a plurality of engine attachments. The engine attachments include first and second forward attachments fixed to a fan case and located symmetrically in relation to a plane defined by a longitudinal axis of the turbojet engine and a vertical direction thereof, both forward attachments configured to transfer loads exerted in a longitudinal direction of the turbojet engine and in the vertical direction thereof. Moreover, each of the two forward attachments includes a shear pin mounted on the case and going through two walls of a clevis fixed on the engine mount.
US08038090B2	System and method for the retrieval of a smaller unmanned aerial vehicle by a larger unmanned aerial vehicle A system and method are provided for using a first aircraft to retrieve a second aircraft. The first aircraft is typically larger than the second aircraft. A minimum airspeed of the first aircraft is typically greater than a maximum airspeed of the second aircraft. The first aircraft flies in a substantially circular pattern and extends a tow line, such that the tow line forms a substantially helical shape behind and below the first aircraft. Due to the helical shape, there is at least one point along the extended tow line at which the speed of the tow line is substantially equal to the speed of the second aircraft. The second aircraft can readily latch onto the tow line at that point, thereby minimizing potential damage otherwise caused by differential airspeeds.
US08038088B2	Comminuting device with counter-rotating rotors A device for comminuting feedstock is provided that includes a cutting tool with a first rotor and at least one second rotor, each of which rotate around their longitudinal axis with an opposite rotation direction. Each rotor is provided with a number of cutting discs, which are arranged at an axial distance to one another. In this case, the cutting discs of the first rotor are located on gaps and with radial overlapping relative to the cutting discs of the second rotor. The cutting discs along their circumference have support surfaces for accepting cutting tools, whose cutting edges move past one another over the course of the rotation of rotors with the formation of a cutting clearance. For the positionally precise fixation of the cutting tool on the cutting discs, a positive fit is formed between the cutting tools and cutting discs, a positive fit groove running in the plane of the cutting disc is arranged in the common contact area, the groove in which at least one positive fit strip engages.
US08038087B2	Spice grinders A spice grinder includes a first component (12) that can be secured to the neck of a spice container, and a second component (14) that is mounted on the first component (12) for rotation with respect thereto. The first and second components (12,14) including grinding teeth (24,58) between which spice corns are ground when the second component (14) is rotated on the first component (12). Passageways are provided between the first and second components through which spice ground by the teeth emerges from the grinding gap between the teeth, and a movable shutter (16) is provided for varying the degree to which the corns are ground by varying the sizes of the passageways.
US08038082B2	Irrigation emitter stake A stake for holding an irrigation pipe near a plant. The pipe comprising a first end portion and a second portion bendable relative to the first end portion. The stake comprising a distal retaining portion for holding the first portion of the pipe and first and second proximal retaining portions for optionally accommodating the second portion of the pipe. The stake is designed to allow the second portion of the pipe to be optionally moved from the first proximal retaining portion to the second proximal retaining portion without removing the first portion of the pipe from the distal retaining portion.
US08038080B2	Fuel injector for an internal combustion engine A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine, particularly of inwards or outwards opening needle injector type, includes an injector body, e.g., forming a nozzle ending in an injection office, a mechanism for closing off the injection orifice of the injector body, the closing-off mechanism including a vibrating pintle ending in a head for closing off the injection orifice, a return mechanism returning the closing-off to the position in which they close off the injection orifice, and a mechanism for setting the pintle and/or the nozzle into cyclic longitudinal vibration so as to open and close the injection orifice alternately. The fuel injector includes a selectively activatable mechanism immobilizing the pintle with respect to the body.
US08038075B1	Air damper balancing system and method The present invention provides a system and method for manually balancing the volume of air supplied through at least one duct to a conditioned space the system including a damper rotatably mounted within the air duct by a damper shaft having a first and second ends, an electronic pulse actuator responsive to an electronic pulse being associated with the first end, a housing associated with the electronic pulse actuator is generally adapted for operably connecting the electronic pulse actuator to the air duct and a remote positioning unit in electric communication with the electronic pulse actuator where the damper is rotated between an open and a closed position for manually balancing the conditioned space to receive the desired volume of air.
US08038068B2	Multifunction removable cover for portable payment device Methods and devices for conducting financial transactions are provided. Aspects and embodiments include multifunction removable covers for portable payment devices; multifunction removable covers configured as password token type portable payment devices; and multifunction removable covers configured as radio frequency shields to prevent unintended data transmission.
US08038063B2	Portable security printed matter authentication device Provided is a portable security printed matter authentication device for authenticating security codes printed on security printed matter such as currency, vouchers, passports, and identification cards. The portable security printed matter authentication device includes: a housing including an observation hole at a top portion of the housing; a magnifying lens disposed to be close to the observation hole inside the housing; an optical filter disposed below the magnifying lens; and a plurality of LED (light-emitting diode) lamps which are disposed below the optical filter and illuminate light toward the security printed matter, wherein the LED lamps are a combination of two or more types of ultraviolet (UV) LED lamps, color LED lamps, and infrared (IR) lamps.
US08038062B2	Methods and apparatus for path planning for guided munitions Methods and apparatus for providing path planning for a guided munition. In one embodiment, a boundary value problem solver is used to guide the munition from one configuration to another configuration at a different altitude using a waypoint-based search tree where a number of leaves grows linearly with the depth of the tree.
US08038060B2	ID image providing device Techniques for providing an ID image on a print medium are disclosed. Commodity information on a commodity settled in a store is received from a store terminal installed at the store. ID images, defining ID information in a frequency domain and accompanied by attribute information that is used by the store terminal to decide whether or not each of the stored ID images is to be printed, are stored. A correspondence between the commodity information and the stored ID images is also stored. ID images corresponding to the received commodity information from the stored ID images using the stored correspondence are then retrieved. An attribute list, which registers the attribute information of the stored ID images that is used by the store terminal to decide whether or not each of the stored ID images is to be printed, is stored. Thereafter, only the retrieved ID images which have been decided to be printed based on the stored attribute list are transmitted. The transmitted ID images are then printed on a print medium.
US08038059B2	Card dispensing apparatuses and associated methods of operation Apparatuses and methods for dispensing magnetic stripe cards, smart cards, other cards, and/or other items from kiosks and other structures are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a card dispensing apparatus includes at least a first card hopper and a card transport assembly. The first card hopper is configured to hold a stack of cards that includes at least a first card stacked on a second card. The card transport assembly includes a card carrier moveable between a first position proximate to the first card hopper and a second position spaced apart from the first card hopper. The card carrier is configured to lift the first card off the second card when the card carrier is in the first position. The card carrier is further configured to release the first card toward an outlet when the card carrier is in the second position. In one embodiment, the card carrier can move the first card past a card reader/writer for reading information from, and/or writing information to, the card as it carries the card from the first position to the second position.
US08038056B2	Automated banking machine operated responsive to data bearing records and with improved resistance to fraud An automated banking machine has sensing devices adjacent a card reader slot. The sensing devices enable detection of a fraudulent card reading device.
US08038053B2	Voting apparatus with secure ballot box assembly The invention relates to a ballot box assembly for securely storing a paper ballot generated by an interactive user terminal includes a housing, a ballot storage chamber, an aperture and a drive assembly. The housing is provided for holding the ballot generated by the interactive user terminal. The housing includes a coupling portion for removeably securing the housing to the interactive user terminal. The ballot storage chamber is disposed within the housing. The aperture is provided for receiving the ballot from the interactive user terminal when the housing is secured to the interactive user terminal. The aperture passes through the housing. The drive assembly is provided for conveying the ballot from the aperture to the inner ballot storage chamber. The drive assembly selectively blocks passage of the ballot between the aperture and the ballot storage chamber.
US08038049B2	Hermetic seal A seal design provides positive compression to produce a hermetic seal around a feedthrough pin in a hermetically sealed device, including an implantable medical device. One embodiment of the seal design uses a plurality of “micro-flanges” placed along the length of a feedthrough pin, which micro-flanges grabs and compresses the insulator material to form a hermetic seal. Because the seal design produces positive compression of the insulator, the seal is relatively insensitive to changes in temperature and to differences in thermal expansion coefficients (“TCEs”) between the metal feedthrough and the insulator. It is therefore possible to use a wider variety of materials for the insulator and the feedthrough with the described sealing design, while achieving a superior hermetic seal.
US08038048B2	Cold weld A cold weld is formed in a multilayer material. A first pin is coupled to a first block. A second pin is coupled to a second block. The multilayer material is disposed between the first pin and the second pin. The first pin opposes the second pin. The multilayer material is held in the XY plane and floats in the Z axis.
US08038047B2	Method for welding metal material Metallic materials having a melting point of at least 2000° C. are caused to abut against each other in a welding part. The rear face side of the welding part is covered by a backing member having a thermal conductivity of 30 W/mK or lower, and then a columnar probe of a rotary tool comprising an Ir alloy is inserted into the front face side of the welding part to weld the metallic materials together. On the front face side of the welding part, inactive gas is supplied into a shield cover. The rotary tool is moved along a longitudinal direction of the welding part while rotating the rotary tool, whereby the metallic materials are welded together. By using the rotary tool comprising an Ir alloy, the refractory metals can be welded to each other by means of friction stir welding.
US08038046B2	Electrical surgical instrument with optimized power supply and drive A surgical instrument includes an end effector having an actuation assembly to effect a surgical procedure when actuated. An electric motor has a rated operating voltage and is operationally connected to the end effector to operate the actuation assembly. A power supply is electrically connected to the motor and selectively powers the motor to actuate the actuation assembly at least 1 and less than 16 times during a clinical life of at least one of the end effector, the motor, or the power supply. The power supply has a battery cell with a critical current rate. When activated to power the motor and actuate the actuation assembly, the power supply operates the battery cell at a super-critical current rate during a non-zero super-critical pulse discharge period lasting less than approximately 16 seconds. The power supply operates the motor above the rated operating voltage during the super-critical pulse discharge period.
US08038044B2	Surgical instrument with flexible drive mechanism A drive mechanism for use with a surgical instrument includes a rotatable drive member, a crank operatively coupled to the drive member; a clutch operatively coupled to the crank, wherein rotational motion of the drive member causes oscillating movement of the clutch; and a gear rotatably coupled to the clutch, wherein the oscillating movement of the clutch causes rotation of the gear. The drive mechanism may further include a gear configured to engage a linear member. The crank may include a pin extending distally therefrom. The clutch may include a slot dimensioned and configured to receive a pin of the crank.
US08038036B2	Discharge device The invention relates to a discharge device for discharging liquid medium, with a pump device with a variable volume pump chamber, a discharge opening for the liquid medium, a feed path between the pump device and the discharge opening, and an outlet valve which is designed to open the discharge opening as a function of the pressure in the feed path, and to a discharge head provided for this purpose. The discharge device or the discharge head has a gas-permeable and liquid-tight air outlet which connects the pump chamber or the feed path to an external environment.
US08038034B2	Fluid dispenser for personal use Personal dispensers include a refill unit and a refill casing. The refill unit is a collapsible container that is associated with pump mechanisms for dispensing fluid from within the collapsible container. The refill casing retains and protects the refill unit, and includes a pump lock that is manipulated to selectively cover a pump opening in the refill casing. When the pump lock covers the pump opening, the pump mechanisms cannot be manipulated, and when the pump lock does not cover the pump opening, the pump mechanisms can be manipulated to dispense product.
US08038031B2	Portable manway cover hinge device A portable manway hinge device has a pair of hinge plates where each hinge plate has a support member with a hinge aperture positioned for alignment with a bolt opening of a manway cover and a manway flange, a linkage member adjacent a first end of each hinge plate and extending out of the plane of the hinge plate, and a pivotal connection coupling overlapping pairs of the linkage member of the pair of hinge plates.
US08038027B2	Fuel cap and vaporized fuel adsorption canister used in the fuel cap The fuel cap includes an outer cap as an outer envelope, an inner cap removably fitted in the outer cap through an opening therein, a canister located in a space between the outer cap and the inner cap for adsorbing a vaporized fuel. The fuel cap closes a fuel filler port for feeding a fuel to a fuel tank. The canister adsorbs a vaporized fuel vaporized from the fuel in the fuel tank. At least one of the outer cap and the inner cap defines a communication hole communicating with the space and an exterior. The canister includes a housing; and an adsorbent accommodated therein. The housing defines, on an end surface directed to the inner cap, an inlet for vaporized fuel and on another end surface directed to the outer cap, an outlet for gas.
US08038022B2	Highway vehicle towing system A highway vehicle towing system includes a light railroad track embedded in a highway and capable of transmitting electricity from a power supply plant, and a towing tractor movable along the light railroad track to tow a car. The owing tractor has multiple pairs of metal wheels movably supported on the light railroad track, a motor, electrical wires connecting the metal wheels to the motor for transmitting electricity from the light railroad track to the motor, a transmission shaft coupled to and rotatable by the motor, and a differential mechanism coupled between the transmission shaft and the metal wheels for enabling the metal wheels to be rotated along the light railroad track by the motor.
US08038017B2	Spring driven method and apparatus for in-carton display and fronting of merchandise items A spring alignment mechanism utilizes a guide inserted into a display carton below merchandise items. A spring-driven rear pull member travels on the guide so that as items are removed from the carton, remaining items are pulled forward. In one example, the guide is inserted between the bottom of merchandise items and the carton bottom. In another example, merchandise items are supported on cardboard support rails built into the bottom of the carton, or provided on a carton insert; and the guide is inserted between the cardboard support rails.
US08038011B2	Waterproof cover and waterproof structure for a device having a recording portion A waterproof cover has a first cover portion made of a waterproof material for removable connection to and covering a part of a device that has a recording portion for performing recording on a recording medium that is dischargeable from the device. A second cover portion is made of a flexible waterproof material for covering the device and for removable connection to the first cover portion to form an opening portion through which the recording medium passes when discharged from the device. Connecting members removably connect the second cover portion to the first cover portion. Positioning members position the second cover portion relative to the first cover portion prior to connection of the second cover portion to the first cover portion by the connecting member.
US08038008B2	Medicament dispenser and associated methods A medicament dispenser comprises a housing having opposing first and second walls. A connecting assembly is associated with at least one of the first and second walls to facilitate connection of the first and second walls to one another. A blister pack containing the medicament is pivotally connected to the connecting assembly so as to be rotatable about the connecting assembly and about an axis of rotation substantially orthogonal to the first and second walls to facilitate movement of the blister pack from: i) a closed position in which the blister pack is substantially enclosed within the housing; and ii) an open position in which the blister pack is at least partially rotated from the housing.
US08038007B2	Package of stacked paper products bearing coordinated images A package of two or more stacks of paper sheet products, such as paper napkins or paper towels is disclosed. Each of the paper sheet products is printed with at least a first motif image and a second motif image. An uppermost paper sheet product of one of the stacks displays the first motif image and an uppermost paper sheet product of another of the stacks displays the second motif image. The napkins may be folded in each stack such that the exposed image of each napkin in a given stack alternates between the first motif image and the second motif image. The first and second images may be motif images that are thematically related to one another, in that both the motif images are primarily associated with the same event, holiday, season or special occasion.
US08038004B2	Compact tool box with ratchet driving function A tool box includes a body having a front end and a force-receiving portion spaced from the front end. The body further includes first and second sides and two lateral walls. The front end includes a driving groove for receiving a shank in an operative position. A receiving space is defined between the lateral walls and has an opening. The force-receiving portion includes an insertion groove for receiving the shank in a storage position. The insertion groove is in communication with the driving groove of the body. The body further includes a first opening extending from one of the lateral walls through the insertion groove and a second opening extending from the other lateral wall through the insertion groove, allowing access to the shank in the storage position for manual removal of the shank from the insertion groove. A bit-receiving rack is removably received in the receiving space.
US08038001B2	Curved cigarette pack flap formation on curved surfaces The curved pack end flap (20) of the present invention can generally be used in any pack that has a surface that is curved inwards. The curved pack end flap (20) incorporates multiple panels (27) interconnected at points (30) other than the folding edge (51) to provide for the deformation of the end flap when the surface, from which the curved pack end flap (20) is attached, is curved inwards during the formation of the pack. The folded curved pack end flap is subsequently affixed to a second surface in the formation of the pack. The curved pack end flap (20) with the interconnected panels (27) functions to maintain positional accuracy, decrease tearing of the end flap panels (27) during the folding process, and allow for glue application to be more precise during assembly as compared to the end flap of the prior art.
US08037995B2	Conveyor comprising a curve A conveyor includes at least one workpiece carrier, a drive provided for the workpiece carrier and defining a plane of conveyance; an inner guide and an outer guide having a curved outer guide section and defining a conveyor track for the workpiece carrier; the inner guide includes a curved inner guide section that is assigned to the curved outer guide section. The convexly curved inner guide section is situated such that it is offset radially inwardly relative to the curved outer guide section and opposite an imagined tangential extension of a first and a second straight inner guide section.
US08037994B2	Apparatus and method for sorting non-sorted containers in an order-picking system A method and an apparatus or system for sorting non-sorted containers in a predetermined sequence in an order-picking system includes a main conveying track by means of which the non-sorted containers are transported within the order-picking system, in particular to an order-picking workstation or into a container store, in a main conveying direction. The apparatus includes a conveying-track circuit, which can be connected to the main conveying track via an introduction point, for introducing containers into the conveying-track circuit, and via a discharge point, for discharging containers which are located in the conveying-track circuit. At least one transfer device is arranged within the conveying-track circuit such that containers can be exchanged between a first exchange point and a second exchange point of the conveying-track circuit.
US08037991B2	Method for regulating a conveying stream composed of articles of the tobacco-processing industry between a tray discharger and a feed device with multiple feed units A method is provided to regulate a conveying stream composed of articles of the tobacco-processing industry between at least one tray discharger and connected to at least one feed device by a conveying element that conveys a mass flow of the articles. The feed device has at least one chamber designed to receive the articles, and each chamber has at least two feed units running independently of each other to feed the articles to subsequent apparatuses. Each feed unit has an individual feed rate (P1, P2, . . . Pn). The method includes monitoring a level within the feed device using monitoring elements; sending a signal to each of the at least one tray dischargers for regulating the speed of transport of the conveying element and the feed rate (in articles/min) as a function of a current level within the feed device, and adapting the speed of transport to a desired level. The speed of transport of each conveying element is additionally regulated as a function of the feed rate (Ptotal) formed from the sum of the individual feed rates (P1, P2, . . . Pn) of all feed units assigned to a respective chamber.
US08037990B2	Lubrication controlling method for starting clutch A lubrication controlling method for a starting clutch including a wet type multi-plate clutch disposed between a transmission and an engine of a vehicle and adapted to transmit a power, the method including always supplying lubricant oil during an operation of the wet type multi-plate clutch, continuously changing a flow amount of the lubricant oil in accordance with a condition of the wet type multi-plate clutch, and controlling the amount of the lubricant oil so that a supplied amount of the lubricant oil during an idle rotation of the wet type multi-plate clutch is greater than a supplied amount of the lubricant oil during the complete engagement of the wet type multi-plate clutch.
US08037988B2	Control system for a transmission with a dual area apply piston for a torque-transmitting mechanism engagement A control system is provided for selectively actuating a dual area apply piston having first and second piston areas each selectively biased by hydraulic pressure within a respective first and second fill cavities. The control system includes a pressure regulator valve, a dual area activation valve, and a solenoid valve operable to selectively and variable operate the pressure regulator valve to effect biasing of the first and second piston areas by communicating hydraulic pressure to the first fill cavity and/or the second fill cavity.
US08037986B2	One-way clutch of roller type for use in starter for motor bike A one-way clutch of roller type comprises an outer race having pockets provided at their inner faces with cam surfaces, an inner race spaced inwardly from the outer race in a radial direction and rotatably disposed in concentric with the outer race and having an annular outer peripheral track surface, a plurality of rollers disposed in the pockets and adapted to transmit torque between the outer race and the inner race when engaged by the cam surfaces, and accordion springs disposed in the pockets and adapted to bias the rollers toward engagement directions with respect to the cam surface, and is characterized in that one ends of the accordion springs are secured to axial end faces of the outer race.
US08037983B2	Luggage having an angularly retractable handle Luggage having an angularly retractable handle includes: a main body; a mounting plate, positioned at a front wall of the main body; a pivot, positioned at the mounting wall; an angularly retractable handle, connected to the mounting plate by the pivot, wherein the angularly retractable handle rotates with respect to the front wall of the main body via the pivot; a plurality of first wheel carriers, fixed on the bottom of the main body; a plurality of second wheel carriers, positioned on the bottom of the main body in a rotatable way; and at least four wheels, respectively assembled on the first wheel carriers and second wheel carriers.
US08037981B1	Device and process for oscillation insulation in a transmission path Device and process for oscillation insulation in a transmission path. The device includes a first body structured and arranged to undergo an oscillation movement, at least one rigid connection element, a second body connected to the first body via the at least one rigid connection element, and an actuator device attached to the at least one connection element. A sensor unit is arranged in an interface area of the at least one connection element, and a regulator unit, connected to the sensor unit, is arranged to control the actuator device to perform an elastic deformation equivalent to an oscillation movement of the first body. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US08037980B2	Brake disc A disc/hub connection for connecting the brake disc with the hub is provided. The brake disc has support elements on the inner peripheral area and the hub has cams. The hub has a pot-like, hollow cylinder section that merges with a disc section that extends outward radially. The disc section has support rods that extend outward axially and that extend into the area where the brake disc contacts the pot-like section and that merge with the cams that, in turn, engage between the support elements of the brake disc. The support rods radially-placed inside the extension of the brake disc do not, or only by way of thin connection rods, connect radially with the outer periphery of the pot-like section.
US08037976B2	Disc brake, in particular for a utility vehicle A disc brake for a utility vehicle, having a brake caliper which encompasses a brake disc and which is fastened, so as to be axially movable in relation to the brake disc, to a positionally fixed brake carrier by means of two fastening elements, wherein the fastening elements have in each case one guide bar which is fixedly connected to the brake carrier, of which guide bars, for the axial mobility of the brake caliper, one in guided in a plain bearing which is designed as a fixed bearing and the other is guided in a plain bearing which is designed as a floating bearing, wherein at least the floating bearing has a guide sleeve, which engages around the guide bar and which is connected to the brake caliper so as to be fixed in terms of movement, with an elastomer bearing sleeve, and the guide bar is covered, on its end side facing away from the brake disc, by means of a cap, is designed such that the cap, while covering the guide sleeve at the end side, is fastened at least in one axial partial region to the elastomer bearing sleeve.
US08037975B2	Piston seal member and disc brake using the piston seal member The piston seal member is formed of a crosslinked rubber composition, the rubber composition including 100 parts by weight of an ethylene-propylene rubber, 20 to 60 parts by weight of a first carbon black, 50 to 100 parts by weight of a second carbon black, and 5 to 20 parts by weight of carbon nanofiber having an average diameter of 0.5 to 500 nm, the total amount of the first carbon black and the second carbon black being 70 to 160 parts by weight. The first carbon black has an average particle diameter of 35 to 100 nm and a DBP absorption of 50 to 200 ml/100 g. The second carbon black has an average particle diameter that is greater than the average particle diameter of the first carbon black and ranges from 60 to 500 nm and a DBP absorption of 5 to 50 ml/100 g.
US08037974B2	Self-energizing disc brake with brake pad stabilization A self-energizing disc brake includes a brake caliper or frame, the application device for applying at least one brake at least one brake pad unit, and at least one electromotive drive as an actuator for actuating the application device. The application device also has two or more brake plungers, wherein the two brake plungers are connected to one another by a connecting plate. At least one or more ramp arrangements is/are formed in the region adjacent to the brake plungers between the brake pad unit and the connecting plate.
US08037973B2	Fixing device for anti-slip cable lock A fixing device for an anti-slip cable locker is disclosed. The fixing device provides a connection such that after the cable is engaged, and a single screw action, the cable can be locked after engagement, and therefore, article hooked to the locker will be securedly locked. The fixing device allows a quick installation, rapid engagement with the cable locker and provides anti-slip from the cable locker.
US08037969B2	Method and apparatus for a drive-thru product delivery verifier A system for improving the efficiency of drive-through delivery systems is provided. The system can provide complete error tracking and feedback; however, partial or no error tracking and/or feedback can be provided if desired. Errors in order fulfillment can be reduced. Detailed information on product weight and delivery timing can be provided. By analyzing the weight distributions of each food item or any other suitable measurements, production quality and consistency may be monitored. By analyzing the delivery times for each food item type or any other suitable measurements, production efficiency and restaurant work flow may be measured.
US08037968B2	Automatic lubrication apparatus An automatic lubrication apparatus is designed and intended to be mounted on a hydraulic tool and can be driven by a hydraulic-pressure medium, in particular on a hydraulic hammer, and includes a lubricant pump (12) incorporating a pump element. The pump element of the lubricant pump is cyclically impacted by a cam, and the cam is operatively connected to a hydromotor from which torque is transferred so as to produce synchronous rotation.
US08037965B1	Stethoscope expander assembly and methods of using same A stethoscope expander assembly includes a first portion and a second portion. Each portion is provided with at least one arm, at least one leg, and at least one attachment member. The first portion of the stethoscope expander assembly includes a male member and a cover opposite the male member. The second portion of the stethoscope expander assembly includes a female member and a channel for receiving a tubing of a stethoscope. The first and second portions provide a slit for receiving a spring of the stethoscope. The first and second portions of the stethoscope expander assembly function to move the stethoscope expander assembly into an expanded position.
US08037964B2	Electric power steering apparatus When stopping operation of an electric power steering apparatus, a motor relay is kept in an on-state even after a power supply relay is in an off-state. A drive control portion sets a target value of a d-axis current to a value other than zero and sets a target value of a q-axis current to zero, and performs a processing same as that at the time of rotating a motor. MOS-FETs contained in a motor driving circuit are controlled such that each of driving currents of the two phases or more is not zero and the brushless motor does not rotate even supplied with these driving currents. Electric charge accumulated in a capacitor is discharged via the MOS-FETs each in an on-state, a motor relay and the windings of the brushless motor. The electric charge accumulated in the capacitor may be discharged via the excitation coil of the motor relay.
US08037960B2	Structure for mounting electricity storage pack on vehicle A structure for mounting a battery pack on a vehicle includes a mount for supporting the battery pack. The battery pack is fixed to an upper side of the mount by bolts. The battery pack is disposed on a rear side of a rear seat. The battery pack includes screw holes through which the bolts are inserted. The screw holes have closed shapes. The screw holes are long in a front-rear direction and formed so that the battery pack moves when an impact is applied on it. A fixed state of the battery pack by the bolts is canceled after movement of the battery pack.
US08037953B2	Powered wheelchair having a side-access battery compartment A wheelchair includes a frame, a chair, a pair of drive wheels, a pair of rear wheels, and a pair of from wheels. Each front wheel is part of a front arm assembly that is rigidly coupled to a drive via a mounting plate. The mounting plate is connected to the wheelchair frame by a pivot. The drives are transversely mounted. The batteries are disposed rearward of the drives. The wheelchair seat can be moved forward to provide access to the batteries without fully removing the wheelchair from the frame. Or the wheelchair may provide side access to the batteries and the wheelchair may be fixed.
US08037952B2	Adjustable hand controls for small loader A control system for a walk behind loader which includes a control plate that is mounted to a shaft about an upright axis, wherein pivoting the control plate about the upright axis provides a steering input to the loader. A control handle is pivotally mounted about a generally horizontal axis and movable to provide for a direction and speed control input coupling through a control link. The control handle is mounted onto a handle mounting section section, that in turn is pivotally mounted to a support about an axis that is substantially coincident with the an axis coupling the handle to the control link, so that the control handle can be moved as the handle mounting section pivots between a raised and lowered position without causing a change in the position of controls controlled by the handle. The loader is capable of being operated by an operator walking on the ground when the control handle is in the lowered position, and by an operator standing on a platform attached to the loader, when the control handle is in the raised position.
US08037946B2	Hammer assembly A hammer assembly (1) for breaking, levering and raking material, the hammer assembly includes a hammer (1) and an articulated control linkage (3). The hammer includes: a movable mass capable movement along an impact axis (14), an elongated 5 tool (23) having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel or coaxial with the impact axis(4), a primary pivot (6) attachment point for attaching the hammer (1) to a distal end of an operating arm (2) attached to the carrier for pivotal movement of the hammer (1) about a primary axis (6) orthogonal to the impact axis (14). The control linkage (3) includes first (4) and second linkss (5) for effecting pivotal movement of the hammer (1) about the primary axis (6) in response to movement from a drive attached to the operating arm (2).
US08037945B2	Atomic force microscope with combined FTIR-Raman spectroscopy having a micro thermal analyzer An atomic force microscope is provided that includes a micro thermal analyzer with a tip. The micro thermal analyzer is configured for obtaining topographical data from a sample. A raman spectrometer is included and is configured for use in obtaining chemical data from the sample.
US08037943B2	Fastening device for coupling of blades in agricultural cultivation machines Fastening device for coupling of blades in agricultural cultivation machines, in particular, tilling machines such as rotary tillers, including an intermediate fastening element, formed by a solid body, which joins the blade to the rotary plate; the intermediate fastening element being equipped with a fastening arrangement for linking the fastening arrangement to the rotary plate; a guiding arrangement for insertion of the blade into the intermediate fastening element; and at least one through hole, extending transversely with respect to the direction of the guiding arrangement and intended for insertion of a retractable pin which, when the pin is inserted, acts as a retaining element for the blade with respect to the intermediate fastening element such that the arrangement enables the user/operator to manually replace and/or reset the tilling blade, avoiding any need for accessory tools commonly used for this purpose.
US08037941B2	Dual packer for a horizontal well A dual packer for at least partially defining a production zone in a wellbore, the dual packer including a packer body having an up-hole side and a down-hole side. A first through bore and a second through bore each extend through the packer body from the up-hole side to the down-hole side. A first piping extends from the down-hole side of the first through bore and includes a perforated sub adjacent the down-hole side of the packer body. A second piping extends from the down-hole side of the second through bore and is communicably connected to the first piping down-hole of the first perforated sub.
US08037940B2	Method of completing a well using a retrievable inflow control device A retrievable flow control device comprising a housing configured to sealably couple with a completion component. The housing may comprise a first port and a second port establishing a fluid pathway. The fluid pathway may regulate a fluid flow as the fluid flow passes through the fluid pathway. The housing may further comprise a coupling mechanism configured to releasably couple with a corresponding feature of the wellbore completion. The downhole flow control device may be configured to be retrievable independently of the completion component. The flow control device may comprise a check valve in the fluid pathway in order to substantially constrain the fluid flow to a single direction. In some cases, the flow control device may be configured to couple with a side pocket. In other cases, a concentric flow control device may be configured to couple with a screen base pipe, tubing, or stinger.
US08037938B2	Selective completion system for downhole control and data acquisition A completion system including a packer disposed in a wellbore and a tubular string having a bore therethrough configured to land into the packer. The tubular string includes an alignment sub, a seal assembly disposed below the alignment sub and having at least two longitudinal bores disposed through the seal assembly and offset from the bore of the tubular string. The tubular string also includes a sleeve sub disposed below the seal assembly, wherein the sleeve sub allows fluid communication between a bore of the tubular string and an annulus formed between the tubular string and the wellbore. The tubular string also includes at least two control lines operatively connected to the sleeve sub, wherein the at least two control lines are run through he at least two longitudinal bores of the seal assembly.
US08037936B2	Method of heating sub sea ESP pumping system A system and method is provided for heating fluid to be pumped by an electrical submersible pumping system. Heat for heating the fluid may be inductively generated by adjusting the power delivered to the motor of the pumping system. In one example, the power adjustment includes supplying the voltage applied to the pump motor to a value less than voltage applied during normal operations. While lowering the voltage the electrical frequency may be varied as well as the electrical waveform.
US08037931B2	Hybrid water heating system A hybrid heating apparatus heats potable water with waste heat from heat recovery units and insolation from solar collectors. A single circulation pump circulates fluid between at least one heat exchanger and each of the heat recovery units and preferably the solar collector. A single controller receives sensor readings from the heat recovery units and the solar collector units and receives a demand to heat the potable water. To satisfy the demand, the controller determines the extent to which the demand may be satisfied from heat available from the heat recovery units and the solar collector units and sends command signals both to the circulating pump to circulate the fluid and to appropriate ones of valves at connections to those heat recovery units and solar collector units to allow fluid to circulate to be heated to flow to the heat exchanger for effecting heat exchange to heat the potable water.
US08037925B2	Heat exchanger having integrated tank header and partition structure and partition inserting groove with leak detection The present invention relates to a heat exchanger, and more particularly, to a heat exchanger in which a partition wall integrally formed with a header is fixedly inserted into a partition inserting groove of a tank and it is easy to check leakage of a heat exchange medium between the tank and the partition wall through a leakage checking hole formed in the partition inserting groove.
US08037918B2	Pick-up heads and systems for die bonding and related applications Pick-up heads and systems are especially useful for picking up, transporting, and placing semiconductor dies at bond sites on packaging substrates. Alternatively, the heads and systems are useful for performing these tasks with any of various other planar objects. An exemplary head includes a shank and a body. The body includes a compliant end portion contactable by the shank, and the end portion includes a face. The shank is movable relative to the end portion such that, whenever the shank is retracted, the face has a substantially planar contour, and whenever the shank is extended, the shank contacts and urges the end portion to provide the face with a convex contour. The end portion desirably defines at least one vacuum orifice connected to an evacuation device (e.g., a vacuum pump) that evacuates the vacuum orifice sufficiently to cause the planar object to adhere to the face.
US08037914B2	Laminating apparatus A laminating apparatus having a thickness-detecting function is provided. Before the laminating operation is done, the thickness of the article to be laminated is detected by a thickness detecting mechanism of the laminating apparatus. According to the detected thickness, the temperature or the rotating speed of the heating roller of the laminating apparatus is dynamically adjusted.
US08037911B2	Wheel including tread coupled to rim Wheels and methods of making wheels are disclosed including an inner portion and a tread mechanically coupled to the inner portion. The tread may be mechanically coupled to the inner portion on an inside and an outside of the wheel. The inner portion may include a rim including a plurality of apertures. The inner portion may be high density polyethylene and the tread may be thermoplastic elastomer.
US08037909B2	Pneumatic radial tire with water-splash control rib Pneumatic radial tires are described having belt layers deposited under a tread and a ring-shaped water-splash control rib (100) formed on the sidewall (20), wherein the upper profile Lb of the rib is positioned above a continuation line (Ca) which extends along an average profile of an outmost belt layer and which is divided in to upper and lower profile of the outmost belt layer, the rib comprising drainage grooves or drainage protuberances in the upper profile of the rib, the height h of the rib is 0.085-0.115 times the width TW of the tread (0.085TW≦h≦0.115TW).
US08037904B2	Anchor mount An anchor mount formed of a stopper having a thrust flange joined to a first end of a stem portion with an axial bore extending there through and a centering portion inclined between an overhanging portion of the flange and the stem portion; a part-spherical coupler presented on the stopper thrust flange opposite from the stem portion; a substantially resiliently deformable plug having an axial bore extended there through; an elongated shaft extendable through the respective axial bores of the stopper and the plug and having a threaded portion thereof extendable from a second end of the plug; an end cap having with an axial bore there through and being structured with an anti-rotation mechanism operable for resisting rotation of the end cap relative to the plug; and a mechanism for reversibly moving the end cap along the elongated shaft relative to the stem portion of the stopper.
US08037899B2	Backflow preventer A first check valve has a narrow flow path portion (68) formed between an arcuate portion (46) of the outer periphery (45) of a support member and a second enlarged-diameter portion (11) of a casing. The narrow flow path portion (first portion of an intermediate flow path) is in fluidic communication with a back-pressure chamber (50) defined in the support member at the rear of the top of a valving element through a communicating passage (67) including a gap (66) between the outer periphery of the valving element and the inner periphery of a large-diameter portion (38) and grooves (27) on the rear surface of the top of the valving element. Thus, a low static pressure of fluid flowing through the narrow flow path portion is introduced into the back-pressure chamber to move the valving element by a large differential pressure during the supply of fluid, thereby allowing the valve opening to become larger than in the conventional apparatus and enabling a reduction of pressure losses. An intermediate chamber has a pressure chamber (130) defined therein by using a rigid partition. A high-pressure chamber (131) of the pressure chamber is in communication with the upstream side of the first check valve, and a low-pressure chamber (132) thereof is in communication with the narrow flow path portion. Thus, a valving element (136) is acted upon by a force larger than the differential pressure between the upstream side and an internal flow path (106) of the intermediate chamber, thereby allowing a relief valve (135) to be surely kept closed.
US08037897B2	Valve apparatus A valve apparatus that has a longitudinal axis therethrough comprises a valve seat member, a valve closure member, a fluid flow path, and a resilient valve insert member. The valve seat member comprises a hollow bore and a first frustoconical contact surface that has an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter. The valve closure member comprises a valve body and a second frustoconical contact surface that is adapted to seal against the first frustoconical contact surface in a strike face area. The valve closure member is movable along the longitudinal axis of the valve apparatus. The fluid flow path extends through the bore of the valve seat member and between the valve seat member and the valve closure member. This fluid flow path is closed when the second frustoconical contact surface is sealed against the first frustoconical contact surface.
US08037896B2	Pressure regulation in remote zones A pressure control system remotely controls pressure within one or more remote zones, each respectively connected to an enclosure through a conduit, by controlling flow of a fluid into and out of each enclosure. The pressure of the fluid is measured within each enclosure. An estimated pressure within each zone is computed, as a function of the measured pressure in the enclosure and known characteristics of the conduit and the zone. For each zone, an inlet proportional valve and an outlet proportional valve of each enclosure is operated so as to control the input flow rate of the fluid into the respective enclosure and the output flow rate of the fluid out of the enclosure as a function of a pressure set point and the estimated pressure, thereby regulating pressure within the zone in accordance with the pressure set point.
US08037890B2	Substrate cleaning device and substrate cleaning method A substrate cleaning device and a substrate cleaning method reduces liquid drops remaining on a substrate to prevent the irregular heating of the substrate by a heating process due to liquid drops or water marks remaining on the substrate. A cleaning liquid is poured through a cleaning liquid pouring nozzle onto the surface of a substrate such that a region onto which the cleaning liquid is poured moves from a central part toward the circumference of the substrate. A gas is jetted radially outward at a region on the surface of the substrate behind a region onto which the cleaning liquid is poured with respect to the rotating direction of the substrate. The gas forces a liquid film of the cleaning liquid flowing on the surface of the substrate to flow in a circumferential direction and a radially outward direction.
US08037889B2	Disposable cigarette ash bag package A disposable cigarette ash bag package includes a set of disposable cigarette ash bags for receiving cigarette ash individually, and an outer bag or box for receiving the set of disposable cigarette ash bags. The disposable cigarette ash bags are smaller one relative another so that they are can be inserted one into another.
US08037883B2	Oral device The present invention is an oral device comprised of two main components, a U-shaped lower bite plate and a U-shaped upper bite plate, which are molded to fit the front teeth of a wearer with a soft flexible contact surface. The oral device of the present invention comprises an upper bite plate and a lower bite plate each having a generally U-shaped appearance. The upper bite plate removably fits over the upper teeth of a person and the lower bite plate removably fits over the lower teeth of a person. Each bite plate includes a U-shaped buccal side and a U-shaped lingual side connected by a U-shaped top portion. The U-shaped top portion is further comprised of an exposed surface and an attaching surface where the exposed surface is the surface that contacts a penis, clitoris, or other body part while the attaching surface contacts the wearer's teeth.
US08037879B2	Heat distributing wave tray for a grill A heat distributing tray for use in a barbecue grill includes a corrugated unitary body of heat conducting material having alternating solid and grated walls which define channels. More specifically, the body includes first and second side portions defined by both solid walls which extend at gradually decreasing angles with respect to a common horizontal plane and varying length grated walls interconnecting the solid walls. In use, the tray is placed over one or more heating elements in a barbecue housing, with radiant and convective heat from the heating element being optimally distributed throughout the entire interior portion of the barbecue grill due to the relative structure and configuration of the solid walls in relation to the grated walls.
US08037877B2	Barrel for prohibiting paintball from dropping therefrom A barrel for prohibiting the paintball from dropping therefrom is provided by the present invention. The barrel includes a main body and an elastic ring. In which, a rear end of the main body is formed with a combining portion to combine with a paintball gun, and an extension is extended rearward from the combining portion. A bore penetrates through the main body, the combining portion and the extension. Around an outer periphery of the extension is disposed an annular groove, and at least one slot is formed in the annular groove, while the slot communicating the bore proximate to the extension. In addition, the elastic ring has a smaller perimeter than that of the annular groove. The elastic ring is disposed in the annular groove, and a part of the elastic ring sinks into the slot, overlapping a part of the bore.
US08037875B2	Control apparatus and control method for internal combustion engine A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a first fuel tank where a first fuel containing alcohol is stored; a second fuel tank where a second fuel is stored, wherein a concentration of alcohol in the second fuel is known; an alcohol concentration sensor disposed in a supply passage through which the first and second fuels flow; and a malfunction determination portion. The control apparatus switches a fuel flowing through the supply passage between the first fuel and the second fuel, and controls a fuel injection amount based on a concentration of the alcohol in the first fuel detected by the sensor. The malfunction determination portion determines that the sensor malfunctions, if a value detected by the sensor is outside a predetermined range corresponding to the concentration of the alcohol in the second fuel when the fuel flowing through the supply passage is switched to the second fuel.
US08037874B2	Fuel based cylinder knock control Various systems and methods are described for controlling operation of engine cylinders, where each cylinder has a first and second injector for delivering fuel. One example method maintains air-fuel ratio in the exhaust by adjusting fuel injection of a common fuel injector type among the cylinders, where different cylinders operate with different combinations of injectors.
US08037873B2	Residual burnt gas scavenging method with double intake valve lift in a direct-injection supercharged internal-combusion engine, notably of diesel type The present invention relates to a method of scavenging residual burnt gas of a direct-injection internal-combustion engine, notably of diesel type, comprising at least one cylinder (10) including a combustion chamber (12), at least one exhaust means (14) with an exhaust valve (18) controlled by exhaust control means (42), at least one intake means (24) with an intake valve (28) controlled by intake control means (40) and a processing unit (44) receiving the values relative to the intake pressure (Pa) and to the exhaust pressure (Pe) of the engine. The method consists, when the engine runs under low speed and high load conditions, in carrying out a sequence of opening/closing of exhaust valves (18) during the exhaust phase of the engine, during this exhaust valve opening/closing sequence, in carrying out at least one sequence of opening/closing of intake valves (28) so as to achieve scavenging of the residual burnt gas.
US08037870B2	Fuel economy improvement assist device and method of fuel economy improvement assist A fuel economy improvement assist device (1) has: accelerator operation amount detection means (12); and display control means (15a) for displaying, on a display device (20), a target value corresponding to a target accelerator operation amount and a deviation value of the detected accelerator operation amount from the target accelerator operation amount (14a). The display control means (15a) calculates an accelerator depression speed based on the detected accelerator operation amount, and variably displays the deviation value in accordance with the calculated accelerator depression speed.
US08037865B2	Self-contained compression brake control module for compression-release brake system of internal combustion engine A compression-release brake system for operating an exhaust valve of an engine during an engine braking operation. The compression-release brake system comprises a self-contained compression brake control module (CBCM) operatively coupled to the exhaust valve for controlling a lift and a phase angle thereof and a source of a pressurized hydraulic fluid. The CBCM includes a casing defining piston and actuator cavities, a slave piston mounted within the piston cavity, a check valve provided between a supply conduit and a slave piston chamber and a compression brake actuator disposed in the actuator cavity. The compression brake actuator includes an actuator element and a biasing spring. The actuator element selectively engages the check valve when deactivated so as to unlock the slave piston chamber, and disengages from the check valve when activated so as to lock the slave piston chamber. The actuator element is exposed to atmospheric pressure.
US08037862B1	Simplified multifunction component rotary engine An internal combustion rotary engine has a chamber defined by a chamber wall and a rotor valve body in three locus-sealing contact with the chamber wall to define a series of three subchambers including a first subchamber for sequential compression, transfer, and combustion of a fuel mixture from a chamber fuel mixture intake and for exhausting combustion products through a chamber exhaust outlet. The rotor body defines a first bodily internal path for fuel mixture travel from the intake to the first subchamber for compression and combustion to combustion products, and a second bodily internal exhaust travel path between the combustion products in the first subchamber and the chamber exhaust outlet for exhausting of the combustion products. The chamber and rotor cooperate to transfer compressed fuel mixture past the rotor within the first subchamber. The rotor further defines a sealing and sliding valve structure with the chamber wall for controlling intake into and exhaust from the first subchamber. Two additional chamber carry out the same functions in time-delayed sequence.
US08037860B2	Cylinder liner and engine A cylinder liner has an upper portion and a lower portion with respect to an axial direction of the cylinder liner. A high thermal conductive film is provided on an outer circumferential surface of the upper portion. A low thermal conductive film is provided on an outer circumferential surface of the lower portion. The cylinder liner reduces temperature difference of a cylinder along its axial direction.
US08037856B2	Rocker arm A rocker arm includes a pair of side wall portions formed so as to face each other, an engaging portion connecting the pair of side wall portions and adapted to engage with a rocking support member arranged in an engine, and a sliding portion connecting the pair of side wall portions and being adapted to be in slidable contact with a stem front end portion of an engine valve. The engaging portion includes a board surface portion connecting the pair of side wall portions and a protruding portion protruding from the board surface portion toward the rocking support member. In the protruding portion, a spherical concave portion adapted to engage with a spherical protruding portion of the rocking support member is formed as a depression.
US08037848B2	Animal behavioral control apparatus An animal behavioral control apparatus includes a cartridge, a housing, a head, and a horn. The cartridge contains pressurized gas. The housing surrounds at least a part of the cartridge. The head is connected to the housing and includes an actuator and a valve. The valve engages the cartridge when the actuator is actuated in order to release gas out of the cartridge. The horn is removably connected to the head. When the horn is not connected to the head, the animal behavioral control apparatus ejects a blast of gas when the actuator is actuated. And when the horn is connected to the head, the animal behavioral control apparatus emits a sound when the actuator is actuated.
US08037847B2	Closure system for a cage containing laboratory animals and methods thereof A closure system for a cage containing laboratory animals, where in an upper edge of the base of the cage an U-shaped housing towards the outside of the edge hosts a gasket having a lip projecting out of the upper edge, and s bending in contact with a side rim of the top, the side rim overlapping the upper edge, and comprising at least two latches, connected on one side to the base, and having a bending line with a smaller thickness, and a projecting hook at the opposite side, to be restrained in a slot in the top, so that in operation the latch bends in the bending line and the projecting hook can be engaged to or disengaged from the slot.
US08037846B2	Method and system for tracking and managing animals and/or food products Embodiments of a method and system are described for tracking and managing animals and/or food products. Identification data and location data for animals is entered into a computer system. A data service provider may collect this data and transmitted it to a data trustee. The data trustee may filter the data into official and non-official data, and send official data to an official database. When a public health issue arises, the government may use an identifier for a diseased animal or a location identifier to request a trace report from the data trustee. The data trustee may then use the official data to provide a report showing, for example, which animals have commingled with the diseased animal. Based on this report, other animals can be treated, quarantined, or slaughtered. The disclosed embodiments also may be used to facilitate commercial transactions by providing data that validates an animal's health and food quality.
US08037843B2	Resin application and infusion system An application and infusion system for applying a resin to one or more fiber tows and for infusing the fiber tows with the resin, wherein each of the fiber tows is moving at a respective fiber speed. The application and infusion system includes a deposition and infusion system comprising one or more nozzles configured to deposit the resin on a respective one of the fiber tows. The system further includes a controller configured to control a flow rate of the resin through each of the nozzles relative to the fiber speed of the respective ones of the fiber tows. Other aspects of the application and infusion system are also provided.
US08037839B2	Device for handling a load hoisted between two locations offset both vertically and horizontally A device for handling a load hoisted between two locations offset both vertically and horizontally is described. In particular the device is useful for transferring an outboard motor between an operating location on a dinghy and a storage location on a larger boat. The device makes use of existing lifting devices such as sail halyards and winches and provides both guidance and stabilization of the motor during the transfer.
US08037837B2	Floating dock and dock unit for making such The present document describes a dock unit attachable to another dock unit with a fastener for forming a floating dock. The dock unit comprises a floating body having a mating surface and an attachment adapted to receive the fastener. Thereby attaching the floating body is able to be attached to the other dock unit. The dock unit further comprises a cover for covering the mating surface, the cover having a contact surface adapted to contact the fastener. In use, the contact surface is positioned proximate the attachment so that, when the attachment receives the fastener, the contact surface is contacted by the fastener, thereby limiting the movement of the cover with respect to the floating body.
US08037836B2	Automated boat washing system A self-contained boat cleaning system that dispenses water, soap, wax and/or spot-free rinse chemicals. Cleaning fluids are distributed via conduits which can be concealed inside the rub rail, mounted near the rub rails or other surfaces of the boat, or alternatively can be installed inside the bulkheads of the vessel. Fluid apertures direct the spray of water and/or cleaning fluids to predetermined surfaces of the boat. A pump and associated reservoir system (containing built in reservoirs for cleaning fluids, chemicals, waxes, spot-free chemicals, etc) can be mounted anywhere inside the vessel. The water supply used by the system can be supplied either from shore water or from a fresh water holding tank on board and fed into the onboard water filtration system. An optional timer which can be used to start the process at predetermined times. In addition, the boat washing system can be activated via remote control.
US08037833B2	Stackable tray and inventory system with stackable trays Disclosed herein is an inventory system with stackable trays that permits access to individual trays. The inventory system comprises an upright pole having a top and bottom, a support attached to the bottom of the pole, and at least two stackable trays, each tray having a fastening device to engage a back of the tray to the pole, wherein when a tray is moved away from the pole, the fastening device disengages the pole, and when a tray is pushed toward the pole, the fastening device can engage the pole. Also disclosed is a stackable tray. Also disclosed is method for removing a lower stacked tray from underneath a higher stacked tray.
US08037832B2	Meeting table A meeting table (1), below its horizontal top (7) which forms a working area, has a container (10) housing a system (2) for remote conferences, in particular for telepresence or videoconference meetings; inside the perimeter of the top (7), at least one video screen (12) of the system (2) for remote conferences can move between a first, raised position, in which it rises up from the working area, and a second, lowered position, in which it is housed in a retracted fashion below the working area, in particular inside the container (10).
US08037828B1	Projectile-generating explosive access tool An explosive device that can generate a projectile from the opposite side of a wall from the side where the explosive device is detonated. The projectile can be generated without breaching the wall of the structure or container. The device can optionally open an aperture in a solid wall of a structure or a container and form a high-kinetic-energy projectile from the portion of the wall removed to create the aperture.
US08037826B2	Mechanical self destruct for runaway escapements An escapement fuze self-destruct mechanism for a projectile includes a drive weight that maintains a biasing member in a compressed state by centrifugal force when a projectile's RPM speed is above a preselected threshold. When the RPM speed falls below the preselected threshold, the biasing member exerts sufficient counter-rotational force to overcome the centrifugal force exerted by the drive weight. The biasing member expands to an uncompressed state and displaces the drive weight into position for mechanically implementing self-destruction of the projectile if a rotor is fully armed or for rendering the projectile “safe” if the rotor is in any position other then fully armed.
US08037823B2	Networked pyrotechnic actuator incorporating high-pressure bellows A pyrotechnically powered actuator having a bellows that provides a force and stroke upon initiation is disclosed. The actuator includes a housing body with a first end and a second end. The bellows is coupled to the first end of the housing body. A cover is coupled to the second end of the housing body. An initiator is located within the housing body and includes a pyrotechnic material and a bridge element. The housing body, the bellows, and the cover define a hermetically sealed chamber. The bellows is compact, lightweight, and can withstand internal and external pressure at least as high as 3,000 psi. An exemplary embodiment includes a housing body that provides a compartment for adding supplemental pyrotechnic material. Further exemplary embodiments of the actuator include a chip initiator that requires less than 1 amp to function in less than 10 milliseconds.
US08037822B2	Warhead booster explosive lens A cost-effective solution is proposed to improve explosive transfer between booster and warhead that is compatible with the existing base of general purpose warheads and flexible to work with new warhead configurations. A booster lens is placed in the fuze well that concentrates the pressure wave to penetrate the fuze well with a peak pressure that exceeds the detonation threshold and detonate the warhead explosive. The booster lens can be configured to control the direction of the concentrated lobe to penetrate the fuze well where the barriers are low.
US08037821B2	Methods and apparatus for reducing the transmission of mechanical waves Methods and apparatus for reducing transmission of mechanical waves according to various aspects of the present invention comprise a set of isolators and a series of stops configured to isolate a piece of equipment in a projectile. The stops serve to limit the amount of stress loading placed on the isolators during transient events where loads associated with launch of the projectile or deployment of flight control surface might damage the isolators or cause the equipment to fail.
US08037814B1	Method of staggering belts in a round baler An improved roll belt guide mechanism for directing movement of a plurality of side-by-side belts in a round baler wherein adjacent belts are staggered to create opening through which trash mass pass to prevent trash accumulation behind the belts. A pair of offsetting rolls is positioned between two guide rolls defining the normal belt path. The offsetting rolls are aligned on axes that are parallel to the normal guide roll axes and arranged so that one offsetting roll is positioned generally forward of the other. One or more belts are directed around the forward offset roll while the remainder of the belts is directed around the rearward offsetting roll. The alignment and separation of the offsetting rolls is configured to allow roll belts of equal lengths to be used regardless of routing around the offsetting rolls. Trash removal may be improved by the addition of an auger in the space between the offset belts to urge the trash laterally, generally along the length of the offsetting rolls.
US08037812B1	Bottom opening fryer basket A fryer basket having at least one bottom wall or panel that is normally retained in a closed relationship relative to side walls of the basket but which is released to pivot to an open position upon operation of a latching mechanism that is operable adjacent to a handgrip of a handle connected to the basket.
US08037807B2	Controlled motion in a hydraulically actuated system A machine configured to prevent unintentional motion in a linkage pivotally connected to a frame may include a first hydraulic actuator connected to the linkage and a second hydraulic actuator connected to the linkage. The machine may include a sensor and an electronic control module in communication with the sensor. The electronic control module may be configured to close a valve of the first hydraulic cylinder and/or cancel an actuation command to one of the first hydraulic actuator and the second hydraulic actuator in response to the electronic control module determining unintentional motion of the linkage has occurred based on the sensor.
US08037805B1	Pistol with off-axis slide An apparatus having a frame, a slide assembly and a barrel is disclosed. The slide assembly may be slidably mounted to the frame along a sliding plane. The barrel may be disposed in the slide assembly. The barrel generally has a bore shaped to accept an ammunition round. The bore may define a bore axis intersecting the sliding plane such that when the ammunition round is fired the slide assembly recoils both backward and upward relative to the frame.
US08037804B1	Dynamic armor Methods and apparatus for ballistic shielding and protective armor; and more particularly, representative and exemplary embodiments of the present invention generally relate to improved methods and systems for ballistic deflection and protection through dynamic armor and/or the like.
US08037801B2	Link separation device for an ammunition belt A link separation device for an ammunition belt, said belt exiting a weapon after firing via an opening and in which an assembly of links (M1, M2) are mounted able to pivot angularly with respect to one another, each of said links incorporating two lateral stirrups and one median stirrup, said median stirrup of a first link (M1) of said links being able to pivot in grooves in said lateral stirrups of a second link (M2) of said links, a relative pivoting position of said first link (M1) with respect to said second link (M2) following said first link (M1) enabling said first link (M1) to be unhooked, said links additionally being positioned with respect to said device in a position such that the pivoting ensuring the unlocking and the unhooking of said first link (M1) can be made naturally by the action of gravity exerted on said first link (M1), wherein said device incorporates means to ensure said first link (M1) rocks over as well as means to guide and means to support said second link (M2) following as said first link (M1) is rocking over.
US08037799B2	Thermal management for electromagnetic coil systems A system includes a housing and an electromagnetic coil within the housing. The electromagnetic coil is arranged in a coil stack. A thermal damper is positioned adjacent to the electromagnetic coil, and a thermal structural plate is positioned adjacent to the coil stack. The thermal damper manages temperature rise of the electromagnetic coil and the thermal structural plate provides cooling to the coil stack. In an embodiment, the system is used to launch projectiles.
US08037792B2	Mountings for riving knives of table saws A device for mounting a cover of a cutting blade to a riving knife may have an engaging member for releasably engaging at least a part of the riving knife from both sides, in a direction of thickness of the riving knife. The engaging member is manually operable without any additional tools. A device for mounting a riving knife to a table saw may include a manually operable lock member and a biasing member. The biasing member is arranged and constructed to normally bias the lock member towards a lock position. The riving knife may be divided into a first knife portion and a second knife portion. A positioning device may position the first knife portion and the second knife portion substantially within a single plate.
US08037791B2	Tool clamping device and tool holder A tool clamping device having a tool holder (2) holding a tool (7, 8) for insertion into a socket of a tool support (1), such as a turret disc is designed such that a receiving body (16) of the tool holder and the tool support (1) have bearing surfaces (16, 3) to be arranged to one another and devices (14, 15) for fastening the tool holder on the tool support. The receiving body or the tool support has at least one stopping means (28), which projects axially over its bearing surface and is disposed on one side of the receiving body or tool support. The tool support or the receiving body has at least one contact surface for the stopping means. There is provided elastic means (36, 44) by means of which the stopping means can be laterally held in place on the contact surface under prestress.
US08037780B2	Discrete-ratio gearbox for motor vehicle The gearbox comprises a case, a rod mounted on the case, a pair of sliding shift forks mounted on the rod, and travel-limit elements arranged on the rod for defining travel-limit positions for the shift forks. The travel-limit elements comprise a pair of bushes which are separate from the rod and have each a first axially outer larger-diameter portion and a second axially inner smaller-diameter portion so as to define at least one axial abutment surface for the shift fork adjacent thereto.
US08037777B2	Structurally compliant microbearing devices and methods thereof A microbearing device includes at least one inner bearing structure, at least one outer bearing structure, and one or more fasteners. Each of the one or more fasteners is connected between the inner bearing structure and the outer bearing structure and the inner bearing structure is substantially elastic.
US08037776B2	Gear brake device for a multi-speed manual transmission The invention relates to a gear brake device for a multi-speed manual transmission (2), comprising a gear brake (16) that is arranged outside the transmission housing, that is led out of the transmission housing, and which has a power take-off shaft that is drive-connected or can be drive-connected with an input side gear shaft arrangement, said gear brake performing a synchronization function during up-shifting of the transmission in the known manner. According to the present invention, at least one PTO connection (20) with a drive connection to the power take-off shaft (12) is arranged downstream of the gear brake (16), so that the power take-off shaft (12) is also available for a PTO function.
US08037775B2	Passive hit locator system comprising carbon nanotube arrays A system for locating impacts comprises at least one array of a plurality of carbon nanotubes, each carbon nanotube operable to emit electrical activity when compressed. The system also comprises at least one sensor coupled to the at least one array configured to detect emitted electrical activity from the plurality of carbon nanotubes. Furthermore, a computer is configured to determine the location of an impact on the at least one array in response to the detected emitted electrical activity from the plurality of carbon nanotubes.
US08037773B2	Method of considering the dynamic behavior of a movable member of a machine for performing a wheel fatigue test A method of considering the dynamic behavior of a movable member of a machine for performing a wheel fatigue test, the wheel including a disc and a rim, the method including mounting the wheel by fixing the wheel rim relative to a fixed structure of the machine, and securing the disc relative to the movable member which is movable to transmit a cyclical bending moment to the wheel, exerting a cyclical force on the movable member to generate the bending moment, at a distant position from the wheel, and while exerting the cyclical force, determining an indication of bending moment in the movable member at a first position between the wheel and the distant position, determining an indication of bending moment in the movable member at a second position between the first position and the distant position, and using the indications of bending moment at both of the first and second positions to determine an actual bending moment applied to the wheel.
US08037766B2	Method for generation mechanical waves by generation of interfacial acoustic radiation force The present invention relates to a method for generating mechanical waves within a viscoelastic medium (11) comprising a step of generating an acoustic radiation force (15) within the viscoelastic medium (11) by application of acoustic waves focused on an interface (13) delimiting two zones (11, 14) having distinct acoustic properties.
US08037763B2	Rail section weld inspection scanner A rail section weld inspection device [1000] is described for inspecting a rail [10] for internal defects [19,21]. A central ultrasonic (US) probe [1330] transmits at least one US beam [B] through the rail [10] and receiving a reflected signal. At least one angled US probe [1310] transmits at least one US beam [A1-A5] through the rail [10] at an oblique angle at least partially covering the same region as the central probe [1330]. An encoder identifies the location of the US probes [1330] and [1310] along the rail [10] and pairs the locations of the probes with the signals received. The Calculation device [1500] receives the signals from the US probes and uses their different views to create an image of the flaws within the rail [10].
US08037762B2	Whispering gallery mode ultrasonically coupled scanning probe microscopy Scanning probe microscopes include a probe tip coupled to a tuning fork or other acoustic resonator so as to apply a shear force when contacted to a specimen surface based on an applied acoustic signal. A secondary ultrasonic transducer is in acoustic communication with the specimen and a resonant structure. Probe tip-specimen displacement can be detected based on whispering gallery mode ultrasonic waves in the resonant structure using the secondary transducer, and such displacements maintained using feedback control based on whispering gallery mode acoustic wave magnitude.
US08037759B2	Method and device for determining the relative position, velocity and/or acceleration of a body In a method for determining the relative position, velocity, acceleration, and/or the rotation center of a body displaceable in a three dimensional space, at least twelve linear acceleration sensors are provided and in each case arranged on a position which is stationarily fixed with respect to the body. At least one acceleration measurement signal is captured by the linear acceleration sensors. A position, velocity, acceleration, and/or rotation center signal is generated for the body from the acceleration measurement signal and data describing the position and orientation of the linear acceleration sensors in the body-fixed coordinate system.
US08037758B2	Angular velocity detection apparatus An angular velocity detection apparatus includes: a sensor unit having first and second detection axes serving as angular velocity detection axes, the first and second detection axes intersecting each other; a sensor output correction circuit for making at least one of an offset adjustment and a sensitivity adjustment to a detection output of an angular velocity around the first detection axis and a detection output of an angular velocity around the second detection axis; a sign determination circuit for obtaining a sign of a rotational direction of an angular velocity on any one of the first and second detection axes; and an amplitude calculation circuit for multiplying a square sum average of detection outputs of angular velocities around the first and second detection axes outputted by the sensor output correction circuit and a sign outputted by the sign determination circuit.
US08037757B2	Parametric amplification of a MEMS gyroscope by capacitance modulation Parametric amplification of the output of a MEMS gyroscope is achieved by modulating the sense capacitance, or an auxiliary capacitance having an applied DC voltage. The capacitance modulation is produced by the driven motion of the gyroscope mechanism, so the pump signal of the parametric amplifier is not subject to phase errors in the electronics. The capacitance modulation affects the mechanical gain of the sensor (transfer function from input force to sensor mechanism displacement), as well as the electrical gain of the sensor (transfer function from sensor mechanism displacement to output electrical signal). The mechanical and electrical gains of the sensor become phase-dependent, so the Coriolis rate signal can be amplified while the unwanted quadrature-phase signal is attenuated.
US08037752B2	Apparatus for measuring the filling level of a liquid in a container Apparatus for measuring the filling level of a liquid in a container comprising a transmitting device 1 which emits ultrasound transmission pulses, a receiving device 2 which receives the echo signals reflected at the surface of the liquid and an evaluation device 8 which evaluates the transit times of the ultrasound transmission pulses and echo signals, wherein arranged at a given spacing relative to the transmitting/receiving device 1, 2 is a reflector 3 which reflects the ultrasound transmission pulses in the direction of the surface of the liquid and also reflects the echo signals coming from the surface of the liquid in the direction of the receiving device 2.
US08037751B2	Flow rate measuring apparatus The flow rate measuring apparatus includes a connector portion, a main body portion, a bypass passage, a flow rate sensing element having a flow rate detection portion, a control circuit, a pair of metal terminals having end portions connected to a connector, embedded portions molded integrally with a resin portion constituting the main body portion, and exposed portions exposed in the main passage, which are connected to each other in a cascade manner, and a fluid temperature sensing element having a temperature sensing portion. The fluid temperature sensing element is arranged at a position apart from an outer wall surface of a side face of the bypass passage, and the temperature sensing portion is arranged at the center between the pair of metal terminals that are exposed in the main passage by the same length or between extension lines thereof.
US08037750B2	Impending icing probe with thermal isolation pedestal In an icing condition detection system, a circuit provides an output representing impending icing conditions as a function of power consumption of a single element detector. A thermal isolation pedestal includes a detector support end that supports the single element detector and an opposite strut mounting end. A thermal isolation controller controls a thermal isolation pedestal temperature to thermally isolate the single element detector from a strut mounting end.
US08037746B2	Adhesive creep fixture The invention provides a test apparatus capable of testing an adhesive bond in multiple loading modes, such as in tension and in shear. The test apparatus includes a test frame, a force generator, and a force transfer arm. The test frame is configured so that the force generator may be attached to the test frame in a plurality of locations, where each location allows for a different loading mode to be tested. The test apparatus also may be used within an environmental chamber for testing the adhesive bond at extreme environmental conditions.
US08037744B2	Method for measuring deformation of tire tread A method for measuring deformation of a tire tread is provided. The method uses a tire tread deformation producing system 10 including a flat, transparent base plate 24 having first and second opposite surfaces 24a and 24b. The method also uses a vision system 12 including a pair of CCD cameras 30-1 and 30-2, which are positioned on the side of the second surface of the base plate. A test tire 14 has a tire tread having tread grooves 16. A portion of the tire tread of the test tire is urged against the first surface of the base plate. The three-dimensional shape of a groove wall surface of a tread groove of the test tire is measured by imaging the tread groove across the base plate by the CCD cameras while the test tire is subject to deformation.
US08037741B2	Method and apparatus for measuring reduction of greenhouse gas by idling stop Provided are a method and an apparatus that make is possible to measure the amount of greenhouse gas reduced for the stop time of an engine stopped while a vehicle idles. A first amount of fuel consumed in an engine is measured before the engine of a vehicle idling stops. A second amount of fuel consumed for restarting the engine, which is stopped, by idling of the vehicle is measured. Exhaust reduction of greenhouse gas is calculated from idle stop of the vehicle to engine restart, on the basis of the first and second amount of fuel consumed and an engine stop-continued time from an ECU.
US08037730B2	Titanium stretch forming apparatus and method A stretch-forming apparatus includes a main frame which carries a die enclosure between jaw assemblies. An insulated die is mounted in the enclosure. A method of forming a component includes placing a workpiece in the enclosure, heating the workpiece to a working temperature using electrical resistance heating, and then stretching the workpiece against the die. The method is particularly useful for titanium workpieces.
US08037720B2	Washing machine with laundry-detergent drawer having means to assist an opening or closing movement A washing machine includes a laundry-detergent and fabric-softener drawer that can be pulled out of the machine. A movement assist device is provided that cooperates with the drawer so as to assist an opening and/or closing movement of the drawer. The movement assist device includes a scroll spring for causing a restoring force for an autonomous closing procedure of the drawer.
US08037719B2	Method for manufacturing basalt fiber Basalt filament is manufactured in such a manner that the fiber diameter can be controlled and the filament is not severed during the winding step. A network former and a glass modifier are formed and maintained with respect to basalt rock ore, and the crystallization and binding of basalt fiber are inhibited, the heat-resistance property of basalt fiber is greatly improved from the conventional 750° C. to 850 or 900° C., and significant cost reduction is achieved over conventional products. The method includes the steps of: grinding basalt rock as a material; washing a resultant ground rock; melting the ground rock that has been washed; transforming a molten product into fiber; and drawing the fiber in an aligned manner, and winding it. The temperature of the molten product in the melting step is 1400 to 1650° C., and log η is 2.15 to 2.35 dPa·s and preferably 2.2 to 2.3 dPa·s, where η is the viscosity of the molten product.
US08037714B2	Adjustable air conditioning control system for a universal airplane ground support equipment cart A ground support equipment air conditioning system detachably connects to a port on an airplane. An air conduit connects an air intake and filter to a coupling that is adapted to be connected to one end of an air duct or hose the other end of which is adapted to be connected to an airplane's port. A variable speed blower in the air conduit has its speed varied by a controller to regulate the pressure supplied to an airplane. This controller receives as inputs the pressure sensed by a pressure sensor connected to the air conduit adjacent the coupling to sense the pressure of air passing into the airplane and also a setpoint pressure which can be varied to match the requirements of different types or classes of airplane. First and second air conditioners each include a circular refrigerant conduit channeling refrigerant through a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. The evaporators are positioned in the air conduit with the first air conditioner's evaporator preceding the blower and the second air conditioner's evaporator following the blower in the air conduit. A condenser cooling fan drives air through the two condensers and is controlled by a controller responsive to one or more pressures or temperatures measured in one of the air or refrigerant conduits or in the surrounding air.
US08037711B1	Portable dry ice holding container for use with a swimming pool and associated method A portable dry ice holding container for cooling water contained in an existing swimming pool may include a buoyant cartridge with open first end and closed second end. A lid may be removably connected to the first end to form a cavity between the first and second ends. A unitary outer surface may extend between the ends, preferably having apertures formed therein for permitting water to ingress and egress the cavity. A handle may be penetrated through the outer surface, traversing the cavity with opposed ends remaining situated exterior. Dry ice may be removably seated inside the cavity and may interact with and lower the temperature of the water. A mechanism may agitate the water inside the cavity through linear reciprocation of the handle to increase a flow rate through the cavity. Such a mechanism may include a plurality of curvilinear blades rotatably coupled to the handle within the cavity.
US08037710B2	Compressor with vapor injection system A heat pump system includes a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger, a scroll compressor in fluid communication with each of the first and second heat exchangers, and a flash tank in fluid communication with each of the first and second heat exchangers and the scroll compressor. A first capillary tube is disposed between the first heat exchanger and an inlet of the flash tank and a first valve is disposed between the first heat exchanger and the first capillary tube to control refrigerant to the first capillary tube.
US08037704B2	Distributed refrigeration system A refrigeration system configured for use with a trailer including a container having a roof, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall. The refrigeration system includes a refrigeration unit configured to couple to the trailer and operable to condition the container. The refrigeration system also includes a duct in fluid communication between the refrigeration unit and an opening in the first sidewall. The duct is configured to direct an airflow in at least one of a first direction toward the refrigeration unit and a second direction away from the refrigeration unit.
US08037699B2	Heat exchanger and air conditioner using the same When forming fins and heat transfer tubes by aluminum material, a pressure loss in the tube does not increase and a heat exchanger can be provided having heat transfer performance equal to or higher than a copper tube. The heat exchanger includes fins made of an aluminum material having a low deformation resistance and heat transfer tubes made of an aluminum material having a higher deformation resistance than the aluminum material forming the fins, and on whose internal surface the groove is provided to penetrate the fin to be fixed. It is also arranged that the tube axial direction (a) of the inner surface of the heat transfer tube and the direction (b) of the groove provided on the internal surface of the heat transfer tube are substantially parallel. In this case, the groove direction (b) forms an angle of 0 degrees to 2 degrees with respect to the tube axial direction (a) of the inner surface of the heat transfer tube. The depth of the groove of the heat transfer tube after tube expansion is 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm, and the top width of the ridge top portion is 0.08 mm to 0.18 mm. Further, the number of grooves of the heat transfer tube 20 is 40 to 60, and an apex angle α is 5 degrees to 20 degrees.
US08037694B2	Floating system for liquefying natural gas A floating system for liquefying natural gas comprising a vessel provided with a plant for liquefying natural gas having an inlet for natural gas and an outlet for liquefied natural gas, a feed supply system for supplying natural gas to the inlet of the plant, one or more storage tanks for storing liquefied natural gas, and an off-loading system for transporting liquefied natural gas between the storage tank(s) and a tanker, which floating system further comprises a vaporization system having an inlet for liquefied gas and an outlet for vapor.
US08037693B2	Method, apparatus, and system for cooling an object A method for cooling an object includes coupling a cooling device to the object, wherein the cooling device includes at least one thermoacoustic engine and a plurality of gas diodes, generating acoustic power with the thermoacoustic engine, channeling acoustic oscillations of a fluid through the gas diodes, and transferring the heat produced by the object to the fluid to facilitate moving the heat away from the object.
US08037686B2	Uncoupled, thermal-compressor, gas-turbine engine The invention is for a continuous-combustion, closed-cycle, gas turbine engine with a regenerator and a displacer. It has embodiments that remove heater and cooler interior volumes during gas compression, which enable it to scale well to very large sizes. Low combustion temperatures insure very low emissions. The displacer levitated by an integral gas bearing and small clearance seal and given oscillatory translational motion by electromagnetic forces operates without surface wear. The turbine blades, subjected only to warm gases, are durable and inexpensive. Thus, this engine has a very long, continuous, maintenance-free service life. This gas turbine engine also operates without back work allowing high efficiency for both low and rated output. Pressurized encapsulation permits use of low-cost ceramics for high temperature components. The invention includes a unique monolithic ceramic heater, a compact high-capacity regenerator and a constant-power gas turbine.
US08037680B2	Hydraulic control system for a swiveling construction machine A hydraulic control system for a swiveling construction machine includes at least one hydraulic travel motor, a first hydraulic actuation device, a second hydraulic actuation device and a hydraulic diverter valve assembly. The at least one hydraulic travel motor is configured to move the swiveling construction machine in a first travel speed and a second travel speed based on a variable pilot pressure signal. The first hydraulic actuation device is configured to actuate a first function of an implement. The second hydraulic actuation device is configured to actuate a second function of an implement. The hydraulic diverter valve assembly is configured to divert hydraulic power between the first hydraulic actuation device and the second hydraulic actuation device while maintaining operation of the at least one hydraulic travel motor in one of the first and the second speeds.
US08037678B2	Energy storage and generation systems and methods using coupled cylinder assemblies In various embodiments, pneumatic cylinder assemblies are coupled in series pneumatically, thereby reducing a range of force produced by or acting on the pneumatic cylinder assemblies during expansion or compression of a gas.
US08037675B2	Exhaust gas purification system for internal combustion engine and method for exhaust gas purification A PM catalyst regeneration control for the purpose of “soot removal” is performed prior to a sulfur poisoning recovery control. In the PM catalyst regeneration control, PM deposits in a catalyst are burned. A target throttle opening degree for the sulfur poisoning recovery control is preset smaller than a target throttle opening for the PM catalyst regeneration control in order to reduce the intake air volume during deceleration. A catalyst bed temperature is thus prevented from dropping, and therefore maintained at a level appropriate to sulfur poisoning recovery. Controlling the intake air volume during deceleration in such a manner results in more efficient catalyst recovery from sulfur poisoning, so that the fuel economy is maintained during the sulfur poisoning recovery control.
US08037670B2	Bi-directional converter between pressure and rotational force A bi-directional converter between pressure and rotational force includes engaging rotation members that continue to rotate while being adjacent to each other without collision; the rotation members and an outer wall form an enclosed space; rotation shafts of the rotation members are mutually engaged by gear wheels; the rotation members are synchronized and rotate in opposite directions; the rotation members are rotated by a volume change of the enclosed space by application of pressure from outside; and the volume of the enclosed space is changed by rotational force to generate a pressure difference. The bi-directional converter includes an open-close mechanism opening and closing supply exhaust paths inside the rotation member and disposed to the rotation shaft or the outer wall according to a rotation angle.
US08037667B2	Stalk roll for use in an agricultural harvesting machine A stalk roll for a corn head row unit has a conical seat and a spherical seat for mounting the stalk roll on a stalk roll driveshaft of a row unit. Each row unit has a drive shaft with a corresponding conical portion and a threaded fastener with a corresponding spherical portion for capturing the stalk roll on the drive shaft between mating conical shaft and stalk roll portions toward one end and mating spherical shaft and fastener portions at the other stalk roll end.
US08037663B2	Retail boxes and method of manufacturing retail boxes The present disclosure is directed to a retail box and a method of making a retail box. Retail boxes in accordance with the present disclosure are manufactured beginning with paper, which is rolled on a core. Two halves of the box, or “half-boxes,” are first produced, and then brought together to form a complete box.
US08037658B2	Structural members for forming various composite structures Structural members widely adaptable for use to build various composite structures and assemblies having horizontal and vertical supports, such as columns, beams and rails, are shown and described. The composite structural members include a longitudinal channel having a web and first and second legs. Each leg includes a plane that extends from a side of the web and is inclined relative to the web, and a cylinder is located at an edge of the leg that is spaced from the web. Various fittings can be used to engage at least one of the cylinders of the channel to fix the channel in position relative to a second, third and/or fourth channel to form the column, beam or rail. Further, select brackets can be used to attach together columns, beams and rails of the assembly.
US08037656B2	Flooring boards with press down locking mechanism A hardwood floor system with press down locking mechanism. Each floor board is equipped with both male and female locking mechanisms. The male locking mechanism of a floor board can be locked into the female locking mechanism of an adjacent floor board by simply exerting downward force on the floor board. The female locking mechanism is equipped with a spring slot that enables easy engagement of male and female locking mechanisms. The invention may be applied not only floor boards, but also to wall tiles and roof tiles.
US08037655B2	Floor structure including plate-shaped supporting portion A floor structure includes a plurality of structural metal components that each have: a plate-shaped supporting portion that is laid either perpendicular or oblique to an installation surface; a plate-shaped top flange that extends from a top end portion of the supporting portion in parallel with the installation surface; a plate-shaped bottom flange that extends from a bottom end portion of the supporting portion in parallel with the installation surface and in the opposite direction from the top flange, wherein the structural metal components are laid on a flat surface in parallel with each other such that the top flange of one of the mutually adjacent structural metal components covers the bottom flange of the other of the mutually adjacent structural metal material.
US08037650B2	Muntin clip A muntin clip supports a muntin grid inside an insulating glazing unit. The clip includes a positioning arm that allows the clip to be positioned with respect to the spacer. In one embodiment, the clip has a flat base adapted to be positioned on the inwardly facing surface of the spacer. The positioning arm extends from one side of the plate with the muntin-engaging body extending from the other side of the plate. The arm has an outer end that projects beyond the outer edge of the plate. A method for using the clip includes the step of using one of the glass sheets to engage and position the positioning arm of the muntin clip. Stops may be provided to limit the insertion of the clip into the spacer.
US08037648B2	Interlocking tile A polymeric interlocking tile for an adhesive-free assemblage with adjacent tiles having substantially similar, but inverted, edge interlocks thereon. The interlocks on each edge of a tile include a row of first and second sets of male-female types of alternating interlocks. The first interlock set includes a male lug projection having sidewalls forming one sidewall of a channel of U-shaped cross-section. The channel forms a female interlock cavity for the first set. The second interlock set is contiguous to the first set and includes a male projecting rib having two parallel sidewalls, one sidewall faces the edge and forms an opposite sidewall of the channel and an opposite, inwardly facing sidewall forms an enclosure for a second female cavity of the next set. At the opposite ends of each interlock row, the U-shaped channel sidewalls are wider to facilitate an initial interlock meshing between contiguous tiles of the assemblage.
US08037645B2	Trellis and accent band A trellis system is disclosed wherein the trellis comprises a front tube, a back tube, and two end tubes joined together, a plurality of roof panels, each panel having a perimeter, wherein the perimeter of the panel is coupled to at least a back tube surface and a front tube surface; a plurality of cross member assemblies wherein the cross member assemblies assist in creating tension between the front tube and the back tube, and a plurality of fasteners coupling the front tube to the end tubes, the back tube to the end tubes, and the roof panels to at least the front tube and the back tube, wherein the fasteners are not visible when the trellis system is installed. The trellis system also includes accent bands. A plurality of turnbuckles allows for easy leveling of the trellis.
US08037643B1	Roof ridge construction apparatus and method An apparatus and method for roof ridge construction are provided. Ridge risers are used to securely retain an attachment block above sheathing portions at an elevation sufficient to permit air venting through the ridge. The ridge risers have legs with one or more weakened regions (such as scores) that permit easy folding so that the legs can be attached to the sheathing and/or rafter portions. A set of attachment holes may be positioned below each of the weakened regions. The legs are joined to a cradle in which the attachment block rests. The attachment block is retained within the cradle via a mechanism such as fasteners, retention cleats, and retention assemblies with tabs designed to be driven into the attachment block. Roof covering elements, such as shingles, shakes, tiles, slate units, metal units, and synthetic ridge covering elements, are attached to the roofing block.
US08037638B1	Modular Planter Assembly A modular planter assembly for growing plants includes a container with a bottom wall and an outer wall attached to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall. An elongated primary stake is mounted to the outer wall and is engageable with a ground surface. The primary stake is hollow and vertically oriented. An elongated secondary stake is mounted to the outer wall and is engageable with the ground surface. The secondary stake is vertically oriented, and has a size configured to be received by the primary stake.
US08037635B1	Frog fishing lure system A main body portion has top and bottom surfaces, a front, a rear and opposed sides. The main body portion has a central axis extending between the front and rear. A pair of similarly configured leg portions is integrally fabricated with the main body portion. Each leg portion has an interior section and a spiral exterior section. Each interior section is positioned to extend outwardly at an angle from the rear. Each exterior section has a top and a bottom surface. The spiral exterior section of each leg first extends downwardly and away from the central axis, then downwardly and toward the central axis, then upwardly and toward the central axis. The spiral exterior section of each leg terminates facing away from the central axis.
US08037631B2	Display panel mounting system and method A display mounting kit, system, and method are disclosed utilizing first and second primary releasable attachment elements that are secured about the periphery of a display panel and in a substantially corresponding relationship on a mounting surface, respectively. At least one supplementary fastening element having two interlocking component pieces for selective engagement with each other provides secure mounting between the display panel and the mounting surface. The at least one supplementary fastening element can also be utilized as a stand-alone primary fastening element.
US08037626B2	Cloth treating apparatus A cloth treating apparatus is disclosed. A cloth treating apparatus includes a cabinet comprising an accommodating space which accommodates laundry, a air supplying device which supplies hot air to the accommodating space, an opening unit which selectively opens and closes at least one hot air supply hole, the at least one hot air supply hole through which the hot air is drawn into the accommodating space and a control unit which controls the air supplying device and the opening unit.
US08037625B2	Snow plow having pivotal mounting apparatus A snow plow for attachment to a vehicle, the snow plow including a mounting apparatus having a mounting frame, the mounting frame including at least one mounting upright. The snow plow further including a plow blade having a retention apparatus constructed and arranged to slidlingly and disengageably secure the plow blade to the mounting upright(s) when the plow blade is in a working orientation. The mounting upright includes a limiting member that limits upward movement of the retention member when the plow blade is in a working orientation such that the retention member is secured on the mounting upright. The preferred snow plow may also include an attachment member located on the mounting apparatus, wherein the plow blade retention member may be removably secured within the attachment member when the plow blade is in a non-working orientation.
US08037618B2	Device for draining and drying solids, in particular plastics granulated under water Device for dewatering and drying solids, especially plastics granulated under water, in form of a centrifuge dryer comprising a housing (1) having an inlet opening (2) for the solid material with adhering water and an outlet opening (3) for the dehydrated solid material, a screen cylinder (4) fixedly disposed inside the housing (1), a rotor (5) arranged inside the screen cylinder (4) and wings (6) attached to the rotor at a distance from one another, a water drain (7), and arrangements (8, 8′) for the introduction and removal of an air stream passing vertically through the device. It is distinguished on the one hand in that the inlet opening (2) is arranged tangential to the screen cylinder (4, 10). On the other hand it is distinguished in that the fixed screen cylinder (4) is comprised of at least three screen cylinders (10, 11, 12) arranged vertically one over another, each of the screen cylinders (10, 11, 12) is being comprised of at least two segment shells (10, 10′, 11, 11′, 12, 12′) where the lowermost screen cylinder (10) is comprised of a screen-like shell (10′) and a solid segment shell (10″).
US08037617B2	Contaminated soil remediation apparatus A soil remediation apparatus for treating contaminated soil comprises an air deck unit and a remediation unit. The air deck unit comprises an enclosure with a contaminated soil inlet and a remediated soil outlet; at least one conveyor located inside the enclosure and operable to convey soil from the enclosure inlet to the enclosure outlet; and contaminated air extraction means having an inlet in fluid communication with the enclosure and an outlet, and operable to extract air from the air deck unit.
US08037614B2	Cutting machine A technique is provided which is effective in preventing chips generated during cutting operation on a workpiece from being accumulated in a region ahead in a cutting direction. A representative cutting machine includes a motor, a blade, a body housing having a first region that houses the motor and a second region that covers the blade and projects forward of a front surface of the first region, a base, an angular plate, an outlet formed in the body housing, an opening and a blocking part. The blocking part prevents the air discharged from the outlet from flowing out laterally with respect to the moving direction of the base through a clearance between a front end of the second region and the one end of the angular plate and thereby helps the air discharged from the outlet flow into the opening.
US08037610B2	Powered groover with airflow fin A powered vinyl groover includes a motor attached to a circular blade and a blade housing for covering the circular blade. The blade housing includes a duct to carry cuttings into a collection bag. Near an inlet hole of the duct is a fin, which may be a raised surface on any interior wall of the blade housing extending into the blade housing as close as possible to the blade. The fin causes airflow from the blade to be redirected towards the inlet hole of the duct so that more cuttings enter the duct and are carried by the duct through to an outlet hole to a collection bag mountable over the outlet hole of the duct. The fin may be integral with the blade housing or attached to it, and a fin may also be added to existing groovers.
US08037609B2	Razor having a wing shaped contouring shaving aid Shaving razors and cartridges intended for mounting on such shaving razors wherein the cartridges include one or mounted solid shaving aid portions that are wing shaped and that exhibit an improved conformation to a shaving consumer's skin surface.
US08037601B2	Manufacturing method for rocker arm The present invention provides a rocker arm manufacturing method capable of stably forming valve stem guide walls. In the method according to the present invention, an intermediate product 13 having both side walls 20 extended in a predetermined direction and arranged in parallel with each other and a one end side connection wall 30 connecting lower ends of both the side walls 20 at a longitudinal one end of the product is obtained. Next, a first pressing punch 70 is pressed against the outer surface portions of both the side walls 20 from the outside thereof to cause downward plastic flows of regions of the outer surface portions of both the side walls positioned below the cutout portions 31 to thereby form raising walls 32 in a downwardly protruded manner at both sides of the one end side connection wall 30. Thereafter, valve stem guide walls 35 are formed by pressing second pressing punches 80 against both the raising walls 32 of the one end side connection wall 30.
US08037600B2	Method of producing a land grid array interposer structure A method of producing a land grid array (LGA) interposer structure, including an electrically insulating carrier plane, and mounting at least one interposer on a first surface of the carrier plane. The interposer possesses a hemi-toroidal configuration in transverse cross-section and is constituted of a dielectric elastomeric material. The method includes arranging a plurality of electrically conductive elements about the surface of the at least one hemi-toroidal interposer and extending radically inwardly and downwardly from an uppermost end thereof into electrical contact with at least one component located on an opposite side of the electrically insulating carrier plane.
US08037593B2	Method for manufacturing an ultra narrow gap magnetoresistive sensor A method for manufacturing a magnetoresistive sensor that decreases the stack height of the sensor. The method includes forming a sensor structure having at its top, a Ru layer and a Ta layer over the Ru layer. An annealing process is performed to set the magnetization of the pinned layer of the sensor structure. After the annealing process has been completed and the Ta layer is no longer needed, an ion milling process is performed to remove the Ta layer.
US08037592B2	Cassette changing device A cassette changing device for a microtome has a housing having a loading opening, a transfer opening and an unloading opening. The openings are arranged with respect to each other linearly in the housing. A slide is disposed in the housing linearly movably between a first position and a second position and has a first receiving compartment and a second receiving compartment. The first and second compartments are aligned with respect to each other so that, in the first position of the slide, the first compartment and the second compartment are respectively aligned with a first two of the openings and, in the second position of the slide, the first compartment and the second compartment are respectively aligned with a second two of the openings.
US08037590B2	Method of constructing an articulation joint for steerable medical device A method of constructing an articulation joint includes forming a metallic tube with a number of rings formed therein. Springs may be secured to the inside surface or outside surface of the rings to allow the joint to bend in directions transverse to the axis of the springs. A fixture may be used to hold the springs at the correct position within the tube and the springs may be urged toward the rings or vice versa to obtain a good bond between the springs and the rings.
US08037589B2	System and method for installing a device A technique is provided for installing a device in which a part of the device and the location of the part are automatically determined. An installer is notified of the part and its location for installation. Routines implementing some or all of the technique may be provided on a computer-readable medium. A method is also provided for locating a part to be installed using a project manager application. An installer retrieves the part from the location and installs the part. In one embodiment, the present techniques are implemented using an installation system including a processor-based system and a locator system. The processor-based system is configured to indicate a location of a part to be installed while the locator system is configured to provide the location to the processor-based system.

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