最新美国发明专利第2011-12-13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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US08076262B2	Production of broad molecular weight polyethylene Broad molecular weight polyethylene and polyethylene having a bimodal molecular weight profile can be produced with chromium oxide based catalyst systems employing alkyl silanols. The systems may also contain various organoaluminum compounds. Catalyst activity and molecular weight of the resulting polyethylene may also be tuned using the present invention.
US08076260B2	Substrate structure and manufacturing method of the same After a titanium nitride (TiN) thin film is formed on a silicon substrate, cobalt (Co) fine particles and nickel (Ni) fine particles are deposited in a mixed state on the titanium nitride (TiN) thin film, and CNTs are sequentially grown from the cobalt (Co) fine particles and the nickel fine particles by varying growth conditions.
US08076258B1	Method and apparatus for making recyclable catalysts A method of producing a fixed-bed catalyst with nano-scale structure using a nano-powder production reactor and a filter, the method comprising: introducing a starting powder into the reactor, wherein the starting powder comprises catalyst material; the reactor nano-sizing the starting powder, thereby producing an output, wherein the output comprises a nano-powder entrained in a fluid stream, the nano-powder comprising a plurality of nano-particles, each nano-particle comprising the catalyst material; introducing the output from the reactor to the filter structure, wherein the filter structure is fluidly coupled to the reactor; the filter structure separating the nano-particles from the fluid stream, wherein the fluid stream flows through the filter structure, while the filter structure collects the nano-particles, thereby forming a structured collection of catalytic nano-particles on the filter structure; and removing the filter structure from the reactor, wherein the structured collection of catalytic nano-particles is maintained for use as a fixed-bed catalyst.
US08076257B1	High temperature ceramic dielectric composition and capacitors made from the composition A bismuth sodium titanate (Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3) base material is modified by the partial substitution of aliovalent A-site cations such as barium (as BaO) or strontium (as SrO), as well as certain b-site donor/acceptor dopants and sintering aids to form a multi-phase system, much like known “core/shell” X7R dielectrics based solely on BaTiO3. The resulting ceramic dielectric composition is particularly suitable for producing a multilayer ceramic capacitor (10) that maintains high dielectric constant (and thus the capability of maintaining high capacitance) over a broad temperature range of from about 150° C. to about 300° C. Such capacitors (10) are appropriate for high temperature power electronics applications in fields such as down-hole oil and gas well drilling.
US08076249B2	Structures containing titanium silicon oxide A dielectric containing a titanium silicon oxide film disposed in an integrated circuit and a method of fabricating such a dielectric provide a dielectric for use in a variety of electronic devices. Embodiments include a dielectric containing a titanium silicon oxide film arranged as one or more monolayers. Embodiments include structures for capacitors, transistors, memory devices, and electronic systems with dielectrics containing a titanium silicon oxide film, and methods for forming such structures.
US08076248B2	Methods for forming semiconductor constructions, and methods for selectively etching silicon nitride relative to conductive material The invention includes methods for selectively etching insulative material supports relative to conductive material. The invention can include methods for selectively etching silicon nitride relative to metal nitride. The metal nitride can be in the form of containers over a semiconductor substrate, with such containers having upwardly-extending openings with lateral widths of less than or equal to about 4000 angstroms; and the silicon nitride can be in the form of a layer extending between the containers. The selective etching can comprise exposure of at least some of the silicon nitride and the containers to Cl2 to remove the exposed silicon nitride, while not removing at least the majority of the metal nitride from the containers. In subsequent processing, the containers can be incorporated into capacitors.
US08076240B2	Techniques to improve characteristics of processed semiconductor substrates Techniques to improve characteristics of processed semiconductor substrates are described, including cleaning a substrate using a preclean process, the substrate comprising a dielectric region and a conductive region, introducing a hydroquinone to the substrate after cleaning the substrate using the preclean operation, and forming a capping layer over the conductive region of the substrate after introducing the hydroquinone.
US08076239B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes the steps of forming an insulating film on a semiconductor substrate having a silicide layer, forming a hole in the insulating film on the silicide layer, cleaning an inside of the hole and a surface of the silicide layer, forming a titanium layer on a bottom surface and an inner peripheral surface of the hole by a CVD method, forming a copper diffusion preventing barrier metal layer on the titanium layer in the hole, and burying a copper layer in the hole.
US08076237B2	Method and apparatus for 3D interconnect The present invention discloses methods for depositing a material, particularly a conductive material, in cavities of a substrate and forming bonding contacts or pads thereon. An intracavity structure may be utilized in conjunction with embodiments of the present invention to provide efficient filling of diverse cavities within the substrate. Also provided are embodiments for interconnection structures using filled cavities, along with electrically conductive or reactive structures which may include capacitors fabricated within a substrate.
US08076232B2	Semiconductor device and method of forming composite bump-on-lead interconnection A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die mounted to a substrate with a plurality of composite interconnects formed between interconnect sites on the substrate and bump pads on the die. The interconnect sites are part of traces formed on the substrate. The interconnect site has a width between 1.0 and 1.2 times a width of the trace. The composite interconnect is tapered. The composite interconnects have a fusible portion connected to the interconnect site and non-fusible portion connected to the bump pad. The non-fusible portion can be gold, copper, nickel, lead solder, or lead-tin alloy. The fusible portion can be tin, lead-free alloy, tin-silver alloy, tin-silver-copper alloy, tin-silver-indium alloy, eutectic solder, or other tin alloys with silver, copper, or lead. An underfill material is deposited between the semiconductor die and substrate. A finish such as Cu-OSP can be formed over the substrate.
US08076230B2	Method of forming self-aligned contacts and local interconnects A method for simultaneous formation of a self-aligned contact of a core region and a local interconnect of a peripheral region of an integrated circuit includes etching a cap dielectric layer to simultaneously form a hole in the core region and a trench in the peripheral region of the cap dielectric layer, etching a dielectric layer to simultaneously form a hole in the core region and a trench in the peripheral region of the dielectric layer of the dielectric layer, etching a liner layer simultaneously on a shoulder of sidewall spacers associated with the hole and with the trench of the dielectric layer without etching the liner layer at a bottom area of the hole and the trench, performing an oxygen flushing to remove polymer residues, and etching simultaneously through the liner layer that lines the bottom area of the hole and the trench.
US08076229B2	Methods of forming data cells and connections to data cells Disclosed are methods and devices, among which is a method that includes forming a lower conductive material on a substrate, forming a stop material on the substrate, forming a sacrificial material on the substrate, etching the sacrificial material with an etch that is selective to the sacrificial material and selective against the stop material, and etching the lower conductive material.
US08076220B2	Fabrication method for device structure having transparent dielectric substrate A semiconductor device has a transparent dielectric substrate such as a sapphire substrate. To enable fabrication equipment to detect the presence of the substrate optically, the back surface of the substrate is coated with a triple-layer light-reflecting film, preferably a film in which a silicon oxide or silicon nitride layer is sandwiched between polycrystalline silicon layers. This structure provides high reflectance with a combined film thickness of less than half a micrometer.
US08076211B2	Fabricating bipolar junction select transistors for semiconductor memories A bipolar junction transistor may act as a select device for a semiconductor memory. The bipolar junction transistor may be formed of a stack of base and collector layers. Sets of parallel trenches are formed in a first direction down to the base and in a second direction down to the collector. The trenches may be used to form local enhancement implants into the exposed portion of the base and collector in each trench. As a result of the local enhancement implants, in some embodiments, leakage current may be reduced, active current capability may be higher, gain may be higher, base resistance may be reduced, breakdown voltage may be increased, and parasitic effects with adjacent junctions may be reduced.
US08076209B2	Methods for fabricating MOS devices having highly stressed channels Methods for forming a semiconductor device comprising a silicon-comprising substrate are provided. One exemplary method comprises depositing a polysilicon layer overlying the silicon-comprising substrate, amorphizing the polysilicon layer, etching the amorphized polysilicon layer to form a gate electrode, etching recesses into the substrate using the gate electrode as an etch mask, depositing a stress-inducing layer overlying the gate electrode, annealing the silicon-comprising substrate to recrystallize the gate electrode, removing the stress-inducing layer, and epitaxially growing impurity-doped, silicon-comprising regions in the recesses.
US08076208B2	Method for forming transistor with high breakdown voltage using pitch multiplication technique Transistors are formed using pitch multiplication. Each transistor includes a source region and a drain region connected by strips of active area material separated by shallow trench isolaton structures. The shallow trench isolaton structures are formed by dielectric material filling trenches that are formed by pitch multiplication. During pitch multiplication, rows of spaced-apart mandrels are formed and spacer material is blanket deposited over the mandrels. The spacer material is etched to define spacers on sidewalls of the mandrels and the mandrels are subsequently removed, thereby leaving free-standing spacers. The spacers constitute a mask, through which an underlying substrate is etched to form the trenches and strips of active area material. The trenches are filled to form the shallow trench isolaton structures. The substrate is doped to form source, drain and channel regions and a gate is formed over the channel region. In some embodiments, the shallow trench isolaton structures and the strips of material facilitate the formation of transistors having a high breakdown voltage.
US08076207B2	Gate structure and method of making the same A method of making a gate structure includes the following steps. First, a gate is formed. Then, a first silicon oxide layer, a silicon nitride layer, and a second silicon oxide layer are formed to cover the gate from bottom to top. Later, a dry etching is performed to etch the second silicon oxide layer. After that, a wet etching is performed to etch the silicon nitride layer and the first silicon oxide layer. The aforesaid wet etching is performed by utilizing an RCA cleaning solution. Furthermore, the silicon nitride layer is formed by the SINGEN process. Therefore, the first and second silicon oxide layer and the silicon nitride layer can be etched together by the RCA cleaning solution.
US08076206B2	Method for manufacturing SONOS flash memory A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device which includes steps of forming a dummy layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a groove 12 in the semiconductor substrate while using the dummy layer as a mask, forming a tunnel insulating film and a trap layer to cover an inner surface of the groove and the dummy layer, eliminating the trap layer formed above the upper surface and at the sides of the dummy layer, and forming a top insulating film to cover a remaining trap layer and the exposed tunnel insulating film.
US08076197B2	Image sensor and method for fabricating the same A CMOS image sensor includes a substrate including silicon, a silicon germanium (SiGe) epitaxial layer formed over the substrate, the SiGe epitaxial layer formed through epitaxial growth and doped with a predetermined concentration level of impurities, an undoped silicon epitaxial layer formed over the SiGe epitaxial layer by epitaxial growth, and a photodiode region formed from a top surface of the undoped silicon epitaxial layer to a predetermined depth in the SiGe epitaxial layer.
US08076196B2	Semiconductor device and fabrication method for the same The semiconductor device includes: memory cells each having a first multilayer electrode including a first lower electrode made of a first conductive film and a first upper electrode made of a second conductive film formed one on the other with a first interface film therebetween; and a diode having a diode electrode made of the second conductive film and a second interface film as a silicon oxide film formed at the interface between the diode electrode and a substrate. The first interface film has a thickness with which electrical connection between the lower electrode and the upper electrode is maintained, and the second interface film has a thickness with which epitaxial growth between the substrate and the diode electrode is inhibited.
US08076191B2	Method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including memory cell formation region In processing memory cells for forming a nonvolatile memory in a semiconductor device, a second polysilicon film is formed in such a manner as to cover a first polysilicon film and a dummy gate electrode. Thus, the second polysilicon film is formed reflecting the shapes of a step difference portion and a gap groove. Particularly, in the second polysilicon film covering the gap groove, a concave part is formed. Subsequently, over the second polysilicon film, an antireflection film is formed. Thus, the antireflection film having high flowability flows from the higher region to the lower region of the step difference portion, but is stored in a sufficient amount in the concave part. Accordingly, the antireflection film is supplied from the concave part so as to compensate for the amount of the antireflection film to flow out therefrom.
US08076188B2	Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device including a protecting element with a p-n junction which can be formed in the same process as that of a p-channel junction FET while the junction FET is formed in simple manufacturing process is provided. In the method of manufacturing semiconductor device composed of compound semiconductor having a p-channel FET and protective element, an n-type channel layer 2, n+-type contact layer 3, n-type semiconductor layer 5, p-type channel layer 7, p+-type contact layer 8 are laminated on a substrate 1 to form a semiconductor laminate portion 10. A portion of the semiconductor laminate portion 10 is removed by etching to expose the n+-type contact layer 3 and gate electrode 13 of a junction p-channel FET 22 is formed on the surface of the exposed n+-type contact layer 3. A protective element 23 is formed by a portion of the semiconductor 10.
US08076173B2	Semiconductor device and method of producing the same A semiconductor substrate and a method of its manufacture has a semiconductor substrate having a carbon concentration in a range of 6.0×1015 to 2.0×1017 atoms/cm3, both inclusively. One principal surface of the substrate is irradiated with protons and then heat-treated to thereby form a broad buffer structure, namely a region in a first semiconductor layer where a net impurity doping concentration is locally maximized. Due to the broad buffer structure, lifetime values are substantially equalized in a region extending from an interface between the first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer to the region where the net impurity doping concentration is locally maximized. In addition, the local minimum of lifetime values of the first semiconductor layer becomes high. It is thus possible to provide a semiconductor device having soft recovery characteristics, in addition to high-speed and low-loss characteristics, while suppressing a kinked leakage current waveform.
US08076172B2	Method of manufacturing solid-state imaging device and method of manufacturing electronic apparatus A method of manufacturing a solid-state imaging device, where a signal circuit is formed on an insulating interlayer on a first side of a semiconductor substrate in which a photoelectric conversion part is formed and light is incident on the photoelectric conversion part from a second side thereof. The method includes the steps of: forming an on-chip color filter and an on-chip microlens on the second side where light is incident; and forming an opening in a pad part on the second side where light is incident.
US08076171B2	Mold and manufacturing method for display device A mold for a display device, comprises a supporting frame; the supporting frame comprising at least one depressed pattern forming part on a first side of the supporting frame, and an organic layer removing part which is formed on a circumference of the pattern forming part, the pattern forming part depressed regions of different depths, the mold having light-blocking and light-transmitting portions corresponding to certain of the depressed pattern forming parts.
US08076170B2	Backside illuminated image sensor with shallow backside trench for photodiode isolation A backside illuminated image sensor comprises a sensor layer implementing a plurality of photosensitive elements of a pixel array, an oxide layer adjacent a backside surface of the sensor layer, and at least one dielectric layer adjacent a frontside surface of the sensor layer. The sensor layer further comprises a plurality of backside trenches formed in the backside surface of the sensor layer and arranged to provide isolation between respective pairs of the photosensitive elements. The backside trenches have corresponding backside field isolation implant regions formed in the sensor layer, and the resulting structure provides reductions in carrier recombination and crosstalk between adjacent photosensitive elements. The image sensor may be implemented in a digital camera or other type of digital imaging device.
US08076164B1	On-die bond wires system and method for enhancing routability of a redistribution layer An integrated circuit includes a first die and a second die positioned in a package. The first die has a redistribution layer formed on the die and including a plurality of relocated bond pads. The relocated bond pads are positioned near an inner edge of the first die that is adjacent to an inner edge of the second die. Each relocated bond pad is coupled to a corresponding bond pad on the second die through a respective bonding wire. The first die further includes a plurality of original bond pads. The redistribution layer further includes at least one intermediate bond pad electrically interconnected through a respective conductive trace to a corresponding original bond pad. Each intermediate bond pad is electrically connected to a corresponding relocated bond pad through a respective bond wire.
US08076162B2	Method of providing particles having biological-binding areas for biological applications The present invention includes micro-sphere composition, methods of making binding assays. The present invention also includes a micro-sphere for binding biological molecules without pretreatment. The micro-sphere includes a spherical glass substrate having one or more metal nanoparticle regions that are exposed from within the glass, wherein the micro-sphere is capable of binding biological molecules without pretreatment.
US08076159B2	Ligand-regulable transactivation systems, methods of use thereof, methods of detecting estrogen receptor ligands, and methods of differentiating estrogen receptor ligand agonists and antagonists Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure include ligand-regulable transactivation systems, methods of producing ligand-regulable transactivation systems, methods of using ligand-regulable transactivation systems, reporter polynucleotides, method of producing reporter polynucleotides, activator fusion proteins, methods of producing activator fusion proteins, methods of regulating gene expression in vitro and in vivo for gene therapy, methods of screening estrogen receptor modulators with therapeutic treatments (e.g., anticancer, antiosteoporosis, and hormone replacement treatments), method of screening compounds (e.g., drugs and environmental pollutants) for the estrogenic effect, methods of evaluating the estrogen receptor pathway under different pathological conditions are provided, and the like.
US08076157B2	Vitamin D metabolite determination utilizing mass spectrometry following derivatization The invention relates to the detection of vitamin D metabolites. In a particular aspect, the invention relates to methods for detecting derivatized vitamin D metabolites by mass spectrometry.
US08076152B2	Microfluidic devices comprising fluid flow paths having monolithic chromatographic material Aspects of the invention include a microfluidic device having a fluid flow path and a monolithic chromatographic material covalently bound to at least a portion of a polymeric surface of the fluid flow path. Aspects of the invention further include methods of making and using such devices.
US08076149B1	Evaluating mixtures of low molecular weight heparins by chain profiles or chain mapping Methods for analyzing mixtures of polysaccharides, for example heparin such as unfractionated heparin and enoxaparin are described. In some instances, the mixtures are analyzed using fast performance liquid chromatography (FPLC) and high liquid performance chromatography (HPLC), e.g., strong anion exchange HPLC.
US08076148B2	Cytochrome c protein and assay The present invention relates to a cytochrome c-reporter fusion protein construct comprising a modified cytochrome c protein which targets the mitochondria and has a reduced ability to induce apoptosis in a living cell. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs encoding such protein fusions and cells stably transfected with such constructs. The stably transfected cells of the invention can be used in assays to detect apoptosis.
US08076146B2	Methods for evaluating and manufacturing rubber and method for manufacturing joint seal for inkjet printer A method for evaluating rubber is provided which can evaluate the degree of crosslinking of a crosslinked rubber product within a short period of time without performing any specific treatment. In the above method, the amount of energy shift of the peak (such as the peak of C12p3/2 of chlorinated butyl rubber) of a constituent element of the rubber is measured by photoelectron spectroscopy, and the degree of crosslinking of the rubber is evaluated from the amount of energy shift. In addition, a method for manufacturing a rubber product is also provided which includes the steps of measuring the amount of energy shift of the peak of a constituent element of the rubber product by a photoelectron spectrometer which is installed in a manufacturing line and then feeding back measurement result to adjust heat molding conditions so as to obtain a desired degree of crosslinking.
US08076144B2	Protocol for risk stratification of ischemic events and optimized individualized treatment A hemostasis analyzer, such as the Thrombelastograph® (TEG®) hemostasis analyzer is utilized to measure continuously in real time, the hemostasis process from the initial fibrin formation, through platelet-fibrin interaction and lysis to generate blood hemostasis parameters. The measured blood hemostasis parameters permit preparation of an individualized assessment of ischemic event risk and individualized treatment of a subject.
US08076143B2	Method for determining quality of milk and presence of mastitis Methods of determining the quality of milk due to the presence of mastitis, by monitoring the concentration of various ions, and ratios of those ions, in the milk. As the level of mastitic infection progresses, the concentrations of sodium and chloride ions increase and the concentrations of potassium and calcium ions decrease. A ratio of sodium to potassium is more sensitive to infection detection than either ion concentration alone. Similarly, sodium to calcium, chloride to potassium and chloride to calcium is more sensitive than any of the ions alone.
US08076142B2	Rooted plant assay system Disclosed herein are rooted plant assay systems, methods of making rooted plant assay systems, and methods of using rooted plant assay systems for high throughput screening of test polynucleotides for their ability to effect phenotypic traits having agricultural value.
US08076139B1	Processes and compositions for transfecting Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells The present invention generally relates to processes and compositions for the transfection of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. More specifically, the present invention relates to processes for the transfection of CHO cells suspended in an aqueous medium using a transfection composition containing nucleic acid and linear polyethyleneimine.
US08076135B2	Method of preparing a treatment effective amount of allogeneic T-cells Ex-vivo prepared T-cells are harvested from cell culture conditions and formulated in medium suitable for infusion. The formulation is made by labeling the cells with one or more agents which have reactivity for T-cell surface moieties capable of delivery activation signals upon cross-linking and mixing the labeled cells with biodegradable nanospheres or microspheres coated with a material capable of cross-linking the agents attached to the T-cell surface moieties. Alternatively, the formulation may be made by mixing a population of T-cells with biodegradable nanospheres or microspheres coated with a first material and one or more second materials. The first material binds the second material and the second material has reactivity for surface moieties on the T-cells and the interaction of the second materials with the T-cells causes the activation of the T-cells. In either method, the mixture of T-cells and biodegradable spheres are suspended in a medium suitable for infusion, and the mixture is packaged in a container.
US08076133B2	Method for obtaining antigen-specific Tr1 regulatory lymphocytes The invention relates to a method for preparing antigen-specific Tr1 regulatory lymphocytes. The inventive method involves the use of artificial antigen-presenting cells expressing a molecule from the HLA class II system and a human LFA-3 molecule and expressing none of the B7-1, B7-2, B7-H1, CD40, CD23, or ICAM-1 costimulatory molecules.
US08076132B2	Dendritic cell tumor injection (DCTI) therapy The invention relates to a method of treating tumor cells within a patient wherein immature dendritic cells developed from the patient's monocyte cells and a lymphocyte cultured medium (LCM) adjuvant are introduced into the patient directly into the patient's tumor cells. The immature dendritic cells and LCM adjuvant combine with the antigens in the tumor cells to form a cancer vaccine, thereby immediately treating the tumor cells of the patient. The invention also provides a precursor treatment step of treating the patient with radiation therapy or a chemotherapy regimen.
US08076126B2	Single column immunological test elements A plurality of individual single column test elements are provided for use in a clinical testing apparatus. Each test element is defined by a single test column that includes a quantity of a test material, such as gel material or a bead matrix, including a cover strip used to access the contents of the test column. Individual test elements can be stored, retained and dispensed for testing patient samples.
US08076125B2	Imagewise patterning of films and devices comprising the same The present invention is directed, at least in part, to methods for imagewise patterning of a surface. Such patterned surfaces can be used, e.g., in microfluidic devices. Accordingly, the present invention is also directed, at least in part, to nanopatterned devices which include a microchannel structure and methods for forming such devices.
US08076123B2	Emulsification-free degumming of oil This invention relates to an oil degumming method that is free of emulsification. This method includes the steps of treating crude oil first with immobilized phospholipase and then extracting the phospholipase-treated crude oil with pure water or an aqueous solution.
US08076120B2	3-hydroxypropionic acid and other organic compounds Methods and materials related to producing 3-HP as well as other organic compounds are disclosed. Specifically, isolated nucleic acids, polypeptides, host cells, and methods and materials for producing 3-HP and other organic compounds are disclosed.
US08076117B2	Microbial biofilm removal methods and systems Methods, kits, and systems for removing microbial biofilms from surfaces of objects (such as, e.g., explanted medical devices) are disclosed. The methods, kits, and systems rely on the use of acoustic energy in the presence of microbubbles to enhance biofilm removal while retaining viability of the microorganisms in the biofilm. The microbubbles may be provided in a variety of manners such as, e.g., vortexing a liquid, obtaining a suspension that includes pre-formed protein-stabilized microbubbles, etc.
US08076112B2	Fermentation processes The present invention provides a fermentation process for producing a fermentation product from starch-containing material wherein one or more antibacterial agents are added before and/or during fermentation.
US08076110B2	Methods for producing alkyl esters This invention relates to a method for producing an alkyl ester via a transesterification or esterification reaction. The method includes (1) mixing an oil source containing a triglyceride or a carboxylic acid and a first primary alcohol or a first secondary alcohol in a first organic solvent to form a first solution; in which each molecule of the first organic solvent contains 4-8 carbon atoms and a heteroatom; (2) reacting the triglyceride or the carboxylic acid with the first primary alcohol or the first secondary alcohol in the presence of a first lipase to produce a first alkyl ester, in which the first solution does not undergo phase separation throughout the reaction; and (3) separating the first alkyl ester from the first solution.
US08076108B2	Polypeptides and biosynthetic pathways for the production of stereoisomers of monatin and their precursors Monatin and certain stereoisomers of monatin, such as R,R monatin and S,R monatin, as well as salts thereof, are produced using polypeptides and biosynthetic pathways. These polypeptides and biosynthetic pathways are also useful in the production of R-2-hydroxy-2-(indoly-3-ylmethyl)-4-keto glutaric acid, an intermediate that is formed in certain monatin synthesis pathways, including some biosynthetic pathways.
US08076107B2	Production of monatin stereoisomers Methods and materials for the production of the high intensity sweetener, monatin, in stereoisomerically-pure or stereoisomerically-enriched form are disclosed. For example, methods using stereoisoselective hydrolysis and separation of a monatin-derived lactone ester are disclosed.
US08076105B2	Device and method for high-throughput quantification of MRNA from whole blood Disclosed are a method, device kit, and automated system for simple, reproducible, and high-throughput quantification of mRNA from whole blood. More particularly, the method, device, kit and automated system involve combinations of leukocyte filters attached to oligo(dT)-immobilized multi-well plates.
US08076099B2	Biomarkers of Francisella infection The instant invention concerns Francisella bacteria mediated degradation of alkaline phosphatase (AP). Detection of AP degradation may be used to determine the presence of Francisella bacteria in a sample. Furthermore, methods for identifying and treating Francisella infections by detecting AP degradation are described. Methods of the invention also concerns methods for treating Francisella infection by inhibiting AP degradation.
US08076097B2	Imatinib immunoassay Novel conjugates and immunogens derived from imatinib and monoclonal antibodies generated by these immunogens are useful in immunoassays for the quantification and monitoring of imatinib or its pharmacologically active salts in biological fluids.
US08076096B2	Alteration of cell membrane with FasL Methods and compositions are provided for the persistent modification of cell membranes with exogenous proteins so as to alter the function of the cell to achieve effects similar to those of gene therapy, without the introduction of exogenous DNA. DNA sequences, the proteins and polypeptides embodying these sequences are disclosed for modulating the immune system. The modulations include down-regulation, up-regulation and apoptosis.
US08076095B2	Method for enumeration of mammalian micronucleated erythrocyte populations, while distinguishing platelets and/or platelet-associated aggregates A method for the enumeration of micronucleated erythrocyte populations while distinguishing platelet and platelet-associated aggregates involves the use of a first fluorescent labeled antibody having binding specificity for a surface marker for reticulocytes, a second fluorescent labeled antibody having binding specificity for a surface marker for platelets, and a nucleic acid staining dye that stains DNA (micronuclei) in erythrocyte populations. Because the fluorescent emission spectra of the first and second fluorescent labeled antibodies do not substantially overlap with one another or with the emission spectra of the nucleic acid staining dye, upon excitation of the labels and dye it is possible to detect the fluorescent emission and light scatter produced by the erythrocyte populations and platelets, and count the number of cells from one or more erythrocyte populations in said sample. In particular, the use of the second antibody prevents interference by platelet-associated aggregates in the scoring procedures.
US08076094B2	Phosphorylation of histone H3 at threonine 11—a novel epigenetic mark for transcriptional regulation The present invention relates to a process for controlling at least one androgen receptor- (AR-) regulated mechanism in mammalian cells under histone-phosphorylating conditions, said process comprising allowing at least one inhibitor with specificity for at least one protein kinase C-related kinase (PRK) to act on said at least one PRK1 thereby modulating, preferably down-regulating, the activity of said at least one PRK and optionally blocking said at least one androgen receptor-regulated mechanism in said mammalian cells.
US08076092B2	Nonseparation assay methods Assay methods are disclosed involving specific binding reactions which are simplified compared to known methods. A compound capable of producing chemiluminescence is immobilized on a solid support as is a member of a specific binding pair for capturing an analyte from a sample. An activator compound that activates the chemiluminescent compound and is conjugated to a specific binding pair member is added in excess along with the sample to the solid support. Addition of a trigger solution causes a chemiluminescent reaction at the sites where the activator conjugate has been specifically bound. The assay methods are termed non-separation assays because they do not require removal or separation of excess detection label (activator conjugate) prior to the detection step. The methods are applicable to various types of assays including immunoassays, receptor-ligand assays and nucleic acid hybridization assays.
US08076090B2	Label free biosensors and cells Disclosed are compositions and methods for using label free optical biosensors for performing cell assays. In certain embodiments the assays can be performed in high throughput methods and can be multiplexed.
US08076087B2	Galectin sequences and compositions and methods utilizing same for treating or diagnosing arthritis and other chronic inflammatory diseases Isolated polynucleotides encoding novel galectin-8 variants polypeptides are provided. Also provided are methods and kits using same for diagnosing prognosing and treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other joint/chronic inflammatory diseases.
US08076085B2	Methods and means relating to hepatitis B infection The present inventors have discovered that the presence of antibodies reactive with residues 94-117 of the PreS1 component of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in an individual with HBV infection correlates closely with the effectiveness of interferon (IFN) in treating the individual. Methods and means based on this finding are provided herein.
US08076084B2	Method of predicting metastatic potential prognosis or overall survival of cancer patients A method of predicting metastatic potential, prognosis or overall survival of cancer patients is provided. The method utilizes reliable markers, HIF-1α, TWIST or Snail, to predict the probability of the metastatic potential, prognosis situation or overall survival of cancer patients. Moreover, the method provided by the present invention can reach relatively higher predictability of metastatic potential, prognosis situation or overall survival as compared with the current markers.
US08076081B2	Systems, methods, and compositions for detection of human papilloma virus in biological samples The present invention comprises, without limitation, systems, methods, and compositions for the detection, identification, and quantification, down to the single copy level, of human papillomavirus (HPV) in biological samples, including but not limited to, mammalian body fluids and cervix scrapings, for purposes of detection, treatment and/or management of cancer and dysplasia.
US08076079B2	Single molecule detection using molecular motors The present invention provides methods and compositions for highly sensitive nucleic acid detection, down to the single nucleic acid molecule level. In one aspect, the present invention provides methods for detecting a target nucleic acid comprising: (a) providing first and second target-specific nucleic acids, wherein the first and second target-specific nucleic acids each comprise sequences complementary to the target nucleic acid; wherein the first target specific nucleic acid is bound to a first affinity tag and the second target-specific nucleic acid is bound to a second affinity tag, wherein the first affinity tag is capable of binding to a molecular motor, and wherein the second affinity tag is capable of binding to a detection probe; (b) contacting the first and second target-specific nucleic acids to a sample under conditions whereby the first and second target-specific nucleic acids will hybridize to the target nucleic acid if the target nucleic acid is present in the sample, wherein upon hybridization to the target nucleic acid the first and second target-specific nucleic acids are directly adjacent to each other; (c) ligating the first and second target-specific nucleic acids together; (d) binding the molecular motor t˜ the first affinity tag and the detection probe to the second affinity tag; (e) inducing movement of the molecular motor; and (f) detecting movement of the molecular motor through the detection probe, wherein the movement of the molecular motor serves to detect the target nucleic acid in the sample.
US08076073B2	Cholesterol and hedgehog signaling The present invention sterol-modified hedgehog polypeptides and functional fragments thereof. Methods of identifying compositions which affect hedgehog activity based on inhibition of cholesterol modification of hedgehog protein are described. In one aspect of the invention, the method provides a means for affecting cholesterol biosynthesis or transport in a cell comprising contacting a cell with an effective amount of a compound that affects hedgehog, thereby affecting cholesterol biosynthesis or transport. The effect may be inhibition or stimulation of cholesterol biosynthesis or transport.
US08076067B2	Probe-antiprobe compositions and methods for DNA or RNA detection The invention provides novel compositions and methods for detecting unlabeled nucleic acid targets using labeled polynucleotide probes and partially complementary antiprobes. The interaction of probes, antiprobes and targets result in signaling changes that indicate target frequency. This novel detection mechanism is called a DNA detection switch, and it enable end-point detection, microarray detection and real-time PCR detection of a variety of nucleic acid targets including microbial species and subspecies, drug resistant mutants, and pathogenic strains.
US08076063B2	Multiplexed methylation detection methods The present invention is directed to sensitive and accurate multiplexed assays for target analyte detection and detection of methylation in nucleic acid samples.
US08076062B2	Mutational profiles in HIV-1 protease correlated with phenotypic drug resistance The present invention is directed to the field of nucleic acid diagnostics and the identification of base variation in target nucleic acid sequences. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of such genotypic characterization of a target population of HIV and the subsequent association, i.e., correlation, of this information to phenotypic interpretation in order to correlate virus mutational profiles with drug resistance. The invention also relates to methods of utilizing the mutational profiles of the invention in drug development, i.e., drug discovery, drug design, drug modification, and therapy, treatment design, clinical management and diagnostic analysis.
US08076056B2	Method of making sub-resolution pillar structures using undercutting technique A method of making a device includes forming an underlying mask layer over an underlying layer, forming a first mask layer over the underlying mask layer, patterning the first mask layer to form first mask features, undercutting the underlying mask layer to form underlying mask features using the first mask features as a mask, removing the first mask features, and patterning the underlying layer using at least the underlying mask features as a mask.
US08076049B2	Liquid developer and image forming apparatus A liquid developer includes an insulation liquid containing a fatty acid monoester and toner particles comprised of a resin material, the resin material containing a first resin component and a second resin component of which weight-average molecular weight Mw2 is larger than a weight-average molecular weight Mw1 of the first resin component. The first resin component and the second resin component are characterized in that the weight-average molecular weight Mw1 of the first resin component is in the range of 3,000 to 12,000, the weight-average molecular weight Mw2 of the second resin component is in the range of 20,000 to 400,000, and when an amount of the first resin component contained in the resin material is defined as A (wt %) and an amount of the second resin component contained in the resin material is defined as B (wt %), A and B satisfy a relation: 1.0≦A/B≦9.0. The liquid developer described above is harmless to the environment. Further, the liquid developer also has superior preservability and storage stability and superior fixing characteristics at a low temperature. An image forming apparatus that can suitably use such a liquid developer is also provided.
US08076047B2	Electrophotographic photoreceptor and image formation device provided with the same An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising at least a photosensitive layer formed by laminating a charge generation layer containing a charge generation material and a charge transport layer containing a charge transport material in this order, on a conductive support, wherein the charge generation layer contains an oxotitanylphthalocyanine as the charge generation material and metal oxide microparticles, and the electrophotographic photoreceptor has photosensitive properties in light source of wavelength range from 360 to 420 nm.
US08076043B2	Fuel cell A fuel cell body has an anode having an anode-side separator with projections and depressions formed on its surface, a cathode, and a membrane electrode assembly disposed between the anode and the cathode, and the fuel cell body is disposed in a container for storing liquid fuel so that at least the anode side is immersed therein. Fuel passageways through which the liquid fuel flows are formed by regions surrounded by the projections and depressions on the surface of the separator and the membrane electrode assembly. By this, the downsized, simplified and lower power consuming structure of auxiliary equipment such as a fuel feed system is achieved.
US08076038B2	Fuel cell with vertical displacement A fuel cell system includes a housing partially above and below the ground containing a fuel cell beneath ground level and a fuel tank disposed above the fuel cell. The fuel cell may be accessed by raising it to above ground level with a fuel cell vertical displacement device.
US08076035B2	Fuel cell with sequential enzymatic reactions A fuel cell which utilizes the biogenic metabolism to produce a high current density is provided. The fuel cell generates electric power in such a way that the fuel is decomposed stepwise by a plurality of enzymes and those electrons formed by oxidation are transferred to the electrode. The enzymes work such that the enzyme activity of the enzyme involved in decomposition in the early stage is smaller than the sum of the enzyme activities of the enzymes involved in decomposition in the later stage. In the case where a coenzyme is involved, the enzyme activity of the oxidase that oxidizes the coenzyme is greater than the sum of the enzyme activities of the enzymes involved in the formation of the reduced form of the coenzyme, out of the enzymes involved in the stepwise decomposition of the fuel.
US08076033B2	Method for producing difluorophosphate, nonaqueous electrolyte solution for secondary battery and nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery The present invention provides a simple method for producing a difluorophosphate from a source material, the difluorophosphate being useful as additives for nonaqueous electrolyte solutions for secondary batteries. In the method, a source material containing a carbonate and/or a borate is allowed to react with a source gas which contains P and F and which may further contain O as required. The source material may contain lithium carbonate. The source gas may be produced by decomposing LiPF6. The source gas may be produced in such a manner that LiPF6 and lithium carbonate are mixed and then subjected to reaction. The nonaqueous electrolyte solution contains the product obtained from the reaction.
US08076030B2	Alkali metal titanates, and electrodes and batteries based on the same Disclosed is a lithium titanate material, which may include an additive, and its use as an electrode in a battery. Specifically disclosed is a lithium titanate based material, with primary particle size larger than 100 nm, having very good high rate charge and discharge capabilities when incorporated into a lithium battery.
US08076029B2	Lithium cell with iron disulfide cathode and improved electrolyte A primary cell having an anode comprising lithium and a cathode comprising iron disulfide (FeS2) and carbon particles. The electrolyte comprises a lithium salt dissolved in a solvent mixture which contains 1,3-dioxolane and isosorbide dimethyl ether. The solvent mixture may comprise 1,3-dioxolane, 1,2-dimethoxyethane and additive isosorbide dimethyl ether. The isosorbide dimethyl ether comprises typically between about 2 and 15 percent by weight of the solvent mixture and improves cell service life and performance. A cathode slurry is prepared comprising iron disulfide powder, carbon, binder, and a liquid solvent. The mixture is coated onto a conductive substrate and solvent evaporated leaving a dry cathode coating on the substrate. The anode and cathode can be spirally wound with separator therebetween and inserted into the cell casing with electrolyte then added.
US08076027B2	Negative electrode for lithium secondary battery, lithium secondary battery using same, and methods for manufacturing those A negative electrode for a secondary battery includes a separator; a negative electrode active material layer which is fixed to the separator and can store and emit lithium ions; and a current collector layer formed on the side of the separator opposite to the negative electrode active material layer. The negative electrode active material layer contains at least one selected from the group consisting of silicon, silicon alloys, compounds containing silicon and oxygen, compounds containing silicon and nitrogen, compounds containing silicon and fluorine, tin, tin alloys, compounds containing tin and oxygen, compounds containing tin and nitrogen, and compounds containing tin and fluorine.
US08076023B2	Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery and battery module A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including an electrode assembly, a non-aqueous electrolyte, and a substantially rectangular battery case for housing the electrode assembly and the non-aqueous electrolyte. The thickness α, the width β, and the height γ of the battery case satisfy the relation α<β≦γc. The electrode assembly includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a porous heat-resistant layer disposed between these electrodes. The positive electrode includes a positive electrode active material layer, and the negative electrode includes a negative electrode active material layer. The ratio of the pore volume included in a predetermined area of the porous heat-resistant layer to the battery theoretical capacity is 0.18 to 1.117 ml/Ah. The predetermined area has the same area as the positive electrode active material layer. The porosity of the porous heat-resistant layer is 35 to 85%.
US08076022B1	Battery cover having one or more quenching media A battery includes a case having an interior holding an electrolyte activating one or more anodes and one or more cathodes. A cover is positioned on the case. The cover includes one or more quenching media that each has a phase transition that occurs at a temperature above a failure temperature of the battery and below a failure temperature of the battery. The failure temperature is the temperature at which a chain reaction associated with thermal runaway is initiated. The failure temperature of the battery is the temperature of the battery at which the thermal runaway causes failure of the battery.
US08076021B2	Bipolar battery The present invention provides a bipolar battery made by using a polymer gel electrolyte or a liquid electrolyte in an electrolyte layer, which is highly reliable and prevents liquid junction (short circuit) caused by leak out of an electrolyte solution from the electrolyte part. The present invention provides a bipolar battery laminated, in series, with a plurality pieces of bipolar electrodes which is formed with a positive electrode on one surface of a collector, and a negative electrode on the other surface, so as to sandwich an electrolyte layer, characterized by being provided with a separator which retains the electrolyte later, and a seal resin which is formed and arranged at the outer circumference part of a part of the separator where the electrolyte is retained.
US08076019B2	Energy storage module and electrical apparatus An energy storage module for current supply of an electrical apparatus, in particular for an electrical hand-held machining tool, has a plurality of cells for storage of electrical energy, at least one cell support mounting the cells, being in contact with the cells, enclosing the plurality of cells and made from a heat-conductive material, and at least one cooling body formed on the cell support.
US08076013B2	Magnetic recording medium, magnetic recording medium manufacturing method, and magnetic disk A magnetic recording medium (10) has a substrate (12) and a perpendicular magnetic recording layer (30) formed over the substrate (12). The perpendicular magnetic recording layer (30) has a granular layer (20) in which a magnetic signal is recorded and a continuous film layer (24) magnetically coupled to the granular layer (20). The continuous film layer (24) has hard magnetic portions (204) formed in positions corresponding to the recording regions where magnetic signals are recorded in the granular layer (20) and magnetic shield portions (202) formed between the hard magnetic portions (204), each having a magnetization curve whose slope is larger than those of the hard magnetic portions in the region where the applied magnetic filed is zero when the magnetization curve is measured, and each having a residual magnetic polarization smaller than those in the hard magnetic portions.
US08076012B2	Magnetic thin film and method for forming the film, and magnetic thin film-applied device Disclosed are a magnetic thin film capable of providing a high uniaxial magnetic anisotropy, Ku, while suppressing the saturation magnetization Ms thereof, and a method for forming the film; and also disclosed are various devices to which the magnetic thin film is applied. The magnetic thin film comprises a Co-M-Pt alloy having an L11-type ordered structure (wherein M represents one or more metal elements except Co and Pt). For example, the Co-M-Pt alloy is a Co—Ni—Pt alloy of which the composition comprises from 10 to 35 at. % of Co, from 20 to 55 at. % of Ni and a balance of Pt. The magnetic thin film is applicable to perpendicular magnetic recording media, tunnel magneto-resistance (TMR) devices, magnetoresistive random access memories (MRAM), microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices, etc.
US08076009B2	OLED device with fluoranthene electron transport materials The invention provides an OLED device comprising a cathode, an anode, and having there between a light-emitting layer, further comprising, between the cathode and the light emitting layer, a non-luminescent electron transporting layer containing a compound with a 7,10-diaryl substituted fluoranthene nucleus having no aromatic rings annulated to the fluoranthene nucleus and desirably comprises still further an additional layer containing an organic alkali metal compound, located between the cathode and the electron transporting layer. Devices of the invention provide improvement in features such as efficiency, drive voltage, and operational stability.
US08075999B2	Strengthened glass articles and methods of making A strengthened glass article having a central tension that is below a threshold value above which the glass exhibits frangible behavior. The central tension varies non-linearly with the thickness of the glass. The glass article may be used as cover plates or windows for portable or mobile electronic devices such as cellular phones, music players, information terminal (IT) devices, including laptop computers, and the like.
US08075997B2	Composition and method for making a proppant The present invention relates to proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions. Proppant formulations are further disclosed which use one or more proppants of the present invention. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions are further disclosed. In addition, other uses for the proppants of the present invention are further disclosed, as well as methods of making the proppants.
US08075996B2	Ceramic sintered compact and piezoelectric element A ceramics sintered compact is provided in which a relative dielectric constant and an electromechanical coupling coefficient are improved in superior balance and which shows a relatively high piezoelectric coefficient. A ceramics sintered compact having a perovskite structure is provided in which a (002)/(200) ratio by X-ray diffraction after polarization is applied is 1.0 or greater.
US08075995B2	Coating system, articles and assembly using the same and methods of reducing sticktion The present invention provides a coating system for an article including a first component having a surface in frictional engagement with a surface of a second component, wherein at least a portion of at least one surface of the component(s) is coated with a coating prepared from a composition including a first, curable organopolysiloxane comprising at least two alkenyl groups; and a second, curable organopolysiloxane comprising at least two polar groups, the second organopolysiloxane being different from the first organopolysiloxane, which can provide low breakloose force when used in syringe assemblies.
US08075994B2	Thermal bonding conjugate fiber with excellent bulkiness and softness, and fiber formed article using the same A thermal bonding conjugate fiber constituted from a first component comprising a polyester resin and a second component comprising a polyolefin resin with a melting point lower than that of the polyester resin by not less than 20° C., characterized in that a post-heat treatment bulk retention rate thereof is 20% or more when calculated by the following measurement method: Bulk retention rate=(H1 (mm)/H0 (mm))×100(%) (wherein H0 is the web height when a 0.1 g/cm2 load is applied to a web with a mass per unit area of 200 g/m2; and H1 is the web height after a heat treatment for 5 min at 145° C. when a 0.1 g/cm2 load is applied to that web).
US08075991B2	Stainless steel member for a fuel cell A stainless steel material for a fuel cell, used for a fuel cell or a cartridge for the fuel cell, having a magnetic permeability of 1.000 to 2.500, and forming a layer having a value of chromium atomic %/iron atomic % of not less than 3.0 in the most surface thereof, and/or the layer of thickness of not less than 12 nm calculated as SiO2 having an oxygen atomic % of not less than 20%. Even when brought into contact with the content solution exhibiting acidity of the fuel cell, the stainless steel material reliably suppresses the elution of metal ions thereof.
US08075988B2	Prepreg and carbon fiber reinforced composite materials A prepreg containing a carbon fiber [A] and a thermosetting resin [B], and in addition, satisfying at least one of the following (1) and (2). (1) a thermoplastic resin particle or fiber [C] and a conductive particle or fiber [D] are contained, and weight ratio expressed by [compounding amount of [C] (parts by weight)]/[compounding amount of [D] (parts by weight)] is 1 to 1000. (2) a conductive particle or fiber of which thermoplastic resin nucleus or core is coated with a conductive substance [E] is contained.
US08075985B2	Metallized biaxially oriented polypropylene film with high metal adhesion Described are laminate films including a polyolefin base layer, and a metal receiving layer including a blend of propylene homopolymer or mini-random propylene-ethylene copolymer, and an amorphous poly-alpha-olefin or ethylene-propylene elastomer. The metal receiving layer may also include an ethylene-propylene copolymer. The laminate film may also include additional layers such as an additional polyolefin resin-containing layer, a metal layer, or combinations thereof.
US08075981B2	Alternating pattern gel cushioning elements and related methods An alternating pattern gel cushioning device and methods for making the same. The gel pattern may be two- or three-dimensional. The devices may be zoned or stacked. The device may be made by a variety of methods including roller molding, open-face molding, injection molding, casting, extrusion, compression molding and other methods.
US08075980B2	Diffraction grating assisted self-cleaning material A self-cleaning material is generally described that may include a substrate having a first surface and a second surface. A self cleaning layer may be disposed on the first surface of the substrate. A diffraction grating may be formed in an exposed surface of the self cleaning layer, where absorption of light by the self cleaning layer incident on the exposed surface may be enhanced by the diffraction grating in accordance with a blaze condition corresponding to the diffraction grating.
US08075978B2	Method for producing an annular honeycomb body, and annular honeycomb body A method for producing a honeycomb body includes providing an annular radial partial region with channels through which a fluid can flow. The honeycomb body is formed from at least one metallic layer fastened at least at one fastening point to an outer casing tube. Each metallic layer has alternating substantially smooth and structured sections folded onto one another. A honeycomb body is also provided. The method and the honeycomb body advantageously permit an annular honeycomb body with low material expenditure and good durability to be produced.
US08075971B1	Chair mat A chair mat includes two first flat panels having sufficient rigidity to support a chair with a person therein. The panels have abutting straight panel edges. Flexible fabric is permanently adhered to and fully covers one side of the abutting panels. The other side of the abutting panels has an anti-skid surface provided by the panels themselves or covering material not essentially providing tensile strength across the abutting straight panel edges. A material strip extends the length of the abutting first and second straight panel edges permanently adhered to the panels between the flexible fabric sheet and the panels with high tensile strength filaments oriented laterally of the material strip.
US08075966B2	Delamination-resistant multilayer container, preform, article and method with oxygen barrier formulations A plastic preform, container or article includes a multilayer wall having at least one layer of a matrix resin, at least one layer of a barrier resin, an adhesion-promoting material blended with the barrier resin and/or matrix resin, and an active oxygen barrier composition blended with the barrier resin and/or matrix resin. The adhesion-promoting material promotes bonding between the barrier and matrix resin layers and includes an amine polymer, preferably an imine polymer having a number of available primary, secondary or tertiary amine groups. The matrix resin preferably is an ester-containing resin, such as PET. The barrier resin preferably is EVOH. The active oxygen barrier composition includes a metal with an additive compound, and may also include a host polymer.
US08075964B2	EVOH barrier film with reduced autoclave shock The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a barrier film that maintains an oxygen barrier after being subjected to autoclaving conditions. The film comprises one EVOH layer positioned as a core layer, and one EVOH layer positioned directly adjacent to an outer layer comprising highly permeable material having a moisture vapor permeability greater than about 40 g-mil/100 in2-day-atm. During autoclaving, the barrier properties of the EVOH layer positioned adjacent to the outer layer allows improved recovery of oxygen barrier properties. In addition, during rewetting applications, the internal EVOH layer maintains the oxygen barrier. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the disclosed barrier film.
US08075962B2	Newsprint media for inkjet printing A newsprint medium for inkjet printing includes a newsprint medium base paper and a layer of multivalent salt disposed on at least one side of said base paper.
US08075961B2	Display apparatus A glass bonding material contains vanadium and phosphor as main glass components, and comprises in amounts converted as oxides of the elements in the components, 45 to 60% by weight of V2O5, 15 to 30% by weight of P2O5, 5 to 25% by weight of BaO, or contains a glass comprising at least vanadium, phosphor, barium and antimony, wherein the glass comprises in amounts converted as oxides, 15 to 35% by weight of BaO and Sb2O3 in total, and a weight ratio of BaO/Sb2O3 or Sb2O3/BaO is 0.3 or less.
US08075960B2	Liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display device The invention provides a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one characteristic among the characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a low viscosity, a large optical anisotropy, a large dielectric anisotropy, a small pretilt angle, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light, and a high stability to heat, or provides a liquid crystal composition that is properly balanced regarding at least two characteristics. The invention provides an AM device that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a high contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth. A liquid crystal display device contains the liquid crystal composition having a nematic phase that includes three components, wherein the first component is a specific difluoroalkenyldicyclohexane compound having a small viscosity, the second component is a specific compound having difluoromethyleneoxy bond having a large dielectric anisotropy, and the third component is a specific terphenyl compound having a large optical anisotropy.
US08075959B2	Liquid crystal display panel and composition of liquid crystal layer thereof A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel includes a liquid crystal (LC) layer interposed between top and bottom substrates. The LC layer includes a plurality of LC compounds and a stabilization-aligned polymer polymerized from a plurality of polymerizable monomers and formed on at least one surface of the top substrate or the bottom substrate. The plurality of LC compounds comprise first, second, and third LC compounds in which the third LC compound is selected from the group consisting of a compound 3A, a compound 3B, a compound 3C, and combinations thereof. As seen from the chemical formulae, the plurality of LC compounds have condensed rings so that sensitivity to light and heat is reduced and reliability of the LCD panel is improved.
US08075954B2	Coating method and apparatus, a permanent magnet, and manufacturing method thereof The object of the present invention is to improve the productivity of a permanent magnet and to manufacture it at a low cost by effectively coating Dy and Tb on a surface of the magnet of Fe—B-rare earth elements having a predetermined configuration. The permanent magnet of the present invention is manufactured by a coating step for coating Dy on the surface of the magnet of Fe—B-rare earth elements having a predetermined configuration and a diffusing step for diffusing Dy coated on the surface of the magnet into crystal grain boundary phases of the magnet with being heat treated at a predetermined temperature. In this case, the coating step comprises a first step for heating a process chamber used for carrying out the coating step and generating metallic vapor atmosphere within the process chamber by vaporizing vaporizable metallic material previously arranged within the process chamber, and a second step for introducing into the process chamber the magnet held at a temperature lower than that within the process chamber and then selectively depositing the vaporizable metallic material on a surface of the magnet by an effect of temperature difference between the temperature within the process chamber and that of the magnet by the magnet reaches a predetermined temperature.
US08075953B2	Thin organic alignment layers with a batch process for liquid crystal displays A method to form alignment layers on a substrate of an LCD is disclosed. The substrate is placed in a vacuum chamber and undergoes a purging process. The purging process heats the substrates and removes water vapor from the vacuum chamber. Specifically, the vacuum chamber is evacuated to a low pressure and refilled with a preheated inert gas. Evacuation of the vacuum chamber and refilling of the vacuum chamber is repeated several times. The alignment layer is then deposited using vapor deposition. Alternatively, plasma enhanced vapor deposition can be used for depositing the alignment layer. Furthermore, plasma cleaning prior to the deposition of the alignment layer can used clean the substrate.
US08075952B2	Power loading substrates to reduce particle contamination A method for preventing particle contamination within a processing chamber is disclosed. Preheating the substrate within the processing chamber may cause a thermophoresis effect so that particles within the chamber that are not adhered to a surface may not come to rest on the substrate. One method to increase the substrate temperature is to plasma load the substrate. Plasma loading comprises providing an inert gas plasma to the substrate to heat the substrate. Another method to increase the substrate temperature is high pressure loading the substrate. High pressure loading comprises heating the substrate while increasing the chamber pressure to between about 1 Torr and about 10 Torr. By rapidly increasing the substrate temperature within the processing chamber prior to substrate processing, particle contamination is less likely to occur.
US08075951B2	Carbon-polymer electrochemical systems and methods of fabricating them using layer-by-layer technology One aspect of the invention provides ion-exchange and gas-diffusion membranes, fabricated by a layer-by-layer approach, for use, e.g., in electrochemical cells; a process for making membrane electrode assemblies fabricated using porous frameworks, LBL composite membranes and LBL carbon-Polymer electrodes; and the application of the membrane and electrode assemblies to a variety of devices, both electrochemical and otherwise.
US08075946B2	Discharge method, color filter manufacturing method, electro-optical apparatus, and electronic device A discharge method is provided to discharge a liquid containing a functional material from a plurality of nozzles of a droplet discharge head to a plurality of film formation regions of a discharge medium in synchronization with a relative movement of the discharge medium and the droplet discharge head. The discharge method includes performing a first discharge step in which the liquid is discharged from a plurality of nozzles in a nozzle row so that the liquid is not discharged simultaneously from adjacent nozzles positioned over the film formation regions, and performing a second discharge step in which the liquid is discharged from a plurality of nozzles in the nozzle row in a different combination from the nozzles used in the first discharging step so that the liquid is not discharged simultaneously from adjacent nozzles positioned over the film formation regions.
US08075938B2	Dry psyllium husk incorporated dough products and method of preparation thereof The present invention discloses dry psyllium husk incorporated dough products and method of preparation thereof. Up to 14% unpowdered psyllium husk-300 mesh sized psyllium husk powder (having 95% to 99.99% purity) of total amount flour is used for the preparation of dough products. Also 4.5 gm±20% water per 1 gm of psyllium is the right quantity of additional water to bind the dough having psyllium. The psyllium husk can be either whole, fragmented, slitted, normal, bleached, snow white or processed source of psyllium husk powder.
US08075934B2	Nutritional composition with improved digestibility The present invention is directed an improved nutritional composition, methods of improving digestion, and methods of enhancing the bioavailability of TGF-β.
US08075927B1	Pet repellant tire dressing The present invention discloses a non-toxic, long-lasting tire dressing with pet repellent qualities which enhances the appearance of a vehicle's tires while deterring animals from urinating on the tires. The present invention relates to a new pet repellent tire dressing includes silicone, a solvent, citronella oil, cinnamon oil, and piper nigrum oil. In one embodiment, the citronella oil ranges from about 0.1% to 4% by weight, the cinnamon oil ranges from about 0.04% to 1.6% of the solution by weight, the piper nigrum oil ranges from about 0.01% to 0.4% of the solution, by weight, a solvent and silicone. In one embodiment, the pet repellent tire dressing also includes a dye up to the amount of 0.02% by weight.
US08075926B2	Herbal compositions for the treatment of mucosal lesions The present invention provides therapeutic compositions comprising extracts of the plant species Echinacea purpurea and Sambucus nigra and the extract(s) of at least one further plant selected from the group consisting of Hypericum perforatum, Commiphora molmol and Centella asiatica. The compositions of the invention are of particular utility in the management of inflammatory mucosal diseases of both viral and non-viral origin.
US08075917B2	Composition for solubilization of paclitaxel and preparation method thereof The present invention relates to a paclitaxel composition and the preparation methods thereof to solubilize paclitaxel wherein said composition comprises 4 to 90% by weight of at least one selected from the monoglycerides, 0.01 to 90% by weight of at least one oil and 0.01 to 20% by weight of paclitaxel. Also the present invention relates to a paclitaxel composition including emulsifiers and the preparation methods thereof to solubilize paclitaxel wherein said composition comprises 4 to 90% by weight of at least one selected from the monoglycerides, 0.01 to 90% by weight of at least one emulsifier and 0.01 to 20% by weight of paclitaxel. The composition of the present invention is an effective paclitaxel delivery system since the composition solubilizes paclitaxel, does not form aggregates after being dispersed in water, adsorbs well on the intestinal wall, and therefore has high bioavailability.
US08075916B2	Poly(organophosphazene) hydrogels for drug delivery, preparation method thereof and use thereof A biodegradable and thermosensitive poly(organophosphazene) with a functional group, a preparation method thereof, and a use thereof for delivery of bioactive substances are provided.
US08075914B2	Method and formulation for treating resistance to antihypertensives and related conditions A method for the prevention or treatment of symptoms of hypertension in a patient who is resistant to antihypertensive effects of an antihypertensive compound administered in the absence of melatonin comprises administering to said patient melatonin in an amount effective to ameliorate or prevent symptoms of hypertension in said patient.
US08075909B2	Contact lens based bioactive agent delivery system A bioactive agent delivery system comprising an optically transparent contact lens having dispersed therein (1) an ophthalmically bioactive agent capable of diffusion through the contact lens and into the post-lens tear film when placed on the eye and (2) associated with the bioactive agent, an ophthalmically compatible polymeric surfactant in an amount sufficient to slow the rate of migration of the bioactive agent through the contact lens.
US08075908B2	Apparatus and method for reducing the occurrence of post-surgical adhesions A method for inhibiting formation of adhesions following abdominal surgery which involves application of an anti-static fatty acid ethoxylated amide (Cocamide DEA) in a matrix that is placed in the peritoneal cavity at the conclusion of an abdominal surgery and which releases this anti-adhesive chemical over a predetermined time in a range from about five to seven days. Tests conducted on laboratory rats established that the method reduced the incidences of adhesions from 100 percent (100%) in a test model to near zero percent (0%) in the treated animals. In an alternative embodiment, Andrographalide was delivered through a drug pump with similar results. In still another embodiment, an effective amount of Rapamune was delivered, via a pump, into the abdominal cavity, again with similar results.
US08075907B2	Polymethylmethacrylate revision bone cement The invention relates to a PMMA revision bone cement having powder and liquid component, in which the powder component contains two or more granular antibiotics whose grain size distribution is equal in that the main screening fraction each of the individual antibiotics is in the same grain size range, in particular in the range of 100-250 μm or 150-250 μm.
US08075903B2	Dengue tetravalent vaccine containing a common 30 nucleotide deletion in the 3′-UTR of dengue types 1, 2, 3, and 4 or antigenic chimeric dengue viruses 1, 2, 3, and 4 The invention relates to a dengue virus tetravalent vaccine containing a common 30 nucleotide deletion (Δ30) in the 3′-untranslated region of the genome of dengue virus serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4, or antigenic chimeric dengue viruses of serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4.
US08075900B2	Melanoma associated peptide analogues and vaccines against melanoma The present invention is concerned with cancer treatment and diagnosis, especially with melanoma associated peptide analogues with improved immunogenicity, epitopes thereof; vaccines against melanoma, tumor infiltrating T lymphocytes recognizing the antigen and diagnostics for the detection of melanoma and for the monitoring of vaccination. The peptides according to the invention can be exploited to elicit native epitope-reactive Cm. Usage of the peptides with improved immunogenicity may contribute to the development of CTL-epitope based vaccines in viral disease and cancer.
US08075899B1	Peptides of the A-chain of proinsulin or insulin The present invention relates generally to the field of immunotherapy and immunodiagnosis of autoimmune conditions. More particularly, the present invention provides peptides of the A-chain of proinsulin or insulin, which are recognized by or are specific for proinsulin- or insulin-sensitized T-cells. The present invention further contemplates the use of the these agents in therapeutic and diagnostic applications for Type 1 diabetes.
US08075898B2	Mite allergen A safe and efficient recombinant mite allergen is provided as a therapeutic agent or a diagnostic agent for mite allergic diseases, which contains no anaphylaxis-inducing impurities. The following recombinant protein (a) or (b) is provided: (a) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 or 35; or (b) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence derived from the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 or 35 by deletion, substitution, or addition of one or several amino acids and having mite allergen activity.
US08075895B2	Identification of antigenic peptides from multiple myeloma cells Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal B cell malignancy and remains essentially incurable by conventional anti-tumor therapy. Patients with MM have a median survival of only three years. MM is characterized by proliferation and accumulation of mature plasma cells in the bone marrow (BM) leading to bone destruction, BM failure, anemia, and reduced immune function. The identification of MHC Class I, HLA-A2, associated peptides presented on multiple myeloma cells is an important step in developing immunotherapies for MM. Presented here are methods for creating activated T lymphocytes that are cytotoxic to both peptide loaded T2 target cells and multiple myeloma cell lines.
US08075892B2	Treatment with anti-ErbB2 antibodies The present invention concerns the treatment of disorders characterized by the overexpression of ErbB2. More specifically, the invention concerns the treatment of human patients susceptible to or diagnosed with cancer overexpressing ErbB2 with a combination of an anti-ErbB2 antibody and a chemotherapeutic agent other than an anthracycline, e.g. doxorubicin or epirubicin. The invention further provides a method of treating cancer in a human patient comprising administering effective amounts of an anti-ErbB2 antibody and a cardioprotectant to the patient.
US08075891B2	Antibodies that bind ALS specific epitopes and methods of making The invention relates to an epitope protection assay for use in diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic intervention in diseases, for example, involving polypeptide aggregation, such as prion infections. The methods of the invention first block accessible polypeptide target epitope with a blocking agent. After denaturation of the polypeptide, a detecting agent is used to detect protein with target epitope that was inaccessible during contact with the blocking agent. The invention also relates to novel amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-specific epitopes and their uses to make antibodies, and to the novel antibodies and uses thereof.
US08075890B2	Method for making humanized antibodies Variant immunoglobulins, particularly humanized antibody polypeptides are provided, along with methods for their preparation and use. Consensus immunoglobulin sequences and structural models are also provided.
US08075889B2	Antibody molecules having specificity for human IL-6 The invention relates to antibody molecules having specificity for antigenic determinants of IL-6, therapeutic uses of the antibody molecules and methods for producing said antibody molecules.
US08075887B2	High affinity human antibodies to human IL-4 receptor The present invention provides methods for treating one or more diseases or disorders which are improved, inhibited or ameliorated by reducing interleukin-4 (IL-4) activity. The methods of the invention comprise administering to a patient an antibody, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, which specifically binds to a human IL-4 receptor.
US08075882B2	Adoptive immune cells for tumor vaccines Adoptive immune cells obtained by a method including (a) obtaining mammalian antigen-presenting associated cells; (b) culturing the resulting cells from step (a) in a culture liquid contained in a culture vessel coated with a sugar chain-containing polymer; and (c) detaching the cells from step (b) by shaking the culture vessel without treating the cells with an enzyme and without using a cell detaching tool. A method for treating a malignant tumor, type I diabetes, an atopic allergic disease or an infection, by administering the adoptive immune cells to a patient. A pharmaceutical composition for treating a malignant tumor, type I diabetes, an atopic allergic disease or an infection, including the adoptive immune cells and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
US08075880B2	Compositions and methods for regulating angiogenesis In accordance with the present invention, EC progenitors can be used in a method for regulating angiogenesis, i.e., enhancing or inhibiting blood vessel formation, in a selected patient and in some preferred embodiments for targeting specific locations. For example, the EC progenitors can be used to enhance angiogenesis or to deliver an angiogenesis modulator, e.g. anti- or pro-angiogenic agents, respectively to sites of pathologic or utilitarian angiogenesis. Additionally, in another embodiment, EC progenitors can be used to induce reendothelialization of an injured blood vessel, and thus reduce restenosis by indirectly inhibiting smooth muscle cell proliferation.
US08075877B2	Broad spectrum immune and antiviral gene modulation by oral interferon An antiviral/immunomodulatory response in an animal is induced by oral administration to an infected animal, including humans, of a human α-interferon. Methods of conferring resistance or mitigating the effects of exposure to a virus including avian influenza are described.
US08075870B2	Process for obtaining hydrogen from natural gas The invention relates to a process for obtaining hydrogen from natural gas which comprises (a) reacting the natural gas with a mixture of air and steam in a single reactor to obtain a gas comprising H2 and CO, (b) reacting the CO produced at a high temperature with steam to obtain a gas comprising H2 and CO2, and (c) reacting the CO which has not reacted in step (b) at a low temperature with steam to obtain a gas comprising H2 and CO2, characterized in that in step (a) the natural gas, the air and the steam are fed simultaneously and react on the same catalyst and in that the pressure used in steps (a) to (c) varies between 1 and 8 atm, as well as to a H2 production plant for carrying out the mentioned process.
US08075868B2	Iron arsenate powder There is provided an iron arsenate powder which is produced from an arsenic containing solution and wherein the concentration of arsenic eluted or released from the powder is very low. The iron arsenate powder is a powder of dihydrate of iron arsenate, which has a crystal structure of rhombic system and which has lattice constants of a=0.8950 to 0.8956 nm, b=1.0321 to 1.0326 nm and c=1.0042 to 1.0050 nm at room temperatures and atmospheric pressure. The iron arsenate powder can be produced by a method comprising the steps of: adding ferrous ions to an arsenic containing solution to cause the molar ratio (Fe/As) of iron to arsenic in the solution to be not lower than 1; adding an oxidizing agent to the solution; heating the solution to a temperature of not lower than 70° C. while stirring the solution, to allow a reaction; and carrying out a solid-liquid separation to wash the obtained solid part.
US08075865B2	Lithium argyrodite The invention relates to lithium argyrodite of the general formula (I): Li+(12-n-x)Bn+X2−6-xY−x (I), where Bn+ is selected from the group consisting of P, As, Ge, Ga, Sb, Si, Sn, Al, In, Ti, V, Nb, and Ta; X2− is selected from the group consisting of S, Se, and Te; Y− is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, I, F, CN, OCN, SCN, and N3; 0≦x≦2, and a method for the production thereof, and the use thereof as a lithium-ion electrolyte in primary and secondary electrochemical energy storage.
US08075862B2	Hydrophobic fumed silica and silicone rubber materials containing the fumed silica The present invention relates to a hydrophobic, fumed silica which is obtained by milling a fumed silica which has fixed dimethylsilyl and/or monomethylsilyl groups on the surface due to silanization; and to a process for the preparation of the silica according to the invention, and to silicone rubber materials containing the silica according to the invention.
US08075860B2	Thermal spray powder and method for forming a thermal spray coating A thermal spray powder includes granulated and sintered yttria particles obtained by granulating and sintering a raw material powder in air or oxygen. The primary particles constituting the granulated and sintered yttria particles have an average particle size between 0.5 and 1.5 μm inclusive, and 1.11 times or more as large as the raw material powder. Alternatively, the primary particles have an average particle size between 3 and 8 μm inclusive.
US08075852B2	System and method for bubble removal In one aspect of the invention, systems, methods, and devices are provided for handling liquid. In some embodiments, such systems, methods, and devices are used to combine fluids while removing gaseous bubbles.
US08075849B2	Medical instrument retainer assembly and method of making the retainer A retainer assembly for retaining a medical device in a container having a perforated wall includes a retainer with a rigid support portion having at least one leg and a flexible, resilient instrument holding portion intimately bonded to the support portion so that the retainer is devoid of cracks and crevices between said portions. Each leg has a free end and an axial passage extending into the leg from that end so that the retainer may be positioned on the container wall with each opening in register with a perforation therein. A fastener extends into the passage of each leg and the underlying perforation from below the wall to anchor each leg to the wall under pressure thereby providing a seal between each leg and the wall. Various retainer embodiments and a method for making same are also disclosed.
US08075848B1	Apparatus for sterilizing mail and textile articles An apparatus for sterilizing various articles includes a cabinet defining a chamber and having a door coupled to the cabinet for selectively sealing the chamber in an airtight manner. The apparatus includes a vacuum pump in communication with the chamber for withdrawing air from the chamber and any respective article placed therein, e.g. a pillow, the vacuum pump causing a reduced air pressure within the chamber. The apparatus further includes an ozone generator in communication with the chamber for introducing ozone into the chamber and into any respective article placed therein. Still further, the apparatus includes an ozone filter in communication with the chamber and having a non-consumable catalyst for converting the ozone into oxygen.
US08075845B2	Heat-exchanger reactor having mixing zones The present invention relates to a heat-exchanger reactor comprising a vessel, at least one dividing member selected from plates, walls, or spiral sheets, which dividing member separates heat exchanging fluids into at least one heat exchanging zone from fluids into at least one mixing zone, and at least one flow-directing device having one or more ports or one or more injection ports, which flow-directing device is inserted into the mixing zone. The present invention relates also to uses of the heat-exchanger reactor.
US08075844B2	Ozone generator An ozone generator for generating ozone by applying a specified process to oxygen by discharge includes a first raw material gas supply unit for supplying the oxygen as a first raw material gas, and a second raw material gas supply unit for supplying an oxide compound gas as a second raw material gas, in which, by excited light, excited and generated by a discharge in the oxygen and the oxide compound gas, the oxide compound gas is dissociated, or the oxide compound gas is excited accelerating dissociation of the oxygen, and ozone is generated. In this way, ozone generation efficiency is raised.
US08075841B2	Biosensor with one-dimensional sub-diffraction-limited apertures composed of a grid and a polarizer A method and sensor for the detection of luminescence radiation generated by at least one luminophore is disclosed. In the context of the present invention the biosensor comprises a grid (120) defined as arrays of apertures with the apertures having a first dimension below and a second dimension above the diffraction limit of the excitation light (102) in a medium, a polarizer (115), and luminophores (117) positioned in a volume selected from the group consisting of: the volume inside the apertures of the grid (120), the volume in between the array of slits (120) and the polarizer (115) and a volume that extends into the polarizer (115), wherein the grid (120) providing a transmission axis extending in a first direction and the polarizer (115) providing a transmission axis extending in a second direction, the first direction and the second direction being substantially perpendicular with respect to each other, wherein the excitation radiation (102) is polarized such that it is substantially suppressed by one of the at least one grid (120) and polarizer (115) and substantially not suppressed by the other of the at least one grid (120) and polarizer (115).
US08075838B2	Composite metal molding and method for manufacturing thereof A compression molding which is high in both dimensional accuracy and mechanical strength is difficult to manufacture by a powder molding process. Especially, a molding including a soft magnetic material with high soft magnetic properties is difficult to manufacture. A composite metal molding according to the present invention includes metal particles and the carbide of a resin intervening among the particles. It is manufactured by coating metal particles with a resin, molding the prepared molding material under pressure into a predetermined shape, and heating the prepared pressurized preform to calcine the resin and weld mutually the particles. The carbide of the resin has a weight ratio of 0.001 to 2% to the metal particles when the particles have their proportion expressed as 100. The particles have a weld ratio of 10 to 80%. The particles preferably contain a soft magnetic material and the resin is preferably a furan resin.
US08075832B2	Film production method A solution casting apparatus includes a drive roller as a conveying means. The drive roller conveys a polymer film peeled from a belt, the polymer film still containing a solvent. The drive roller has corrugation valleys and corrugation peaks formed on a peripheral surface along a circumferential direction of the drive roller. Each of the corrugation valleys and the corrugation peaks has a substantially semicircular cross section. The corrugation valleys and the corrugation peaks are disposed alternately in an axial direction of the drive roller. A pitch Pv between the corrugation valleys and a pitch Pm between the corrugation peaks are in the range of 0.01 to 2 mm, and a height Hv-m from a lowest point of the corrugation valley to a highest point of the corrugation peak is in the range of 0.01 to 1 mm. A curvature radius Rv of the corrugation valley and a curvature radius Rm of the corrugation peak are in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 mm.
US08075831B2	Optimisation of preform preparation in injection-stretch-blow-moulding This invention discloses a method for preparing a preform for two-stage injection-stretch-blow-moulding (ISBM) from polypropylene resin produced with a Ziegler-Natta catalyst system and having a melt flow index MI2 of from 1 to 20 dg/min, wherein polypropylene is injected at a melt temperature of at least 265° C. Also disclosed are the preforms obtainable by the method, the use of the preforms for preparing bottles, and the bottles prepared from the preforms.
US08075829B2	Method for drying honeycomb formed article There is provided a method for drying a honeycomb formed article 1. The method has the first step, where an unfired honeycomb formed article 1 having a plurality of cells separated by partition walls made from raw material composition containing a ceramic raw material, water, and a binder is heated and dried by microwave drying or dielectric drying, and a second step, where the honeycomb formed article 1 is dried by hot air drying, where hot air whose humidity was adjusted to have a wet-bulb temperature of 50 to 100° C. using a hot air drying apparatus 11 after the first step is passed through the cells. The method can dry a honeycomb formed article in a shorter period of time with inhibiting generation of a defect such as a deformation or breakage.
US08075828B2	Method of molding Disclosed is a method of molding molded articles, amongst other things.
US08075827B2	Variable-density preforms Provided are novel devices and methods for making a variable density preform, the methods comprising obtaining a slurry comprising a reinforcement particle component and a liquid component; obtaining a die cavity having at least one inlet opening and at least one exit opening defining at least one die cavity flow path therebetween directed toward the exit opening, the at least one exit opening suitably sized or configured to provide for exit of the at least one liquid component while impeding or blocking exit of the at least one reinforcement particle component; and introducing the slurry under pressure, and for a sufficient time period, through the inlet orifice into the die cavity flow path to provide for a decreasing pressure gradient along the flow path direction, to provide for a variable density of the at least one particle component, the particle density increasing in the at least one flow path direction.
US08075826B2	Microprotrusion arrays and methods for using same to deliver substances into tissue Improved microprotrusion abrasion devices having fluid retaining or directing patterns, and specific design parameters and method for delivery of substances into the skin. Various configurations of such devices are disclosed, including domed, channeled, patterned and stepped.
US08075819B2	Tooling system for thermoforming and trimming a heated sheet of material to form a molded part An upper press platen supports an upper mold member slidable vertically within a surrounding upper trim frame. A lower press platen supports a lower trim frame surrounding a lower mold member slidable vertically within the lower trim frame. The lower mold member defines a cavity connected to a vacuum source, and one or two heated sheets of material are positioned between the trim frames and mold members which are then closed to clamp peripheral portions of the sheets between the trim frames. The lower heated sheet is vacuum formed into the cavity and the sheets are fused together with heat and pressure to form a part which is then cooled. The mold members shift downwardly as a unit within the trim frames to shear the peripheral portions of the sheets from the part. The trimmed part and peripheral portions are removed after the trim frames and mold members open.
US08075817B2	In-line screw type injection molding machine and method of controlling the same The invention is to provide an in-line screw type injection molding machine which can have a simplified configuration of an injection mechanism and a metering mechanism. The in-line screw type injection molding machine is characterized by comprising: a metering motor 9 which rotationally drives a rear end side of a screw; a screw mechanism which includes a nut body rotating integrally with the screw, and a screw shaft fitted to the nut body, the screw mechanism converting rotational motion of the screw shaft into linear motion of the screw through the nut body; an injection motor 16 which rotationally drives the screw shaft; an injection motor drive circuit which drives the injection motor 16 to allow a position of the screw to follow a predetermined position command pattern; a metering motor drive circuit which drives the metering motor 9 to allow rotation of the metering motor 9 to follow a predetermined speed setting pattern; and an adder-subtracter circuit which adds or subtracts a speed setting pattern signal of the metering motor drive circuit to or from a speed command signal of the injection motor drive circuit so as to compensate an axial displacement of the screw caused by the rotation of the metering motor 9.
US08075815B2	Method for the detection of process parameters, and wood product The invention relates to a method for detecting process parameters when making wood products (6), especially wood panels, which are hot-pressed by applying pressure and heat, as well as a wood product (6). In said method, at least one measuring instrument (3) is introduced into the non-pressed starting material (2) during the on-going production process of the wood products (6) in order to detect the pressure, temperature, and/or humidity and remains in the end product (6). The measured process parameters are read in a wireless manner.
US08075814B2	Device for layerwise manufacturing of a three-dimensional object An apparatus for layerwise manufacturing of a three-dimensional object by solidification of a material, which can be solidified via electromagnetic radiation, includes a source for the electromagnetic radiation, a building space for manufacturing the three-dimensional object, a coupling window, for transmitting the electromagnetic radiation into the building space and a heating element for heating the coupling window. By the heating element the temperature of the lens is increased during the building of the three-dimensional object. By the increased temperature the accumulation of contamination on the coupling window is prevented.
US08075813B2	Tubing expansion A tubing expansion device is adapted to be advanced axially, without rotation, through tubing to be expanded. The device comprises a body and a plurality of expansion members mounted on the body, the expansion members being independently radially movable. The expansion members may be rotatable, or may be non-rotating.
US08075809B2	Method for production of a band with several parallel optical fibers In a method for the production of optical bands with several optical fibers, the surface of the optic fibers in said bands is treated such as to increase the optical damping in sections of the optic fibers. The generated damping may be reliably adjusted, whereby during (or after) the processing of the surfaces a measuring light is introduced into the fiber optic and the light output at the other end of the band is measured by means of a sensor such as a CCD camera. Possible production errors can thus be compensated for during the production process, for example, by an increased process time for the optic fiber. Optical sensor bands can be produced by the above method for application in the bumpers of motor vehicles as recognition sensors for the impact of a pedestrian. Other applications in which the bending of a sensor band is to be determined by optical means are also envisaged.
US08075802B2	Luminescent material This invention relates to luminescent materials for ultraviolet light or visible light excitation containing lead and/or copper doped chemical compounds. The luminescent material is composed of one or more than one compounds of aluminate type, silicate type, antimonate type, germanate/or germanate-silicate type, and/or phosphate type. Accordingly, the present invention is a good possibility to substitute earth alkaline ions by lead and copper for a shifting of the emission bands to longer or shorter wave length, respectively. Luminescent compounds containing copper and/or lead with improved luminescent properties and also with improved stability against water, humidity as well as other polar solvents are provided. The present invention is to provide lead and/or copper doped luminescent compounds, which has high color temperature range about 2,000K to 8,000K or 10,000K and CRI over 90.
US08075797B2	Azeotrope-like compositions of pentafluoropropane, chlorotrifluoropropene, and hydrogen fluoride The invention is directed to a ternary azeotrope-like mixture consisting essentially of effective amounts of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, and hydrogen fluoride.
US08075795B2	Piezoelectrics, piezoelectric element, and piezoelectric actuator A piezoelectric body includes a perovskite type compound that is expressed by a compositional formula being Pb (Zrx Ti1-x)1-y My O3, where M is at least one of Ta and Nb, x is in a range of 0.51≦x≦0.57, and y is in a range of 0.05≦y<0.2, wherein the perovskite type compound contains at least one of SiO2 and GeO2 as an additive, and the additive is added in an amount of 0.5 mol % or higher but 5 mol % or lower with respect to the amount of perovskite type compound.
US08075793B2	Process for preparing magnetic graphitic materials, and materials thereof A process of preparing magnetic graphitic materials from graphite in a second container (3) that reacts with one of more transition metal oxide and in a first container (2) at a volume ratio of 1:1, in a closed reactor (1), heated up to a temperature between 600° C. and the melting temperature of the transition oxide (s) for 6 to 36 hours, under a pressure of 10 atmospheres with the help of a transfer inert gas through an inlet (5) and vacuum between 10−2 torr to 10−7 torr through an outlet (6), obtaining at the end of the process a graphitic material with long-lasting magnetic properties at room temperature. The material obtained exhibits a complex structure, with pores, bunches, pilings and edges of exposed graphenes and finds application in nanotechnology, magnetic images in medical science, applications in communication, electronics, sensors, even biosensors, catalysis or separation of magnetic materials.
US08075792B1	Nanoparticle-based etching of silicon surfaces A method (300) of texturing silicon surfaces (116) such to reduce reflectivity of a silicon wafer (110) for use in solar cells. The method (300) includes filling (330, 340) a vessel (122) with a volume of an etching solution (124) so as to cover the silicon surface 116) of a wafer or substrate (112). The etching solution (124) is made up of a catalytic nanomaterial (140) and an oxidant-etchant solution (146). The catalytic nanomaterial (140) may include gold or silver nanoparticles or noble metal nanoparticles, each of which may be a colloidal solution. The oxidant-etchant solution (146) includes an etching agent (142), such as hydrofluoric acid, and an oxidizing agent (144), such as hydrogen peroxide. Etching (350) is performed for a period of time including agitating or stirring the etching solution (124). The etch time may be selected such that the etched silicon surface (116) has a reflectivity of less than about 15 percent such as 1 to 10 percent in a 350 to 1000 nanometer wavelength range.
US08075788B2	Fabrication method of printed circuit board and printed circuit board machining apparatus A printed circuit board fabrication method allows a fabrication time and a fabrication cost to be reduced. The fabrication method of the printed circuit board includes steps of forming a resist layer on a surface of the printed circuit board whose surface is made of an insulator, of forming a hole that is connected from the surface of the resist layer to a conductor pattern of an inner layer and a hole and grooves having a depth not connected with the conductor layer of the inner layer by irradiating lasers, of filling a conductive material into the holes and the grooves to form a conductor pattern and of removing the resist layer to project a portion of the conductor pattern out of the surface of the insulating layer.
US08075787B2	Protective sleeve for intake rack bars A protective sleeve for use with metal intake racks used for screening debris from water intakes and other similar structures. The proactive sleeve may be made from a plastic material, such as HDPE, using an extrusion process. The sleeve is designed to snap into place over the metal blades of a bar rack, and to provide a positive and secure fit when in place. The protective sleeve thus provides the benefits of non-metallic intake racks to existing and future metal rack systems, without requiring replacement of existing metal racks.
US08075786B2	Acoustic/pressure wave-driven separation device An acoustic/pressure wave-driven device for separating a first component from a mixture of the first component and a second fluid component. The device comprises a rich reservoir, a lean reservoir, a pump reservoir, a bridge structure, and an acoustic/pressure wave source. The rich reservoir is for containing a fluid mixture having an elevated concentration of the first component. The lean reservoir is for containing a fluid mixture having a lesser concentration of the first component that is leaner than the concentration of the first component in fluid mixture of the rich reservoir. The pump reservoir contains a fluid mixture of the first component and the second fluid component. The bridge structure has a sidewall defining a gradient channel in fluid communication with the rich reservoir and the lean reservoir and a length extending there between. The gradient channel is for containing a fluid having a concentration gradient of the first component along its length. A diffusion portion of the sidewall disposed between the gradient channel and the pump reservoir is adapted to permit diffusion of at least the first component between the gradient channel and the pump reservoir while preventing fluid flow there between. The acoustic/pressure wave source provides acoustic waves into the pump reservoir to cause pressure oscillations in the fluid mixture therein adjacent to the diffusion portion to move molecules of the target component against the concentration gradient from the lean reservoir into the rich reservoir.
US08075783B2	Water remediation and biosolids collection system and associated methods A system and method for remediating a body of water and collecting suspended and dissolved solids therefrom are provided. The system includes a water-impervious lining positionable in a depression in or adjacent a body of water. The lining and depression define a treatment vessel, which includes a treatment portion, an outlet portion for containing treated water, and an outflow weir between the treatment portion and the outlet portion. Water to be treated is transported from the water body to the treatment portion. An entrapment element is delivered and mixed into the transported water, the entrapment element for capturing suspended and dissolved solids in the transported water and effecting a separation between the captured solids and water cleansed therefrom. The captured solids can be removed from the treatment basin, and the cleansed water can move through a channel in the outflow weir into the outlet portion.
US08075773B2	Hollow fiber membrane module, hollow fiber membrane module unit, and water treatment method A hollow fiber membrane module, a hollow fiber membrane module unit using the hollow fiber membrane module, and a water treatment method using the module or the module unit enable the efficient contact of microorganisms on the surface of a membrane with a gas, the module and the unit having excellent durability. The hollow fiber membrane module is formed in such a manner that the end parts of sheet-form hollow fiber membranes are formed in a substantially rectangular shape and the end face of the anchoring member on a side where the hollow fiber membranes open is formed in a substantially circular shape. The hollow fiber membrane module unit is formed in such a manner that a plurality of modules is disposed. The water treatment method is used to purify treated water with the microorganisms adhered onto the outer surfaces of the hollow fiber membranes by using the module or the unit.
US08075772B2	Oil pan with built-in filtering element The present invention provides an oil pan with a built-in filtering element which does not easily receive influence of lateral swing of oil, which has high support rigidity of a filter, or which has excellent assembling operability of the filter, or which is light in weight as compared with a conventional oil pan. The oil pan P1 with a built-in filtering element has a filter 20. The filter 20 is provided therein with an oil flow path Q which is in communication with an oil pump. The filter 20 filters oil flowing toward the oil pump. An oil flow path includes a bottom flow path Qb having a flow path wall 7 extending along a bottom wall 5 of the oil pan, and a side flow path Qs having a flow path wall 8 extending along a first sidewall 1 of the oil pan. The first sidewall includes a drain hole 1h which opens at the bottom flow path and through which the filter can be inserted into the bottom flow path. The bottom flow path is provided with a filter retaining portion 7k which retains the inserted filter. The drain hole is provided with a plug fixing portion 1m which fixes a closing plug 10 of the drain hole. The closing plug is formed with a filter receiver 11k against which a terminal end 20k of the inserted filter is abutted.
US08075771B2	Apparatus for magnetic field gradient enhanced centrifugation This invention relates to apparatus for carrying out continuous or batch centrifugation solid-liquid separation processes in which the solid-liquid mixture is subjected to magnetic field gradients and centrifugation.
US08075766B2	Liquid filtration system A water treatment method is provided for helping to partially or completely remove sodium and methane gas from water. In the method, water is combined with a reactant that is formulated to combine with the sodium in the water and form a compound. The water and compound are then passed through a bed of media for helping to separate the compound from the water. The method also includes aerating the water to release gases contained therein by breaking the water into microdroplets by passing it through a screen. Additionally, the method may include a step wherein the water is passed through an acidic resin for facilitating a cation exchange where additional sodium is removed. A water treatment apparatus for performing the method is also provided.
US08075765B2	Rain water collection system components and method of fabrication Non-limiting embodiments disclosed herein include components of a rain water collection system and methods of fabricating the components. The disclosed components include a down spout interface bladder and a rain water holding device. Also disclosed are a method of fabricating a down spout interface bladder and a method of fabricating a rain water holding device.
US08075764B2	Apparatus for removing buoyant pollutants from polluted coolant An exemplary apparatus (100), for removing buoyant pollutants from a polluted coolant, includes a collecting device (10) and a removing device (20). The collecting device includes a pollutant collecting structure (11) and a bi-directional pump (12). The pollutant collecting structure includes a hollow tub (112) and a collecting module (113) slidable relative to the hollow tub. The bi-directional pump communicates with the hollow tub and the removing device. The removing device includes a filter (21) and a pollutant removing structure (22) disposed on the filter. The filter includes a filtrating unit (211). The filtrating unit is partitioned into a first cavity (2132) and a second cavity (2133) by a partition sheet (213). The partitioning board defines a communicating gap (2131) for the first cavity and the second cavity to communicate with each other. The pollutant removing structure includes a removing member (221) for removing the buoyant pollutants out of the filter.
US08075763B2	Process for treating aged crude oil residue The present invention provides a process for the treatment of crude oil or aged crude oil residue comprising the steps of (a) contacting the oil or residue with a phenol resin and with a diluent, to provide a diluted phenol resin treated oil or residue; and (b) optionally removing solid material from the diluted phenol resin treated oil or residue.
US08075750B2	Electrolytic cell and method of use thereof In one embodiment of the present invention an electrolytic cell is provided comprising a containment vessel; a first electrode; a second electrode; a source of electrical current in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode; an electrolyte in fluid communication with the first electrode and the second electrode; a gas, wherein the gas is formed during electrolysis at or near the first electrode; and a separator; wherein the separator includes an inclined surface to direct flow of the electrolyte and the gas due to a difference between density of the electrolyte and the combined density of the electrolyte and the gas such that the gas substantially flows in a direction distal to the second electrode.
US08075748B2	Electrolytic cell and method of use thereof In one embodiment of the present invention an electrolytic cell is provided comprising a containment vessel; a first electrode; a second electrode; a source of electrical current in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode; an electrolyte in fluid communication with the first electrode and the second electrode; a gas, wherein the gas is formed during electrolysis at or near the first electrode; and a separator; wherein the separator includes an inclined surface to direct flow of the electrolyte and the gas due to a difference between density of the electrolyte and the combined density of the electrolyte and the gas such that the gas substantially flows in a direction distal to the second electrode.
US08075747B2	Enhancement of aluminum tapping by application of targeted electromagnetic field Systems, methods and apparatus for facilitating removal of molten metal from an electrolysis cell are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a container and an electrical source coupled to the container. The electrical source may be configured to provide complementary current to a spout of the container. This complementary current may create a complementary electromagnetic field at least proximal a tip portion of the spout. When the spout of the container receives the complementary current, and when the spout is in liquid communication with the molten liquid of the electrolysis cell, the complementary electromagnetic field of the complementary current may at least partially assist to increase the flow of molten metal into the spout of the container.
US08075744B1	Layered coated cutting tool A cutting tool insert is formed from a substrate selected from cemented carbide, cermet, ceramics, cubic boron nitride based material or high speed steel. The insert includes a hard and wear-resistant coating formed from laminar polycrystalline metal nitrides layers. The laminar polycrystalline metal nitrides layers have a repetitive form . . . A/B/A/C/A/B/A/C/ . . . with a total thickness of about 0.5 μm to about 5 μm.
US08075743B2	Oxide coated cutting insert A cutting tool insert, particularly useful for machining of cast iron, comprising a body of a hard alloy of cemented carbide, cermet, ceramics, cubic boron nitride based material or high speed steel a hard and wear resistant coating; and at least (Al,Cr)2O3 layer applied to said body is disclosed. Methods of making a cutting tool insert are also disclosed. In addition, methods for machining of cast iron using the cutting tool inserts are disclosed.
US08075741B2	Water purification method, process and apparatus In the water purification process, apparatus, and method, contaminated water vapor is exposed to liquid solvent, which causes a transfer of contaminants from the contaminated water vapor to the liquid solvent. In an advantageous embodiment, this latter step is followed by a second purification step where the decontaminated water in liquid phase is exposed to water vapor which causes a transfer of solvent remaining in the decontaminated water to the water vapor. The energy freed during the condensation of the vapor can advantageously be used for evaporation of the liquids, optionally by compressing the vapors prior to condensation thereof within heat exchangers.
US08075736B2	Deflection compensation roll Headbox for a paper machine which discharges paper raw material onto a wire as a raw material jet from a slice which is supplied with the paper raw material. The headbox includes an orientation correcting arrangement for correcting a pulp fiber orientation by supplying the paper raw material as a correction flow to a single location in either a central portion of the slice or a plurality of locations other than end portions thereof. The paper raw material is one of extracted from a taper header in which paper raw material for a main flow is stored and extracted from a correction-only taper header in which paper raw material for correcting the pulp fiber orientation is stored. This abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US08075731B2	Substrate processing apparatus and a substrate processing method A gas injection head 200 is provided above a substantial center of a substrate W. Nitrogen gas introduced from a gas feed port 291 is injected from a slit-shaped injection port 293 via an internal buffer space BF. In this way, a radial gas flow substantially isotropic in a horizontal direction while having an injection direction restricted in a vertical direction is generated above the substrate. Thus, dust D, mist M and the like around the substrate are blown off in outward directions and do not adhere to the substrate W. The gas injection head 200 can be made smaller than the diameter of the substrate W and needs to be neither retracted from the substrate surface nor rotated, wherefore an apparatus can be miniaturized.
US08075727B2	Method for joining sections of thermoplastic continuous web material A method for joining pieces of a thermoplastic web material in order to form an expandable cellular block, includes steps of positioning a new piece to be added to the cellular block in opposing face-to-face relation with a last piece most recently previously welded to the cellular block, positioning a heating device having a plurality of heating fingers between the last piece and the new piece and in contact with the opposing surfaces of the pieces, causing the heating fingers to heat the pieces at locations contacted by the heating fingers, and retracting the heating fingers from between the pieces and then pressing the new piece against the last piece such that the new piece is welded to the last piece at the locations heated by the fingers.
US08075725B2	Method and device for welding thermoplastic material shaped parts, particularly for contour-welding three-dimensional shaped parts The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for welding thermoplastic molded articles wherein additional simultaneous irradiation, in the welding area (18), of one of the join partners (1) will lead to a temperature increase of this join partner, occasioning process-reliable welding.
US08075722B2	Method of manufacturing elastic sheet, and elastic sheet and absorbent product In a manufacturing apparatus of an absorbent product, extended elastic yarns to be a first middle elastic member and extended elastic yarns to be leg elastic members are bonded between a first sheet and a second sheet and arranged crossing each other in manufacturing an outer covering sheet. A first middle elastic member and an inclined part of the leg elastic members crossing the first middle elastic member are simultaneously and reliably cut in a crossing area of the both elastic members by first cutting blades tilted relatively to a direction where the first middle elastic member is positioned and second cutting blades tilted relatively to a direction where the inclined part is positioned. Thus, it is possible to easily form the outer covering sheet which maintains elasticity in a required portion and has high flexibility.
US08075719B2	Manufacture of complex composite parts The present invention relates to an automated method for manufacturing layer by layer a composite part with rotational symmetry and complex cross-section, comprising the following stages: a) a reel or roll comprising a reinforcement is continuously unwound; b) as an option, the reinforcement is impregnated with a liquid resin by passing through a bath; c) the impregnated reinforcement is wound onto a rotating cylindrical mandrel; d) the impregnated reinforcement is completely or partially polymerised in order to obtain a composite material; e) a support and/or support material is deposited on both sides of the composite material forming the part being manufactured in such a way as to fill the gaps surrounding said part.
US08075718B2	Manufacturing method for heavy-duty pneumatic tire and tire manufactured by the same Disclosed are a method for manufacturing a heavy-duty pneumatic tire by winding a reinforcing belt disposed in a belt layer of a tread with an untopped spiral steel cord, and a tire manufactured by the same.
US08075707B2	Method for preparing rare earth permanent magnet material A method for preparing a rare earth permanent magnet material comprises the steps of disposing a powder on a surface of a sintered magnet body of R1aTbAcMd composition wherein R1 is a rare earth element inclusive of Sc and Y, T is Fe and/or Co, A is boron (B) and/or carbon (C), M is Al, Cu, Zn, In, Si, P, S, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Ga, Ge, Zr, Nb, Mo, Pd, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Hf, Ta, or W, said powder comprising an oxide of R2, a fluoride of R3 or an oxyfluoride of R4 wherein R2, R3, and R4 are rare earth elements inclusive of Sc and Y and having an average particle size equal to or less than 100 μm, heat treating the magnet body and the powder at a temperature equal to or below the sintering temperature of the magnet body for absorption treatment for causing R2, R3, and R4 in the powder to be absorbed in the magnet body, and repeating the absorption treatment at least two times. According to the invention, a rare earth permanent magnet material can be prepared as an R—Fe—B sintered magnet with high performance and a minimized amount of Tb or Dy used.
US08075704B2	Method for the removal of airborne molecular contaminants using oxygen and/or water gas mixtures The present invention discloses a method for the removal of a number of molecular contaminants from surfaces within a device. A purge gas containing oxygen and/or water is introduced into the interior of the device, contacting at least a portion of the interior surfaces. A contaminated purge gas is produced by transferring a portion of the contamination from the interior surfaces into the purge gas. The contaminated purge gas is removed from the device and the process is continued until the contaminant concentration in the contaminated purge gas is below a predetermined level.
US08075701B2	Processes for reconditioning multi-component electrodes A process for reconditioning a multi-component electrode comprising a silicon electrode bonded to an electrically conductive backing plate is provided. The process comprises: (i) removing metal ions from the multi-component electrode by soaking the multi-component electrode in a substantially alcohol-free DSP solution comprising sulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and water and rinsing the multi-component electrode with de-ionized water; (ii) polishing one or more surfaces of the multi-component electrode following removal of metal ions there from; and (iii) removing contaminants from silicon surfaces of the multi-component electrode by treating the polished multi-component electrode with a mixed acid solution comprising hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, and water and by rinsing the treated multi-component electrode with de-ionized water. Additional embodiments of broader and narrower scope are contemplated.
US08075699B2	Dispensing paper-roll core systems A paper-roll core that is a soluble, disposable carrier for cleaning and/or disinfecting chemicals. The paper-roll cores are toilet paper roll cores and paper towel roll cores and are rapidly soluble in water and may release cleansers, disinfectants, colors, etc., upon dissolving. Described are: methods of using, manufacturing, advertising, and distributing the paper-roll cores; and methods of advertising and distributing such paper-roll cores to children, who will particularly enjoy the novelty; and methods of modifying existing paper-roll core manufacturing equipment to manufacture soluble cleanser-dispensing paper-roll cores.
US08075697B2	Particle removal method and composition A method and cleaning solution for cleaning electronic substrates, such as a semiconductor wafers, hard disks, photomasks or imprint molds. The method comprises the steps of contacting a surface of the substrate with a cleaning solution comprised of a polyphosphate, and then removing the cleaning solution from the surface. Additional optional steps include applying acoustic energy to the cleaning solution while the cleaning solution is in contact with the surface, and removing the cleaning solution from the surface by rinsing the surface with a rinsing solution with or without the application of acoustic energy. The cleaning solution comprises a polyphosphate, such as any of the water soluble polyphosphates. Depending on the application, the cleaning solution may also comprise a base and/or a quantity of suspended particles. Complexing agents, amines, biocides, surfactants and/or other substances, may also be added to the cleaning solution.
US08075695B2	Apparatus, circuitry, signals, probes and methods for cleaning and/or processing with sound The invention utilizes single and multiple frequency ultrasound generators driving single and multiple frequency resonant and harmonic transducer arrays at frequencies into the megasonic range. Generator signals that increase cavitation efficiency improve the performance of the cleaning, microbiological inactivation, sonochemistry or processing systems.
US08075694B2	Acid fungal protease in fermentation of insoluble starch substrates The invention is directed to methods of producing ethanol and decreasing residual starch production in a no cook fermentation comprising contacting granular starch containing substrates with a granular starch hydrolyzing enzyme, a protease, and a fermenting microorganism under suitable fermentation conditions at a temperature below the starch gelatinization temperature of the starch substrate to produce ethanol, wherein the ethanol production is increased and the amount of residual starch is decreased compared to a substantially similar method conducted without the protease.
US08075690B2	Diffuser gravity support An apparatus and method for supporting a substantial center portion of a gas distribution plate is disclosed. At least one support member is capable of engaging and disengaging the diffuser with a mating connection without prohibiting flow of a gas or gases through the diffuser and is designed to provide vertical suspension to a diffuser that is supported at its perimeter, or capable of supporting the diffuser without a perimeter support. In one aspect, the at least one support member is a portion of a gas delivery conduit and in another embodiment is a plurality of support members separated from the gas delivery conduit. The at least one support member is capable of translating vertical lift, or vertical compression to a center area of the diffuser. A method and apparatus for controlling gas flow from the gas delivery conduit to the gas distribution plate is also disclosed.
US08075681B2	Process for producing two-phase mixes This invention relates to a process for producing a hot, cold or lukewarm ready-to-use bituminous mix, characterized in that it includes the following successive steps: (a) preparing a hot, cold or lukewarm master mix or bituminous mix by mixing some or all of the bituminous binder proportioned in liquid form with some or all of the aggregates, and optionally with some or all of the fines and/or some or all of the aggregate mix and/or some or all of the various additives so as to obtain a mixture in which the aggregates and any fines and aggregate mix are coated by the bitumen, (b) storing of the master mix or of the bituminous mix obtained in step (a), (c) mixing the master mix or the bituminous mix stored in step (b) with one or more additional formulation components so as to obtain a hot, cold or lukewarm ready-to-use bituminous mix, in which step (c) is implemented at the mix production site if the additional formulation component is a thinning agent.
US08075676B2	Damping apparatus for scroll compressors for oxygen-generating systems A radially compliant scroll compressor includes a fixed scroll, an orbiting scroll operatively connected to the fixed scroll, a synchronizer and at least one linkage member operatively connected to the orbiting scroll and the synchronizer. The at least one linkage member includes an orbiting crank handle operatively disposed on the linkage member, a crankpin operatively disposed through said synchronizer and extending into the crank handle and a damping member disposed on the crankpin between the synchronizer and the crank handle.
US08075674B2	Filter apparatus with pulse cleaning and methods for pulse cleaning filters A method of pulse cleaning filter media in panel, cylindrical, conical, or V-pack style filter in an opening of a tubesheet is provided. The method includes directing a fluid pulse at the filter media at an angle that is: (i) not normal to a plane of the opening of the tubesheet; and (ii) not in line with the general direction of the filtration flow through the filter media. An air cleaner is provided including a housing including a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, and an interior. A tubesheet is in the housing interior having a plurality of openings. In the plurality of openings of the tubesheet are mounted filters with filter media. There is a plurality of blow pipes, with each blow pipe being pointed to direct at a fluid pulse a respective one of the filters at an angle that is: (i) not normal to a plane of the opening in the tubesheet; and (ii) not in line with the general direction of filtration flow through the respective filter media.
US08075659B2	Preparations with improved urease-inhibiting effect and urea-containing fertilizers containing the latter The invention relates to preparations with improved urease-inhibitory effect which comprise at least two different (thio)phosphoric triamides and to urea-comprising fertilizers which comprise these preparations. The invention furthermore relates to a method of preparing these preparations, to the use of these preparations in the fertilization with urea-comprising fertilizers, and to the use of urea-comprising fertilizers which comprise these preparations in agriculture or in horticulture.
US08075655B2	Rotative inertial impactor gas-oil separator for internal combustion engine An internal combustion engine gas-oil separator is provided by one or more rotative inertial impactor separators in an interior chamber of the engine and mounted to a rotating engine shaft in such interior chamber.
US08075653B2	Air quality containment unit The present invention describes an air quality containment unit for isolating a construction, renovation or maintenance project. The air quality containment unit contains dust, molds and other air-borne pollutants using a filter, such as a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, to maintain a negative air pressure in the unit. The air quality containment unit includes at least one sealable orifice that allows workers to introduce, for example, an electrical cord into the unit without breaching containment.
US08075652B2	Apparatus and method for a split type water extractor and water dispenser A split type potable water extractor from ambient air and water dispenser is invented, comprising separate water generating block located outside a water use area and water dispensing block located inside a water use area. The water generator block cycles refrigerant through a condenser and an evaporator to create condensation by heat exchange with ambient air circulated by an intake airflow system. The condensate water is collected and purified in a cascade of bactericidal loop to remove impurities. The purified water is pumped to a dispensing apparatus which can be installed in the home or other area of water use separate from the water generating block. If any one of the functional parts or units of water generator is disabled the water generator immediately stops operating to deliver water to the tank of the dispensing apparatus.
US08075650B2	System, method, and apparatus for mounting a filter bag to a wet/dry vacuum The present disclosure provides a method, apparatus, and system to mount a filter bag to a wet/dry vacuum cleaner by providing an adapter for mounting the filter bag to a drain opening in the wet/dry vacuum cleaner drum and restricting the typical vacuum port, forcing the vacuum materials to enter through the drain opening and into the bag. The lid of the wet/dry vacuum cleaner can be removed independently of the bag to avoid rupturing the bag. Further, the bag can rest on the bottom of the drum for support.
US08075649B2	Vacuum bag and vacuum bag attachment assembly A vacuum bag includes a container portion having at least one opening. A threaded fitting is disposed in communication with the at least one opening, and the threaded fitting is configured for attachment to a vacuum nozzle of a vacuum cleaner.
US08075648B2	Nozzle arrangements and method for cleaning filter elements A method of cleaning a filter element includes directing a jet of pressurized gas from a nozzle onto a filter element, with the jet having a non-round cross-sectional shape that is a same general cross-sectional shape as the opening in a tube sheet holding the filter element. The nozzle has a channel for the pressurized gas that is obstruction-free. A method of designing a nozzle arrangement for directing a jet of pressurized gas onto a filter element includes designing a nozzle arrangement to generate a jet of pressurized gas having a non-round cross-sectional shape that is a same general shape as a non-round shape of an aperture in a tubesheet holding the filter element. The nozzle arrangement includes at least one nozzle, each nozzle has an unobstructed flow channel, and each nozzle is cylindrical in shape and has at least one open slot. A pressurized gas generator includes a compressed air manifold storing pressurized gas, a valve in fluid communication with the manifold, and a nozzle arrangement. The nozzle arrangement includes at least a single nozzle connected to the valve. Each nozzle has either a cylindrical wall or a lobed wall and defines an interior channel. The interior channel is obstruction-free. The wall defines at least one open slot.
US08075646B2	Advanced ASU and HRSG integration for improved integrated gasification combined cycle efficiency A system and method for increasing the efficiency and/or power produced by an integrated gasification combined cycle system by increasing the integration between the air separation unit island, the heat recovery steam generator and the remainder of the system. By integrating heat produced by the heat recovery steam generator in the remainder of the integrated gasification combined cycle system, heat may be utilized that may have otherwise been lost or used further downstream in the system. The integration helps to increase the efficiency of the combustion reaction and/or the gasification reaction used to produce the syngas utilized in the integrated gasification combined cycle system.
US08075645B2	Catalysts, system and method for hydrogen production A system for producing hydrogen features a reactor including a reaction channel adapted to receive a reaction stream including a mixture of supercritical water and a hydrocarbon fuel. A catalyst is positioned in the reaction channel so that a product stream containing hydrogen is produced by a reaction in the reaction channel when the mixture is exposed to the catalyst; wherein the catalyst contains a catalytically active metal and a promoter in a metal format, selected from the group consisting of potassium, sodium, rubidium, lithium, cesium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium.
US08075643B2	Method and apparatus for producing solid fuel (Problems) Providing a method and an apparatus for producing a solid fuel, capable of suppressing increase in dust coal concentration in circulating oil.(Solving Means) The method for producing a solid fuel comprises a mixing step of mixing porous coal with a mixed oil containing a heavy oil and a solvent oil to prepare a raw material slurry; an evaporation step of heating the raw material slurry to promote dehydration of the porous coal while impregnating the mixed oil into pores of the porous coal to obtain a dehydrated slurry; a solid-liquid separation step of separating a resulting upgraded porous coal and the mixed oil from the dehydrated slurry; a final drying step of drying the separated upgraded porous coal with a carrier gas, and subsequently condensing a vaporized mixed oil in the carrier gas by cooling, while capturing the porous coal in the carrier gas by atomization of the condensed mixed oil, thereby recovering the mixed oil; and a circulation step of returning the mixed oil separated and recovered in the solid-liquid separation step to the mixing step, and the method is characterized by further comprising a supply step A of supplying the mixed oil recovered in the final drying step to the solid-liquid separation step. The apparatus for producing a solid fuel adopts the method.
US08075642B2	Single-reactor process for producing liquid-phase organic compounds from biomass Disclosed is a method for preparing liquid fuel and chemical intermediates from biomass-derived oxygenated hydrocarbons. The method includes the steps of reacting in a single reactor an aqueous solution of a biomass-derived, water-soluble oxygenated hydrocarbon reactant, in the presence of a catalyst comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, and Au, at a temperature, and a pressure, and for a time sufficient to yield a self-separating, three-phase product stream comprising a vapor phase, an organic phase containing linear and/or cyclic mono-oxygenated hydrocarbons, and an aqueous phase.
US08075641B2	Methods of refining hydrocarbon feedstocks Processes of converting to feedstocks comprising hydrocarbons to compositions comprising light hydrocarbon products are described herein. Also described are processes and methods of producing and refining compositions comprising terpenes from biomass that can be suitable as a fuel product.
US08075638B2	Dichromophore carbonyl or heterocyclic dye, dye composition comprising this dye, process for dyeing keratin materials using this dye The invention relates to the dyeing of keratin materials using dichromophore dyes with a carbonyl or heterocyclic linker. The invention relates to a dye composition comprising a dye with a carbonyl or heterocyclic linker, and to a dyeing process with a lightening effect on keratin materials, in particular keratin fibers, especially human keratin fibers such as the hair, using said composition, optionally in the presence of a cosmetically acceptable acid or base. It similarly relates to novel dyes and to the uses thereof in lightening keratin materials. This composition makes it possible to obtain a coloring with a lightening effect which is particularly resistant and visible on dark keratin fibers.
US08075636B2	Method and device for the wet treatment of items to be washed An inline washing system to be formed from a tunnel-type washing machine (10) which only washes the items of laundry is described. Rinsing and also water removal are then performed in the downstream water-removal press (18). It has been found that the rinsing performance is better and fresh water can be saved as a result of this. It is therefore also possible to wash relatively small amounts of laundry using a tunnel-type washing machine (10) in an economical manner because the tunnel-type washing machine (10) can be designed without a rinse zone.
US08075633B2	Active ankle foot orthosis An Active Ankle Foot Orthosis (AAFO) is provided where the impedance of an orthotic joint is modulated throughout the walking cycle to treat ankle foot gait pathology, such as drop foot gait. During controlled plantar flexion, a biomimetic torsional spring control is applied where orthotic joint stiffness is actively adjusted to minimize forefoot collisions with the ground. Throughout late stance, joint impedance is minimized so as not to impede powered plantar flexion movements, and during the swing phase, a torsional spring-damper (PD) control lifts the foot to provide toe clearance. To assess the clinical effects of variable-impedance control, kinetic and kinematic gait data were collected on two drop foot participants wearing the AAFO. It has been found that actively adjusting joint impedance reduces the occurrence of slap foot, allows greater powered plantar flexion, and provides for less kinematic difference during swing when compared to normals.
US08075621B2	Expandable push-in arcuate interbody spinal fusion implant with tapered configuration during insertion A push-in interbody spinal fusion implant having an expandable height and having an at least in part frusto-conical shape or a shape of cylinder split along a horizontal plane through its mid-longitudinal axis with an upper member and a lower member angled to each other during insertion into the spine.
US08075620B1	Doughnut-like spinal implant A doughnut-like lumbosacral or intervertebral implant having an asymmetrical opening surrounded by a series of load bearing sections of distinct curvatures. The doughnut-like implant can include a forwardly projecting arm and plate combination. Preferred embodiments of the doughnut-like implant can include tapered lateral annular-like sides.
US08075618B2	Annulus repair systems and techniques Systems and methods for repairing annulus defects include at least one blocking member positionable in or adjacent to the annulus defect, at least one attachment portion for securing the blocking member to adjacent tissue, and instruments for placing and engaging the blocking member in and/or adjacent to the annulus defect. The blocking member extends at least partially across the annulus defect for repair of the defect and/or retention of nucleus material, one or more implants, bio-compatible materials or device, and/or other objects positioned in the disc space.
US08075616B2	Apparatus for applying a compressive load on body tissue A device for reshaping a cardiac valve (26), which is elongate and has such dimensions as to be insertable into a cardiac vessel (24). The device has two states, in a first state (K) of which the device has a shape that is adaptable to the shape of the vessel (24), and to the second state (k′) of which the device is transferable from said first state (K). Further, the device comprises a fixing means (22,23;22a,23a) for fixing the ends of the device within the vessel (24), when the device is first positioned therein, a shape-changing member (20;20a) for transferring the device to the second state (K′) by reshaping it, and a delay means (21;21a) for delaying said reshaping until the fixing of the ends of the device has been reinforced by keeping said device in said first state (K) until the delay means (21;21a) is resorbed.
US08075615B2	Prosthetic cardiac valve formed from pericardium material and methods of making same A prosthetic stented heart valve which includes a compressible and expandable stent structure having first and second opposite ends, an expanded outer periphery, and a compressed outer periphery that is at least slightly smaller than the expanded outer periphery when subjected to an external radial force. The valve further includes a valve segment comprising a dual-layer sheet formed into a generally tubular shape having at least one longitudinally extending seam, and a plurality of leaflets formed by attachment of an outer layer of the dual-layer sheet to an inner layer of the dual-layer sheet in a leaflet defining pattern. The valve segment is at least partially positioned within the stent structure. The valve may further include at least one opening in the outer layer of the dual-layer sheet that is spaced from both the first and second ends of the stent structure.
US08075613B2	Aortic valve stent graft An implantable endoluminal prosthesis for replacing a damaged aortic valve is provided. In one embodiment, the prosthesis includes a balloon-expandable stent, a tubular conduit that extends into the ascending aorta, and a self-expanding stent. The tubular conduit extends across the balloon-expandable stent. The tubular conduit includes an artificial valve. The self-expanding stent extends across the tubular conduit into the ascending aorta. The balloon-expandable stent, the tubular conduit, and the self-expanding stent are coupled to provide unidirectional flow of fluid into the aorta and further into the coronary arteries. Also provided is a method for implanting the endoluminal prosthesis.
US08075607B2	Control handle A delivery device for deploying an expandable prosthesis and method of use are described. The delivery device comprises a handle that comprises a trigger. Activation of the trigger enables incremental retraction of an outer sheath to expose a self-expanding prosthesis. Activation and subsequent deactivation of the trigger causes a movable member to ratchedly engage with a stationary rack and a trigger rack.
US08075606B2	Delivery system having a rapid pusher assembly for self-expanding stent, and stent exchange configuration A pusher assembly for a delivery system for a self-expanding stent (6) which is delivered by proximal withdrawal of a sheath (4) radially surrounding the stent has a stent pusher element (8) which defines a lumen for a guidewire (2), a pusher strand (16) that extends to the proximal end of the delivery system and bears an end-wise compressive stress during release of the stent. A transfer shaft (12) links the distal end of the pusher strand (16) to the pusher element (8) and lies side-by-side with the guidewire (2). In a rapid exchange version, an adapter (20) provides two lumens side-by-side, one (22) carrying the pusher strand (16) and the other (14) defining a proximal guidewire part. To the adapter is mounted the proximal end of the stent sheath (4). The system allows modular (14) construction, a tapered tip (4A) on the sheath, and an uncluttered internal configuration which facilitates passage of pulses (F) of liquids from the proximal to the distal end of the system.
US08075604B2	Multi-thread bone screw and method A bone screw comprising a threaded shank including a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, and defining a first threaded section extending from the distal end portion toward the proximal end portion and adapted for anchoring in cancellous bone, and a second threaded section extending contiguously from the first threaded section toward the proximal end portion and adapted for engagement in cortical bone, with the second threaded section having a finer thread pattern relative to the first threaded section. In one embodiment, the first threaded section includes a first helical threading defining a single lead thread pattern for anchoring in cancellous bone, and the second threaded section includes a second helical threading interleaved with the first threading to define a duel lead thread pattern for engagement in cortical bone. In a further embodiment, the bone screw includes a head portion extending from the threaded shank and configured for coupling to a spinal implant.
US08075603B2	Locking polyaxial ball and socket fastener The fastening system consists of the polyaxial ball and socket joint used in conjunction with a bone screw having threads on one end for use in anchoring to the spine and a spherical connector on the other end operating as a pivot point about which a connecting assembly moves in a polyaxial fashion. A substantially U-shaped connecting assembly has a lower receptacle that operates as a socket for housing an upper retainer ring and a lower split retaining ring. The socket is receptive to the spherical connector which is inserted through the lower split retainer ring causing a momentary displacement thereof which allows for the positioning of the spherical connector between the upper and lower retainer rings. A resilient component positioned between the upper retainer ring and the connecting assembly permits relative predetermined placement and retention of the spherical connector relative to the connector assembly due to the force generated by the resilient component and frictional engagement between the surfaces of spherical connector, the upper and lower retainer rings and the connector assembly. The polyaxial ball and socket can be locked into a fixed position.
US08075602B2	Bone plate assembly provided with screw locking mechanisms One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a bone plate assembly that includes a bone plate, bone screw(s) received in aperture(s) in the bone plate, and screw fixation member(s). The screw fixation member(s) may, alone or in conjunction with the bone plate, fix the bone screw(s) in place when such bone screw(s) are inserted in the aperture(s) in the bone plate. In one example (which example is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive) when the bone screw(s) have been received by the bone plate and inserted into bone and/or tissue, the bone plate assembly can be used to fuse anatomical structures together (such as adjoining bones) and/or to heal a fracture in bone.
US08075600B2	Device for the dynamic fixation of bones An intermediate element for a detachable, lockable, ball joint-like connection in a device for the dynamic fixation of bones has a longitudinal axis, an outer wall concentric with the longitudinal axis, and an inner wall forming a coaxial cavity. Either the outer wall or the inner wall comprises one of two contact zones that form the ball joint-like connection. The intermediate element is at least partly made of a super-elastic or visco-elastic material.
US08075599B2	Adjustable bone anchor assembly A medical implant device has in one embodiment a receiver member for receiving an elongated member, a crown member, an anchor member and a retaining member. An embodiment of the receiver member has an axial opening, a transverse channel, a chamber including at least one substantially flat wall, and a groove. An embodiment of the crown member has at least one substantially flat side. An embodiment of the anchor member has a head with at least one substantially flat surface that may be parallel to the anchor member's longitudinal axis, and an anchoring portion. An embodiment of the retaining member is a substantially flat clip. The crown member and anchor member are inserted into the chamber, and the retaining member is inserted into the groove beneath them. The anchor member may be pivoted substantially in one plane with respect to the receiver member until locked.
US08075589B2	Vascular sealing device with high surface area sealing plug An internal tissue puncture closure method and apparatus. The method and apparatus provide a folded sealing plug that provides more surface area than conventional plugs to more fully cover and seal an external situs of an internal tissue puncture. The folded sealing plug may have a weave pattern that tends to cause the sealing plug to corkscrew into the internal tissue puncture as it is compressed toward an anchor placed inside of the tissue puncture.
US08075586B2	Embolic protection device having expandable trap An embolic protection device for use in medical, veterinary, non-medical or industrial applications where removal of an obstruction from a small diameter vessel or vessel-like structure could produce particles, which, if allowed to remain in the vessel, could cause undesirable complications and results. One embodiment comprises a catheter for insertion into a vessel and a trap operably connected to the catheter and to a rotatable member. Rotating the rotatable member relative to the catheter actuates the trap. One embodiment comprises a rotatable member that actuates a flexible strut between an arcuately expanded position and a helically twisted position, and a membrane operably connected to the flexible strut.
US08075585B2	Device and method for treatment of a vascular defect A device for the occlusion of a vascular defect includes a first sheet and a second sheet which may be formed from a material which is the same as or different from the first sheet. At least one sheet functions as a securement member, and at least one sheet functions as an occluding member. The first sheet may be replaced by an alternative securement structure. At least one sheet may be coated with a biocompatible material for promoting integration with the vasculature and/or healing of the vascular defect.
US08075584B2	Devices and methods for preventing distal embolization using flow reversal in arteries having collateral blood flow The invention provides a medical device having a catheter and one or more expandable constricting/occluding members. The catheter is adapted for use with therapeutic or diagnostic devices, including an angioplasty/stent catheter and an atherectomy catheter. The constrictor/occluder is mounted at the distal end of the catheter. Manometers may be mounted distal to one or more constrictors for measuring pressure distal to the constrictor(s). Methods of using the devices are disclosed for preventing distal embolization during extracranial or intracranial carotid artery, vertebral artery, or coronary artery procedures, or procedures involving any vessel having collateral flow by reversing flow in the diseased vessel.
US08075580B2	Device, system and method for interstitial transvascular intervention Devices, systems and methods for transvascular interstitial interventions, including transvascular, catheter based vascular bypass, transmyocardial revascularization, bypass grafting of blood vessels, and interstitial surgical/interventional procedures wherein a catheter is advanced translumenally through the vasculature to a desired location and an operative instrument is passed through the wall of a blood vessel and to a target location (e.g. another blood vessel, an organ, a tumor, another anatomical structure) such that one or more operative devices may be advanced to the target location to perform the desired operative or interventional procedure.
US08075577B2	Obesity treatment tools and methods Various obesity treatment tools and methods are described herein, as well as treatments for other gastric-related diseases, e.g., GERD. Treatment includes reducing the size of the stomach pouch to limit the caloric intake as well as to provide an earlier feeling of satiety. This may be done by creating a smaller gastric pouch within the stomach directly from the interior of the stomach itself. The smaller pouches may be made through the use of individual anchoring devices, rotating probes, or volume reduction devices. A pyloroplasty procedure may also be performed to render the pyloric sphincter incompetent. A gastric bypass procedure may additionally be performed using atraumatic magnetic anastomoses devices so that sugars and fats are passed directly to the bowel while bypassing the stomach. Many of these procedures may be done in a variety of combinations. Treatment may create enforced behavioral modifications by discouraging the ingestion of high-caloric foods.
US08075576B2	Closure device, system, and method The present disclosure relates generally to devices, systems and methods for use with cardiac defects. A closure device includes an elongate body with a first actuator segment and a second actuator segment associated with the elongate body that can be bent into a first predetermined position and then to a second predetermined position where the distal end and the proximal end are more closely positioned than when in the first predetermined position.
US08075572B2	Surgical suturing apparatus A surgical suturing apparatus is described. The suturing apparatus has a needle having at least one pointed end, a channel for releasably receiving the needle, a needle positioning assembly having members for moving the needle and an actuation assembly for actuating the needle positioning assembly. The needle includes a first puncturing point at a proximal end thereof and an engagement section adjacent thereto, a distal end, which may have a second puncturing point, and another engagement section adjacent the distal end. A structure, such as an eye or a slot, is provided to secure a length of suture material to the needle. The members for moving the needle include an engagement member for releasably engaging one of the engagement sections of the needle to effect axial movement of the needle within the channel, a ramp member for effecting movement of the needle in the distal direction along the longitudinal axis of the channel and for urging the proximal end of the needle out of the channel, and a snare axially movable within the channel and having a portion releasably housed within the channel. The snare portion is configured for capturing the proximal engagement section of the needle to guide the needle in a proximal direction when the needle is out of the channel and to guide the return of the needle to the channel.
US08075564B2	Piezotome for maxillary sinus operation A piezotome operation unit for lifting a maxillary sinus at a position of placement of an implant upon lifting the maxillary sinus, which forms and enlarges the vertical hole with ease in a remaining bone of the maxillary sinus though vertical approaching, and upon forming a lateral window below a malar bone through lateral approaching, prevents a maxillary membrane from becoming damaged, thereby ensuring continuous, safe lifting so that the operating time is shortened and the efficiency of the operation is maximized.
US08075563B2	Resurfacing reamer with cutting struts Disclosed is a guided orthopedic bone reamer (10a) for cutting a profile relief shape (21a) into a joint bone (20). The reamer (10a) has a cutting head (30a) and an axial guide assembly (70). The cutting head (30a) has a profile cutting form (24a) with a rim (34) and an apex (38a). The apex (38a) connects to the cutting form (24a) by a set of struts (94). An axial guide assembly (70) has one end (44a) fixed to the apex (38a) and at the other end has a bayonet mechanism (76) connectable to a drive handle. Rim cutting teeth (36a) are set into the rim (34) to cut a cylindrical profile (21a), and bevel cutting teeth (96) integral to the struts (94) cut a bevel (25) onto the cylindrical form (21a) cut into the bone (20). A guide pin bore (12a) passes through the apex (38a) and the guide assembly (70) concentric with the axis of rotation (18) to receive a guide pin (14) to guide the reamer (10a) in cutting alignment relative to the joint bone (20) to be cut.
US08075558B2	Electrosurgical instrument and method An electrosurgical working end and method for sealing and transecting tissue. An exemplary working end provides curved jaw members that are positioned on opposing sides of the targeted anatomic structure. The working end carries a slidable extension member having flange portions with inner surfaces that slide over the jaw members to clamp tissue therebetween. The working end carries an independent slidable cutting member that is flexible to follow the curved axis of the jaws. The electrosurgical surfaces of the jaws include partially-resistive bodies for carrying a current or load which modulates ohmic heating in the engaged tissue to prevent charring and desiccation of tissue to create a high strength thermal seal.
US08075555B2	Surgical sealing surfaces and methods of use Various embodiments provide compositions that exhibit positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTCR) properties for use in thermal interactions with tissue—including thermal sensing and I2R current-limiting interactions. Embodiments also provide tissue-engaging surfaces having PTCR materials that provide very fast switching times between low resistance and high, current-limiting resistance. One embodiment provides a matrix for an electrosurgical energy delivery surface comprising a PTCR material and a heat exchange material disposed within an interior of the matrix. The PTCR material has a substantially conductive state and a substantially non-conductive state. The heat exchange material has a structure configured to have an omni-directional thermal diffusivity for exchanging heat with the PTCR material to cause rapid switching of the PTCR material between the conductive state and non-conductive state. Preferably, the structure comprises a graphite foam having an open cell configuration. The matrix can be carried by tissue contacting surfaces of various electrosurgical devices.
US08075553B2	Illuminated directional laser probe An ophthalmic surgery illuminated directional laser probe has a handle and a rigid tubular tip projecting from the handle, and has an illumination optic fiber and a laser optic fiber that extend through the handle and the tip. A mechanism on the handle is operable to extend distal ends of the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber from the distal end of the instrument tip, and to retract the distal ends of the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber back into the interior of the tip. At least one of the distal ends of the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber is held in a curved configuration. The distal ends of the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber are secured to each other, whereby both the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber curve into a bent configuration as the distal ends of the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber are extended from the distal end of the instrument tip.
US08075552B2	System and method for preparation of donor corneal tissue A system and method for preparation of donor corneal tissue is disclosed. The system includes two surgical lasers. The first surgical laser is adapted to incise a recipient cornea to enable resection of recipient corneal tissue. The second surgical laser is adapted to incise a donor cornea to enable resection of donor corneal tissue. Both surgical lasers are adapted to make corneal incisions which are defined by incision parameters. Further, both surgical lasers are calibrated to make substantially precise corneal incisions when provided with identical incision parameters.
US08075548B2	Device for storing and administering active ingredients, and method for administering active ingredients by means of such device In an apparatus for storing and administering active substances, at least one transfer mechanism is provided, and a first reservoir that contains an active substance in dissolved form is also provided, the active substance being administered by way of the transfer mechanism. A second reservoir having the active substance in solid form is additionally provided in the apparatus.
US08075546B2	Air-in-line and pressure detection Methods and apparatus for air content and pressure measurement of sample fluid, especially sample fluid in association with an infusion pump. Volume change in a chamber as the chamber transitions between negative and positive pressure relates to the air content in the chamber. In particular, in an infusion pump, the volume change of infusion fluid as it transitions between being under negative pressure and positive pressure within a cassette central chamber, e.g., pumping chamber, relates to the air content in the infusion fluid. The outlet pressure of the cassette central chamber, e.g., blood pressure, can be monitored based on the cassette central chamber pressure.
US08075545B2	Medicament admixing system A system for mixing or reconstituting a drug contained in a first container with a diluent or fluid contained in a second container. The second container has a port docking assembly for engaging the first container. The first container is rotatable and axially slidable within the port docking assembly. The port docking assembly has an actuator to urge a stopper fluidly sealing the first container into the interior of the first container. The port docking assembly further includes a movable plug constructed to fluidly seal the second container in a first, docked position and to provide access to the interior of the second container in a second, activated position, whereby fluid communication between the first and second containers is provided when the first and second containers are in the second, activated position.
US08075540B2	Bowel management system with physiologic sensors A bowel management system includes a rectal catheter; and at least one physiologic sensor. The rectal catheter has a portion in contact with a patient's body internally thereof during use of the system, to thereby determine a preselected physiologic parameter of a patient having the rectal catheter inserted into the patient's bowel. The position of the sensor relative to the rectal catheter portion is such that the sensor is disposed in close proximity to the internal tissue of the patient, or within the fecal flow, when the bowel management system is place for use within the patient.
US08075538B2	Urine receptacle and apparatus for automated disposal of urine A disposable re-useable urine receptacle that, when used, provides comfortable, discrete, and safe urine collection and containment until the collected urine can be properly disposed of, either by the wearer or someone else. It achieves these goals by conforming to the wearer's body, expanding to a predetermined self-supported shape, and disallowing side wall-to-wall adherence between fillings. An apparatus for automated disposal of urine is also disclosed.
US08075537B2	Multiple cell therapeutic diffusion device A diffusing device for treating tissue has multiple cells arranged in a cell layer, the cells filled with or charged with a therapeutic agent, an occlusive layer in direct communication with the cell layer, and a diffusion layer in direct communication with the cell layer. In use the diffusing device is sealed peripherally about an area of tissue and therapeutic agent is released from the cells through the diffusion layer based on the diffusion properties of the diffusion layer.
US08075536B2	Power injectable port identification An implantable port for accessing internal body structures, the port comprises a proximal housing including an opening providing access to an interior of the port and a distal housing adapted for assembly with the proximal housing, the distal housing including a reservoir which, when the distal housing is mated with the proximal housing is in fluid communication with the opening of the proximal housing in combination with a radiopaque element in one of the proximal and distal housings, a shape of the radiopaque element identifying, when imaged, a structural characteristic of the port not otherwise identifiable visually.
US08075535B2	Pre-filled syringe with anti-tamper cap A prefilled ready-to-use syringe, including a tubular body having, at its distal end, a tip to take a needle and, at its proximal end, a flange, a piston able to slide inside the tubular body and defining, with the tubular body, an internal working volume at least partially filled with a liquid, a rod for actuating the piston extending beyond the proximal end of the tubular body, characterized in that a rigid cover is attached and fixed in a definitive way to the flange and has a central opening for the free translational passage of the actuating rod, and the said cover forms a stop for the actuating rod in the proximal direction, and a plug is arranged to translate freely in the tubular body between the piston and the proximal end of the body, the plug being resistant to puncturing with a needle.
US08075531B2	Modular implantable medical device The present invention is a modular implantable medical device that is used deliver materials or energy into a patient's physiology, or from one region of a patient's physiology to another. The device includes a port element with a passageway therethrough for directing and anchoring a conduit element in a desired location. Both elements can be adjusted during placement to maximize the safety, comfort, and efficacy of use. In one embodiment, the port element is comprised of two components such that the passage way is formed after the components are assembled. This modularity enables a large diameter section of the conduit to be advanced past the port location, and the port to be assembled about a smaller proximal section of the conduit, thereby establishing full contact between the port and conduit elements to anchor the device in an optimal position.
US08075527B2	Device and method employing shape memory alloy A system for the metering and delivery of small discrete volumes of liquid is comprised of a small or minimal number of inexpensive components. One such component is a movable member, such as a miniature precision reciprocating displacement pump head, which is driven by an actuator that comprises a shape memory alloy material. The operating mechanism of the system is of little or minimal complexity. The system facilitates the precise metering and delivery of the small discrete volumes of liquid. Potential applications for the system include subcutaneous, long-term, automated drug delivery, for example, the delivery of insulin to a person with diabetes. In such an application, the small, simple and inexpensive nature of the invention would allow for its use as both a portable and a disposable system.
US08075519B2	Agent delivery catheter having a radially expandable centering support members A catheter for delivering an agent to an injection site in a wall of a patient's body lumen, with an elongated shaft having a needle-through lumen slidably containing a needle therein, and an expandable member on the distal shaft section which has a collapsed configuration and a radially expanded configuration. In the radially expanded configuration, the expandable member supports the shaft in a position spaced away from the body lumen wall, and the needle slidably exits the needle-through lumen in the extended configuration through the port spaced away from the body lumen wall as a portion of the expandable member maintains the position of the port section of the shaft in the body lumen. The expandable member typically has an open-walled, helical, or lobed configuration providing a perfusion path along the expandable member.
US08075513B2	Patient connection system for a balance hydration unit A hydration management system includes a console for mounting on an IV pole. A urine collection bag and a hydration fluid bag hang from the console. Urine in the urine collection bag is weighed. An infusion pump is configured to pump hydration fluid from the infusion bag. A controller is responsive to the weight of the urine collection bag and controls the infusion pump to hydrate the patient based on the patient's urine output. An infusion set includes an infusion bag connector, an IV needle connector, and tubing, placed in the infusion pump, extending between the infusion bag connector and the IV needle connector. A urine collection set typically includes the urine collection bag, a catheter connector, and tubing extending between the urine collection bag connector and the catheter connector.
US08075510B2	Systems and methods for removing undesirable material within a circulatory system A system for removing undesirable material from vessels and from chambers within the heart is provided. The system includes a suction cannula for removing the undesirable material from a site of interest within a patient. A filter device may be provided for capturing the undesirable material and removing it from the fluid flow. The system also includes pump for generating the necessary suction force through the suction cannula to dislodge the undesirable material from the site of interest and for generating a sufficient driving force to direct the fluid flow downstream within the system. The system further includes a reinfusion cannula for introducing fluid removed from the site of interest back into a patient. A method for removing undesirable material from vessels and from heart chambers is also provided.
US08075509B2	Medical apparatus A medical apparatus (1) comprises a user interface (30), a number of sensors (16,27,21,22,29) and a control system (18) programmed for displaying on the user interface screen (31) a number of indicia (37), each relating to a corresponding parameter and comprising an indicium border (45) delimiting an indicium selection area (45a); the control system allows selection of an indicium for identifying the parameter a user intends to modify, allows setting of a new set value for the selected parameter; the control system also receives from the sensors (29) a measure of the actual value for the parameter and displays on the indicium selection area (45a) of the indicium both the actual value and the set value for the same parameter. The programming software for the control system is also disclosed.
US08075503B2	System and method for treating a wound using ultrasonic debridement A wound treatment system includes a distribution manifold, a reduced pressure source, a fluid delivery source, and an ultrasonic energy transducer. Reduced pressure and fluid delivery may be applied to the wound through the distribution manifold. The ultrasonic energy transducer is configured to deliver ultrasonic energy to the wound to debride the wound. The ultrasonic energy transducer may be either a piezoelectric transducer or a surface acoustic wave device. The ultrasonic energy transducer may be placed adjacent to the distribution manifold to deliver ultrasonic energy directly to the wound or may be coupled to an acoustically-conducting membrane positioned between the distribution manifold and the wound.
US08075502B2	Visualization of values of a physical property detected in an organism over time A system for visually indicating, in real time or post hoc, values of a physical property detected over a period of time along a dimension of an organism to a user on a temporal plot and a profile plot, either individually or concurrently. The detected values may be visually indicated on the temporal plot using any of a variety of techniques, including, but not limited to, a contour technique, a line trace technique or a mesh plot technique. Further, the detected values may be visually indicated on the profile plot using any of a variety of techniques, including, but not limited to a contour technique, a line trace technique or a histogram technique. To provide a finer spatial resolution, values may be interpolated for locations between the locations at which values were detected, and these values may be displayed on the temporal plot and the profile plot.
US08075501B2	Methods for designing a foot orthotic Disclosed are methods and systems for design of a foot orthotic, and a foot orthotic device designed in accord therewith. More specifically described is an individualized foot orthotic device to correct and/or restore the ideal alignment and/or positioning of foot structures. In the method, sequential pressure is applied to regions on a plantar foot surface, and positional information is obtained about each region. Based on the positional information, an orthotic profile is determined, for design of one or more custom, individualized foot orthotic devices for a subject.
US08075498B2	Medical apparatus system having optical fiber load sensing capability Apparatus is provided for diagnosing or treating an organ or vessel, wherein a device having at least two optical fiber sensors disposed in a distal extremity thereof is coupled to processing logic programmed to compute a multi-dimensional force vector responsive to detected changes in the optical characteristics of the optical fiber sensors arising from deflection of the distal extremity resulting from contact with the tissue of the wall of the organ or vessel. The force vector may be used to facilitate manipulation of the catheter either directly or automatically using a robotic system.
US08075495B2	Biopsy devices with universal probe A biopsy device comprises a probe that is configured to couple with a holster. The probe comprises a needle, a cutter, and a body portion. The needle is rotatable and translatable relative to the body portion. The holster has a locking feature that is configured to prevent the needle from rotating relative to the body portion upon coupling of the probe with the holster. The locking feature may also be configured to prevent the needle from translating relative to the body portion upon coupling of the probe with the holster. The same probe may thus be used with a holster intended for use in a fixture-based, stereotactic setting, in which rotation and translation of the needle may be desired; and with a holster intended for use in a handheld, ultrasound-guided setting, in which rotation and translation of the needle may be less desired if not undesirable.
US08075492B2	Automatic decompression valve for sphygmomanometer with extension spring Disclosed is an automatic decompression valve for sphygmomanometer with an extension spring, which can decompress pressure at a constant without control of the decompression vale of the sphygmomanometer, and be used uprightly regardless of a peripheral circumstance. The automatic decompression valve includes: a valve body having an inlet through which air is introduced from a cuff therein, and an outlet through which the introduced air is exhausted; a piston having a piston shaft for moving toward the outlet in the valve body; a spring having one end connected to the piston; a three-way valve provided with a connector with which the valve body is assembled, and air inlet and outlet, the three-way valve being connected to the other end of the spring; and a support for supporting the three-way valve.
US08075491B2	Implantable cardiac stimulation device with respiratory modulated therapy delivery A method of providing cardiac stimulation therapy and a device for providing the therapy. A patient's cardiac activity as well as cyclical respiration is monitored. Cardiac stimulation is provided as indicated as therapeutic intervention for a variety of cardiac arrhythmias according to variable timing parameters. One or more of the timing parameters under which cardiac pacing stimulations are provided is varied or modulated with the cyclical variations in respiration. The one or more timing parameters are generally shortened or elongated in concert with the alternating inspiration/exhalation phases of respiration. In certain implementations, the patient's respiration is inferred from cardiac based physiologic signals. The methods and devices for providing cardiac stimulation therapy more accurately emulate natural healthy physiologic activity.
US08075489B2	Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus Pressure distribution on a surface of an ultrasonic probe can be measured directly. Piezoelectric sensors, in which a piezoelectric thin film is formed on a film-like substrate, are arranged in the form of an array on the surface of an ultrasonic probe, and a sensor output signal processing unit outputs pressure measured for each piezoelectric sensor S1, S2 to S9 based on output signals from each of the piezoelectric sensors to an image processing unit. The image processing unit generates a histogram of the measured pressures for piezoelectric sensors S1, S2 to S9, and displays the histogram, while plotting the piezoelectric sensors on the X axis and the measured pressures on the Y axis, along with the resulting ultrasound tomographic image, on a monitor.
US08075487B2	Ultrasound diagnosis system including a motor driving multiplane ultrasound probe and image data acquiring method An ultrasound diagnosis system including a motor driving multi-plane ultrasound probe for acquiring image data at a voluntary scanning plane in a body of a patient is provided. The data acquisition is performed by driving rotation of a plurality of transducers arranged in a head portion of the probe toward a target angle of a prescribed rotation range by driving an arranged surface of the plurality transducers so as to make a plurality of scanning planes toward a first direction in a normal mode. The driving direction of the head portion is automatically reversed by 180 degrees to a second direction opposite to the first direction at a high speed in a reverse mode when the rotation angle of the head portion arrives at the target angle. The reversed head portion can continue to acquire image data at the same scanning planes to the previous scanning planes of the rotation drive to the first direction.
US08075481B2	Internal retraction systems and devices An internal retraction system for use in minimally-invasive surgical procedures includes, among other features, an elongated applicator that has proximal and distal ends. The distal end of the applicator includes a grasper and the proximal end includes a mechanism or actuator for moving the grasper from an open position to a closed position. A plurality of anchor clips are slidably mounted on the elongated applicator and are initially in a stored position. Each clip includes spring biased upper and lower jaws for grasping tissue. The internal retraction system also includes a structure associated with the applicator for deploying the anchor clips from the stored position to a deployed position at a desired location. Moreover, the internal retraction system includes a mechanism associated with the applicator for removing the anchor clips from the deployed position and returning the clips to the stored position.
US08075473B2	Extension device for permanent penis enlargement and straightening Disclosed is an extension apparatus for enlarging and straightening a penis. The extension apparatus includes a fastening device (1) that is mounted on the penis, and a tension device (8) which is connected to the fastening device (1). The fastening device is provided with a dimensionally stable receiving member (2) which positively accommodates the entire area of the glans penis and whose inner contour essentially matches the shape of the glans penis. The fastening device can be connected to a device for supplying and sucking air and adjoins an elastic tubular seal (15) at the opening (3) provided for introducing the glans penis. The simple apparatus, which is suitable also for short penis lengths, can be put on quickly and in an uncomplicated manner, provides a high degree of comfort during wearing and optimum tensile strength, resulting in a gentle extension treatment that has no major side effects for the user.
US08075471B2	Apical torsion device for cardiac assist An apparatus for assisting a heart of a patient includes an actuator for wringing blood concurrently from both the right and left ventricles of the heart without contacting circulating blood of the patient. The apparatus includes a power source connected to the actuator to power the actuator. A method for assisting a heart of a patient includes the steps of powering an actuator in contact with the heart with a power source. There is the step of wringing blood concurrently from both the right and left ventricles of the heart without contacting circulating blood of the patient with the actuator.
US08075470B2	Therapeutic device for local area stimulation A therapeutic device and process utilizes an array of members in which each member is both magnetically coupled to a magnetic source and electrically coupled to a source of electrical signals. In the preferred embodiment, the members include both ferromagnetic members and diamagnetic members. The members are controlled to enable variations of electromagnetic stimuli by selectively adjusting applied electrical signals to the two types of members. The ferromagnetic members and the diamagnetic members may be placed in alternating rows. The rows may be individually controlled with respect to applying alternative electrical signals, as well as with respect to enablement and disablement. A thermal module may be included in order to also apply thermal stimulus. Some embodiments include the capability to monitor effects of the stimuli to the skin of the person.
US08075466B2	Machine for forming boxes A machine for forming boxes which have at least a main body with the possibility of also having a lid hinged to it, from flat blanks, comprises a carousel (4) rotating about its own axis of rotation (4a), a plurality of pick up and transfer arms (5) mounted radially on the carousel (4) and able to rotate with it about the axis of rotation (4a) and a plurality of operating stations (6, 8, 9, 10) positioned along a circular path (P) described by the arms (5). The operating stations comprise at least a pick up station (6) for the blanks (3), a gumming station (8), a folding station (9) and a station (10) for releasing the at least partly formed boxes. Each arm (5) comprises a pick up element (11) able to slide radially away from the carousel (4) to pick up the blank (3) directly from the pick up station (6) and to accompany the box (2) as far as a supporting surface (15) at the releasing station (10).
US08075464B2	Portable abdominal exercise mat A portable abdominal exercise mat apparatus is disclosed comprising, in one embodiment, an elongate, flexible mat having a relatively rigid elongate handle portion engaged at one end of the mat, the apparatus being sized and configured for providing adequate support for a user's back, neck and head while the user performs a wide range of abdominal exercises. In further embodiments, the handle portion is configured for removably accepting a variety of attachment accessories, some of which are designed to allow the user to selectively add resistance to their abdominal exercises. Other attachment accessories allow the user to perform various non-abdominal exercises using the apparatus. When the apparatus is not being used, it can be easily rolled up or laid flat for storage or transport with very little space or weight requirements.
US08075463B2	Exercise device An exercise device for achieving desired abdominal contractions during exercise movement includes a back support and a pair of leg blades removably attached to the back support. The device includes an adjustable back blade attached to the back support and extending upward from the lower end along a centerline of the back support, and a neck support assembly attached to the back blade.
US08075462B1	Elastic member exercise device An exemplary exercise device includes a foot cuff and a hand grip separated by an elastic member. Rigid and flexible foot cuff sections define a foot passage for a foot. A foot cuff body passage in the rigid foot cuff section receives a foot cuff pivot having an enlarged portion and a plug. The plug is inserted in an elastic member socket, and is able to point in different directions as the enlarged portion pivots within the foot cuff body passage. The hand grip includes a hand grip channel for replaceably receiving the elastic member, which is removably secured to the hand grip using an impinger or by being wrapped about the hand grip and inserted in a groove. A user can insert a foot through the foot passage and grip the hand grip, stretching the elastic member between the foot and hand while walking, performing calisthenics, etc.
US08075461B2	Reinforced cord well lifting bar assembly An exercise bar cord impingement assembly permits exercise in two modes, defined in terms of how cord anchoring is arranged. It also permits exercise to be conducted either with a stretchable cord and handgrip together connected to the bar's body or just the stretchable cord itself so connected. In either case, there are slots in the bar's body to slide the cord through. Specially shaped wells or nests accommodate impingement of the elastic cord and firm handgrip emplacement. The ends of the bar's body are preferably shaped into pipe bowl configuration disposed to insure a good fit and avoid torque.
US08075456B2	Squat training device A squat training device. A generally planar base is shaped to receive a shoed foot of a user. A plurality of straps are coupled to the base and are configured to secure the shoed foot to the base. A vertical member is detachably coupled to a front toe portion of the base and extends upwardly from the base to provide the user thereof with feedback regarding a predetermined exercise form.
US08075455B2	Jump rope handle exercise device A rope-less jump rope exercise device includes a handle and a flexible, elongated lash having a first end associated with the handle and a second end. A ball-and-socket assembly interconnects the first end of the lash and the handle in order to provide rotary movement of the lash relative to the handle in all directions. The handle, lash and ball-and-socket assembly form one half of a pair of identical jump rope exercise assemblies which jointly comprise the jump rope exercise device. Alternatively, a rope-less jump rope exercise device includes a handle defining an inner cavity and a flexible, elongated lash having a first end at partially disposed within the inner cavity and a second end. A spring disposed within the inner cavity is configured to interconnect the handle and the lash and resist movement of the lash out of the inner cavity.
US08075454B2	Compact gym Disclosed in this specification is a compact gym that comprises both a recumbent exercycle and a weight system. The recumbent exercycle may be rotated by 180° to offer users a greater variety of workouts. The compact gym's various components may be folded into a cupboard for storage.
US08075453B1	Total body exercise machine An exercise apparatus comprising a lower body exercise machine, at least one upper body exercise module positioned for engagement by a user of the machine, each module adapted to provide resistance to the user's full natural arm swing. Each module comprises an elongated connector, a user engagement connected to one end of the elongated connector for engaging or being engaged by a body appendage of a user, and a resistance mechanism for resisting a tensile force applied to the end of the elongated connector. The lower body exercise machine includes an exercise bicycle adapted for use with the upper body exercise module. The resistance mechanism includes a reel through which the elongated connector is wound and the reel containing a means of providing resistance against the action of the user.
US08075450B2	Monitoring method Method for monitoring a body portion of a user during the use of a gymnastic machine provided with a video monitoring apparatus; this method comprising a phase of defining the body portion to be monitored, followed by a phase of visually and continuously monitoring this body portion through the video monitoring apparatus; this last phase comprising a sub-phase of synchronizing the trend over time of the value of at least one operating parameter of the video monitoring apparatus with a motion of the body portion described on the basis of given kinematic information acquired by a control unit of the gymnastic machine.
US08075448B2	Oil pressure control apparatus for automatic transmission An oil pressure control apparatus for an automatic transmission configured with an oil pressure servo that engages and disengages a friction engagement element. The friction element is engaged by first and second hydraulic oil chambers that individually provide low torque, and can provide a higher torque when working in combination. A failure solenoid valve outputs a signal when a failure occurs to stop oil pressure to an oil pressure servo. Valves are configured to determine whether oil pressure is supplied to or discharged from the first and second hydraulic oil chambers. A switching valve is switched on the basis of the failure signal, and an oil pressure can be individually supplied to and discharged from the first and second hydraulic oil chambers based on the status of the switching solenoid valve and the signal from the failure solenoid valve.
US08075443B2	Planetary gear set The present epicyclic gear includes a carrier (12), a generally central sun gear (11), an outer annular gear (13) and an intermediary helical planet gear (14) which is mounted on the carrier (12) by a flexible pin assembly (15). The gear further includes a reaction member in the form of a rolling ring (22) at each axial end of the helical planet gear (14) to provide a respective radially inward reaction load onto the planet gear (14) in a sense that the reaction members (22) together resist a twisting moment on the planet gear (14) arising from the tooth loads on that gear.
US08075441B2	Automatic transmission gear and clutch arrangement A 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. Further, a hydraulic fluid control circuit is provided for controlling the operation of the plurality of torque-transmitting devices. The hydraulic fluid control circuit receives pressurized hydraulic fluid from an off-axis hydraulic fluid pump and has a plurality of fluid passages disposed in the transmission house, input shaft, output shaft and other coupling members.
US08075439B2	Automatic opening-closing device An automatic opening-closing device, especially for a cover or seat of a toilet, has a motor having a motor shaft, a speed reducer connected to the motor shaft, a planetary gearbox driven by the speed reducer, an output axle for driving the cover between an open position and a closed position. A protection device limits the torque between the output axle and an output shaft of the planetary gearbox.
US08075438B2	Apparatus and method for transmitting a rotary input into counter-rotating outputs An apparatus and method for transmitting a rotary input into counter-rotating outputs is disclosed herein. An exemplary apparatus for performing the method includes a planetary gear set having a sun gear rotatable by a rotary input, a plurality of planet gears in meshed engagement with the sun gear, a carrier coupling the plurality of planet gears together, and a ring gear encircling and in meshed engagement with the plurality of planet gears. The exemplary apparatus also includes a first shaft member coupled to the carrier for transmitting motion in a first rotational direction. The exemplary apparatus also includes a second shaft member coupled to the ring gear for transmitting motion in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. The first shaft member at least partially encircles the second shaft member.
US08075437B2	Gear assembly for multi-speed countershaft transmission A multi-speed countershaft transmission for a vehicle is provided. The transmission includes a main shaft and countershaft gears that receive input directly from an input member. A plurality of torque transmitting mechanisms may be selectively applied to synchronize a range gear to a countershaft. The countershaft transfers torque to an output gear set, which may transfer torque to a planetary gear set. The available range gears include a plurality of forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio. One or more power take-off sections may also be provided.
US08075436B2	Hybrid drive train of a motor vehicle A hybrid gear train of a motor vehicle that has an internal combustion engine with a drive shaft, an electric motor with a rotor that operate as a motor and a generator, a transmission with two input shafts and an output shaft, as well as a differential transmission. At least one of the input shafts can be connected, via an assigned de-coupler, to the drive shaft, both of the input shafts can be connected by alternately assigned gearwheel sets of different ratios and in each case one assigned gear clutch to the output shaft. The differential transmission is designed as a simple planetary gearset that is coaxial with the first input shaft. The ring gear of this transmission is rotationally fixed to the one input shaft. The planet carrier is rotationally fixed to the second input shaft, and the sun gear is connected to and drives the rotor.
US08075435B2	Dual mode input split compound split configuration EPPV transmission An improved dual mode EPPV transmission hybrid electric drive system uses a combination of power sources including an internal combustion engine, a first electric motor, and a second electric motor, and provides more efficient operation and compact installation. The improved dual mode EPPV transmission hybrid electric drive system includes a first planetary gear set including a first sun gear linked to a first ring gear via a pinion on a first carrier, and a second planetary gear set including a second sun gear linked to a second ring gear via a pinion on a second carrier, wherein the various elements of the planetary gear sets are configured to allow a dual mode synchronous shift operation. The system includes a first clutch and a second clutch, both of which may be dry clutches, for changing the mode of the transmission from a high mode to a low mode and vice versa.
US08075430B1	Arrow transmitter An arrow transmitter comprises a head assembly having an arrow having a tip. Extending from the arrow is a shaft having a neck that terminates at a threaded portion. A tubular shaft assembly defines a first shaft cavity with a first exterior wall and first and second ends. The tubular shaft assembly also comprises fletching that is fixedly mounted onto the first exterior wall and a nock mounted onto the first end. A plugged housing assembly is housed within the tubular shaft assembly. A transmitter assembly is housed within the housing assembly. A global positioning system tracking unit determines a precise location of hunted game once struck and after the transmitter assembly is activated when a force overcomes the spring force of the spring member. Thus, causing the actuator pin to make contact with the first protrusion to activate the switch that activates the transmitter assembly.
US08075429B2	Racquet stringing machine A stringing machine includes a base and an adjustable stringing platform coupled to the base. The stringing platform includes a turntable rotatable about a first axis, and a first releasable resistance assembly coupled to the turntable. The first releasable resistance assembly is selectable between an engaged operating mode in which the releasable resistance assembly resists rotation of the turntable about the first axis, and a disengaged operating mode in which the releasable resistance assembly does not resist rotation of the turntable about the first axis. The releasable resistance assembly includes a magnetorheological fluid for resisting rotation of the turntable about the first axis when in the engaged operating mode.
US08075427B2	Volleyball instructional apparatus The present invention is directed to a volleyball instructional apparatus and methods of using such apparatus, more particularly to a volleyball instructional apparatus that provides assistance with training a user how to establish proper hand, forearm, and/or body positioning when bumping or striking a volleyball during different volleyball motions. The instructional apparatus comprises a first hand member, a second hand member and an element for maintaining said first and second hand members.
US08075426B1	Power pivot A baseball swing training apparatus comprised of upper and lower platform members that are rotatably secured to one another by means of a bearing plate assembly. The platform members have a generally rectangular body with at least one side of each platform member formed as an extending finger portion. The extending finger portion of the upper platform member receives thereon a spring loaded foot mechanism. The spring loaded foot mechanism is comprised of a continuous cylindrical member having upper and lower U-shaped ends, the upper and lower ends being orthogonal to one another and forming an L-shaped continuous cylindrical member. A coiled spring member is secured to the upper platform member and to the upper U-shaped end by a hook shaped element. The coiled spring member is secured to the upper platform member by an elongated rod, the ends of which are received within apertures defined by the coiled spring. The ends of the rod are in turn received within an eye portion of spaced apart eyebolts.
US08075423B2	Multi-layer core golf ball Golf balls comprising a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises a layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition, a layer formed from an additional thermoplastic composition, and an outermost layer formed from a thermoset rubber.
US08075419B2	Golf club head with improved mass distribution A golf club head having a striking wall having a front surface, and a rear surface, a top surface, and a sole portion extending rearwardly from the rear surface, the sole portion having a forward end, a rearward end, an upper surface and a lower surface. The intersection of the upper surface and the rear surface defines an interior sole line. The intersection of the upper surface and the rearward end defines a trailing edge. A region on the upper surface includes variation of the height of the trailing edge or exterior sole line relative to the height of the interior sole.
US08075415B2	Cue stick and cue stick handle with rigid inner core and method of making the same A cue stick handle includes: an exterior casing of conical members; a rigid inner core, which includes linearly interlocked and glued components, including (a) a rigid tube composed of a hard, tensile material that provides steel-like characteristics, including rigidity and stiffness and (b) a pin holder composed of a strong composite or plastic material, having a high tensile and high bending strength, and adhesively coupled to the tube. The first end of a joint pin is securely inserted within the pin holder and a second end of the joint pin extends in an axial direction away from the tube. The tube is filled with a vibration-dampening, foam-like material. The rigid inner core may include a wood core securely mated to an end of the rigid tube. A pair of collars is coupled to each end of the rigid inner core to secure the rigid inner core inside the exterior casing.
US08075413B2	Continuous water ride method and system for water amusement parks A water transportation system and method are described, generally related to water amusement attractions and rides. Further, the disclosure generally relates to water-powered rides and to a system and method in which participants may be actively involved in a water attraction. This transportation system comprises at least two water stations and at least one water channel connecting the at least two water stations for the purpose of conveying participants between the at least two water stations. In addition, the water transportation system may include conveyor belt systems and water locks configured to convey participants from a first source of water to a second source of water which may or may not be at a different elevation.
US08075409B1	Fencing strip A fencing strip includes a plurality of light assemblies, in communication with the scoring controller and console. The light assemblies are embedded at predetermined locations within the fencing strip to project at least two different types of light through the perforations, indicating which fencer has scored. The light assemblies are located at spaced-apart positions along the overall length of the strip which includes an electrically conductive top surface that completes a circuit when a fencer's conductive blade contacts the strip surface (a non-scoring touch). The conductive top surface is perforated to maintain a continuous contact surface that can differentiate a non-scoring touch from a fencer's blade, via an interconnection between the top surface and scoring console. The perforations allow for transmission of light therethrough. A plurality of ramped placards extend outwardly from the overhang of the elevated subsurface and the adjacent floor in a downwardly angled direction.
US08075406B2	Inter-game communications in multi-machine gaming system and method The disclosed system and method provide a dynamic and scalable gaming system in which a plurality of gaming machines are connected to a network switch to form a hybrid peer-to-peer gaming network. The gaming switch has two sets of data ports configured into two virtual local area networks (VLANs). The gaming machines are connected through their network interfaces to a first set of data ports of the network switch to form a first VLAN. The gaming machines are connected through their serial interfaces and serial-to-network adapters to a second set of data ports of the network switch to form a second VLAN. The gaming machines are configured to communicate with devices external to the gaming network through their network interfaces. The gaming machines are configured to communicate with each other through their serial interfaces. External and internal communications within the gaming network are segregated both at the device and network levels.
US08075404B2	Multi-player gaming A method of enabling the playing of a game is described in which an electronic message requesting assistance is sent during a game being played by a gamer. Assistance is provided for a portion of the game in the form of an additional character in the game.
US08075402B2	Multigame selection A gaming system (100) comprises a gaming server (system controller) (54), a plurality of gaming machines (10), and a communications system (63) connecting each of the plurality of gaming machines (10) to the gaming server (53). The gaming machines (10) each have a display (14), player controls (22), a player tracking device, such as a card reader (24.3) for reading player tracking cards (27), and a game processor (34) which displays sequential game images of a game being played on the respective display (14). Each game processor (34) plays a game initiated by the player, where the game is one of a plurality of games available on the gaming machine (10) and selectable by the player. Each gaming machine (10) includes game selection means (16) which displays a selection of games (211-216 & 311-316) available on the machine for the player to play. The games (211-216 & 311-316) offered for selection are ordered according to a ranking determined as a function of the player's past history of playing games and a history of games played by other players.
US08075398B2	Independently-defined alteration of output from software executable using distributed alteration engine A first executable, such as a computer game, operates co-extensively with a second independently operating executable that monitors events on a client operating the first executable. The second executable determines actions to be performed in response to monitored events, as defined by a business logic table. The second executable traps API calls to perform actions altering apparent output of the first executable. The business logic table may be distributed to the client separately. The second executable and the first executable may be configured to execute during the same times on the client node. The second executable may be used to provide additional content, including advertising, in the context of an existing game or other software executable.
US08075397B2	Service controller for servicing wagering game machines Methods and apparatus for servicing wagering game machines are described herein. In one embodiment, wagering game network, service information originating from a wagering game machine, wherein the wagering game machine is configured to receive a wager associated with a wagering game. The method can also include, based on the service information and a service plan associated with the wagering game machine, determining a service action. The method can also include performing the service action.
US08075392B2	Slot machine game having rotation of symbol area A game system and method includes a symbol area having a plurality of symbols in a first orientation. The symbols in one or more pay lines may be compared to predefined payout patterns to determine a first payout. The symbols area and corresponding plurality of symbols may then be rotated to a second orientation or configuration. In the second orientation/configuration, the symbols in the one or more pay lines may be compared again to the predefined payout patterns to determine a second payout. Alternatively or additionally, a pay line and/or a payout pattern may change in response to the rotation. Rotation might only be activated if a rotation symbol is included in the plurality of symbols in the symbol area and/or in particular position in the symbol area. A player might also be permitted to pay for the ability to rotate the symbol area.
US08075389B1	Gaming device having one or more shared award-modifier reels Various embodiments are directed to a reel spinning game having one or more shared award-modifier reels that enhance any winning outcome in a reel spinning game.
US08075385B2	Card selection game with feature A gaming machine and method are disclosed. A selected symbol is displayed in a non-revealed manner, for example on a display, a player having nominated at least one characteristic of the symbol. If the selected symbol is revealed to have the nominated characteristic a prize is awarded to the player, and if the symbol is revealed to be a special symbol a game controller awards the player a feature outcome that comprises a plurality of bonus plays of a feature game that includes at least one special symbol. Progression to the next bonus play in the plurality of bonus plays is dependent on selection of the special symbol.
US08075383B2	Video games adapted for wagering A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to allow players to wager on video games. The method disclosed herein can allow players to win or lose money while partaking in any video game previously played for entertainment purposes. A player can purchase play time on a game, play the game and earn monetary prizes during the game, and then redeem the monetary prizes for real cash.
US08075381B2	Gaming machine A gaming machine includes plural stations and a processor. Each station can determine a game result and execute a game independently. When executing a base game, the processor accepts a gaming value betting and updates used credit information. The processor executes an event game involving plural stations when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The processor awards an event game payout to a station which has achieved the best game result, based on the event game result. In awarding the event game payout, the processor changes a content of the event game payout based on the used credit information of the station.
US08075369B2	Convertible nursing bra A fold-down convertible nursing bra with front and back reconfigurable straps is described. The cups of the bra are secured with a clip at the top of the shoulder strap that can be unclipped with one hand and folded down to nurse, then clipped back into the original position. A strip of fabric inside the cup remains attached to both the cup and the shoulder strap while the cup is folded down so that the bra remains secure and the clip can be easily accessed in order to reattach the cup. The bra also has back reconfigurable shoulder straps attached with a clip that can be removed and reattached in different positions such that the bra may be worn, for example, in a halter or racerback configuration.
US08075368B2	Brassiere for practicing sports A brassiere includes two cups for the breasts, a contact strip positioned under the cups that encircles an area below the bust, two shoulder straps connected to, and extending upwardly from, the cups, and connected to a rear panel, a middle panel positioned between the two cups, and side panels extending from the cups to the rear panel. Inner layers of the cups having a vertical elasticity of at least 60% with respect to a total vertical height of the cups, and at least 15% of the total area of the inner layers configured to contact the skin. The middle panel has a horizontal elasticity of at least 20%. The adherence capacity of the inner layers of the cups can be increased by a silicone material that has a high friction coefficient.
US08075365B2	Yo-yo having a string-formed response system The invention is an improved yo-yo that has two side units and a string-formed response system incorporated into each side unit. In its most basic form, the response system employs a string that is threaded through spaced-apart apertures in a side unit to form at least one tether engagement pad. The pad may be contacted by the yo-yo's tether in order to cause a return of the yo-yo to a user's hand.
US08075363B2	Device and composition for blowing a soap bubble A device for soap bubble blowing has a tube through which a bubble is blown and which is provided with protrusions and recesses, and a ledge of a special shape on its walls, wherein the tube can be fitted in a lid which is joined with a container intended to keep a film-generating composition, and a composition for soap bubble blowing includes surface active agents, high-molecular substances, water, and high-boiling polar water-soluble solids, said surface active agents being selected of the group consisting of anion-active and non-nonionic agents, said anion-active surface active agents having a content of 1-5 by weight, said non nonionic surface active agents having a content of 0.1-1 weight percent by weight, wherein a ratio of said non ionic and ion-active surface active agents is 1:3-1:30.
US08075359B2	Phosphorus-doped diamond film allowing significantly reduced electron emission voltage, method for producing the same, and electron source using the same A phosphorus-doped diamond film, which contains phosphorus at a concentration of 1015 cm−3 or more, has a resistivity of 107 Ωcm or less, and allows the voltage for initiation of electron emission to be 30V or less. A method for producing the phosphorus-doped diamond film by growing a diamond film on a diamond substrate by chemical vapor deposition method in an atmosphere containing methane and hydrogen gases and phosphorus with the use of tertiary butyl phosphorus as a source of addition of phosphorus. A diamond electron source having an electrode and a substrate which contains the phosphorous-doped diamond film and emitting electron beams from the phosphorous-doped diamond film when voltage is applied between the electrode and the substrate.
US08075350B2	Connector apparatus with code means, and method of assembling the same A plug connector and a method of coding of same is characterized by first and second coding elements that are pre-mountable as a unit on at least one of a pair of plug connector components. The other plug connector component is configured so that when the connector components are initially connected together in an axial direction, one of the coding elements is connected with one of the components and the other coding element is connected with the other component. When the components are separated axially, the respective coding elements are separated so that each are retained on the component with which it was originally connected.
US08075346B2	Implantable medical device headers that facilitate device and lead configuration variants Implantable medical devices include headers having various features such as a modular design whereby the header is constructed from a series of stacked contact modules. Additional features include a feedthrough where pins exiting a housing of the implantable medical device extend into the header to make direct electrical connection to electrical contacts present within the header where those electrical contacts directly engage electrical connectors of leads inserted into the header. Other features include electrical contacts that are relatively thin conductors on the order of 0.040 inches or less and may include radial protrusions where the radial protrusions establish contact with the electrical connectors of the lead. Furthermore, electrical contacts may be mounted within the header in a floating manner so that radial movement of the electrical contact may occur during lead insertion.
US08075344B2	Double hooked reverse mountable module and panel with opening for multiple modules mounting A patch panel system includes a patch panel frame having an opening formed therein for receiving a multi-port module. The opening is dimensioned to have a width of at least twice the width of the module. The module or patch panel frame includes at least one movable member, such as a resilient tab, which is used to removably attach the module within the opening in one of two orientations. In a first orientation, the ports of the module face a user, such that the ports can be easily populated. In a second orientation, the module is rotated one hundred eighty degrees about a vertical axis prior to being attached within the opening, such that the backs of the ports face the user to help facilitate population of connections to the backs of the ports.
US08075342B1	Amplifying connector Disclosed is an amplifying connector. The amplifying connector comprises (a) a connector body; (b) an op amp forming an amplifier mounted to the connector body; (c) a power supply circuit mounted to the connector body and coupled to the amplifier; (d) a connector output on the connector body coupled to an amplifier output of the amplifier; and (e) a connector input on the connector body coupled to an amplifier input of the amplifier. An input electrical signal on the connector input is buffered by the amplifier to generate an output electrical signal on the connector output to reduce effects caused by an impedance of the cable. The amplifier may be powered by a power supply circuit powers that draws a portion of the current or voltage from the input signal of a source electronic device, or by an on-board dedicated low power battery power supply.
US08075339B2	Bulge-type coaxial cable connector with plastic sleeve A cable termination assembly is made up of one of a plurality of connector bodies each having a thin-walled outer sleeve which may be composed of metal or plastic, the outer sleeve having a raised external wall surface portion which may be of convex or truncated convex configuration with or without depressions or interruptions in its external surface; and, depending on the pull out force required, utilization of a plastic sleeve enabling the use of a crimping ring consisting entirely of a metal ring of substantially uniform diameter with notch portions to engage external protuberances on the outer sleeve of the connector body.
US08075337B2	Cable connector A cable connector configured to couple a cable to another connector or piece of video or audio equipment may include a connector body, a nut, an annular post and a biasing element. The connector body may include a forward end and a rearward end, where the forward end is configured to connect to the second connector and the rearward end is configured to receive a coaxial cable. The nut may be rotatably coupled to the forward end of the connector body and the annular post may be disposed within the connector body. The annular post may also include an annular notch located at the forward end of the connector body. The biasing element may be located in the annular notch.
US08075334B2	Device for connecting an electronic housing in a holder through at least two translation movements An electronic module is designed to be slotted into an aircraft instrument panel. The module has: a rear face and a front face that are substantially flat and parallel. Means are provided for attaching the module to the instrument panel. The attachments are situated on the front face of the module. At least one connector-module is attached on the rear face of the electronic module and can be plugged into a socket mounted on the panel as the electronic module is guided into position on the panel. The direction of plugging in the connector-module situated on the rear face is substantially in the plane of the rear face. The support comprises guidance and rotation means making it possible to guide, plug in and insert the module into the instrument panel.
US08075330B1	Mounting apparatus for memory card A mounting apparatus for mounting a memory card includes a socket, a locking member attached to one end of the socket, and an operation member movably attached to the locking member. The operation member is used for operating the locking member to lock or release the memory card.
US08075324B2	Connector assembly having a detection switch which is closed or opened by operation of a locking member A connector assembly includes a receptacle connector and a plug connector matable with the receptacle connector along a mating direction. The plug connector includes a lock activation portion movable between a lock position and an unlock position along an activation direction under a mating state. The receptacle connector includes a detection switch and a deformable lock operation member pivotably mounted to the plug connector that ensures movement of the lock activation portion in a separation direction when the lock activation portion is located at the unlock position under the mating state. The lock operation member has lock member ends that are received by holes of a receptacle shell to retain the plug connector and receptacle connector in the locked position and to effect closure of the detection switch. The detection switch is pressed by the lock activation portion to detect the lock activation portion is located at the lock position.
US08075321B1	Electrical connector for mounting a ribbon cable on a printed circuit board A connector and cable assembly is provided for mounting on a printed circuit board. The assembly includes a ribbon cable having an end that includes an electrical conductor. The assembly also includes an electrical connector that includes a dielectric body comprising a circuit side, a cable side that is opposite the circuit side, and a contact opening that extends through the body. The electrical connector also includes an electrical contact having a cable segment and a tail extending from the cable segment. The electrical contact is held within the contact opening such that at least a portion of the cable segment extends along the cable side of the body and at least a portion of the tail projects from the circuit side of the body. The cable segment is electrically connected to the electrical conductor of the ribbon cable. The tail is configured to be separably mated with the printed circuit board.
US08075318B2	USB connector and USB device A USB connector for connecting with a USB female comprises a rotating shaft assembly which is capable of rotating, metal legs, a connecting line, and a substrate, and said rotating shaft assembly includes a rotating shaft, a rotating shaft sleeve and a rotating shaft support, the rotating shaft is disposed in the rotating shaft sleeve and is capable of rotating relative to the rotating shaft sleeve, the rotating shaft sleeve is located in a support hole of the rotating shaft support, and the rotating shaft assembly with the rotating shaft support is fixed on the surface of the substrate by the rotating shaft support. According to the USB connector and the USB device, the metal legs are formed on the surface of the substrate to ensure the connecting strength of the metal legs and reduce the thickness of the USB device.
US08075317B2	Virtual surgical assistant An improved surgical assistance system provides a chronological listing of instructions, including surgeon-specific preferences, for use by a surgical scrub during a surgical procedure.
US08075313B2	Transfer copings and related methods for taking implant impressions A transfer coping configured to take an impression of an implant is disclosed. The transfer coping has an impression material contact portion and an implant mating portion. The implant mating portion has at least one support portion and at least one deflection portion configured to be received within an opening on a coronal portion of an implant. The at least one protrusion is disposed on the at least one deflection portion and is configured to engage in a snap-fit manner with a coordinating feature of an implant. A method for identifying the position of an implant in a patient is also disclosed.
US08075311B2	Removably fixing a dental instrument with a retractable catch relative to a drive shaft axis A head assembly for attaching to a dental instrument has a body, a rotary shaft with a pinion thereon, at least one retractable catch latching lever and a retractable catch. The rotary shaft has a central bore suitable for receiving a shank of the dental instrument therein. The latching lever has a peg engageable with an annular latching groove of the shank of the dental instrument. The catch has a positioning plane coinciding with the drive flat of the instrument. The body has a circular opening closed off by a push button cooperative with the rotary shaft so as to release the shank of the dental instrument.
US08075307B2	Polymerizable temporary coating methods and systems for intraoral devices Methods and systems for temporarily coating intra-oral devices (e.g., orthodontic brackets and/or wires) so as to reduce discomfort to soft tissues within a patient's mouth. One embodiment of such a system includes at least one orthodontic bracket or orthodontic arch wire and a two-part polymerizable temporary coating composition for use in coating selected surfaces of the brackets and/or wires. One silicone polymerizable two-part composition includes a vinyl siloxane component, a cross-linking component, and a catalyst activator initially divided between the two parts so that at least one of the components is kept separate from at least one other component (i.e., all three components are not initially commingled). Upon mixing of the first and second parts, the composition begins to polymerize.
US08075306B2	System and method for detecting deviations during the course of an orthodontic treatment to gradually reposition teeth Method and system for detecting and correcting deviation during an orthodontic treatment plan is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving an un-segmented current teeth image representing a patient's teeth after an orthodontic treatment plan has begun and before the plan ends for the patient; matching a previously segmented teeth model with the current teeth image; and generating at least one corrective stage to define an intermediate tooth arrangement, wherein the at least one corrective stage repositions a digital teeth image so that a prescribed tooth arrangement of the previously segmented teeth model can be used.
US08075302B1	Apparatus for optimally mixing and injecting a two part urethane foam An apparatus and method for optimally mixing and injecting a two part urethane foam which utilizes a unique mixing head having needle type valves which are specially sealed and positioned, able to provide precisely controlled amounts of constituent mixing compounds, and are further able to resist clogging. The apparatus further includes an electric-pneumatic actuation system, an unmixed compound recirculation system, and a cleaning solvent injection system which are functional while the apparatus is in use. The apparatus and method precisely controls the temperature, pressure, and delivery rates for optimum urethane mixture, viscosity, delivery, reaction time, and reliability.
US08075295B2	Alignable cooling plug for extruder A molding apparatus for the manufacture of pipe advantageously uses a cooling plug that is adjustably-secured to the extrusion head to compensate for misalignment of the extrusion head relative to recirculating mold blocks. This provides a simplified adjustment for adjusting the molding apparatus to correct for wall thickness variations in the molded pipe. This apparatus can be used in combination with existing alignment systems.
US08075292B2	Eccentric rotor compressor A rotary piston compressor comprises a cylinder block (100), an eccentric rotor group (200) being fitted in the chamber of the cylinder block, a shaft (2) and a separating means (40). The eccentric rotor group (200) comprises a cylindrical rotor (4) provided on the shaft (2) and rotatable therewith, and a collar (3) rotationally provided on the cylindrical rotor (4). The separating means (40) is used for separating the axially extended sealed chamber, which is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the eccentric rotor group (200) and the inner wall of the cylinder block (100), into an induction chamber (70) and an exhaustion chamber (71). Wherein, the separating means (40) comprises: a baffle (8) provided between the inner wall of the cylinder block (100) and the collar (3) provided on the outer periphery of the eccentric rotor (4), a contact member (7) provided between the baffle (8) and the collar (3) and contacted therewith, and a jointing element (6) connecting the contact member (7) to the baffle (8) and the collar (3) respectively.
US08075284B2	Oil pump An oil pump includes a shaft bearing bore, a drive shaft supported by the shaft bearing bore, an annular space between an inner peripheral surface of the shaft bearing bore and an outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft, a communication passage portion formed on the side of a pumping chamber inside the shaft bearing bore, and a communication groove formed opposite to the communication passage portion inside the shaft bearing bore. The communication passage portion is communicated between a discharge port and the annular space, and the communication groove is communicated with the annular space. Oil is stored in the annular space from the discharge port via the communication passage portion, and the oil flows into sliding clearance spaces of first and second journal portions via the annular space and the communication passage portion and the communication groove.
US08075283B2	Oil balance system and method for compressors connected in series A compressor system includes a first compressor, which has a first low side oil sump, in a first shell and a second compressor, which has a second low side oil sump, in a second shell. The first and second compressors are connected in series. There is an oil transfer conduit connected between the first low side sump of the first compressor and the second low side sump of the second compressor. The system also includes a normally open check valve in the oil transfer conduit. Additionally, a bleed is provided to effect oil transfer via the oil transfer conduit when the normally open valve is closed.
US08075282B2	Sprayer pump primed by using venturi An agricultural sprayer includes a centrifugal pump used for transferring fluid from a nurse tank to fill the sprayer tank. It is sometimes required that the centrifugal pump be primed in order to perform the transfer of fluid and this priming is done by creating a vacuum in a priming line that is connected to a suction line extending between an inlet of the pump and to a discharge line of the nurse tank, with the vacuum being caused by routing a flow of compressed air through a venturi having its throat coupled to the priming line.
US08075281B2	Rotary pressure transfer device A pressure transfer device for the transfer of pressure energy from a high pressure fluid stream to a lower pressure fluid stream wherein a generally cylindrical housing (61) contains a rotor (63) having a plurality of channels (65) extending axially therethrough that revolves about a central stator (67) or within a surrounding sleeve (73) and a pair of end covers (69, 71) which slidingly and sealingly interface with respective planar end faces (68) of the rotor. The end covers (69, 71) and the accompanying components of the device are constructed so as to allow the channels to be at least twice filled with a high pressure first liquid during each revolution of the rotor and thus discharge twice the volume of a pressurized second liquid than if they were filled only one with high pressure liquid.
US08075280B2	Composite blade and method of manufacture A method of making a composite blade that is attachable to a rotating shaft using a conventional metal blade attachment. A blade is formed from a composite material with a blade root at one end thereof. A metallic member having an external shape conforming to a conventional metal blade root is shaped with an interior cavity having an opening for receipt of the blade root. Before the composite material is fully cured, a bladder is formed into or is inserted into an end of the blade root and inflated, thereby forcing the composite material into intimate contact with the interior cavity of the metallic member, thereby ensuring a fret-free interface upon final curing of the composite material. The interior cavity of the metallic member may be shaped or surfaced to improve the load carrying capability there between.
US08075279B2	Coated turbine blade The invention refers to a coated turbine blade for a gas turbine, having blade walls divided into sections with locally adapted material temperatures. The cooler material temperatures of the blade walls are at the points where the support ribs merge into the blade walls. The regions with higher material temperatures of the blade walls are at the positions where cavities are arranged inside the blade walls. This is achieved via a ceramic thermal barrier coating having different layer thicknesses that allow different material temperatures. The region of the surface of the blade wall which faces the working medium and lies opposite an internal rib has a thicker thermal barrier coating than a region of the surface of the blade wall which is cooled via a cooling medium that flows in the cavities. This results in homogenization of the material temperature in the connecting regions, which results in prolonged blade life.
US08075278B2	Shell structure of wind turbine blade having regions of low shear modulus The torsional rigidity of a wind turbine blade affects the twist response of the blade induced by bending moments within the blade. By including regions having a lower modulus of rigidity than the remainder of the blade shell, the torsional rigidity of the blade shell can be decreased, and the twist response thereby increased. In blades having a single shear web, this twist response may be more pronounced. The regions of low modulus may comprise additional shell panels, or thick regions of low modulus joining material.
US08075276B2	Impeller and cooling fan incorporating the same A cooling fan includes a housing, a cover arranged on the housing, and an impeller received in a space formed between the housing and the cover. The impeller includes a hub and a plurality of blades extending radially and outwardly from the hub. Each of the blades includes a windward surface and a leeward surface opposite to the windward surface. A porous layer is disposed on the leeward surface of each of the blades, adjacent to a free end thereof. The porous layer has one side surface attached to the leeward surface and an opposite side surface facing the windward surface of an adjacent blade.
US08075275B2	Wind turbine spars with jointed shear webs A spar for a wind turbine blade includes at least one shear web extending between pressure and suction sides of the blade; and a joint, arranged substantially midway between ends of the shear web, for sizing the shear web. The joint may include a resilient and/or expandable spacer.
US08075274B2	Reinforced composite fan blade A fan blade for a turbine engine includes an exterior surface defining an airfoil that is provided by leading and trailing edges, opposing generally chord-wise surfaces interconnecting the leading and trailing edges, and a tip. The airfoil extends from a root. A fan rotor includes a slot that receives the root. A spar is constructed from a first material and includes opposing sides. The spar provides at least a portion of the exterior surface. A sheath is constructed from a second material different than the first material. The sheath is arranged on both of the opposing sides to provide at least a portion of the exterior surface at the opposing surfaces.
US08075273B2	Fan blade modifications A winglet is coupled with an end of a fan blade. The fan blade has an upper surface, a lower surface, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. The fan blade defines a chord and a maximum thickness. The winglet comprises a substantially vertical member that has a perimeter defined by a lower edge, an upper edge, and a rear edge, which meet at rounded corners. The rear edge of the vertical member has a length that is greater than the maximum thickness of the end of the fan blade. The vertical member has a length that is greater than the chord of the fan blade. The rear edge of the vertical member protrudes rearwardly relative to a vertical plane tangential to the trailing edge of the end of the fan blade. A mounting member may extend from the vertical member to couple the winglet with the fan blade.
US08075272B2	Steam turbine rotating blade for a low pressure section of a steam turbine engine A steam turbine rotating blade for a low pressure section of a steam turbine engine is disclosed. The steam turbine rotating blade includes an airfoil portion. A root section is attached to one end of the airfoil portion. A dovetail section projects from the root section, wherein the dovetail section includes a skewed axial entry dovetail. A tip section is attached to the airfoil portion at an end opposite from the root section. A cover is integrally formed as part of the tip section. A part span shroud is attached at an intermediate section of the airfoil portion between the ends thereof. The blade includes an exit annulus area of about 47.7 ft2 (4.43 m2) or greater.
US08075271B2	Electrohydraulic propeller governor Proposed is a hydraulically controlled variable pitch propeller system for air, land or water craft, comprising an engine, an engine controller, a rotating propeller featuring at least two propeller blades (16), for the pitch control of which a propeller governor (30) is provided connecting the propeller (10) via at least one hydraulic line and comprising a governor body (32) housing a control spool (46) the position of which is determined by the cooperation of flyweights (40) rotating by means of the engine and a variably biased governor spring (48) supported by the control spool (46). In accordance with the invention, the propeller governor (30) comprises an electric motor (58) which sets the preload of the governor spring (48) for the desired rpm and is electrically connected to the engine controller.
US08075269B2	Helicopter provided with a plurality of lift elements each provided with a respective tab for controlling the angles of incidence of its blades The present invention relates to a helicopter provided with a main rotor (1) having at least two blades (10, 20), each blade (10, 20) being provided with attachment means (11, 21) attaching it to a hub (2) of the rotor (1). The helicopter is provided with one lift element (12, 22) per blade (10, 20), said lift element being provided with a tiltable tab (19, 29), each lift element (12, 22) being mechanically connected to a single blade (10, 20) to vary the pitch of said single blade (10, 20).
US08075267B2	Method and sensor setup for determination of deflection and/or strain for failure detection A method for determining the deflection and/or strain of an elongated member of a component is provided, in which a first point and a second point are assigned to the same side of an elongated member of the component, wherein the deflection and/or strain of the elongated member is determined by determining the distance between the second point and a third point, which is connected to the first point by an inflexible support, whereby the distance between the first point and the third point is considerably longer than the distance between the second point and the third point, and wherein the distance between the second point and the third point is determined in time steps and the frequency of the change of the distance is analyzed to detect frequency changes. Furthermore, an elongated member of a component subject to strain and comprises a sensor unit for determining the deflection and/or strain of the elongated member.
US08075266B2	Method and apparatus for rotating a component of a wind energy plant The invention is related to a method for rotating a component of a wind energy plant by traversing an adjustment device, wherein the adjustment device comprises at least two adjustment drives, each one thereof having at least one electric motor, for traversing the adjustment device, and wherein during the traversing of the adjustment device, the electric motor of at least one of the at least two adjustment drives is operated at another rotational speed than the electric motor of at least one other of the at least two adjustment drives. Furthermore, the invention is related to a corresponding device.
US08075265B2	Guiding device of a flow machine and guide vane for such a guiding device A guide device for a turbomachine, particularly a steam turbine, with a guide vane ring and a plurality of guide vanes which are fastened to the guide vane ring so as to be distributed along the circumference of the guide vane ring. The guide vane ring has a groove, and the guide vanes also have grooves which are aligned with the groove of the guide vane ring in the assembled state. The guide vanes are fixed in their radial position at the guide vane ring by means of a retaining ring which engages in the groove of the guide vane ring and in the grooves of the guide vanes.
US08075261B2	Gas turbine engine compressor case mounting arrangement A compressor case support arrangement for a gas turbine engine includes a fan section having a central axis and a compressor case for housing a compressor. An inlet case guides air to the compressor. The compressor case is positioned axially further from the fan section than the inlet case. A support member extends between the fan section and the compressor case. The support member restricts movement of the compressor case relative to the inlet case. The support member is positioned axially further from the fan section than the plumbing access area.
US08075257B2	Fan assembly A fan assembly for use in an electronic device is provided. The fan assembly includes a housing, a fan, a throttle valve, and a regulator. The housing has an outlet. The fan is disposed in the housing and adapted to provide an air current. The air current generates an air volume through the outlet. The throttle valve is movably disposed in the housing at the outlet. The regulator is connected to the throttle valve to control the movement of the throttle valve to adjust the size of the outlet.
US08075256B2	Ingestion resistant seal assembly A seal assembly limits gas leakage from a hot gas path to one or more disc cavities in a gas turbine engine. The seal assembly includes a seal apparatus associated with a blade structure including a row of airfoils. The seal apparatus includes an annular inner shroud associated with adjacent stationary components, a wing member, and a first wing flange. The wing member extends axially from the blade structure toward the annular inner shroud. The first wing flange extends radially outwardly from the wing member toward the annular inner shroud. A plurality of regions including one or more recirculation zones are defined between the blade structure and the annular inner shroud that recirculate working gas therein back toward the hot gas path.
US08075255B2	Reducing inter-seal gap in gas turbine A device for reducing inter-seal gap in gas turbines. Embodiments of a gas turbine with a first arcuate component adjacent to a second arcuate component; a first slot and a connected second slot on an end of the first arcuate component; a first seal disposed into the first slot and a first adjacent slot on the second arcuate component; a second seal disposed into the second slot and a second adjacent slot on the second arcuate component, leaving a gap between the first seal and the second seal; and a connector coupled to the first seal and the second seal and substantially covering the gap between the first seal and the second seal.
US08075247B2	Centrifugal impeller with internal heating An internal heating arrangement for a centrifugal impeller for a gas turbine engine is provided having at least one heating passage extending through into the rotor for directing air bled from the rotor exit along the backface and forwardly through the impeller.
US08075245B2	Removal of moisture from process gas Embodiments of the disclosure may provide an exemplary method for operating a compressor system, wherein the method may include cooling a process gas containing water vapor to a first temperature. The water vapor may form a condensate at the first temperature, and cooling the process gas may produce residual heat. At least a portion of the condensate is removed from the process gas, wherein any portion of the condensate that is not removed is a remaining condensate. The remaining condensate may be heated to a second temperature with the residual heat, wherein the remaining condensate in the process gas evaporates at the second temperature.
US08075244B2	Pallet jack system and method for the transportation of stackable packaged goods pallets A motorized pallet jack comprises one or more motors that can propel the pallet jack and lift each of the tines. The pallet jack has three tines, and the center tine can be about 2 times the width of each of the left and right tines, though other widths of the center tine can also be implemented. Because the center tine is about twice the width of the left and right tines, two pallets, side-by-side, can be carried simultaneously with only three tines. A portion of the center tine (a right-most portion) and the right tine can have raised areas that enable an operator of the pallet jack to lift a right pallet that sits on the raised areas higher than the left pallet. The left pallet sits on the left tine and center tine without the raised areas (at a lower height). The operator of the pallet jack can place the left pallet in a first location without disengaging the tines from the right pallet, or without lowering the right pallet all the way to the ground (or a first location surface). Alternatively, the raised areas can be located on the left tine and the left-most portion of the center tine, in which case, the operator of the pallet jack can place the right pallet in a first location without disengaging the tines from the left pallet, or without lowering the left pallet all the way to the ground (or a first location surface).
US08075243B2	Automatic transport loading system and method A method and system for automatically loading and unloading a transport is disclosed. A first guidance system is used to travel near the transport and a second guidance system is used to travel on the transport.
US08075242B2	Working machine with structure for assembling boom thereof Bosses extending in the boom width direction are provided in a front end part of a main boom body rotated upward, and hooks opening downward are provided in a base end part of an extension boom body rotated downward. The above hooks and the bosses are arranged so as to satisfy a condition that at the time of second relative rotation by a two-step pin hole matching method of matching pin holes in order from the upper side and with a different center, the hooks and the bosses are moved away from each other while lower pin holes are matched with each other.
US08075240B2	Tarping system for flatbed trailers An assembly including a frame is attached to the fork carrier of a forklift. The assembly picks up a tarp to cover the cargo on a flatbed trailer or picks up a plurality of straps to position the straps over the cargo. The tarp or straps are secured under the frame on the assembly and the forklift elevates the frame and tarp or straps above the cargo and drapes the tarp or straps over the cargo by firstly driving along side the trailer and secondly lowering the frame.
US08075236B2	Method for binding a quire and device applied thereby Method for binding a quire formed of folded sheets slipped into each other, characterized in that it consists in providing at least one cut through the sheets of the quire as of a short distance from the folding edge of the quire, whereby every cut through a sheet of the quire defines a lip extending mainly crosswise to the above-mentioned folding edge of the quire and which is connected to the quire with its far end turned towards the folding edge, and whereby said lip has a widening.
US08075231B2	Air release pneumatic load binder A mechanically actuated, air release, binding device adapted for use on trucks or trailers, commonly known as a load binder, comprises a horizontally aligned frame, truck air brake cylinder, lever arm and attachment connection. The air brake includes an internal piston and exposed drive shaft which are spring driven outwards from the cylinder. Application of compressed air to the cylinder drives the piston and drive shaft inwards, rotating the lever arm and providing a fully slack condition in binding straps or chains attached to the binder. Release of all or part of the cylinder compressed air draws in upon the lever arm rotating it to a full or floating binding condition automatically. A ratchet and pawl secured to the lever arm mechanically locks the binder and adjusts when the binder becomes slack due to load shift or transportation conditions. The pawl is fully released to permit the binder to provide full load strap slack for attachment or removal.
US08075229B2	Multi-speed drill and chuck assembly A chuck assembly configured to provide a shorter longitudinal profile. The chuck assembly includes a chuck body with a support bearing mounted to a rear portion of the chuck body and mounted to a portion of a housing such that a cavity is defined axially rearward of the support bearing and is configured to receive the jaws when the rear portion of the jaws extend axially rearward. The chuck assembly can be incorporated into a tool driven by a motor. In some aspects, the tool may include a speed change mechanism, a torque adjustment mechanism, or both.
US08075228B2	Milling cutter head The invention relates to a milling cutter head having a number of blade supports (11) which are inserted in recesses of a base body (10) and have blades (12), wherein each blade support can be axially displaced by a wedge and fixed in the milling cutter head by clamping elements. According to the invention, the blade supports each have a shank which is arranged in a receiving bore of the base body and can be fixed via a centrally (13) located clamping piece (18).
US08075227B2	Device to transfer catalyst from a low pressure vessel to a high pressure vessel and purge the transferred catalyst An apparatus for the transfer of solid particulate matter from a low pressure system to a high pressure system is presented. The apparatus simplifies the particle transfer process, and is useful for systems where solid catalyst particles are cycled through a reactor and a regenerator.
US08075226B2	Method and apparatus for deployment of ocean bottom seismometers A deployment and retrieval apparatus for ocean bottom seismic receivers, the apparatus being a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) having a carrier attached thereto and carrying a plurality of receivers. The carrier includes a frame in which is mounted a structure for seating and releasing the receivers. The structure may include a movable conveyor or fixed parallel rails or a barrel. The structure includes a discharge port on the frame and a discharge mechanism for removing and retrieving the receivers. A method for deployment and retrieval of ocean bottom seismic receivers includes the steps of loading a carrier with a plurality of receivers, attaching the carrier to an ROV, utilizing the ROV to transport the carrier from a surface vessel to a position adjacent the seabed and thereafter utilizing the ROV to remove receivers from the carrier and place the receivers on the seabed.
US08075220B1	Curb covering device A curb covering device for covering a portion of a curb featuring a generally flat panel; a first folding line, a second folding line, and a third folding line, wherein the first folding line is positioned about halfway between the third side edge of the panel and the fourth side edge of the panel, the second folding line is positioned between the first folding line and the fourth side edge of the panel, and the third folding line is positioned between the third side edge of the panel and the first folding line. The folding lines function to allow the panel to be folded over the portion of the curb.
US08075216B2	Oral care implement housing an oral care agent An oral care implement may include a tufted insert and a base configured to define a cavity for housing an active insert. The active insert may comprise an active agent. The head of the oral care implement may be configured so that the active insert can be in fluid communication with a membrane or an aperture.
US08075214B2	Electric paint tray apparatus Liquids in general, and paint in particular, can be evenly distributed by a paint transfer drum having a friction-creating surface that is placed in contact with a friction-receiving surface of an endless belt that is driven (by the drum as it rotates) into and out of a container for the liquid. A scraper removes a portion of the lifted liquid from the endless belt. The scraped liquid falls upon a liquid distribution device that serves to evenly distribute said liquid laterally so that it will be evenly applied along the exterior surface of the paint transfer drum.
US08075209B2	Method of printing images to compensate for pile height differential A method of printing a plurality of images on a length of media comprises feeding the media from an input roll of media to a printing device where images are printed on the media. After images are printed on the media, the media is delivered to an output roll. The method further comprises determining a pile height differential on the printed media for at least one initial image. Based on the determined pile height differential, subsequent images printed on the media are modified. The subsequent images are modified in a manner designed to compensate for the determined pile height differential. Accordingly, a method of roll-to-roll printing is disclosed that may be used to balance the ink layer across the width of the roll of media and maintain the cylindrical shape of the output roll in various printing applications.
US08075208B2	Mobile workstation A case for use with a stenotype machine, portable computer, and cables, power supply equipment, memory devices, as well as paper, writing utensils, and the like to form a mobile workstation. The case includes a top, a bottom, and a circumscribing sidewall, the top removably or hingedly attached to the side wall to cover an interior that is divided into multiple compartments, including at least a first compartment to store the portable computer, a second compartment to store the stenotype machine, and a third compartment to store cables for data and power that are connected to the computer and stenotype machine, the sidewall having an access opening for the stenotype machine to deploy for use while remaining attached to the case, and the case further including a bottom wall to which a stand is removably attached.
US08075206B2	Lens barrel, camera, portable data terminal equipment, image input equipment, and cylinder for lens barrel A lens barrel includes a fixed cylinder, a first rotating cylinder, a linear movement cylinder which moves integrally in an axis direction with the first rotating cylinder, and a second rotating cylinder. The linear movement cylinder has equal to or more than three projections in an outer circumferential surface. The first rotating cylinder has equal to or more than three cutouts corresponding to each projection of the linear movement cylinder in an inner circumferential surface, and each cutout has a shape corresponding to a shape of each projection. Each cutout is formed in parallel with an axis of the first rotating cylinder, and in which each projections of the linear movement cylinder is inserted. An end of each cutout extends to a groove in a circumferential direction, each projection is guided in the groove, and the first rotating cylinder and the linear movement cylinder is connected. The linear movement cylinder has a through-hole corresponding to a pin provided in the second rotating cylinder, and at least two of the equal to or more than three projections are provided in an area in a circumferential wall of the linear movement cylinder where the through-hole is not formed in the circumferential direction.
US08075203B2	Panoramic camera mount A panoramic device includes a base member having a flat lower surface suitable to be supported by a tripod. A clamp member has a flat upper surface rotatably interconnected within a single plane of rotation with the base that includes a first rotatable knob to selectively inhibit the rotation of the clamp member with respect to the base. The flat upper surface includes a central region that is at a different elevation than another portion of the flat upper surface. The clamp includes a pair of opposed surfaces suitable to detachably secure a camera thereto. The one of the opposed surfaces is maintained in a fixed relationship with respect to the clamp member. The other one of the opposed surfaces is in a movable relationship with respect to the clamp member using a second rotatable knob. The first knob and the second knob are rotatably connected with respect to one another. The panoramic device includes a level bubble visible on an upper surface at a location exterior to the central region of the clamp.
US08075202B1	Male connector for a camera carrying device A device for rotatably mounting a camera on a person comprises a female connector and a male connector. The female connector has a U-shaped slot defined by a pocket and a pair of opposed channels which extend from the pocket. The male connector has a wedge shaped base, a plate spaced-apart form the base, and an opening extending through the wedge shaped base and the plate. The plate is slidably received by the U-shaped slot of the female connector and rotatable through 360 degrees within the pocket of the female connector. A threaded member extends through the opening in the male connector. The threaded member is for engaging a threaded tripod receiver of the camera. A strap assembly is connected to the female connector. The strap assembly is for mounting the device to the person. The plate of the male connector has a first rotatable position within the pocket of the female connector in which the male connector is secured to the female connector, and a second rotatable position within the pocket of the female connector in which the male connector is releasable from the female connector.
US08075195B2	Multi-row symmetrical rolling bearing The rolling bearing has a first bearing ring, a second bearing ring and a plurality of rolling bodies which are arranged between the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring. The rolling bodies are arranged in at least four rows. At least two rows have a first reference diameter and at least two further rows have a second reference diameter which is different from the first reference diameter, and those rows which have the same reference diameter are arranged symmetrically with respect to a predefined plane which is aligned perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the bearing.
US08075189B2	Method for attaching a spout to a flexible film pouch A flexible film pouch includes an aperture to access its contents, and a closure means such as a re-sealable spout is applied over the aperture to permit sealed storage of the contents after opening. The closure means is attached to the flexible film pouch by means of a patch that is bonded to the inside of the pouch adjacent to the aperture. The patch is selected to have a mating surface that bonds with the inner surface of the pouch, where such bonding is preferably conducted by ultrasonic welding or adhesive bonding. The patch itself may have a hole that permits access to the contents of the pouch, or the closure means may include a cutting surface that tears a portion of the patch to permit access.
US08075187B2	Closure kit for a bag comprising means preventing a cursor from being torn off and fitted bag The invention relates to 2 closure kit comprising two extra elements (200, 250) which can successively engaged and separated, and a cursor (100) comprising a base (110), two lateral side plates (120, 130), a central wall (140) and a sole (142) linked to the central wall (140), characterized in that at least one of the two elements (200, 250) comprises a structure (210, 260) forming a stop for the sole (242) in order to prevent doe cursor (100) from retreating as a result of the effect of a stair tending towards tearing.
US08075185B2	Original christmas tree transport system A Christmas tree transport system formed of a folding polyethylene plastic sheet tarpaulin apparatus which allows a user to easily enclose and transport a Christmas tree. The apparatus fastens with VELCRO brand hook and loop fasteners, and allows the user to place a natural Christmas tree within the apparatus without spilling the needles. The re-useable apparatus includes attached handles and wheels, allowing a user to quickly and easily enclose and move the Christmas tree. After use, the Christmas tree transport system folds compactly to store in a small space.
US08075181B1	Thermal monitoring device A thermal monitoring sheet measures surface temperature distributions of large areas, even over large, contoured surfaces. The sheet incorporates conduits that terminate or intersect at temperature measurement locations with a fixed relative arrangement to form a two-dimensional grid for sensing temperature distributions.
US08075180B2	Rapid and easy bottle test A method for predicting the drop impact resistance of a stretch-blow molded polypropylene container which comprises the steps of measuring the initial size of the container, placing it in an oven, remeasuring its size after removing it from the oven, calculating the percentage difference in size of the container and determining its drop impact resistance, which is proportional to said difference.
US08075176B1	Hand held manually operated mixer A method using a mixer for disbursing an additive in a tube of compound. The mixer includes a rigid cylinder and a plunger assembly. The cylinder is configured for receiving an opened tube of compound, to which additive has been introduced. The plunger assembly includes a shaft, on which a cap is slidably and rotatably mounted. A mixer blade is mounted on a first end of the shaft and a second end of the shaft is provided with a handle. The cap is provided with a pair of cutouts designed for receiving a pair of studs mounted on the outside surface of the cylinder, such that the cap may be fitted on the cylinder and turned to engage the studs with the cutouts and connect the cap and the cylinder. The handle may be rotated and reciprocated to move the mixer blade through the contents of the tube for mixing.
US08075173B2	Illuminated vehicle trim panel A trim panel for a vehicle interior provides a distinctive ambient lighting effect. The trim panel has an opening therein and an illuminated insert panel is mounted on the trim panel within the opening. The insert panel is molded of a clear plastic material and has a front face located in the opening and a painted or other rear reflective surface. The insert panel has a clear plastic edge wall located beyond the opening of the trim panel. A light pipe extends alongside the clear plastic edge wall and directs light into the clear plastic edge wall so that the light reflects within the clear plastic material and onto the rear reflective surface of the insert panel to illuminate the insert panel over its entire surface area facing through the opening of the interior trim panel.
US08075170B2	Automobile wheel rim light decoration device with adjustable sensing interval An automobile wheel rim light decoration device includes a light emitting module, an adjustable rod and a pair of sensing elements. The light emitting module includes a retaining base disposed at the wheel rim and a light emitting unit fixed to the retaining base. The adjustable rod includes a fixed rod installed at the retaining base and a movable rod coupled to the fixed rod. The sensing element includes a first sensing elements fixed to an automobile brake component and a second sensing element corresponding to the first sensing element and fixed to the movable rod for detecting signals of the first sensing element. The fixed rod is moved horizontally in a through slot of the retaining base, and the movable rod is moved vertically with respect to the fixed rod, such that relative positions of the first and second sensing elements can be changed to achieve the desired sensitivity.
US08075169B2	External safety illumination for a bus A lighting strip along the side of a schoolbus or other passenger vehicle between a door near the front of the schoolbus and the back side of the schoolbus to reduce the risk of people or other objects being injured by the schoolbus. The lighting strip may be focused downward to illuminate the ground and may provide vehicle status information and guiding information. Lighting strips may be provided on both sides of the schoolbus, and may also be provided on the back side of the schoolbus and on mirrors or mirror arms. Further, the lighting strips may be provided on the underside of the schoolbus along the passenger side. One or more floodlights may be provided on the roof or near the top of the schoolbus along the side with the door. An expandable crossing gate on the driver's side of the exterior wall is also provided.
US08075167B2	Optical film and illuminating device having the same An optical film and an illuminating device having the optical film are provided. The optical film may include a first surface including a plurality of peaks and valleys formed from the plurality of peaks, a second surface opposite the first surface and a plurality of scattering patterns on the second surface. One of the scattering patterns may correspond to 3 to 6 peaks of the plurality of peaks on the first surface.
US08075158B2	Light emitting diode (LED) lighting tube that can be disassembled and repaired The invention relates to a lighting tube with light emitting diodes (LEDs) that can be disassembled and repaired. The present invention presents substantial advantages and innovative characteristics as well as other advantages related to organization and construction. The invention is centered on a lighting tube which, while preferably adopting the standardized dimensions of commonly used fluorescent tubes, as well as a similar system for lateral attachment and connection, is different. It is provided inside the transparent tubular body that forms it with a lighting system based on light emitting diodes or LEDs, giving the tube the advantages of this lighting system, essentially based on a greater illumination intensity with a considerably lower consumption, the possibility of repairing the tube and a much longer useful lifetime.
US08075157B2	LED module An LED module includes an LED having an optic axis and a lens fixed over the LED for refracting light emitted by the LED. The lens has a same cross section along a front-to-rear direction thereof. The lens has an inner incidence surface facing the LED and an outer emission surface. The inner incidence surface is concave toward the emission surface. The emission surface has a middle part around the optic axis of the LED concave toward the incidence surface, and two convex lateral parts off the optic axis of the LED. A peak intensity for the light generated by the LED and penetrating through the lens occurs within the convex lateral parts of the emission surface.
US08075156B2	Flashlight system and method of using same A multi-function flashlight device in one preferred embodiment comprising a housing assembly having a tubular member for gripping the device in a user's hand, a control housing coupled to the tubular member, and a lamp housing coupled to the control housing and having a light source mounted therein. The light source has an optical axis that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tubular member. Batteries are housed in the tubular member. A control panel having a keypad overlay is mounted in the control housing. The keypad overlay includes a plurality of control buttons. A driver board in the control housing receives signals from the control panel and control the operation of the light source. The plurality of control buttons are manipulable by a single digit of the user's hand while gripping the tubular member.
US08075155B2	Electric power tool An electric power tool, which comprises a motor that drives a tool, a power source unit that applies voltage to the motor, a main switching circuit that makes/breaks an electrical connection between the power source unit and the motor, an illuminator that illuminates a work spot, a switching device that electrically connects the illuminator to the power source unit, and an OR circuit that is electrically connected to terminals of the motor to the base terminal is provided. The OR circuit electrically connects one of the motor terminals at which a voltage is higher to the base terminal.
US08075154B2	Headlight with directed flow heat sink A headlight having a housing, a light assembly, at least one heat sink, and an air mover. The housing has a front end, a rear end, an air inlet, an air outlet, an intake chamber in fluid communication with the air inlet, an exhaust chamber in fluid communication with the air outlet, and a passageway establishing fluid communication between the intake chamber and the exhaust chamber. The passageway is positioned forward of both the air inlet opening and the air outlet opening. The heat sink is positioned in at least one of the intake chamber and the exhaust chamber. The air mover is supported by the housing in such a way as to move air into the housing through the air inlet, through the intake chamber, over the heat sink, through the exhaust chamber, and out of the housing through the air outlet.
US08075151B2	Surface light source device and image display device A surface light source device includes a diffusing member which diffuses light, a reflective member which reflects light, plural light sources provided aligned in a flat manner between the diffusing member and the reflective member, and a light control member provided between the plural light sources and the reflective member as well as arranged in a state that a gap is imposed between the reflective member and the light control member, which has a light-guiding function of guiding part of light emitted from respective light sources in an alignment direction of the light sources, in which the light control member has a rugged structure portion in which geometric shapes in cross section are continuously formed on at least one surface.
US08075149B2	Switched LED nightlight for single-gang junction box A nightlight including a light emitting diode (LED) is provided. The nightlight includes a switch that is operative to control the flow of power to the LED. The nightlight also includes a driver circuit that is configured to convert alternating current to direct current, where the direct current provides power to the LED. The nightlight also includes a housing coupled to the nightlight that contains the driver and is configured to fit within a single-gang junction box. The switch includes an LED that is powered by the driver circuit, where the LED is illuminated without regard to the position of the switch.
US08075141B2	Projector, multi-screen system, projector control method, computer program product, and information storage medium In at least one embodiment, a projector comprises a projection unit configured to project a video based on a video signal. An image pickup unit is configured to pick up an image of a projection video projected by the projection unit and output the picked-up image. A control unit is configured to determine a projection video projected by an other projector based on the picked-up image received from the image pickup unit. A keystone correction unit is configured to carry out keystone correction of the video signal so that the projection video projected by the projection unit is aligned with the projection video projected by the other projector.
US08075137B2	Stimulus method for multifocal visual evoked potential Disclosed herein is a method of producing a stimulus for electrophysiological assessment of a visual field. The method comprises the steps of: generating a pseudorandom sequence of elements selected from at least two different element types, wherein elements of the sequence are assigned equal time intervals; and displaying the pseudorandom sequence. Each element of a first element type is associated with a baseline value, the baseline value being constant throughout a respective assigned time interval. Each time interval assigned to an element of a second element type is divided into a plurality of portions, each successive portion being associated with a display value of the element, wherein display values associated with, adjacent portions differ from one another, and further wherein display values associated with at least two of the portions are different from the baseline value.
US08075136B2	Apparatus and method of diagnosis of optically identifiable ophthalmic conditions An apparatus that can measure images of at least a portion of an eye and record data sets indicative of a neurological condition. A method interrelates an image and a data set to provide an interpretive result. The apparatus and method thereby provide guidance as to the presence of a medical condition in a patient. The apparatus and method can be used in an iterative measurement process, in which the apparatus attempts to discern normal health from a state of health that is not normal health. If the interpretive result is consistent with normal health, the process terminates, information is recorded, and an optional report is given. If the interpretive result is not consistent with normal health, the apparatus and method attempts to distinguish which condition is consistent with the data and images used, and can iterate with additional measurements and information to attempt to provide a useful interpretive result.
US08075133B2	Safety helmet visor with a treated surface for eye protection and therapy The invention is a filtering, transparent device for preventing damage to healthy eyes and for the prophylaxis and therapy of pseudophakic eyes and/or eyes with macular and retinal neurodegeneration and is the result of applying a yellow filter to the transparent or translucent surface(s) of the visor of a protective helmet, to protect the eyes from the short wavelengths of the visible spectrum (500 to 380 nm). The invention avoids the difficulties and risks of existing ways of protecting healthy eyes or eyes subjected to cataract surgery, and improve the protection of eyes suffering retinal neurodegeneration, simply by applying a filter to the transparent or translucent surface(s) of the visor of any protective helmet. The invention consists of combining the transparent or translucent surface(s) of the visor of any protective helmet with a yellow filter that absorbs short wavelengths of light from 500 to 380 nm.
US08075124B2	Liquid cartridge containing a recording liquid having a pH of over 4 and under 6 An ink containing a hydrophobic colloid charged with a positive zeta potential when the pH of the ink is within a range of over 4 and under 6. Silicon or silicon compound can be limited from being eluted into the ink from a circuit board formed from a silicon wafer or the like. Additionally, silicon or silicon compound, if eluted into the ink can be prevented from being deposited on a resistance heater and causing “cogation”, or to prevent the silicon or silicon compound from being deposited in an ink channel and nozzle to clog the nozzle.
US08075121B2	Fast-drying, solvent-based inkjet ink composition and a method and system for printing such inks The present disclosure relates to a fast drying solvent-based inkjet ink composition for thermal inkjet printing, the ink composition comprising at least 40 weight percent base solvent, a solvent-compatible colorant, not more than 25 weight percent propellant, a decap controlling additive, and not more than 5 weight percent water. The present disclosure also relates to the method and system for inkjet printing with the above-described ink.
US08075118B2	Segmented ink stick A method facilitates insertion of a segmented ink stick into an ink feed system of a phase change ink jet printer. The method includes bending of a flexible strand between ink stick segments during insertion of the ink stick segments and then straightening the flexible strand to orient the ink stick segments in the ink feed system.
US08075116B2	Ink cartridge with high flowrate, self sealing outlet An ink cartridge that self seals its outlet opening with an outlet valve that connects to an inlet on the printhead. The outlet valve has a radially extending flange fixed within the outlet opening and an annular skirt of resilient material extending from the side of the outlet opening to the valve seat. The annular skirt is biased into sealing engagement with the radially extending flange to close the outlet valve until installment when the printhead inlet lifts the annular skirt off the flange so that ink flows around the flange into the printhead.
US08075114B2	Liquid container, liquid supplying system and circuit board for liquid container A liquid container detachably mountable to a recording apparatus to which a plurality of liquid containers are detachably mountable, wherein the recording apparatus includes an apparatus antenna and photoreceptor means, the liquid container includes a container antenna communicatable with the apparatus antenna without physical contact therebetween; an information storing portion capable of storing at least individual information of the liquid container; a light emitting portion; and a controller for controlling light emission of the light emitting portion in response to a correspondence between a signal indicative individual information supplied through the container antenna and the information stored in the information storing portion.
US08075113B2	Connection mechanism and ink supply apparatus equipped with connection mechanism When a second cylindrical unit 38 of a second connection unit 11 is pushed into a first cylindrical unit 16 of a first connection unit 15, a sliding member 23 moves along an axis member. With the timing, the position of a moving aperture 22 formed on the sliding member 23 moves from the first position not opposite a first aperture 19 and a second aperture 51 to the second position opposite the first aperture 19 and the second aperture 51.
US08075110B2	Refill unit for an ink storage compartment connected to a printhead through an outlet valve A refill unit for refilling an ink storage compartment for a printhead assembly. The ink storage compartment is fluidically connected to the printhead assembly via an outlet valve. The refill unit a variable volume container for holding a quantity of ink and a valve actuator for closing the outlet valve as the refill unit engages the ink storage compartment.
US08075108B2	Installing fluid container in fluid ejection device A fluid ejection device ejecting a fluid, the fluid ejection device includes: a fluid ejection unit, a main chassis case, a fluid-containing pack, and a container case. The fluid ejection unit ejects a fluid onto an ejection target. The main chassis case houses the fluid ejection unit. The fluid-containing pack contains a fluid for ejection. The container case houses the fluid-containing pack. The container case is pivotably attached to the main chassis case and openable by rotation about a rotation shaft.
US08075102B2	Substrate for ink jet head and ink jet head A substrate for an ink jet head is provided with a plurality of energy generating members generating energy used for discharging an ink, an electrode pad which is arranged near a side of the substrate, and is for electrically connecting to an outside of the substrate, a plurality of electrode wirings for electrically connecting the plurality of energy generating members and the electrode pad, and a plurality of resistance elements which are respectively provided at the plurality of electrode wirings. Resistance values of the plurality of resistance elements differ from one another according to resistance values of the electrode wirings provided with the respective resistance elements.
US08075098B2	Electronic apparatus and flexible wiring member An electronic apparatus includes an electrical load and a flexible wiring member, on which a circuit element is mounted, and which transmits a signal from an external signal source to the electrical load via the circuit element, by a plurality of electroconductive wires. The flexible wiring member is a band-shaped member, and on one surface of the flexible wiring member, an output electrode for connecting to the electrical load is formed in an area facing the electrical load and a connecting electrode for mounting the circuit element is formed in a drawing area in which the electroconductive wires are drawn from the electrical load. An opening is formed in the drawing area and the flexible wiring member is folded such that the circuit element is exposed, through the opening to a side of the other surface of the flexible wiring member.
US08075095B2	Inkjet printhead with moving nozzle openings A printhead is provided for an inkjet printer. The printhead includes a substrate assembly defining ink inlet channels. Nozzles openings formed on the substrate assembly are in fluid communication with respective ink inlet channels. Lever arms extend from respective nozzles openings and thermal bend actuators are coupled to respective lever arms and anchored to the substrate assembly. The thermal bend actuators are configured to move the nozzles towards the substrate assembly to eject ink there through.
US08075093B2	Pagewidth printhead assembly having LCP micromolding A pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly includes a printhead integrated circuit; an LCP ink manifold; and a flex PCB wire-bonded to bond pads on the printhead integrated circuit. The flex PCB wraps around the LCP ink manifold. The ink manifold includes an LCP lower micromolding having a plurality of ink inlets and an LCP upper micomolding having a plurality of ink outlets. The printhead integrated circuit is bonded to the LCP upper micromolding.
US08075089B2	Method of assembling printhead capping mechanism A method of assembling a gear arrangement for a capper of an inkjet printer includes the steps of: mounting a first gear assembly to the printer to cooperate with a motor gear for driving rotation of the first gear assembly, the first gear assembly including a driving gear from which a code feature protrudes, the driving gear meshed with the motor gear; engaging the printer with a jig; and mounting a second gear assembly to the printer using the jig, the second gear assembly mounted to cooperate with the first gear assembly to be rotatable therewith and to further cooperate with a capper for capping a printhead so that the rotation of the second gear assembly moves the capper out of and into capping position. The step of mounting the second gear assembly further includes a step of sliding a slider block of the holding feature about the code feature of the driving gear, whereby the code feature cooperate with the holding feature to maintain the first gear assembly at a predetermined position during the mounting of the second gear assembly.
US08075081B2	Adjusting method for use in recording apparatus, recording apparatus This invention provides an adjusting method for use in a recording apparatus having a configuration where head units, in each of which a plurality of recording heads are arranged in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to a moving direction (sub-scanning direction) of a recording medium relative to the recording heads so that ends of recordable regions of the recording heads partially overlap or contact when viewed in a conveyance direction of the recording medium, are arranged by a number equal to the number of recording colors in parallel in the sub-scanning direction, comprising adjusting quality of an image recorded on the recording medium by changing a positional relationship of a predetermined recording pattern, which is recorded on the recording medium with each of the recording heads, within each of the head units and/or among the plurality of head units.
US08075078B2	Head driving device, inkjet printer comprising the same, and data processing method thereof A head driving device, an inkjet printer comprising the same and data processing method of an ink jet printer are provided, in which a nozzle driving unit turns on/off a plurality of thermal elements that correspond to a plurality of nozzles and heat ink discharged from the nozzles, a data processing unit processes printing data and outputs a nozzle select signal corresponding to an image to the nozzle driving unit; and a head logic unit receives the printing data externally, divides the printing data of one address group into a plurality of data groups, transmits the plurality of data groups to the data processing unit via different data buses corresponding to the plurality of data groups, respectively, and controls the data processing unit to process the divided printing data. Accordingly, an EMI characteristic between signals can be improved by lowering the data buses density in one area, and a data processing speed can be adjusted by dividedly processing printing data.
US08075077B2	Method of calculating correction value and method of discharging liquid A method of calculating a correction value including: forming a first test pattern on a medium by using a first nozzle group and a second nozzle group and a third nozzle group of a liquid discharging device, forming a second test pattern on the medium, setting the first test pattern in a scanner, setting the second test pattern in the scanner, acquiring a read-out result of a portion formed by the second nozzle group, and acquiring a read-out result of a portion formed by the third nozzle group from a read-out result of the second test pattern as a fourth read-out gray scale value, converting the first read-out gray scale value, the second read-out gray scale value, the third read-out gray scale value, and the fourth read-out gray scale value into corrected read-out gray scale values, and calculating a correction value based on the corrected read-out gray scale values.
US08075074B2	Door to cabinet interface for refrigerator The present invention provides a refrigerator having a cabinet with a refrigeration compartment defined by surrounding walls and an open side. There is at least one cabinet door arranged to move relative to the cabinet to selectively open and close the open side. At least one component is located in the cabinet door requiring information to be transmitted between the cabinet and the door. A first mating hub is located on one of the surrounding walls of the refrigeration compartment. A second mating hub is carried on the cabinet door, such that when the cabinet door is moved into a closed position relative to the cabinet, the first and second mating hubs will be arranged in alignment. The hubs have terminal connections for transmitting information from one hub to the other when aligned.
US08075073B2	Notebook computer cooling pad with receiving box A notebook computer cooling pad with a receiving box is provided. The cooling pad has a base plate whose front edge is provided with a curved plate, and the curved plate is coupled with a support plate so as to form a tubular space. A drawer provided at one or each of two ends of the tubular space can be pulled out of or pushed into the tubular space and serves to receive a power cable, a USB flash drive, or a stationery article.
US08075070B2	Computer enclosure with power supply chassis A computer enclosure, includes a case and a power supply chassis secured in the case. The case includes a bottom wall and a rear wall. The bottom wall defines a securing slot. A first positioning member extends from the bottom wall. A securing tab extends from a bottom of the power supply chassis. The securing tab is configured to engage in the securing slot and prevent the power supply chassis moving in a first direction perpendicular to the case rear wall. The power supply chassis defines a first positioning hole configured for the first positioning member engaging therein to prevent the power supply chassis moving in a second direction perpendicular to the case bottom wall.
US08075068B2	Track roller assembly and machine using same A track roller assembly for a track-type machine such as an excavator or a tractor includes an outer surface with no fluid ports and an inner surface free from any fluids. The track roller includes a shaft resting on self-lubricated bushings, which include a substrate that has lubricating properties, such as a substrate that carries a solid lubricant. The track roller assembly also includes a collar on either side of the shaft, with a retention pin passing through the shaft and connecting the two collars.
US08075065B2	Quick-tightening system for cycle with tightening torque control A quick-release system for a quick-release device, in particular for a cycle, such as a bicycle, the device being of the type including an axially extending skewer and an end support element mounted on a first end of the skewer adapted to be supported on a first tightening surface of the cycle. The quick-release system includes a tightening sub-assembly including a support surface and an actuation sub-assembly including a movable actuating mechanism, capable of axial rotation around the skewer and configured to transmit a tightening torque to the tightening sub-assembly when the device is being tightened. The system includes tightening torque limiting mechanism making it possible to limit the torque transmitted by the actuation sub-assembly to the tightening sub-assembly.
US08075064B2	Multiple section wheel assembly The invention provides motorist a lock-unlock wheel that rotates independently around its center hub, which remains mounted to the axle of a subject vehicle. The rim allows vehicles to be towed without vehicle axle rotation, while eliminating odometer reading due to towing. The invention comprises an inner hub spindle that is able to be unlocked from the wheel, allowing for independent rotation of the inner spindle. And, when unlocked via a bolting system, the invention's wheel section rotates while also eliminating effects of a vehicle drive and brake system while the vehicle is in tow.
US08075063B2	Automotive machine for producing carriageways In an automotive machine (1) for producing carriageways by stabilizing insufficiently stable soils or by recycling road surfaces, with a machine chassis (4) supported by a running gear (2), a working drum (20) mounted to pivot in relation to the machine chassis (4), the shaft of which is mounted in pivoting arms (42) and runs transversely to the direction of travel, a cover (28) surrounding the working drum (20), a combustion engine (32) supported by the machine chassis with at least one output shaft (34) for the drive power required for driving the working drum, whereby at least one mechanical power transmission device (36) transfers the drive power from the output shaft (34) to the working drum (20), it is intended that the combustion engine (32) is arranged in a fixed manner at the machine chassis (4) between the pivoting arms (42) and that the at least one mechanical power transmission device (36), together with the working drum (20) mounted in the pivoting arms, can pivot about the axis of the output shaft (34) of the combustion engine (32).
US08075062B2	Monolithic dual-purpose trailer A monolithic dual-purpose trailer for transporting cargo includes a frame including two longitudinally extending side rails and a central reinforcing member in the form of an engineered truss is located between the two side rails. Wheels are mounted to the frame. A deck including a load bearing surface with a grate is formed on the frame. Hoppers are positioned below the grate. The frame is formed as one solid welded unit. The deck has a portion formed of flat aluminum. A perimeter frame rail is located around the deck. The trailer can transport multiple types of loads and does not have to be converted from one mode to another and additionally has reduced longitudinal flexing.
US08075059B2	Portable seating system and method of manufacture A portable seating system includes a foldable seating frame and a flexible seating material that is coupled to the seating frame. The foldable seating frame includes a back assembly having at least one semirigid back slat, and a seat assembly that includes at least one semirigid seat slat. The back assembly is coupled to the seat assembly by a locking hinge assembly, and an adjustable grip assembly is coupled to the seat assembly. The locking hinge assembly allows the seating system to fold into a compact unit so that a user can easily carry the seating system.
US08075054B2	Ampere modular tandem seating system A seating system designed to accommodate a variety of activities that can be performed while a person is sitting or resting, and more particularly waiting. A single tandem row of seats or a back to back configuration of tandem seats has an electrical wire way extending behind or between each seat back, respectively. A cover plate encloses the wire way, and a plurality of electrical and data ports are accessible from the cover plate. Laptop computers, music players and other electrical devices can be plugged into the seating system so that the user can comfortably operate such a device while waiting.
US08075053B2	Seat A seat having a seat structure, a cover, and a back panel having at least one lateral wall covering a receiving space in a side wall of a backrest in which a side airbag module is arranged. An airbag will deploy between cover and free end of the lateral wall in a deployment direction. The lateral wall is fastened within the receiving space with at least one wall fastener arranged on an inner surface of the lateral wall.
US08075051B2	Active headrest device for a vehicle An active headrest device, for a vehicle, provided with at least a headrest portion (2) supported, through rotation means (3), by at least a support member (4) in order to allow the headrest portion (2) to swing between an extreme front and an extreme back position in respect to the vehicle. The device (1) comprises at least a pushing means (5) associated to at least a first elastic means (6) and which may be blocked or released by at least a swinging blocking arm (7) connected to at least an inertial mass (8); in an active condition (A), the blocking arm (7) blocks the pushing means (5) in a retracted condition allowing the headrest portion (2) to swing between the extreme front and extreme back positions, and in which the first elastic means (6) transmits to the pushing means (5) an elastic force directed in the direction of the extreme front position of the headrest portion (2), the inertial mass (8), in case of a stress bigger than a predefined threshold in a front or back direction, causes the rotation of the blocking arm (7) which releases the pushing means (5) which, as a result of the elastic force of the first elastic means (6), rotates and/or stops the headrest portion (2) in the extreme front position.
US08075045B2	Cover for a vehicle A family of vehicle cover sections is disclosed, including at least one first cover section comprising a flexible material at least two second cover sections comprising a flexible material. One of the at least two second cover sections is non-permanently connectable to the at least one first cover section to form therewith a first vehicle cover configured to generally fit the contour of at least an upper portion of a first vehicle having a first configuration. Another of the at least two second cover sections is non-permanently connectable to the at least one first cover section to form therewith a second vehicle cover configured to generally fit the contour of at least the upper portion of a second vehicle having a second configuration, the second vehicle cover being removably attachable to the second vehicle. A method of forming a vehicle cover and a cover formed by the method are also disclosed.
US08075043B2	Folding top with changeable tension in the cover A folding top having changeable cover tension includes a cover stretched over a frame which is movable to move the cover between closed and opened positions. A tension bow is swung by a landau bar between a tensioning position and a non-tensioning position. Part of the rear portion of the cover is held in a narrow groove in the tension bow. The tension bow applies tension to this part of the cover when tension bow is in either of the tensioning or non-tensioning positions. Another part of the rear portion of the cover can slide into and out of a wide groove of the tension bow. The tension bow applies tension to this part of the cover when the tension bow is in the tensioning position but does not apply tension to this part of the cover when the tension bow is in the non-tensioning position.
US08075039B2	System comprising a motor vehicle seat runner and body destined to be fixed thereto, and method for making same The invention concerns a rail comprising a fixed profiled section and a mobile profiled section sliding relative to the fixed profiled section. The body has a linking portion wherein the body is shaped like a plate having first and second opposite lateral surfaces, and an edge linking said first and second surfaces. A first profiled section comprises a groove. The linking portion is tightly fitted in the groove. The plate is attached to the first profiled section.
US08075037B2	Vehicle rear end assemblies with storage assemblies A vehicle storage assembly of a vehicle includes a deployable and retractable shelf member connected to a tailgate of the vehicle. In a deployed configuration, the shelf member is supported spaced-above the tailgate to provide a horizontal support surface with the tailgate in an open position and the shelf member is supported spaced horizontally from the tailgate to provide a sidewall of a storage compartment with the tailgate in a closed position.
US08075034B2	Mounting structure for vehicle interior parts A mounting structure for vehicle interior parts includes a console member and a shift panel having an upper panel and a lower panel. An insertion portion that is inserted into a dent formed in a rear end of the console member is provided on a rear end of the lower panel. Left and right outer side surfaces of the insertion portion of the lower panel and left and right inner side surfaces of the dent of the console member are configured to be engageable by inserting engaging projections into engaging recesses. The engaging recesses are provided so as to restrict movements of the engaging projections in their longitudinal direction, and to allow positional deviation of the engaging projections in the vertical direction.
US08075032B2	Safety sling for a tire curing machine A safety sling secures an upper mold section of a tire press. The safety sling includes a first link, a second link, a third link, and a fourth link. The second link is connected to the first link by a first strap section. The third link is connected to the second link by a second strap section. The fourth link is connected to the link ring by a third strap section. The fourth link is also connected to the first link by a fourth strap section to define a quadrilateral configuration. The first link is connected to a link ring by a fifth strap section. The second link is connected to a sixth link by a sixth strap section. The third link is connected to a seventh link by a seventh strap section. The fourth link is connected to an eighth link by an eighth strap section such that the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth links are secured to the tire press for allowing the safety sling to catch the upper mold section in the event the upper mold section becomes otherwise unsecured from the tire press.
US08075029B2	Vehicular front bumper structure In a vehicular front bumper structure having the function of detecting the collision of an object against the front bumper of a vehicle in the vehicle, the length of a front bumper area in widthwise directions of the vehicle, in which area a load applied to the front bumper is detected with a collision detection sensor (104), is more than or equal to a maximum distance in the widthwise directions of the vehicle between the right and left front pillars (A pillars; 107) of the vehicle, the collision detection sensor being provided to extend along a bumper reinforce (103) between the bumper reinforce and a shock absorber (105), the bumper reinforce and the shock absorber forming the front bumper; and the collision detection sensor has an interface part (106) provided at one of the ends of the collision detection sensor in the widthwise directions of the vehicle which one is on the side opposite to a walkway (a right front end in left-hand traffic/a left front end in right-hand traffic).
US08075026B2	Locking system for a closing flap An automatically or manually operable closure system for a closing flap on a transport container is situated on the container frame and a docking stand at an unloading station. A rotating device for moving the closing flap is provided on the docking stand and a locking device for locking the closing flap in the closed position is provided on the container frame. A flap shaft, whose other end is mounted rotatably in the container frame and is implemented as a first connection element, engages axially to the rotational axis of the closing flap. The first connection element is axially coupled using a torsion-fixed tongue-groove pair to an axially displaceable second connection element. Formfitting coupling elements are provided on the second connection element and on the driveshaft for moving the closing flap.
US08075025B2	Probe seal having pressure-energized sealing elements for female hydraulic coupling member A crown-type probe seal for a female hydraulic coupling member has one or more pressure-energized seals for sealing between the probe seal and the body of the coupling member which retains the probe seal. The generally ring-shaped probe seal has one or more annular fluid chambers in the wall of the seal's body. Each annular fluid chamber is open to the outer circumference of the probe seal. Hydraulic fluid under pressure may enter an annular fluid chamber through its opening and exert a generally radial force as a result of a pressure differential. This radial force can act to increase the sealing effectiveness of the probe seal both to the body of the coupling member retaining the probe seal and to the probe of a male coupling member inserted in the receiving chamber of the female member.
US08075023B2	Coupling for drilling-with-casing operations A threaded casing connection for use in drilling-with-casing operations includes an integral, sacrificial wear sleeve on the downhole end of the coupling which has additional wear protection on portions of its outer wall and leading face.
US08075019B2	Device for restraining a vehicle occupant A kit for a device for restraining a vehicle occupant includes a prefabricated seat belt retractor (1) that has a winding shaft (2) mounted in a rotatable manner in a retractor frame (4) to wind up and unwind the seat belt. The kit further includes a similarly prefabricated drive module (30) having an electric motor (32), the drive module being connectable to the retractor frame (4) in a rotationally fixed manner. Force-transmission elements are provided on the drive module (30) and on the seat belt retractor (1) that are to be connected to each other to transmit the torque from the electric motor (32) to the winding shaft (2) when the seat belt retractor (1) and drive module (30) are assembled. An assembled device for restraining a vehicle occupant and having the components of the kit is also disclosed. Further disclosed is a set of electrical components that when assembled with the seat belt retractor provide a signal indicating the state of locking device that can lock the winding shaft from unwinding a seat belt.
US08075014B2	Snowboard or ski or the like having a channeled edge or multiple element edge Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a snowboard or ski or the like comprises a base body having at least one edge, a top surface and a bottom surface; wherein the edge comprises at least one channel formed therein to provide two or more edge elements to contact a medium during use.
US08075011B1	Adjustable motorcycle wheelie device A teaching device for sport configured motorcycles that restricts the angular inclination of the motorcycle and therefore its effective height from the ground when performing a wheelie in which the motorcycle is positioned on its rear wheel as it is driven. A bracket assembly extends from the rear wheel of the motorcycle with pavement engagement wheels positioned on its free end. The bracket assembly can be adjusted to afford different engagement angles to safely stabilize and restrict the effective height of the sport motorcycle's front wheel off the pavement during the “wheelie” maneuver thus providing a teaching platform for individuals practicing the art of wheelies on sport configured motorcycles.
US08075007B2	Suspension for an all terrain vehicle An all-terrain vehicle including a frame having longitudinally-spaced ends defining a first longitudinal axis, and an engine supported by the frame. The engine includes a crankshaft defining a second longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis.
US08075006B2	Three-wheeled skateboard system and method A system and method for a skateboard and for propelling the skateboard. The skateboard system includes a board including a first end and a second end, the first end offset from the second end, and the second end defining a board plane. The skateboard system also includes a truck assembly attached near the first end of the board, and a caster assembly attached near the second end of the board. The caster assembly has a caster pin at an angle with respect to the board plane. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08075003B2	Boot for use with a gliding board Gliding board equipment systems and individual components are disclosed herein. A gliding board equipment system of one embodiment includes a boot having an upper cuff and a lower boot. The upper cuff of the boot defines opposed slots, and a respective pin passes through each slot to couple the upper cuff to the lower boot and allow the upper cuff to move laterally relative to the lower boot. Means are included for selectively covering at least one portion of each slot to restrict movement of the upper cuff relative to the lower boot.
US08075000B2	Composite, high temperature, dynamic seal and method of making same A composite, dynamic seal suitable for use in a high temperature environment and method of making same. The dynamic seal includes a resilient, generally ring-shaped seal body having a first layer formed of a first resilient sealing material and a second layer formed of a second resilient sealing material. The first and second layers are preferably molded and cured together simultaneously and chemically cross-linked to each other. The first resilient sealing material is selected for its wear resistant dynamic properties and the second resilient sealing material is selected for its compression set resistant properties. Preferably, the first resilient sealing material is tetrafluoroethylene and propylene copolymer and the second resilient sealing material is fluorocarbon rubber. The first and second resilient sealing materials have compatible cure systems, preferably peroxide cure systems.
US08074999B2	Dynamic sealing arrangement for movable shaft A dynamic sealing arrangement for preventing leakage of a fluid along a shaft includes multiple seals and pressurized barrier sealant is presented. According to one aspect, at least three seals are arranged along the shaft with pressurized barrier sealant between the first and second seals and a collection area is provided between the second and third seals to collect any leakage that might occur. Collected leakage, if any, is ported to an output port. According to another aspect, a unitary seal block member is provided that supports the dynamic sealing arrangement for the shaft and defines a piston chamber and a drilled passageway connecting the piston chamber and barrier sealant pressurization chamber between two seals. A substantial amount of plumbing is self contained in a single body minimizing the need for additional components or complexity.
US08074998B2	Annular seals for non-contact sealing of fluids in turbomachinery According to one embodiment of the disclosure, an annular seal generally includes a hollow member having two ends and an inner surface. The hollow member has a number of depressions formed in and extending around its inner surface. Each of the depressions having a depth that is a function of its distance from one of the two ends.
US08074997B2	Air riding seal An improved air-riding seal system for turbine engines is presented. The seal system includes a movable primary seal assembly, a stationary secondary seal assembly, and at least one structure to increase the stiffness of a thin film between the primary seal and a rotating component. The primary seal assembly includes an annular seal ring and an arcuate support arm. The annular seal ring has a cross section that is substantially L-shaped and a surface with a step face and a circumferential dam. The arcuate support arm has a tooth at one end adjacent to an outermost circumferential surface along the seal runner, which could include an optional notch. The tooth and outermost circumferential surface are separated by a gap. The secondary seal ring is disposed between and contacts the primary seal assembly and housing structure so as to form a bore seal and a face seal therewith. A plurality of hydrodynamic pockets disposed along the circumferential dam and/or a plurality of radial dams disposed along the surface in an outward radial arrangement from the circumferential dam are provided to improve the stiffness of the thin film. Features of the invention allow for higher operating speeds.
US08074992B1	Bad beat blackjack A side wager for blackjack that allows the player to win when the player loses a hand that the player would have expected to win. If the player is initially dealt a good hand, e.g., 20, and the player still loses, then the player can be rewarded by collecting a “bad beat” award.
US08074990B2	Halloween afternoon at dracula 3-D castle board game A Halloween Afternoon at Dracula's Castle board game which comprises a game board having a first outer pathway level, a second middle pathway level and a third inner pathway level. A plurality of playing pieces is for use by players, wherein the playing pieces are positionable on the spaces. A plurality of player residences, trespass tokens for use by the players. A chance determining mechanism is for indicating a number of the spaces to be traversed by each playing piece. A plurality of play money, spookology cards, lucky/unlucky cards, Possession Cards, item cards are provided to the players. In addition, a plurality of player sound pieces is provided with light and a silhouette to replicate a spooky player and Halloween theme sounds. A three dimensional plastic pentagon shape castle was built on the game board. The 3-D castle has light and a silhouette to replicate Halloween theme sounds and songs.
US08074988B2	Puzzle with three dimensional representation of geographic area A puzzle kit for assembly into a three dimensional representation of a geographic region includes first pieces that form a first layer, second pieces that form a second layer on top of the first layer, and structure pieces mounted on the first and/or second layers. The first and second layers can include retaining elements for retaining the structure pieces. The retaining elements can take the form of voids. The first layer can include image elements visible through the voids of the second layer, and the image elements can include indicia to match the voids with the structure pieces. The first pieces can include anchoring pieces that are elevated and interlock with the second layer. The structure pieces can be sequentially assembled on the first and/or second layers according to an index. The assembled puzzle can represent a city, and the structure pieces can represent buildings within the city.
US08074986B1	Set of five, fourteen sided poker dice A set of playing card indicia is applied to a set of five, fourteen sided dice. The dice can be provided in a variety of shapes, including a cuboctahedron, a truncated octahedron, a modified octahedron, a trapezoidal-based fourteen sided shape, and a spherical polyhedron. The indicia comprising a card value series defined as a series of nine numerical attributes two (2) thru ten (10) and four face value attributes Jack, Queen, King, and Ace. The indicia further comprising a suit series consisting of a club set, a heart set, a spades set, a diamond set and a fifth set of a different reference. Each disposed indicia comprising a unique combination of a value selected from the card value series and a suit series, such that no two indicia are replicated. The set of dice provides for games such as blackjack and poker. An optional wild value can be disposed upon the fourteenth side of the die.
US08074985B2	Virtual game A gaming method includes repetitive plays simulating rolls of virtual dice by a player and at least one of a bonus feature and a progressive feature. A gaming method includes scoring dice.
US08074983B1	Automatic document feeder An automatic document feeder includes an outer casing, an upper cover, a first pressing roller set and a separating device. The first pressing roller set is installed in a receiving member, which is arranged at a terminal side of the outer casing. The first pressing roller set includes a first rotating shaft and a first pressing roller. The separating device is sheathed around the first rotating shaft and exposed outside the receiving member. When the upper cover is opened, the upper cover is contacted with the separating device, so that the separating device is moved to shift the first rotating shaft.
US08074982B2	Adjustable idler rollers for lateral registration An assembly including nip assemblies spaced apart from one another along a first axis extending in the lateral direction. Each nip assembly including a driven wheel and an idler roller. The driven wheel rotatably supported about the first axis and the idler roller cooperating with the driven wheel to engage the sheet there between. The idler roller rotatably supported about a second axis. The first or second axis being selectively moveable relative to the other of the first or second axis between a first and second orientation. In the first orientation, the second axis extending parallel to the first axis, and in the second orientation the second axis extending at an oblique angle to the first axis. The selective movement of the second axis pivoting about a third axis substantially extending through a centerline common to both the driven wheel and the idler roller of each nip assembly.
US08074980B2	Apparatuses for feeding sheets and printing apparatuses Apparatuses for feeding sheets and printing apparatuses are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the apparatuses for feeding sheets includes a first guide; a second guide opposite the first guide; a first side wall; a second side wall opposite the first side wall; a support surface configured to support a stack of sheets with a first edge of the sheets facing the first guide, a second edge of the sheets facing the second guide and a center line of the stack extending from the first edge to the second edge; and at least two tampers including: a first tamper secured to the first guide between the center line and the first side wall, the first tamper including a first lower pad and a first upper pad which applies a lower force to the first edge of the sheets than the first lower pad; and a second tamper secured to the first guide between the center line and the second side wall, the second tamper including a second lower pad and a second upper pad which applies a lower force to the first edge of the sheets than the second lower pad.
US08074979B2	Sheet feed tray and image forming apparatus A sheet feeding tray includes a frame member, and freely upwardly swingable plural bottom plates arranged on the frame member side by side perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction. The bottom plates cooperatively support a stack of envelope recording mediums. A lifting device having plural curvature sections is provided. The plural curvature sections are respectively arranged below the bottom plates to scuff and lift the lower surface of the plural bottom plates at a section downstream of the sheet feeding direction. The plural curvature sections each include a different outline in accordance with a difference of a decreasing amount of a thickness of the stack during sheet feeding. The different outlines enable the topmost surface of the stack to be almost horizontal.
US08074978B2	Sheet feeding device and image-forming apparatus An image-forming apparatus and sheet feeding device capable of feeding sheets without skewing or multi-feeding of sheets using a small number of side air blowing drive sources. The sheet feeding device has a plurality of side discharge nozzles comprising side discharge outlets for blowing air onto the respective side edge surfaces of a paper stack, and two sirocco fans which are communicatively connected in series as a side air blowing drive source, and are communicatively connected, via a side discharge drive source chamber and a side discharge relay tube (duct), to the plurality of side discharge nozzles. The respective side discharge nozzles capable of moving in linkage with side fences, and an immovable fixed side discharge nozzle are disposed at different distances from the leading edge of the loaded and set paper stack with respect to a sheet feeding direction.
US08074974B2	Vehicle height adjusting device A vehicle height adjusting device includes a cylinder (1), a rod (3) inserted in the cylinder (1), a piston (4) connected to the rod (3) and movable within the cylinder (1), and defining a rod side chamber (2a) and an non-rod side chamber (2b) in the cylinder (1), damping parts (4a, 4b) for generating a damping force by the movement of the rod (3), a high pressure chamber (18) and a low pressure chamber (16) charged with gas, a pump chamber (25) for adjusting the vehicle height by supplying the working fluid in the low pressure chamber (16) into the non-rod side chamber (2b), a communicating path (5a) for communicating the non-rod side chamber (2b) and the high pressure chamber (18), and a valve body (20) for increasing and reducing a channel area of the communicating path (5a) depending on the fluid pressure of the high pressure chamber (18).
US08074972B2	Device for gas-liquid contacting One exemplary embodiment can be a device for a gas-liquid contacting apparatus. The gas-liquid contacting apparatus can include a member. The member can include: a non-breakable portion, and a breakable portion adapted for removal by application of an effective amount of force for creating one or more holes for a passage of a fluid there-through.
US08074971B2	Auxiliary cooling apparatus For fire prevention, an auxiliary cooling apparatus applied to an outdoor condenser of a refrigerating cycle is provided with a filter which has air permeability and is arranged to oppose to an ambient air intake port of the condenser, and cools ambient air by heat exchange between the ambient air sucked into the ambient air intake port through the filter and water supplied to the filter, lots of implanted fibers (17), which are fine projections, are implanted on surfaces of fibers (15), which constitute a base material of the filter, via a self-extinguishing adhesive agent layer (16), so that an adhesive layer (16), and the fiber (15) of the base material do not burn even if the implanted fibers (17) are ignited, whereby an auxiliary cooling apparatus which is excellent in the light of safety can be provided.
US08074967B2	Gate valve for vacuum and seal member used therefor A gate valve for vacuum capable of preventing a seal member from being cracked or particles from being produced due to a stress concentration even if the seal member is repeatedly compressed in the state that the adhesive agent is separated from the open side of a seal member mounting groove and capable of suppressing particles from being produced due to the rub of the seal top part with the seal surface.
US08074966B2	Drive device A driving device for adjusting an activating element of a throttle, of a valve, of a connecting device, of a metering device or the like in particular in the field of oil and gas exploration with at least one rotary gear movably connected to the activating element and a gear arranged between the rotary gear and at least one motor. To improve such a drive device in that the structure is simple and compact and efficiency is increased wherein simultaneously high axial forces are avoided and only a small number of assembly parts are necessary, the gear unit comprises a reduction gear assigned to the rotary gear in particular the so called harmonic drive gear, and a spare gear assigned to the motor which is in particular self locking.
US08074963B2	Fluid shut-off device A fluid flow shut-off or control valve or device, for use within the field of irrigation, has at least one end shaped so as to allow coupling of the body with a rotatable ring nut provided with a female thread adapted to be screwed onto a corresponding male thread of a component.
US08074962B1	Dust collection blast gate with mount A blast gate assembly for connecting two hoses includes a first cylindrical section for frictionally engaging with a first flexible vacuum hose, a second cylindrical section for frictionally engaging with a second flexible vacuum hose, and a valve section disposed between the first cylindrical section and the second cylindrical section. The valve section includes a mounting bracket.
US08074961B2	Magnetic valve with manual override Proposed is a magnetic valve with manual override, through the actuating element of which a magnetic core that serves as a valve element or that is connected to a valve element can be shifted from an off position into an operating position without excitation of a magnetic coil system assigned to it. To detect the position of the magnetic core that is held in the operating position by the manual override there is provided a coil current monitoring device that monitors the rise of the coil current after the magnetic coil system has been switched on, which device has a detection device for detection of the absence of a drop in current as formed by movement of the magnetic core after being switched on and a signaling device for electrical signaling of a position of the magnetic core that is held in the operating position by the manual override if said drop in current is absent.
US08074957B2	Formliner and method of use A formliner and method of use are provided in order to minimize and/or eliminate visible seaming between interconnected formliners. In some embodiments, the formliner can comprise raised sections that define interrelated inner and outer dimensions. Thus, a plurality of formliners can be interconnected by overlaying raised sections thereof. Further, the formliner can comprise one or more detents and one or more protrusions to enable engagement between interconnected formliners without requiring adhesives. In this manner, formliners can be interconnected in a nested manner such that visible seaming between the interconnected formliners is reduced and/or eliminated.
US08074955B2	Method and apparatus for improving the strength of a utility pole A support pole with enhanced strength along it's base includes an elongated pole member secured to a mounting plate. A majority of the length of the pole member has a uniform cross-section. Slits are cut into each side of the pole member along its lower end. A mandrel is placed into the lower end of the pole and expanded, thereby expanding the lower end of the pole away from the center and creating a larger cross-sectional area at its lower end. The lower end of the pole is secured to the mounting plate. Reinforcing members are welded over the expanded slits and the bottom of the reinforcing member is further welded to the mounting plate. The lower section with a larger cross-sectional area increases the moment of inertia and surface area of the support pole, thereby increasing the strength of the support pole.
US08074954B2	Rail for positioning and locking of elements, and a corresponding fitting A rail for fastening installations in an aircraft, the rail including a rail base section, a running-surface section that extends in a longitudinal direction with a running surface, and a connection section that connects the running-surface section to the rail base section at the face pointing away from the running surface. The running-surface section laterally on both sides, in each case spaced apart at a predetermined pitch, includes a multitude of projections projecting away from the connection section, each with a top that has substantially the same alignment as the running surface and a bottom that has an alignment that substantially is opposed to the alignment of the running surface. The bottom of the projections forms holding surfaces for holding a fitting. The rail is attached to a floor of the aircraft.
US08074953B1	Collapsible book holder The present invention includes a collapsible book holder adapted to hold a book in an open position. The present invention preferably is adapted to be folded into a flat or substantially flat position where it may be conveniently placed in a pocket or purse, or placed in a book as a book mark.
US08074951B2	Quick release electronics platform A device mounting platform apparatus having a reconfigurable biasing mechanism. The device mounting platform apparatus includes a frame member capable of being mounted in a vehicle and having a device mounting surface facing generally upward. A clamp member is slidably interconnected to the frame member along a first direction. A biasing mechanism is coupled between the frame and clamp members. The biasing mechanism is reconfigurable for urging a jaw portion of the clamp member along the first direction heading either toward or away from the frame member. The biasing mechanism is thus reconfigurable for either urging the clamp member open or urging it closed. A plurality of different jaw portions are interchangeably coupleable to the frame and clamp members in opposing relationship across the device mounting surface of the frame.
US08074949B2	Extension arm with cable management The present invention pertains to extension arm apparatuses that are adapted to support user devices throughout a range of positions. A given apparatus may include one or more arms that position the user device remotely from a support position. An extension and retraction device such as a gas cylinder is received within each arm, and provides a force to support the user device as the arm is placed into a given position. A variable force clevis is connected to the extension/retraction device within the arm. The variable force clevis is connected to a pair of locations in the arm as well. As the arm moves, for instance up or down, the variable force clevis rotates within the arm and dynamically adjusts the force provided by the extension/retraction device. Thus, the arm may be positioned as desired, as such force adjustment stabilizes the arm.
US08074944B2	Clamp member and clamping method A clamp member includes a first member of a substantially L-shaped cross section having at the front end thereof a tongue section and formed to project from the main surface of the clamp member and a second member having at the front end thereof bent sections of a substantially L-shaped cross section juxtaposed with a notch interposed between them and formed to project from the main surface of the clamp member, the tongue section and the notch having a vertical positional relationship with the tongue section, the tongue section being disposed vis-à-vis the bent sections.
US08074935B2	Satellite refuelling system and method The present invention provides a method, system and apparatus for robotic refueling of satellites. The system may include a dedicated refueling satellite launched directly from either earth, or alternatively it could be launched from another larger mother spacecraft or space station in which the refueling satellite is ferried into space in the case of the larger space craft or it may be stored on the space station until needed from which it can be launched. The system includes a robotic arm, suitable tools which can be affixed to the end effector of the robotic arm required for accessing, opening and closing the fuel fill valve on the satellite being serviced, storage and retrieval stations on a tool caddy on which the tools and various fuel fill valve caps are stored. The system is under teleoperation by a remotely located operator, for example located on earth, in the mother station or in the space station. Cameras are included focussed on the robotic arm and end effector and images are transmitted to the operator to allow the operator to direct and control the refueling procedure. The system may also be configured to be operated autonomously under computer control.
US08074934B2	Interlock reserve parachute deployment system A device, system and method of reserve parachute deployment comprising; a reserve bridle 2 connecting the reserve deployment bag 5 to the reserve pilot chute 4, and a lanyard 3 connecting the main parachute 1 to the reserve bridle 2 with a releasable attachment and a retention means of this attachment. This connection being placed onto a holding flap 17 of the reserve container 22, by releasable holding means. The system and method of realization allows the reserve parachute to be activated without cutting-away a main parachute, in a manner that the holding means are not released, while if the main parachute is cut away then the holding means release without the retention means doing so.
US08074933B2	Aircraft graywater ejection system An aircraft (10) having a cabin (14) with a plurality of potable-water-using stations (22) that drain graywater to a transfer tank (24). The graywater ejection system pressurizes the transfer tank (24) at appropriate times and/or places, so that graywater can be ejected through a drainmast (26) without the help of gravity. This graywater ejection system eliminates the need for a discharge line from the transfer tank (24) and frees the aircraft's fuselage (12) from having an inconvenient port associated with such a discharge line.
US08074930B2	Door for opening and closing a door aperture in an aircraft An aircraft door is disclosed comprising a first (301), second (302) and third (303) door members pivotably joined and arranged to move from a closed position in which said members are located in a substantially linear arrangement in the aircraft skin to an open position in which said members are located in a relative folded arrangement with the second and third door members situated substantially above the lowest edge of the first door member.
US08074929B1	Methods and systems for composite structural truss Methods and structures for a composite truss structure are provided. The structure includes an upper chord member, a lower chord member, and a plurality of web members extending therebetween. Each of the upper chord member, the lower chord member, and the plurality of web members are formed of a continuous composite fiber positioned in each of the upper chord member, the lower chord member, and each of the plurality of web members wherein each of the upper chord member, the lower chord member, and the plurality of web members includes a predetermined number of passes of the continuous composite fiber corresponding to a predetermined load. The composite truss structure also includes at least a first gusseting plate coupled to the upper chord member, the lower chord member, and the plurality of web members.
US08074926B2	Structural dynamic stability for an aircraft An improvement and method for improved structural dynamic stability for 20 and 30 Series Learjets are disclosed. The improvement includes a redistribution of the elevator mass balance to uncouple the elevator rotational motion from the stabilizer translation motion for the higher order horizontal frequencies having node lines in the proximity of the mass outboard counterbalance weights. The original tail section includes a rudder, and a horizontal stabilizer supporting an elevator mounted adjacent the rudder. The elevator includes a proximal end adjacent the rudder and a distal end that includes a counterbalance portion. The improvement includes replacement of an original mass counterbalance weight from within the counterbalance portion with a new mass counterbalance weight of less mass, and the inclusion of additional mass counterbalance weights disposed within the elevator and interposed between the proximal end and the counterbalance portion.
US08074922B2	Discoidal flying craft A flying craft has an aerodynamic aircraft fuselage structure preferably disc shaped. A pair of coaxial electrokinetic motor-generators are mounted concentrically, and preferably centered within the disc shaped structure of the craft. Each of the motors is toroidal in configuration, providing a ring-shaped stator and rotor portions. The rotor portions of the motors drive counter rotating fans which are electro-magnetically levitated. The structure is open to the fans so that air may be drawn into the structure and expelled downward providing vertical lift to the aircraft. By use of auxiliary air braking flaps and electrokinetic thrusters, the craft may be tilted so as to develop a desired horizontal thrust. By impulse breaking one of the fans through tracking solenoids at different points around the stator, the aircraft may be made to rotate about its own vertical axis for changing direction. By a series of sudden braking of the motors the craft may be made to move by inertial reaction.
US08074918B1	Unmanned aerial system launch from water An unmanned aerial system (UAS) is described that is operable on or in water, in addition to being able to fly in the air. The UAS can float in a body of water, or submerge itself underneath the water, and then later launch from the water without human intervention to perform a flying mission. The UAS can then return back to the water. The UAS incorporates an electric ducted fan acting as the propulsion engine for the UAS in the water as well as in the air.
US08074916B2	Fiber optic/electrical cable reel assembly A cable reel or cable reel assembly is provided for storing, deploying, retrieving and transporting a cable assembly (having a cable and connectors). The cable reel includes a central hub and two side flanges constructed, in one embodiment, of composite plastic material having reinforcing material(s). An annular rim and spaced apart spoke sections in each side flange function to provide multiple carrying handles. In a specific embodiment, a secondary hub (and third flange) adjacent the central hub is positioned and disposed within a side periphery defined by the annular rim of one of the side flanges enabling two cable reels to be stacked together such that the annular rims of respective cable reels may be in close or actual contact. In another embodiment, a retractable handle is disposed within the side periphery when in the retracted position.
US08074913B2	Combination thermoforming trim press and comminuting apparatus A combination thermoforming trim press and comminuting apparatus is provided. The combination includes a horizontal trim press, a comminuting apparatus, and a height-adjustable delivery chute. The trim press has an exit for downwardly delivering a scrap web of thermoformable sheet material. The comminuting apparatus is provided beneath the exit and has an entrance for receiving the scrap web. The height-adjustable delivery chute is provided between the trim press exit and the comminuting apparatus entrance and includes a first section, a second section telescopically received relative to the first section to provide height adjustment, and a fastener for securing the chute at a selected height to substantially close any gaps between the trim press exit, the comminuting apparatus entrance and the delivery chute to eliminate any need for a shielding cage to prevent internal finger and limb access by an operator.
US08074909B2	Method for dry grinding a material containing a carbonate ore The present invention is directed to a method for dry milling a material containing a carbonate ore. The method comprises the following steps: (a) dry milling the material in at least one milling unit: (i) in the presence of at least one polyalkylene glycol polymer having monomer units forming a backbone, where at least 90% of the monomer units forming the backbone of the polymer are constituted by ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or their mixtures, and where the polymer has a molecular weight of at least equal to 400 g/mole, (ii) such that the milling unit contains a quantity of water that is less than 10% in dry weight of the material in the milling unit; (b) optionally classifying the material from step a) with at least one classification unit; and (c) optionally repeating steps a) and/or b) with all or part of the material from step a) and/or step b).
US08074906B2	Process for milling and preparing powders and compositions produced thereby A method of milling a powder comprising introducing a gas stream containing a cryogenic liquid and a drug carrier gas into a jet mill, and milling a powder with the jet mill in one or more milling passes. A product produced by the method. A milling apparatus comprising a cryogenic gas input system, a powder feeder, a main jet-mill, and at least one output port for collecting the powder.
US08074898B2	Windshield wiper reservoir system Disclosed is a windshield wiper reservoir system for cleaning a windshield of a vehicle. The reservoir system includes a first reservoir, a second reservoir, a motor system, and a plurality of wiper tubes coupled to the motor system. The first reservoir is configured to store a wiper fluid and the second reservoir is configured to store a de-icing fluid. The motor system is configured to drive at least one of the wiper fluid from the first reservoir and the de-icing fluid from the second reservoir. Each of the plurality of wiper tubes includes a spray head. Further, the each of the plurality of wiper tubes is configured to receive the at least one of the wiper fluid and the de-icing fluid. Furthermore, the spray head is configured to spray the at least one of the wiper fluid and the de-icing fluid onto the windshield of the vehicle.
US08074897B2	Sprinkler with variable arc and flow rate A variable arc sprinkler may be set to numerous positions along a continuum to adjust the arcuate span of the sprinkler. The sprinkler includes a nozzle body and a valve sleeve that helically engage each other to define an arcuate slot that may be adjusted at the top of the sprinkler to a desired arcuate span. The sprinkler may include a flow rate adjustment device that may be adjusted by actuation or rotation of an outer wall portion of the sprinkler. Rotation of the outer wall portion may cause a throttle control member to move axially to or away from an inlet, or may cause one or more restrictor elements to open or close, to control the flow rate of the sprinkler.
US08074896B2	Method and apparatus for optimizing aerosol generation with ultrasonic transducers The invention is an apparatus and methods for optimizing the performance and protecting one or more aerosol generating transducers from deterioration while operating in a chemically reactive aqueous solution by utilizing one or more protective barrier techniques to eliminate chemical interaction between the aqueous solution and the transducers. The method of the present invention produces an aerosol producing transducer with the transducer housing and assembly to be constructed in such a way as to assure its efficient and effective long-term and problem free operation in an aqueous solution that is chemically reactive.
US08074894B2	Secondary mixing valve hot port A thermostatic mixing valve for mixing a hot fluid and a cold fluid to produce a tempered mixed fluid stream. The thermostatic mixing valve may have a valve body that defines a cold fluid inlet port, a hot fluid inlet port, a mixing chamber, a mixed fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the mixing chamber, and a hot fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the hot fluid inlet port and disposed upstream of the mixing chamber. In some cases, the hot fluid outlet port may be used to provide hot water directly to an appliance or other fixture that can use non-tempered hot water.
US08074889B2	System for biometric security using a fob The present invention discloses a system and methods for biometric security using biometrics in a transponder-reader system. The biometric security system also includes a biometric sensor that detects biometric sample and a device for verifying biometric samples. In one embodiment, the biometric security system includes a transponder configured with a biometric sensor. In another embodiment, the system includes a reader configured with a biometric sensor. The device for verifying samples compares the biometric samples with information stored on the databases.
US08074888B2	Terminal, method of checking conformity of at least one removable battery of an electronic payment terminal, and the corresponding removable battery and computer program product A portable electronic payment terminal is provided, which includes at least one removable battery. The removable battery carries an electronic chip containing at least one item of identification information and is able to communicate with a contactless reading device present in the terminal. The terminal further includes: a transmitter for transmitting the identification information to a distant control server of the terminal manufacturer; and a receiver for receiving from the server conformity or non-conformity information according to whether the identification information belongs to a list approved by the manufacturer.
US08074886B2	Systems and methods for preserving and maintaining document integrity Systems and methods consistent with embodiments of the present invention provide for a method for preserving and maintaining document integrity. In some methods for preserving and maintaining document integrity, the contents of a document, or contents of a document layer may be encoded into a machine-readable form. In some embodiments, the encoded information may be represented using a 2-dimensional bar code. In some methods for preserving and maintaining document integrity, the machine-readable code is printed along with contents of the document based on space available in the document. In some embodiments, a printed document containing the machine-readable code may be scanned and digitized, and content extracted from the scanned data. In some embodiments, the machine-readable code printed on the document is used to recreate layer data from the printed document.
US08074885B2	Integrated RF card reader An integrated RF card reader includes an integrated RF transmission unit including a Felica chip and a Felica security unit performing a security function that is needed to process a Felica type RF card where an RF function is removed. Since a variety of types can be embodied through a single RF transmission circuit by using the integrated RF card reader, a manufacturing cost can be reduced.
US08074876B2	Customer enrollment in a stored value card program Customer enrollment in a stored value card program is provided. One embodiment is a method for enrolling a customer in a stored value card program. One such method comprises: generating a list of unaffiliated stored value card programs; and when enrolling a new customer in a new stored value card program at a device, determining whether the new customer has a stored value account with one of the unaffiliated stored value card programs.
US08074874B2	Secure payment system A system for the authentication by a card-issuing financial institution of identifying information of a card-holding user of a public data network. The system includes a secure data entry device connected to the public data network and a gateway device connected to the public data network and to a private data network used for transmitting messages between financial institutions. The secure data entry device enables the user to enter identifying information of a card issued by the card-issuing financial institution, and transmits the identifying information in a secure manner over the public data network to the gateway device. The gateway device transmits the identifying information to the card-issuing financial institution and receives an approval response from the card-issuing financial institution over the private data network. The approval response provides authentication of the identifying information by the card-issuing financial institution.
US08074872B2	Payment terminal, and associated method and program An electronic payment terminal includes a data entry device, a processor and a memory. The memory contains a structure arranged to list at least one customer identifier, a personal identification number and an amount, all associated. The memory also contains a program having comprising instructions for storing, in an example of the structure after entry, the customer identifier and the personal identification number. The same example of the structure is then updated locally by payments out and in made on the terminal on behalf of the customer identified.
US08074869B2	System, method, and apparatus for reactive foil brazing of cutter components for fixed cutter bit A reactive foil is used to assemble the components of rock bit cutters and to affix cutting elements to rock bit bodies. A small pulse of localized energy ignites the foil in a fraction of a second to deliver the necessary amount of heat energy to flow solder or braze and form a strong, true metallic joint. The reaction in the foil may be activated using optical, electrical, or thermal sources.
US08074868B2	Fabrication method of semiconductor integrated circuit device Productivity is to be improved in assembling a semiconductor integrated circuit device. A matrix substrate is provided and semiconductor chips are disposed on a first heating stage, then the matrix substrate is disposed above the semiconductor chips on the first heating stage, subsequently the semiconductor chips and the matrix substrate are bonded to each other temporarily by thermocompression bonding while heating the chips directly by the first heating stage, thereafter the temporarily bonded matrix substrate is disposed on a second heating stage adjacent to the first heating stage, and then on the second heating stage the semiconductor chips are thermocompression-bonded to the matrix substrate while being heated directly by the second heating stage.
US08074867B2	Conductive ball mounting apparatus A conductive ball mounting apparatus for mounting conductive balls by providing an array mask having through holes, into which conductive balls are to enter, above a mounting target placed on a stage, by arranging a ball reservoir having an opening for reserving a plurality of conductive balls, in the bottom, by moving the ball reservoir along the array mask, by dropping the conductive balls into the individual through holes of the array mask, adopts the following means. Firstly, the conductive ball mounting apparatus comprises moving means for moving the array mask and the stage relative to each other in horizontal directions. Secondly, the positions of the conductive balls in the through holes are arranged by finely moving at least one of the array mask and the stage relative to each other in the horizontal directions after the balls were dropped.
US08074861B2	Surgical fastener applying apparatus The present disclosure relates to surgical fastener applying apparatus for sequentially applying a plurality of surgical fasteners to body tissue. The surgical fastener applying apparatus includes a replaceable cartridge assembly receivable in a distal end portion of a cartridge receiving half-section, the cartridge assembly including a safety lockout pivotably disposed along the upper surface of the cartridge assembly and movable from an unlocked orientation permitting assembly of an anvil half-section to the cartridge receiving half-section, to a locked orientation preventing assembly of the anvil half-section to the cartridge receiving-half section.
US08074860B2	Hollow tissue inosculation apparatus A hollow tissue inosculation apparatus is to inosculate two hollow tissues to each other with a staple having a plurality of elastically deformable bent staple pins. The hollow tissue inosculation apparatus includes a staple holder to hold the staple, a curvature control mechanism to control curvature of the staple pins of the staple held in the staple holder, an incision mechanism to incise the hollow tissues, and a gap control mechanism to control gaps between the staple holder and the hollow tissues. The curvature control mechanism substantially straightens the staple pins. The gap control mechanism reduces the gaps to cause the substantially straightened staple pins to penetrate through the hollow tissues. The incision mechanism includes two cutters to incise the hollow tissues, respectively. The staple holder holds the staple so that the blades of the cutters do not come into contact with the staple.
US08074859B2	Surgical instrument A surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument includes a housing. The surgical instrument includes an elongated portion extending distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. An end effector operably couples to the elongated portion. A first pivoting member pivotably couples to a distal end of the elongated portion. The first pivoting member defines a first pivot axis intersecting the longitudinal axis when the first pivoting member is rotated. A distal mounting assembly pivotably couples to the first pivoting member and operably couples to the end effector. The distal mounting assembly defines a second pivot axis intersecting the first pivot axis and the longitudinal axis when the proximal mounting assembly is rotated.
US08074857B2	Method and apparatus for tissue fastening with single translating trigger operation A mechanical device and method for gathering and securing tissue with a fastener. The device includes an applicator assembly configured to deploy a fastener in a first direction, a tissue manipulation assembly configured to move from a relaxed position to a grasping position in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and a translating trigger assembly coupled to the applicator assembly and the tissue manipulation assembly. The trigger assembly is configured to move from a relaxed position, through a first position, to a second position along a third direction transverse to the first and second direction. Operation of the trigger assembly from the relaxed position through the first position along the third direction causes the tissue manipulation assembly to move in the second direction to gather a portion of the tissue. Continued operation of the trigger assembly along the third direction causes the applicator assembly to deploy the fastener.
US08074856B2	Nailer device An electrical device, such as a nailer device, has a motor and a gear housing containing a transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism is coupled to the motor for driving an impact member. The transmission mechanism includes a shaft having a through-hole wherein a first opening of the through-hole is communicated with the interior of the gear housing and a second opening of the through-hole is communicated with an exterior of the gear housing.
US08074855B2	Bypass type follower assembly having a latch mechanism on the follower claw A follower mechanism of the bypass type comprises a follower body which is normally spring-biased in the forward direction so as to, in turn, normally bias a strip supply of nail-type fasteners in the forward direction toward a discharge path along which the leading one of the nail-type fasteners will he driven and discharged out from the fastener-driving tool. A follower claw is normally spring-biased, around the pivotal axis of a pivot pin mounted upon the follower body, to a position at which the follower claw can engage the trailing one of the nail-type fasteners so as to bias the supply strip of nail-type fasteners in the forward direction. A latch-hook is integrally provided upon the follower claw for engaging an undercut region of the fastener-driving tool magazine end cap in order to retain the entire follower mechanism at a rearwardly retracted position within the magazine assembly of the fastener-driving machine.
US08074853B1	Sports bag and backpack containing nylon mesh pouches within the bag and the backpack The present invention is a bag or backpack with the addition of at least one mesh pouch affixed within the bag. The at least one pouch is preferably made of mesh fabric, and includes a top opening with a top hem to contain fasteners which are placed inside of the hem. The top opening of the at least one pouch can be tightened together so that personal belongings which are placed inside of the at least one pouch will not drop out of the pouch. With the aid of the at least one interior pouch, the bag or backpack of the present invention significantly improves convenience, ease for organizing personal belongings being placed inside of the bag or backpack, and efficient use of the internal volume of the bag or backpack.
US08074849B2	Toggle action dispensing closure with articulated rear flange A toggle-action dispensing closure is provided for manipulation between a closed, non-dispensing orientation and an open, dispensing orientation that is easily assembled, resists inadvertent opening and has an improved aesthetic appearance for variously shaped closures. The closure includes an actuator rotationally mounted on a housing whereby the housing may be secured to a container. The axis of rotation of the actuator is asymmetrically disposed in the housing. The actuator has a rear flange with an articulatable hinge that is longer than its front flange. When the closure is securely mounted to a container, the portion of the rear flange below the hinge resiliently contacts the container assisting in preventing inadvertently opening the closure.
US08074845B2	Fluid product dispensing element and dispenser comprising one such element A fluid dispenser member for mounting on an opening (90) of a fluid reservoir (9), said member comprising: a body (1) inwardly defining a chamber (15) of variable volume, said body defining a bottom end (10); an actuator rod (7) that can be reciprocated axially in said body, and comprising a top portion defining a top end (79); a peripheral bearing collar (52) extending radially outwards, and including a bottom face (51) designed to come into abutment, at least indirectly, against an edge (911) of the opening (90) of the fluid reservoir; and a neck gasket (2) disposed in contact with the bottom face (51) of the collar so as to be compressed between the collar (52) and the edge (911) of the opening, the axial height HS1 axially separating the bottom face of the collar from the top end of the actuator rod being substantially equal to the axial height HI1 axially separating the bottom face of the collar from the bottom end of the body.
US08074844B2	Piston pump stroke adjustment mechanism A piston pump with a piston coaxially slidable in a chamber for dispensing fluid out of a discharge tube which extends normal to the axis about which the piston is slidable in the chamber with a stroke stop member rotatably journalled on the discharge tube for pivoting between different positions in which the stroke stop member limits inward sliding of the piston into the chamber to different extents.
US08074842B2	Method and apparatus for a modular dispensing tower A dispenser including a plurality of tower sections allows an operator to remove one or more tower sections from the fluid dispenser without removing the fluid dispenser from a dispensing location. A housing of the dispenser includes multiple arrays of outlets from a housing fluid circuit that is connectable to fluid sources. Separate tower sections including complementary arrays are then coupled to arrays of the housing, thereby extending the housing fluid circuits to the dispense points disposed on the tower sections. The tower sections are secured to the fluid dispenser housing. The tower sections may further include mounting members that mate together to provide additional restraint and to ensure that the dispense points of the attached tower sections are aligned, thereby providing a clean, uniform appearance.
US08074841B1	Food containers and dispensers with dual compartments for storage and disposal An expandable dual-compartment container for the dispensing of food product and the storage of food waste product. The dual-compartment container includes a first compartment that defines a first cavity and a second compartment that is moveable in relation to the first cavity so as to define a second cavity. The second compartment has a first opening and a second opening. The dual-compartment container also includes a connection means for placing the first compartment in communication with the second opening such that food stored in the first compartment can be dispensed through the second opening.
US08074840B2	Fluid dispenser assembly A fluid dispenser assembly, characterized in that it comprises: a fluid dispenser (1, 2) comprising a fluid reservoir (1) and a closure member (2), the reservoir comprising at least one flexible sheet (11) provided with an opening (14) cut out in the sheet, the closure member (2) being mounted in said opening (14); and a flexible covering (3) wrapped around the dispenser, the covering including a window (34) through which the closure member (2) can be accessed.
US08074837B2	Method and system for portioning and dispensing ice An ice portion control module includes an ice bin for storing ice. A base in the ice bin has one or more portion control compartments. The one or more portion control compartments has an interior volume to hold a predetermined portion of the ice. An actuator moves the one or more portion control compartments between a fill position wherein the one or more portion control compartments holds the ice, and a dispense position wherein the predetermined portion of the ice is dispensed out of the one or more portion control compartments.

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