最新美国发明专利第2012-01-31期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US08105082B2	Compositions for removing stains from dental surfaces and methods of making and using the same Stain-removing oral compositions, such as gum compositions are herein provided. The compositions include a chelating agent and a surfactant. The surfactant includes a fatty acid salt and at least one component selected from nonionic and anionic surfactants. The fatty acid salt may have at least one hydroxyl functionality. The oral compositions may optionally include an abrasive agent.
US08105076B2	High efficiency radiant heater A radiant tube heater with a burner assembly, a radiant tube assembly and a combustion air pre-heater; wherein the burner assembly comprises: a burner fuel nozzle; a plenum chamber and a pre-mixer chamber; the plenum chamber having a combustion air inlet; wherein in use: combustion air flows from said plenum chamber through an orifice to said pre-mixer where said air is mixed with burner fuel entering said pre-mixer through said nozzle prior to being combusted at a burner head; said pre-mixer being at least partly located within said radiant tube assembly; and where in use at least part of the combustion air supplied to said plenum is preheated in said air pre-heater using residual sensible heat of the hot combustion gas products of the heater.
US08105073B2	Retract mechanism for injection blow molding A bottom plug retract mechanism for use in a blow mold having a top die and a bottom die defining at least a portion of a mold cavity, the mechanism including a plug that is operable to move away from the mold cavity at an angle to the parting plane when the mold cavity is opened.
US08105064B2	Multilayered film/sheet molding die For the purpose of molding a multilayered film/sheet having a highly precise thickness of each layer, movable choker bars (31, 32) are movably arranged in the middle of molten resin channels (111, 112), and a plurality of choker adjustment bolts (35, 36) are arranged at a predetermined pitch in the die width direction. The choker bars with the choker adjustment bolts are moved so as to adjust the gap in a choker portion. Thermal conductors (37, 38) are provided with the respective choker adjustment bolts.
US08105057B2	Fluid transportation device having multiple double-chamber actuating structures A fluid transportation device includes a flow-gathering module and multiple double-chamber actuating structures. The flow-gathering module includes two surfaces opposed to each other, multiple first flow paths and multiple second flow paths running through the two surfaces, an inlet channel arranged between the two surfaces and communicated with the multiple first flow paths, and an outlet channel arranged between the two surfaces and communicated with the multiple second flow paths. The multiple double-chamber actuating structures are arranged on the flow-gathering module side by side. Each double-chamber actuating structure includes a first chamber and a second chamber symmetrically arranged on the two surface of the flow-gathering module. Each of the first chamber and the second chamber includes a valve cap arranged over the flow-gathering module, a valve membrane arranged between the flow-gathering module and the valve cap, and an actuating member having a periphery fixed on the valve cap.
US08105055B2	Suction manifold mounting for a fluid end for a high-pressure pump A suction manifold mounting for a fluid end of a high pressure pump having a frame assembly. The fluid end has a body forging with a detachable suction manifold plate. The plate is pivotally attached at opposed ends to a pair of swivel arms through a cooperating pair of yoke limbs. The swivel arms are rigidly affixed to the frame member. When attachment bolts are removed from the manifold plate, the plate may pivot from a first closed position wherein the mounting holes in the plate are aligned with mounting holes in the forging to a second open position.
US08105050B2	Ejector and manufacturing method thereof A housing is configured into a tubular form and receives at least a portion of an ejector functional unit, which includes a nozzle and a body. A housing side opening radially penetrates through an outer peripheral wall surface and an inner peripheral wall surface of the housing and communicates with the fluid suction opening of the body. The housing side opening is adapted to join with a suction opening side external device, through which the fluid is drawn into the fluid suction opening.
US08105047B2	Electric home appliance having drain function and method of controlling the same A home appliance equipped with a drain function and a method of controlling the same are disclosed. A method of controlling a home appliance equipped with a drain apparatus includes switching ON/OFF the drain apparatus during a first time, switching on the drain apparatus during a second time after switching ON/OFF the drain apparatus, checking a variation of the water level according to a draining status, and controlling the drain apparatus based on the checked water-level variation result corresponding to the draining status.
US08105043B2	HP turbine blade airfoil profile A two-stage high pressure turbine includes a second stage blade having an airfoil with a profile substantially in accordance with at least an intermediate portion of the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table 2. The X and Y values are distances, which when smoothly connected by an appropriate continuing curve, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The profile sections at each distance Z are joined smoothly to one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
US08105041B2	Arrangement for axially securing rotating blades in a rotor, sealing element for such an arrangement, and use of such an arrangement An arrangement is presented for axially securing rotating blades in a rotor, having a shaft collar on whose external circumference rotating blade securing grooves which extend in the axial direction of the rotor are provided. At one end side face of the shaft a projection is arranged in the region of the securing grooves, in which projection a circumferential groove which is open radially towards the outside is provided and said projection having securing grooves which are arranged in each rotating bade, sheet-metal-shaped sealing elements which each engage in the circumferential groove and in the securing groove and form an end side sealing ring in the circumferential direction being provided for axially securing the rotating blades, and at least one of the sealing elements comprising a sheet metal strip which is attached to said sealing ring in order to secure the sealing elements against displacement in the circumferential direction.
US08105039B1	Airfoil tip shroud damper A turbine disk includes a rotor and a plurality of turbine blades, each comprising a root at a proximal end secured to the rotor and a tip having a shroud at a distal end. The shroud includes a inner diameter surface, an outer diameter surface and a segmented sidewall surface separating the inner and outer diameter surfaces. The shrouds of adjacent turbine blades are separated by a tip shroud damper, and which includes a retention rail that cooperates with the outer diameter surface to maintain a positional relationship of the damper, a inner flange that engages the segmented sidewall surface, and a web that separates the retention rail and the inner flange. The tip shroud damper reduces the vibratory responses of modes involving axial and radial shroud motion to prevent high cycle fatigue (HCT).
US08105035B2	Lightning protection system for a wind turbine rotor blade and a method for manufacturing such a blade The invention relates to a wind turbine rotor blade comprising a blade tip and a lightning protection system. The rotor blade includes at least one lightning receptor at the surface of the blade in an external distance (Lex) from the distal end of the blade tip, and a lightning receptor base inside the rotor blade arranged at an first internal distance (Li1) from the distal end of the blade tip. The rotor blade further includes means for changing at least one electric property of the rotor blade at the lightning receptor base, as compared to the electric properties of the ambient air by increasing the electric field supported between the lightning receptor base and the inner surface of the rotor blade. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a wind turbine rotor blade.
US08105034B2	Vertical-axis wind turbine and method for the production thereof The invention relates to a vertical-axis wind turbine and at least 2 turbine blades, wherein every turbine blade is connected via a supporting arm and a connecting element that can be purely tensile-loaded to the rotatable vertical axis. According to the invention, between the connecting element that can be purely tensile-loaded and the supporting arm a blade is provided that is convex at an angle of attack side defined by the turbine blades and is concave at the other side. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a wind turbine.
US08105030B2	Cooled airfoils and gas turbine engine systems involving such airfoils Cooled airfoils and gas turbine engine systems involving such airfoils are provided. In this regard, a representative cooled airfoil includes: an exterior surface defining a leading edge, a trailing edge, a suction side and a pressure side; an interior surface defining an interior cavity; trenches in the exterior surface oriented spanwise along the leading edge; and cooling holes communicating between the interior cavity and the trenches such that cooling air provided to the interior cavity flows from the interior cavity though the cooling holes into the trenches, the cooling holes having exterior apertures located in the trenches and interior apertures located at the interior surface.
US08105029B2	Method and apparatus for prediction-based wind turbine control A method an apparatus of automatically controlling a wind turbine re provided. of: A time-series of measurement values of the aerodynamic flow property of the wind turbine rotor blade is determined; a predictive wind field model representing a structure of a wind field acting on the wind turbine rotor blade is generated based on the time-series of measurement values, and a control value is generated based on the wind-field model.
US08105027B2	Housing for axial-flow fan A housing for an axial-flow fan includes a frame, a seat and a plurality of stationary blades. The frame has an air inlet and an air outlet. The seat is received in the frame and at a position where the air outlet is formed. Two ends of each stationary blade are respectively fixed to an outer periphery of the seat and an inner periphery of the frame. Furthermore, extending directions of any two adjacent stationary blades jointly define an included angle, and all of the included angles formed by all of the stationary blades are of more than two values in degrees, so that the stationary blades are not spaced with equal intervals. Consequently, while sucked air passes by the stationary blades, noises with the same tone can be suppressed effectively.
US08105026B2	Centrifugal blower It is intended to provide a centrifugal blower capable of suppressing the generation of noise including periodic noise that is caused by interference between a tongue and an impeller. The centrifugal blower is provided with an impeller (2) provided with plural blades around a rotating shaft; a casing (3) which houses the impeller (2) and has a suction portion at one end in an axial line direction of the rotating shaft; a spiral flow passage (4) formed around the impeller (2) in the casing (3); and a tongue (6) for suppressing inflow of air from a winding end to a winding origin of the spiral flow passage (4). The centrifugal blower is characterized in that an extension (20) is provided at a tip of the tongue (6) in a reverse rotational direction that is reverse to a rotational direction of the impeller (2) in such a manner that it projects in the reverse rotational direction by a length that varies depending on the position in the axial line direction and that the gap between itself and the impeller (2) in the radial direction of the impeller (2) is kept approximately constant.
US08105023B2	Steam turbine A steam turbine has: a casing; a rotor rotatably arranged in the casing; a nozzle diaphragm concentrically arranged with respect to the rotor, the nozzle diaphragm being engaged with the casing; moving blades arranged in circumferential direction on outer circumference of the rotor at positions adjacent to the nozzle diaphragm; seal strips circumferentially extending on tips of the moving blades, the seal strips protruding in radial outward direction; and an abradable structure rigidly connected to the nozzle diaphragm. The abradable structure faces the seal strips in radial direction at a facing surface, and has an abradable part made of an abradable material arranged at the facing surface.
US08105015B2	Method for determining the total pressure distribution across a fan entry plane A method for determining total pressure distribution across a fan entry plane of a fan situated within a fan casing provided with struts which are positioned upstream of the fan, with respect to the normal air flow direction through the fan. The method comprises the steps of measuring static pressure at first measurement points on the leading edges of at least some of the struts; deriving local angularity values at each measurement point from the respective static pressure measurements; deriving, from the local angularity values, the total pressure loss at first derived points in the fan entry plane which correspond to the first measurement points; measuring static pressure at second measurement points around the intersection between the fan entry plane and the fan casing; deriving, from the static pressure measurements at the second measurement points, the total pressure loss at each second measurement point, and interpolating between total pressure loss values at the first derived points and the second measurement points to determine total pressure distribution across the fan entry plane.
US08105014B2	Gas turbine engine article having columnar microstructure A gas turbine engine article includes a substrate extending between two circumferential sides, a leading edge, a trailing edge, an inner side for resisting hot engine exhaust gases, and an outer side. A gaspath layer is bonded to the inner side of the substrate and includes a metallic alloy having a columnar microstructure.
US08105012B2	Adjustable compressor bleed system and method An adjustable bleed apparatus and method for bleeding air to or from the impeller inlet region of a centrifugal compressor through a segmented annular bleed slot. An annular support member, connected to the fixed intake casing, supports a downstream annular shroud segment and an upstream annular shroud segment such that the downstream end of the downstream shroud segment is unconstrained. The spaced-apart distance between the shroud segments defines an annular bleed slot, which is segmented by bridge members. The connections between the shroud segments and the annular support member are configured such that the spaced apart distance of the annular bleed slot is adjustable. The connections between the annular support member and the fixed intake casing are configured such that the running clearance between the downstream shroud segment and the impeller is adjustable independently from the width of bleed slot.
US08105011B2	Fan comprising a fan wheel A fan for cooling a circuit board (26) has a fan wheel (10; 10′) that is adapted for rotation about a rotation axis (11) and in a predetermined rotation direction (14), and an outer wall (18) that is rigidly joined to an inner wall (16). Defined between the two walls (16, 18) are curved air-directing conduits (39) that extend from an axial air entrance opening (40) to a radial air exit opening (42). The axial air entrance opening (40) is at a lesser distance from the rotation axis than the radial air exit opening (42), and the air-directing conduits (39) are separated from one another by air-directing blades (30, 32, 34, 36, 38) that each extend, oppositely to the predetermined rotation direction (14), from a point between two adjacent air entrance openings (40) to a point between two adjacent air exit openings (42).
US08105000B2	Tool insert A method of producing a tool insert which comprises a central metal portion having edge regions of superabrasive material bonded thereto and presenting cutting edges or points for the tool insert is disclosed. A body (50) having major surfaces on each of opposite sides thereof, each having spaced strips (64) of superabrasive material, typically abrasive compact such as PCBN or PCD, for example, separated by a metal region or regions, such as cemented carbide, is provided. Each superabrasive strip of one major surface is arranged in register with a superabrasive strip of the opposite major surface. Alternatively, each superabrasive strip extends from one major surface to the opposite major surface. The body is severed from one major surface to the opposite major surface along at least two sets of planes intersecting at or in the respective superabrasive strips to produce the tool insert.
US08104997B2	Bulk resin unloading apparatus and method The present invention relates to a vacuum loader assembly wherein the assembly is comprised of a frame, a first and second tube, a flexible tube, a motor, and a sweeper assembly. The frame is adapted to be positioned over an opening of the container. The first tube is mounted to the frame and is in fluid communication with a vacuum source. The second tube is rotatably mounted to the first tube and is also in fluid communication with the first tube and the sweeper assembly is mounted to the second tube. The flexible tube extends from the second tube such that, when the frame of the present invention is placed over a container, the second tube, flexible tube, and sweeper assembly are lowered into the container and rotated by the motor such that, when the vacuum source is activated, the flexible tube suctions out the contents of the container.
US08104996B2	Two-shell structural system for constructing plantable steep embankments formed from several layers The invention relates to a two-shell structural unit and system of attaching the units to form an outer layer in the construction of a steep embankment formed from several layers, this outer layer being suitable for greening. The structural unit is formed by a front element, a spacer element, and a rear-wall element. The front and rear-wall elements have a flexurally rigid lattice structure. The rear-wall element is a planar element that is either a flat element or has a shape defined by a polygonal curve. The spacer element has a stepped form on at least one side and has mounts for frictional joints with geosynthetics. Connector pieces permit positive and frictional joining of the elements of the unit. The structural unit is intended for use as an independent support system to continuously resist horizontal loads exerted by a backfilled embankment.
US08104987B2	Self-locating engagement pin locking and unlocking apparatus A locking and unlocking apparatus using an engagement pin with beveled surfaces designed to be inserted between two bodies. As the engagement pin is extended axially into a gap between the two bodies, it moves in a transverse direction to wedge tightly between the first and second body, locking them tightly together. When the engagement pin is retracted, the second body is able to move relative to the first body. A plurality of engagement surfaces placed into one of the bodies allows the mechanism to be locked into a plurality of set positions. These engagement surfaces on the first and second bodies also serve to locate the engagement pin when in the fully locked position, thereby reducing the need for tight tolerances.
US08104986B2	Liquid applicator An applicator for a liquid product includes an elongated base having a product cup sized for retaining a single-dose quantity of a liquid product; an applicator cup for receiving an applicator pad; and a channel interconnecting the product cup and the applicator cup. An absorbent applicator pad is disposed in the applicator cup. A liquid product is positively retained in the product cup until it is desired to apply the liquid product.
US08104985B2	Applicator dispenser for a cosmetic product An applicator dispenser has a container defining a tank with a lateral wall and a neck integral with a wiper. An applicator includes a cap having an outer shell and a threaded insert, and an axial wand fixedly attached to the insert and to an application means. The lateral wall of the tank forms at its upper part a straight skirt. The container has a closure component having an upper part forming the neck, a peripheral part engaging in a sealed way with the straight skirt, and a lower part engaging with the wiper forming a forward axial stop for the wiper. The wiper has a central part forming a swaged wiping part and a lateral part engaging with the lower part of the closure component.
US08104982B2	Device for loading and applying a cosmetic composition A device for loading and applying a cosmetic composition may comprise an applicator comprising an electric heater member, a container containing the composition, the container comprising a housing configured to receive at least part of the applicator so as to load the applicator with the composition, and an electrical circuit configured to power the heater member. The circuit may be configured so that the power supply to the heater member is automatically modified, leading to an increase in the electric power that is dissipated by the heater member when said heater member is received in the housing, when a predefined condition relating to the at least part of the applicator being received in the housing is satisfied.
US08104981B2	Method for commonly using scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine and a device thereof A method for commonly using scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine and a device thereof. The device has a first and a second feeder slots adjacent to each other, whereby documents to be scanned and sheets to be printed can be respectively placed into the first and second feeder slots. A first restricting member is arranged on one side of the output end of the first feeder slot. A second restricting member is arranged on one side of the output end of the second feeder slot. A common pivotal member is disposed between the first and second restricting members. The common pivotal member is able to selectively drivingly abut against the first or the second restricting member. A power source serves to drive the first and second restricting members or the common pivotal member to respectively transfer the documents and the sheets for scanning and printing.
US08104980B2	Tape printer and cassette A projection is provided in a roller holder. Accordingly, in a state wherein the roller holder is pressed against a supporting board to make a platen roller come in close contact with a thermal head, a cassette presses the roller holder through the projection in a process of loading the cassette inside a cassette loading portion. As a result, the roller holder moves in a biasing direction (direction from inward to outward of the cassette loading portion), causing the roller holder to move away from the supporting board. Thus, even if a state is maintained wherein the platen roller adhered to the thermal head and the roller holder is kept pressed against the supporting board, the roller holder can be separated from the supporting board when the cassette is loaded up.
US08104978B2	Optical fiber mechanical wedge splice A wedge-type mechanical optical fiber splice is provided in the present invention. The splice comprises a housing, a V-grooved block, a pushing block, and a first wedge. The housing is a hollow block, and has two openings for guiding optical fiber at two opposite sides. The V-grooved block, so called a first block, is a long strip block having a V-shaped groove on its surface. The pushing block, so called a second block, confronts to the V-grooved block. The first wedge is a wedged-type block. The second block is moved toward the first block or the first block is moved toward the second block by pushing down the first wedge, so that two optical fibers are aligned and secured in the V groove.
US08104976B2	Adaptive device for shifting imaging axis across fiber-optic endfaces in multi-fiber connector for inspection A device for shifting the imaging axis of a microscope across the endfaces of a multi-fiber connector for inspecting the endfaces comprises: a supporting body attached to the optical tube of a microscope and having an extended portion; a swinging lever mounted at one end to the extended portion of the supporting body and rotatable on an axis perpendicular to the imaging axis of the microscope; a connection piece connecting between the swinging lever and a fitting tip; a bevel wheel fastened to the supporting body; and a torsion spring for pushing the swinging lever against a slanted surface of the bevel wheel. The bevel wheel is adapted to swing the swinging lever relative to the supporting body so that the imaging axis of the microscope is moved relative to the fitting tip to selectively align the imaging axis across the endfaces for inspection.
US08104973B2	Ferrule-to-ferrule adapter and ferrule adapter assembly An adapter for holding two multi-fiber ferrules in positions to mate with one another includes a main body, a opening extending through the main body configured to receive and optically and mechanically mate the two multi-fiber ferrules. Engagement members, which preferably rotate about an axis transverse to the opening, is disposed adjacent the opening on each side of the adapter to engage and hold the multi-fiber ferrules in the adapter.
US08104972B2	Bearing arrangement A number of machines such as gas turbine engines have asymmetric axial loading along a shaft (2, 3, 4). In order to accommodate for this asymmetric loading, known as an end bearing load, a load share bearing (103) is typically provided. However, specifying the fixed bearing (11, 12) becomes increasingly difficult as space and weight considerations are taken into account. In such circumstances providing a combination of a fixed bearing (11, 12) and a load share bearing (103) to achieve an acceptable bearing end load capacity is more acceptable. The proportion of the combination provided respectively by the fixed bearing and the load share bearing can be varied dependent upon operational stage in order to achieve more efficient operation.
US08104970B2	Wheel bearing apparatus for a vehicle A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member with a wheel hub and inner ring, double row rolling elements contained between the inner member and the outer member, and; seals mounted between the outer member and the inner member. A stepped portion is formed between an inner side surface of the wheel mounting flange and its base. The stepped portion is formed with a circular arc cross-section with a predetermined radius of curvature. An annular recessed portion is formed on an inner circumference of the outer side end of the outer member. The recessed portion is arranged opposite to a corner edge of the stepped portion, via a small gap. The gap forms an annular labyrinth seal having a substantially “L” shaped cross-section.
US08104960B2	Sealable and disposable receptacle for biologic waste products A portable and sealable waste disposal receptacle receives human waste material through an opening in an outer chamber. The waste passes through an inner chamber, which is suspended within the outer chamber, and passes through a one-way valve located at the bottom of the inner chamber into a lower chamber portion of the outer chamber. The one-way valve is fashioned from the bottom edges of the inner chamber, where a biasing strip is mounted in compression along one of the bottom edges, which causes the bottom edges of the inner chamber to be biased closed in sealing contact except when waste enters the inner chamber, the weight of which is sufficient to overcome the closing bias of the biasing strip, allowing the waste to flow into the lower chamber. Once the waste has cleared the inner chamber, the biasing member causes the bottom edges to come together in sealing contact, preventing the flow of waste back through the inner chamber.
US08104957B2	Calibrating a C-arm x-ray apparatus The invention relates to a method for calibrating a C-arm x-ray apparatus, comprising the following steps: a) the C-arm x-ray apparatus is moved to an initial position, in particular to an anterior-posterior position; b) a calibration image is produced; c) the position of the centre of projection in the radiation source of the C-arm x-ray apparatus is determined from the information of the calibration image and stored together with associated values for the orbital angle and the polar angle of the arm of the C-arm x-ray apparatus; d) the arm is moved to a number of calibration positions in a range of orbital angles and polar angles, and the relative position of the radiation source and the image intensifier of the C-arm x-ray apparatus is directly measured for each calibration position; e) the change in the position of the radiation source relative to the image intensifier of the C-arm x-ray apparatus is measured for each calibration position; f) the position of the centre of projection which applies to each calibration position is ascertained from: the position of the centre of projection, as determined in Step c); and from the change in the position of the radiation source relative to the image intensifier; and g) the position of the centre of projection is retrievably stored for each calibration position, i.e. for the respective orbital angle and the respective polar angle.
US08104955B2	Aspirated enhanced total air temperature probe A total air temperature probe includes an inlet through which airflow enters a primary airflow passage through the probe. A sensor flow passage is connected to the primary flow passage. Bleed ports extend between the primary airflow passage and a cross-port which extends laterally across the probe. An aspiration aperture in the cross-port couples the cross-port to an internal cavity of a strut of the probe. The aspiration aperture can be centered within the cross-port to provide symmetrical deicing heater error behavior of the probe during changes in angle of attack. An aspiration tube couples the internal cavity of the probe to a pressure source.
US08104954B2	Apparatus and method for measuring the surface temperature of continuous casting billet/slab The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for measuring the temperature field on the surface of casting billet/slab, including: a thermal imager, an infrared radiation thermometer, a mechanical scanning unit, an image and data processing system; the thermal imager, the infrared radiation thermometer and the mechanical scanning unit are respectively connected to the image and data processing system; the infrared radiation thermometer is installed on the mechanical scanning unit and can measure the temperature of casting billet/slab surface by scanning; the thermal imager can measure the temperature of a certain area on the surface of casting billet/slab by thermal imaging. The present invention makes use of the combination of high-resolution thermal imager and scan-type infrared radiation thermometer, through the model-based filtering method, overcomes the influence of iron scales on the surface of casting billet/slab, and implements real-time stable measurement of surface temperature of casting billet/slab.
US08104953B2	Systems and methods for determining heat transfer characteristics Systems and methods for determining heat transfer characteristics are provided. In this regard, a representative system for determining heat transfer characteristics includes: a stereolithographic model of a component, the model having a surface; and a test article mounted to the surface such that an extension of the test article protrudes from and is thermally insulated from the surface of the model.
US08104950B2	Avoiding air flow penetration in temperature measurement In one example embodiment, a board for measuring device temperatures comprises a base and one or more fingers extending from the base. The base and the one or more fingers comprise a flexible material. One or more first temperature sensors are disposed on the one or more fingers. One or more second temperature sensors are disposed on the base. Each of the first and second temperature sensors comprises a partially thermally isolated temperature sensor.
US08104949B2	Time indicator device A time indicator device comprised of first and second interconnected reservoirs containing first and second liquids respectively. A first barrier is provided between said first and second liquids to prevent said liquids mixing. Said first barrier is connected via a conduit to a third reservoir containing a third liquid which is adapted to pass along said conduit over a first predetermined time period and to effect removal of said first barrier upon contact to facilitate mixing of said first and second liquid and generation of a liquid mixture within the second reservoir of different color to the second liquid prior to mixing and thereby provide an indication of when said first predetermined time period has elapsed.
US08104948B2	Processing liquid mixing apparatus and method, substrate processing apparatus, and storage medium A processing liquid mixing apparatus and method capable of maintaining a mixing ratio of the processing liquid produced in a mixing tank constant, a substrate processing apparatus including the processing liquid mixing apparatus, and a storage medium storing a program for controlling the processing liquid mixing apparatus are disclosed. Discharge valves are first open and supply valves are close to discharge stock solutions to an outside through the discharge valves. After all flow rates of the stock solutions detected by LFC reach a predetermined flow rate, the discharge valves are close and the supply valves are open to supply the stock solutions to the second mixing tank through the supply valves.
US08104946B2	Backlight assembly and display device having the same A backlight assembly, in which several parts are unified so as to reduce a number of parts used and simplify an assembly process includes lamps emitting light, first lamp sockets, each of which includes a first connection member coupled with one end of each of the lamps so as to be electrically connected to the end of each of the lamps, and a reflection plate to reflect the light emitted from the lamps, and including socket fixing units formed integrally therewith to respectively fix the first lamp sockets. Each of the socket fixing units includes a socket fixing groove formed on a bottom plane of the reflection plate.
US08104945B2	Backlight unit implementing local dimming for liquid crystal display device A backlight unit for a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, disposed under a liquid crystal panel to illuminate the liquid crystal panel. The backlight unit includes a light guide plate, first and second light emitting diode (LED) arrays, disposed on adjacent sides, perpendicular to each other, of the light guide plate, each array having a plurality of LED blocks, consisting of one or more LEDs, and a control unit that controls electric signals, respectively inputted to the LED blocks, to regulate luminance for the respective LED blocks, wherein light emitted from the first and second LED arrays is overlapped each other in the light guide plate.
US08104943B2	Backlight and liquid crystal display device A side light type backlight includes a light source including a plurality of LEDs, and a light guide plate. One of the end surfaces of the light guide plate is a light incidence surface at which a plurality of R-LEDs, a plurality of G-LEDs and a plurality of B-LEDs are arranged. LEDs satisfy the relationship of: a distribution range of light emitted from G-LEDs
US08104941B2	Vehicle mini lamp retrofit attachment assembly A retrofit vehicle mini lamp assembly for attaching a mini lamp to an existing opening in a vehicle surface includes a housing having a body with an interior portion and a lens portion covering a top end of the interior portion. The lamp assembly also includes circuitry disposed within the interior portion of the housing and at least one light source being electrically connected to the circuitry. An attachment member is also provided. The attachment member includes an aperture therein adapted to receive the housing, a rim adapted to abut the vehicle surface around the existing opening, and a spacer portion extending laterally from the aperture to the rim. The spacer portion includes an outer surface, wherein the lens portion of the housing is substantially continuous with the outer surface of the spacer portion.
US08104939B2	LED headlamp system A solid-state light source (10) comprising a plurality of LED units (12) arrayed to emit light generally about an axis (14). Each of the LED units (12) can comprise a number of LEDs, for example, up to five. They may all emit in a single color or multiple colors can be combined for a specific effect. A light transmissive light guide (16) is associated with the LED units (12) and has a plurality of input widows (18). Each LED unit (12) faces a respective input window (18) and each window (18) transversely intercepts the axis (14) and receives light from the LED units (12). The input windows (18) lead to a common output window (20) that is axially aligned with the input windows (18). The light guide (16) has smooth sidewalls (22) that extend between the input windows (18) and the output window (20).
US08104936B2	Straddle-type vehicle A straddle-type vehicle includes a head light having a lens face, and an auxiliary light arranged above the head light and having a lens face. The auxiliary light is arranged behind the head light. Moreover, the straddle-type vehicle has an outside cover part formed on the sides of the head light and the auxiliary light. The outside cover part is inclined rearward and upward at a specified inclined angle, and the head light and the lens face are inclined at a smaller angle than is the outside cover part.
US08104928B1	Adjustable direction LED puck light An adjustable direction LED puck light is disclosed that incorporates an inner bowl shaped with external radial sides, an open top and a closed bottom incorporating an outwardly extending square post. A printed circuit board, including an LED cluster, is mounted in the interior of the inner bowl. A transparent lens is snapped into the open top of the inner bowl directly above the printed circuit board. An outer bowl body is, shaped inside with reversed internal radial sides in mirror image of the inner bowl. The inner bowl assembly is nested within the outer bowl body, permitting the inner bowl to be angularly reposition therebetween. A bezel is attached within an open top of the outer bowl body permitting the inner bowl to be manually repositioned at an angle to direct light emitting from the LED cluster in a desired direction. Mounting provisions permit the outer bowl body to be attached onto a fixed surface that contains a hole provided to receive the LED puck light.
US08104926B2	Sealed LED lamp assembly having gas valve An LED lamp assembly includes a bracket, a heat sink secured on the bracket, a plurality of LED modules mounted on a bottom of the heat sink, and a transparent envelope correspondingly covering the LED modules. A sealing chamber is cooperatively defined by the heat sink, the bracket and the envelope, and the LED modules are received in the sealing chamber. The LED assembly is further provided with a gas-injecting member for injecting a predetermined gas into the sealing chamber of the LED lamp assembly therethrough.
US08104925B2	Method, apparatus, and system of aiming fixtures or devices An apparatus, method, and system of aiming devices such as antennas, free-space optical communication transmitters and lighting fixtures. One aspect of the invention mounts a substantially collimated light source on a device or lighting fixture. The direction of the substantially collimated light source is fixed in a known relationship to the aiming direction of the fixture or device. By finding the substantially collimated light source either by direct viewing, in a mirror, or with a light sensor, the aiming direction of the fixture or device can be derived by using the known the relationship between the substantially collimated light source and the aiming direction of the fixture or device. Thus, the aiming direction of the fixture or device can be derived without operating the fixture or device and can be derived even at relatively remote locations from the fixture or device. The apparatus and method can be used on one fixture or a plurality of fixtures or devices. It can also be used on one fixture of an array of fixtures or devices to aim the entire array.
US08104921B2	Daylight deflection system with integrated artificial light source The present invention relates to a daylight deflection system including an arrangement of louvers (5) which are aligned and formed to block daylight impinging from an outer side (3) at higher angles of incidence with respect to a horizontal direction (19), to deflect daylight impinging from the outer side (3) at lower angles of incidence with respect to the horizontal direction (19) towards an indoor ceiling, and to allow visual transmission in at least the horizontal direction (19). In this deflection system OLED's (8) or optical light guides (16) coupled to LED's (17) are attached to or integrated in the louvers (5), said OLED's (8) or light guides (16) being microstructured at a surface to deflect the daylight toward the indoor sealing. With this daylight deflection system indoor lighting combining daylight and artificial light is achieved in a compact manner.
US08104919B2	LED lamp An LED lamp comprises a heat sink, a plurality of LED modules respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the heat sink, a casing attached to a front of the heat sink, two envelopes respectively located at the two opposite lateral sides of the heat sink and covering the LED modules therein and a holder connecting the casing for holding the LED lamp in position.
US08104916B2	Flashlight This invention provides a flashlight in which locating slots for constraining and fixing conductive strips are provided in a plastic housing. The conductive strips are connected with a conductive heat dissipation element of a light source body and a conductive seat at the tail portion of the plastic housing, and are turned on by the conductive seat and a smart controller such that variation of the light emitted from the light source body is controlled by the smart controller. In addition, the conductive heat dissipation element of the light source body is assembled with the front cover having heat dissipation effect so that the heat dissipation of the light source body is facilitated and hence the lifetime of the light source body is extended.
US08104910B2	Light emitting device, surface light source device, and image display device A light emitting device includes a plurality of light emitting diodes, a plurality of sealing resins, and a lens body formed in substantially a shape of a flat plate for guiding the light. The lens body is also disposed in a state of extending over the disposition surface of each sealing resin. The lens body includes a plurality of lens parts and a plurality of light guiding parts for reflecting the light by inside surfaces of the light guiding parts. The plurality of lens parts and the plurality of light guiding parts of the lens body are formed integrally with each other. The lens parts are disposed on the respective disposition surfaces of the sealing resins, and a plurality of light emitting function parts for sending out the light reflected by the inside surfaces of the light guiding parts are formed in the light guiding parts.
US08104909B2	Light emitting module connecting apparatus, light unit having the same, and display device A light unit and a display device having the light unit are provided. The light unit comprises a plurality of light emitting modules each comprising a board and a light emitting device on the board, a bottom cover under the light emitting modules, a module connecting member that electrically interconnects the light emitting modules using an elastic body and is fixed on the bottom cover, and an optical sheet unit above the light emitting module.
US08104904B2	Baffle plate for a movie or TV camera The baffle plate for a lens of a movie or TV camera has an add-on tube that can be slipped onto the camera lens with little clearance. The add-on tube is provided with a swivel arm, which has a swivelling axis which is fixed with respect to the camera lens and which is located in parallel to the rear plane of the add-on tube and in or behind this plane and is positioned such that the distance to the opposite rear inner edge of the add-on tube which is slipped onto the camera lens is approximately equal to or larger than the distance to the front outer edge of the camera lens. The clearance between the add-on tube and the camera lens is from 0.5 mm to 1 mm.
US08104900B2	Electronic device incorporating projector device An electronic device includes: a moving part; a projector device provided to the moving part; and a projection control unit that starts projection of an image by the projector device according to the state of the moving part, and the projection control unit starts projection of an image when a first time period has elapsed with the moving part in a predetermined state.
US08104898B2	Projection apparatus A projection apparatus includes a prism set, a light source, a reflective element, a light valve and a projection lens. The prism set includes a first prism having a first surface, a second surface and a third surface, and a second prism having a fourth surface opposite to the second surface, a fifth surface and a sixth surface. The reflective element, light valve and projection lens are respectively disposed adjacent to the third, fifth and sixth surfaces. The light source emits an illumination beam to the first surface. The non polarized illumination beam is reflected by the second surface and the reflective element. The non polarized illumination beam passes through the third, second, fourth and fifth surfaces in sequence. The non polarized illumination beam is converted by the light valve into an image beam which is reflected by the fourth surface and passes through the sixth surface to the projection lens in sequence.
US08104897B2	Projection optical system having an angled opitcal part and an offset optical part Provided is a projection optical system which includes a first optical part which projects an image; a second optical part having an image forming device, which forms an image using a light and emits the image to the first optical part; a third optical part having at least one light source which emits the light; and a deflector which guides the light emitted from the third optical part toward the second optical part, wherein an optical axis of the third optical part is angled toward an optical axis of the second optical part, and an optical axis of the first optical part and the optical axis of the second optical part are parallel to each other and separated from each other.
US08104894B2	Visible laser beam projection system and method of mounting visible laser beam projection device A visible laser beam projection system for a vehicle projects visible laser beam onto an instrument panel in a vehicle compartment. The instrument panel is provided with highly reflecting portions, which are scattered on the upper surface of the instrument panel. The highly reflecting portions having a diffuse reflectivity for the wavelength of a visible laser beam higher than that of other portions of the instrument panel. The visible laser beam is projected to the highly reflecting portions.
US08104890B2	Protective eyewear including auxiliary lenses An eyewear assembly includes an outer first frame, at least one outer first lens, an inner second frame, and at least one inner second lens. The assembly includes a mechanism for holding the first frame and first lens in front of a user's face. The second frame has a mechanism for attachment to the first frame, to hold the second frame between the user's eyes and the first lens. The at least one second lens is carried by the second frame. The mechanism for attachment comprises a tab extending vertically on one of the first frame or the second frame and an aperture on the respective other of the first frame or the second frame for receiving said tab. The first frame includes a central elevated vent to distribute air over top vent openings of the first frame. Grip warts are provided on the first frame for gripping and manipulation by the user.
US08104889B2	Print medium with lateral data track used in lateral registration A method of printing onto a print medium using a mobile device with a printhead and sensor, the print medium comprising: a laminar substrate defining first and second opposite faces; and a data track containing first information encoded in accordance with a linear encoding scheme, the data track extending in a linear read direction across a portion of the first face of the print medium, the read direction being oriented at between 45 and 135 degrees with respect to the print direction; the method comprising the steps of: receiving the print medium into a media feed path of the mobile device; using the sensor to sense the data track at least once before or during printing onto the print medium with the printhead; and determining a lateral registration of the data track relative to the sensor.
US08104885B2	Selector for engagement of printer functions An apparatus and method of driving multiple printer functions using the same motor is provided. The method includes providing a motor; providing a selector pin; providing a cam member assembly including a cam member including a plurality of paths, each path corresponding to a printer function; and relatively moving the cam member and the selector pin through the plurality of paths to selectively permit the motor to drive the corresponding printer function.
US08104884B2	Coating agent for UV curable inkjet printing A coating agent for use in UV curable inkjet printing using nonaqueous UV ink. The coating agent includes a main component that is an organic-inorganic nanocomposite, and the coating agent is configured to form an undercoat before the inkjet printing or to form a finishing coat after the inkjet printing and UV curing.
US08104883B2	Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus There is provided a liquid ejecting head including a plurality of pressure generating chambers, a first substrate having a reservoir unit, and a second substrate having a compliance unit, the second substrate being combined with one surface of the first substrate via an adhesive layer. The reservoir unit has a first area and a second area whose width in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the pressure generating chambers is smaller than a width of the first area, the compliance unit is provided to seal the reservoir unit and the surrounding of the compliance unit is fixed by the adhesive layer, and a width of the compliance unit corresponding to the second area of the reservoir unit is formed so as to be larger than the width of the second area.
US08104881B2	Ink cartridge, ink cartridge bag, and inkjet recording apparatus A disclosed ink cartridge includes a primary ink room and at least one secondary ink room arranged adjacent to the primary ink room, which rooms are configured to store ink therein. An ink supplying needle is made to pierce through the secondary ink room in such a manner that at least a needle hole provided in the ink supplying needle reaches the primary ink room so as to suction the ink from the primary ink room through the needle hole and supply the ink to an inkjet recording head via an ink supplying path. As the ink supplying needle is pulled out from the primary ink room, the needle hole passes through the secondary ink room so that the ink supplying needle can suction the ink from the secondary ink room.
US08104880B2	Liquid cartridge and recording system A liquid cartridge mountable in a recording device includes a liquid accommodating chamber that accommodates liquid therein, a float movably disposed in the liquid accommodating chamber, and a detection section to be detected by an external light detector for determining remaining amounts of the liquid in the liquid accommodating chamber. The detection section is movably disposed in the liquid accommodating chamber to move along a predetermined path in conjunction with movements of the float. The light detector includes a light emitting section that emits light and a light receiving section that receives the light. The detection section includes a first section and a second section; the first section transmits the light when the first section is in a detection point, while the second section blocks the light, the first section and the second section being arranged alternately. An amount of liquid accommodated in the liquid accommodating chamber when the liquid cartridge is mounted in the recording device is determined based on a number of times the light emitted from the light emitting section traverses the alternately arranged first and second sections during mounting the liquid cartridge in a mounting direction in the recording device.
US08104879B2	Printing by differential ink jet deflection For printing, the principle of the continuous deflected jet is used: a device (1) discharges a continuous stream (2) of a conductive liquid, which is deflected by an electric field created by a deflecting electrode (8) and directed toward a gutter (6). The printing of drops (12) is performed by fragmenting the continuous jet (2) into a segment (10) formed opposite a shield electrode (14) upstream of the deflecting electrode (8), so that the segment (10) is not deflected and can be directed toward a substrate (16).
US08104876B2	Liquid transporting apparatus and piezoelectric actuator A liquid transporting apparatus includes a piezoelectric actuator which applies a pressure to liquid in a pressure chamber and which has a vibration plate covering the pressure chamber; a piezoelectric layer formed on a surface, of the vibration plate, not facing the pressure chamber; an electrode formed on a surface of the piezoelectric layer not facing the vibration plate at a portion facing the pressure chamber; a contact point formed on the surface of the piezoelectric layer not facing the vibration plate; and a connecting portion formed on the surface of the piezoelectric layer not facing the vibration plate and connecting the electrode and the contact point; and the connecting portion extends from the contact point and is connected to a portion, of the electrode, which is different from a nearest portion nearest to the contact point.
US08104871B2	Printhead integrated circuit with multiple ink inlet flow paths A printhead integrated circuit (IC) with an array of ink chambers defined by sidewalls extending between a nozzle plate and an underlying wafer substrate, each chamber having a nozzle in the nozzle plate plurality of nozzles, and an actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle, one of the sidewalls of each chamber having an opening to allow ink to refill the chamber; an ink conduit between the nozzle plate and underlying wafer, the ink conduit being in fluid communication with the openings of a plurality of the ink chambers; and, a plurality of ink inlets defined in said substrate; wherein, the ink conduit is in fluid communication with the plurality of ink inlets for receiving ink to supply to the ink chambers. Introducing an ink conduit that supplies several of the nozzles, and is in itself supplied by several ink inlets, reduces the chance that nozzles will be starved of ink by inlet clogging. If one inlet is clogged, the ink conduit will draw more ink from the other inlets in the wafer.
US08104866B2	Inkjet recording apparatus and head maintenance method An inkjet recording apparatus has: an inkjet head which has an ink ejection surface and ejects droplets of an ink from the ink ejection surface onto a recording medium; a pressure drum which is disposed in a position opposing the ink ejection surface of the inkjet head, has a round cylindrical circumferential surface in which a recording medium holding position and a non-holding position are provided, an opening section corresponding to an ink ejection width of the inkjet head in the non-holding position where the recording medium is not held, a suction flow channel that is connected to the opening section and provided integrally with the opening section inside the pressure drum, and holds and rotates the recording medium at the recording medium holding position in such a manner that the recording medium is conveyed in a circumferential direction of the pressure drum; and a suctioning device which suctions the opening section and the suction flow channel at least in a droplet ejection region where the droplets of the ink are ejected from the inkjet head.
US08104858B2	Inkjet head An inkjet head may comprise an ejection port which ejects ink and an ink flow path which supplies the ink to the ejection port. The inkjet head may also comprise an ejection actuator which supplies ejection energy to the ink in the ink flow path. The ejection energy may cause the ink to be ejected from the ejection port. The inkjet head may also comprise a wall portion. The wall portion may be located at a position farther from the ejection port along the ink flow path with respect to a position at which the ejection energy is supplied. The wall portion may define an inner wall surface of the ink flow path. The wall portion may deform to decrease a cross section of the ink flow path in a direction orthogonal to an ink-flow direction as a temperature of the ink in the ink flow path increases. The wall portion may deform to increase a cross section of the ink flow path in a direction orthogonal to an ink-flow direction as the temperature of the ink in the ink flow path decreases.
US08104855B2	Inkjet printer system and ink supply apparatus An inkjet printer system includes a print head, a sub tank, and a sensor. The print head is configured to eject ink. The sub tank includes an ink supply chamber and an ink detection chamber. The ink supply chamber has an ink inlet hole and an ink outlet hole connected to the print head. Ink is supplied to the sub tank through the ink inlet hole. Ink is supplied to the print head from the sub tank through the ink outlet hole. The ink detection chamber communicates with the ink supply chamber. The sensor is configured to detect an amount of ink contained in the sub tank and includes a float member provided in the ink detection chamber to float in the ink.
US08104854B2	Liquid-droplet jetting apparatus and liquid-droplet jetting method In an ink-jet printer, as a liquid-droplet jetting apparatus, when a predetermined condition is satisfied during an printing operation, a non-jetting drive pulse is applied to an actuator to impart vibration to an ink meniscus of an ink in the vicinity of nozzles without jetting the ink from the nozzles, while a carriage is moving along a width direction of a recording paper. This makes it possible to prevent the drying of the ink in the nozzles without performing flushing operation frequently. Accordingly, the occurrence of printing failure can be lowered and the printing time can be shortened.
US08104853B2	Refrigerator and method of manufacturing door thereof Disclosed are a refrigerator and a method of manufacturing a door of the refrigerator. The door includes a door frame formed with at least one opening, at least one front panel coupled to a front surface of the door frame to open or close the opening, a rear panel coupled to a rear surface of the door frame to form a foaming cavity together with the front panel and provided with a rack receiving water bottles, and a decorative member formed at a front surface of the front panel. A chamfer is formed at an edge portion of the door frame.
US08104852B2	Refrigerator Refrigerator for enabling putting in or taking out food to/from a basket (55) therein with of lowering a position of the user, such as bending oneself, and enabling the user to look into an inside of the basket (55) conveniently as the basket (55) is tilted in a lifted up state.
US08104849B1	Expandable table device for diaper changes An expandable table device for allowing a user to change a baby's diaper or to care for the baby which is composed of a base, a storage compartment disposed in the base, and an expandable table component disposed in the base. The table component is composed of a plurality of wings that can be stacked atop each other and stored in the storage compartment, or the wings can be expanded from the storage compartment and unstacked so as to create a generally flat surface.
US08104847B2	Apparatus for storing and dispensing rolled cleaning wipes A storage and dispensing arrangement is provided to maintain moistened wipes wet. The moistened wipes are rolled around a core tube and placed inside a first housing. The first housing is then placed inside a second housing having a closing door to isolate the first housing from external environment. The unit is then hanged into a stand, a rack or a wall.
US08104843B2	Trailer for the transportation by road of containers The invention relates to a trailer for the transportation by road of cargo, such as containers. The trailer comprises a trailer frame; a tipping frame and lifting means which act on, on the one hand, the trailer frame and, on the other hand, the tipping frame. The trailer frame comprises a front zone which is located on coupling above a tractor unit and which is provided with a coupling member in order to effect coupling. The trailer frame also has a rear zone comprising three sets of wheels. An intermediate zone connects the front zone to the rear zone. The tipping frame extends along the trailer frame and is fastened, in the rear zone, to the trailer frame so as to hinge about a tipping axle. The trailer frame has a longitudinal beam and the tipping frame has two lateral beams. The central beam of the trailer frame is submerged between the lateral longitudinal beams of the tipping frame.
US08104842B2	Transporter vehicle An upper cross beam 10 for supporting a rear side of a cab 19 from below is formed as a separate member from a base frame 7. This upper cross beam 10 is separably mounted on left and right column portions 7E of the base frame 7 by using bolts 12. Namely, when an engine 27 is mounted to the base frame 7, the upper cross beam 10 is separated in advance from the base frame 7. Consequently, at the time of the operation of carrying in the engine 27, it merely suffices to vertically hoist or lower the engine 27 by use of a crane. It is thereby possible to carry in the engine 27 between the column portions 7E of the base frame 7 without being hampered by the upper cross beam 10.
US08104841B2	Energy absorbing seat anchor restraint system for child safety seats An attachment assembly for securing a child safety seat to a mounting portion of a vehicle is provided. The attachment assembly may include a guide having a channel, and a metal strap positioned in the channel of the guide in a retracted configuration such that a free end of the metal strap is adjacent to a front face of the guide, a fixed end of the metal strap is secured to a side of the channel, and a body of the strap is bent along a radius so as to double back between the free end and the fixed end. When pulled in tension, the metal strap is configured to transition from the retracted configuration to an extended configuration, and the guide is configured to constrain the strap during this transition so that the strap rolls along the radius within the guide, thereby absorbing energy.
US08104840B2	Attachable and detachable type seat pad and method of fabricating the same, and seat using attachable and detachable type seat pad Seat pads of the present invention are sewn by hollow weave, and includes skins having single sheets of woven cloth integrally continuously having single layer portions and laminated layers portions in a shape of a hollow bag, and cushioning members enclosed at inner portions of the laminated layers portions and having a shape the same as that of the laminated layers portion and having an elasticity, the laminated layers portions are formed at portions of the single sheets of woven cloth intended to support the physical body of a seated person, the cushioning members are provided with predetermined thicknesses, the laminated layers portion are formed with recesses and projections of the same shape projected by a predetermined amount from head and tail faces of the single layer portions, and attachably and detachably mounted to a seating face of a seat, a recessed portion constituting a shape the same as that of the laminated layers portion is formed at a position of the seating face of the seat facing the laminated layers portions, and when mounted to the seat, the laminated layers portions are contained in the recessed portion of the seating face.
US08104838B2	Armrest assembly that can adjust its leftward and rightward positions An armrest assembly includes a mounting bracket, a limit member mounted on the mounting bracket, and an armrest support mounted on the limit member. The bottom of the mounting bracket is provided with a slideway which has a first side provided with an upright limit face and a second side provided with an oblique limit face. The limit member has a first side provided with an upright mating face abutting the upright limit face and a second side provided with an oblique mating face abutting the oblique limit face. Thus, the upright mating face and the oblique mating face are limited by the upright limit face and the oblique limit face respectively, so that the limit member is moved in the slideway smoothly and stably without producing any vibration to facilitate movement of the armrest support relative to the mounting bracket.
US08104837B2	Ergonomic chair arm The invention provides a chair armrest that is variably adjustable to allow a user to assume an ergonomically preferred sitting position. The ergonomic chair armrest comprises, either separately or together, an arm support assembly capable of adjustment to various positions through a vertical plane and an arm pad assembly capable of adjustment to various positions through a horizontal plane. The invention further provides an ergonomic chair having an armrest that is adjustable in both a vertical plane and a horizontal plane.
US08104833B2	Vehicle headrest cover A vehicle headrest cover for covering a vehicle headrest having a display mounted therein includes a material designed to correspond with the shape and dimensions of the vehicle headrest and fit over the vehicle headrest for covering the vehicle headrest. The material has a cut-out in a face thereof which corresponds to the position of the display.
US08104832B2	Seat including a torsion bar A seat in which a cushioning member has a high following ability to a human body motion and which can efficiently damp a vibration inputted from the outside is provided. The seat is constituted to use a torsion bar 112 and to support a cushioning member of a seat cushion section 150 by a parallel link mechanism having a first link plate 113 pivotally supported by the torsion bar 112, a second link plate 116 disposed in correspondence with the first link plate 113, and a connection link plate 117 connecting the first link plate 113 and the second link plate 116, and operational directions of the first link plate 113 and the second link plate 116 are set to almost coincide with a vertical direction along a surface of a seat back section. Thus, a rotational motion following a human body motion generated by an external vibration input is performed, so that a relative motion between a human body and the cushioning member is small and a resonance peak is lowered, whereby a vibration absorption characteristic can be improved.
US08104830B2	Coupling mechanism for headrest of vehicle seat A vehicle seat is provided comprising a seat back frame having right and left side frames, a headrest for supporting a head of a seat occupant, and a back-and-forth movable body provided inside a backrest that is positioned at a rear of the seat occupant, wherein a backward movement of the back-and-forth movable body forwardly moves the headrest to support the head of the seat occupant. The back-and-forth movable body is attached to each side frame through a link member and is provided with a backward protrusion protruding backward, and the backward protrusion extends laterally.
US08104829B2	Juvenile motion-inhibitor system A juvenile motion-inhibitor system in accordance with the present disclosure includes a juvenile seat including a seat bottom and a seat back that is arranged to extend upwardly from the seat bottom. The juvenile motion-inhibitor system also includes one or more cushions to assist in cushioning a child in the event an external force is applied to the seat bottom or back.
US08104828B2	Adjustable workstation with hideaway seat and method An adjustable workstation with a hideaway seat and method are disclosed. The table may be adjustable in height so that the workstation may be used as a sitting desk or a standing workstation. The chair is pivotably coupled to the table so that it may be extended and used for sitting or stowed away under the desk while the user stands. The workstation may also have wheels for mobility.
US08104827B2	Bracket-headlamp carrier assembly The present invention is a component for providing alignment between at least two external components. The present invention is a bracket member having at least two attachment structures, and at least two externally visible components connected to the at least two attachment structures, and the at least two attachment structures provide adjustable positioning between the at least two externally visible components connected to the at least two attachment structures such that the position off the at least two externally visible components can be adjusted relative to one another.
US08104823B2	Automotive door with hydraulically locking repositionable immobilizer An automotive vehicle includes one or more swinging doors which may be immobilized in a number of positions, so as to allow the doors to be used to assist passengers upon entering and leaving the vehicle. The motion of the door may be damped, or stopped entirely, either at the discretion of a vehicle occupant, or automatically, in the event that the door is driven by external forces to swing at a high rate.
US08104822B2	Blinds for vehicles A vehicle roller blind or a sunshield roller blind for motor vehicles includes a roller blind web which is connected to a thrust element, which is rigid in compression and/or bending-resistant, for tensioning the roller blind web, and having an adjusting device which actuates the thrust element, which is embodied in the manner of a single-strand cable window lifter and which is at least partially encapsulated together with the thrust element. The thrust element and the adjusting device are arranged in a housing which holds the thrust element and the adjusting device and which comprises a drive housing for the roller blind drive and a preferably tubular guide channel which holds the thrust element and the flexible traction means.
US08104821B2	New-style tonneau cover The invention provides a new-style tonneau cover, wherein comprises a cover plate body matching the rear truck bed. The cover plate body is a three-layer structure, comprising an outer layer, an intermediate layer and an inner layer from the exterior to the interior. The outer layer is made of polyurethane foam mixed with glass fiber; the intermediate layer is made of polyurethane foam and the inner layer is made of resin; the density of polyurethane foam in the intermediate layer is lower than that in the outer layer; polyurethane foam is light in weight and high in specific strength. In this invention, the cover plate body is made of three different layers so that the cover is light in weight and high in strength, taking up less room of the rear truck bed, better for free opening and closing operation.
US08104820B2	Wiper-based sunshade and methods of use Methods of deploying and stowing a sunshade utilizing a wiper-based system, including selectively engaging the sunshade and wiper, actuating the wiper, so as to deploy the shade, locking the wiper in the deployed position, so as to reduce the thermal load in a confined space, and returning the wiper after use, so as to stow the shade.
US08104812B2	Disc picking device and disc processing apparatus having the same A disc transporting mechanism includes a gripping mechanism having a plurality of gripping members configured to grip a disc, a transport arm provided with the gripping mechanism, and a moving mechanism configured to move up and down the transport arm. The transport arm is connected to the moving mechanism through an elastic member.
US08104808B1	Dough ball lifter For use to enhance operations in a mechanized doughmaking facility, a dough ball lifter is comprised of a pair of opposing surrounds, having cutaways to minimize contact between the surrounds and the dough ball, and which lifter preferably is attachable to a robotic arm to move the surrounds from open to closed positions, so that the dough ball can be lifted and placed.
US08104806B1	Easy operated pick up tool An easy operated pick up tool comprises a body which includes a first tube member, an extending tube, and a second tube member; an actuating post fitted into the first tube member, between the actuating post and the first tube member being defined a first resilient element, wherein the actuating post including a holder and a string inserted into a front end of the second tube member to connect with an expandable paw; a cell set received in the holder; a bulb disposed in the second tube member and including a first leg connected with a first electrode of the cell set; a controlling assembly including a receiving cylinder screwed with the holder to receive a stem for pushing an electricity conducting shaft which contacts with a second electrode of the cell set; a magnetic attracting member having an insulation sleeve fitted on the body and including a magnet loop.
US08104803B2	Rotary pawl latch and rocker switch A latching system for securing two members together includes a housing, a pawl that is pivotally attached to the housing, a locking member, an actuating mechanism, and a rocker switch. The pawl is movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. The rocker switch is used to control the actuating mechanism. The rocker switch includes an outer housing, an inner housing, a printed circuit board, and a button. The pawl is provided with a torsion spring member that biases the pawl toward the open or disengaged configuration. Energizing the electrical actuating mechanism retracts the locking member out of engagement with the pawl, thus allowing the pawl to rotate under spring bias to the open configuration.
US08104800B2	Mobile refrigerator with a door locking system having a striker catch A mobile refrigerator with a refrigerator door is held magnetically against the body thereof. An additional hook lock (1 and 19) automatically engages on closing the refrigerator door and releases the refrigerator door only following the actuation of an unlocking mechanism. The unlocking mechanism disengages the hook bolt (7) from the lock striker (20), characterized in that the hook lock (1 and 19) comprises a locking member (14) by means of which the hook bolt (7) may be restrained in a disengaged position so that the refrigerator door is only held closed magnetically. The hook lock (1 and 19) is also characterized in that the locking member (14) is able to be so actuated independently of the unlocking mechanism that the hook bolt (7) is set in the disengaged position.
US08104798B2	Connecting adapter for a gas cartridge and a gas induction device of a gas fastening apparatus, the cartridge, the solenoid valve and the apparatus with the adapter The adapter is designed to receive an outlet end (23) of the cartridge (20) and an inlet end (32) of the induction device (30), as well as a seal (11) between the two ends (23, 32). The seal (11) includes an annular transverse portion (53) intended to be interposed between the two ends (23, 32) and the material of the seal (11) is selected from the group consisting of compressible and flexible materials.
US08104794B2	Seat belt retractor, seat belt apparatus, seat belt winding method, computer program, and seat belt system A seat belt retractor (1) is provided which comprises a rotation sensor (8) for detecting the withdrawn amount of a seat belt, a control amount setting unit for setting a first control amount for winding up the seat belt (3) and a second control amount to which the amount reaches after the first control amount according to the winding of the seat belt (3), an electric motor (6) having a two-stage winding speed composed of at least a high speed and a low speed as the speed winding the seat belt (3), and a winding speed adjusting unit for setting the winding speed of the electric motor (6) to the high speed between the time when the electric motor (6) starts the winding of the seat belt (3) and the time when the amount reaches the first control amount, setting the winding speed of the electric motor to the low speed when the amount exceeds the first control amount, and stopping the winding action of the seat belt (3) after the amount exceeds the second control amount, thereby quickly accommodating the seat belt (3) regardless of the body size of the occupant and preventing a seat belt fixture (sic) (17) from strongly hitting a pillar or the like.
US08104784B2	Horizontal laminated ski construction A core assembly for a gliding board such as a ski or a snowboard. The core assembly includes a plurality of horizontal layers that are sized to various desired lengths, positioned to achieve a desired thickness profile, and laminated. A method of making a core assembly for a gliding board.
US08104776B2	Snowboard binding The invention relates to a snowboard binding comprising a base plate (1) and a central plate (6) that is situated in a circular central opening (5) in the center of the base plate (1). The peripheral section of the central plate (6), which tapers towards the snowboard (8), lies against an edge section (9) of the base plate (1), which widens away from the snowboard (8) and is equipped with fixing openings (11) for the fixing elements that fix said plate to the snowboard (8). A locking device (B) on the edge section (9) of the base plate (1) around the central opening (5) locks the central plate (6) in position on the base plate (1), preventing torsion.
US08104775B2	Dolly with elastically suspended load-bearing surface A dolly or pallet equipped with an elastically suspended load-bearing surface so as to responsively move downwards as materials are loaded and move upwards as loads are removed thereby reducing variation in the height of the top of the stack. The elastic suspension elements are connected to suspension support structures configured to fold into a compact folded position to facilitate storage and return transport and to unfold into a fully erected position at the time of use.
US08104773B2	Block fitting and seal structure An air conditioner system fitting is disclosed including a first seal portion with a metal material adapted to provide a primary scat, and a second seal portion attached to a free edge of said first seal portion and adapted to provide a secondary seal, wherein the fitting militates against leakage during operation of the air conditioning system.
US08104765B2	Document feeder for efficiently supplying originals and storing originals in a discharge stacker after reading In a document feeder, a length of a discharge path from a reading position to a discharge position is longer than a length of a supply path from a feeding position to the reading position. An idling discharge position is disposed, where the distance with the discharge position through the discharge path is shorter than a distance between the feeding position and the reading speed switching position. A control device controls driving of registration rollers, conveyor rollers and discharge rollers simultaneously when a trailing edge of an original reaches the discharge idling position of the discharge path by the discharge rollers while the discharge rollers is stopped. The document feeder efficiently supplies originals sequentially to the reading position, stably reads the image of the original without discharging a previous original during a reading, and aligns and stores the originals in a discharge stacker.
US08104764B2	Banknote cassette A banknote cassette advantageously uses injection molded endcaps to capture and secure a connecting sleeve to collectively form a generally rectangular housing of the banknote cassette. A movable access lid cooperates with the endcaps and connecting sleeve for locking of the cassette. Preferably, a banknote slot is formed as part of one of the endcaps to provide precision in the size of position of the banknote slot. The endcaps can be used with different sized connecting sleeves to simplify the manufacture of different capacity banknote cassettes. Preferably, the connecting sleeve is of a metal material.
US08104762B2	Feeding device with feeding roller and transport rollers A feeding device includes a feeding roller and a pair of transport rollers. The feeding roller picks up stacked recording medium and feeds the recording medium downstream direction. The pair of transport rollers transport the fed recording medium to a recording section. The feeding roller is provided so as to be capable of contacting a separating unit that separates the overlapped recording medium with plural. Between a contact point of the feeding roller and the separating unit and a nip point of the pair of transport rollers, a first tangent line does not intersect a second tangent line. The first tangent line is situated at the contact point of the feeding roller and the separating unit. The second tangent line is situated at the nip point of the pair of transport rollers.
US08104757B2	Sheet finishing apparatus, sheet finishing method, and image forming apparatus A stapler is provided in a housing of a finisher. The stapler has a sheet insertion opening extending in a direction along conveyed sheets. The stapler staples the sheets inserted into the sheet insertion opening in the housing. The finisher includes a rotating mechanism that rotates, when the stapler is moved in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the sheets and removed to the outside of the housing, the stapler such that the sheet insertion opening of the stapler faces a further upper side than the direction along the sheets.
US08104755B2	Adjustable delivery web conversion apparatus and method An adjustable delivery web conversion apparatus is provided. The adjustable delivery web conversion apparatus includes a variable cutting apparatus cutting a printed web into a first signature and a second signature, a first assembly receiving the first signature and a second assembly downstream of the first assembly receiving the second signature. Also included are a first delivery section for receiving the first signature from the first assembly, a second delivery section for receiving the second signature from the second assembly and a stack receiving conveyor for receiving the first signature and the second signature. The first delivery section is movable between a first delivery and a first non-delivery position. The second delivery section is movable between a second delivery position and a second non-delivery position. The stacking receiving conveyor is movable between a conveying position and a non-conveying position. A method of producing and delivering signatures is also provided.
US08104753B2	Support means Support means are provided for supporting one or more items in use. The support means includes at least first and second members and at least one of said first and second member movable relative to the other member to allow clamping and/or unclamping on an item located between said members. The first and second members being hingedly or pivotably movable between said clamped and/or unclamped positions.
US08104745B1	Heat-generating jet injection A reboiling jet apparatus comprises at least two nozzles in series, configured to cause boiling of a hot liquid in the first nozzle, deceleration and reduction of the gas phase in the second nozzle, followed by acceleration and reboiling in the second nozzle. A second deceleration and reduction of the gas phase occurs at the outlet of the second nozzle. Each deceleration causes heating of the liquid by reduction of the gas phase; thus, energy of a pressurized input fluid is efficiently converted into heat by action of the nozzles. A convergent-divergent nozzle for steam injection with a mixing chamber may be used instead of the first nozzle to cause the first boiling. Another nozzle may be used to introduce a cold fluid at the outlet of the second nozzle for mixing with the hot flow prior to completion of the second deceleration.
US08104742B2	Flow control valve A flow control valve is provided in a manner to be capable of locking a position of a differential screw easily without displacing a position adjusted valve element body. The valve element body is brought into or out of contact with a valve seat provided between a first port and a second port, and is connected to an operation member. The operation member is movably inserted into a cover and urged to a direction toward the valve seat by an urging member. A position of the operation member is adjusted by a differential screw, and accordingly a position of the valve seat is adjusted. A rotation member for exerting a rotation force on the differential screw is slidably mounted in the cover along a moving direction of the operation member without rotating. A locking portion is provided in the rotation member to engage with the cover without rotating when the operation member is slid along its moving direction.
US08104739B2	Pulse valve The present invention relates to a pulse valve (10) with a closing body (18) that cooperates with a valve seat (22) and, in a first switching position, establishes a flow connection between a supply channel (12) and a discharge channel (14) and, in a second switching position, blocks the flow connection. The closing body (18) periodically alternates between the two switching positions during the actuation of the pulse valve (10), its movement being hydraulically damped by a throttle point (70). It is provided that the hydraulic damping occurs only in a subrange of motion (62).
US08104734B2	Fence post mounting device An improved fence post mounting device is disclosed for supporting accessory articles upon a hollow fence post. The device comprises a cap member sized to fit over and upon the open top of the hollow fence post as a cover therefor, an elongated shaft member attached to the inside of the cap member and extending lengthwise therefrom to engage the chamber of the post, and support means coupled to the top of the cap member for holding or hanging the decorative accessories. In one preferred embodiment, the shaft member is fabricated having a pair of flanges formed on opposite sides of an intermediate web to provide a substantially “H” transverse cross section designed to fit closely within the chamber of a rectangular fence post while the full length of the shaft member is able to penetrate the post a sufficient length to allow a sealed fit of the cap member with the top of the post. Proper orientation of the shaft member and its transverse cross section allows the shaft member to fully penetrate the post chamber without interference with lateral rail connections made with the post and interlocks the assembly for proper mounting support.
US08104731B2	Overhead track anchor system A head component for an anchor assembly for mounting a load bearing track to a hanger component attached to an overhead structure (e.g. a ceiling or ceiling structure), the track comprising a rail element and a mounting element, the mounting element comprising one or more retaining formations, each retaining formation defining a holding cavity and an (cavity) opening communicating with the holding cavity, the holding cavity being sized larger than the (cavity) opening communicating therewith, the head component comprising a support member and a flarable member, the flarable member being attached to and flarable from the support member, the head component being sized and configured such that the head component is able to pass through the (cavity) opening into the holding cavity wherein the flarable member is able to flare (i.e. to open or spread) outwardly so as to present a flared formation in the holding cavity sized larger than the cavity opening so as to inhibit withdrawal of the head component in the holding cavity back through the (cavity) opening.
US08104730B2	Rail assembly for an industrial computer A rail assembly of an industrial computer is arranged symmetrically to a machine frame. Each side of the rail structure includes two sets of rail and rail base within a height of 1U (4.45 cm). Each rail is formed in one piece with better mechanical strength and load ability. Each rail is arranged to a rail base. Through a protruded surface, a computer, disk driver, keyboard can be fixed and arranged to the rail base. The contact surfaces of the rails to the rail bases are formed as cambered surfaces. The two sets of rail can be arranged to the interfaces needed.
US08104729B2	Transferable patient care equipment support A patient care equipment support is transferable between a first device having a first spherical socket and a second device having a second spherical socket. The equipment support comprises an equipment supporting portion configured to support patient care equipment and a coupler extending downwardly from the equipment supporting portion. The coupler has first and second spherical portions configured for receipt in the first and second spherical sockets, respectively. The first and second spherical portions are rotatable within the respective first and second spherical sockets about a multitude of axes to compensate for misalignment between the coupler and at least one of the first and second spherical sockets during transfer of the equipment support between the first and second devices.
US08104727B2	Adjustable article support An adjustable support for holding an article such as a notebook computer. The support has a base; an article holding platform; and a single, adjustable, articulated, link connected at one end to the base and at its other end to the platform. The link has two spaced-apart lockable pivots, the pivots dividing the link into a base link member connected to the base, an intermediate link member, and a platform link member connected to the platform. The pivots are of the type having a locking member movable toward the pivot to unlock the pivot. The pivots are normally locked to hold the platform is a desired working position for a user of the notebook. The support has an unlocking mechanism, operable by one hand, for unlocking the pivots simultaneously. While the pivots are unlocked, the platform can be manipulating by the one hand on the unlocking mechanism to adjust the platform to a new working position and then locked in the new position.
US08104726B2	Bath fixture mounting system A bathing system assembly has; an accessory such as a grab bar, a seat or the like; a first mounting bracket affixed to a structural wall; and a second mounting bracket attaching the accessory to a bath wall. The second mounting bracket cooperates with the first mounting bracket for easy installation of the bath wall and accessory to the structural wall, e.g., stud wall. The bathing system wall including the accessory and the second mounting bracket is manipulated by an installer so that the second mounting bracket and the first mounting bracket cooperate to support the wall and the grab bar. Because the accessory is attached directly to the second mounting bracket, flanges and attachment means for hardware are eliminated. The accessory may be attached to the second mounting bracket through the bath wall at a first location and attached to the first mounting bracket at a second location.
US08104724B2	Stabilising device The present invention relates to a stabilising device for stabilising an object having a plurality of support elements on a surface, particularly objects that are moved frequently such as garden furniture or the tables or restaurant terraces. The stabilising device comprises a plurality of fluid-containing compartments which are in fluid communication with each other by way of a restricted flow mechanism such that they are each variable in height in response to the amount of fluid contained therein and are located between the support elements and the surface. The stabilising device eliminates the requirement for using a valve to control the flow of fluid by using the restricted flow mechanism comprising a plurality of interconnected narrow-bore hoses.
US08104721B2	Airfoil for an aircraft and aircraft The invention relates to the monitoring of the landing flaps on an airfoil (2) for an aircraft (1), and to an aircraft (1) having such an airfoil (2). The airfoil (2) has a wingbox (3), a support (5) which is mounted relative to the wingbox (3) such that it can rotate with respect to a flap rotation axis (7), a flap (4) which is attached to the support (5) and rotates with respect to the flap rotation axis (7) during rotation of the support (5) relative to the wingbox (3), a movement mechanism (8) which is coupled to the support (5) in order to set an angle position of the flap (4) with respect to the wingbox (3) and a measurement apparatus (18) for detection of the angle position of the flap (4). The measurement apparatus (18) has a rotation sensor (19), which is arranged on the support (5), and a four-element coupling transmission (22, 24, 26, 27) which couples the rotation sensor (19) to the movement mechanism (8).
US08104720B2	System and method for an integrated backup control system Embodiments of the invention relate to a flight control system for controlling an aircraft in flight having a backup control system integrated into an active control stick. The actuated control stick may include a processing unit that includes independent and separate hardware and/or software dedicated to the primary control system and the backup control system. For the primary control system, the processing unit may receive a sensed primary control stick signal and communicate with a primary processor, which may be configured to generate a primary control signal. For the backup control system, the processing unit may receive a sensed backup control stick signal and generate a backup control signal. The processing unit may also generate tactile signal for use by the actuated control stick to adjust the feel of a pilot's control stick.
US08104718B2	Inflatable wing flight vehicle The invention is an aircraft having an inflatable wing connected to a base unit, with the inflatable wing inflated with a lifting gas such as helium. The inflatable wing has a series of cell structures, and may be configured with ballonets to selectively introduce and expel outside air within the inflatable wing to vary the buoyancy and/or airfoil properties of the inflatable wing. The aircraft is particularly useful at low speeds and in thin atmospheres (such as at high Earth altitudes and on Mars), and can be used for interplanetary missions to explore planetary bodies, such as moons and planets, having atmospheres.
US08104714B2	Apparatuses and methods for joining composite members and other structural members in aircraft wing boxes and other structures Apparatuses and methods for joining composite members and other structural members in aircraft wings and other structures. An aircraft wing box structure configured in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a first composite member having a first surface portion positioned at an angle relative to a second surface portion of a second composite member. The wing box structure of this embodiment further includes at least one metallic joining member having an upstanding leg portion extending from a base portion. The base portion of the joining member is bonded to the first surface portion of the first composite member with a first portion of adhesive, and the upstanding leg portion of the metallic joining member is bonded to the second surface portion of the second composite member with a second portion of adhesive.
US08104713B2	Reinforced inflatable wings for fitment-constrained air vehicles A reinforced inflatable wing improves the tolerance of the OML and reinforces the wing in at least the high load areas. This approach provides fitment constrained air vehicles with wings having increased surface area to improve flight endurance or aerodynamic control. A wing box forms a first portion of the wing. A skin having a plurality of rigid plates affixed thereto is inflated to form a second portion of the wing to either increase the chord length or lengthen the wing span. The skin is suitably inflated with foam to form a solid wing.
US08104712B2	Aircraft fuselage element An aircraft fuselage element includes an outer shell and an inner shell that is disposed with clearance relative to the outer shell. An intermediate space between the outer shell and the inner shell is connectable to an air source. A ventilation aperture that is formed in the aircraft fuselage element and connectable to the air source is provided with a semi-permeable membrane. The semi-permeable membrane is permeable to air flow in both directions and permeable to water in a flow direction into the intermediate space from outside the outer shell or the inner shell.
US08104709B2	Lateral force joint A lateral force joint, with which a plate-like spar can be fastened to a fuselage strap mounted on an airplane fuselage. The plate-like spar has a through bore, into which a fastening cylinder mounted on the flange can be inserted for connecting both components. In order to allow for the location of the spar to be adjusted with respect to the fuselage strap, a bearing bush of the spar is eccentrically fitted into the through bore. Correspondingly, the fastening cylinder of the fuselage strap is mounted eccentrically on a bearing bush so that a rotation of the bearing bushes allows the lateral force joint to be adjusted.
US08104702B2	Apparatus for uniformly dispersing additive particles in fine powders Blending methods for adding and uniformly mixing a small fraction of relatively small particles (additives) to a bulk particulate powder of larger size than the additives. In particular, the present invention provides blending methods for adding and uniformly mixing a small percentage of flow/fluidization additives into fine powders, especially fine paint powders. The fine powder and additives are first pre-mixed for macro-scale homogeneity and then further mixed at a micro-scale (such as with a screen mixing process) for micro-scale homogeneity. With these methods, optimum dispersions and maximum functionalities of additives can be obtained and the disadvantages caused by severe agglomerates of additives can be avoided.
US08104696B2	Rotary spray nozzle for spray guns A rotary spray nozzle for spray guns comprises a metallic outer housing and a plastic assembling element wherein the metallic outer housing has a hollow chamber disposed at one side to accommodate the plastic assembling element therein, a water-emitting port disposed at the other side to fluidly connect to the hollow chamber, and a ringed water-blocking seat protruding between the hollow chamber and the water-emitting port. The plastic assembling element, formed a hollow extending there-through, is molded similarly to the hollow chamber and equipped with an internal-threaded portion therein to secure to an external-threaded section defining a water-outlet cylinder of a gun body. The plastic assembling element also has a reverse-stop ring extending at the middle section to restrict the position of a sealing ring mounted to the water-outlet cylinder thereof, achieving anti-leaking and anti-loosing benefits as well as simplifying the structure and manufacturing process of the present invention thereby.
US08104695B2	Fuel injector gassifer nozzle having adjustable annulus A fuel injector for injecting fuel into a gasifier includes a mating end including a nozzle portion and a first flange fixedly coupled to the mating end and having a first receiving hole there through and including a first diaphragm disposed therein. The injector also includes a fuel transmission nozzle displaced at least partially within the mating end and passing through the first receiving hole arranged and configured such that a secondary oxygen channel exists between the fuel transmission nozzle and the mating end, the fuel transmission nozzle being fixedly coupled to the first diaphragm and further including a fuel inlet for receiving fuel for introduction into the gasifier.
US08104689B2	Smart card and anti-skimming system including the same A smart card includes a first integrated circuit (IC) chip and a second IC chip. The first IC chip receives a read signal from an external read device, and is responsive to the read signal to output a data signal to the external read device based on information data stored in a memory. The second IC chip receives the read signal from the external read device, and is responsive to the read signal to output an anti-skimming signal. The anti-skimming signal interferes with the data signal when both the first and second IC chips are in a read zone of the read device.
US08104687B2	Card reading device for a vehicle A card reading device for vehicles having a base plate, a sliding plate part, and a spring part. The base plate has a vaulted groove, an opening surface located at one end, and an annular groove provided on the base surface of said vaulted groove. The sliding plate part is provided above the vaulted groove of the base plate, A bulging structure, contacts an inserted card and drives the sliding plate part in a direction vertical to the opening phase and facing away from the opening surface. A sliding part is provided on the side of the sliding plate part pointing toward the vaulted roof of the base plate. The sliding part slides in the direction parallel to the opening surface and is guided by the annular groove and restricted in the positioning thereof. The spring element and the base plate and the sliding plate part have contact with one another, and force is applied to the directed vertically to the opening surface. Fixing of the card and also easy removal are made possible.
US08104686B2	Apparatus comprising image sensor An apparatus having an image sensor is provided. An image sensor of the apparatus can include a two dimensional image sensor. A lens assembly can be provided in combination with an image sensor. In one aspect, an apparatus can attempt to decode a decodable symbol representation. In one aspect an apparatus can output a frame of image data.
US08104681B2	Inventory balancing system A system by which a central hub and transport means, listing means, matching engine, and operating method will capture overstock and understock information from participating retailer or distributor nodes and create congruent matches, with subsequent shipments of one to the other to improve the inventory of both nodes.
US08104678B2	Payment approval system and method for approving payment for credit card A payment approval system and a method for approving a payment for credit cards are provided for providing efficient processing while maintaining accuracy in detection of fraud usage of credit cards with an IC chip. Fraud parameters obtained by modeling a pattern of fraud usage is stored in the IC chip equipped in the IC credit card to use for payment approval to achieve improved reliability of offline approval. When offline approval process finds a possibility of fraud usage, online approval for more detailed statistical analysis processing is requested to a host computer. When update information of the fraud parameter used for the judgment is transmitted together with the request for approval and the newest fraud parameter created by analyzing the newest transaction trend etc. is confirmed to have been updated at the host computer, the newest fraud parameter along with the approval result from the host computer is transmitted to the IC terminal to update the fraud parameter in the IC chip to the up-to-date state.
US08104676B2	Banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records A banking system operates to allocate funds in accounts in response to data bearing records in the form of paper financial checks. A mobile phone has a camera and a programmable memory. The memory stores phone user data, including a bank account number and an electronic signature. The camera can be used to capture an image of a paper check which has the phone user as the payee. The phone can wirelessly transmit the account number, the electronic signature, and the check image to a bank deposit system. The system can store the check image and the electronic signature in correlated relation in a deposit transaction record. The system can cause the phone user's bank account to be credited a cash value corresponding to the check value. Confirmation of the check deposit can be transmitted to the user's phone.
US08104674B2	Automated banking machine that operates responsive to data bearing records A system controlled responsive to data bearing records includes a card reader that is operative to read card data from user cards including identifying data, and authorizes operation of an automated banking machine responsive to the identifying data. The automated banking machine is operative to generate a check in response to inputs from a user of the banking machine. The banking machine is operative to present the check to a user of the automated banking machine. The banking machine may be operative to present an interface or other method for a user to sign the check. The banking account corresponding to the user of the banking machine is charged an amount corresponding to the value of the check. In exchange for the check being presented at the same banking machine that generated the check, the banking machine is operative to provide the user with cash dispensed from the automated banking machine.
US08104673B2	Method and system for processing image returns Method and system for processing image returns. Embodiments of the invention provide for automating data flow and reporting processes connected with administrate image returns to a financial institution with multiple image processing sites. A computer-implemented method of processing a cash letter file identifying returned items includes obtaining an identifier for a processing site for each item identified in the cash letter file. A separate report corresponding to each processing site as indicated by the identifier is assembled. The report lists each returned item for the processing site. Each separate report is forwarded to each processing site to enable the processing site to re-process just the returned items specific to the processing site. Provision is also made for automatically updated stored ledger information based on a cash letter settlement table.
US08104670B2	Combined greeting card gift/mail order container A combination greeting card and gift container includes a gift container portion having a plurality of panels, in which at least one panel forms an oblique surface with respect to the remainder of the panels. The gift container preferably includes an integral device for securing a greeting card positioned on a first panel of the gift container. There may also be included an integral greeting card cover formed from a second panel of the gift container.
US08104665B2	Manufacturing method for composite substrate A composite substrate manufacturing method including the steps of grinding a sapphire substrate to uniform the thickness of the sapphire substrate, next forming an optical device layer on the front side of the sapphire substrate, next bonding the front side of a heat sink substrate through a bonding metal layer to the front side of the optical device layer formed on the front side of the sapphire substrate to thereby form a composite substrate, next grinding the back side of the heat sink substrate of the composite substrate to uniform the thickness of the composite substrate, and finally grinding the back side of the sapphire substrate of the composite substrate to reduce the thickness of the sapphire substrate to a predetermined thickness.
US08104663B2	Solder ball mounting method and apparatus The periphery of a mask (3) is formed higher than a region where a ball holding hole (3a) is formed, a work (1) is arranged at a lower section of the ball holding hole (3a) of the mask (3), and the ball holding hole (3a) and an electrode of the work (1) are aligned with each other. A ball (B) is applied on the mask (3), and in such state, vibration is applied to the mask (3) to move the solder ball (B) on the surface of the mask (3) and drop the solder ball (B) into the ball holding hole (3a). The periphery of the mask (3) is permitted to be lower than the ball holding hole (3a), and an excessive portion of the solder ball (B) is recovered from over the mask (3).
US08104660B2	Transducer and method for mounting the same A transducer is provided that comprises a horn having a longitudinal axis, a bonding tool attached to the horn, and an ultrasonic generator attached to the horn and spaced from the bonding tool along the longitudinal axis of the horn. A flexure is attached to the horn between the bonding tool and the ultrasonic generator for supporting the horn whereby to increase its dynamic rigidity in directions transverse to the longitudinal axis.
US08104658B2	Block device for nail gun A blocking device for a nail gun includes a push member disposed on a nail pusher in a nail cartridge of the nail gun for moving toward a nail groove base with the nail pusher, a brake member movably installed on the nail pusher for moving toward the nail groove base with the nail pusher, and a rotational fastener pivotably installed on the nail groove base on a moving path of the push member and the brake member. The fastener can be touched to rotate by the push member when there are a small number of remaining nails in the nail cartridge so as to prevent the brake member moving to a position where it blocks an upward movement of the safety bar, and can be released by the push member and rotate back to an original position when there is no remaining nail in the nail cartridge so as to release the brake member to move to a position where it blocks an upward movement of the safety bar and thereby a nail shooting action of the nail gun. The accuracy of the nail shooting blocking is improved.
US08104655B2	Laptop carrier A laptop carrier includes a case portion, a strap and a pair of clipping members. The case portion includes a first shell, a hinge, a second shell rotatably connected by the hinge, and a latching member for latching and unlatching the first and the second shells. Two ends of the strap are mounted on two respective opposite sides of the case portion. The pair of clipping members is attached on the strap for interlocking part of the strap and one of the first or second shells of the case portion.
US08104654B2	Belt with expandable pouch A compact yet expandable waist belt with a pouch preferably formed from a single piece of seamless elastic fabric, designed in some embodiments with pleats in the back, that remains taut around the wearer's body during even the most rigorous physical activities, whether the pouch is holding one smaller item (such as a key) or multiple larger items (such as a cell phone, mp3 player, and/or money). When empty, the pouch is preferably approximately the same width and thickness as the belt holding the pouch in place, and yet the pouch's internal volume can expand up to 300-400% or more to hold larger items or a large number of small items. The single pouch is sealed with zipper or other fasteners such as Velcro® allowing users to access belongings quickly and easily.
US08104650B2	Anti drip device for liquid dispensers An anti-drip device is for use in association with a liquid dispenser having a nozzle. The anti-drip device is adapted to fit into the nozzle. The device has an outer cross sectional dimension, an inner cross sectional dimension and an inner surface. The inner cross sectional dimension is the sum of a length of the inner surface and the inner surface is shaped such that the inner cross sectional dimension is larger than a length of the outer cross sectional dimension.
US08104645B2	Device for discharging granular material A device for discharging granular material, has a receptacle into which the granular material may be introduced, with a separation grid, which is disposed in the receptacle, and an intermediate plate, which is disposed beneath the separation grid. The intermediate plate is equipped with a through-opening for the granular material, and with an aperture, which is provided beneath the intermediate plate and through which the granular material may be removed from the receptacle. The intermediate plate is disposed to be rotatable relative to the separation grid and the separation grid is disposed to be stationary relative to the receptacle.
US08104640B2	Spring-loaded ammunition magazine carrier A system for dispensing ammunition magazines. The system includes a housing for holding the magazines with an open region defined in the housing; a spring-loaded follower imparting a force against the magazines to move a first magazine into a dispensing position for removal from the housing through the open region. A user can access the first magazine through the open region, exerting a force on the first magazine and withdrawing the first magazine through the open region.
US08104632B2	Synthetic resin bottle having a constricted portion with intermittent lateral grooves There is provided a synthetic resin bottle having high commercial value, which prevents plastic deformation accompanied with buckling. The invention provides a PET bottle comprising a body portion connected to a mouth portion via a shoulder portion, and a constricted portion provided on the body portion and looping along the circumferential direction. The body portion comprises a front wall and a back wall which face to each other, a left sidewall and a right sidewall which face to each other, and connecting portion which respectively join the walls. The cross section of the body portion along the circumferential direction a generally polygonal outer profile. The constricted portion comprises left lateral grooves extending from the left sidewall at least to the connecting portion along the circumferential direction, right lateral grooves extending from the right sidewall at least to the connecting portion along the circumferential direction and intermittent portions formed by spacing apart adjacent terminal ends of the lateral grooves.
US08104631B2	Portable crane system for wind turbine components A portable crane assembly for servicing a wind turbine. The crane assembly includes a first primary support member and a second primary support member being rotatably attached to one another. The first primary support member is configured to attach to a wind turbine component. The second primary support is coaxially rotatable with respect to the first primary support member. The crane assembly further includes a boom member pivotably attached to an end of the second primary support member. The portable crane assembly is disassemblable into components that can be manually carried. A wind turbine servicing system and a method for servicing a wind turbine are also disclosed.
US08104628B2	Dishwasher rack having slidably coupled tine holder and tine rack A dishwasher rack is provided. The dishwasher rack includes a tine holder, a tine holder moving portion, and/or a movable rack moving portion. The tine holder includes a plurality of portions formed to receive a holding tine for adjusting a gap between the holding tine and a structure opposite to the holding tine, according to a received position of the holding tine. The tine holder moving portion changes a position of the tine holder with respect to the rack frame. The movable rack moving portion changes a position of the movable rack with respect to the rack frame.
US08104625B2	Microporous membrane made of polyolefins A microporous membrane made of polyolefins which comprises polyethylene (PEA) 8-60 wt. % of which is accounted for by components having a molecular weight of 10,000 or lower and in which the ratio of the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) to the number-average molecular weight (Mn), Mw/Mn, is 11-100 and the viscosity-average molecular weight (Mv) is 100,000-1,000,000 and polypropylene, and which has a content of components having a molecular weight of 10,000 or lower of 8-60 wt. %, a porosity of 20-95%, and a degree of thermal shrinkage at 100° C. of 10% or lower.
US08104619B2	Wafer container with staggered wall structure A wafer container comprising a base and a cover that nest together. The base includes a staggered wall structure composed of inner and outer walls. The staggered wall structure is arranged so that forces from side impacts are absorbed principally by outer wall segments. A rib on the cover restrains the outer wall segments from flexing beyond the inner wall diameter. Reference tabs on the base facilitate alignment of the base to the cover.
US08104613B2	Disc holder and case enclosure The present invention relates to a disc holder for storing a plurality of discs comprising: a base; a spindle extending vertically from the base, where the spindle enables the stacking of the plurality of discs; a top cover, where the top cover locks to the base by using two sliding clasps, where one clasp is one side of the top cover and the other clasp is on the opposite side. The base may include three prongs extending vertically from three respective sides of the base in order to keep discs aligned. The enclosure may further include a receptacle for the top of the spindle and a swivel handle for carrying the unit. The plurality of discs may include compact discs and DVDs or a combination of both.
US08104612B2	Sleeves and album pages for flat items Sleeve and album page devices for holding flat items, in particular a compact disc such as a photo compact disc together with an associated index print, the preferred embodiment including an embedded synthetic paper strip with an exposed write-on area for identifying the subject matter of the compact disc.
US08104608B2	Duo packaging for disposable soft contact lenses using a substrate A contact lens package includes a substrate, a first sheet removably sealed to one side of the substrate, and a second sheet sealed to the other side of the substrate with a contact lens contained between the first and second sheets.
US08104605B2	Material sample collector The material sample collector is adapted to divert a sample of material from a trough conveyor for analysis of the sample. The collector includes at least one, and preferably two or more, laterally offset wheels rotating on axles. The wheels are in a vertical plane forming an acute dihedral angle with a vertical plane in which the central longitudinal axis of the conveyor is disposed. Each wheel subtends an elliptical segment extending across a portion of the width of the conveyor when viewed from an end of the conveyor. A sample chute extends laterally from the conveyor. The wheels are normally raised above the conveyor and its contents, and lowered when a sample is taken. The lowered wheels bear against the conveyor and/or its contents, diverting material from the conveyor onto a chute. The device is preferably manually operated, but may be powered and automated.
US08104604B2	Lumber transfer system A lumber transfer system and a method for individually transferring lumbers from a feeding conveyor to an outfeed conveyor. Detectors are used for monitoring a lumber presence along a corridor on a longitudinal conveying surface. Motorized blocking fingers located about the corridor and transversally spaced along the conveying surface are provided and are configured for moving between blocking and unblocking positions. A controller is also provided, the controller having at least one input for receiving detecting signals from the detectors respectively, the detecting signals of the detectors being respectively associated to the motorized blocking fingers. The controller also has at least one output for sending independent control signals to the motorized blocking fingers respectively, in response to the detecting signals, for moving the respective blocking fingers for which a lumber presence is detected from a blocking to an unblocking position, and otherwise keeping the respective motorized blocking fingers in their blocking position.
US08104602B2	Apparatus and method for continuous loading and accumulation of rows of suspendedly handled items An apparatus for continuous loading and accumulation of rows of suspendedly handled items includes a feed jig at a top of the apparatus with one or more feed channels having grippers for holding the row, and a continuous-motion loader at a bottom of the apparatus having panels or walls on an outer periphery to define a plurality of passageways, wherein the continuous-motion loader has a length defining a row loading area, which is defined by the feed jig, and a pickup area for the rows so loaded, external to the feed jig.
US08104600B2	Escalator Escalator with a series of steps connected to at least one drive chain, driven by a motor mechanism, travelling via an advanced track and a return track placed alongside, there being transition zones between two levels, the tracks respectively comprising a main set of guides and at least one set of additional guides for moving a movable step, via the bearing thereof, parallel to a non-movable step, so that they are positioned at the same height, creating a widened continuous platform which can accommodate a person with reduced mobility.
US08104595B2	Hydraulic control device of a clutch of a motor vehicle A hydraulic control unit is set up to hydraulically actuate a starting clutch of a motor vehicle and gear selectors of a transmission of the motor vehicle by use of hydraulic valves which are integrated in the hydraulic control unit and which have in each case at least one control element. The hydraulic control unit is characterized in that the integrated hydraulic valves are aligned in the hydraulic control unit in such a way that a movement direction of a vibratory element of a hydraulic valve which controls only the starting clutch differs from the movement direction of vibratory elements of the other hydraulic valves, and is aligned to a lesser extent with the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.
US08104594B2	Case, system and/or method for storing and/or for transporting articles A case, a system and/or a method for storing and/or for transporting articles are provided. The case, the system and/or the method operate to store and/or to transport articles, such as, for example, office-related articles and personal articles. A first compartment forms a first volume that may be protected by walls of the case. Further, a second compartment forms a second volume. The second compartment extends into the first volume of the first compartment. The second compartment receives and/or stores the articles towards the interior of the first compartment. The second compartment has a divider for maintaining a position of the articles in the second compartment and restricts movement of the articles outward with respect to the interior of the first compartment. The second compartment is opened to form a tray for accessing one or more of the articles without opening the first compartment.
US08104588B2	Chock apparatus An apparatus for supporting a motorcycle in an upright position. The apparatus includes a base and a wheel stop coupled thereto. A cradle is pivotably coupled to the base and includes a pair of clamp members slidably coupled thereto. The pair of clamp members are biased away from each other. In other embodiments, a chock apparatus and a method of holding a motorcycle in an upright, stable position using a chock apparatus are provided.
US08104583B2	Materials handling vehicle with improved visibility A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising a power unit, a mast assembly and a fluid supply system. The mast assembly is coupled to the power unit. The mast assembly comprises a weldment, a movable element and a ram/cylinder assembly coupled to the movable element to effect movement of the element. The fluid supply system includes manifold apparatus and at least one fluid line coupled to the manifold apparatus and the ram/cylinder assembly. The manifold apparatus provides pressurized hydraulic fluid to the ram/cylinder assembly via the fluid line to raise the movable element. The manifold apparatus is mounted to the mast assembly.
US08104581B2	Oil module for an internal combustion engine An oil module for an internal combustion engine, comprising a carrier element that can be flanged onto an engine block of the internal combustion engine and carries at least one oil filter and an oil cooler. The oil module is provided with channels for guiding oil and water, one of the channels being an oil cooler bypass channel connecting an oil inlet of the oil cooler to an oil outlet of the oil cooler. At least a main part of the oil cooler bypass channel extends through an oil cooler base plate occluding the oil cooler on the carrier element side, or through an intermediate plate arranged between the oil cooler and the carrier element in a sealing manner.
US08104579B1	Detachable scaffold that is assembled easily and quickly without needing aid of a hand tool A scaffold includes a plurality of upright posts, a plurality of transverse posts, a plurality of locking units, a plurality of oblique posts and a plurality of fasteners. Thus, the upright posts, the locking units, the transverse posts, the oblique posts and the fasteners are detachable from each other so that the scaffold is detachable before assembly, thereby facilitating packaging, storage and transportation of the scaffold. In addition, the upright posts, the locking units, the transverse posts, the oblique posts and the fasteners are combined together by a worker himself so that the scaffold is assembled easily and quickly without needing aid of any hand tool, thereby greatly facilitating the worker mounting the scaffold.
US08104568B2	Seismic gun assembly for shooting into a bore hole A seismic gun assembly comprising a barrel and guide tube assembly for delivering a projectile to the bottom of a bore hole with a non-line-of-sight section. The guide tube being either a large diameter guide tube or a tight fitted guide tube. The large diameter guide tube allowing the projectile to perform shallow angle bounces to reach the bottom of a non-line-of-sight bore hole. The tight fitted guide tube allows the projectile to ride the inner wall of the guide tube to reach the bottom of a non-line-of-sight bore hole. The projectile comprises an outer jacket and a frangible core. The seismic gun barrel assembly additionally comprises a fluid exclusion puck for preventing fluids from entering the guide tube, a suppressing collar for suppressing seismic noise, and a method for modulating recoil.
US08104564B2	Antitheft system and method for construction equipment An antitheft system and method for construction equipment is disclosed. The antitheft system and method can prevent the construction equipment from driving if a driver gets out of a cabin in the state in which an ignition is turned on so as to preheat a heater or engine or in a case where a driving unit is not manipulated during a predetermined period.
US08104563B2	Hood airbag device for use in a vehicle In a hood airbag device for use in a vehicle, left and right bag-expansion openings are formed at the rear end portion of the outer hood panel in a hood width direction, and the deployment positions of corresponding left and right airbags are controlled or restrained by the bag-expansion openings, respectively. Further, the hood-center side ends (60L′) of the left air bag (60L) and the hood-center side ends (60R′) of the right air bag (60R) are adapted to press against each other when they are deployed. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the airbags from being raised up by a wind pressure or the like and to quickly deploy the airbags over a broad extent.
US08104561B2	Rear wheels mounting structure of motorized tricycle A motorized tricycle comprising a frame including first, second, and third coupling members, two rear wheels, and a rear wheels mounting structure comprising side pieces on either side; cross pieces interconnecting the side pieces; two forward cylindrical first joints; two seats each projecting upward from the topmost side piece and comprising a top second joint and a bottom first threaded hole; two second threaded holes each disposed on a section between the first and second joints of the same side; two inverted L-shaped reinforcement plates comprising a hollow boss projecting inward from a bending point, and first and second through holes at both ends respectively; two sleeves each put on the first joint; two cylinders each disposed in the second joint; and screws for securing the reinforcement plate, the rear wheels mounting structure, and the frame together.
US08104557B2	Linear drive travel system and automobile To enable control the number of revolutions of a wheel with a new structure different from an induction motor and adjust the maximum torque rapidly and accurately.A linear drive travel system includes a metal wheel 20 having a drum rotor and a stator 30 arranged inside the metal wheel 20. The stator 30 includes a plurality of rows of electromagnets 32 arranged in the direction of rotation axis, each row being formed of a plurality of electromagnets 32 arranged along the circumference around a rotary shaft 40. A drum rotor includes a plurality of arc-shaped rotor cores 23 arranged along the circumference around the rotary shaft 40. Control means (control system 80) performs control by allowing electromagnets 32 in some rows to be a magnetization coil of the rotor core and by allowing the electromagnets 32 in other rows to be a rotation coil of the drum motor.
US08104553B2	Bimodal conveyance mechanism A virtual wheel provides a leg pair as a conveyance mechanism for a land vehicle. The virtual wheel propels the vehicle across a surface using a repetitive motion of the legs that contact the ground as would a wheel, due to their geometry. Vehicle embodiments include at least two-, three-, four- and six-wheeled vehicles, both transverse and in-line. Additionally, the invention provides a bipedal walking robot. One embodiment provides a robotic mule—a payload-carrying vehicle. The invention combines the flexible mobility of bipedal vehicles with the stability and functionality of very large-wheeled vehicles. Additionally, a bimodal conveyance mechanism readily converts between walking and rolling modes.
US08104549B2	Activating device for a downhole tool An activating device is mounted in a drill string to control the activation and deactivation of an enlargement tool used for enlarging a bore hole. In order to assemble the activating device, pistons are mounted in passages and spline bars, in which plates are screwed, are then slid along T-slots of the body, through apertures of the pistons. In order to deploy the pistons and cutters, pressurized drilling fluid is applied to the inner faces of the pistons. When a pre-determined pressure level is reached, screws break and the pistons move from the inward position to the outwardly deployed position.
US08104547B2	Resilient stop assembly for impact tool A resilient stop assembly for an impact tool includes first and second resiliently deformable parts, and a substantially rigid part situated between the deformable parts. Each of the first and second resiliently deformable parts and the substantially rigid part comprises: first and second opposite impact surfaces, at least one peripheral surface joining the impact surfaces, and an aperture extending entirely through the part between exit openings in the impact surfaces. The first impact surface of the second resiliently deformable part is separated from the second impact surface of the first resiliently deformable part by contact of those first and second impact surfaces with the substantially rigid part.
US08104544B2	Hand machine tool The invention relates to a hand machine tool, in particular, a hammer drill or chisel, having a gearbox housing and a gearbox unit with a switching device. The switching device includes a switching spring and an operating unit which may be mounted in the gearbox housing with a transfer element. According to the invention, the switching spring has a housing region provided for housing the transfer element of the assembled operating unit, on assembly of the gearbox housing and the gearbox unit.
US08104543B2	Gauge wheel for use with a conventional row planter assembly A row planter assembly comprising: a frame; an opening disk rotatably mounted to the frame; and a gauge wheel rotatably mounted to the frame and disposed alongside, but spaced from, the opening disk so as to create a narrow gap therebetween; wherein the gauge wheel comprises at least one opening in the side wall thereof so as to permit soil to pass from the gap located between the opening disk and the gauge wheel to the region outside of the gauge wheel.
US08104539B2	Bottom hole assembly for subterranean operations Methods and systems for stimulating a wellbore. A coil tubing bottom hole assembly is disclosed which includes a jetting tool. A non-caged ball sub is coupled to the jetting tool and a ported sub is coupled to the non-caged ball sub. Additionally, a caged ball sub is coupled to the ported sub.
US08104538B2	Fracturing with telescoping members and sealing the annular space A fracturing operation is done in open hole. The annular space is spanned by telescoping members that are located behind isolation valves. A given bank of telescoping members can be uncovered and the telescoping members extended to span the annular space and engage the formation in a sealing manner. Pressurized fracturing fluid can be pumped through the telescoped passages and the portion of the desired formation fractured. In a proper formation, cementing is not needed to maintain wellbore integrity. In formations that need annular space isolation, the string in a preferred embodiment can have an external material that grows to seal the annular space in lieu of a traditional cementing operation.
US08104537B2	Method of developing subsurface freeze zone A method of lowering the temperature of a subsurface formation, e.g., comprising oil shale, includes injecting a cooling fluid under pressure into a wellbore. The wellbore is completed at or below a depth of the subsurface formation, and the wellbore includes a bore formed through the subsurface formation defining a diameter. The cooling fluid comprises a slurry having particles of frozen material. The cooling fluid is circulated across the formation in order to lower the temperature of at least a portion of the formation to a point that is at or below the freezing point of water.
US08104535B2	Method of improving waterflood performance using barrier fractures and inflow control devices The present invention is directed to a method of hydrocarbon production from a hydrocarbon reservoir. The method includes providing a substantially horizontal wellbore having at least one productive interval within a hydrocarbon reservoir and forming at least one non-conductive transverse fracture in the reservoir along the substantially horizontal wellbore. An injection well is also provided. A fluid is injected into the reservoir through the injection well to displace hydrocarbons within the reservoir toward a production portion of the substantially horizontal wellbore. Hydrocarbons are drained from the reservoir into at least one production interval of the substantially horizontal wellbore. Fluid production from the at least one production interval into the substantially horizontal wellbore flows through an inflow control device that can restrict the fluid flow. A non-conductive transverse fracture can form a barrier within the reservoir to divert injected fluids to increase sweep efficiency and reduce the influx of injected fluids into the production interval.
US08104534B2	Mechanical seal and lock for tubing conveyed pump system A through tubing conveyed electrical submersible pumping system for use in a wellbore. The system includes a tubing string with an attached deployed drive system having a pump motor and a pump engaging receptacle, a pumping assembly insertable into the tubing deployed system, and sealing elements on both the tubing string and pumping assembly. Engaging the sealing elements while inserting the pumping assembly forms a seal. The system further includes mating latch members on the pumping assembly and the tubing string, the latch members selectively activated by engaging one another. The latch may include locking fingers disposed on the pumping system and a shoulder protruding into the tubing string; wherein inserting the pumping system into the tubing deployed system locking fingers with the shoulder for securing the pumping system to the tubing string.
US08104533B2	Spray nozzle apparatus and method of use The subject invention pertains to a spray nozzle apparatus and method of use. The subject spray nozzle can be used to spray atomized fluid. The atomized fluid can then be incident on a heated surface such that heat is transferred from the heated surface to the atomized fluid. The subject invention also relates to a spray-cooling system and method of use. The subject spray-cooling system can incorporate a spray nozzle and a heat transfer plate. A device to be cooled, such as a laser diode, microwave amplifier, or other high power electrical device, can be placed in direct thermal contact with the heat transfer plate. The spray from the spray nozzle can then be sprayed onto the heat transfer plate. In a specific embodiment, a cellular transfer plate can be used and the spray from the spray nozzle can be sprayed into a cellular cavity or compartment, within the heat transfer plate. Heat is transferred from the heat source to the sprayed liquid via the wall of the heat transfer plate. The heat transfer plate can be attached to the spray nozzle housing, such that as the sprayed liquid exits the spray nozzle housing, the sprayed liquid enters a cellular cavity of the cellular heat transfer plate. Removing the cellular heat transfer plate from the spray-cooling assembly can allow the apparatus to be used as a conventional spray nozzle.
US08104532B2	Shower heat exchanger with clog-removable drain A heat exchanger placed underneath an elevated tub or shower stall or under the bathroom floor includes a flat top heat conductive plate. The top plate is fastened to a flat lower plate, having a serpentine pattern with a shallow depth embedded into the top surface. When the top plate is fastened and sealed to the lower plate, the flow of the incoming cold water is contained within the confines of the serpentine lower plate of the heat exchanger. Heat is transferred from the grey waste water falling onto the top plate to preheat the incoming cold water flowing underneath the top plate in the serpentine conduit chamber of the lower plate in contact with a bottom surface of the top plate. The cold water is thereby preheated and used as a substitute for the incoming cold water that would be normally plumbed to the discharge shower head.
US08104530B2	Component of a steelworks, such as a continuous casting installation or a rolling mill, method for producing such a component and installation for creating or processing semifinished metallic products In order to increase the endurance and lifetime of highly loaded components (6, 8, 12, 14, 24, 26, 34) of a steelworks, an electrolytically applied coating (38) is provided, having a ductile metallic base material (39), in particular nickel or a nickel alloy, with hard material particles (40), in particular boron carbide particles, incorporated in it. This measure achieves high resistance to corrosion, good thermal conductivity and at the same time high mechanical loadability.
US08104525B2	Pneumatic tire A pneumatic tire comprises a tread-reinforcing band made of at least one spirally wound cord, wherein the band cord consists of materially identical high-strength high-modulus organic filaments, and the band cord is formed by first twisting each of filament bunches, subjecting the first twisted bunches to a dip-and-stretch treatment, and then twisting the treated bunches together, whereby the load-elongation curve of the band cord comprises a low-modulus zone and a high-modulus zone whose boundary point is in an elongation range of from 1 to 7%, and the ratio EH/EL of a nominal elastic modulus EH of the high-modulus zone and a nominal elastic modulus EL of the low-modulus zone is in a range of from 2.0 to 10.0. Therefore, high-modulus aramid cords, PEN cords and the like can be used to reduce the tire weight.
US08104524B2	Tension-based non-pneumatic tire A non-pneumatic tire for supporting a load by working in tension comprising a generally annular inner surface, a generally annular outer ring, and an interconnected web having a plurality of web elements and comprising a plurality of generally polygonal openings. Web elements are sized, oriented and comprised of a material that facilitates buckling when subjected to a compressive load. By buckling, those elements in a deformed portion of the tire between a hub and a footprint region where the tire contacts a surface may assume a significantly reduced portion of the load, if any. This causes web elements in other portions of the interconnected web to operate in tension to support the load. Since the tire is non-pneumatic, it may be easier to maintain and may have a longer life than standard pneumatic tires since it eliminates the possibility of blowouts, flat tires, or tires operating with low air pressure. By virtue of the portion of the tire in the footprint region not bearing a significant portion of the load, non-pneumatic tire may also exhibit a more comfortable ride subject to less noise and vibration and improved handling capabilities.
US08104523B2	Pneumatic tire and process for its manufacture A pneumatic tire has a carcass structure having at least one carcass ply and at least one annual reinforcing structure associated with the carcass ply, a tread band made of an elastomeric material at a radially outer position with respect to the carcass structure, a belt structure interposed between the carcass structure and the tread band and a pair of axially opposite side walls on the carcass structure, wherein the tread band has i) at least one first sector, radially extending, substantially of a first elastomeric material; ii) a plurality of second sectors radially extending, positioned at axially opposite sides of the at least one first sector and substantially of a second elastomeric material; iii) at least one longitudinal groove formed in the at least one first sector and extending substantially for the entire circumferential development of the tread band, wherein the first elastomeric material has a modulus of elasticity under compression at 23° C. greater than the modulus of elasticity under compression at 23° C. of the second elastomeric material, and wherein the modulus of elasticity under compression at 23° C. of the first elastomeric material is about 20 to about 80 MPa.
US08104521B2	Dosage-dispensing device for powders or pastes A dosage-dispensing device includes a drive device and a source container that can be set into the drive device, wherein a dosage-dispensing head is connected to a closure shaft which is movably constrained in the source container. The closure shaft has a coupler part configured to be coupled to and uncoupled from a drive shaft of the drive device. The source container has a first form element which is designed for form-fitting engagement with a first counterpart element formed on the drive device and serves to precisely position the coupler part in relation to the drive shaft. The source container further has a second form element which is designed for form-fitting engagement with a second counterpart element formed on the drive device and which, when in operating position, serves to precisely position the dosage-dispensing head in relation to a target container.
US08104520B2	Gentle handling hopper and scrunched bag for filling and forming a transportable container A method of forming a transportable container of bulk goods begins by placing the distributing end of a hopper over the open top of a bunched bag. Bulk goods are dispensed from the distributing end of the hopper through the open top of the bag to establish a level of bulk goods in the bag. The hopper moves vertically relative to the closed base of the bag during the dispensing of bulk goods from the distributing end of the hopper to maintain vertical spacing between the distributing end of the hopper and the level of bulk goods in the bag. A hopper fill level is maintained in the hopper during the dispensing of bulk goods from the hopper. An outer wrap is spirally wrapped around the bag while filling the bag to form the transportable container. The outer wrap is maintained near the level of bulk goods in the bag.
US08104519B1	Pipe insulation product with charge dissipater A pipe insulation product including a core of insulating material and a roughly rectangular laminate. The core may include an outer surface; an inner surface; and a wall extending between the outer and inner surfaces. The laminate may include a foil or metallized polymeric film sheet layer, a scrim, a porous media sheet layer, and a polymeric film sheet layer bonded together via an adhesive. The polymeric film sheet layer may also include a closure flap that adhesively couples opposite ends of the laminate together to form a cylindrical tube with the core enclosed therein. A charge dissipator may be applied to the polymeric film sheet layer in an amount sufficient to reduce generation of a static charge on the laminate's exterior surface without affecting the closure flap's ability to adhesively couple the opposite ends of the laminate.
US08104517B2	Resilient plug apparatus and method of use Various embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods for stopping the flow of media within a pipeline. The pipeline generally includes one or more pipes connected end-to-end, where each of the pipes has a longitudinal axis with an annular wall. The annular wall has an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface, where the inner wall surface defines an inner pipe diameter. In various embodiments, a hole is formed in the pipeline substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the annular wall and extending through the opposing pipe wall. A resilient plug is positioned within the pipeline such that it extends between the holes and is selectively expanded in a radial direction to create a seal with the inner surface of the pipe and holes to prevent flow of the media within the pipe.
US08104516B2	Gas supply unit and gas supply system A gas supply unit and a gas supply system that are small-sized and inexpensive. The gas supply unit is installed on operation gas conveyance pipeline and has fluid control devices communicated via flow path blocks and controlling operation gas. The gas supply unit has the first flow path block, to one side of which an inlet open/close valve included in the fluid control devices is attached, and also has the second flow path block, to one side of which a purge valve included in the fluid control devices is attached. The first flow path block and the second flow path block are layered in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the operation gas. The inlet open/close valve and the purge valve are arranged between a mass flow controller installed on the operation gas conveyance pipeline and an installation surface where the unit is installed.
US08104515B2	Microfabricated elastomeric valve and pump systems A method of fabricating an elastomeric structure, comprising: forming a first elastomeric layer on top of a first micromachined mold, the first micromachined mold having a first raised protrusion which forms a first recess extending along a bottom surface of the first elastomeric layer; forming a second elastomeric layer on top of a second micromachined mold, the second micromachined mold having a second raised protrusion which forms a second recess extending along a bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer; bonding the bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer onto a top surface of the first elastomeric layer such that a control channel forms in the second recess between the first and second elastomeric layers; and positioning the first elastomeric layer on top of a planar substrate such that a flow channel forms in the first recess between the first elastomeric layer and the planar substrate.
US08104510B2	Device for regulating the flow of a liquid or gaseous medium The invention relates to a device for regulating the flow of a liquid or gaseous medium, having a valve housing (11), which has at least one valve inlet (15, 16) and a valve outlet (17) as well as at least one valve opening (18, 19), located between the two and surrounded by a valve seat (21, 22); having a valve member (23) controlling the valve opening (18, 19); and having a valve member actuating device (14), which has a valve closing spring (36) and an actuator (37) operating counter to the valve closing spring. For creating a robust device with a long service life, and in which the valve member actuating device (14) is hermetically separated from the medium, the valve member (23) has a closing body (24), cooperating with the at least one valve seat (21, 22), and a frame (25), separated from the medium, for engaging the valve member actuating device (14), which frame surrounds the closing body (24) and is solidly joined to it.
US08104508B2	Valve device assembling structure, plug body, and manual valve A plug body housing 16 has a receiving recess 17, and the receiving recess 17 includes a first recess 21 opening toward the outside and a second recess 22 connected to the first recess 21. Check valves 8 and 9 are provided in the second recess 22, and a manual valve 14 is provided in the first recess 21. An internal threaded portion 45 is formed in an inner circumferential surface of the first recess 21, and a housing 35 of the manual valve 14 is threaded into the internal threaded portion 45. The check valves 8 and 9 are held between a bottom surface 22a of the second recess 22 and a bottom 35a of the housing 35 so that the check valves 8 and 9 are secured in the second recess 22.
US08104506B2	Diaphragm-sealed valve having intermediate communication ports A diaphragm-sealed valve having communication mechanisms operatively connecting neighboring pairs of grooves is provided. Each communication mechanism has a communication port opening in an interface of a valve cap, between the neighboring grooves. The communication mechanism also has a communication conduit extending within the valve cap and connecting the communication port and one of the neighboring grooves. It also has a recess within a valve body aligned with the communication port and with the other one of the neighboring grooves, a flexible sealing surface of the diaphragm being seated within the recess and resiliently biased away from the interface of the valve cap. A plunger assembly is also provided, including plungers movable to push flexible sealing surface towards the communication port.
US08104504B2	Methods and apparatus for removable lid with ultra fast action speed for relies compressed media, liquid or compressed gas An assembly is for extremely fast opened lids systems, where compressed gases or liquids or oils are used. Mainly, the removable lid is comprised of a lid, a lid platform, a dynamic hinging mechanism, and a releasing mechanism. A final action could be via means of mechanical or electrical via an action of a solenoid.
US08104503B2	Optimized activation prevention mechanism for a gas delivery system and methods therefor An optimized activation prevention assembly for a gas delivery system is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pneumatically operated valve assembly. The apparatus also includes a toggle switch mechanically attached to the pneumatically operated valve assembly, the toggle switch includes a toggle arm, the toggle arm being positioned in one of an activation zone and a deactivation zone, wherein when the toggle arm is positioned in the activation zone, the pneumatically operated valve is activated, and wherein when the toggle arm is positioned in the deactivation zone, the pneumatically operated valve is deactivated. The apparatus further includes an activation prevention mechanism attached to the toggle switch, wherein when the activation prevention mechanism being configured for preventing the toggle arm from being repositioned from the deactivation zone to the activation zone without at least bypassing a lockout function of the optimized activation prevention mechanism.
US08104499B2	Precision siphon operated septic field dosing system with filtration and backwash A septic field dosing system is described which utilizes a self starting true siphon to deliver a dose of septic tank effluent into a conventional septic field. The precision siphon unit not only eliminates the need for electrical services to the septic tank, thereby eliminating the need for pumps and solenoid operated valves and switches at the septic tank, but also contains the effluent handling equipment in a small unit. For example, the drawdown of the septic tank is used to entirely control the operation of the dosing siphon. Further, the dimensional configuration of the precision siphon operates within the boundaries of the draw down to deliver a proper size dose to the septic field. While a typical septic tank can hold of the order of a thousand or more gallons, the precision siphon can easily fit into a five gallon bucket.
US08104496B1	Reverse flow back pressure pump A reverse flow back pressure pump that enables liquid to flow in a reverse direction in plumbing fixtures in order to loosen and discharge sediment freed during the reverse flow.
US08104494B2	Portable sun and weather shelter A portable sun and weather shelter is provided. The shelter comprises an umbrella foldable between open and closed positions. The umbrella has a center post, a canopy, and a frame to fold the canopy up and down. A pair of wings are attached to the perimeter edge of the canopy and can be extended outwardly beyond the canopy.
US08104491B2	Outdoor shading device with renewable power system An outdoor shading device includes a supporting frame, a shading awning supported by the supporting frame to define a shading area underneath the shading awning, and a solar power system. The solar power system includes a solar collecting unit having a solar collecting surface overlapped on the shading awning for solar energy collection, and a power storage supported at the supporting frame to electrically connect to the solar collecting unit, wherein when the shading awning is orientated for providing shade from the sun, the solar collecting surface of the solar collecting unit is aligned with the direction of the sun to maximize the solar energy collection, such that after the solar energy is collected, the solar collecting unit converts the solar energy into electrical energy and stored in the power storage.
US08104488B2	Single side workpiece processing A centrifugal workpiece processor for processing semiconductor wafers and similar workpieces includes a head which holds and spins the workpiece. The head includes a rotor having a gas system. Gas or air is sprayed or jetted from inlets in the rotor to create a rotational gas flow. The rotational gas flow causes pressure conditions which hold the edges of a first side of the workpiece against an angled annular surface on the rotor. The rotor and the workpiece rotate together. Guide pins adjacent to a perimeter may help to align the workpiece with the rotor. Outlets through the rotor allow gas to flow out of the rotor.
US08104487B2	Dental floss holder A dental floss holder. The dental floss holder includes a body having a spool case for holding a length of dental floss, a cover for the spool case, a neck extending from the spool case along a first axis, and first and second fingers extending outward from said neck at an arcuate angle. In an embodiment, the fingers may be parallel. A manually engageable clamp is provided with threaded fastener that engages a threaded nut having a compressing flange, so that the compressing flange works against a land provided on the outside of the cover. A pivot post is provided to prevent dental floss from becoming entangled with the threads of the fastener.
US08104480B2	Follicular unit transplantation planner and methods of its use A system for planning transplantation of follicular units in a body surface of a patient includes a user interface comprising a software-controlled processor, a monitor, and an input device, wherein the system is configured for acquiring images of the body surface, processing the images to produce a three-dimensional model of the body surface, displaying a graphic rendering of the body surface model on the monitor, and displaying on the body surface model a proposed recipient area for implanting follicular units based at least in part on an actual or desired physical characteristic of the patient.
US08104477B2	Radiolucent fastening devices for securing a part of a body during a medical procedure The fastening device in accordance with the invention is directed to a pin for securing the position of a part of a body, (for example, a head) for medical procedures. The fastening device can have an improved geometry, can be made from materials including unsubstituted, monosubstituted or multisubstituted polyphenylene, and/or silicon nitride ceramic, and can be made of one or more pieces. The fastening device in accordance with the invention produces improved performance with respect to the criteria of biocompatibility, ability to be sterilized, resistance to mechanical stress, and reduced artifact creation in medical imaging methods.
US08104467B2	Rapid orotracheal intubation guide A rapid orotracheal intubation guide device is disclosed that facilitates orotracheal intubation or direct orotracheal visualization without resting the device on the subject's tongue and that, during a bronchoscopic intubation, automatically ejects the endotracheal tube from the device as the endotracheal tube is advanced coaxially over a bronchoscope previous placed through the guide, thereby providing a mid-line entry of the bronchoscope and endotracheal tube, higher intubation success rate by lower skilled operators, and easy removal of the device from the patient's oral cavity.
US08104461B2	Crossbow cocking assembly A crossbow with an improved cocking assembly. The improvement includes a means for automatically disengaging a hook associated with a cocking assembly from a bowstring once the bowstring has been drawn the desired distance behind a bowstring retainer. The automatic disengagement of the hook from the bowstring reduces movement and sound associated with disengagement, and reduces the likelihood of injury associated with placement of the fingers in front of the cocked bowstring. The disengagement mechanism may either be mechanical or magnetic as desired.
US08104458B2	Projectile launcher A projectile launcher having a magnet based driver motor. The driver motor is constructed of a coil winding suspended within a magnetic field formed by the combination of a front plate, a magnet and a pole piece attached to a back plate. An electrical controller is electrically coupled to the driver motor and allows for remote operation of the launcher. The coil may include a diaphragm capable of producing sounds wherein electrical current applied to the coil winding causes the coil to vibrate according to an audio frequency to make a desired sound, or travel a predetermined distance so as to cause an ejection of a projectile placed over the coil.
US08104452B2	Method for carrying out a high-pressure start of an internal combustion engine, control facility and internal combustion engine In known methods for carrying out a high-pressure start of an internal combustion engine, inconvenient starting behavior can sometimes occur. In a method for carrying out a high-pressure start of an internal combustion engine (1), a high-pressure pump (22) is used to feed fuel from a fuel tank (17) to a pressure accumulator (20) and a pressure adjuster (23) is used to control the pressure in the pressure accumulator (20), wherein the high-pressure pump (22) is operated before carrying out a fuel injection into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine (1), and the pressure adjuster (23) is activated in such a way that, during the operation of the high-pressure pump (22), the pressure build-up in the pressure accumulator (20) above a pressure limit value pTHRES, upon the exceedance of which the fuel injection is enabled, is delayed.
US08104451B2	Fuel injection device having an improved electrical plug and socket connection A fuel injection device for injecting fuel includes an electrical-plug-and-socket connection configured as a modular component. The electrical-plug-and-socket connection includes an electric line region and exactly one one-piece plug contact molding. The plug contact molding surrounds the electric line region, and the plug contact molding forms a part of the outer geometry of the fuel injection device.
US08104448B2	Bolt fastening structure for internal combustion engine, and engine incorporating same A bolt fastening structure for an internal combustion engine includes bolt fitting holes formed in a cylinder of the engine. An inner wall of a top portion of a crankcase includes boss portions having openings, as an extension to the corresponding bolt fitting holes, with internal threads formed therein. The crankcase further includes hollow recesses formed thereon between the boss portions and crankshaft rotational support portions. Fastening bolts, each having an external thread formed at a tip portion thereof, are extended through the bolt fitting holes, and engaged with the internal threads of the boss portion. The hollow recesses include portions of the openings of the boss portions having the internal threads opened therein.
US08104446B2	Engine with carburetor mounted on an insulator Screw holes are provided on a contacting surface of an insulator so as to enable a carburetor to be mounted on the insulator at a plurality of positions rotated about an axial center of an intake hole. The insulator is mounted on a cylinder at a predetermined position while the carburetor is mounted on the insulator by inserting bolts for mounting the carburetor into the screw holes through through holes of the carburetor. Accordingly, the carburetor can be mounted at a plurality of positions rotated about the axial center of intake holes relative to an engine body. Thus, a protruding direction of a throttle lever from the carburetor, i.e., an operating direction of the throttle lever, can be changed.
US08104443B2	Helical cam device and method A helical cam device for use with a wide variety of applications generally includes a first cam component, a second cam component and an axial guide. The cam components each have a helical cam track located on an axial end, so that coaxial alignment of the two cam components allows opposing cam tracks to contact and rotate against each other. The helical cam tracks, which are preferably divided into quadrant sections, are designed such that relative rotational movement between the cam components causes a corresponding relative axial movement. According to one embodiment, the axial guide is a cylindrical rod passing through the center of the cam components; in another embodiment, it is a cylindrical sleeve surrounding the cam components. Moreover, barrel slots, detents and/or truncated peaks can be used to control the travel of the cam components.
US08104441B2	Cam follower for a valve drive of an internal combustion engine A cam follower for a valve drive of an internal combustion engine. The cam follower has a housing and a cam roller. The cam roller is arranged between the side walls of the housing and is mounted on a journal which bridges the side walls. The cam roller, which has an outer ring, a rolling body set and an inner ring, is a combined plain and rolling bearing. The outer ring and the inner ring are in sliding contact with one another, and the rolling body set is arranged between the inner ring and the journal.
US08104436B2	Quasi free piston engine A quasi free piston engine uses, a small, lightweight crankshaft to connect the piston assemblies of the free piston engine with a flywheel. While most of the power output from the combustion pistons is extracted by pumping pistons as hydraulic power, the small crankshaft and flywheel ensure exact TDC position of the combustion pistons in operation, and provide a rotating means to drive combustion cylinder intake and exhaust valves. Flywheel speed may be monitored to provide feedback on power extraction for further control of the system. In addition, a hydraulic push-rod system for efficient valve actuation is provided.
US08104435B2	Cooling fan control Methods and systems are provided for reducing aerodynamic drag on a moving vehicle. One example method comprises, during a first vehicle moving condition, operating the cooling fan, and during a second vehicle moving condition, selectively applying a braking torque on the fan.
US08104430B1	Climbing resistant pole assembly A pole assembly includes a pole having a hollow interior and at least one longitudinally elongated slot formed through the pole communicating with the hollow interior. A sleeve is slidably disposed around the pole and has at least one arm extending through the slot. A pulley and a counterweight are disposed inside the pole. A cord extends over the pulley between the at least one arm and the counterweight within the hollow interior.
US08104429B2	Pet impact protector A pet impact protector is disclosed. This device is directed to a cleanable, removable device for a vehicle car seat comprising a contiguous pliable material having a pet seating area and a pet capture area. The pet impact protector is designed such that the force of the pet impact protector plus the pet, upon impact with the vehicle during a stop or slowing of the vehicle, causes the pet impact protector to partially collapse and form a protective impact area around the pet. This device is directed to the reduction of injury to a pet riding in a vehicle during an accident, stop or slowdown of the vehicle.
US08104428B2	Plasma processing apparatus A plasma processing apparatus that enables formation of a deposit film on a surface of a grounding electrode to be prevented. A substrate processing chamber has therein a processing space in which plasma processing is carried out on a substrate, an RF electrode that applies radio frequency electrical power into the processing space, a DC electrode that applies a DC voltage into the processing space, and a grounding electrode at least part of which is exposed in the substrate processing chamber. The grounding electrode is disposed in a corner portion formed through intersection of a plurality of internal surfaces in the substrate processing chamber.
US08104427B2	Stent coating device The present invention is a method and device, which is suitable for use in an operating theater just prior to implantation, for selectively applying a medical coating to an implantable medical device, for example a stent. Disclosed is a device for use with a stent deployed on a catheter balloon. The device is configured to apply a medical coating of a desired thickness to the surface of a stent only. This is done by use of a drop-on-demand inkjet printing system in association with an optical scanning device. The device is further configured so as to, if necessary, apply a plurality of layered coats, each layered coat being of a different coating material, and if appropriate, different thickness. The section of the housing in which the stent is held during the coating procedure is detachable from the housing base. The detachable housing section may be easily cleaned and re-sterilized or simply disposed or simply disposed of.
US08104423B2	Coating material dispensing apparatus and method A coating material atomizing and dispensing system comprises an atomizer and an assembly of electrodes. The electrode assembly is removably coupled to the atomizer to permit the assembly to be disassembled from the atomizer to permit entry of the atomizer through an opening smaller than the atomizer-electrode assembly can pass through. A device is provided for supporting the assembly when the assembly is disassembled from the atomizer.
US08104419B2	Device for automatically attaching and detaching a towed sonar transmitter to and from an active-sonar tow line The present invention relates to the handling, the attaching to a drag line and the putting to sea of a submersible craft, dragged by a surface vessel. The invention includes a system for automatically attaching and handling submersible craft towed by a tow line, comprising an automatic attaching device for carrying out the mechanical attaching of the submersible craft to the drag line and the linking of the submersible craft to the structure conveying the signals and the energy in this same line. The system according to the invention also includes an automatic device for handling the submersible craft, on which device the submersible craft is positioned when it is not attached to the drag line and from which it is separated after attachment, and which makes it possible to automatically position the submersible craft with respect to the drag line in such a way that the attaching and detaching can likewise be done automatically. The invention applies to towed active sonars in which the transmission antenna is integrated into a submersible craft and the reception antenna includes a linear antenna (streamer) towed behind the submersible craft.
US08104415B2	Sailboat substantially free of heeling moments A sailboat includes a sail assembly with opposing upper and lower ends, a leading edge and a trailing edge. The sail assembly is normally offset from the hull and oriented for generation of a propelling force substantially free of heeling moments. A support structure supports the sail assembly for rotation about an axis inclined relative to vertical and substantially parallel to the leading edge. The support structure includes an upper rotary joint mounting the upper end of the sail assembly to the support structure and a lower rotary joint mounting the lower end of the sail assembly to the support structure. The rotary joints are positioned to allow unobstructed rotation of the sail assembly fully through 360 degrees about the inclined axis. At least part of the support structure is mounted for rotation together with the sail assembly and the inclined axis relative to the hull, largely eliminating weather helm. Controls are provided to permit adjustment of the angular orientation of the sail assembly about the inclined axis thereby adjusting propelling force.
US08104409B2	Rail car suspension damping A freight rail car suspension has independent but co-operating springs; a first spring is load carrying and has a variable damping function and a second control spring operates on a friction shoe to apply a constant damping component. A practical embodiment has a friction shoe engaged for vertical displacement by the first spring which is mounted on a side frame and the second spring is obliquely arranged between the bolster of the bogie and the friction shoe, which has guides to cause it to move into greater frictional engagement upon load being applied through the spring. This arrangement provides a dual damping characteristic involving both constant damping and variable damping forces.
US08104406B1	Explosive device The present invention provides an explosive device for use with a warhead comprising a rupturable core having an interior chamber which is filled with a volume of a gas. A frequency generator resonates the gas at a high frequency to fully resonate the gas to produce a new and more powerful type of explosion. Means for securing the frequency generator to the core are also provided, as well as a detonator having a high-temperature metal as a conductive material and means for inserting the conductive material into the core.
US08104405B2	Ammunition firing device incorporating a firing pin An ammunition firing device incorporating a firing pin intended to impact a pyrotechnic composition to activate its ignition, wherein said firing pin incorporates a rod that slides when said ammunition is fired through the effect of the firing acceleration from a starting position to a deployed position, able to be locked in said deployed position, said rod being integral with a percussion tip occupying a fixed position in contact with said pyrotechnic composition, said rod being located fully inside said tip in said starting position and protruding from said tip in its deployed position, said device further incorporating a hammer to strike said rod during the impact of said ammunition on a target to cause the ignition of said composition.
US08104402B2	Hand-operated stamp having connecting part with ink refilling socket A hand-operated stamp (1) includes an at least partially open-pored printing plate (27) which can be displaced counter to a spring force, from a resting position in which it is retracted into a housing (2), into a printing position by an actuation element (3). The printing plate rests against an ink storage body (25) in order to receive stamping ink therefrom, the ink storage body being mounted in a holder (24) which at least partially encloses it. The holder (24) is trough-shaped and is directly locked with a connecting part (6) which is locked with the actuation unit and which comprises at least one refill support (40, 41) which is oriented towards an ink refill opening (42, 43) in the base wall of the holder (24).
US08104398B2	Axial piston machine utilizing a swashplate design A hydrostatic axial piston machine utilizing a swashplate design has a cylinder drum (3) that is mounted so that it can rotate around an axis of rotation (2). The cylinder drum (3) is provided with cylinder bores (4), in each of which a piston (5) is mounted so that it can be displaced longitudinally. The pistons (5) are each supported on a swashplate (7) by a sliding element (6). Between the piston (5) and the cylinder bore (4), there is at least one annular groove (20; 20a, 20b) which is located in the area of the inner half (LFi) of the guided length (LF), such as the minimum guided length (LF) of the piston (5) in the cylinder bore (4).
US08104397B2	Gas metering diaphragm A diaphragm for use in a gas meter that includes an expansion section having a series of convolutions. During repeated use of the diaphragm, the expansion section flexes to allow the center section of the diaphragm and the attached diaphragm disk to move between a retracted position and extended position. The convolutions formed in the expansion section include a series of curved peaks and curved troughs joined by web sections. The multiple convolutions in the expansion section allows for more consistent and repeatable movement and volume displacement of the diaphragm between the extended and retracted positions. The action of the convolutions also contributes to extended life by eliminating wrinkling of the diaphragm material.
US08104394B2	Flash suppressor apparatus and methods Flash suppressors having novel expansion features are disclosed. In one embodiment, a suppressor includes an attachment portion adapted to attach to a gun barrel, and a suppressor portion coupled to the attachment portion. The suppressor portion has a suppressor bore that is adapted to be aligned with a longitudinal axis of the gun barrel to allow a projectile from the gun barrel to pass therethrough. The suppressor bore is defined by at least one bore surface having at least one expansion groove disposed therein. The expansion groove may be partially-circumferentially disposed about the suppressor bore, or may include a plurality of expansion grooves. In another embodiment, a flash apparatus includes a suppressor portion having a plurality of longitudinally elongated members spaced apart about a circumference of the suppressor bore, each member being separated from adjacent elongated members by a longitudinal slot, at least one longitudinal slot having non-parallel sidewalls.
US08104393B2	Charging handle The invention relates to a charging handle assembly for a firearm. The assembly includes a handle mechanism having a pull rod to engage an action of a firearm, a handle and a stop surface. A latch mechanism is rotationally secured to the handle and is meant to be manually activated. When the latch mechanism is moved to an open position, a surface of the latch mechanism contacts the stop surface of the handle mechanism. A spring mechanism is used to maintain the latch mechanism in a closed position.
US08104392B2	Rod-shaped fibre composite, and method and device for the production thereof The invention relates to a rod-shaped fiber composite material (400) composed of a matrix (412) and a circular braid (402) embedded into the matrix. To increase the stability of the fiber composite material (400) and also to perform ducting functions for electricity and fluids, the wall of the circular braid is provided with wall chambers (408) which are separated by a phase boundary from the matrix (412) of the fiber composite material (400). These wall chambers (408) lead to inner and outer sections of the wall of the circular braid (402) being spaced apart, which is useful for the stability with regard to flexing and torsional loading in particular. Rod-shaped fiber composite materials (400) according to the invention can be used for creating stable structural components as well as for producing efficiently protected ducts. The invention further relates to an apparatus and a process which are useful for producing fiber composite material according to the invention.
US08104391B2	Apparatus and method for slicing food products An apparatus and method for slicing food products, and particularly soft, pliable food products susceptible to being deformed to the slicing process. The slicing apparatus includes a slicing wheel assembly and device for stabilizing the food product as it is being fed through the slicing wheel assembly. The slicing wheel assembly includes a hub, a rim circumscribing the hub so as to define an annular space therebetween, and arcuate blades extending between and removably attached to the hub and rim. The hub, rim, and blades lie in a cutting plane of the slicing wheel assembly. Each blade has an arcuate cutting edge on a convex portion thereof, with radially innermost and radially outermost extents of the blade that do not lie on the same radial of the slicing wheel assembly.
US08104390B2	Device for manually perforating a sheet of aluminum foil and a method of use A device and a method are disclosed for manually perforating a sheet of aluminum foil. The device includes a first member having a first surface with a plurality of apertures formed therein and a first guide member extending upwardly above the first surface. The device also includes a second member having a lower surface with a plurality of projections extending downwardly therefrom. Each of the projections can be simultaneously inserted into one of the plurality of apertures. A second guide member is formed on the second member and cooperates with the first guide member to permit the second member to move vertically relative to the first member. A sheet of aluminum foil can be placed between the first and second members, when they are spaced apart from one another, and the sheet of aluminum foil can be perforated by pressing the second member against the first member.
US08104387B2	Tube stub removal apparatus An apparatus (400) for facilitating the removal of a tube stub from a drum includes an arbor (401) configured to extend within the tube stub to be removed, and a circular, rotating cutter (402) protruding from the arbor (401). The cutter (402) is configured to score an internal surface of the tube stub along an axial direction of the tube stub. A controller (403) associated with the apparatus (400) controls the axial and rotational movement of the arbor (401) to create one or more cuts in the tube stub to facilitate removal of the tube stub from the drum.
US08104384B2	Serviceable pivot for shears This invention relates to a demolitions shears, including a body having a fixed jaw and a movable jaw that pivots with respect to the fixed jaw. A main shaft for pivotally mounting the moveable jaw to the body. A hydraulic cylinder for actuating the movable jaw to pivot. The movable jaw includes a first rotation stop and the main shaft including a second rotation stop. When the main shaft is installed in the moveable jaw, the first rotation stop and the second rotation stop are coupled to prevent relative rotation between the main shaft and the movable jaw, without axially fixing the main shaft to the movable jaw. A removable stop assembly is constructed and arranged to limit axial movement between the main shaft and the movable jaw.
US08104383B2	Torque socket assembly A torque socket assembly includes a first connecting portion which has a positioning hole and a fitting hole respectively defined in two ends thereof. A second connecting portion which has a driving hole and a receiving hole respectively defined in two ends thereof. The fitting hole and the receiving hole respectively have a first and a second positioning block disposed therein. A first and a second gear teeth are respectively disposed on the first and the second positioning block and are meshed with each other. A through hole is penetrated through the first and the second connecting portion, and the positioning blocks. A torque setting unit includes a resilient piece, a rod, and a screwing nut. The rod is inserted through the through hole, and the screwing nut is fastened to a second end of the rod for setting a stable torque value to the torque socket assembly.
US08104382B2	Universal joint A universal joint includes a coupling member having an end for coupling with a tool. A body includes a rounded base pivotably mounted to the other end of the coupling member. The body further includes a drive column spaced from the rounded base along an axis. A reinforcing section is intermediate the rounded base and the drive column. The reinforcing section includes an outer periphery having a recessed portion with a receptacle extending in a radial direction perpendicular to the axis. A control member is moveably received in the receptacle to control coupling of the drive column and an object to be driven. In any case, a spacing from an outer end of the control member to the axis in the radial direction is substantially not larger than a spacing from the outer periphery of the reinforcing section to the axis in the radial direction.
US08104380B2	Customizable light bulb changer A light bulb changing tool comprising a holding structure configured to engage a light bulb, the holding structure configured along an axis, the motorized holding structure configured to actuate in a first direction and a second direction. The light bulb changing tool further includes a force generator configured to selectively force the light bulb against the holding structure and a control unit configured to remotely communicate with the holding structure and the force generator, wherein the electronic control unit sends control signals to drive the holding structure to selectively move in the first direction and the second direction and/or to activate the force generator. The tool further comprises an arm member for positioning the holding structure in a desired configuration to engage the light bulb, wherein the arm member is coupled to the holding structure. The holding structure further comprises a rotator mechanism configured to rotate the holding structure in the first direction about the axis.
US08104379B2	Graphite / titanium hammer According to disclosure, the hammer has a head made of striking grade steel. The handle comprises a 6-4 titanium hand grip and over strike plate insert in the handle and under the head. The head has an eye for accommodating a handle which in a preferred embodiment is made of a graphite titanium composite comprising from about 60 to 65% graphite by weight and from about 35 to 45% 6-4 titanium. The head of hammer has a claw end and a striking head. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the device of the disclosure comprising using one or more bladder compressed carbon fiber processes to anneal the graphite, titanium and steel components of the hammer.
US08104376B2	Labeling machine The invention relates to a machine for the labeling of items, such as containers or the like, with at least one carousel, at least one labeling unit for the labeling of the items positioned on its periphery, and synchronously drivable transport elements for the feeding and removing of the items in a manner adjusted to position, whereby the transport elements are supported on a table plate, and the carousel is supported in a rotary bearing positioned outside the table plate.
US08104370B2	Carrier plates and a method for their production A carrier plate and related method for an automatic transmission is provided, whereby the carrier plate has a ring gear (1) connected to a driving plate (2) by means of welding and has at least one thickening plate (4, 5) connected to the driving plate (2) by means of welding. Preferably the ring gear (1) is connected to the driving plate (2) means of beam welding using auxiliary material.
US08104367B2	Seven speed dual clutch transmission A transmission connectable to an input member and having an output transfer gear, first and second transmission input shaft members, first and second countershaft members, a plurality of co-planar gear sets, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include a plurality of gears, synchronizer assemblies and a dual clutch assembly. The transmission is operable to provide at least one reverse speed ratio and a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.
US08104366B2	Double-clutch transmission for vehicles A double-clutch transmission is provided that includes, but is not limited to an inner input shaft inside an outer input shaft. Two clutch discs are connected to the inner input shaft and the outer input shaft, respectively. A first layshaft and a second layshaft are spaced apart from the inner input shaft and arranged in parallel to the inner input shaft. One or more of the two layshafts comprise a fixed output gearwheel for outputting a drive torque. Gearwheels are arranged on the shafts. The gearwheels comprise six gearwheel groups for providing six forward gears and one reverse gear. Each of the gearwheel groups comprises a first fixed gearwheel on one of the inner input shaft meshing with one of the idler gearwheels on one of the first layshaft, the second layshaft, or the third layshaft. Furthermore, a second fixed gearwheel meshes with a second gear idler gearwheel and a fourth gear idler gearwheel. The double-clutch transmission device further comprises a seventh gearwheel group for providing a seventh gear. The seventh gearwheel group comprises a seventh fixed gearwheel on the outer input shaft, meshing with a seventh gear idler gearwheel on one of the first layshaft, the second layshaft, or the third layshaft.
US08104365B2	Vibration generator A vibration generator has two groups of shafts, on which at least two groups of imbalances are disposed, and which are connected with at least one drive, by means of which they are put into rotation. The shaft groups are connected with the at least one drive in such a manner that the speed of rotation of one shaft group amounts to half the speed of rotation of the other shaft group, and the ratio of the static moments of the shaft groups provided with the imbalance groups amounts to between six to one and ten to one.
US08104364B2	Vibratory gyroscope balanced by an electrostatic device Described is a gyroscope with a vibrating structure, produced by micromachining in a thin wafer, which comprises a movable inertial assembly comprising at least one movable mass able to vibrate in the plane of the wafer along a drive axis x and along a sense axis y roughly perpendicular to the x-axis, an interdigital sensor comb and an interdigital drive comb. It furthermore comprises at least one additional interdigital comb, called the quadrature-error compensation comb, connected to the mass and which has two asymmetric air gaps e and λe, λ being a positive real number, for subjecting the mass to an adjustable electrostatic stiffness due to coupling between the x-axis and the y-axis by applying a variable DC voltage V to this comb, the adjustable stiffness allowing compensation for the quadrature error of the gyroscope.
US08104362B2	In-line virtual impactor An inline virtual impactor comprising an outer housing having a housing inlet, a housing inner surface, a major flow outlet and a minor flow outlet; a flow accelerator member disposed in the upstream portion of the outer housing; and a flow stabilizer member disposed within the outer housing downstream of the flow accelerator member, wherein the disposition of the flow accelerator creates an annular flow passage between the flow accelerator and the outer housing, and wherein a flow divider that is at least partially downstream of the flow stabilizer member effects splitting of the flow stream entering the housing into major and minor flows. The minor flow comprises primarily particles having a size greater than a cutpoint size and the major flow comprises primarily particles smaller than the cutpoint size. The inline virtual impactor may further comprise an aspiration section located upstream of the flow accelerator member.
US08104360B2	Vibration-type measuring transducer having securement element for mounting components of the oscillation sensor A measuring transducer comprises a measuring tube vibrating at least at times during operation, having a wall thickness (s) and at least one oscillation sensor, especially an electrodynamic oscillation sensor, for producing at least one primary signal of the measuring transducer representing vibrations of the measuring tube. In the measuring transducer at least one securement element, especially a metal securement element, fixedly encircling the measuring tube essentially along a circumferential line thereof and having a total width (B), for holding a component of the oscillation sensor, especially a magnet coil or a permanent magnet, on the measuring tube is provided. The securement element has an essentially rectangular outer perimeter with a projection protruding out therefrom by a height (h) and serving for holding the component of the oscillation sensor. The projection has a width (e), which is smaller than the total width (B) of the securement element.
US08104356B2	Pressure sensing device package and manufacturing method thereof A pressure sensing device package including a circuit substrate, a pressure sensing device, a molding compound, and a flexible protection layer is provided. The circuit substrate has an opening. The pressure sensing device is flip chip bonded to the circuit substrate and has a sensing region facing toward the opening. The molding compound encapsulates the pressure sensing device but exposes the sensing region. The flexible protection layer is disposed on the sensing region and exposed by the opening of the circuit substrate.
US08104354B2	Capacitive sensor and manufacturing method thereof A capacitive sensor includes a substrate, at least one first electrode, at least one second electrode, a sensing device, at least one anchor base, at least one movable frame, and a plurality of spring members. The first and second electrodes are disposed on the substrate, and the anchor base surrounds the first and second electrodes and is disposed on the substrate. The movable frame surrounds the sensing device. Some of the spring members connect the movable frame and the sensing device, and the other spring members connect the movable frame and the anchor base. The sensing device and the first electrode are both sensing electrodes. The movable frame is disposed above the second electrode, and cooperates with the second electrode to act as a capacitive driver.
US08104352B2	Pressure measurement unit for determining fluid pressure within medical disposables The present invention relates to a pressure measurement unit to determine positive and negative fluid pressure within a disposable for medical devices. As part of the disposable, the invention consists of a rigid measurement chamber, which is covered by an elastic form part. This measurement chamber can be connected to a medical device, which is equipped with a pressure transducer. Specific shapes of the elastic form part and specific instrument interfaces ensure the connection between this elastic form part, the measurement chamber and the pressure transducer to exclude the influence of atmospheric pressure during measurements. The coupling and the sealing ability against atmospheric pressure is controllable. Such pressure measurement units can be used to measure fluid pressure in disposable to control for example fluid pumps.
US08104349B2	Flaw detection tracking device for pipe or tube and automatic flaw detecting apparatus for pipe or tube using the same A tracking device is provided with a non-contact type displacement gauge, a positioner which moves a flaw detecting sensor within a plane perpendicular to an axial direction of a pipe or tube, and a positioning controller which controls the positioner. The positioning controller predicts a time until a portion of the pipe or tube whose displacement is measured by the displacement gauge reaches a predetermined position on a straight line extending in a Z-axis direction through a rotational center of the pipe or tube on the basis of the positional relationship between the displacement gauge and the flaw detecting sensor and a rotational speed of the pipe or tube; controls the positioner on the basis of the displacement measured by the displacement gauge and an operational delay time of the positioner in such a manner that the relative position of the flaw detecting sensor to the pipe or tube after the lapse of the predicted time becomes substantially constant in the Z-axis direction; and moves the flaw detecting sensor along the Z-axis direction. The positioning controller performs the same control in an X-axis direction.
US08104346B2	MEMS-based capacitive sensor An apparatus includes a seismic acquisition system that includes an accelerometer. The accelerometer includes a capacitive MEMS-based sensor, a controller and a charge amplifier. The sensor includes a proof mass; input terminals to receive a first signal; and an output terminal that is electrically connected to the proof mass to provide a second signal. The first signal, which is regulated by the controller, controls an equilibrium restoring force for the sensor and causes the sensor to provide the second signal. The charge amplifier provides a third signal, which is indicative of a position of the proof mass. The charge amplifier has an input terminal to continuously receive the second signal during a time in which the first signal controls the equilibrium restoring force and causes the sensor to provide the second signal.
US08104344B2	Angular velocity sensor utilizing coriolis force Beams 70a, 70b, 70c and, 70d of an angular velocity sensor 100 is provided with a folded type beam 73 that has a spring constant which is smaller along the excitation direction (x-axis direction) than along a detecting direction (y-axis direction), and a straight type beam 75 that has a spring constant which is smaller along the detecting direction (y-axis direction) than along the excitation direction (x-axis direction). The folded type beam 73 is arranged closer to the mass portion 40 than the straight type beam 75. The detecting member 60 is disposed on a farther beam portion of the beam 70b, wherein the farther beam portion is arranged farther away from the mass portion 40 than the folded type beam 73.
US08104342B2	Process condition measuring device An instrument for measuring a parameter comprises a substrate, a plurality of sensors carried by and distributed across a surface of the substrate that individually measure the parameter at different positions, an electronic processing component carried by the substrate surface, electrical conductors extending across the surface connected to the sensors and the electronic processing component, and a cover disposed over the sensors, electronic processing component and conductors. The cover and substrate have similar material properties to a production substrate processed by a substrate processing cell. The instrument has approximately the same thickness and/or flatness as the production substrate. The instrument may be subjected a substrate process and one or more parameters may be measured with the instrument during the process. The behavior of a production wafer in the substrate process may be characterized based on measurements of the parameters made with the one or more sensors.
US08104341B2	Ultrasonic liquid level monitoring system An ultrasonic liquid level monitoring system includes an ultrasonic transducer unit that is externally mountable to a tank. An ultrasonic emitter may generate an ultrasonic beam and receive an echo of the ultrasonic beam off a liquid surface inside a tank. An acoustic lens is coupled to the ultrasonic emitter to shape the ultrasonic beam to compensate for lensing effects of the tank wall. An acoustic coupler may be disposed between the acoustic lens and the tank wall to improve the acoustic coupling between the ultrasonic emitter and the tank wall. The system determines a time-of-flight between generating the ultrasonic beam and receiving the echo. Using the time-of-flight and geometry of a tank, the system may calculate the liquid volume inside the tank. The time-of-flight may be transmitted via a satellite data link or a local data link. The local data link may further be used to configure and maintain the system.
US08104337B2	Christmas tree with internally positioned flowmeter A measurement device is disclosed which includes a structure adapted to be removably coupled to a Christmas tree, a sleeve operatively coupled to the structure and a flowmeter positioned at least partially within the sleeve.
US08104333B2	Leak diagnostic method for an evaporative emission control system A leak diagnostic apparatus is provided for an evaporative emission control system that purges fuel vapor from an inside of a fuel tank to an intake passage of an internal combustion engine. The leak diagnostic apparatus is basically provided with a pressure detecting device and a leak determining device. The pressure detecting device is configured and arranged to detect a pressure inside the evaporative emission control system, which includes the fuel tank. The leak determining device sets a leak determination threshold value in accordance with a deformation amount of the fuel tank, and determines if a leak exists by comparing the pressure inside the evaporative emission control system while the evaporative emission control system is sealed to the leak determination threshold value.
US08104332B2	Probe and cantilever To provide a probe 1 for use in a cantilever 2 of an scanning probe microscope (SPM) manufacturable in a simple manufacturing process and usable while allowing full use of the properties of single-crystalline material and a cantilever 2 using that probe. A probe 1 disposed at the tip of beam part 2a of a cantilever 2 used for an SPM, wherein the probe 1 comprises a needle-like part 1a having a length of not less than 10 μm or and a flat plate part 1b having a face contacting a beam part of the cantilever, the needle-like part 1a and the flat plate part 1b are integrally formed with a single-crystalline material, and at least one side face of the flat plate part 1b contains a flat surface 1c in order to indicate the crystal orientation of the single-crystalline material.
US08104331B2	Method and device to extract components contained in a fluid Applicants' teachings relate to a method and device to extract components contained in a fluid. More particularly, the applicants' teachings are directed towards a method and sampling device for quick extraction of targeted components from their in vivo surroundings. In accordance with various embodiments of applicants' teachings a sampling device and method to extract components, such as, for example, analytes, from a fluid is provided. The device is interfaced with a fluid source, such as, for example, but not limited to, a circulatory system of an animal, to enable extraction of target molecules with minimal loss of fluid (e.g., blood) to the source. The device facilitates an interface between the circulatory system of an animal and a suitable sampling probe such as, for example, a solid phase microextraction (SPME) probe. The targeted compounds are desorbed in small volumes of solvents that can be analyzed with highly specific instruments.
US08104327B1	Leak detection method for a primary containment system A leak detection method for determining changes in helium concentration over time in an interstitial space between a primary vessel and a secondary vessel. The primary vessel is disposed inside a secondary vessel and charged with helium. An expected concentration of the helium in the interstitial space resulting from permeation of the primary vessel material is calculated and accounted for to determine a leak in the primary vessel. In another embodiment of the leak detection method, air flow is circulated in the interstitial space between the primary and second vessels. An abrupt change in measured concentrations can be used to determine the approximate location of the leak in the primary vessel.
US08104326B2	Methods and devices for circulating air A gas chromatography system comprising a sample introduction device, an oven coupled to the sample introduction device and a detector coupled to the oven is disclosed. In certain examples, the oven may be configured to receive a chromatography column in a space in the oven. In some examples, the oven may be constructed and arranged to provide a substantially constant temperature to the space during an analysis stage of the gas chromatography system.
US08104322B2	Method of working in pressing dies using marking paint The method according to the invention for working in pressing dies using marking paint wherein a fluorescent marking paint is used. This enables the operator in the manual working in of pressing dies to identify the painted tool surface without error and error-free detection of the tool surface occupied by marking paint is also possible by means of suitable devices (camera) for working-in of the pressing die which is done more or less automated.
US08104320B2	Method and apparatus for corrugating sheet metal An apparatus for bending sheet metal comprises a housing, a first shaft and a second shaft mounted in the housing, a motor, a first gear mounted on the first shaft, and a second gear mounted on the second shaft. The motor rotates both the first gear and the second gear. The first gear comprises a first plurality of components and the second gear comprises a second plurality of components. The first gear and the second gear are capable of engaging sheet metal passed between the gears while they are moving. The first and second plurality of components are capable of being configured to change a bend radius, a wavelength of waves formed in the sheet metal, and a distance between the first shaft and the second shaft can be adjusted to change an amplitude of waves formed in the sheet metal engaged by the first and second gears.
US08104314B2	Device for actuating the lock in the door or flap of a vehicle A construction unit (35) comprising a support (30) and a locking cylinder (20) is present in the device and is secured from the inner door side (11) behind the outer door lining (15). Those parts of the locking cylinder which project on the outer door side are covered by a cap which is secured on the inner door side (11) by securing means. In order to simplify the handling and to save space, it is proposed to use the securing means for the cap at the same time in order to also secure the construction unit (35) on the inner door side (11).
US08104313B2	Security enclosure for a gun A security enclosure for a handgun includes an enclosure base having an opening to an interior portion and a cover configured to selectively cover the opening in the enclosure base. The cover may be configured in a manner to rotate from a first position in which the cover blocks access to the interior portion of the enclosure base to a second position in which the cover allows access to the interior portion of the enclosure base. A gun enclosure may be rotatably disposed within the enclosure base. A biometric recognition device may be configured to operatively unlock the cover when exposed to a required feature of an authorized user.
US08104308B2	Refrigerant cycle device with ejector In a refrigerant cycle device with an ejector, a branch portion is located at an upstream side of a nozzle portion of the ejector so that the refrigerant flowing out of an exterior heat exchanger is branched into first and second streams in a cooling operation mode. A passage switching portion is configured such that the refrigerant of the first stream flows through the nozzle portion of the ejector, and the refrigerant of the second stream flows through the decompression unit, the using-side heat exchanger, and the refrigerant suction port of the ejector, in the cooling operation mode. In contrast, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor flows into the nozzle portion after passing through the using-side heat exchanger, and the refrigerant flowing out of the exterior heat exchanger flows into the refrigerant suction port of the ejector, in the heating operation mode.
US08104307B2	Expander-integrated compressor and refrigeration-cycle apparatus with the same An expander-integrated compressor (5A) has a compression mechanism (21) for compressing a refrigerant and an expansion mechanism (22) for expanding the refrigerant. The compression mechanism (21) is located above the expansion mechanism (22) inside a closed casing (10) and shares a rotating shaft (36) with the expansion mechanism (22). An oil pump (37) is provided at the lower end of the rotating shaft (36). The oil pump (37) is immersed in oil in an oil reservoir (15). Usually, the oil is placed in the oil reservoir (15) in such a manner that the oil level (OL) is located above a lower end portion (34e) of a vane (34a) of a first expansion section (30a). More preferably, the oil is placed in such a manner that the expansion mechanism (22) is immersed in the oil. An oil supply passage (38) for guiding the oil to the compression mechanism (21) is formed inside the rotating shaft (36). A suction port (37a) of the oil pump (37) is provided below the lower end portion (34e) of the vane (34a).
US08104303B2	Branching refrigerant relay unit and method of manufacturing the same A branching unit has a refrigerant pipe that is branched into a plurality of branching refrigerant pipes, and includes an insulation material resin casing and an expanded insulation material casing. The insulation material resin casing encloses branching portion while assuring an insulation space between the insulation material resin casing and the branching portion. The expanded insulation material casing is disposed on the external periphery of the insulation material resin casing.
US08104299B2	Air conditioner An air conditioner includes an indoor heat exchanger (radiator) and a controller. The radiator causes heat radiation to be performed with respect to air from a supercritical refrigerant during heating operation. The controller controls a room temperature by causing a high-pressure side pressure and a refrigerant outlet temperature of the radiator to reach respective target values. Preferably, the controller detects a refrigerant outlet temperature of the radiator with an outlet temperature sensor and detects a room temperature with a room temperature sensor. The controller increases or decreases a target value of the high-pressure side pressure when the controller has judged that there is an excess or a deficiency of capacity in view of the room temperature inside a room that is to be heated even when the refrigerant outlet temperature of the radiator has reached a target value during heating.
US08104296B2	Storage tank for a cryogenic fluid with a partitioned cryogen space A cryogenic storage tank comprises a partition that divides a cryogen space into a main storage space and an auxiliary space. A valve disposed inside the cryogen space is associated with a first fluid passage through the partition. The valve comprises a valve member that is actuatable by fluid forces within the cryogen space. A second fluid passage through the partition comprises a restricted flow area that is dimensioned to have a cross-sectional flow area that is smaller than that of a fill conduit such that there is a detectable increase in back-pressure when the main storage space is filled with liquefied gas.
US08104295B2	Cooling system for container in a vehicle A cooling system includes a container that is conductively coupled or convectively coupled to a thermoelectric device to selectively cool and/or heat the container. A climate controlled container system for a vehicle includes a container or cavity and a conduction element configured to cool the cavity. In some embodiments, the cooling system includes a housing, a housing inlet, a fluid passage and one or more thermoelectric devices and fluid transfer devices positioned within the housing.
US08104293B2	Magneto-caloric cooling device and method of operation A method of operating a cooling device is provided. The method includes sequentially regulating a temperature of a plurality of thermally coupled magneto-caloric elements for maximizing a magneto-caloric effect for each of the magneto-caloric elements when subjected to a magnetic regenerative refrigeration cycle.
US08104292B2	Duplex turbine shroud A gas turbine engine shroud includes a row of different first and second shroud segments alternating circumferentially therearound. The first segments have a first pattern of first cooling holes extending therethrough. The second segments have a second pattern of second cooling holes extending therethrough. The corresponding patterns have different collective flowrate capabilities.
US08104289B2	Systems and methods involving multiple torque paths for gas turbine engines Systems and methods involving multiple torque paths of gas turbine engines are provided. In this regard, a representative spool assembly for a gas turbine engine, which incorporates a compressor, a turbine and a gear assembly, includes: a shaft operative to be driven by the turbine; a first spool segment operative to couple the shaft to the compressor; and a second spool segment operative to couple the shaft to the gear assembly. The first spool segment and the second spool segment are not coupled to each other.
US08104287B2	Retaining element and heat shield element for a heat shield and combustion chamber provided with a heat shield A retaining element for retaining a heat shield element on a support structure comprises at least one fixing section adapted to fix the retaining element to the support structure and at least one retaining section adapted to engage with an engaging groove present on a periphery of the heat shield element. A projection is arranged on the retaining element in such a manner that it projects in the direction of the heat shield element when retaining a heat shield element.
US08104283B2	Steam temperature control in a boiler system using reheater variables A technique of controlling a boiler system such as that used in a power generation plant includes using manipulated variables associated with or control inputs to a reheater section of the boiler system to control the operation of the furnace, and in particular to control the fuel/air mixture provided to the furnace or the fuel to feedwater ratio used in the furnace or boiler. In the case of a once-through boiler type of boiler system, using the burner tilt position, damper position or reheater spray amount to control the fuel/air mixture or the fuel to feedwater flow ratio of the system provides better unit operational efficiency.
US08104281B2	Nested valve and method of control A valve in an engine exhaust system is disclosed. The valve can improve engine operation and reduce engine component degradation during cold engine starting. The valve may also be configured to provide different levels of restriction to exhaust gases flowing to a turbocharger turbine.
US08104276B2	Hydraulic circuit to prevent bucket separation from bucket rest during traveling of heavy equipment A hydraulic circuit for preventing a change of stroke of a boom cylinder or an arm cylinder during transportation. The hydraulic circuit includes first and second hydraulic pumps, a boom cylinder, an arm cylinder, a boom confluence logic valve, a first port connected with a chamber of the boom cylinder in a housing in which a spool for the boom cylinder is shiftably installed, a second port connected with a hydraulic tank in the housing, and a first orifice formed between the housing and a land part of the spool for the boom cylinder located between the first port and the second port. During transportation, a small amount of hydraulic fluid fed from the second hydraulic pump to the large chamber of the boom cylinder drains to the hydraulic tank through the first orifice to prevent a change of stroke of the boom cylinder.
US08104271B2	Exhaust purification device and exhaust purification method of internal combustion engine An SOX trap catalyst (11) in which at least one of an alkali metal and alkali earth metal is carried diffused is arranged in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine. By holding the temperature of the SOX trap catalyst (11) during engine operation at the temperature where a nitrate of the at least one of the alkali metal and alkali earth metal becomes the melted state, a nitrate movement and coagulation action where the nitrate in the SOX trap catalyst (11) moves to and coagulates at the surface of the SOX trap catalyst (11) is promoted. Due to this nitrate movement and coagulation action, SOX is removed while restoring the SOX trap rate.
US08104269B2	Catalytic combustor strategy using HC adsorber A vehicle system includes a hydrocarbon adsorber, a catalyst, a control module, and a heater. The hydrocarbon adsorber receives first exhaust gases, adsorbs hydrocarbons from the first exhaust gases, and outputs second exhaust gases. The catalyst receives the second exhaust gases. The control module controls a heater and fuel injectors. The heater heats a portion of the catalyst to a predetermined temperature. The control module controls the fuel injectors to generate a fuel-rich air/fuel mixture when the portion of the catalyst is heated to the predetermined temperature.
US08104268B2	Method for operating a metering valve and device for performing the method A method for operating a metering valve and a device for performing the method, providing for diagnosis of the metering valve which defines a flow rate of a reagent to be introduced into an exhaust gas area of an internal combustion engine. The diagnosis is performed on the basis of an analysis of a measure for the flow rate during a diagnosis time. According to a first embodiment, after a diagnosis start signal has occurred with the metering valve closed, the reagent is brought to a predefined diagnosis starting pressure via a pump; the metering valve is then set at a predefined flow rate and the pressure difference occurring during the diagnosis time is analyzed. According to another embodiment, the amount of reagent delivered by the metering valve during the diagnosis time into a graduated beaker is analyzed.
US08104266B2	Exhaust purification device of internal combustion engine In an internal combustion engine, an SOx sensor (16) having a sensor part (53, 60) trapping the SOx contained in the exhaust gas and able to detect the amount of SOx trapped at the sensor part (53, 60) from a change of property of the sensor part (53, 60) is arranged in the engine exhaust passage upstream of the NOx storing catalyst (14). When estimating the amount of SOx stored in the NOx storing catalyst (14) from the amount of SOx trapped at the sensor part (53, 60), deviation of the estimated value of the amount of stored SOx arising due to the difference between the SOx trapping rate of the sensor part (53, 60) and the SOx trapping rate of the NOx storing catalyst (14) is corrected.
US08104264B2	Low minimum impulse bit propellant gas thruster A gas thruster is configured to supply thrust over a relatively wide range, from a relatively low value to a relatively high thrust value, and exhibits relatively fine minimum impulse bit (MIB) performance. The gas thruster includes a thrust nozzle, a main stage, a main valve element, and a pilot valve. The gas thruster responds to thruster control signals supplied to the pilot valve and is configured such that for commands of relatively short duration, only the pilot valve responds and relatively low thrust is produced. Conversely, for command or relatively longer duration, the pilot valve and main valve element both respond and relatively higher thrust is produced.
US08104260B2	Deswirling exhaust mixer An exhaust mixer for a gas turbine engine including a plurality of circumferentially distributed alternating inner and outer lobes, where each of the inner lobes is configured with a circumferential offset between the base and the tip thereof, and a direction of the circumferential offset defined from the base to the tip of each of the inner lobes is the same for all of the inner lobes and opposite to that of a swirl component of a main gas path flow entering the exhaust mixer.
US08104258B1	Fuel control system with metering purge valve for dual fuel turbine The fuel system of a dual fuel turbine includes a flow control valve having a metering purge valve that in one state directly meters fuel to injectors of the turbine, in another state closes of fuel flow and passes purge air to the injectors and in another state positively closes of flow of both fuel and purge air. The metering purge valve is a pressure compensated spool valve that has a unique cross-ported interchange that passes fuel from the inlet through the spool to the metering edge. The direct metering of the valve to the injectors eliminates the need for additional shut off valves, and if used with a combining valve having an integral distributor section metering fuel to multiple injectors, the need for a separate flow divider is also eliminated. The valve can be actively cooled by dedicated coolant lines or lines shared with other flow control components such as additional metering valves for either the primary or secondary fuel.
US08104249B2	Alignment pin for aesthetic cover assembly and method An aesthetic cover assembly includes first mounting portion of a cover wall for concealing a portion of a building structure that is secured to the building structure. An alignment pin is secured on one of the first mounting portions and the building structure. The alignment pin supports a second mounting portion of a cover wall for concealing a portion of the building structure. A method of installing an aesthetic cover assembly is also included.
US08104248B2	Plug finishing system and tool therefor A plug finishing system involves forming a counterbore in a cover board above the head of a fastener as it is driven by a specially constructed driver. A plug, which is dimensioned for the counterbore and has a reduced portion, is inserted into the counterbore and positioned so that its exterior surface is co-planar with the exterior surface of the cover board.
US08104244B2	Floorboards, flooring systems and method for manufacturing and installation thereof Floorboards with a format corresponding to a traditional parquet block for laying of mechanically joined floating flooring. Rectangular floorboards include a surface layer and a core with two long sides and two short sides, for making a floating flooring, which floorboards are mechanically lockable and which along their four sides have pairs of opposing connectors for locking similar, adjoining floorboards to each other both vertically and horizontally wherein the long sides have a length not exceeding 80 cm and the short sides have a width not exceeding 10 cm.
US08104234B1	Prefabricated decorative frieze trim A prefabricated decorative frieze trim for securement to a lower surface of an eave and an exterior wall surface of a building which comprises a low gauge flexible sheet having a front face with an infinite variety of different ornamental shapes that can be formed thereon. A substrate member is applied to an internal surface of the low grade flexible sheet to provide structural rigidity thereto. A mechanism formed on the low grade flexible sheet is for securing the low grade flexible sheet to the lower surface of the eave and upper portion of the exterior wall surface of the building, whereby a free edge of a soffit component and a free edge of a wall siding can be retained thereto.
US08104232B2	Rotatable building A rotatable building structure that comprises: a vertically extending building having one or more floors; a fixed core support for supporting the building, located substantially centrally beneath the building; a rotatable annular drive system for rotating the building, located lower than the building and with its centre substantially aligned with the vertical centerline of the building, the system having an upper surface and a planar lower surface; and a fixed outer support, located beneath the annular drive system, the support having a planar upper surface that contacts the planar lower surface of the annular drive system; wherein at least one of the lower surface of the annular drive system and the upper surface of the fixed outer support is a bearing material, permitting rotation of the annular drive system over the fixed outer support, such that the annular drive system is rotated via a planar to planar bearing system.
US08104230B2	Gutter retaining system A gutter retaining system incorporating a gutter clip with gutter and retaining member. Retaining member is placed along the eaves. Various embodiments of retaining member permit its use with metal flashing and allow gutter system to be held against a building with straight fascia, slanted fascia, trim board and permit free floating attachment of a debris guard. The gutter clip has an arm, lower portion and upper portion. The upper portion includes upper section which is used to slip the gutter clip over the gutter. The arm fits between the gutter and a building wall. In addition, the gutter clip is scored at scoring lines along the arm which allows segments of arm to be removed. The removal of segments permits gutter clip to be modified for placement against buildings incorporating both straight and slanted fascia and trim board. A wedge clip or extender can be used for universal applications.
US08104228B2	Gasket for refrigerator cabinets with high heat insulation properties Gasket for a refrigerator cabinet having a base portion and a soft bellows portion. The base portion of the gasket is designed to couple with an outer door portion and an inner door portion of a door of the refrigerator cabinet before final filling of the shell defined by the outer door portion and inner door portion with a heat insulating material. The base portion has an inverted U shape, delimited by essentially vertical sections and a horizontal section. The vertical sections each terminate with a foot for resting on the door.
US08104224B1	Ant exterminator apparatus The ant exterminator apparatus provides reservoirs for 3 different types of bait to thereby best lure pests, especially ants. The overlapping top removably fits over the base to allow pest entrance and egress. The top provides visible and mechanical base access without top removal and also negates bait spillage and exterior contamination of the apparatus by bait, thereby further ensuring against code violations. The apparatus is effectively and legally used both exteriorly and interiorly with respect to structures.
US08104223B1	Insect capturing apparatus An apparatus designed to catch flies and other flying insects comprises an aesthetically pleasing rectangular housing with a top opening which allows an insect to fly or crawl onto an internal tacky sheet to be trapped. The housing may be placed upon any flat surface or be wall-mounted, thereby minimizing an occurrence of observing the trapped dead insects. A side surface of the housing provides loading and unloading of a slide-in tacky sheet. The tacky sheet attracts and traps flying or crawling insects such as flies through the top opening of the housing, thereby partially blocking a view of the trapped insects inside.
US08104222B2	Animal trap An animal trap having a jaw pivotally mounted to a base that swings between cocked sprung positions. A spring means biases the jaw toward the sprung position. Cooperatively engaged drive and driven gears are mounted on the side of the base. The driven gear is releasably engaged to the jaw when the jaw is in the sprung position. A lever means is provided for the selective engagement with the drive gear. When the lever is engaged to the drive gear and rotated it causes the driven gear to rotate, pivoting the jaw to the cocked position. After the animal is trapped, the lever is engaged with the drive gear permitting the jaw to be pivotally moved to the cocked position and releasing the animal from the trap. An enclosure permits the animal to enter and step on the trigger member to spring the jaw.
US08104220B2	Fishing pole with replaceable illumination element A fishing pole has a hollow handle and a hollow rod with their interior chambers in communication with each other. The hollow handle can receive an independent light source and also houses a concave reflector. The hollow rod contains a plastic optical fiber which extends along the length of the hollow rod and extends into the hollow handle through the concave reflector. The hollow rod has at least some portions that are translucent. The plastic optical fiber is scuffed on its end where it protrudes through the concave reflector and also in sections within the hollow rod. An independent light source inserted into the hollow handle is directed toward the concave reflector and light is directed into the plastic optical fiber, transmitted to the hollow rod, and diffused out into the hollow rod and then outside. The plastic optical fiber also rattles when the rod is moved.
US08104219B1	Lighted tip fishing pole apparatus The lighted tip fishing pole apparatus provides a lighted tip pole with intensity adjustment of the lighted tip as well as on/off control. The apparatus is electrically efficient in order to extend battery life, thereby enabling extended use. The apparatus ensures against electrical failure of the lighted tip and related electrical connections by virtue of rod insulation, coiled wiring, straight wiring where needed, and positive, sealed connections and circuitry. The pole offers the same flexibility, threaded reel attachments, cushioned handle, eyelets, and cushioned grip fishermen require. The apparatus enables a fisherman to notice rod dip when a bite occurs, and thereby react, as opposed to an inability to do so in no light and low light conditions. With only the tip lighted, visibility of rod tip action is magnified. The further advantage of tip light intensity adjustment allows a fisherman to adjust to various light conditions.
US08104218B2	Firearm accessory rail with integral sight elements A firearm accessory mounting rail with an integrated back up sight system including an elongated Picatinny rail having longitudinally spaced apart first and second end regions and a transverse profile. A first sight element has a visual marker substantially centrally positioned. A second sight element has laterally spaced apart visual markers. A substantially centered longitudinal channel extends along the upper surface of the rail between the first and second sight elements. The firearm may be sighted by visually aligning the marker of the first sight element between the markers of the second sight element, the visual alignment being at least partially through the longitudinal channel. The sight elements may be defined completely within the transverse profile of the rail so as not to interfere with the normal attachment of any accessories to the rail and may be adjustable for windage and/or elevation. The visual markers may be illuminated by light gathering fiber optic or tritium elements.
US08104214B2	Firearm deployable leg support A gravity deploying bi-pod leg set is provided which automatically locks into position when fully deployed by a gravity slide lock.
US08104209B1	Dynamic latch for a tube mounted magazine well A dynamic latch to selectively retain a magazine within the magazine port of a long gun. The dynamic latch permits the magazine to be inserted into the magazine port by movement in a single direction eliminating the need to rotate the magazine in order to secure it within the magazine port. The dynamic latch may include an outer housing, a piston positioned within the housing, and a spring positioned between the outer housing and the piston. A latch profile on the end of the piston may extend out of an opening in the end of a magazine well when the spring is in an uncompressed state.
US08104205B2	Sign stand with rolling base A portable sign stand with wheels or rollers, an adjustable weighted base member, and a sign display member. The base member has one or more compartments so that liquid or solid ballast can be added to stabilize the sign stand in windy conditions. The upper and lower surface members of the otherwise hollow base member are joined together at one or more locations where the sign display member is connected to the base member. The base member can be made by blow molding techniques. One or more wheels are provided on the base member in order to allow the sign stand to be rolled and easily moved to different positions. One or more resilient members can be used to connect the sign display member to the base member.
US08104200B2	Releasable coupling assembly A lock that includes a wedge that is used to releasably secure separable components of an assembly together. The wedge can be used with a spool. The wedge and spool are threadedly coupled together to drive the wedge into and out of an opening in the assembly without hammering or prying. The direct coupling of the wedge and spool eliminates the need for bolts, washers, nuts and other hardware so as to minimize the number of parts. As a result, the lock is inexpensive to make, easy to use, and unlikely to become inoperative because of lost or broken parts or due to fines or other difficulties encountered in harsh digging environments. Further, the wedge can be driven into the assembly to provide the degree of tightness necessary for the intended operation and/or to re-tighten the assembly after incurring wear during use. A latch assembly is preferably provided to securely hold the wedge in place and avoid an undesired loss of parts during use.
US08104199B2	Ripper boot including a high tensile tip A ripper boot to cleave through hard ground. A carrier portion is connected to a shank of a vehicle. A tooth portion is integral or removably engaged with the carrier portion including a longitudinal axis and a socket at a working end. The socket extends partially into the working end including a base and one or more side walls extending forwardly of the base. The side walls extend parallel with or at a slight angle relative to the longitudinal axis. A high tensile tip includes a shaft and a conical head to extend out of the tooth portion to form a first point of contact between the tooth portion and the ground. The shaft includes a corresponding number of walls to that of the socket. The shaft of the high tensile tip is locked inside the tooth portion socket by press fitting.
US08104191B2	Laundry dryer providing moisture application during tumbling and reduced airflow A laundry dryer includes a rotatable drum, an air delivery system selectively operable to provide air into the drum at a first flow rate and a second flow rate that is less than the first flow rate, and a moisture delivery system operable to provide moisture (e.g., water mist or steam) into the drum while air is being provided at the lower second flow rate, and during drum rotation (tumbling), to thus enhance dispersion of the moisture into the fabrics of the load, and the attendant dewrinkling/refresh benefits. The air delivery system can include a reversible blower that provides air at the first flow rate when operated in a first direction and provides air at the second flow rate when operated in an opposite second direction. The drum can be a reversibly rotatable drum that is rotatable in a first and an opposite second direction, and the dryer can include a drive motor that both rotates the drum and operates the blower. The moisture delivery system can include a nozzle to provide moisture directly into the drum.
US08104189B2	Coordinate measurement machine with vibration detection An articulated arm system can include an articulated measuring arm with a plurality of interconnected support arm segments. The arm segments can be moveable about a plurality of axes. A plurality of rotational angle sensors can mount on the arm and be configured to measure rotational position between the support arm segments. Additionally, a vibration detection device can attach to the arm near an end of the arm. The vibration detection device can be operatively connected to the sensors such that the sensors output a rotational position upon detection of a new vibration exceeding a threshold amplitude.
US08104188B1	Suspended-ceiling grid control lines and grid components holders Devices for aiding installation of control lines in suspended ceiling systems; each comprising a flat base portion, a squared side having a paralleled horizontal groove formed therein to receive a portion of wall angle molding used with grids at 90° angles in relation to walls, an angled side having a paralleled horizontal groove formed therein to receive a portion of wall angle molding used with grids at 45° angles in relation to walls, threaded holes formed through top portion, first and second means for temporarily attaching devices onto wall angle moldings, means for restricting movement of main tees and cross tees which together allow a control line be wrapped around horizontal grooves, pulled taut, and wrapped around first or second means for temporarily attaching said devices onto wall angle moldings to lock said control line taut.
US08104175B2	Cylinder block manufacturing method for multi-cylinder engine A method of manufacturing a cylinder block for a multi-cylinder engine is disclosed herein. The cylinder block includes a crankcase and cylinder bores disposed therein separated by cylinder walls. The crankcase is adapted to receive a crankshaft and includes crank chambers disposed therein separated by partition walls. Each of the crank chambers of the crankcase corresponds to one of the cylinder bores of the cylinder block. The cylinder bore side of each partition wall has a honing runoff portion thinner in section than the crankshaft side thereof such that a step face results in the partition walls. Further, a runoff groove is formed in the partition walls of the crank chambers, and also a communication hole is formed at least partially within the runoff groove in at least one of the partition walls to enable communication between crank chambers.
US08104170B2	Charge plate fabrication technique A charge plate and a method for fabricating a charge plate for an ink jet printhead includes the steps of removing portions of conductive material from a dimensionally stable substrate with a coating of conductive material to form at least a first and second electrode on a first face with a first space between the first and second electrodes, removing portions of conductive material from the dimensionally stable substrate with a coating of conductive material to form a first electrode extension which engages the first electrode on the conductive charging face, and a second electrode extension which engages the second electrode on the conductive charging face, whereby the first and second electrode extensions are electrically isolated from each other, additionally forming a first space between the electrode extensions, which connects with the first space between the electrode extensions.
US08104168B2	Positioning device to position one or more plates of electronic circuits, in a metal deposition unit A positioning device to position one or more plates of electronic circuits with respect to an operating unit. The device comprises a rotary member which rotates selectively between a first operating position and a second operating position, and a positioning member mounted on the rotary member. The positioning member comprises a frame, which is mounted removably on the rotary member, and a strip of transpirant material on which each plate is rested. The strip is wound between a pair of winding/unwinding rollers, pivoted on the frame. The positioning member also comprises heating means able to heat the wafer to take it to a determinate operating temperature.
US08104167B2	Method of manufacturing resistance film heating apparatus A method of manufacturing a resistance film heating apparatus comprising: acid washing and cleaning the surface of a base material; heating and activating the base material; spraying a liquid resistance material on the surface; testing by the four-point method the actual heating power of the surface high-density resistance film on the cooled down base material in accord with a designed heating power, and correcting the characteristics of the designed conductive electrodes, thereby ensuring that the heating power is with the designed heating power; printing the corrected value of conductive silver slurry in a predetermined manner on the base material; sintering and solidifying the conductive silver slurry in a baking process so as to form electrodes; testing again after the electrodes cooling down naturally, and mending the electrodes using the conductive silver slurry and adjusting the baking temperature in accord with the designed heating power, and forming an eligible finished product.
US08104162B2	Insert with filler to dampen vibrating components An insert has a body which defines a cavity with a filler held in the cavity. Relative movement between the body and the filler helps dampen vibrations in a component when the insert is carried in the component and when the component is vibrated.
US08104159B2	Belt for continuously variable transmission and manufacturing method of the same A method for manufacturing a belt for a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in which multiple V blocks of a plurality of types having different thicknesses are attached to an endless body. The method includes forming a plurality of V block groups respectively having a different ratio of different types of V blocks; and forming a series of V blocks by attaching a plurality of V blocks to the endless belt to provide said plurality of V block groups. The V block groups have different ratios of the plurality of types of V blocks to provide a belt whose noise level is low and dispersed.
US08104154B2	Method of manufacturing a piezoelectric vibrating piece To efficiently fabricate a high quality piezoelectric vibrating piece regardless of an accuracy of an outer shape of a wafer, there is provided a method of fabricating a plurality of piezoelectric vibrating pieces at a time utilizing a wafer S, the method including a step of forming two or more of through holes 40 and forming outer shapes of a plurality of piezoelectric plates 10 simultaneously with the through holes by constituting reference points G by centers of the through holes by etching the wafer by a photolithography technology, a step of preparing a jig for a wafer having inserting pins formed to project by a number the same as a number of the through holes from above a flat plate portion, thereafter, mounting the wafer on the flat plate portion in a state of inserting the inserting pin into the through hole, a step of forming an electrode on outer surfaces of the plurality of piezoelectric plates, and a step of cutting to separate the plurality of piezoelectric plates from the wafer to fragment, and in the electrode forming step and the cutting step, positioning to the wafer is carried out by constituting the reference point by the center of the through hole.
US08104152B2	Tray for collecting and/or treating decomposition fluids from a corpse A tray comprising a hollow body for placement within or beneath a coffin for collecting and/or treating decomposition fluids from a corpse within said hollow body, wherein said tray comprises an upper wall and a lower wall defining at least one closed chamber therebetween, said upper wall being provided with at least one drainage aperture in an upper surface through which fluid collected on said outer surface of the upper wall can pass into said at least one closed chamber to be retained and/or treated therein.
US08104149B1	Money clip A money clip includes a pair of jaws joined together by means of a throat with a pair housings at least partially enveloping the jaws. A pair of operating levers are slidably mounted, respectively, in the housings with an elongated slot formed on the interior of each operating lever. A locking arm is attached to each jaw disposed and positioned to form an interlocking relationship between the jaw and respective operating lever.
US08104147B2	Fluid-tight slide fastener A fluid tight slide fastener (10) including a slider (15) slidably associated with opposite edges (12a) of two flanking strips (12) to provide for their closure, and an upper end stop (16) with which the slider (15) is removably engaged upon closure. A clearance-recovery wedge-like coupling is included at the upper stop (16) and in the slider (15), which includes respective tilted sections (19,21) and opposite tilted sections (46,47) to make, upon engagement of the upper stop (16) and slider (15), a clearance-recovery taper fit.
US08104144B2	Hinge assembly and electronic device using the same A hinge assembly includes a first pivot shaft, a second pivot shaft, a third pivot shaft, a first bracket, a second bracket, a first meshing wheel, a second meshing wheel, a third meshing wheel, and a transmission belt member sleeved on both the first meshing wheel and the third meshing wheel. The first pivot shaft, the second pivot shaft, and the third pivot shaft are substantially parallel. The first and second brackets are non-rotatably sleeved on the first and second pivot shafts, respectively. The third meshing wheel is disposed between the first meshing wheel and the second meshing wheel, and meshes with the second meshing wheel and the transmission belt member. An electronic device using the hinge assembly is also provided.
US08104142B2	Drop-in damped hinge module A damped hinge module is disclosed and includes a first member, a second member and a torsion spring. The second member is rotationally movable relative to the first member between a first position and a second position. The second member being received at least in part within the first member. The torsion spring is located internally with respect to the first member and biases the second member toward the first position relative to the first member. The spring has a preload with the second member in the first position relative to the first member.
US08104139B2	Method and apparatus for removing the contents from a pipe Method of removing the contents from a pipe (1)comprising forcing a gas flow through the pipe, the pipe having a pipe volume, an inlet end and an outlet end (9), characterized in that the gas flow is forced into the pipe (1) at the inlet end by applying a gas pressure decreasing from an initial pressure to a lower final pressure to remove at least parts of the contents from the pipe and maintaining that lower final pressure to remove the remaining contents from the pipe and apparatus for removing the contents from a pipe by forcing a gas flow through a pipe (1) having an inlet end and an outlet end (9), comprising gas flow generating means (5) and a container (3) having an inlet and having an outlet connectable to the inlet end of the pipe (1).
US08104136B2	Windshield wiper blade device A windshield wiper blade device is constructed and formed to be releasably secured in a fitted engagement upon an existing wiper arm and blade assembly to provide an effective wiping blade that is easily installed and replaceable in an integral form. The present device comprises a wiper jacket constructed in an envelope-like form partially sealed along its top edge and open but sealable along the remainder of the edge to allow the insertion of an existing wiper blade assembly within the walls of the jacket. A bladed edge having a multi-channel configuration is provided externally along the bottom of the jacket while the interior length of its chamber is formed to provide an angled nesting area for the foot of the wiper blade assembly inserted within the jacket. The chamber walls of the wiper jacket are lined with a resilient foam material on opposite sides to engage the existing blade assembly transversely and secure its position within the wiper jacket. The open top edge of the wiper jacket is provided with fastening material on opposed surfaces and a plurality of releasable straps to selectively close the open edge in a sealed engagement.
US08104126B2	Method of inflating, in alternating manner, a support device having inflatable cells, and a device for implementing the method A method of inflating, in alternating manner, inflatable cells of a support device for supporting an element to be supported is provided, which device is of the mattress type for supporting the body of a patient, said mattress being made up of cells that are inflatable with a fluid, in particular air, and having at least one zone made up of first and second series of inflatable cells referred to respectively as “first” cells and as “second” cells, the cells of each series communicating fluidly with one another and with inflation means, in which method alternating deflation and re-inflation cycles are performed during which each of said series of cells is deflated and then re-inflated in alternation and in succession, said first cells being deflated and then re-inflated simultaneously respectively with the re-inflation and with the deflation of said second cells, the alternating deflation and re-inflation of said first and second cells of the support device taking place in a cycle controlled by said inflation means being switched on/off, wherein the switching on/off of said inflation means is controlled as a function of the values of the pressures of the fluid measured inside said cells and of comparison of said values with at least one reference pressure value determined as a function of the morphology of the patient.
US08104121B2	Combination ambulance cot and chair A combination ambulance cot and chair is disclosed. The invention includes a support frame, and a segmented patient support pivotally mounted to the support frame for movement at least between a chair position and a fully-reclined position. The segmented patient support has a seat segment. A securing device is connected functionally to the support frame and the seat segment, and configured to releasably secure the combination ambulance cot and chair in at least the fully-reclined position.
US08104120B2	Height adjustable bed with a push chain assembly A bed includes a base frame 14 having a head end and a foot end, an elevatable frame 16 also having a head end and a foot end, a lift assembly 76 or 78 comprising an actuation system connected to one of the frames, a push chain 106 having an actuator end 124 driven by a lead screw 86 and a distal end 126 connected to the other of the frames. Rotary motion of the lead screw changes elevation of the elevating frame relative to the base frame.
US08104112B2	Portable solar shower A portable solar shower includes two detachable water reservoirs. One of the reservoirs may be coupled to a water source and includes a diverter valve regulating the flow and temperature of water spayed by a shower head, and the other reservoir has a port for coupling to the shower head. When the solar shower is not in use, the reservoirs may be separated from one another to form a compact package adapted for storage or transportation.
US08104109B2	Movable floor system for swimming pool A movable floor system for a swimming pool, including a structural platform comprising a horizontal frame designed to support a finished covering, the platform being designed to be installed in a cavity acting as the swimming pool. The system includes a lifting mechanism, a plurality of parallel crossmembers fixed within a layer formed by the frame of the platform; and a plurality of carrier pulleys located along outer lateral edges of the frame, the carrier pulleys designed to accommodate a platform-driving cable. The lifting mechanism further includes: a driver; a shaft; first and second drive pulleys situated at the ends of the shaft designed to take at least one platform-driving cable; an attachment to secure at least one cable in the cavity; and means for actuating the drive shaft.
US08104104B2	Dual flush button assembly A dual flush button assembly includes a unitary button with a full flush surface and a partial flush surface. Pressing the partial flush surface moves the button linearly to active a partial flush. Pressing the full flush surface rotates the button to activate a full flush. An extension member beneath the button is coupled to a link of a dual flush valve. The extension member is moved farther when the full flush surface is engaged. The button is configured to pivot with respect to a housing when the full flush portion is engaged.
US08104102B2	Method and apparatus for unclogging a toilet A toilet unclogging device rests on top of a toilet bowl rim and a user actuating a diaphragm or expandable central portion generates a temporary vacuum that repositions or reshapes an obstruction located below a water line to unclog the toilet without submerging any items beneath the water line of the toilet bowl.
US08104101B2	Integrated protective ensemble An integrated ensemble for personal protection and comfort. The integrated ensemble may generally include one or more multifunctional layers. Each layer may include functionality directed to provision of specific types of protection and/or personal comfort. A liner may be generally capable of providing immersion protection, cooling, and cold weather protection. A shell may be designed for wear in cooperation with the liner. The shell may be capable of providing protection against flame, acceleration, and other environmental factors, as well as providing cooling and gear carriage. The disclosed integrated ensembles are generally low-bulk to facilitate movement.
US08104097B2	Multicolor, multilayer elastomeric articles and methods of manufacturing same Multilayer elastomeric articles and methods of making the same are disclosed in which the outside or outer distal surface of the article is a different color or otherwise visually distinct in appearance from the inside or wearer contacting surface of the article so that the user of the article can readily identify the article as a multilayer elastomeric article. In one aspect, elastomer emulsions, solvent solutions, or plastisols used to form each layer may be modified with the addition of base color and/or colorant components in order to form a colored or patterned layer. In another aspect, one or both of the surfaces of the elastomeric articles (or layers of the articles) may be coated with such a colorant component to sufficiently visually distinguish the layers from each other.
US08104094B2	Clean, cool, comfortable welding helmet This invention defines a welding helmet that encloses a welders head on five sides and with an optional skirt covers their neck. The helmet contains a fan, filter and cooling module to provide clean cool air that reduces welding fume levels in the breathing zone below suggested maximums. By providing cool air to the welders head and neck area their whole body will feel cooler. It suggests the use of an external power source to provide the energy required to have a fan of sufficient capacity to draw air thorough a quality filter so potentially hazardous constituents of welding fumes are captured. This externally supplied power allows the required cooling capacity thermal electric cooling modules to be used to significantly lower the ambient air temperature. This helmet allows the welding operator to have sufficient cooling to improve their overall work environment for one of the most objectionable welding issues, excess heat.

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