最新美国发明专利第2012-03-06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
US08129252B2	Semiconductor devices with sealed, unlined trenches and methods of forming same A semiconductor device includes unlined and sealed trenches and methods for forming the unlined and sealed trenches. More particularly, a superjunction semiconductor device includes unlined, and sealed trenches. The trench has sidewalls formed of the semiconductor material. The trench is sealed with a sealing material such that the trench is air-tight. First and second regions are separated by the trench. The first region may include a superjunction Schottky diode or MOSFET. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of regions are separated by a plurality of unlined and sealed trenches.
US08129251B2	Metal-insulator-metal-structured capacitor formed with polysilicon A METAL-INSULATOR-METAL structured capacitor is formed with polysilicon instead of an oxide film as a sacrificial layer material that defines a storage electrode region. A MPS (Meta-stable Poly Silicon) process is performed to increase the surface area of the sacrificial layer that defines the storage electrode region and also increase the area of the storage electrode formed over sacrificial layer. This process results in increasing the capacity of the capacitor in a stable manner.
US08129249B2	Integrated transistor, particularly for voltages and method for the production thereof Integrated transistor and method for the production is disclosed. An explanation is given of, inter alia, a transistor having an electrically insulating isolating trench extending from a main area in the direction of a connection region remote from the main area. Moreover, the transistor contains an auxiliary trench extending from the main area as far as the connection region remote from the main area. The transistor requires a small chip area and has outstanding electrical properties.
US08129245B2	Methods of manufacturing power semiconductor devices with shield and gate contacts Methods of manufacturing power semiconductor devices include forming an epitaxial and dielectric layer, patterning and etching the dielectric layer, forming a first oxide layer, forming a first conductive layer on top of the first oxide layer, etching the first conductive layer away inside an active trench, forming a second oxide layer and second conductive layer. The second conductive layer does not extend completely over the first conductive layer in a first region outside of the active trench. The methods further include forming a third oxide layer over the second conductive layer, etching a first opening through the third oxide layer exposing the second conductive layer outside the active trench, etching a second opening through the second oxide layer outside the active trench in the first region exposing the first conductive layer but not the second conductive layer, and filling the first and second openings with conductive material.
US08129243B2	Methods of forming non-volatile memory having tunnel insulator of increasing conduction band offset Methods of forming non-volatile memory cell structures are described that facilitate the use of band-gap engineered gate stacks with asymmetric tunnel barriers in reverse and normal mode floating node memory cells that allow for direct tunnel programming and erase, while maintaining high charge blocking barriers and deep carrier trapping sites for good charge retention. The low voltage direct tunneling program and erase capability reduces damage to the gate stack and the crystal lattice from high energy carriers, reducing write fatigue and enhancing device lifespan. The low voltage direct tunnel program and erase capability also enables size reduction through low voltage design and further device feature scaling. Such memory cells also allow multiple bit storage. These characteristics allow such memory cells to operate within the definition of a universal memory, capable of replacing both DRAM and ROM in a system.
US08129242B2	Method of manufacturing a memory device A method of manufacturing a flash memory device having an enhanced gate coupling ratio includes steps of forming a first semiconductor layer on a substrate and forming a semiconductor spacer layer on top of the first semiconductor layer. The semiconductor spacer layer includes a plurality of recesses. The method provides a semiconductor spacer structure which functions to increase the contact area between a floating gate and a control gate of the flash memory device.
US08129241B2	Method for forming a shielded gate trench FET A method for forming a shielded gate field effect transistor (FET) includes forming a plurality of trenches in a semiconductor region and forming a shield electrode in a bottom portion of each trench. The method also includes forming a dielectric layer comprising a first oxide layer and a nitride layer both laterally extending over the shield electrode. The method also includes forming a gate electrode over the dielectric layer.
US08129239B2	Semiconductor device having an expanded storage node contact and method for fabricating the same A semiconductor device is disclosed that stably ensures an area of a storage node contact connected to a junction region in an active region of the semiconductor device and is thus able to improve the electrical properties of the semiconductor device and enhance a yield, and a method for fabricating the same. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having an active region including a gate, a storage node contact region, and an isolation region that defines the active region. A passing gate and an isolation structure surrounding the passing gate are formed in the isolation region. A silicon epitaxial layer is selectively formed over an upper portion of the passing gate to expand the storage node contact region.
US08129236B2	Method for creating tensile strain by applying stress memorization techniques at close proximity to the gate electrode After forming the outer drain and source regions of an N-channel transistor, the spacer structure may be removed on the basis of an appropriately designed etch stop layer so that a rigid material layer may be positioned more closely to the gate electrode, thereby enhancing the overall strain-inducing mechanism during a subsequent anneal process in the presence of the material layer and providing an enhanced stress memorization technique (SMT). In some illustrative embodiments, a selective SMT approach may be provided.
US08129235B2	Method of fabricating two-step self-aligned contact A method of fabricating a self-aligned contact is provided. A first dielectric layer is formed on a substrate having a contact region therein. Next, a lower hole corresponding to the contact region is formed in the first dielectric layer. Thereafter, a second dielectric layer is formed on the first dielectric layer, and then an upper hole self-aligned to and communicated with the lower hole is formed in the second dielectric layer, wherein the upper hole and the lower hole constitute a self-aligned contact hole. Afterwards, the self-aligned contact hole is filled with a conductive layer.
US08129232B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same A semiconductor device having a CMOS structure, wherein, in manufacturing a CMOS circuit, an impurity element which imparts p-type conductivity to the active layer of the p-channel type semiconductor device is added before forming the gate insulating film. Then, by applying thermal oxidation treatment to the active layer, the impurity element is subjected to redistribution, and the concentration of the impurity element in the principal surface of the active layer is minimized. The precise control of threshold voltage is enabled by the impurity element that is present in a trace quantity.
US08129220B2	Method and system for bonding electrical devices using an electrically conductive adhesive A system for bonding electrical devices using an electrically conductive adhesive to adhere the electrical devices together, the system comprising: an ultrasonic transducer to generate an ultrasonic vibration; and an ultrasonic to thermal energy apparatus operatively attached to and covering an operational end of the ultrasonic transducer, the ultrasonic to thermal energy apparatus damping the ultrasonic vibration to minimize ultrasonic vibration transmitted to a first electrical device and causing the conversion of the ultrasonic vibration to a heating pulse which is conducted through the first electrical device to the adhesive; wherein the adhesive is softened by the heating pulse to bond the electrical devices together.
US08129217B2	Method for producing at least one multilayer body, and multilayer body The invention concerns a process for the production of a multi-layer body, wherein the multi-layer body includes at least two functional layers on a top side of a carrier substrate, which are structured in register relationship with each other, by a procedure whereby an underside of the carrier substrate is prepared in such a way that in a first region there results a transparency for a first exposure radiation and in at least one second region there results a transparency for at least one second exposure radiation different therefrom in register relationship with the first region, the underside is successively exposed with the first and the at least one second exposure radiation and the first exposure radiation is used for structuring a first functional layer and the at least one second exposure radiation is used for structuring at least one second functional layer on the top side of the carrier substrate.
US08129212B2	Surface cleaning and texturing process for crystalline solar cells Methods for surface texturing a crystalline silicon substrate are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a crystalline silicon substrate, wetting the substrate with an alkaline solution comprising a wetting agent, and forming a textured surface with a structure having a depth about 1 μm to about 10 μm on the substrate. In another embodiment, a method of performing a substrate texture process includes providing crystalline silicon substrate, pre-cleaning the substrate in a HF aqueous solution, wetting the substrate with a KOH aqueous solution comprising polyethylene glycol (PEG) compound, and forming a textured surface with a structure having a depth about 3 μm to about 8 μm on the substrate.
US08129209B2	Method for fabricating a semiconductor component based on GaN A semiconductor component has a plurality of GaN-based layers, which are preferably used to generate radiation, produced in a fabrication process. In the process, the plurality of GaN-based layers are applied to a composite substrate that includes a substrate body and an interlayer. A coefficient of thermal expansion of the substrate body is similar to or preferably greater than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the GaN-based layers, and the GaN-based layers are deposited on the interlayer. The interlayer and the substrate body are preferably joined by a wafer bonding process.
US08129207B2	Light emitting diode having a thermal conductive substrate and method of fabricating the same Disclosed are a light emitting diode having a thermal conductive substrate and a method of fabricating the same. The light emitting diode includes a thermal conductive insulating substrate. A plurality of metal patterns are spaced apart from one another on the insulating substrate, and light emitting cells are located in regions on the respective metal patterns. Each of the light emitting cells includes a P-type semiconductor layer, an active layer and an N-type semiconductor layer. Meanwhile, metal wires electrically connect upper surfaces of the light emitting cells to adjacent metal patterns. Accordingly, since the light emitting cells are operated on the thermal conductive substrate, a heat dissipation property of the light emitting diode can be improved.
US08129201B2	Stacking apparatus and method for stacking integrated circuit elements A stacking apparatus that stacks chip assemblies each having a plurality of chips disposed continuously with circuit patterns and electrodes, includes: a plurality of stages each allowed to move arbitrarily, on which the chip assemblies are placed; a storage unit that stores an estimated extent of change in a position of an electrode at each chip, expected to occur as heat is applied to the chip assemblies placed on the plurality of stages during a stacking process; and a control unit that sets positions of the plurality of stages to be assumed relative to each other during the stacking process based upon the estimated extent of change in the position of the electrode at each chip provided from the storage unit and position information indicating positions of individual chips formed at the chip assemblies and controls at least one of the plurality of stages.
US08129200B2	Nonvolatile ferroelectric memory device and method for manufacturing the same A nonvolatile ferroelectric memory device includes a plurality of unit cells. Each of the unit cells includes a cell capacitor and a cell transistor. The cell capacitor includes a storage node, a ferroelectric layer, and a plate line. The cell capacitors of more than one of the plurality of unit cells are provided in a trench.
US08129195B2	Method for the production of an analytical element A method is provided for producing an analytical element comprising at least one test field for analyzing a liquid sample, wherein provision is made for a carrier on which a polymer fabric is arranged. At least one portion of the polymer fabric is irradiated with UV laser light and thereby hydrophobized.
US08129192B2	Method for analyzing dithiocarbamate pesticide using microwave-assisted thermal digestion and extraction A method for analyzing a dithiocarbamate pesticide is provided. The method includes the steps of: adding a crude drug, a preparation containing the same, or a treated product thereof, an aqueous acid catalyst solution, L-cysteine or a salt thereof, and an organic solvent for extraction to a reaction vessel, sealing the vessel, carrying out microwave irradiation, digesting a dithiocarbamate pesticide existing in the crude drug or the preparation containing the same into carbon disulfide, carrying out fractional extraction using the above organic solvent, and then analyzing the extract.
US08129190B2	Tagged petroleum products and methods of detecting same Tagged products (including tagged petroleum products) and methods of detecting the same are disclosed. The tagged petroleum products are tagged with a violanthrone, e.g., a substituted violanthrone and/or an isoviolanthrone, e.g., a substituted isoviolanthrone.
US08129186B2	Choroid plexus preparation and uses thereof The present invention is directed to the use of choroid plexus cells and/or choroid plexus conditioned media for enhancing the growth, survival and/or maintenance of function of non-choroid plexus cells grown in long term or short term culture.
US08129169B2	Microorganisms for the production of 1,4-butanediol and related methods The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms comprising a 1,4-butanediol (BDO) pathway comprising at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a BDO pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce BDO and further optimized for expression of BDO. The invention additionally provides methods of using such microbial organisms to produce BDO.
US08129164B2	Crystallographic structure of Mnk-1 and Mnk-2 proteins The present invention relates to crystalline Mnk-1 and Mnk-2 kinases and, in particular, to the crystal structure of Mnk-1 and Mnk-2 kinase domain.
US08129162B2	Ketol-acid reductoisomerase using NADH Methods for the evolution of NADPH binding ketol-acid reductoisomerase enzymes to acquire NADH binding functionality are provided. Specific mutant ketol-acid reductoisomerase enzymes isolated from Pseudomonas that have undergone co-factor switching to bind NADH are described.
US08129159B2	Attachment of molecules to surfaces The present invention relates to methods, reagents, and substrates that can be used for, for example, immobilizing biomolecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins. In an embodiment, the present invention relates to surfaces coated with a polymer according to the present invention. In an embodiment, the present invention relates to methods for thermochemically and/or photochemically attaching molecules to a surface at a high density.
US08129154B2	Microorganisms and methods for the biosynthesis of fumarate, malate, and acrylate A non-naturally occurring eukaryotic or prokaryotic organism includes one or more gene disruptions occurring in genes encoding enzymes imparting increased fumarate, malate or acrylate production in the organism when the gene disruption reduces an activity of the enzyme. The one or more gene disruptions confers increased production of acrylate onto the organism. Organisms that produce acrylate have an acrylate pathway that at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an acrylate pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce acrylate, the acrylate pathway comprising a decarboxylase. Methods of producing fumarate, malate or acrylate include culturing these organisms.
US08129150B2	Mixture of reversibly inhibited enzymes The invention relates to composition or a kit containing an enzyme that is reversibly inhibited by means of a chemical modification and an enzyme which is reversibly inhibited using non-covalent binding, the use of a mixture of enzymes reversibly inhibited in such a manner for processing or multiplying polynucleotides, and a method for specifically amplifying DNA by simultaneously using both types of reversibly inhibited enzymes.
US08129144B2	Papilloma pseudovirus and preparation The invention involves a papilloma pseudovirus that can induce immune response after oral intake as well as its preparation. It is characterized in that HPV or BPV pseudovirus are made by disrupting HPV-VLP or BPV-VLP, mixing them with plasmids (plasmids or DNA vaccine), and reassembling them into the pseudoviruses (VLPs with plasmids inside). Oral administration of the pseudoviruses will result in delivery to mucosal and systemic lymphoid tissues and induce immune responses for disease prevention and treatment. The pseudovirus induces stronger immune response than DNA vaccines. Additionally, the pseudovirus can be applied in gene therapy by bringing the therapeutic genes into lymphoid tissues in the human body.
US08129143B2	Method for production of a compound in a eukaryotic cell The present invention relates to a eukaryotic cell containing peroxisomes that are capable to fuse with a membrane-structure of the cell involved in the secretory pathway of the cell. In this way, the eukaryotic cell is able to release the peroxisomal content outside the cell. The invention also relates to a method for production of a compound of interest in said eukaryotic cell wherein said compound of interest is present in the peroxisome of the cell. Said compound of interest will accumulate in the peroxisome by a signal promoting peroxisome localization. Preferred host cells are filamentous fungal cells.
US08129140B2	Thermophilic endo-glucanase and uses thereof A novel thermophilic endo-glucanase, nucleic acid encoding the endo-glucase, and uses thereof in converting ligocellulosic material to fermentable sugars.
US08129137B2	Two-photon probe for real-time monitoring of intracellular free zinc ions, method for preparing the probe and method for real-time monitoring of intracellular free zinc ions using the probe A two-photon probe for real-time monitoring of intracellular free zinc ions is provided. The two-photon probe is represented by Formula 1: wherein R is H or OCH3. The two-photon probe has high selectivity for Zn2+ and enables very effective and long-term monitoring of intracellular free Zn2+ present in the deep tissue. Further provided are a method for preparing the two-photon probe and a method for real-time monitoring of intracellular free zinc ions using the two-photon probe.
US08129132B2	Detection of autoantibodies reactive with pancreatic islet cell antigenic molecules and/or insulin A method of screening a sample of body fluid obtained from an animal subject for analyte autoantibodies reactive with one or more antigenic molecules selected from pancreatic islet cell antigenic molecules and insulin, or one or more variants, analogues, derivatives or fragments thereof, and a kit for use in such a method.
US08129129B2	Method for diagnosing tumors The present invention describes a method for diagnosing tumors of the reproductive organs which is characterized by determination of the afamin content in a sample of a body fluid or in a tissue sample, wherein a tumor is diagnosed if the afamin content in the sample is decreased compared to the afamin content in a sample from a person without a tumor of the reproductive organs.
US08129127B2	Assay for immunosuppressant drugs The invention provides immunoassays for immunosuppressant drugs, wherein the assay is carried out under high salt conditions to achieve improved sensitivity. The invention also provides kits that are useful for performing the methods of the invention.
US08129122B2	Method of predicting metastasis of oral cavity cancer into cervical lymph node and diagnosis kit to be used in the prediction A method for objectively predicting possibility of metastasis to a cervical lymph node in an early stage for an individual case diagnosed as an oral cavity cancer, and a diagnosis kit to be used in the prediction are provided. The method includes a step of assaying expression amounts of metastasis prediction genes in which the expression amounts are changed between a metastasis group and a non-metastasis group, with respect to a sample collected from a primary legion of the oral cavity cancer. Further, the method includes a step of predicting the possibility of the metastasis by comparing the expression amounts of the metastasis gene group with the expression amounts of the metastasis prediction genes in a metastasis group and/or a non-metastasis group. Herein, the metastasis prediction gene group includes two genes MSR1 (NM_138716.1) and RET (M31213.1).
US08129117B2	Genetic markers for assessing risk of developing bipolar disorder This document provides methods and materials related to genetic markers of Bipolar Disorder (BD) and Schizophrenia (SZ). For example, methods for using such genetic markers to assess risk of developing BD and/or SZ are provided, as are methods for making a differential diagnosis between BD and SZ.
US08129116B2	Methods for nucleic acid manipulation A method for replicating and amplifying a target nucleic acid sequence is described. A method of the invention involves the formation of a recombination intermediate without the prior denaturing of a nucleic acid duplex through the use of a recombination factor. The recombination intermediate is treated with a high fidelity polymerase to permit the replication and amplification of the target nucleic acid sequence. In preferred embodiments, the polymerase comprises a polymerase holoenzyme. In further preferred embodiments, the recombination factor is bacteriophage T4 UvsX protein or homologs from other species, and the polymerase holoenzyme comprises a polymerase enzyme, a clamp protein and a clamp loader protein, derived from viral, bacteriophage, prokaryotic, archaebacterial, or eukaryotic systems.
US08129114B2	Biomarkers and methods for determining sensitivity to epidermal growth factor receptor modulators EGFR biomarkers useful in a method for predicting the likelihood that a mammal that will respond therapeutically to a method of treating cancer comprising administering an EGFR modulator, wherein the method comprises (a) measuring in the mammal the level of at least one biomarker selected from epiregulin and amphiregulin, (b) exposing a biological sample from the mammal to the EGFR modulator, and (c) following the exposing of step (b), measuring in the biological sample the level of the at least one biomarker, wherein an increase in the level of the at least one biomarker measured in step (c) compared to the level of the at least one biomarker measured in step (a) indicates an increased likelihood that the mammal will respond therapeutically to the method of treating cancer.
US08129113B2	Analysis chip with reference range, kits and methods of analysis Analysis chip of at least one analyte, said chip comprising at least one analysis spot for recognition and immobilization specific to the analyte; and a reference range (G) comprising several reference spots each arranged on said chip in a defined manner and independently of one another, each reference spot of this range comprising, immobilized on its surface and in a defined proportion P that is different and known for each spot relative to the other reference spots of said range: a probe reference molecule (PRM) permitting recognition and hybridization specifically to a defined target reference molecule (TRM), and/or an inert oligonucleotide molecule (IM) incapable of recognition and hybridization with said PRM, these molecules both being unable to immobilize said analyte or analytes. The method of the invention comprises the use of said chip with its reference range for analysis of said, at least one, analyte.
US08129106B2	Sequence-specific detection of methylation in biomolecules A method for detecting sequence specific methylation in a biomolecule, comprising: (a) contacting the biomolecule with an S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent methyltransferase in the presence of a detectable cofactor of said methyltransferase; and (b) detecting whether the recognition sequence of said methyltransferase has been modified with the cofactor or a derivative thereof, wherein modification of the recognition sequence of said methyltransferase is indicative of an absence of methylation at said recognition sequence. Also disclosed is a cofactor specific for S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent methyltransferases, wherein said cofactor is an N-adenosylaziridine derivative with a reporter group attached to the 6 or 7 position of the adenine ring or attached to the aziridine ring. A complex of the cofactor and a methyltransferase a composition comprising the cofactor or the complex and the use of the cofactor or the complex for detecting sequence-specific methylation in DNA molecules are also disclosed.
US08129093B2	Prevention of photoresist scumming A photo acid generator (PAG) or an acid is used to reduce resist scumming and footing. Diffusion of acid from photoresist into neighbors causes a decreased acid level, and thus causes resist scumming. An increased acid layer beneath the resist prevents acid diffusion. In one embodiment, the increased acid layer is a layer of spun-on acid or PAG dissolved in aqueous solution. In another embodiment, the increased acid layer is a hard mask material with a PAG or an acid mixed into the material. The high acid content inhibits the diffusion of acid from the photoresist into neighboring layers, and thus substantially reduces photoresist scumming and footing.
US08129090B2	Process for on-press developable lithographic printing plate involving preheat A method of processing an on-press developable lithographic printing plate with ink and/or fountain solution is described. The plate comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer which is either capable of hardening (negative-working) or solubilization (positive-working) upon exposure to a laser, the non-hardened or solubilized areas of the photosensitive layer being soluble or dispersible in ink and/or fountain solution. The plate is exposed with a laser, heated to an elevated temperature, and then developed with ink and/or fountain solution on a lithographic press. The laser exposed plate is preferably heated by passing through a heating device or while mounted on a lithographic press before on-press development.
US08129085B2	Toner, method of manufacturing the same, two-component developer, developing device, and image forming apparatus A toner includes toner particles containing at least binder resin and colorant. The toner particles contain a large-sized toner particle group of particles and a small-sized toner particle group of particles having a volume average particle size smaller than that of the large-sized toner particle group. In the toner, a volume average particle size D50v is 4 μm to 8 μm at 50% in accumulated volume counted from a large particle-side in accumulated volume distribution of entire toner particles; a content of toner particles contained in a toner particle group having a volume average particle size of 7 μm or more is 24% to 47% by volume based on the entire toner particles; and a content of toner particles contained in a toner particle group having a number average particle size of 5 μm or less is 10% to 50% by number or less based on the entire toner particles.
US08129082B2	Electrophotographic photoreceptor, image forming method using electrophotographic photoreceptor, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge for image forming apparatus A photoreceptor includes a conductive support body, an intermediate layer, and a photosensitive layer. The intermediate layer is made of gallium nitride (GaN) crystals having electron affinity greater than that of the photosensitive layer and formed between and in contact with the conductive support body and the photosensitive layer. The photosensitive layer is composed of either a single layer type photosensitive layer or a laminated type photosensitive layer.
US08129078B2	Mask, method for manufacturing the same, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device A mask having mask patterns for the transfer of a desired circuit pattern, a method for manufacturing the mask, and a semiconductor device manufacturing method using the mask, are provided. There are extracted two rectangular aperture patterns which are adjacent each other in an obliquely disposed state with respect to an X axis in an XY plane. The thus-extracted two rectangular aperture patterns are rotated at a certain angle so that a pattern edge corresponding to one side of one of the rectangular aperture patterns and a pattern edge corresponding to one side of the other rectangular aperture pattern are opposed in parallel to each other. The two rectangular aperture patterns thus rotated at a certain angle are then subjected to optical proximity effect correction to form two corrected rectangular aperture patterns.
US08129077B2	Method of manufacturing fuel cell A method of manufacturing a fuel cell includes thermally treating a hydrogen permeable membrane in a given temperature higher than an actual operating temperature of the fuel cell, and forming an electrolyte layer on the hydrogen permeable membrane subjected to the thermal treatment. The hydrogen permeable membrane is composed of a polycrystalline metal.
US08129076B2	Electrode for lithium batteries and method of manufacturing electrode for lithium batteries To accelerate a film formation rate in forming a negative electrode active material film by vapor deposition using an evaporation source containing Si as a principal component, and to provide an electrode for lithium batteries which is superior in productivity, and keeps the charge and discharge capacity at high level are contemplated. The method of manufacturing an electrode for lithium batteries of the present invention includes the steps of: providing an evaporation source containing Si and Fe to give a molar ratio of Fe/(Si+Fe) being no less than 0.0005 and no greater than 0.15; and vapor deposition by melting the evaporation source and permitting evaporation to allow for vapor deposition on a collector directly or through an underlying layer. The electrode for lithium batteries of the present invention includes a collector, and a negative electrode active material film which includes SiFeyOx (wherein, 0
US08129075B2	Bipolar plate header formed features A fuel cell plate including a first plate having a first header edge defining a first header aperture, the first header edge having a first break and a substantially aligned second plate having a second header edge defining a second header aperture, the second header edge having a second break. The fuel cell plate, well suited for use in a vehicle fuel cell stack, for removing water from a fuel cell stack header is disclosed.
US08129070B2	Fuel cell The present invention provides a fuel cell having obstructed passages, which is capable of inhibiting the occurrence of flooding. The fuel cell comprises: a stacked body comprising at least a membrane electrode assembly; and a pair of separators sandwiching the stacked body. A face of the stacked body side of the separator is provided with inlet passage(s) through which reaction gas to be supplied to the stacked body passes and outlet passage(s) through which reaction gas having passed the stacked body passes. The inlet passage is obstructed at a downstream end of the reaction gas to be supplied to the stacked body and the outlet passage is obstructed at an upstream end of the reaction gas having passed through the stacked body. The inlet passage and the outlet passage is arranged separately from each other, and the inlet passage is arranged on both ends of the face of the stacked body side of the separator in the passage width direction of the inlet passage and the outlet passage.
US08129062B2	Fuel cell system operation method A method of operating fuel cell system includes generating electricity by a fuel cell using fuel gas and oxidizing gas and allowing cooling water to flow in the fuel cell and thereby cooling the fuel cell. The method includes transferring moisture from exhaust gas to supply gas using a first humidifier, the exhaust gas being discharged from the fuel cell, the supply gas being supplied to the fuel cell, and transferring moisture from the cooling water to the supply gas humidified using a second humidifier. The method includes at least one of detecting humidity of the supply gas humidified, detecting temperature of the cooking water, detecting the flow rate of the supply gas and detecting the amount of electricity generated by the fuel cell. The method also includes controlling the humidity of the supply gas humidified based on the value detected.
US08129059B2	Low pressure drop fuel processor for use with portable fuel cells The invention relates to a fuel processor that produces hydrogen from a fuel and includes a low pressure drop burner. The low pressure drop burner permits the use of a low pressure air supply such as a fan to move products and reactants through the burner.
US08129055B2	Fuel cell with anode exhaust recirculation means Moisture caused by humidity in the fuel gas and water vapor from the water that is generated become condensed inside a fuel cell when power generation in the fuel cell is temporarily stopped, making obstruction to the fuel gas flow channel when power generation is restarted possible. A fuel cell includes an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between a fuel electrode and an oxidant electrode. Oxidant is supplied to the oxidant electrode in the fuel cell, and the fuel emitted from the fuel electrode of the fuel cell is resupplied back to the fuel electrode. When requested power generating capacity for the fuel cell is less than a prescribed capacity, the oxidant supply is temporarily stopped while the fuel continues to circulate in order to prevent obstruction in the fuel flow channel due to water condensation, making a reliable fuel supply becomes possible.
US08129052B2	Polymer adhesive seals for protected anode architectures Protected anode architectures for active metal anodes have a polymer adhesive seal that provides an hermetic enclosure for the active metal of the protected anode inside an anode compartment. The compartment is substantially impervious to ambient moisture and battery components such as catholyte (electrolyte about the cathode), and prevents volatile components of the protected anode, such as anolyte (electrolyte about the anode), from escaping. The architecture is formed by joining the protected anode to an anode container. The polymer adhesive seals provide an hermetic seal at the joint between a surface of the protected anode and the container.
US08129048B2	Method for producing rectangular flat secondary battery A positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate are spirally wound with a separator interposed therebetween to form an electrode group 3 having a circular shape or an oval shape. Next, a center core member 2 for applying a pressure to the electrode group 3 is inserted in a winding core hole 6 of the electrode group 3. Thereafter, the electrode group 3 is deformed into a flat shape. Then, the flat electrode group 3 is accommodated in a rectangular flat armoring can 4 with a base and an opening portion of the armoring can 4 is sealed, thereby producing a rectangular flat secondary battery.
US08129043B2	System, method and apparatus for strain-assisted magnetic recording for controlling switching field and tightening switching field distribution in bit patterned media Multilayer magnetic structures control the switching field and tighten the switching field distribution in bit patterned media. A strain-inducing layer is excited, e.g., by a localized magnetic field or a localized thermal heating or a voltage, and induces a strain on the magnetic layer(s) of the patterned bit to initiate switching of the bit magnetization. The strain induced on the magnetic layer forces a rotation or an amplitude variation of the magnetic layer anisotropy. A localized magnetic field is simultaneously or subsequently applied to complete the switching of the bit magnetization. The invention provides control of switching field and switching field distribution for bit-patterned media devices.
US08129039B2	Phosphorescent OLED device with certain fluoranthene host An OLED device comprising a cathode, an anode, and having there between a red light emitting layer containing a non-light-emitting fluoranthene compound with a 7,10-diaryl substituted fluoranthene nucleus having no aromatic rings annulated to the fluoranthene nucleus, and a red light-emitting phosphorescent dopant. OLED devices of the invention provide reduced drive voltage and improved color, and provide embodiments with other improved features such as operational stability and high luminance.
US08129035B2	Structural component for automobile, two-wheeled vehicle or railcar excellent in impact-absorption property, shape fixability and flange cuttability, and method for producing the same The invention provides structural component for an automobile, two-wheeled vehicle or railcar excellent in impact-absorption property, shape fixability and flange cuttability, and method for producing the same, which structural component has a hat-like shape including vertical walls and flanges, wherein distal ends of the flanges contain 20 vol % or greater of austenite phase and have a cross-section hardness expressed as Vickers harness of 150˜350, and a center regions of the vertical walls have, in a common cross-section with the flanges, a content of deformation-induced martensite phase exceeding that of the distal ends of the flanges by 10 vol % or greater and a cross-section hardness expressed as Vickers hardness that exceeds that of the distal ends of the flanges by 50 or greater.
US08129034B2	Fine-grained metallic coatings having the coeficient of thermal expansion matched to one of the substrate Fine-grained (average grain size 1 nm to 1,000 nm) metallic coatings optionally containing solid particulates dispersed therein are disclosed. The fine-grained metallic materials are significantly harder and stronger than conventional coatings of the same chemical composition due to Hall-Petch strengthening and have low linear coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs). The invention provides means for matching the CTE of the fine-grained metallic coating to the one of the substrate by adjusting the composition of the alloy and/or by varying the chemistry and volume fraction of particulates embedded in the coating. The fine-grained metallic coatings are particularly suited for strong and lightweight articles, precision molds, sporting goods, automotive parts and components exposed to thermal cycling. The low CTEs and the ability to match the CTEs of the fine-grained metallic coatings with the CTEs of the substrate minimize dimensional changes during thermal cycling and prevent premature failure.
US08129028B2	Paint composition A two component paint composition that, after mixing, comprises the following components in aqueous solution: a) from the first component: i) an aqueous binder, which aqueous binder comprises an oligomeric or polymeric compound the oligomeric or polymeric compound being formed from at least one monomer of the general formula I: Si(OR1)4 where each R1 is independently selected from hydrogen or any alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl or —(C═(O)R4 group, and each R4 group is independently selected from hydrogen or any alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl or aryl group, and at least one monomer having the general formula II: (R2)4-mSi(OR3)m where each R2 is independently selected from hydrogen or any alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl or aryl group, and wherein at least one —R2 group comprises the group —RXRZ or —RXN(RW)2 where Rx is any C1 to C10 bivalent organic bridging group, Q is selected from an Oxygen or a Sulphur radical and RZ comprises an H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl or aryl group, and each RW is independently selected and defined as for RZ above; where each R3 is independently selected from hydrogen or any alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl or —(C═O)R5 group, where R5 is defined as for R4 above, and m=1 to 3; and, optionally at least one colloidal silica; b) from the second component i) at least one reactive filler material.
US08129027B2	Interlayer film for laminated glass and laminated glass The present invention provides an interlayer film for a laminated glass comprising a polyvinyl acetal resin, which is able to be easily adhered to a glass and is capable of constituting a laminated glass excellent in transparency, and also provides a laminated glass using the interlayer film. An interlayer film for a laminated glass comprising 100 parts by weight of a polyvinyl acetal resin and 60 to 100 parts by weight of a plasticizer, wherein 50 to 100% by weight of the plasticizer is a diester compound represented by the formula (1) below. In the formula (1), R1 and R2 are each an organic group of 5 to 10 carbon atoms, R3 is —CH2—CH2—, —CH2—CH(CH3)—, —CH2—CH2—CH2— or —CH2—CH2—CH2—CH2—, and n is an integer of 4 to 10.
US08129026B2	(Meth)acrylate/aspartate amine curatives and coatings and articles comprising the same (Meth)acrylate/aspartate amine curatives comprising the reaction product of a polyamine, a dialkyl maleate and/or dialkyl fumarate, and a (meth)acrylate are disclosed, as are methods for making the same. A polyurea comprising the reaction product of the acrylate/aspartate amine curative and isocyanate is also disclosed, as are coatings comprising such a polyurea and substrates coated with the same.
US08129025B2	Fluorotelomer grafted polyaniline containing intermediate transfer members An intermediate transfer media, such as a belt, that includes a fluorotelomer chemically bonded to a polyaniline.
US08129023B2	Polymer particles, conductive particles, and an anisotropic conductive packaging materials containing the same Disclosed herein are anisotropic conductive particles contained in anisotropic conductive adhesive films which can be used in circuit board mounting applications. The conductive particles have a uniform shape, a narrow particle diameter distribution, and appropriate compressive de-formability and recoverability from deformation. In addition, the conductive particles exhibit enhanced conducting properties without being ruptured when interposed and compressed between connection substrates, thereby achieving a sufficient contact area between the particles and the connection substrates. Further disclosed are polymer-based particles used in the conductive particles.
US08129022B2	Fluororesin film and process for its production A fluororesin film, of which discoloration, a change in the visible light transmittance and a decrease in the mechanical strength can be suppressed for a long period of time even though it contains titanium oxide, the fluorescent film having a pigment dispersed in a fluororesin, which pigment are composite particles each comprising a particle containing titanium oxide, a first covering layer containing cerium oxide and a second covering layer containing silicon oxide in this order from the inside, wherein the amount of cerium oxide is from 5 to 30 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of titanium oxide, the amount of silicon oxide is from 5 to 60 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of titanium oxide, and the average particle size of the composite particles is from 0.15 to 3 μM; and a process for its production.
US08129021B2	Effect pigments based on substrates formed from inorganic-organic mixed phases, production and use thereof Effect pigments with a platelet-shaped substrate provided on at least one side with at least one coating of semitransparent metal and/or at least one high-index coating having a refractive index ≧2.0. The platelet-shaped substrate includes at least one mixed inorganic/organic phase. Also, a method of producing effect pigments including the following steps: a) combining at least one organic network former, at least one reactive organic component, at least one inorganic network former and/or nanoscale inorganic particles and a liquid phase to form a reaction composition, b) applying the reaction composition to a sheetlike base, c) forming a solidified mixed inorganic/organic phase, d) converting the mixed inorganic/organic phase into platelet-shaped substrates, and e) coating the platelet-shaped substrates with at least one coating of semitransparent metal and/or at least one high-index coating having a refractive index ≧2.0.
US08129019B2	High surface area fiber and textiles made from the same The present invention is directed to a high surface area fiber and textiles made from the same. In one preferred embodiment the fiber has a middle region with a plurality of projections that define a plurality of channels, which increases the surface area of the fiber. In one preferred embodiment, the fiber has a specific surface area of about 140,000 cm2/g or higher and a denier of about 1.0 to about 2.0. The fiber of the present invention is made using a bicomponent extrusion process using a thermoplastic polymer and a dissolvable sheath.
US08129018B2	Sizing for high performance glass fibers and composite materials incorporating same A sizing composition containing an epoxy film former, a urethane film former, a silane package that includes an aminosilane coupling agent and an epoxy silane coupling agent, a cationic lubricant, a non-ionic lubricant, an antistatic agent, and at least one acid is provided. The epoxy resin emulsion includes a low molecular weight liquid epoxy resin and one or more surfactants. The epoxy resin preferably has an epoxy equivalent weight from 185-192. The sizing composition may optionally contain a methacryloxy silane. The sizing composition may be used to size glass fibers used in filament winding applications to form reinforced composite articles with improved mechanical properties, wet tensile properties, improved resistance to cracking, and improved processing characteristics.
US08129016B2	Substrate supporting member A substrate supporting member includes: a plate-shaped ceramic body having a surface serving as a substrate supporting surface; a plate-shaped composite material body which is joined to a surface of the ceramic body opposite to the substrate supporting surface with a joint material interposed therebetween and the plate-shaped composite material body made of porous ceramic with pores filled with metal, the composite material body having a porosity of more than 0% and not more than 5%; and a metallic plate which is joined to a surface of the composite material body opposite to the surface joined to the ceramic body with a joint material interposed therebetween.
US08129006B2	Stack sealable heat shrinkable film The present invention refers to a multilayer heat shrinkable film characterized by a combination of desirable properties, such as high shrinkage, good optical properties, excellent sealability and stack sealability. The invention further is directed to a method of producing said film. The invention is further directed to the use of said film or bags and pouches made therefrom for packaging goods as for example food products. The invention also refers to tubes made with the film.
US08129003B2	Vehicle panel with metalized film A vehicle panel (10) includes a core layer (12) and a layer of metalized film (14) bonded to the core layer (12). In one embodiment, the core layer (12) is made of a material with heat absorption or insulation properties. The layer of metalized film (14) is made of a material having heat reflective properties that can be bonded to the core layer (12). Alternatively, a compatible bonding agent can be applied to the core layer, the metalized film, or both. To form the vehicle panel (10), the layer metalized film (14) is positioned on one half of a mold tool and the core layer (12) is positioned on the other half of the mold tool. Heat is applied to the core layer (12) and the mold tool is closed such that the heat from the core layer (12) causes the metalized film (14) to be in a formable state and bonds to the core layer (12).
US08129000B2	Method for generating oxidic nanoparticles from a material forming oxide particles A method for generating oxidic nanoparticles from a material forming oxide particles, comprising the steps of: preparation of an aqueous solution containing ions of the material forming the oxide particles, film evaporation of the solution at a temperature above 200° C., and skimming off the nanoparticles floating on the surface of the aqueous solution generated in the vicinity of the vapor film on film evaporation. A device for performing the method is also provided.
US08128997B2	Method of forming a vibration damping paint layer This invention provides a method of forming a vibration damping paint layer thick enough for reduction of the vibration. Applying an acrylic emulsion paint with 1˜5 mm thick, which comprises greater than 77.0 wt % of solid portion, 40˜50 vol % of pigment, 2-14 vol % of large sized pigment having diameter of 40-100 μm, on a surface where the vibration damping layer is desired, and heating the vibration damping paint layer at temperature lower than 140° C. for less than 25 minutes, which saves energy and saves production time. The invention saves energy necessary for heating and production time.
US08128996B2	Primer coating of steel A process for primer coating a steel substrate with a primer coating comprising a silica binder, wherein the binder comprises an aqueous silica sol having a SiO2/M2O mole ratio, wherein M represents the total of alkali metal and ammonium ions, of at least 6:1, and wherein after the primer coating has dried to the extent that it is touch dry, the coated substrate is immersed in water or alternatively kept in an atmosphere with a relative humidity of at least 50%. The present invention also relates to a process for primer coating a steel substrate with a primer coating comprising a silicate or silicate binder, wherein the binder comprises an aqueous silica sol or alkali metal silicate having a SiO2/M2O mole ratio, wherein M represents the total of alkali metal and ammonium ions, of at least 6:1, and wherein after the primer coating has dried to the extent that it is touch dry, the coated substrate prior to immersion in water or storage in an atmosphere with a relative humidity of at least 80% is treated with a film strength-enhancing solution.
US08128993B2	Anisotropic nanotube fabric layers and films and methods of forming same Methods for forming anisotropic nanotube fabrics are disclosed. In one aspect, a nanotube application solution is rendered into a nematic state prior to its application over a substrate. In another aspect, a pump and narrow nozzle assembly are employed to realize a flow induced alignment of a plurality of individual nanotube elements as they are deposited onto a substrate element. In another aspect, nanotube adhesion promoter materials are used to form a patterned nanotube application layer, providing narrow channels over which nanotube elements will self align during an application process. Specific dip coating processes which are well suited for aiding in the creation of anisotropic nanotube fabrics are also disclosed.
US08128991B2	Method of surface treating a mechanical part made of high-strength steel, and a sealing system obtained by implementing said method The invention is a method of treating the surface of a steel mechanical part by the successive steps of subjecting the part to finishing to lower its surface roughness; cleaning; subjecting the cleaned part to a tribo finishing step to lower surface roughness and increase wettability; and subjecting the part to ambient temperature high speed projection of tungsten disulfide platelet particles to form a dense, self-lubricating deposit on the part.
US08128988B2	Film-formed article and method for producing same A dense interconnector film is formed over a fuel electrode, while preventing calcium included in material for the interconnector from solid phase reaction with zirconia included in material for the fuel electrode. When forming the interconnector film 5 made of lanthanum chromite-based perovskite type oxide which includes calcium in its composition includes calcium to the fuel electrode 2 of which composition includes zirconia, a intermediate layer 6 is formed on the fuel electrode 2, by using (Sr0.9La0.1)(Ti0.9Nb0.1)O3, and then onto the intermediate layer 6, the interconnector film 5 is formed.
US08128987B2	Apparatus and method for electroless deposition of materials on semiconductor substrates A method for electroless deposition from a deposition solution in a working chamber, where the process can include heating the deposition solution to its boiling point and subsequently reducing the temperature of the deposition solution to a working temperature range that is between approximately 1% and approximately 25% below the boiling point of said solution under a predetermined pressure; and the process also can include heating the deposition solution while filling an enclosed area of the chamber such that the deposition solution reaches its boiling point immediately after the enclosed area is filled.
US08128984B2	Implantable material and a method for the preparation thereof A method for the preparation of a regenerated silk fibroin solution comprises the steps of: treating silk or silk cocoons with an ionic reagent comprising an aqueous solution of monovalent cations and monovalent anions, the cations and anions having ionic radii of at least 1.05 Angstroms and a Jones-Dole B coefficient of between −0.001 and −0.05 at 25° C.; and subsequently degumming the treated silk or silk cocoons; or alternatively, degumming silk or silk cocoons; and subsequently treating the degummed silk or silk cocoons with an ionic reagent comprising an aqueous solution of monovalent cations and monovalent anions, the cations and anions having ionic radii of at least 1.05 Angstroms and a Jones-Dole B coefficient of between −0.001 and −0.05 at 25° C. The invention also extends to fibroin solution, a fibroin material and an implant useful for cartilage repair.
US08128982B2	Extrusion process for coating stents The present invention provides a method of coating a stent. A stent framework is provided. A polymeric mixture is injected through at least one inlet port in an extrusion die, and the polymeric mixture is extruded through a shaped orifice onto at least a portion of the stent framework to form a coated stent. A coated stent including an extruded coating disposed on at least a portion of the stent framework and a system for treating a vascular condition are also disclosed.
US08128981B2	Biosensor manufacturing method A biosensor having a first conductive component is described, wherein the first conductive component includes at least one boundary formed by a first processing technique and at least one boundary formed by a second processing technique not the same as the first processing technique. The biosensor can also have a second conductive component including at least one boundary formed by the first processing technique and at least one boundary formed by a third processing technique not the same as the first processing technique. Further, the biosensor has a third conductive component including at least one boundary formed by the second processing technique and at least one boundary formed by the third processing technique not the same as the second processing technique.
US08128980B2	Method for production of water-soluble polysaccharide Disclosed is a novel water-soluble soybean polysaccharide which is produced by imparting a function of stabilizing a protein in a pH range around the isoelectric point of the protein to a water-soluble soybean polysaccharide. Also disclosed is a novel dispersion stabilizer which enables to stabilize the dispersion of a protein in a pH range around the isoelectric point of the protein. Further, disclosed is a acidic protein food/beverage comprising the dispersion stabilizer. A crosslinked product of a water-soluble soybean polysaccharide extracted from a soybean seed raw material can improve the dispersion stability of a milk protein in a pH range around the isoelectric point of the protein. By using the water-soluble soybean polysaccharide, an acidic protein food/beverage having a low viscosity can be produced.
US08128975B2	Sugar alcohol sanded confectionary and process for making same A confectionary comprising a solid shaped confectionary composition sanded with a sugar alcohol having a negative heat of solution and a method of mixing same. The method involves coating solid pieces of confectionary composition with a wetting syrup and sanding the wetted pieces with sugar alcohol crystals. The confectionary is characterized by intense initial cooling and flavor release.
US08128974B2	Production of mustard seed protein isolate Mustard seed protein isolates are produced at a high purity level of at least about 100 wt % (N×6.25) by a process wherein mustard seed protein is extracted from mustard seed meal, the resulting aqueous mustard seed protein solution is concentrated to a mustard seed protein content of at least about 200 g/L, and the concentrated mustard seed protein solution is added to chilled water having a temperature below about 15° C. to form mustard seed protein micelles, which are settled to provide a mustard seed protein micellar mass (PMM). The mustard seed protein micellar mass is separated from supernatant and may be dried.
US08128971B1	Method and formula for treating celiac disease A homoeopathic formula and method for treating celiac disease. The formula includes the ingredients of L-Carnosine, Aronia Berry, Vitamin D3, Folic Acid, RNA, DNA, Pulsitilla, and Lycopodium Clavatium which are mixed with brown rice flour as an anti clumping agent prior to encapsulating the formula in standard gel caps. The preferred dosage for the treatment of celiac disease is to administer 6 capsules of the preferred formulation to the patient orally each day for 30 consecutive days.
US08128960B2	Low viscosity, highly flocculated triamcinolone acetonide suspensions for intravitreal injection Triamcinolone acetonide suspension compositions are disclosed. The suspension compositions have a relatively low viscosity and are easy to extrude through a 27- or 30-gauge needle but are highly flocculated and easily redispersed. The compositions are particularly suitable for intravitreal injection.
US08128956B2	Food product for hairball treatment A pet food product for hairball treatment that includes a shell component completely surrounding an inner component to form one dual textured pet food product, wherein the shell component is harder than the inner component. The shell component can include a mixture of soluble and insoluble fiber and can include at least one ingredient comprising a carbohydrate, fat, protein or combination thereof. The inner component comprises a mixture of ingredients, wherein the ingredients include a lubricant.
US08128954B2	Biodegradable drug-polymer delivery system A sustained-release biodegradable polymeric drug-eluting fiber is disclosed. In some embodiments, the therapeutic drug is complexed with cyclodextrin. In certain embodiments, the polymeric component of the fiber comprises cyclodextrin. The fiber may be fabricated to provide a thread and/or suture. The fiber may be used for treatment of ocular diseases or disorders.
US08128951B2	Local delivery of water-soluble or water-insoluble therapeutic agents to the surface of body lumens A method and device for local delivery of water-soluble or water-insoluble therapeutic agents to the tissue of a normal or diseased body lumen is disclosed. An expandable structure of a medical disposable device, such as a balloon of a balloon catheter, is coated with a non-durable coating which is complexed with iodine and has a substantially water-insoluble therapeutic agent dispersed therein. The medical disposable device is inserted into a body lumen, and expanded to contact the non-durable coating against the body lumen and deliver the substantially water-insoluble therapeutic agent to the body lumen tissue.
US08128949B2	Kit for insect bites A travel kit used for inhibiting and reducing the incidence and effect of insect bites. The kit includes a pouch for enclosing a plurality of containers therein. The pouch has a closure means to maintain the containers in the pouch and a means for removably attaching the pouch to a person. The plurality of containers includes a first container containing at least one oral tablet comprising an effective amount of niacin (vitamin B-3) or its corresponding amide for inhibiting or reducing the incidence of insect bites. A second container is provided which contains a soap composition that includes an effective antimicrobial compound that when applied to a bite area of a person's skin that has an insect bite disinfects such bite area. A third container contains a mud composition that includes an effective amount of a clay that when applied to the bite area reduces the swelling, inflammation or itching of the bite area. A fourth container is provided which contains an effective sterilizing wash composition that when applied to the bite area sterilizes the bite area and assists in reducing the swelling, inflammation or itching of the bite area. Optionally, the kit further includes a fifth container containing at least one oral tablet comprising an effective amount of an antihistamine.
US08128946B2	Medical tape preparation A medical tape preparation which comprises a support and, superposed on one side thereof in the following order, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and a release liner. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer can contain a large amount of an oleophilic oily matter. The tape preparation is excellent in adhesion, cohesiveness, and stability even when no crosslinking agent is used. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer in the medical tape preparation comprises a blend of two tacky polymers, which are a tacky polymer (A) comprising a copolymer obtained from 2-acetoacetoxyethyl methacrylate and other vinyl monomer(s) as constituent ingredients and a tacky polymer (B) comprising a copolymer which is obtained from a C4-10-alkyl(meth)acrylate and other vinyl monomer(s) as constituent ingredients and is different from the tacky polymer (A).
US08128943B2	Use of oxazole derivatives for controlling fish parasites The present invention relates to the use of compounds of formula (I), wherein R1, X, Y, Z and m are as defined in the description, in the free form or in salt form either alone or in combination with a vaccine component, for controlling fish parasites, in particular sea lice.
US08128941B2	Assay for detecting tuberculosis in nonhuman primates Systems, methods, and compositions for a diagnostic method for detecting TB in non-human primates that is easy to use, sensitive, and specific. The method utilizes recombinant mycobacterial antigens, such as polyfusion proteins. The method utilizes an antigen-antibody-antigen arrangement to detect TB infection in nonhuman primates. The method can detect IgM antibodies to TB, in addition to IgG antibodies, providing ability to detect TB earlier in nonhuman primate TB infection as compared to conventional TB tests.
US08128937B2	N protein mutants of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus The present invention provides a genetically modified PRRS virus, methods to make it and related polypeptides, polynucleotides and various components. Vaccines comprising the genetically modified virus and polynucleotides are also provided.
US08128934B2	Method for treatment or prevention of disease associated with functional disorder of regulatory T cell The inventors examined the role of MK in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, which is a human model for multiple sclerosis. As a result, they discovered that MK has the effect of inhibiting regulatory T cells, and that the autoimmune mechanism induced by type 1 helper T cells can be suppressed by inhibiting MK expression or its activity, thereby increasing the number of regulatory T cells. Furthermore, it was found that diseases associated with the functional disorder of regulatory T cells can be treated with the administration of an inhibitor that inhibits MK expression or activity.
US08128930B2	Anti-ADDL antibodies and uses thereof The present invention relates to antibodies that differentially recognize multi-dimensional conformations of Aβ-derived diffusible ligands, also known as ADDLs. The antibodies of the invention can distinguish between Alzheimer's Disease and control human brain extracts and are useful in methods of detecting ADDLs and diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease. The present antibodies also block binding of ADDLs to neurons, assembly of ADDLs, and tau phosphorylation and are there useful in methods for the preventing and treating diseases associated with soluble oligomers of amyloid β 1-42.
US08128929B2	Antibodies against PDGFRa The invention provides antibodies that bind to human PDGFRα and neutralize activation of the receptor. The invention further provides methods for neutralizing activation of PDGFRα and methods of treating a mammal with a neoplastic disease using the antibodies alone or in combination with other agents.
US08128928B2	Humanized antibodies that recognize beta amyloid peptide The invention provides improved agents and methods for treatment of diseases associated with amyloid deposits of Aβ in the brain of a patient. Preferred agents include humanized antibodies.
US08128921B2	Use of conditional plasmodium strains lacking nutrient transporters in malaria vaccination The present invention relates to a malaria vaccine for administration to a host comprising an attenuated malarial parasite with a gene which has been rendered non-functional, wherein the gene, when present in naturally occurring form, encodes a protein necessary for continued in vivo survival and proliferation of the parasite and for infection of host red blood cells. The invention further relates to a malaria vaccine in which a gene that encodes a nutrient transporter protein has been rendered non-functional.
US08128917B2	Aqueous polyamine-containing carrier systems for water-insoluble materials The present invention is drawn to a carrier composition containing: (a) at least one polyamine compound comprising at least two amino groups; (b) at least one nonionic surfactant; (c) at least one anionic silicone; and (d) at least one water-insoluble material, and wherein the composition, when combined with an aqueous phase, forms an aqueous delivery system which is both stable, and clear to slightly hazy/limpid in appearance.
US08128915B2	Aqueous fatty monoamine-containing carrier systems for water -insoluble materials The present invention is drawn to a carrier composition containing: (a) at least one fatty monoamine compound; (b) at least one nonionic surfactant; (c) at least one anionic silicone; and (d) at least one water-insoluble material, and wherein the composition, when combined with an aqueous phase, forms an aqueous delivery system which is both stable, and clear to slightly hazy/limpid in appearance.
US08128904B2	Process for preparing a multielement oxide composition comprising the element iron in oxidic form A process for preparing a multielement oxide composition comprising the element iron in oxidic form, in which the source of the elemental constituent of iron used is an aqueous iron nitrate solution whose preparation comprises the melting of a solid hydrate of iron nitrate.
US08128901B2	Facile purification of carbon nanotubes with liquid bromine at room temperature A method of removing metal impurities from carbon nanotubes includes treating carbon nanotubes with distilled bromine in a substantially oxygen- and water-free atmosphere and then removing the distilled bromine from the carbon nanotubes. Purified carbon nanotubes having an iron content from about 2.5 to about 3.5 by weight that are substantially free of derivatization at the ends and defect sites are made available via this method.
US08128900B2	Process for producing single-walled carbon nanotube, single-walled carbon nanotube, and composition containing single-walled carbon nanotube An atmosphere of a carbon source comprising an oxygenic compound is brought into contact with a catalyst with heating to yield single-walled carbon nanotubes. The carbon source comprising an oxygenic compound preferably is an alcohol and/or ether. The catalyst preferably is a metal. The heating temperature is preferably 500 to 1,500° C. The single-walled carbon nanotubes thus yield contain no foreign substances and have satisfactory quality with few defects.
US08128896B2	Permselective membrane type reactor There is disclosed a permselective membrane reactor which efficiently forms hydrogen by use of a water-gas shift reaction and which is excellent in an aspect of manufacturing cost. In a permselective membrane reactor, a permselective membrane is a Pd membrane or a Pd alloy membrane, and a catalyst layer includes a first catalyst layer on the side of the permselective membrane and a second catalyst layer disposed apart from the permselective membrane. The first catalyst layer has a noble metal-based catalyst, and the second catalyst layer has an iron-based catalyst.
US08128892B2	Programmable multi-channel pipettor with repositionable tips A hand-held, multi-channel pipettor has an electronically controlled motor to reposition pipette tips for different center to center spacing. Each repositionable tip fitting assembly has a cam following pin that is driven by cam tracks in a motor driven roller drum. Stationary ports for the multiple aspiration cylinders are strategically placed to simplify management of flexible tubes leading to the repositionable pipette tip fitting assemblies. The pipettor has a user interface that can be operated conveniently by one hand to reposition pipette tips. It has a pipette tip ejection mechanism with a sinusoidal stripper bar.
US08128888B2	Transportable decontamination unit and decontamination process The disclosed invention relates to a portable decontamination unit. The invention also relates to a decontamination process. The decontamination unit may be ruggedized for use in hostile environments such as those that may be anticipated for military applications.
US08128882B2	Catalytic converter, holding material for catalytic converter and production method thereof The present invention relates to a holding material for a catalytic converter including a catalyst carrier, a metal casing for receiving the catalyst carrier, and the holding material wound around the catalyst carrier and interposed in a gap between the catalyst carrier and the metal casing, the holding material including a low thermal conductivity layer, in which the low thermal conductivity layer includes: a molded material containing an inorganic powder; or a composite material of a porous substrate with an aerogel.
US08128880B2	NOx reduction catalyst and exhaust system using the same An NOx reduction catalyst and an exhaust system using the same may include an NOx reduction catalyst mounted at an exhaust pipe through which exhaust gas passes, wherein the NOx reduction catalyst includes first and second catalyst layers coated on a carrier, the first catalyst layer being disposed close to the exhaust gas, and the second catalyst layer being disposed close to the carrier, wherein a portion of nitrogen oxide contained in the exhaust gas is oxidized while passing through the first catalyst layer, and the oxidized nitrogen oxide is stored in the second catalyst layer, wherein the nitrogen oxide stored in the second catalyst layer is released through a substitution reaction with an additionally injected fuel, and wherein the released nitrogen oxide is reduced by the additionally injected fuel in the first catalyst layer.
US08128879B2	Apparatus for increasing weight of olefins The apparatus converts FCC olefins to heavier compounds. The heavier compounds are more easily separated from the unconverted paraffins. The heavier compounds can be recycled to an FCC unit or delivered to a separate FCC unit. Suitable conversion zones are oligomerization and aromatic alkylation zones.
US08128870B2	Drug discovery screening apparatus A drug discovery screening apparatus improves a testing operation efficiency. The drug discovery screening apparatus comprises an image measurement unit, an incubator unit integrally connected to the image measurement unit, a fixed stage disposed at the incubator unit, first conveyance for taking out one of plates stored in a carousel of the incubator unit and conveying the plate onto the fixed stage, second conveyance for taking out the plate conveyed onto the fixed stage and conveying the plate onto an XY stage disposed at the image measurement unit, and a control unit. The second conveyance comprises first and second conveyance arms, respectively supported horizontally by a conveyance unit support section, which convey the plates onto the fixed stage and XY stage so as to allow the respective plates to cross each other.
US08128867B2	High strength hard alloy and method of preparing the same A method for producing a cemented carbide material includes producing an M3C type double carbide (wherein M comprises M1 and M2; M1 represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, and W; and M2 represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni) as a main component of the surface portion; reducing heat treating the compact at a vacuum atmosphere; carburizing the resulting WC—Co compact at a temperature of 800 to 1100° C.; subjecting the carburized compact to liquid phase sintering at a temperature of more than 1350° C. to form a sintered body; and coating a surface layer of the sintered body with a compound containing boron and/or silicon and subjecting the coated sintered body to a diffusion heat treatment at a temperature within a range from 1200 to 1350° C.
US08128854B2	Connection between members A method for preparing a more reliable connection between two members is provided. The method involves the use of a gas-removal layer which allows for gas transport in a number of overall directions in a plane of the gas-removal layer. The gas-removal layer comprises a resin and during consolidation the gas-removal layer is deformed to form a collection substantially free from entrapped gas voids. In addition, a gas-removal layer is provided as well as a mould for casting of gas-removal layers and a method for preparing such a mould. The method and the gas-removal layer provided are particularly useful for manufacturing of wind turbine blades and spars for such blades.
US08128852B2	Manufacturing process for silicone glass concentrator lens A manufacturing process of silicone glass concentrator lens, wherein, a mold is provided with a material inlet hole and an air outlet hole that are respectively used for pouring in liquid silicone and exiting air respectively. Wherein, firstly, the mold is connected to a glass carrier plate in a vertical arrangement, then pouring the liquid silicone into the mold through the material inlet hole, thus exiting the excessive air through the air outlet hole of the mold automatically. Through the application of this manufacturing process, a bubble-free silicone glass concentrator lens can be made in a fast manner without the occurrences of liquid silicone overflow, hereby reducing the production cost.
US08128850B2	Method of producing islands-in-sea type composite spun fiber The method of producing an islands-in-sea type composite spun fiber having an island component diameter of 1 μm or less according to the present invention comprises drawing (superdrawing) with a total draw ratio of from 5 to 100 an undrawn islands-in-sea type composite spun fiber having been prepared by spinning at a spinning speed of from 100 to 1,000 m/min, at temperatures higher than the glass transition points of both the polymer forming the sea component and the polymer forming the island components of the composite spun fiber.
US08128848B2	Diketopyrrolopyrrole pigment composition for use in color filters The invention relates to a pigment composition that is composed of compounds of formulas (I), (II) and (III), is characterized by a average particle size d50 ranging from 10 to 60 nm, less than 5% by volume of the particles being greater than 70 nm, and can be obtained by reacting of 1 mol of a succinic acid diester with 2 mol of a mixture of nitriles A-CN and B-CN nitriles, the molar ratio of A-CN and B-CN in the nitrile mixture being in the range from 99.5:0.5 to 85.0:15.
US08128846B2	Silver composition for micro-deposition direct writing silver conductor lines on photovoltaic wafers Embodiments of the invention relate to a silicon semiconductor device, and a conductive thick film composition for use in a solar cell device.
US08128843B2	Photocurable composition, photocurable ink composition, process for producing photocured material, and inkjet recording method A photocurable composition is provided that includes a polymerizable compound, a photopolymerization initiator that is an acylphosphine oxide and/or an alpha-aminoacetophenone, a compound represented by Formula (I) below, and an amine compound. There are also provided a photocurable ink, a process for producing a photocured material, and an inkjet recording method.
US08128840B2	Phosphor composition for display device A phosphor composition for a display device, including a phosphor represented by Formula 1: Y3-x-k-zCekMzM′xAla-yM″yO(1.5a+4.5) (1). In Formula 1, M includes at least one of Tb, Dy, and Eu, M′ includes at least one of Sc, Gd, In, and La, M″ includes at least one of Ga, Sc, and In, and x, y, z, k, and a represent molar ratios and satisfy the relations: 0.0≦x<3.0, 0.0≦y≦7.0, 0.0
US08128837B2	Latent curing agent for epoxy resin and method for manufacturing the same A latent epoxy resin curing agent is provided which exhibits excellent solvent resistance and low-temperature fast-curing ability, and contains an imidazole-based compound as a main component. In the latent epoxy resin curing agent containing the imidazole-based compound as a main component, adduct particles formed through adduct reaction of an epoxy-based compound with the particulate imidazole-based compound are coated with an ethyl cellulose film. Furthermore, the surfaces of the adduct particles may be crosslinked with a polyfunctional isocyanate compound. A mixture of the epoxy-based compound, the particulate imidazole-based compound, and ethyl cellulose in a predetermined saturated hydrocarbon-based solvent is heated under stirring. Then, the epoxy-based compound and the particulate imidazole-based compound are subjected to adduct reaction to give a slurry of the adduct. After the slurry is cooled, the latent epoxy resin curing agent is filtrated.
US08128830B2	Labeling an imprint lithography template Embodiments herein provide relatively permanent labeling of an imprint lithography template. The imprint lithography template generally has first and second sides, one side having a pattern to imprint a substrate and the other being optically smooth to unobstructably pass UV light. In one embodiment, a method of labeling the imprint lithography template includes placing a masking layer on a portion of the first side (e.g., the optically smooth side) of the template, forming a liftoff layer on the remainder of the first side of the template, removing the masking layer to expose the portion of the first side of the template, and placing a polymer mark on the exposed portion of the first side of the template. The method also includes depositing an opaque material on the first side of the template and removing the liftoff layer and the mark to form a label on the first side of the template with the deposited opaque material.
US08128827B2	Modular oil-based sludge separation and treatment system A method of recovering oil from oil-based sludge including the steps of homogenizing an oil-rich phase, a water-rich phase, and a solids-rich phase of an oil-based sludge, removing particulates from the oil-based sludge as the sludge traverses a shaker screen, heating the sludge, injecting a chemical into the heated sludge and mixing the chemical with the heated sludge, separating the phases of the chemically-treated sludge into a solids component stream, a water component stream, a first oil component stream, and a gas component stream, removing solids from the first oil component stream with a decanting centrifuge to form a second oil component stream, and removing water and solids from the second oil component stream with a disk stack centrifuge.
US08128822B2	MECS dialyzer The present invention is related to hemodialysis, and more particularly, to a dialyser with improved efficiency of mass transfer across a dialysis membrane utilizing microchannel separation provided in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In accordance with an embodiment, a dialyzer is provided comprising a plurality of semipermeable membrane sheets and a plurality of flow separators. The membrane sheets and flow are arranged in alternating configuration and coupled into a laminae stack defining a plurality of parallel microchannel layers. Each microchannel layer comprises a plurality of first microchannels and a plurality of second microchannels. The first and second microchannels of each microchannel layer are in fluid communication with each other via one of the plurality of membrane sheets therebetween. The MECS dialyzer is characterized as having a high surface to volume ratio and a high mass transfer coefficient.
US08128818B2	Oil filter An oil filter arrangement, has a housing (12) with a receiving space (18) for a filter element (20) which can be inserted into the housing and through which oil can flow radially, with an oil inlet (34) and an oil outlet (32), and with a supporting tube (22) which is present in the receiving space and supports the filter element. The supporting tube is inserted into the receiving space and is fastened to the housing in such a manner that it remains in the housing when the filter element is exchanged.
US08128817B2	Liquid filter suitable for motor vehicles A liquid filter suitable for motor vehicles which includes a filter head (11), a vessel (12) and a filter element (16) disposed within the vessel (12) sealingly separating an inlet (14) from an outlet (15) such that liquid from the inlet must flow through the filter element to reach the outlet. The filter element (16) has guide projections (27, 28) positioning the filter element (16) within the vessel (12). Prior to installation, the filter element (16) is preassembled into the vessel (12) and fixed in position by pushing the filter element (16) into an element guide (29), after which the preassembly is screwed onto the filter head (11). When the vessel (12) is unscrewed from the filter head (11), the filter element (16) slides out of the element guide (29) and moves axially upwardly to free a volume V. Liquid flowing into the vessel (12) from the higher regions of the liquid filter (10) can flow into this volume, thus enabling drip-free replacement of the filter element.
US08128814B2	Pool suction valve A valve system for insertion between a cleaner hose and a pool suction line is mounted in a wall of the pool or skimmer box and comprises a valve with a gate pivoted in a housing which receives the end of the cleaner hose when the gate is open which is thereby juxtaposed in line with the pool suction line located in the pool wall or skimmer box. The juxtaposed ends of both the cleaner hose and the pool suction line have mating tapers and the valve rotates so that the tapered end of the inserted cleaner hose rotates into sealing engagement with the tapered end of the pool suction line. Further the gate of the valve closes automatically when the cleaner hose is withdrawn.
US08128811B2	Hydroprocessing using rejuvenated supported hydroprocessing catalysts Methods for hydroprocessing of hydrocarbon feedstocks, including hydrodesulfurization and hydrodenitrogenation, using rejuvenated supported metallic catalysts are provided. The supported metallic catalysts comprised of a Group VIII metal, a Group VIB metal, are rejuvenated by a process making use of these metals, an organic complexing agent, and optionally an organic additive. The rejuvenation includes stripping and regeneration of a spent or partially spent catalyst, followed by impregnation with metals and at least one organic compound. The impregnated, regenerated catalysts are dried, calcined, and sulfided.
US08128804B2	Process for stabilizing olefinically unsaturated monomers An olefinically unsaturated monomer is stabilized by a retarder-containing composition which comprises a solvent and a quinone methide as a retarder.
US08128801B2	Automated system for continuously and automatically calibrating electrochemical sensors An electrochemical sensor system that continuously monitors and calibrates the sensors included in the system. The invention also includes a method for determining failure patterns of a sensor and incorporating into an electrochemical sensor system the ability to recognize the failure pattern and initiate remedial action.
US08128798B2	Liquid transfer device A liquid transfer device electrically controls liquid position. The surface of the liquid transfer device is provided with unevenness in order to solve a problem of having a large number of electrodes for controlling voltage. The number of electrodes for controlling voltage can be halved by the utilization of a restoring force of the liquid to a spherical shape by surface tension, in addition to an electrical force.
US08128795B2	Biosensor The present invention is directed to a biosensor being provided with a suction cavity which sucks a certain amount of sample by means of capillary phenomenon, the biosensor including a flow channel to connect the suction cavity and an analytical cavity furnished with a reagent, wherein, the flow channel has a narrowed section provided with a gap formed by narrowing a flow passage area. The narrowed section has a function to retain the sample in the suction cavity when the sample is sucked therein, and a function to circulate the sample retained in the suction cavity into the analytical cavity through the gap, when a centrifugal force is applied from the outside. The two functions held by the narrowed section enables a simple collection of blood sample, and further enables a simple transfer of the blood sample to the analytical area by applying the centrifugal force to the blood sample, as well as facilitating a component extraction.
US08128792B2	Fluorine gas generator A fluorine gas generator is provided with which the gases used and/or generated, in case of leakage thereof, can be prevented from mixing together as far as possible and, even in case of gas leakage into the outside of the generator system, the leakage gas can be treated safely and in which the maintenance, exchange and other operations are easy to carry out. The generator comprises a box-shaped body containing an electrolyzer for fluorine gas generation, and the box-shaped body is divided into two or more compartments, including a compartment containing the electrolyzer.
US08128789B2	Method for producing ultrafine dispersion water of noble metal ultrafine particles Efficiently produce micro-dispersion water of super-fine noble metal particles having a desired concentration by using a very safe, compact production apparatus comprising a power supply for high-voltage/current discharge, a high-voltage discharge generator equipped with a noble metal electrode and its counter electrode, a water tank, a water inlet to the water tank, and an outlet for micro-dispersion water of super-fine noble metal particles, by causing plasma discharge in water between the noble metal electrode and its counter electrode and then causing the generated noble metal ion vapor to contact, and micro-disperse in, water. The obtained water can be effectively used as drinking water.
US08128785B2	Method and apparatus for filling and cleaning a pulp tower The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for filling and cleaning a pulp tower. The invention is most suitable for filling and cleaning high-consistency pulp towers, bleaching towers, storage tanks and similar towers containing fiber suspensions, of the wood-processing industry. The apparatus and method according to the invention for filling and cleaning a pulp tower, in which method pulp is fed into the pulp tower either through its cover (10) or at least feed devices (24) arranged at its top, are characterized in that the space surrounding the feed device (24) is washable at the same time as the pulp is fed into the tower by means of washing devices (28, 30, 32) arranged in connection with the feed devices.
US08128784B2	Bleaching process of chemical pulp A process for the bleaching of chemical pulp, comprising a first chlorine dioxide treatment (D) of the initial bleaching and chelation (Q) to be carried out in connection therewith, forming together a DQ treatment. The process is characterized in that the chelation is carried out at the pH of from 2 to 7, and it is followed by an alkalizing stage (N) of the pulp, without intermediate washing for raising the pH of the pulp to above 7 and at most to 12 prior to a following stage which is a washing step.
US08128781B2	Pressure-sensitive adhesive and detachable strip formed from it Pressure-sensitive adhesive for single- or double-sidedly tacky pressure-sensitive adhesive strips redetachable without residue or destruction both by extensive stretching substantially in the bond plane and by peeling, the pressure-sensitive adhesive being composed at least of (1) a vinylaromatic block copolymer, (2) a solid tackifying resin having a softening temperature by the ring-and-ball method of more than 30° C. and (3) a resin which is liquid at room temperature (23° C.), the fraction of liquid resin accounting for at least 40% by weight, based on the total amount of resin. Strips formed from the adhesive and the use of the strips to form redetachable bonds are also disclosed.
US08128778B2	Method of making multilayered polyethylene material and ballistic resistant articles The present invention relates to polyethylene material that has a plurality of unidirectionally oriented polyethylene monolayers cross-piled and compressed at an angle to one another, each polyethylene monolayer composed of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene and essentially devoid of resins. The present invention further relates to ballistic resistant articles that include or incorporate the inventive polyethylene material and to methods of preparing the material and articles incorporating same.
US08128773B2	Pressure sensitive adhesive for transporting flexible substrate Disclosed herein is a silicon adhesive composition for transporting a flexible substrate. The composition includes (A) 42 to 70 parts by weight of a polydiorganosiloxane containing an alkenyl group, (B) 55 to 28 parts by weight of a polyorganosiloxane copolymer including R13SiO1/2 units and SiO2 units, wherein R1 is a hydroxy group or a monovalent hydrocarbon group of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, (C) a polyorganosiloxane containing an SiH group, wherein the molar ratio of the SiH group of component (C) to the alkenyl group of component (A) is from 0.5 to 20, and (D) a platinum group catalytic compound, wherein the weight ratio of a metal component of the compound to the sum of components (A) and (B) is from 1 to 5000 ppm by weight.
US08128771B2	Method of producing clothing article A method of producing a clothing article including the steps of (a) joining first continuous webs 120a and 120b having stretchability in the longitudinal direction thereof both in a longitudinally stretched state along an edge portion thereof to a longitudinally substantially inextensible second continuous web 120c to make a continuous composite sheet 120, (b) joining the composite sheet 120 obtained in step (a) on its side to a member 130 of the clothing article to make a web assembly 110, and (c) cutting the web assembly 110 obtained in step (b) to length.
US08128769B1	System and method for continuously manufacturing liquid crystal display device A system and a method for continuously manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, which can suppress the occurrence of stripe defects, are provided, and the system includes carrier film feeding means; peeling means for peeling off a sheet piece of a polarizing film and a pressure-sensitive adhesive from a carrier film; take-up means for taking up the carrier film; bonding means for bonding the sheet piece to a liquid crystal panel with the pressure-sensitive adhesive interposed therebetween to form a liquid crystal display device; and speed control means for controlling the take-up means and the bonding means so that the carrier film can be folded back while it is allowed to protrude from the front end of the peeling means toward the bonding means at least at a peeling-off end time when peeling off the sheet piece from the carrier film is completed.
US08128768B2	Apparatus for manufacturing bonded substrate The present invention provide an apparatus for manufacturing a bonded substrate that suppresses a defect in the bonded substrate. When the pressure in a vacuum chamber is at the atmospheric level, upper and lower chuck units respectively attract substrates through vacuum. When the vacuum chamber is depressurized, each chuck unit electrostatically attracts the associated substrate. During the depressurization of the vacuum chamber, the pressure for attracting each substrate to the associated chuck unit is controlled to be equal to the pressure in the vacuum chamber. This prevents each substrate from falling from or moving relative to the associated chuck unit. The first and second substrates are thus bonded together as accurately aligned.
US08128767B2	Process for manufacturing gypsum board faced with non-woven glass fiber mat A gypsum board comprises a set gypsum layer having a first face and a second face. A fibrous mat is affixed to at least one of the faces. The mat comprises a non-woven web bonded together with a resinous binder. The web is composed of chopped continuous glass fibers having an average fiber diameter ranging from about 9.5 to 12.5 μm. The board is exceedingly durable. It has a smooth surface that is readily finished in an aesthetically pleasing way, using paint or other wall covering systems.
US08128766B2	Bismuth oxide primer composition A priming mixture is provided having a primary explosive and an oxidizer system containing bismuth oxide. The priming mixture generally is applicable to any application or device that employs ignition of a propellant or fuel, including, but not limited to, air bag gas generator systems, signaling devices, ejection seats, small or large arms ammunition primers, and the like.
US08128762B2	High-strength steel sheet superior in formability Disclosed is a high-strength steel sheet which has a predetermined component composition, structurally has a ferrite matrix structure and bainitic and martensitic second phase structures, and has a ferrite fraction of from 50 to 86 percent by area, a bainite fraction of from 10 to 30 percent by area, and a martensite fraction of from 4 to 20 percent by area, relative to the entire structure, in which the bainite area fraction is larger than the martensite area fraction, the ferrite has an average grain size of 2.0 to 5.0 μm, and the ratio of the average ferrite hardness (Hv) to the tensile strength (MPa) of the steel sheet is equal to or more than 0.25. The steel sheet excels both in TS-EL balance and TS-λ balance at high strengths on the order of 590 to 780 MPa.
US08128758B2	R-Fe-B microcrystalline high-density magnet and process for production thereof An R—Fe—B based rare-earth alloy powder with a mean particle size of less than about 20 μm is provided and compacted to make a powder compact. Next, the powder compact is subjected to a heat treatment at a temperature of about 550° C. to less than about 1,000° C. within hydrogen gas, thereby producing hydrogenation and disproportionation reactions (HD processes). Then, the powder compact is subjected to another heat treatment at a temperature of about 550° C. to less than about 1,000° C. within either a vacuum or an inert atmosphere, thereby producing desorption and recombination reactions and obtaining a porous material including fine crystal grains, of which the density is about 60% to about 90% of their true density and which have an average crystal grain size of about 0.01 μm to about 2 μm (DR processes). Thereafter, the porous material is subjected to yet another heat treatment at a temperature of about 750° C. to less than about 1,000° C. within either the vacuum or the inert atmosphere, thereby further increasing its density to about 93% or more of their true density and making an R—Fe—B based microcrystalline high-density magnet.
US08128756B2	Technique for the growth of planar semi-polar gallium nitride A method for growing planar, semi-polar nitride film on a miscut spinel substrate, in which a large area of the planar, semi-polar nitride film is parallel to the substrate's surface. The planar films and substrates are: (1) {10 11} gallium nitride (GaN) grown on a {100} spinel substrate miscut in specific directions, (2) {10 13 } gallium nitride (GaN) grown on a {110} spinel substrate, (3) {11 22} gallium nitride (GaN) grown on a {1 100} sapphire substrate, and (4) {10 13} gallium nitride (GaN) grown on a {1 100} sapphire substrate.
US08128755B2	Cleaning solvent and cleaning method for metallic compound Disclosed are cleaning solvents and cleaning methods for metallic compounds deposited on the equipment that supplies organometallic compounds to the manufacturing tool in the photovoltaic industry or the semiconductor industry. The cleaning solvents and the cleaning methods disclosed not only selectively remove the metallic compound without corroding the equipment, but also improve the ordinary cleaning process. Moreover, the cleaning solvents and the cleaning methods disclosed improve maintenance costs for the supply system because the equipment may be cleaned without being detached from the supply system.
US08128754B2	Ferric pickling of silicon steel The pickling process designed for pickling electrical steel strip in a continuous fashion comprising immersing the strip in at least one pickling tub. The pickling tub contains a mixture of HCl, Fe2+, and Fe3+ and a low concentration of HF. Upon exiting the final pickling tub, the strip may be brushed or scrubbed to loosen any residual scale to form a clean strip.
US08128752B2	Roll-to-roll substrate transfer apparatus, wet etching apparatus comprising the same and apparatus for manufacturing printed circuit board In one aspect, a roll-to-roll substrate transfer apparatus is provided that includes: a feed roll and a take-up roll between which a printed circuit board substrate extends; and a plurality of drive roller rows transmitting motive power to the substrate for moving the substrate in a transferring direction, each drive roller row of the plurality includes a roller axis arranged in a direction perpendicular to the transferring direction of the substrate, and a plurality of spaced-apart drive rollers on the roller axis, wherein drive rollers of one drive roller row are arranged in spaces between drive rollers of adjacent drive roller rows. In other aspects, a wet etching apparatus and an apparatus for manufacturing a printed circuit board that include the roll-to-roll substrate transfer apparatus are provided.
US08128750B2	Aluminum-plated components of semiconductor material processing apparatuses and methods of manufacturing the components Aluminum-plated components of semiconductor material processing apparatuses are disclosed. The components include a substrate and an optional intermediate layer formed on at least one surface of the substrate. The intermediate layer includes at least one surface. An aluminum plating is formed on the substrate, or on the optional intermediate layer. The surface on which the aluminum plating is formed is electrically-conductive. An anodized layer can optionally be formed on the aluminum plating. The aluminum plating or optional the anodized layer comprises a process-exposed surface of the component. Semiconductor material processing apparatuses including one or more aluminum-plated components, methods of processing substrates, and methods of making the aluminum-plated components are also disclosed.
US08128742B1	Method and apparatus for multi-stage air treatment system Method and apparatus for treating air containing hydrogen sulfide gas, volatile organic compounds, heavy metals and other mercaptans in order to reduce odor and corrosion related to wet wells, dry pits, grease traps and the like. The system comprises a first and second stage air treatment system. A vacuum pump in the primary (stage 2) treatment housing vacuums the contaminated air from the source and pumps the air through a set of diffusers into a treatment fluid wherein the air is then passed through a pair of porous plates and upward through a discharge pump and then into the atmosphere. Prior to treating the air in the primary housing, it is treated in a pretreatment dry air filter wherein the air is inlet into the pretreatment (stage 1) housing and then through a microfilter prior to being passed into the primary housing for further treatment.
US08128741B2	Gas dissolving apparatus A dissolving apparatus has a cylindrical tubular container closed at both ends with its center axis being inclined to the horizon. A center of an interface between a gas and a liquid in the container is positioned at a center in a lengthwise direction of a side wall of the container. Two inner spaces of the container above and below the interface are referred to as a gas section and a liquid section. An injection inlet for injecting a gas-liquid mixed fluid into the container is provided at a level corresponding to, or lower than, the interface. A liquid outlet for discharging the liquid is provided near a bottom of the liquid section of the container. Since the container is inclined, the interface can have an area large enough to promote dissolution of the gas into the liquid. Since the depth of the liquid in the liquid section is sufficiently deep, the liquid can be prevented from being discharged through the liquid outlet with large gas bubbles being present therein.
US08128740B2	Device for separating gas from a liquid path The invention is targeted at the process of separating gas, such as air, from a liquid path. Specifically, the invention provides a means to remove gas from a dynamic liquid path, manage the removed gas and liquid path. The invention provides a means to remove gas from a dynamic liquid path using the buoyant property of gas in a less buoyant liquid, having ingress and egress ports for liquid and gas flow, and separate points of egress for liquid and trapped gas and integral liquid channels.
US08128735B1	Process for CO2 capture using zeolites from high pressure and moderate temperature gas streams A method for separating CO2 from a gas stream comprised of CO2 and other gaseous constituents using a zeolite sorbent in a swing-adsorption process, producing a high temperature CO2 stream at a higher CO2 pressure than the input gas stream. The method utilizes CO2 desorption in a CO2 atmosphere and effectively integrates heat transfers for optimizes overall efficiency. H2O adsorption does not preclude effective operation of the sorbent. The cycle may be incorporated in an IGCC for efficient pre-combustion CO2 capture. A particular application operates on shifted syngas at a temperature exceeding 200° C. and produces a dry CO2 stream at low temperature and high CO2 pressure, greatly reducing any compression energy requirements which may be subsequently required.
US08128734B2	Two stage pressure swing adsorption process for producing enriched-oxygen An improved two stage pressure swing adsorption process for producing enriched oxygen and separating nitrogen or oxygen from a feed air stream. The process utilizes two-stage pressure swing adsorption plants which are serially connected. In the first stage, carbon dioxide, water and part of nitrogen are removed and nitrogen is concentrated. In the second stage nitrogen is further separated from the effluent intermediate gas from the adsorption step in the adsorption towers of the first stage and oxygen is concentrated to the desired concentration. In the first stage the adsorption towers go through the steps in turn in a cycle: Adsorption, Purge, evacuation, countercurrent pressure equalization rising of the second stage gas, purge gas pressurization, and final pressurization. In the second stage the adsorption towers go through the steps in turn in a cycle: Adsorption, countercurrent pressure equalization falling, and final pressurization.
US08128731B2	Method for separating and enriching isotope material, multistage rotor, and apparatus for separating and enriching isotope material A method for separating and enriching isotopes in an efficient and low-cost manner from a condensation-system (liquid or/and solid) material including two or more different isotopes by taking advantage of the sedimentation of atoms through an acceleration field by ultra-high speed rotation. The condensation-system material is placed in a sedimentation tank which is then housed in a supercentrifuge. The supercentrifuge in its rotor is rotation driven by an ultra-high speed rotation power source, and an acceleration field of energy of 100000 G to 1500000 G, i.e., about 100 to 800 m/s in terms of peripheral velocity, is applied to the above condensed (liquid or/and solid) material under such a temperature that is specified by an isotope material to be enriched. In this case, a difference in centrifugal force applied is provided between the isotopes in the condensed (liquid or/and solid) material comprising the at least two isotopes. By virtue of sedimentation by taking advantage of this difference, isotope atoms within the condensed material interact, and, consequently, separation and enrichment of the isotopes can be realized in a higher efficiency than the case where gas is used, by conducting the separation and enrichment of the isotopes within the liquid material, using an effective material, and using a multistaged rotor system.
US08128723B2	Partially plug-less DPF There is provided a ceramic filter capable of controlling extraordinary rise of the internal temperature upon regeneration by reducing an amount of deposited soot (particulates) by increasing a passage flow rate in the through-cells and realizing improvement of the regeneration limit and correspondence of PM emission and a method for manufacturing a ceramic filter. A plurality of through channels 7 are formed in the honeycomb segment 2, and the cells are constituted as inlets and/or outlets of the through channels 7 and contain a plurality of honeycomb segments 2 bonded to one another. Each honeycomb segment 2 includes a first inflow port 8, a second inflow port 9, and as a part at least through-cells 10 formed to extend there through in such a manner that fluid can be discharged from the inlet to the outlet of the cells without being plugged at the inlet and the outlet of the cell.
US08128722B2	Honeycomb filter for purifying exhaust gases, adhesive, coating material, and manufacturing method of honeycomb filter for purifying exhaust gases An object of the present invention is to provide a honeycomb filter for purifying exhaust gases which makes it possible to alleviate a thermal stress generated due to occurrence of a local temperature change and which is less likely to generate cracks and superior in strength and durability, an adhesive that has a low thermal capacity and is capable of alleviating the thermal stress, a coating material that has a low thermal capacity with a superior heat insulating property and is capable of alleviating the thermal stress, and a manufacturing method of the honeycomb filter for purifying exhaust gases that can improve precision in the outside dimension, and reduce damages in the manufacturing processes.The present invention relates to a honeycomb filter for purifying exhaust gases, having a structure in that a plurality of column-shaped porous ceramic members, each having a number of through holes that are placed side by side in the length direction with partition wall interposed therebetween, are combined with one another through adhesive layers so that the partition wall that separate the through holes are allowed to function as a filter for collecting particulates, and in this structure, the thermal expansion coefficient αL of the adhesive layer and the thermal expansion coefficient αF of the porous ceramic member are designed to have the following relationship: 0.01<\|αL−αF\|/αF<1.0.
US08128721B2	Intake filter for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle A filter device has a filter element made from a filter hose that has a filter wall separating an unfiltered side from a clean side of the filter device in a radial direction. In preferred embodiments the filter wall of the filter hose is provided with a very fine particle filtration layer including nanofibers. The diameter of the nanofibers is less than one micrometer. The nanofiber layer can be applied to a green filter material and the filter element can be produced subsequently from the filter material with applied nanofiber layer. Alternatively, the nanofiber layer can be applied to a finished filter element.
US08128717B2	Mechanically driven centrifugal pyrolyzer An apparatus for fast pyrolysis of biomass and other solid organic materials including a vertically oriented cylindrical vessel having a solids outlet proximate the bottom thereof, a vapor outlet, a top wall forming at least one opening, and an adjacent heated side wall. Disposed within the cylindrical vessel and extending through the at least one opening in the top wall is a rotor having a rotatable shaft coincident with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel to which is attached at least one substantially vertically oriented blade having one edge connected directly or indirectly with the rotatable shaft and having an opposite edge spaced apart from the heated side wall, whereby a non-radial, preferably tangential, force is imparted on the feedstock in the cylindrical vessel. Also disclosed is a method for fast pyrolysis of biomass and other solid organic materials.
US08128712B2	Process for protecting the colors of colored textile articles or for providing crease resistance to textile articles The invention concerns a composition for cotton textile care in particular, comprising an anionic polysaccharide (in particular anionic polygalactomannan) having a mole weight higher than 250000. The composition can be a solid or liquid detergent formulation, a liquid rinsing and/or softening formulation, a drying additive contacted with wet textile in a dry textile, an aqueous ironing formulation, a prespotting washing additive deposited on the textile before a washing operation.
US08128711B2	Fluoropolymer compositions and treated substrates A polymer having at least one carbamate linkage prepared by: (i) reacting (a) at least one diisocyanate, polyisocyanate, or mixture thereof, and (b) at least one fluorinated compound selected from the formula (I): Rf(CH2)x[(CF2CF2)y(CH2CH2)z]m(R1)r—xH (I) wherein Rf is a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to about 6 carbon atoms; the total number of carbons in said formula (I) excluding (R1)r—XH ranges from about 8 to about 22; and (ii) optionally reacting with (c) water, a linking agent, or a mixture thereof.
US08128706B2	Implant pellets and methods for performing bone augmentation and preservation Embodiments described herein are related to pellets that are placed within an extraction site that is in need of bone augmentation and preservation. The pellets are typically cylindrical in shape and comprise a material and a polymer coating. The goal of the pellets are to encourage sufficient new bone growth that jaw bone deterioration is prevented. The pellets create, arrange, and assemble an ideal growth environment for new bone growth to rapidly grow and preserve the original contours of an individual's jaw bone.
US08128698B2	Method and apparatus for the treatment of the intervertebral disc annulus This disclosure presents methods and devices for treating a tear, rent, incision, defect, aperture or delamination of the annulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc. The methods and devices can employ fixation delivery apparatuses, fixation apparatuses, patch delivery tools and patches positioned, at least in part, in or on aspects of an intervertebral disc for treatment of the intervertebral disc or its components. In some aspects, these techniques include the use of this includes a fixation apparatus that includes at least one bone anchor connected to at least one disc anchor by a shortenable elongate member.
US08128696B2	System and implant for ligament reconstruction or bone reconstruction An implant (5) for ligament and/or bone reconstruction is composed of biodegradable material suitable to be remodeled into vital bone and having mechanical strength for securely fixing a ligament in a bore or hole in bone with a press or form fit and/or reshaping a collapsed surface of bone into original shape. A surgical instrument (9) for ligament and/or bone reconstruction can be used to insert the implant (5) into bone and has a shaft member (3) having a first end (11), a second end and a longitudinal bore (15) having an inner diameter and pushing member (4) having a first end, second end and piston (16) in turn having an outer diameter smaller than or equal to inner diameter of the bore (10) so that the piston (16) of the pushing member (4) can be slidably arranged within the longitudinal bore (10).
US08128694B2	Auditory ossicle prosthesis with variable coupling surfaces An auditory ossicle prosthesis (10) which comprises, at one end, a plate-shaped first securing element (11) for bearing on the tympanic membrane or on the footplate of the stirrup, and, at its other end, a second securing element (12) for mechanical connection to the ossicular chain or to the inner ear, and also a connection element (13) that connects the two securing elements so as to conduct sound, wherein the first securing element has a radially inner coupling area (14) for coupling the first securing element to the connection element, and also a plurality of web elements (15, 15′, 15″) for radial connection of the coupling area to radially outer portions (16, 16′, 16″) of the first securing element, is characterized in that the web elements are of such a geometric configuration, and their material so chosen, that the web elements can be easily broken off and the radially outer portions appended to them detached from the first securing element, such that the external diameter of the first securing element is reduced in this area. This means that the number of different prostheses to be kept ready during an operation can be reduced to a single standard prosthesis, without losing the possibility of optimal adaptation of the prosthesis to the specific case of use.
US08128690B2	Endoluminal device for in vivo delivery of bioactive agents The present invention consists of an implantable structural element for in vivo delivery of bioactive active agents to a situs in a body. The implantable structural element may be configured as an implantable prosthesis, such as an endoluminal stent, cardiac valve, osteal implant or the like, which serves a dual function of being prosthetic and a carrier for a bioactive agent. Alternatively, the implantable structural element may simply be an implantable article that serves the single function of acting as a time-release carrier for the bioactive agent.
US08128687B2	Drug-eluting stent with filament strands An intravascular stent having a prefabricated, patterned polymeric sleeve for controlled release of therapeutic drugs and for delivery of the therapeutic drugs in localized drug therapy in a blood vessel is disclosed. The polymeric sleeve is attached to at least a portion of an outside surface area of the stent structure. Alternatively, a plurality of individual microfilament strands are longitudinally attached to an outer surface of a stent structure in a spaced apart orientation and loaded with at least one therapeutic drug for the release thereof at a treatment site. The stent has a high degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction, yet has adequate vessel wall coverage and radial strength sufficient to hold open an artery or other body lumen. Methods for making the same are also disclosed.
US08128683B2	Longitudinally flexible textile vascular prosthesis The invention relates to a textile vascular prosthesis (1) with a circulatory pleating formed by folds (4), and with an arch-shaped longitudinal flexion (2) extending over at least a partial section and formed by asymmetric shortening gathering of the prosthesis wall by means of at least one longitudinal seam (7) extending along the partial section. The at least one longitudinal seam gathers the prosthesis wall while preserving the accordion-like structure (4) and the compacted state of the pleating (4) in the longitudinal direction.
US08128678B2	Stent having less invasive ends and improved radial force The present invention provides a stent having less invasive ends and improved radial force. In one embodiment, the stent comprises a series of proximal apices disposed at a proximal end of the stent, a series of distal apices disposed at a distal end of the stent, and at least one angled strut segment disposed between the proximal and distal apices of the stent. At least one apex of the stent may comprise multiple curved portions. In one example, the radius of curvature of one of the curved portions is significantly greater, for example, at least 10 times greater, than each of the other radii of curvature of the apex. The curved portion having the significantly greater radius of curvature may be configured to engage a vessel wall in a less invasive manner.
US08128674B2	System for outer eyelid heat and pressure treatment for treating meibomian gland dysfunction A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction. A controller controls heat applied to the outside of the eyelid to provide conductive heat transfer to the meibomian glands. The application of heat assists in the expression of obstructions or occlusions in the meibomian glands to restore sufficient sebum flow to the lipid layer to treat dry eye. A force is also applied to the outside of the patient's eyelid during the application of heat to improve conductive heat transfer and reduce blood flow in the eyelid that causes convective heat loss. Thus, the application of force can further increase the temperature level and/or reduce the time to reach desired temperature levels for removing obstructions or occlusions. Reaching increased temperature levels may improve the melting, loosening, or softening of obstructions or occlusions in the meibomian glands while reducing the amount of time to reach desired temperature levels and/or aid in reducing discomfort to the patient during treatment.
US08128673B2	System for inner eyelid heat and pressure treatment for treating meibomian gland dysfunction A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction. A controller controls heat applied to the inside of the eyelid to provide conductive heat transfer to the meibomian glands. The application of heat assists in the expression of obstructions or occlusions in the meibomian glands to restore sufficient sebum flow to the lipid layer to treat dry eye. Temperatures at the meibomian glands reach desired levels more quickly and efficiently when heating the inside of the eyelid. Reaching such higher temperature levels may be instrumental in removing obstructions in the meibomian glands. Less time may also be required to reach desired temperature levels when applying heat to the inside of the eyelid. A force may also be applied to the inside of the patient's eyelid to improve conductive heat transfer and reduce blood flow in the eyelid that causes convective heat loss. Thus, the application of force can further increase the temperature level and/or reduce the time to reach desired temperature levels for removing obstructions.
US08128671B2	Variable flank bone screw A bone screw comprising a threaded shank having a longitudinal axis and including a first helical threading extending along a first length of the threaded shank portion and a second helical threading extending from a location proximately adjacent the first helical threading and along a second length of the threaded shank portion. The first helical threading defines a first volume between adjacent thread turns along the first length, and the second helical threading defines a second volume between adjacent thread turns along the second length, with the first volume being different from the second volume.
US08128670B2	Surgical expansion fasteners A biocompatible surgical fastener, comprising a sleeve and a screw or a pin, which expands when it is implanted in a patient. The sleeve is first implanted in a pre-drilled hole in the operating area of a patient, usually in a bone, cartilage or a bone and cartilage. When a screw or a pin is installed in the sleeve, the sleeve is caused to expand thereby stabilizing the fastener in the operating area. In many embodiments the screw or pin can be removed and reinserted without disturbing the tissue in the operating area. The surgical fastener can be used to repair tissue or to secure other implant devices in a patient.
US08128669B2	Method of securing tissue A retainer member formed of bone secures tissue relative to a bone. The retainer member forms an opening in a compact outer layer of the bone. The retainer member is enclosed in a tubular member or sleeve to prevent breaking of the retainer member during formation of the opening in the bone. The extent of movement of the retainer member into the hone in the patient's body is determined as the retainer member is moved into the bone. A suture may be connected with the retainer member and used to connect tissue with the bone. The retainer member may be positioned across a fracture in a bone to hold portions of the hone relative to each other. The retainer member may be used at a joint between end portions of bones to immobilize the joint and be released by breaking the retainer member.
US08128668B2	Bone treatment plate assembly Bone treatment plate assemblies, methods of fabrication, and methods of use. Such assemblies comprise spring structures assembled to bone treatment plates. The spring structure comprises elongate bands, and springs between the bands, urging the bands against structure of the plate. Spring width is less than spring height and/or one or more protuberances extending from the band or bands cooperate with one or more detents in the plate thereby to arrest longitudinal movement of the spring structure with respect to the plate.
US08128667B2	Anti-splay medical implant closure with multi-surface removal aperture An anti-splay closure with a multi-surfaced aperture, such as a multi-lobular socket, includes a cylindrical body with an external, continuous, helically extending anti-splay guide and advancement flange and a breakaway installation head.
US08128664B2	Intervertebral implant for lumbosacral joint The invention relates to an implant for placing between the sacrum of a patient and the fifth lumbar vertebra. It comprises a connection bar (22), fastener means (24, 26) for fastening each end of the connection bar to the sacrum, and a spacer (20) having a first end for co-operating with the spinous process of the fifth lumbar vertebra, and a second end for co-operating with said connection bar, the implant being characterized in that said connection bar (22) has two ends (38, 40) presenting a common first geometrical axis, and a middle portion (36) connected to said ends, said middle portion lying on a second geometrical axis parallel to the first geometrical axis but offset relative thereto, second end of the spacer co-operating with said middle portion.
US08128661B2	Interspinous process distraction system and method with positionable wing and method An implant that is implanted between adjacent spinous processes for the relief of pain associated with the spine. The device has a spacer to distract apart the adjacent spinous processes. To minimize trauma to the patient, the device has a tapered tissue expander to distract a previously created opening between the adjacent spinous processes. The device also has two wings. The position of one wing is adjustable to allow for ease of assembly in a patient.
US08128658B2	Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to bone A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. A bone engaging fastener is coupled to bone. A second fastener is coupled to a suture construction. The second fastener is coupled to the first fastener. Soft tissue is coupled to the suture construction.
US08128651B2	Medical instrument The invention relates to a medical instrument having a hollow shaft on whose proximal end is positioned a handle consisting of at least two gripping members and on whose distal end there is a tool consisting of at least two jaw members, where at least one jaw member of the tool can be displaced with respect to the at least one other jaw member of the tool by means of a rotatably configured gripping member of the handle for opening and closing and the at least one displaceable jaw member and the corresponding gripping member of the handle serving to displace the jaw member are connected to one another by means of a push-pull rod that is mounted so that it can slide axially in the hollow shaft. In order also to reach operating areas located outside the instrument's longitudinal axis safely and with precision, it is proposed with the invention that the push-pull rod, which is mounted so that it can slide axially in the hollow shaft, can be moved by at least one spiral-shaped guide track into a rotary motion around its longitudinal axis.
US08128649B2	Spring scissor blade An endoscopic scissor instrument includes an elongate hollow member, an actuator that moves axially through the hollow member, and first and second scissor blades with respective cutting surfaces. At least one of the scissor blades is rotatably coupled to the hollow member adjacent its distal end. At least one of the scissor blades includes a base supporting a resilient leaf-spring portion that includes a respective cutting edge. The resilient leaf-spring portion extends from the base in a cantilevered arrangement and generates a spring force acting on the respective cutting edge such that in a loaded state there is an automatic preload force imparted between the cutting edges of the scissor blades to maintain a consistent and continuous mating force between the two opposed sharpened cutting edges preferably over the complete range of rotational movement of the scissor blades.
US08128646B2	Ultrasonic vibration apparatus An ultrasonic vibration apparatus includes a vibrator, wherein the vibrator includes at least two vibration elements to generate ultrasonic vibration when a driving voltage is applied to the vibration elements, at least three electrode portions wherein the vibration elements and the electrode portions is alternately arranged side by side in a vibrating direction, at least the three electrode portions includes at least two first electrode portions and at least one second electrode portion alternately arranged in the vibrating direction, the vibrator integrally vibrates ultrasonically in the vibrating direction when the driving voltage is applied to the first electrode portions and the second electrode portion, and a bridging portion coupling and electrically connecting two first electrode portions of at least the two first electrode portions with each other, and the ultrasonic vibration apparatus further includes an anti-vibration portion to suppress vibration of the bridging portion in any other direction except the vibrating direction.
US08128645B2	Stapler for endoscopes A stapling device for a surgical endoscopic device provided with at least one flexible portion, comprising a staple-firing portion and an anvil portion, wherein one of the staple firing portions and one of the anvil portions are located longitudinally displaced from one another along the longitudinal axis of the endoscopic device, with at least a part of said flexible portion between them. The parts of the stapling device are in correct working relationship when one or more alignment and/or locking pins or screws that are stored in one of the staple firing portions or one of the anvil portions are extended and engage and lock or screw into receptacles that have been provided on the other of the staple firing portion or of the anvil portion.
US08128644B2	Closure device and methods for making and using them A clip for engaging tissue includes a generally annular-shaped body defining a plane and disposed about a central axis extending normal to the plane. The body includes alternating inner and outer curved regions, defining a zigzag pattern about a periphery of the clip. The body is biased towards a planar configuration lying in the plane and deflectable towards a transverse configuration extending out of the plane. Tines extend from the inner curved regions, the tines being oriented towards the central axis in the planar configuration, and parallel to the central axis in the transverse configuration. The tines may include primary tines and secondary tines that are shorter than the primary tines. The primary tines may be disposed on opposing inner curved regions and oriented towards one another such that they overlap in the planar configuration.
US08128643B2	Apparatus for applying surgical clips An apparatus for applying surgical clips has a body portion housing a clip stack and a pair of jaws supported at a distal end of the body portion. The body portion includes a camming member, a clip follower and a lockout member having a plurality of stop members. The lockout member is movable from a first position in slidable relation to the camming member to a second position interlocked with the camming member. The camming member has at least one notch, and in a second position the lockout member has at least one of the stop members positioned to interface with the at least one notch. The engagement between the stop member and the notch limits distal movement of the camming member. The clip follower actuates the lockout member when the clip follower advances to a predetermined clip in the clip stack.
US08128639B2	Tools and methods for harvesting follicular units Tools and methods are provided for removing biological units from a body surface utilizing a removal tool. The tool is of a concentric tube configuration comprising first and second elongated bodies, in which the second elongated body can be retracted into the first elongated body. The tool may incorporate retention members and mechanisms configured to impede movement of the biological unit in the direction of a distal end of the tool and to improve retention of the biological unit in the tool. Distal fluid or gas delivery may supplement a vacuum in a luminal space to help extract biological units from surrounding tissue.
US08128636B2	Device and method for removing lumenless leads A device for removing from a patient a previously implanted elongated structure, such as a cardiac lead. The device includes a gripping member having a receiving portion and a capturing portion. The receiving portion defines an eyelet for receiving a length of the elongated structure. The capturing portion is movable relative to at least the eyelet of the receiving portion, and is dimensioned such that upon relative movement, the receiving portion is constrictable around a length of the elongated structure length. The receiving portion may comprise a wire and the capturing portion may comprise a collar, wherein at least a portion of the collar is movable over the eyelet to constrict the wire around the length of the elongated structure length received in the eyelet.
US08128634B2	Method and apparatus for fixing a graft in a bone tunnel A method and apparatus for fixing a ligament in a bone tunnel by cross-pinning the ligament in the bone tunnel.
US08128633B2	Device, system, and method for forming a cavity in and delivering a curable material into bone A curable material delivery cannula device is disclosed. The device includes a cannula and a hub. The cannula includes an open proximal end, a deflectable segment forming a pre-set curve, a lumen, and side orifice(s) adjacent, and proximally spaced from, the distal end and fluidly connected to the lumen. When inserted within a guide cannula, the deflectable segment straightens. When distally extended from the guide cannula, the deflectable segment reverts to the curved shape. The distal end has a blunt tip for non-traumatic interface with bodily material. During use, curable material, such as bone cement, is delivered from the side orifice(s) in a radial direction relative to the lumen. The device may be used to create voids for receiving curable material, and may include spacers configured to control location and/or orientation of the voids.
US08128630B2	Tibial augmentation guide A guide for use in making tibial augmentation cuts is disclosed. The guide is preferably for use subsequent to an initial cut being made. A method of utilizing the guide, as well as making the initial cut is also disclosed.
US08128629B2	Rod coercer A rod coercer for use in spinal fixation procedures is provided. The rod coercer can be pivoted in a first direction to fixedly grip an implant, and pivoted in a second direction to reduce a rod into the implant. In one embodiment, the rod coercer includes first and second articulating forceps branches, first and second rod contacting arms extending from the first and second forceps branches, and first and second implant gripping arms pivotally interconnected with the rod contacting arms. In another embodiment, the rod coercer includes forceps branches which each include upper and lower forceps branches which pivot with respect to each other, and a rod contacting arm interconnected with one of the forceps branches. In another embodiment, the rod coercer includes pivotable implant gripping arms and a rod contacting arm driven by one of the forceps branches.
US08128627B2	Segmented intramedullary system and apparatus An implantable segmented intramedullary structure adapted to be received in the intramedullary canal of a bone configurable between a relatively flexible, bent configuration for implantation or extraction and a relatively rigid, straightened configuration for bone treatment. The segmented intramedullary structure comprises a plurality of interconnected segments with a first interface and a complementarily-shaped second interface such that the first interface of a segment cooperatively engages the second interface of an adjacent segment. The segments define a channel for a tensioning member to lock the structure in a compressed configuration.
US08128624B2	Electrosurgical instrument that directs energy delivery and protects adjacent tissue An electrode sealing assembly is designed for use with an electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue and includes first and second jaw members each having an insulative housing and being movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive sealing member disposed within the respective insulative housing. At least one of the insulative housings includes at least one tissue engaging surface configured to extend beyond the electrically conductive sealing member of one of the jaw members. The tissue engaging surface of the insulative housing cooperates with the opposing insulative housing of the opposing jaw member to both pinch and spread tissue when the jaw members are moved to the second position to decrease extraneous energy transmittance to tissue surrounding the jaw members.
US08128623B2	Thermal cautery surgical forceps A portable, thermal cauterizing forceps device for use in surgery. The device incorporates a pair of ceramic heater elements mounted within the tips of the tines of a forceps. The forceps is used to grasp tissue or blood vessels and apply heat to effect cauterization. In the case of the first embodiment of the invention, the forceps instrument incorporates a battery and control electronics. The thermal-forceps is of a self-contained wireless, handheld disposable design. In a second embodiment of the invention, the forceps handpiece is connected to an external power source. Both embodiments of the forceps incorporate set of rapidly heating ceramic heater elements that may be composed of silicon nitride. An LED provides the operator feedback as to the operating level of the heaters and/or battery reserve. Enhancements to the second embodiment include a rechargeable power supply, variable control of the heater temperature, as well as a, digital display of the tip temperature.
US08128614B2	Modular steerable sheath catheters An apparatus for accessing a site within a body includes a cannula and an elongate member. The cannula has a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween. The elongate member has a distal end configured for insertion into the lumen, wherein the distal end of the elongate member is attachable to and releasable from the distal end of the cannula. A method for accessing a site within a body includes inserting a distal end of an elongate member into a lumen of a cannula, detachably attaching the distal end of the elongate member to the cannula, and steering a distal end of the cannula to a desired site using the elongate member.
US08128613B2	Reconstitution means for safety device The present disclosure describes a needle guard device or system that can be used with drugs requiring reconstitution. The needle guard is preferably a passive needle guard that can be used during reconstitution without activating the safety mechanism. Following administration of the medication, the needle guard shields a user from inadvertent needle sticks by extending a protective shield over the needle.
US08128612B2	Integrated infusion container The present invention relates to unitary bottle for injection, more particularly, to a unitary medicine bottle having an integral structure where a medicine container is easily connected with a plastic container including a solution at a completely sterilized state so that powdered, freeze-dried or liquid medicine is mixed with the solution with one touch for a short time. The unitary medicine bottle for injection according to the present invention comprises: a plastic container equipped with a coupling member connected with a medicine container at one end and a releasing member for releasing a liquid medicine to be at the other end; a protection cap integrally formed with the coupling member to accept the medicine container; and a flue needle which moves forward in a direction of the medicine container and perforates a stopper of the medicine container and is inserted in the coupling member connecting the plastic container with the medicine container.
US08128610B2	Refastenable absorbent article and a method of applying thereof Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders, training pants and the like, having elastomeric ear panels and a fastening system that provides the user with different options as to how the absorbent article may be fitted to and removed from the wearer. The absorbent articles allow the wearer to choose between conventional and pull-on diaper configurations, or combinations thereof, and properly and comfortably fit a large range of wearer sizes. Further, the absorbent articles can be pulled on and/or off as a pant. This feature is provided by the ear panels which maintain sufficient tension to hold the diaper on the wearer throughout the period of use without harming the wearer's skin, while providing enough stretch to allow the diaper to be pulled up or down over the wearer's hips. The fastening system is refastenable for convenience yet strong enough to maintain the diaper in a fastened configuration without becoming detached if the diaper is pulled on or off the wearer.
US08128606B2	Ophthalmic apparatus and method for administering agents to the eye Embodiments of an ophthalmic apparatus are disclosed for administering fluids to the eye. In one disclosed embodiment, the ophthalmic apparatus includes an eye-positioning device for assisting a subject in positioning an eye in a desired position for administering the fluid and a fluid applicator for dispensing the fluid into the eye when the eye is in the desired position.
US08128605B2	Syringe for use in medical applications A flow delivery system including a syringe that includes an outer plastic shell, a leur and a plunger; and a needle and/or a catheter that embodies a hub and a cannula which delivers a solution of a material. Various structures are included to provide locking engagements, torque sensitive connections, sufficient interfacing between components and visual conformation of connectors. The syringe assembly can also include an approach to a filter. Moreover, an approach to sterilization is provided.
US08128604B2	Device and method for dosing a substance A device for dosing a substance, including at least one rotating element and at least one coding element associated with the rotating element, using which the rotational position of the rotating element can be identified, further including at least one reference element whereby a reference signal is generated at pre-set positions or changes in position, and a method for identifying the rotational position of a rotating element which serves to set a dose, wherein the rotational position of the rotating element is identified by a coding which is only read or evaluated when a reference signal is generated at pre-set rotational positions or positional transitions.
US08128603B2	Pen-type injector having an electronic control unit An injection device of the kind having a main housing (4) is disclosed and includes a drive mechanism (42) to expel selectively a dose of medicament from a medicament cartridge (40) through a needle unit (22) and an electronic control unit to control the drive mechanism (42). The injection device further comprises a prime button (26) which causes a prime signal to be sent to the electronic control unit, the electronic control unit actuating the drive mechanism (42) to expel a predetermined small dose of medicament on receipt of the prime signal. In this way removal of entrapped air from the medicament cartridge (40) is obtained.
US08128597B2	Disposable infusion device with cannula port cover A disposable wearable infusion device comprises a body arranged to be adhered to a patient's skin and to receive a cannula to extend from the infusion device to beneath the patient's skin, a reservoir for holding a liquid medicament to be infused into the patient, and a pump that displaces a volume of the liquid medicament from the reservoir to the cannula for delivery to the patient. The body has a port aligned with the cannula that permits the cannula to assume a deployed position to extend from the infusion device to beneath the patient's skin. The device further comprises a cover that blocks the port to preclude direct access to the cannula through the port after deployment.
US08128589B2	Apparatus and methods for enzymatic debridement of skin lesions An apparatus for debridement of devitalized tissue in skin lesions, that includes a plurality of height- and angle-adjustable inlet tubes and at least one outlet tube and a member that forms an occlusive seal around a skin lesion. The plurality of inlet tubes is adapted for directing a continuous stream of enzymatic solution to the surface and into the entire volume of the wound bed of the lesion and the at least one outlet is adapted for removing the enzymatic solution, fluids draining from the lesion and tissue debris from the occluded skin lesion.
US08128585B2	Vibration dampening device and method A vibration dampening device includes a strap or band wrapped around a human body part. The strap includes one or more wing sections, either integrally formed or engaged thereto, that extend beyond the nominal width of the strap and have freedom of movement with respect to the strap. The distal ends of step members engaged to the strap may form wing sections. Wing section movement counteracts longitudinal vibrations traveling through soft tissue and musculature to dampen such vibrations. Optionally, a tension limiter may be provided to help maintain wrapping tension at or below a desired level, such as 3 pounds-force or below, which applied at a strap area of 0.093 square inches is about 32 psi.
US08128584B2	Compression device with S-shaped bladder A device for applying compression treatment to a part of a wearer's body includes an S-shaped bladder with at least first and second spaced apart sections in fluid communication. At least one opening is formed between the first and second sections. The at least one opening may a single opening extending along a majority of a length of the first and second sections. The at least one opening may be a plural of openings. At least one opening may be formed between the second section and a third section of the bladder.
US08128579B2	Guidewires with improved fatigue life and methods of making the same A medical device, such as a medical guidewire, having a portion including an inner zone of material and an outer peripheral zone of material surrounding the inner zone of material. The inner zone of material has a first coefficient of thermal expansion and the outer peripheral zone of material has a second coefficient of thermal expansion less than the first coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein at an operating temperature the outer peripheral zone of material opposes expansion of the inner zone of material such that the outer peripheral zone of material exerts a compressive stress on the inner zone of material.
US08128578B2	Flask for preparing a cytological suspension based on a fixing solution A system for preparing a cytological suspension based on a fixing solution. The system containing a cytological sample-taking brush and a flask having an opening for receiving the cytological sample-taking brush that is detachably fastened to a handle, and includes a brush-receiving filter basket that is at least partially immersed in a suspension.
US08128576B2	System and method for urodynamic evaluation utilizing micro electro-mechanical system technology An implantable urodynamic system includes an implantable first device deployable in a patient's bladder, an implantable second device deployable in a patient's vaginal canal, and a data acquisition and analysis module or processing unit external to the body of the patient. The first device includes a magnet and an inductive coil, and the second device includes a magnet, an inductive coil and a battery. When deployed in the patient's body, attraction between the magnets maintains the two devices in close proximity to one another to effect an inductive coupling between the coils so that the first device may be powered by the battery of the second device. The urodynamic system is intended to facilitate measurement, collection, and wireless transmission of real-time, or near real-time, data (bladder pressure, abdominal pressure, and temperature) from an ambulatory patient. This data is of value in diagnosing a number of abnormal bladder conditions, such as infection, overactive bladder, bladder spasms, and the like.
US08128570B2	Personalized fluid assessment A system and method of monitoring the fluid status of a patient. The system may include a patient monitor that receives blood pressure data. A first fluid model receives the blood pressure data, and a personalized fluid model is derived from the application of the blood pressure data to the first fluid model. An estimation of the patient's fluid status may be derived from the personalized fluid model. The method may include the steps of measuring a first blood pressure value, creating a personalized fluid model, measuring a second blood pressure value, applying the second blood pressure value to the personalized fluid model; and deriving an estimation of the fluid status of the patient.
US08128569B1	Method and system for detection of respiratory variation in plethysmographic oximetry A method and system for detection of respiratory variation in pulse oximetry are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes detecting a pattern consistent with a respiratory cycle of a waveform representing cardiac oscillations and identifying an abnormality based on the pattern. The method further includes triggering an alarm in response to identifying an abnormality. A system is further provided including a database and a module. The database to store data representing a physiological condition of a patient over a period of time, wherein the data comprises data corresponding to respiratory activity and data corresponding to cardiac oscillations, wherein the data corresponding to respiratory activity comprises a first waveform and the data corresponding to the cardiac oscillations comprises a second waveform; and a module for detecting a pattern of the second waveform consistent with a cycle of a first waveform and detecting an abnormality in the pattern, wherein when an abnormality is detected an alarm is triggered to alert a health care provider of the abnormality.
US08128568B2	Handheld volumetric ultrasound scanning device An apparatus and related methods for ultrasonically scanning a tissue volume are described, the apparatus being particularly advantageous in the context of freehand ultrasound assisted biopsy of the breast although readily applied to non-biopsy contexts and other body parts. The apparatus comprises a casing configured and dimensioned for single-handed manipulation relative to a surface of the tissue, and a texturably couplant-porous material sheet extending across an opening of the casing. The texturably couplant-porous material sheet has an outer side and an inner side relative to the casing, the outer side for compressively contacting the tissue surface. The apparatus further comprises an ultrasound transducer positioned against the inner side of the texturably couplant-porous material sheet and being mechanically translatable thereacross for volumetrically scanning the tissue volume therethrough.
US08128567B2	Ultrasonic imaging apparatus An ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes an image obtaining unit for irradiating an imaging region and obtaining tomographic image information that draws the imaging region, an input unit for inputting scan parameter value information and a target sound pressure parameter value as an index of an estimated sound pressure in the subject, an estimated maximum sound pressure parameter value calculating device for calculating an estimated maximum sound pressure parameter value in the subject on the basis of the scan parameter value information and maximum drive voltage information of a piezoelectric transducer group for generating an ultrasonic wave, and a maximum drive voltage optimization device for comparing the estimated maximum sound pressure parameter value and the target sound pressure parameter value and optimizing the maximum drive voltage value of the maximum drive voltage information.
US08128562B2	Systems and methods for replacing signal artifacts in a glucose sensor data stream Systems and methods for minimizing or eliminating transient non-glucose related signal noise due to non-glucose rate limiting phenomenon such as ischemia, pH changes, temperatures changes, and the like. The system monitors a data stream from a glucose sensor and detects signal artifacts that have higher amplitude than electronic or diffusion-related system noise. The system replaces some or the entire data stream continually or intermittently including signal estimation methods that particularly address transient signal artifacts. The system is also capable of detecting the severity of the signal artifacts and selectively applying one or more signal estimation algorithm factors responsive to the severity of the signal artifacts, which includes selectively applying distinct sets of parameters to a signal estimation algorithm or selectively applying distinct signal estimation algorithms.
US08128555B2	In-vivo information acquiring apparatus An in-vivo information acquiring apparatus includes an information acquiring unit that acquires in-vivo information, a transmitting unit that transmits the in-vivo information to an outside of a living body, a power source that serves to supply power to the information acquiring unit and the transmitting unit, a power supply unit that is provided between the power source and at least one of the information acquiring unit and the transmitting unit so as to supply the power of the power source to at least one of the information acquiring unit and the transmitting unit, an external signal detecting unit that detects an external control signal supplied from outside and generates a control signal according to a detected state of the external control signal, a power supply controller that controls a power supply state of the power supply unit according to the control signal supplied from the external signal detecting unit, and a masking unit that masks the control signal supplied to the power supply controller by the external signal detecting unit for a predetermined time period.
US08128553B2	Method and apparatus for external stabilization of the heart The present disclosure is directed to an external cardiac basal annuloplasty system (ECBAS or BACE-System: basal annuloplasty of the cardia externally) and methods for treatment of regurgitation of mitral and tricuspid valves. The BACE-System provides the ability to correct leakage of regurgitation of the valves with or without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass, particularly when the condition is related to dilation of the base of the heart. This ECBAS invention can be applied to the base of the heart epicardially, either to prevent further dilation or to actively reduce the size of the base of the heart.
US08128551B2	Remote sensing and actuation of fluid of inner ear A system for communicating with the inner ear is described. An acoustic transducer converts between electrical energy and mechanical energy. An inner ear catheter has a distal end in vibratory communication with the fluid of the inner ear, a proximal end in vibratory communication with the acoustic transducer, and a lumen filled with a catheter fluid for coupling vibratory signals between the distal end and the proximal end.
US08128546B2	In-line method for securing a closure system onto a discrete pouch An in-line method is disclosed for securing a closure system onto a discrete pouch. The method includes advancing a discrete pouch through a first station in a machine direction with the closed bottom of the pouch being the leading edge and a first major surface of the pouch faces upward. The first major surface is folded upon itself to form a lip having an exposed first surface while a second major surface of the pouch has an exposed inner surface. The method also includes routing the pouch to a second station where a closure system is transversely attached across the exposed inner surface. The closure system includes an opening/closing mechanism. The method further includes routing the pouch to a third station where the lip is unfolded and opposite ends of the lip are secured to the outer surface of the closure system.
US08128541B2	Exercise grip device An exercise grip device includes a jaw member which is of a sufficient width to permit grasping thereabout with one's hand, wherein the jaw member includes a spring aspect which is preformed to an open position to permit receiving a weightlifting bar and is compressible to a closed position enabling engagement of the jaw member with the weightlifting bar in a manner to prevent sliding movement therebetween and while compressed exerts a force on one's hand and forearm muscles. A method includes weightlifting using the exercise grip device.
US08128538B2	Exercise assemblies having foot-retaining apparatus Exercise assemblies having apparatus that retain the feet of a user during an exercise are disclosed. In one embodiment, an exercise assembly includes a load, and a support assembly operatively positioned relative to the load and including a base assembly. A force-transferring assembly is operatively coupled between the load and an exercise station such that a training force applied to the exercise station induces an associated force on the load. A foot-retaining assembly is operatively coupled to the support assembly and includes at least one foot-retaining device defining a foot-retaining space configured to receive at least a portion of a foot of the user. The foot-retaining device prevents a vertical movement of the foot of the user during the exercise.
US08128535B2	Exercise device for cross training An exercise device includes one or more foot supports movable along an arcuate path defined around a point of rotation. The arcuate path is divisible into machine defined user selectable arc segments and the movement of the foot support(s) is limited to the machine defined user selected arc segment. The exercise device can include a frame, a linkage movably engaged with the frame, a foot support movably engaged with the linkage, a crank arm movably engaged with the frame, a motor operative to move the crank arm location with respect to the frame, and a drive linkage movably engaging the linkage.
US08128527B2	Multi-speed transmission A transmission of the present invention has an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes. The torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish at least ten forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
US08128526B2	Limited slip differential with end teeth The invention relates to a limited slip differential, more particularly for being used in the driveline of a motor vehicle. The limited slip differential 2 comprises a carrier element 3 which is rotatingly drivable around an axis of rotation A; a plurality of planetary gears 4 which rotate around the axis of rotation A together with the carrier element 3; a hollow gear 5 which is supported so as to be rotatable around the axis of rotation A and which engages at least some of the planetary gears 4; an adapter gear 7 which engages either the hollow gear 5 or the sun gear 6 via a toothed coupling 12 for the purpose of transmitting torque, and wherein the toothed coupling 12 comprises a first face toothing 14 at an end face of the adapter gear 7 and a second face toothing 13 at an end face of the gear engaging the adapter gear.
US08128524B2	Sheath assembly for a planetary gear A gear train assembly includes a planetary gear set partially submerged in an oil bath and having a plurality of planetary gears mounted on a rotatable carrier. A plurality of sheaths having a hydrodynamic profile are mounted on the carrier to reduce the churning and turbulence created by the planetary gears as they enter the oil bath.
US08128521B1	Mechanical broadhead with pivoting, interlocking blades A mechanical broadhead arrowhead has moveable blades that deploy from a retracted in-flight configuration to an outward deployed configuration as the broadhead strikes the target. Once in the deployed configuration, the blades are locked to each other against the resistance of the target, but freely pivot about the ferrule. Accordingly, if one blade strikes an obstruction such as a solid bone, the blade assembly simply pivots out of the way without damaging the blade, deflecting the trajectory of the arrow, or halting its penetration into the target.
US08128516B2	Ball game training apparatus A ball game training apparatus includes a positioning device, a first pivot device connected to the positioning device and turnable relative to the positioning device in X-axis direction, a second pivot device connected to the first pivot device and turnable relative to the first pivot device in Y-axis direction, and a driven device connected to the second pivot device and turnable relative to the second pivot device and having a force-receiving ball disposed remote from the second pivot device and strikable to move by an external force.
US08128512B2	Golf club groove configuration The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The grooves have sharp edges, radiused ends, and a draft angle between about 2° and 12°. The striking face is machined such that it has a uniform texture with a roughness of more than 40 Ra. The face may be selectively textured to enhance certain shots that the golfer may perform. This may include providing a plurality of distinct sets of texturing to accommodate a plurality of different shots. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, and a portion having a v-shape.
US08128509B2	Metal wood club with improved hitting face A hitting face of a golf club head having improved flexural stiffness properties. In one embodiment, the hitting face is made from multiple materials. Each material has a different tensile modulus of elasticity, where the center of the hitting face has a much higher tensile modulus of elasticity than the surrounding portions of the hitting face. This creates a stiff center and a more easily deflected concentric portion. In another embodiment, the materials have different yield strengths and elongation, where the center of the hitting face has a very high yield strength compared to the surrounding portions of the hitting face.
US08128500B1	System and method for generating a virtual environment for land-based and underwater virtual characters A method provides a virtual presentation including a virtual character in an environment other than a natural environment of the virtual character. The method includes validating a registration code associated with a toy, providing at least one virtual room representing a natural environment of the toy in the virtual presentation, and displaying the virtual character in the virtual room representing the natural environment of the toy, which represents the toy in the virtual presentation. The method further includes providing at least one additional virtual room representing an unnatural environment of the toy in the virtual presentation, the unnatural environment of the toy being different than the natural environment of the toy, and providing the virtual character with an environment extension tool that enables the virtual character to exist in the room representing the unnatural environment of the toy. The virtual character and the environment extension tool can be displayed in the unnatural environment of the toy.
US08128497B2	Game machine, game machine control method, information recording medium, and program To output sounds generated by multiple objects disposed in a virtual space in as easy a manner as possible while giving live feelings, a storage unit (202) of a game machine (201) stores information on objects of a first type and a second type which move in the virtual space. A basic sound acquiring unit (203) acquires basic sound information corresponding to the total number of the objects. An imitation sound acquiring unit (204) acquires imitation sound information imitating a sound generated by an object of the first type from its position in the virtual space. A mixing output unit (205) mixes and outputs the basic sound information and the imitation sound information. An input receiving unit (206) receives an instruction input from the user. In a case where the instruction input satisfies a predetermined extinction condition, a deleting unit (207) deletes any of objects of the first type from the storage unit (202) if there is no object of the second type stored in the storage unit (202), and deletes any of objects of the second type from the storage unit (202) if there is.
US08128491B2	Server based gaming system having multiple progressive awards A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The central server includes a plurality of progressive modules. Each progressive module maintains one or more progressive awards and is associated with zero, one or more of the gaming machines in the gaming system. Upon a determination that a designated one of the progressive awards will be provided, one of the gaming machines associated with the progressive module which maintains the designated progressive award provides the designated progressive award to the player of such gaming machine.
US08128490B2	System and method of establishing and operating a parimutuel fund In one aspect of the invention there is a system for establishing a parimutuel fund (30) comprising a first mobile phone (14) and a second mobile phone (18) and a parimutuel administrator (22). Each mobile phone (14, 18) has an associated credit balance (16, 20). In this manner, a person (26) in possession of the first mobile phone (14) instructs the parimutuel administrator (22) to transfer a first predetermined amount from their credit balance (16) associated with the first mobile phone (14) to the credit balance (20) associated with the second mobile phone (18) and to contribute a second predetermined amount to a parimutuel fund (30), the person (26) further operable to indicate to the parimutuel administrator (22) the selected outcome of the event associated with the parimutuel fund (30) such that, if the outcome of the event associated with the parimutuel fund (30) is the same as the selected outcome, the parimutuel administrator (22) is operable to credit the credit balance (16) associated with the first mobile phone (14) with an amount equal to the total of the parimutuel fund (30) divided by the total amount of contributions made in respect of the selected outcome then multiplied by the second predetermined amount.
US08128487B2	Compensating participants of virtual environments Methods, systems, and computer program products for compensating participants of events or activities of virtual environments, such as on-line games, digital or virtual worlds, and virtual universes are disclosed. One or more embodiments may comprise conducting an event, measuring event participation by the participant, and compensating the participant based upon the measured participation. Various embodiments may compensate the participant based upon the amount of time the participant spends at the event, while other embodiments may compensate the participant based upon amounts or types of activity of the participant while attending the event. Some embodiments may compensate the participant based upon such activity as chat activity, keyboard activity, and mouse activity. Some embodiments may compensate the participant based upon one or more referrals that the participant makes other participants.
US08128484B2	Game system generating second game according to game result of a device and allowing other devices to participate in second game thus generated A game system for playing a basic game, includes: slot machines which, when a combination of “BONUS” symbols stop in a winning line, transmit a signal for switching to a roulette game; a second game device, separate from the slot machines, which executes a second game; and a display for displaying an image corresponding to game status of the second game device. In cases in which the switching signal has been transmitted from any one of the slot machines, other slot machines enter a mode that allows the players at the other slot machines to participate in the second game. Furthermore, the game system includes a central controller which can communicate with the slot machines, the second game device, and the display, and which, upon reception of the switching signal from the slot machine, transmits a roulette game start signal to start the roulette game in the second game device.
US08128483B2	Gaming machine with synchronized bezel lights A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a wager input device, and a display for displaying a wagering game. The wagering game includes at least one moveable game element, at least one bezel light positioned proximate the display, and a controller operative to activate the bezel light in coordination with movement of the at least one moveable game element. The gaming system may have a plurality of bezel lights respectively positioned proximate the display, and the controller may be operative to activate the bezel lights singly or in combination in coordination with movement of the at least one moveable game element.
US08128482B2	Gaming machine including multi-choice game and battle effect images In a slot machine, once a player indicates the bet amount with respect to a “continuous game”, one or a plurality of “continuous games” including unit games that are executed by the number of times which can be indicated by the player is specified through the bet amount with respect to the “continuous game” indicated by the player and the minimum bet amount with respect to a unit game which can be set by the player. Thereafter, the operation with respect to all buttons corresponding to the “continuous game” thus specified is validated. The player operates any of the buttons thus validated, whereby the “continuous game”, which is constituted of unit games executed by the number of times indicated by the player through the above-mentioned operation, is executed. Then, the bet amount with respect to the “continuous game” indicated by the player is evenly allocated to each unit game constituting the “continuous game” indicated by the player. Incidentally, the bet amount which was left after the bet amount has been evenly allocated with respect to each unit game constituting the “continuous game” is returned to the player.
US08128480B2	Gaming device having dynamic paylines A gaming device including a plurality of symbol generators with a plurality of symbols on or associated with each symbol generator. At least one and preferably a plurality of the symbols are reflector symbols. A reflector symbol is a symbol that, when generated on one of the reels, causes any payline which runs through such symbol to be reflected back across one or more of the reels. In operation, after providing the player any award based on the symbols generated on any wagered on paylines, the gaming device determines if at least one reflector symbol is generated on at least one of the wagered on paylines. If at least one reflector symbol is generated on at least one of the wagered on paylines, the generated reflector symbol causes the activated payline which runs through the generated reflector symbol to reflect back across one, more or each of the reels to form a supplemental payline. The gaming device determines if an award is associated with any of the symbols or symbol combinations generated on the supplemental payline and provides any determined award to the player.
US08128477B2	Wagering game with simulated mechanical reels A gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a housing having a display region, a curved transparent layer located in the display region, and a video display. The video display is located behind the transparent layer for projecting moving images onto the transparent layer. The images including a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. The curved transparent layer can be moving as well. Environmental mapping may be used to sense the location of the player and/or the ambient lighting surrounding the gaming machine and alter the images based on the sensing. The altering may include spectral highlights, shading, and the parallax effect. The video images may further include imperfections normally found in mechanical reel strips. The gaming machine provides video images that more closely simulate the look of traditional mechanical reels.
US08128476B1	Electronic game, such as a computer game involving removing pegs Peggle is a game that balances skill and luck. The Peggle board is made up of different types of pegs, some of which the player must clear. The player begins a turn by aiming a ball at the pegs. When the player releases the ball, the ball travels through the pegs, contacting some and eventually falling to the bottom of the board. The ball may bounce off many pegs, and those pegs that the ball contacts are removed. A score is calculated based on the number and types of pegs hit during a turn.
US08128473B2	Method of playing a game of chance combining number and symbol matching and system for facilitating the play thereof A method for playing a game of chance and system for facilitating the play of the game are disclosed. The method of playing the game of chance includes choosing a selected symbol. The method of playing the game of chance further includes choosing a set of selected numbers. The method of playing the game further includes receiving a prize if a predetermined number the selected symbols matches the drawn symbol for each selected number.
US08128472B1	Poker tournament system and method A method of playing a poker style card game tournament includes providing an original table at which a plurality of players can compete in the poker style card game. An entry fee for each of the plurality of players is predetermined. The type of poker style card game in which the players will compete is predetermined as is an event outcome from which a winner is determined from the plurality of players. A mechanism is provided that allows each of the plurality of players to pay the predetermined entry fee to enter the tournament. A forum is also provided that allows each of the plurality of players to compete against one another in the predetermined poker style card game. A point-leader is identified from amongst the plurality of players based on an evaluation of the event outcome. The point-leader is advanced to one or more additional tables and is compensated based on their performance at the one or more additional tables. At least one stakeholder is also compensated based on the performance of the point-leader at the one or more additional tables.
US08128462B2	Method of centering a non-edged ophthalmic lens in which the centering point of the lens is offset relative to its geometric center The invention relates to a method of centering a single vision non-edged ophthalmic lens (1) possessing an initial outline (2) associated with a centering point (CO) and that is to be shaped (edged) to take up a final outline (3) associated with a pupil point, the method comprising the steps of: superposing the pupil point of the final outline on the centering point of the non-edged lens; and adjusting the relative position of the final outline to fit within the initial outline of the non-edged lens. The step of adjusting the position of the final outline to fit within the initial outline includes angularly orientating the initial outline relative to the final outline about the centering point in compliance with an adjustment angular position to avoid or reduce any protrusion of the final outline beyond the initial outline of the lens.
US08128461B1	Chemical mechanical polishing with multi-zone slurry delivery Chemical-mechanical polishing or planarization (CMP) is enhanced with multi-zone slurry delivery. A polishing pad is provided that contacts with the work piece, and a multi-zone platen is displaced proximate to the polishing pad to facilitate slurry delivery. The platen includes multiple fluid distribution layers that each include a fluid-distributing channel extending from a fluid source to a distribution point on layer. The distribution points on each of the fluid distribution layers correspond to different locations on the polishing surface to thereby create multiple fluid-delivery zones on the pad.
US08128460B2	Method of producing rust inhibitive sheet metal through scale removal with a slurry blasting descaling cell A method is provided for removing iron oxide scale from sheet metal and producing a sheet metal surface with rust inhibitive properties. The sheet metal is advanced through the descaling cell and a slurry mixture is propelled against at least one of the top surface and bottom surface of the sheet metal across the sheet metal width as the material is advanced through the descaling cell. The rate of slurry impact against the at least one of the top surface and bottom surface of the sheet metal is controlled in a manner to remove substantially all of the scale from a surface of the sheet metal, and in a manner to create a passivation layer on the descaled surface of the sheet metal. The passivation layer comprises at least one of silicon, aluminum, manganese and chromium and inhibits oxidation of the descaled surface of the processed sheet metal.
US08128456B2	Molded breast cup and a brassiere incorporating such a breast cup The invention includes a molded breast cup comprising an outer panel which includes an outer fabric layer and an inner panel including an inner fabric layer to be worn against a wearer's skin. A middle layer is disposed between the outer panel and the inner panel. The middle layer comprises fill being sufficiently thick such that the outer panel corresponds to a breast cup size which is more than one breast cup size and preferably two breast cup sizes above the breast cup size which corresponds to the inner panel.
US08128455B2	Attached capelet An attached capelet that does not necessitate the removal of the attached capelet from the wearer's body in order to access an under layer garment for breast feeding. The capelet (10) covers the shoulder strap and releasable fastener means of the under layer garment (12) when the wearer is not breast feeding. The capelet is attached to the under layer garment at a back portion or underneath the arm sections and covers each shoulder of the wearer with a hem line (28) extending from the neck to each underarm side (30) of the wearer.
US08128446B2	Method for manufacturing a spark plug insulator including steps for forming a through hole therein A method for manufacturing an insulator for a spark plug is provided. The method includes: a preparing step; a press pin arranging step; a powder filling step after the press pin arranging step; a cavity blocking step after the powder filling step; a compression molding step after the cavity blocking step; a die releasing step after the compression molding step; and a press pin removing step after the die releasing step.
US08128436B2	Electrical connectors with crosstalk compensation An electrical connector including mating conductors configured to engage select plug contacts of a modular plug. The connector includes a printed circuit that interconnects the mating conductors to terminal contacts. The printed circuit includes first and second shielding rows of conductor vias that are located between end portions of the printed circuit and are electrically connected to the mating conductors. The first and second shielding rows extend along first and second row axes, respectively, which extend substantially parallel to each other. The printed circuit also includes outer terminal vias electrically connected to the terminal contacts. Each end portion has terminal vias therein that are distributed in a direction along the first and second row axes. The printed circuit also includes a pair of shielded vias located between the first and second shielding rows and along a central-pair axis that extends substantially parallel to the first and second row axes.
US08128435B2	Electrical interconnecting module An electrical interface module including a connector configured for a data cable and a plurality of electrical contact elements configured to directly establish at least one of an electrical and an electronic connection with a plurality of corresponding mating contact elements of a terminal block. Each of the plurality of corresponding mating contacts includes a screw clamp terminal having a terminal compartment with a pressure element configured to clamp the respective contact element. Each of the plurality of electrical contact elements is configured to allow the at least one of the electrical and the electronic connection to be established via a connection with the respective pressure element when the respective screw clamp terminal is in an open position.
US08128431B2	Connector A terminal comprising a plate shaped electrical connector including an engagement portion and an equipment portion, a ring shaped support member intimately attached to an outer periphery of the equipment portion and abutting to the engagement portion, and a ring shaped elastic seal intimately attached to the outer periphery of the equipment portion and adjacent to the support member from a side of the support member opposite a side abutting the engagement portion. Also, a connector comprising the terminal and a connector housing including a terminal space into which the terminal is inserted, the terminal space having an inner peripheral wall.
US08128430B2	Jumper and structural unit comprising at least two electrical modular terminals and one jumper A jumper that has a housing and is used for bridging two modular electric terminals which are arranged next to one another and are each equipped with a busbar. At least one opening is formed in the busbars. In order to be able to easily actuate the jumper according to the invention and flexibly and easily insert the same into multiple modular terminals, two mutually insulated contact elements are arranged in the housing so as to engage into an opening in a respective busbar, and a jumper rail is movably retained in the housing. The jumper rail, which has two contact zones and a connection zone that connects the contact zones, can be moved from a first final position in which the contact zones do not contact the contact elements into a second final position in which the contact elements are interconnected in an electrically conducting manner via the jumper rail.
US08128429B2	FPC U-shaped nail To provide an electric connector capable of securing a sufficient distance between a position at which a projecting portion of a flat electric cable is placed and a position soldered on the surface of a circuit board even when the electric connector is formed having a low profile an electric connector, for connecting an FPC, having a projecting portion formed on an edge thereof, to a circuit board, is disclosed. The electric connector has a plurality of terminals, a housing, and a reinforcing member fixed to the housing. The reinforcing member has a pull-out stop portion positioned outside in the width direction of the FPC relative to the plurality of terminals, and a fixed portion positioned apart from the pull-out stop portion toward the outside in the width direction of the FPC and fixed on the surface of the circuit board.
US08128425B2	Cable connector having multiple, mutually independent contact arms A cable connector is provided including an insulative housing having an insertion opening through which a flat flexible cable may be inserted. An actuator is movably mounted on the housing and configured to be moved from a first position at which the flat flexible cable may be inserted and a second position at which the contact pads of the flat flexible cable are operatively engaged by terminals of the connector. A plurality of conductive terminals are mounted in the housing. Each terminal is configured to be electrically connected to a contact pad of the flat flexible cable. Each terminal includes a base portion disposed at a rear end of the terminal and extending in the vertical direction, an actuator holding arm portion, a front resilient contact arm portion, and a rear resilient contact arm portion. The contact arm portions engage the contact pads in a mutually independent way. The actuator holding arm portion and each contact arm portion have a proximal end thereof secured to the base portion and a contact portion at a free end of thereof.
US08128422B2	Voice-directed portable terminals for wireless communication systems A communication system includes a voice-directed portable terminal with a voice user interface that is configured for being able to communicate with a computer system. The communication system includes a peripheral device having a cord coupled with the portable terminal and a connector adapted to disconnect from the portable terminal when a sufficient force is applied to the cord. This disengages the peripheral device from the portable terminal. The ability of the cord to break-away from the portable terminal prevents damage not only to the connector, but also to the cord, peripheral, and terminal.
US08128420B2	Illuminating device and display device An illuminating device is provided with a cold cathode fluorescent tube (discharge tube) (20), an inverter circuit (T) that is connected to the cold cathode fluorescent tube (20) and drives the cold cathode fluorescent tube (20) to be turned on, a chassis (12) made from metal for accommodating the cold cathode fluorescent tube (20), an inverter circuit board (24) on which the inverter circuit (T) is mounted and in which a ground wire (G) is provided, and a connector (21) for electrically connecting the cold cathode fluorescent tube (20) and the inverter circuit (T). The connector (21) is provided with a conductor (23) for electrically connecting the chassis (12) and the ground wire (G).
US08128404B2	Artificial teeth easily enabling bilateral balanced occlusion It is intended to provide artificial teeth designed to easily enable bilateral balanced occlusion with less grinding adjustment. According to the present invention, angles formed by occlusal facets of the artificial teeth with an occlusal plane are suitably set. An artificial tooth for maxillary central incisor, for example, has a protrusive facet and a retrusive facet on an incisal edge thereof. Of angles formed by the protrusive facet with the occlusal plane, the angle in cross section along a sagittal plane is 22.0° to 25.5°, and the angle in cross section along a coronal plane is 1.5° to 6.5°. Of angles formed by the retrusive facet with the occlusal plane, the angle in cross section along the sagittal plane is 20.5° to 23.0°, and the angle in cross section along the coronal plane is 1.5° to 6.5°.
US08128402B2	Tubular bone anchoring element A bone anchoring element comprises a tubular implant to be inserted into bone tissue for anchoring a prosthetic component located outside the bone. The implant has a compact, impermeable side wall (2) and is open at one end while the other end is closed by a compact impermeable end wall portion with attachment for prosthetic component on the outside thereof.
US08128398B2	Burner and pilot burner A burner for a heat generator comprises a swirl generator (1) for a combustion-air flow and means for injecting fuel for producing a main flow (6). A combustion chamber (2) is arranged downstream of the burner.A cavity (3) is arranged between the swirl generator (1) and the combustion chamber (2), in which cavity (3) a secondary flow (10) can be produced, and this secondary flow (10) encloses the main flow (6).
US08128394B2	Interchangeable mold tooling Tooling assemblies for interfacing with interchangeable molds are provided, each with a tooling body for mounting to a platen of a press of an injection molding machine and for receiving an interchangeable mold block. Interchangeable mold blocks are also provided for forming articles. A series of fasteners fasten each mold block to one of the tooling bodies. Alignment systems are oriented within a perimeter of the mold block to permit expansion of the mold block relative to the tooling body to accommodate varying rates of thermal expansion of the tooling body and the mold block. Methods for assembling a mold, molding an article and interchanging a mold with interchangeable mold blocks are also provided.
US08128392B2	Machine for rotational molding with heated mold and with facilitated part extraction A machine for rotational molding of products comprises means (12, 14, 16, 17) for driven rotation of a mold around perpendicular axes (13, 15), means (22) for direct heating of the mold and means (21) for commanded opening of the mold in half molds. The machine further comprises combined means (23, 24, 25) for arresting in a predetermined position of the rotating means of the mold disengageable retaining means (26, 27) for retaining the product in a preset half mold, and evacuating means (28, 50) for evacuating the product that are suitable for being introduced between the open half molds when the rotating means is stopped in said predetermined position and which is suitable for receiving the product discharged from said preset half mold upon the release of the retaining means.
US08128391B2	Molding machine Intended is to provide a molding machine using a built-in type motor as an injecting electric motor. In this molding machine, a mounting structure for such a transmission mechanism from a rotational motion to a linear motion, as changes the rotation of the built-in motor into the linear motion thereby to transmit the linear motion to an injecting member, is simplified to improve the assembling workability. For this improvement, a sleeve is fixed in the rotor of the built-in type motor. In the hollow portion of the sleeve, a screw shaft or the rotating portion of a ball screw mechanism and the sleeve are connected and fixed by a connecting member. A nut member or the straight portion of the ball screw mechanism is fixed on a member for performing straight motions together with the injecting member.
US08128388B2	Scroll-type expansion machine A scroll-type expansion machine includes an expansion mechanism including an orbiting scroll and a first fixed scroll for expanding a refrigerant and recovering a power, a sub-expansion mechanism including an orbiting scroll and a second fixed scroll for compressing the refrigerant by the power recovered by the expansion mechanism, and a seal ring disposed in at least one of an outer circumference portion of the sub-compression mechanism or an outer circumference portion of the expansion mechanism. An oil flow path is opened in an upper space of a hermetic vessel to make the upper space and a lower space at a compressed pressure of the sub-compression mechanism, and the lower space is provided with an oil pipe for communicating with the main compressor.
US08128387B2	Discharge chamber for dual drive scroll compressor A dual drive compressor is disclosed including a discharge chamber having a wall disposed therein forming a plurality of discharge zones within the discharge chamber to attenuate pulsations caused by a fluid received in the compressor and improve a performance of the compressor.
US08128386B2	Variable flow pumping system A variable displacement pump and pump control system therefor to pump a fluid at selected pump output flow rates having a variable displacement pump and a fluid volume displacement selection controller to select a volume of fluid to be forced from the pump inlet to the pump outlet by the rotating member during a rotation thereof. A movable lead screw is coupled to the displacement selection controller so as to be capable of altering the position thereof, and a lead screw positioner is provided for selectively moving, or preventing the moving of, the movable lead screw by extending and retracting the lead screw through a threaded opening.
US08128380B2	Axial piston pump or motor of the swashplate or bent axis type An axial piston machine, in particular an axial piston pump, of the swashplate or bent axis type, is described, wherein a fixed control plate (12), which comprises at least one control passage (12a) consisting of a plurality of control passage sections (12b, 12c) separated from each other by bridges (12d), is arranged between a cylinder drum, rotatable in both directions of rotation, and a fixed housing. The object of the invention is to design the control plate of an axial piston machine in such a way that damage by cavitation to the structural parts is prevented over the entire extent of the control passages for the supply and removal of the operating fluid. For this purpose the at least one control passage (12a) in the region at least of one bridge (12d) is provided with a pressure balance opening (13) connecting the surfaces of the control plate (12) with one another.
US08128379B2	Temperature management system for a 2CD type air compressor A temperature management system for an air compressor includes a plurality of cooling fans coupled to an intercooler of the air compressor; an electrical relay comprising a coil and contacts operated by the coil; and a temperature switch coupled to the coil of the electrical relay. The contacts are located between the cooling fans and an electrical power supply. The temperature switch opens at a temperature above a predetermined temperature at a high pressure inlet of a high pressure stage of the air compressor, thereby closing the contacts of the electrical relay which applies power to the cooling fans.
US08128376B2	High performance outboard section for rotor blades Blades for rotorcraft are designed and/or implemented with rotor blades having a swept portion that occupies at least 20-40% of a length of the blade. Forward and aft sweeps are contemplated, with up to 20° or more of sweep. The swept portion preferably has a thickness ration of at least 10-20% at R80, and can have a tapered planform with a relatively outboard section having a smaller chord than a relatively inboard section. Contemplated design methods include optimizing or otherwise designing the rotor blade planform and lift distribution along the blade for efficiency in various flight conditions without taking into account the detrimental effects of high Mach numbers, and then using sweep angle, airfoil thickness and transonic airfoil shaping to maintain the lift distribution, low drag and low noise level at real Mach numbers at the various blade stations at the various flight conditions.
US08128374B2	Securing element for fastening rotor blades A securing element for securing the position of moving blades in slots, running at least mainly in the axial direction, of a rotor parent body of a turbomachine rotor is described, comprising a plate-shaped parent body, wherein the parent body has an approximately central recess which is formed between two end sections of the parent body and defines a center section, running between the two end sections, of the parent body, wherein the two end sections have bearing surfaces running parallel to one another.
US08128373B2	Turbine rotor with locking plates and corresponding assembly method A turbine rotor with a rotor disc, a plurality of slots arranged on the rotor disc, a plurality of blades having blade roots and arranged in the slots, and a plurality of locking plates fitted in a position between the rotor disc and the blades are provided. The first gaps on radially outside edges and second gaps on radially inside edges, relative to an axis of rotation of the rotor disc, are formed between neighboring locking plates. At least one of the first gaps is smaller than the corresponding second gap, wherein at least one first gap and corresponding second gaps are intentionally introduced.
US08128366B2	Counter-vortex film cooling hole design An apparatus for use in a gas turbine engine includes a wall defining an exterior face, a first film cooling passage extending through the wall to a first outlet along the exterior surface of the wall for providing film cooling, and first and second rows of vortex-generating structures. The first film cooling passage defines a first interior surface region and a second interior surface region. The first row of vortex-generating structures is located along the first interior surface region, and the second row of vortex-generating structures is located along the second interior surface region. The first and second rows of vortex-generating structures are configured to inducing a pair of vortices in substantially opposite first and second rotational directions in a cooling fluid passing through the first cooling passage prior to reaching the first outlet.
US08128362B2	Method of operating a wind turbine, a wind turbine and a cluster of wind turbines A method of operating a wind turbine above a predefined wind velocity comprising the step of operating a control parameter of the wind turbine within a tolerance band from a reference set-point curve of that control parameter. A wind turbine and a cluster of wind turbines is also contemplated.
US08128360B2	Vortex pump with splitter blade impeller A vortex pump impeller utilizes primary blades in combination with splitter blades. An increase in total head is observed through exemplary impellers in a vortex pump, compared to an impeller lacking the splitter blades. Single stage and dual stage pumps utilizing the exemplary impellers are also disclosed. Exemplary pumps may also contain a grinder assembly.
US08128358B2	Low mass fan shroud with integrated membrane barrier An engine cooling fan shroud structure (20) for a vehicle includes a skirt (12′) defining a frame. The frame has a certain wall thickness and defines an opening (22) therein constructed and arranged to permit air to pass through the skirt. The skirt includes motor mount structure (14) supported in the opening and constructed and arranged for mounting a fan motor thereto. The frame defines passageways (18) there-through to reduce an amount of material of the skirt. A film material (28) has a wall thickness substantially less than the certain wall thickness and covers the passageways such that air may flow mainly through the opening.
US08128350B2	Stacked lamellae ceramic gas turbine ring segment component A gas turbine ring segment (10) for use in gas turbine engines made from a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material is disclosed. The ring segment includes a stacked multiplicity of CMC thin-sheet lamellae (25a, 25b) each comprising a peripheral surface collectively defining a cross-section profile of the ring segment. The lamellae collectively define a channel (11) formed in the center thereof for receiving a bow-tie member (27). The bow-tie member is disposed in the channel for holding together the stacked lamellae in a through thickness direction, and the in-plane strength of the bow-tie member is perpendicular to the in-plane strength of the lamellae. A stem portion (33) of the assembly may be further secured with a wrap (38) of CMC ribbon.
US08128349B2	Gas turbine engines and related systems involving blade outer air seals Gas turbine engines and related systems involving blade outer air seals are provided. In this regard, a representative blade outer air seal assembly for a gas turbine engine includes: an annular arrangement of outer air seal segments defining an inner diameter surface; intersegment gaps located between the outer air seal segments, each of the gaps being located between a corresponding adjacent pair of the segments; and recesses spaced about the inner diameter surface, each of the recesses communicating with a corresponding one of the gaps.
US08128342B2	Multidirectional multisound information system Exemplary embodiments provide an information system adapted to focus a plurality of audio messages to a plurality of different locations. As a consumer passes a display, their attention is attracted based on the series of messages. Further, a consumer can obtain more and different information as they change their position. Exemplary embodiments may also display a different image to the consumer depending on the position of the consumer relative to the display. Further embodiments may utilize touch-screen technology to allow a user to select an icon from the screen and obtain further information either through additional messages, video, or both.
US08128338B2	Propeller and horizontal-axis wind turbine A propeller, wherein the tip parts of the propeller blades of a horizontal-shaft windmill are tilted in the front direction of the propeller blades to form inclination parts. The inclination angle of the tilted parts is set within the range of 25 to 50° relative to the longitudinal direction of the propeller blades.
US08128334B2	System for mobilization of stocked gondolas A support assembly provides for a method of mobilization that does not require removal of shelving and restocking of items on gondolas and warehouse pallet racking, even if the gondola or pallet racking is too wide for prior art mobilization methods. The support assembly comprises a pair of tubular members capable of engaging fork-like extensions of a hand truck or the like. The hand truck may have caster wheels for mobilization and may have a lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the support assembly by the fork-like extensions, when tongues extending from the tubular members are aligned and matingly engaged at a middle support and outer supports of the gondola. By using a plurality of such lift assemblies engaged along the length of the gondola or gondola run, a row of gondolas may be lifted and mobilized without removing shelving and restocking items on the shelves, even if the gondola is wide and the items stocked on the shelves of the gondola add substantial weight to the gondola. A push pull rod may be engaged at a engaging loop attached on a lower portion of each of the lift assemblies or a plurality of push pull rods may be engaged at a plurality of the engaging loops, transferring user force on the push pull rods to the lift assemblies as low on the lift assemblies as possible.
US08128332B2	Header structure for a pipe handling apparatus A system has a pipe handling apparatus with an arm moving between a first position and a second position, a derrick having a window through which the pipe handling system delivers a pipe to a well head, and a header mounted in the window of the derrick. The header receives the arm of the pipe handling system when the arm is in the second position. An outside surface of the header suitably fits within the window of the derrick. An inside surface of the derrick suitably receives the arm. The inside surface resists an upward motion and a sideways motion of the arm. The header has a body that has a head and legs.
US08128331B2	Methods and apparatus to score book covers Apparatus and methods to score book covers are described. An example scoring apparatus includes a first scoring roll to oppose a corresponding second scoring roll to process a cover at a first location on a first side of the cover, and a third scoring roll to oppose a corresponding fourth scoring roll to process the cover at a second location on the first side of the cover. The first location and the second location correspond substantially to the thickness of a book to which the cover is to be applied. The first and the third scoring rolls are mechanically driven and rotate about a first axis of rotation and the second and the fourth scoring rolls rotate freely about a second axis of rotation.
US08128329B2	Wall anchor A wall anchor attachable to a wall, the wall defining a wall aperture. The wall anchor includes a body; a retention element operatively coupled to the body so as to be reversibly movable between a retracted configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein, when the retention element is in the retracted configuration, the wall anchor is insertable into and removable from the wall aperture, and, when the retention element is in the expanded configuration and the body is operationally extending through the wall aperture, the retention element cooperates with the body to attach the wall anchor to the wall; and an actuator operatively coupled to the retention element for selectively moving the retention element between the expanded and retracted configurations. Inserting the wall anchor through the wall aperture with the retention element in the retracted configuration and subsequently using the actuator to move the retention element to the expanded configuration attaches the wall anchor to the wall. Using the actuator to move the retention element from the expanded configuration to the retracted configuration with the wall anchor attached to the wall allows for the removal of the wall anchor from the wall aperture to detach the wall anchor from the wall.
US08128327B2	Adjustable bulkhead An adjustable bulkhead is disclosed. The adjustable bulkhead includes a compressible section that may be compressed in order to change the height or width of the bulkhead.
US08128325B2	Tie-down anchor for freight A floor tie-down anchor for securing freight during transport is provided. A tie-down anchor is provided comprising an elongated L-shaped bracket including a first leg and a second leg forming an angle therebetween. At least one aperture having a first shape is defined through the first leg and configured to receive a connecting mechanism for securing freight. At least one aperture having a second shape different from the first shape is defined through said first leg. The first shape is an oval slot and the second shape is a circle, and the L-shaped bracket is operatively connected to a railcar having a floor such that the first leg is substantially coplanar with and parallel to the floor of the railcar.
US08128324B2	Cargo restraint method with enhanced shear strength A load restraint method and system for securing cargo within transport containers wherein the angle θ of attachment between a side wall of a container and a reinforcing strip of material attached to the side wall is maintained at 15 degrees or less in accordance with the formula B≦cot θ·A, where θ is the angle formed between an exterior surface of said load restraining strip and an interior plane of the lateral wall surface of the transport container “A” is the distance from a front edge of a load to an adjacent side wall and “B” is the distance along the wall of the container behind the point of contact of the restraining strip with an edge of the load to be restrained.
US08128322B2	Key duplication machine Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with a key duplication machine are described. In one embodiment, an assembly for duplicating a master key includes an optical imaging device, a logic, a clamping assembly, and a cutting member. The optical imaging device is capable of capturing an optical image of at least a portion of the master key. The logic is capable of determining a key pattern of the master key from the optical image of the master key. The clamping assembly is capable of clamping a key blank and the cutting member is capable of cutting a key pattern into said key blank.
US08128319B2	Shielded tamper and method of use for making aggregate columns A tamper device includes a shaft for driving a tamper head. A tamper head is attached to the end of the shaft for tamping a lift of aggregate in a cavity formed in a ground surface. A shield extends upwardly a predetermined height from the tamper head an amount sufficient to prevent sidewalls of the cavity from failing and collapsing. Methods of constructing aggregate columns with thicker lifts are also disclosed.
US08128315B2	Fitting A fitting comprising at least one inlet and at least one outlet, a body disposed between said at least one inlet and at least one outlet wherein the body defines at least one flowpath through the fitting, the body further comprising one or more apertures located intermediate said at least one inlet and said at least one outlet, and two or more flanges extending outwardly from the body and spaced apart from one another, and wherein the one or more apertures are located intermediate the two or more flanges.
US08128311B2	Grass protection mat and mat assembly having the same A grass protection mat and a mat assembly having the same are provided. The grass protection mat of the invention includes a body made of polygonal portions, pillars protruded upward from the body, buffer wings protruded upward from the body between the pillars for distributing weights, an outer frame at the periphery of the body, lug members protruded from lower parts of the body and the outer frame. The mat also includes slide-type hooking means laterally protruded for connection of the mats, an opening formed at the inner surface of the outer frame. The mat assembly includes various forms of mat fastening members for connecting the grass protection mats. The invention facilitates connection of the mats and enhances assemblability of the mat assembly, effectively preventing sinking of the mats into the ground, thereby maintaining protection of grass.
US08128304B2	Direct-fluid-supply writing implement A direct-fluid-supply writing implement has a pentip, an ink occlusion body connected to a rear end of the pentip, an ink tank that directly stores ink and is arranged at a rear of the ink occlusion body, a plurality of communication tubes that connects the ink tank to the ink occlusion body and a partition wall provided between the ink occlusion body and the ink tank. Forward end portions of the communication tubes are protruded forward from a front face of the partition wall, and are located inside the ink occlusion body. At least one of the communication tubes is provided such that a rear end of the communication tube is protruded backward from a rear face of the partition wall and is located inside the ink tank.
US08128303B2	Metering dispensing flexible pouch with spray nozzle An atomizing fluid dispenser for delivering, via a spray nozzle, a substantially equal metered dose of fluid material for each dispensing operation. The fluid dispensing device includes a container with an interior fluid storage region therein. A metering housing, when depressed, generates a one-way flow from the interior fluid storage region of the container that serves to fill the predetermined volume of the chamber within the metering housing. When the metering housing is depressed a second time a substantially equal volume of fluid is dispensed from the container, while upon release, the metering housing is refilled by drawing fluid from the fluid storage region. A spray nozzle or atomizer is attached to the exit port of the dispensing device so that the liquid is delivered in metered fashion in spray form.
US08128302B2	Writing instrument having a slidable cap A writing instrument comprises a substantially tubular body extending between a top and a writing end, and an elongate slot disposed in an outer surface of the body and having a detents defined at each end of the slot, and a tubular open-ended cap disposed coaxially around the body and having a cut defining an elongate arm connected to the cap at one end and having an inwardly-oriented protrusion at another end and sized to engage the detents of the slot. The cap is slidable along the body such that the inwardly-oriented protrusion slides along the slot until it engages a detent at an end of the slot thereby arresting the cap either in a closed position, in which the cap covers the writing end, or in an open position in which the writing end is exposed.
US08128301B2	Mechanism for a writing implement, a writing implement including mechanism, and a method of manufacture A writing implement mechanism comprises includes a tubular first element (10) having a central axis and including first and second walls (12, 14) presenting that include respective first and second edges (16, 18) defining a guide (20) extending longitudinally in a direction that is inclined relative to the central axis between a first end and a second end. The mechanism further comprises includes a second element (26) adapted to slide along the first element (10) and including a nib (28) sliding in the guide (20). The second wall (14) is offset towards the central axis relative to the first wall (12) in a direction that is radial relative to said the central axis (Z).
US08128300B2	Hand held photochromic marking implement Disclosed is a hand-held photochromic marking implement including a photochromic colorant and solid phase colorant carrier which can be used in direct-to-media marking and a method of forming same.
US08128299B2	Nail enamel applicator having an air-tight effect A nail enamel applicator includes a resilient tube, an adaptor mounted on the top portion of the tube and having an upper end provided with a clamping hole and a guide portion, a pen head mounted in the adaptor and having an upper end provided with a tip extending through the guide portion into the clamping hole, a top cap mounted on the adaptor to cover the tip, and a brush having an upper end provided with a pipe inserted into an open lower end of the pen head and a lower end provided with multiple bristles. Thus, the tip is clamped by the clamping hole so that the clamping hole is sealed closely by the tip without producing a gap between the tip and the clamping hole to prevent air from being introduced into the tube.
US08128298B2	Hinge with sliding pivot transfer Exemplary embodiments provide for a method and apparatus for moving a cover of a device relative to a base of the device to provide access to an interior space. An indication to open a cover coupled to a base is received. Responsive to receiving the indication, the cover is sequentially pivoted around a first pivot and a second pivot to provide access to the interior space while maintaining the cover within a footprint of the device.
US08128292B2	Rotational bearing of a rotational body A rotational bearing configured to support a first body for rotation relative to a second body about a rotational axis, one of the first or second bodies being a rotational body and the other being a support body, the rotational bearing comprising a plurality of carrier rollers. Each carrier roller is individually mounted to the first body for rotation about a respective carrier roller rotational axis extending therefrom. Each carrier roller is in rolling contact with the second body.
US08128291B2	Needle roller bearing and bearing structure A needle roller bearing comprises an outer ring having a plurality of outer ring members split by a parting line extending in the axial direction of the bearing, a plurality of needle rollers rotatably arranged on the raceway surface of the outer ring, and a retainer retaining the plurality of needle rollers. A curvature radius r1 of the outer ring member and a curvature radius r2 of the outer diameter of the retainer has a relation such that 1
US08128290B2	Rolling bearing unit having sensor A rolling bearing unit having a sensor comprising: a first raceway member, on the outer circumferential surface of which a raceway surface is provided; a second raceway member, on the inner circumferential surface of which a raceway surface is provided; a plurality of rolling elements arranged between the raceway surface of the first raceway member and the raceway surface of the second raceway member; a base plate, the shape of which is formed into an annular and flat shape, having a through-hole that the first raceway member penetrates; a first coil, the shape of which is formed into a plane shape, arranged so that the first coil surrounds an overall circumference of the first raceway member; and a plurality of second coils, the shape of which is formed into a plane shape, arranged around the first coil.
US08128289B2	Fluid dynamic bearing device An outer peripheral surface (8d) of a bearing sleeve (8) is formed on a radially inside with respect to a first dynamic pressure generation portion (B1). In this case, it is possible to reduce a thickness of the bearing sleeve (8) while securing a first thrust dynamic pressure generating portion (B1) which has a thrust load capacity equivalent to that in a conventional case where a thrust dynamic pressure generating portion is formed in an end surface of the bearing sleeve. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the bearing sleeve (8) without sacrificing a bearing performance in a thrust direction. With this structure, a total amount of a lubricating oil sealed in a bearing device can be reduced, thereby reducing a capacity of a buffering function so as to downsize a sealing portion (9), and by extension, downsizing a fluid dynamic bearing device (1).
US08128287B2	Storage bag The present invention provides a reclosable storage bag for packaging/containing and transporting objects, such as food. The reclosable storage bag may include a flexible inner liner contoured to the shape of a user's hand and have one or more closure members for sealing the ends of the bag. The user may store food in an interior storage area of the bag and may use the flexible inner liner to grab or hold onto the food so that the user will not have to directly touch the food while eating.
US08128283B2	Temperature measurement apparatus for optoelectronic transceiver The case temperature measurement device for an optoelectronic transceiver includes a case with at least one thermally conductive wall, at least one optical component at least partially disposed within the case, circuitry electrically coupled to the optical component. The circuitry includes a temperature sensor coupled to the circuitry. The case temperature measurement device also includes at least one protrusion formed on the wall of the case of the optoelectronic transceiver. The protrusion is thermally coupled to temperature sensor via a thermal pad. A method for estimating case temperature of the optoelectronic transceiver based on an internal temperature measurement and knowledge of the relationship between the measured internal temperature and the actual case temperature, and compensating for the effects of variable heat sources within the transceiver upon this estimate.
US08128282B2	Microsystem component with a device deformable under the effect of temperature changes A microsystem component with a device (3) deformable under the influence of temperature changes is disclosed. The device comprises at least one first (4, 5) and second (8) element with differing thermal expansion coefficients and different thermal conductivities. The elements (4, 5; 8) are physically separate and arranged and connected to each other such that the device (3) assumes flexure states which are dependent on the temperature.
US08128273B2	Illumination system and display device An illumination system for illuminating a display device includes a light-mixing chamber having a light-exit window, a rear wall situated opposite the light-exit window, and edge walls which extend between the light-exit window and the rear wall. A surface of the rear wall is substantially specularly reflective for specularly reflecting light impinging on the surface of the rear wall and having a relatively large angle of incidence with respect to an axis perpendicular to the rear wall. The illumination system further includes a light source light out-coupling elements. The light source emits light into the light-mixing chamber in a direction substantially parallel to the light-exit window. The illumination system further includes an angularly reflective filter applied at the light-exit window. The angularly reflective filter includes substantially transparent layers, each layer having a substantially uniform thickness. Each set of two adjacent layers of the angularly reflective filter has different refractive indexes.
US08128271B2	Light coupling into films A light emitting sign including a lightguide having a thickness not greater than 0.5 millimeters. The lightguide having an array of elongated legs extending therefrom, wherein each leg terminates in a bounding edge and is folded such that the bounding edges are stacked. At least one light source emits light into the stacked bounding edges. The light travels within the legs to the lightguide, with the light from each leg combining and totally internally reflecting within the lightguide. A plurality of light scattering features frustrate totally internally reflected light within the lightguide such that the light exits the sign in a light emitting area.
US08128270B2	Fiber optically illuminated surface There is provided an illuminated surface mounted on a base surface. The illuminated surface includes a plurality of transmissive tiles configured to allow light to pass therethrough. Each of the transmissive tiles includes an exterior surface, an attaching surface and a plurality of lateral sides disposed between the exterior and attaching surfaces. The attaching surface is affixable to the base surface. The transmissive tiles are arranged in spaced relation to each other to define a cable channel. The cable channel is defined by opposing lateral sides of adjacent transmissive tiles. A fiber optic cable is in optical communication a light source and receives light therefrom. The fiber optic cable includes a longitudinal axis and a first segment disposed within the cable channel. The first segment is configured to radially radiate light along the longitudinal axis into the lateral sides of the adjacent transmissive tiles.
US08128269B2	Smoke environment personnel identification apparatus The apparatus consists of a self contained lighting and identification device (10) having a strap (104) for attachment to a SCBA tank. A back plate (58) and a front shield (62) are spaced apart forming a cavity for LED back-lighting, with the front shield incorporates identification indicia (68) which provides recognition of a specific firefighter. Battery containing tubes (72) act as structural pillars and are located between an upper end cap assembly (20) and a lower end cap assembly (86), utilizing tie rods (96) for attachment therebetween. Diffused light distribution tubes (78) energized by LED's are positioned adjacent to the battery tubes evenly dispersing light on each side of the apparatus, effectively penetrating a smoke environment. The upper end cap assembly incorporates a printed circuit board (46) which includes the necessary control and lighting devices, and the lower end cap has a removable bottom cover (90) allowing batteries to be replaced.
US08128260B2	Spread lens with refraction parts, and lighting device A spread lens including a first lens surface through which the emitted light from the light emitting device is inputted; a second lens surface spreading the inputted light to an outside; refraction parts which extend between both side ends of each of the first and second lens surfaces, are formed in a concave-convex shape, and refract the emitted light from the light emitting device; and support parts which extend at both side ends of the second lens surface and separate the refraction parts and the light emitting device from each other.
US08128259B2	Spherical ornamental fixture An ornamental fixture having a support structure and a plurality of ornaments mounted to the support structure in a substantially completely spherical arrangement of ornaments. The ornaments may be glass crystal ornaments, for example, octagonal glass crystals, and a light may be mounted within the fixture. The support structure may include an upper support ring and at least one lower support ring vertically spaced from the upper support ring and a plurality of arcuate sector assemblies removably mounted to the upper support ring and the at least one lower support ring. The sector assemblies retain the ornaments to provide a substantially continuous 360-degree array of ornaments. The sector assemblies can also be disassembled from the support structure for maintenance, servicing, relamping, and cleaning of the fixture. For example, the disassembled components of the fixture may be washed in a dishwasher without damaging the ornaments or the support structure.
US08128249B2	Apparatus for selectively backlighting a material A backlighting device (300, 400, 500, 600) emitting light having a first wavelength includes a first radiation emission device (302), e.g., an electroluminescent lamp, for emitting radiation having a second wavelength. A layer (306) of a plurality of photon emitting particles (308), e.g., free standing quantum dots or phosphorus particles, emits light having the first wavelength in response to the first radiation emission device (302), the first wavelength being larger than the second wavelength. A transparent material (116, 120, 122) overlies the layer of a plurality of photon emitting particles (308), wherein the light having a first wavelength passes through the transparent material (116, 120, 122). Optionally, a filter (402) may be placed over the layer (306) to block the radiation having a second wavelength, and a scattering layer (604) may be placed over the layer (306) to scatter wavelength other than the first wavelength.
US08128248B2	Dial plate with diffuse lighting A system for providing diffuse light to a dial plate of a meter is disclosed. The system includes a light-guide and a light source. The light from the light source enters the light-guide and exits the light-guide to illuminate a curved peripheral portion of a dial plate with a diffuse light.
US08128242B2	Apparatus and method for fabricating, sorting, and integrating materials with holographic optical traps A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device able to reduce the number of manufacturing steps and attain the rationalization of a manufacturing line is disclosed. The semiconductor device is a high-frequency module assembled by mounting chip parts (22) and semiconductor pellets (21) onto each of wiring substrates (2) formed on a matrix substrate (27) after inspection. A defect mark (2e) is affixed to a wiring substrate (2) as a block judged to be defective in the inspection of the matrix substrate (27), then in a series of subsequent assembling steps the defect mark (e) is recognized and the assembling work for the wiring substrate (2) with the defect mark (2e) thereon is omitted to attain the rationalization of a manufacturing line.
US08128237B2	Plurality of self-activating display shaping devices defining a display area A computer implemented method for utilizing a plurality of self-activating display shaping devices to provide shape adjustment information for a digital image projected on a display is disclosed. In one embodiment, the plurality of display shaping devices are automatically activated, the plurality of display shaping devices defining a desired digital image shape for a display. In addition, the plurality of display shaping devices is utilized to identify an actual projected digital image shape. The actual projected digital image shape is then compared with the desired digital image shape for the display. Correction information is then provided for adjusting the actual projected digital image shape to approximate the desired digital image shape for the display.
US08128236B2	Image projecting apparatus Disclosed is an image projecting apparatus having a cooling device, which cools heat generated from a plurality of light sources respectively emitting light of different colors and heat generated from a display device simultaneously, while effectively dispersing the heat. The image projecting apparatus includes a projecting system which projects light; a display device disposed in series with the projecting system; an optical system disposed in parallel with the projecting system, and including a plurality of light sources which transmit the light to the display device and generate heat when the light is transmitted to the display device; a heat dissipation device disposed at an outer edge of the optical system which dissipates the heat generated from the plurality of light sources; and a cooling fan disposed opposite to the display device, which inhales air and discharges the air to the heat dissipation device.
US08128232B2	Visible in-vehicle laser beam projector providing variable projection region as function of seatbelt fastening status A projector projects a visible laser beam onto a region of a vehicle compartment. A control unit controls a direction of projecting the visible laser beam to provide information to at least one occupant in the compartment. The control unit expands the region of an object to which the visible laser beam is projected when the seatbelt has been fastened.
US08128230B2	System and apparatus for object based attention tracking in a virtual environment A system and operational method that supplies visual stimuli to each subject in the form of a virtual environment in which at least the objects of interest have a three dimensional wire frame or mesh frame of a number of polygons that is surrounded with at least one skin or surface; wherein the visual stimuli is presented in a test session to the subject on a display device including an eye tracking sub-system that can effectively track the subject's gaze direction and focus on the display device throughout the test session; wherein unique colors are assigned to the mesh frame and/or an eye tracking skin of each object of interest whereby the system can evaluate the obtained eye tracking data and assign attention data to specific objects of interest resulting in object specific attention data.
US08128229B2	RNFL measurement analysis One embodiment of the present invention accounts for individual anatomical variation when evaluating optical nerve fiber measurements. In one aspect, contextual information is used to compensate or correct measurement data. In another aspect, reference coordinates are remapped for improved comparison or visualization. In one embodiment of this latter aspect, the method uses measurements of nerve fiber capacity and maps of nerve fiber retinal service to improve sensitivity and specificity in eye function metrics. In one instance, we use the birefringence of nerve fibers to determine the orientation of the fibers within the RNFL. Orientation of the fibers about the ONH is indicative of the service provided by the fibers and is used to improve the interpretation of thickness measurements of the nerve fiber layer. Normalized nerve fiber measurements about the optic nerve head improve specificity and sensitivity as compared to the standard model. These improvements are a result of partitioning the normative database or modifying the measurement data prior to comparison. Statistics on normalized measurements of nerve fiber bundles also show improvements in specificity and sensitivity.
US08128227B2	Method to detect transmissible spongiform encephalopathies via electroretinogram Disclosed is a method for identifying transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in livestock via an electroretinogram, the method comprises producing a biphasic electroretinogram waveform having an a-wave and b-wave from livestock retina in response to photic stimulus, measuring the amplitude of the b-wave, wherein the amplitude is measured from the trough of the a-wave to the peak of the b-wave, measuring the implicit time of the b-wave, wherein the implicit time is measured from onset of photic stimulus to b-wave peak; and comparing said produced waveform to a comparative waveform of livestock known not to have transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, wherein the produced waveform having a decrease b-wave amplitude and increased b-wave implicit time being indicative of livestock having transmissible spongiform encephalopathy.
US08128226B2	Method for the determination of a progressive ophthalmic lens A method for the determination by optical optimization of a personalized progressive ophthalmic lens intended to be inserted into a frame chosen by a given wearer for whom a power addition has been prescribed in near vision, the method comprising the stages of: measuring parameters representing the frame chosen by the wearer; choosing an initial distribution of power and resulting astigmatism defect targets for each direction of viewing under wearing conditions in an ordinary frame; calculating transformation coefficients using the measured parameters representing the chosen frame and standard parameters; calculating a personalized distribution of the power and resulting astigmatism defect targets on the lens by applying the calculated transformation coefficients to the initial distribution. The method makes it possible to retain the proportion of the distribution between the far-vision, near-vision and intermediate-vision zones whatever the size and the shape of the frame chosen.
US08128225B2	Optical article and process for producing the same A process for producing an optical article having an antireflection layer formed directly or via another layer on an optical base material, includes: forming a primary layer contained in the antireflection layer; and forming a light transmissive conductive layer containing a metal containing germanium as a main component and/or a compound of germanium and a transition metal on a surface of the primary layer.
US08128223B2	Methods and therapeutic optical devices for regulation of astigmatism In accordance with exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides a therapeutic optical device configured to focus the central retinal image in at least one meridian and focus at least one semi-meridian of the peripheral image field in front of or behind the retina to stimulate eye and/or corneal reshaping to reduce astigmatism. In exemplary embodiments, the device further provides rotational stability.
US08128222B2	Multifocal diffractive contact lens with bi-sign surface shape A contact lens for placing over the eye is described. The lens has at least one non-spherical shape surface configured with bi-sign profile to maintain lens optical advantage as compared with equivalent far power spherical lens within common clinical condition of lens movement over the cornea of the eye.
US08128221B2	Method for correcting vision problems A method for causing visual images on the foveas of a patient to be differentially displaced from their default position by determining an optimal amount of displacement for each eye to maximize visual acuity while maintaining binocular vision, and fabricating lenses to achieve the determined differential displacements by use of two prisms of different dioptric strength. Optical devices, including eyeglasses and contact lenses, displace the images on the foveas of a patient by an amount sufficient to mitigate problems caused by non-fully functional foveas.
US08128220B2	Elastic miniaturized hinge for a flexible temple element of glasses The present invention is an elastic miniaturized hinge for flex temples with an articulation trolley provided at least with a seat for the housing of the spring. A box is placed along the temple of the glasses. A housing along the box contains an articulation trolley. The articulation trolley includes at least one spring and is contained inside of the box, while the portion that includes the articulation exits from the front end of the box. The tie-rod body of the articulation is provided with a base, being provided with at least one seat that houses the rear end of the corresponding spring. Peripherally with respect to the opening of the housing, at least one guiding zone is obtained. Furthermore, the protrusion is provided with a guiding seat with an opening along the front profile and longitudinally projected with respect to the sliding longitudinal axis of the articulation trolley.
US08128217B2	Material cutter with a selectable cutting profile A material cutter for producing a selected cutting profile. The material cutter includes a cutter frame and a cutter button. The cutter frame has a stationary blade. The cutter button, which is slidably mounted in the cutter frame, has a moving blade with a cutting edge. The cutter button preferably includes a profile selector, so that when a driving force is applied to the cutter button, the moving blade slides past the stationary blade to the extent allowed by the profile selector. The profile selector may be a knob and the cutting profile may be set manually or automatically. It is preferred that at least one of the selectable cutting profiles is a partial cut.
US08128214B2	Liquid charging apparatus and liquid charging method An ink charging injection apparatus for charging ink to an ink pack is disclosed. The ink injection apparatus includes a pressurizing tank for storing ink, piping, a deaeration device, and an air vent pipe. The piping connects the pressurizing tank to the ink pack such that ink stored in the pressuring tank can be supplied from the pressurizing tank to the ink pack. The deaeration device is provided in the piping. The deaeration device is operated to produce suction for deaerating ink in the piping. The air vent pipe branches from a section of the piping and communicates with the deaeration device.
US08128209B2	Ink cartridge for inkjet printer An ink cartridge includes a main body and a cover. A liquid storing chamber and an air introducing post for communicating the liquid storing chamber with the outside atmosphere are disposed in the main body. A liquid filling port is disposed on the cover. A balancing chamber, a detecting chamber, and a floater are disposed in the main body. The balancing chamber and the detecting chamber are in communication with each other via a through hole. The detecting chamber and the liquid storing chamber are in communication with each other via a liquid guiding port. The floater, whose density is lower than that of the ink liquid, is located in the detecting chamber. The lower portion of the air introducing post communicates with the outside atmosphere via a waterproof sponge. The ink cartridge may conveniently monitor usage of ink liquid in the main body and reduce residual ink.
US08128204B2	Liquid ejection head and method for manufacturing liquid ejection head A liquid ejection head and a method of forming the same. The liquid ejection head includes a substrate, an ejection port, a liquid channel, and a supply port. The substrate has, above one side thereof, an energy generating element configured to generate energy used to eject liquid. The ejection port, from which a liquid is ejected, is located at a position corresponding to the energy generating element. The liquid channel communicates with the ejection port and penetrates the substrate from the one side to another side of the substrate. The supply port communicates with the liquid channel. The substrate has a projecting layer extending inward of an inner peripheral portion of an opening in the supply port in the one side, and the projecting layer and the energy generating element are formed of the same material.
US08128202B2	Nozzle plate, method for manufacturing nozzle plate, droplet discharge head, and droplet discharge device A nozzle plate includes: a nozzle for discharging a liquid as droplets; a liquid-repellent film suppressing attachment of the droplets on one surface of the nozzle plate; and a first bonding film formed on the other surface of the nozzle plate and bonded with a substrate. In the nozzle plate, the liquid-repellent film includes a first plasma polymerized film having a Si skeleton, which includes a siloxane (Si—O) bond and has a random atomic structure, and an elimination group bonded with the Si skeleton.
US08128196B2	Thermal cleaning of individual jetting module nozzles A liquid ejection device includes a jetting module including an array of nozzles; a thermal stimulation device associated with each nozzle of the array of nozzles; and a controller in electrical communication with each thermal stimulation device. The controller is configured to provide a first activation waveform to each thermal stimulation device and to provide a second activation waveform to each thermal stimulation device to clean the associated nozzle with liquid emitted from the associated nozzle. The second activation waveform has a higher activation component when compared to the first activation waveform.
US08128195B2	Cross-wipe cleaning of page-wide array printing Methods and means for wiping a page-wide print array are provided. An installable and removable cartridge includes a quantity of web material. The web material traverses a serpentine pathway and is driven by a motor such that fresh web material can be provided to a cleaning zone. The web material within the cleaning zone is wiped across the ink discharge surface of an array of printing dies to remove debris. Wiping action is performed perpendicular to a lengthwise aspect of the page-wide print array. Various embodiments of compact and effective cleaning mechanisms are thus provided in modular, replaceable forms.
US08128194B2	Inkjet recording apparatus An inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention includes: a drum which conveys a recording medium, a wiper extended in the axial direction of the drum, and inkjet heads aligned in the circumferential direction of the drum along the outer circumferential surface of the drum. The inkjet heads are moved by a head-moving mechanism to be in a recording position or a wiping position. The wiper-moving mechanism moves the wiper in the circumferential direction along the outer circumferential surface so that the wiper wipes ejection surface of at least one of the inkjet heads while the inkjet heads are in the wiping position.
US08128191B2	Maintenance method for discharging head, maintenance device for discharging head, droplet discharging apparatus, discharging head, and computer program A maintenance method is provided for a discharging head in which multiple discharging portions are arranged in line. The maintenance method includes the steps of performing an operation of continuously discharging droplets from one discharging portion or a plurality of unadjacent discharging portions, and repeating the operation for one discharging portion or a plurality of discharging portions adjacent to the previous discharging portion or the previous discharging portions in a predetermined direction.
US08128187B2	Recording head, droplet discharge device and droplet discharge method A recording head includes plural nozzle groups and a second nozzle. Each of the nozzle groups includes plural nozzles that respectively form dots, which make up an image, on a recording medium by discharging droplets. The nozzles are arranged in a straight line that is inclined with respect to a main scan direction at a predetermined angle. The plural nozzle groups are arranged in a sub scan direction such that intervals in the sub scan direction between nozzles adjacent in the sub scan direction are substantially identical and positions in the sub scan direction of nozzles belonging to the respective nozzle groups are substantially aligned. The second nozzle is disposed at a substantially central portion in the main scan direction between adjacent nozzles of nozzle groups adjacent in the sub scan direction so as not to overlap with any other nozzle in the main scan direction.
US08128184B2	Double-sided door module A door assembly for an appliance includes a door having an interior side and an exterior side. A frame defines an aperture extending through the door from the interior side to the exterior side. A module is disposed in the aperture. The module includes a first component and a second component. The second component disengageably connects with the first component. A pivot member is operably coupled with the module and with the frame. The module is rotatable about the pivot member thereby allowing access to both the first component and the second component from the exterior side of the door body.
US08128178B2	Cutter head for a ground cutter machine having rotary cutters The invention relates to a cutter head for a ground cutter machine having at least one cutter motor. Each cutter motor comprises: two hydraulic motors, each comprising a stator and a rotor and having a common axis; a single shaft extending along said common axis and having two ends; two cutter drums mounted to rotate; two transmission assemblies for drivingly connecting each end of the common shaft to one of said cutter drums; and mechanical members for constraining the rotor of each hydraulic motor directly in rotation with the transmission assembly corresponding to the cutter drum that is closer to the hydraulic motor.
US08128172B2	Chair armrest assembly having adjustable height An armrest assembly for a chair includes an armrest support, a mounting sleeve mounted on the armrest support, an armrest mounted on the mounting sleeve, and a lifting device mounted between the armrest support and the mounting sleeve to lock or unlock the mounting sleeve onto or from the armrest support. Thus, the mounting sleeve is movable relative to the armrest support so as to adjust the height of the armrest so that the height of the armrest can be adjusted freely to support a user's arm comfortably. In addition, a user only needs to pull the armrest upward to adjust the height of the armrest so that the user can adjust the height of the armrest easily and quickly in an energy-saving manner.
US08128168B2	Bearing bush for seat reclining device and seat reclining device A bearing bush, disposed in a shaft hole of an external gear of a seat reclining device, which slidingly contacts wedge-shaped pieces. The seat reclining device has a differential transmission mechanism for adjusting an open angle of a hinge connecting a seating surface of a seat and a backrest thereof to each other. The differential transmission mechanism has an internal gear; an external gear, having a smaller number of teeth than the internal gear, which engages the internal gear; a pair of the wedge-shaped pieces disposed in a circular arc-shaped gap formed between the shaft hole of the external gear and a shaft of the internal gear with tapered ends of the wedge-shaped pieces opposed to each other; and a compression coil spring for imparting an elastic force to the wedge-shaped pieces in a direction in which the wedge-shaped pieces depart from each other. When the wedge-shaped pieces are moved in sliding contact with the bearing bush inside the circular arc-shaped gap with the wedge-shaped pieces being pressed by a cam provided on the shaft of the internal gear, the external gear disengages from the internal gear, whereby the open angle of the hinge is adjustable. A sliding surface of the bearing bush is formed of a fluorocarbon resin composition containing fluorocarbon resin to which thermoplastic resin, carbon fibers, and molybdenum disulfide are essentially added.
US08128166B2	Seat cover covering structure A pull-in recess is formed in a seat pad (30). The pull-in recess is partly formed as a through hole penetrating to a back surface of the seat pad. A seat cover (40) is formed into a bag shape. A string-shaped member (50) for drawing the seat cover (40) and attaching the same to the seat pad (30) is disposed along an opening of the seat cover. The seat cover (40) is provided with a pull-in portion at a position corresponding to the pull-in recess of the seat pad (30). The pull-in portion is inserted into the through hole of the seat pad (30). A distal end of the pull-in portion is provided with a retainer portion (47a and 47b) that is capable of engaging the string-shaped member (50). The retainer portions (47a and 47b) inserted into the through holes (34a and 34b) of the seat pad (30) are engaged with the string-shaped member (50) while the drawing action force of the string-shaped member (50) is applied thereto, which force can be produced when the seat cover is attached by drawing.
US08128163B2	Baggage storage device for a public transport vehicle A device for storing luggage for a public transport vehicle, that includes a base defining a reference surface, a first bearing surface, and a second bearing surface, each of the bearing surfaces being essentially planar and inclined relative to the reference surface, and both bearing surfaces converging towards the reference surface and defining a storage volume capable of receiving a piece of luggage.
US08128162B2	Armrest assembly for a seat An armrest assembly for a vehicle seat 5 comprises an armrest portion 11a, 11b, 11c, a shingle head restraint portion 12 moveably attached to one end of the armrest portion 11a, 11b, 11c, to permit the shingle head restraint 12 to be moved towards and away from the one end of the armrest portion 11a, 11b, 11c, and a height adjuster to selectively secure the head restraint 12 in one of a number of predetermined displaced positions relative to the armrest portion 11a, the armrest portion being moveable from a folded up position 11a to a folded down position 11c. The head restraint portion 12 is pivotably mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis 14 and includes a head restraint rotation latching mechanism comprising a latching member biased into engagement with part of the head restraint 12 to hold the head restraint 12 in a preferred rotational position, and a means to automatically disengage the latching member only when the head restraint 12 is brought into close proximity to the armrest portion 11a to permit rotation of the head restraint portion 12 about the horizontal axis.
US08128161B2	Interior body trim with integrated HVAC duct An interior body trim arrangement is basically provided with an interior body trim panel and a back closure member. The interior body trim panel has an interior facing surface and an outboard facing surface opposite the interior facing surface. The back closure member is fixed to the outboard facing surface of the interior body trim panel. The inboard facing surface of the back closure member and the outboard facing surface of the interior body trim panel define an integrated HVAC duct having a first opening end and a second open end.
US08128160B2	Tower bar construction for a motor vehicle A tower bar construction for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The tower bar construction includes a member extending from strut tower to strut tower. This component resists relative movement between strut towers. The construction also includes two continuous sections from each strut tower to an upper panel. These sections resist relative movement between strut towers and the upper panel. The tower bar construction includes a central reinforcing portion welded to an upper panel that resists torsion exerted on the section created by relative movement between strut towers and the upper panel.
US08128158B1	Method and device for attenuating aerodynamically induced noises caused by vehicle grille A bumper for a front end of a vehicle includes a body having an opening defining an air flow inlet. The opening is elongated in the transverse direction of the body and is defined by spaced apart transverse walls and spaced apart side walls. A grille is disposed in the opening. The grille includes at least one generally horizontal member having at least one sound attenuating member attached thereto and configured to at least partially alter the air flow passing through the grille to mitigate resonance associated with the flow of air through the grill.
US08128157B2	Center pillar assembly of 3-door vehicle A center pillar assembly of a 3-door vehicle may include a side outer panel, one end portion of which is formed with a quarter glass flange, an outer reinforcement member for a center pillar for reinforcing the side outer panel, in which its upper portion and its lower portion are formed in a cross section of ‘’-shape, a gusset for connecting the upper portion of the outer reinforcement member with the quarter glass flange, wherein one lateral side portion of the outer reinforcement member is connected to the gusset, and a side inner panel being arranged in an inner part of the side outer panel, one lateral side portion thereof being connected to the one lateral side portion of the outer reinforcement member and the gusset.
US08128155B2	Construction machine The present invention relates to a construction machine having an operator's cabin whose cabin structure which is made reinforced serves the protection of the operator, with the operator's cabin being supported via a base plate at an operator's cab frame at the machine side. In accordance with the invention, the stiffness of the cabin structure is larger than that of the base plate and/or of the operator's cab frame at least with respect to a lateral force engagement so that in a load case first the base plate and/or the operator's cab frame are deformed.
US08128154B2	Vehicle floor structure A vehicle floor structure including: a floor tunnel frame arranged along a center in a vehicle width direction and extending in a vehicle length direction; side sills arranged on the right and left sides of a vehicle body and extending in the length direction; lateral frame members connecting the tunnel frame with the side sills; floor panels bridged between the tunnel frame and the side sills; obliquely extending portions provided on at least one of the lateral frame members and extending so as to be inclined to the length direction in a planar view, connecting respectively with the side sills; and concentric arc-shaped beads provided in the respective panels, with centers respectively at intersections of the side sills and the obliquely extending portions, wherein at least one of the beads has one end extending orthogonal to the side sill and the other end extending orthogonal to the width direction.
US08128151B2	Method and system for disengaging a drive rod in a door after an impact to the door A method and system for disengaging a drive rod in a door after an impact to the door. An automobile having a door with a door handle, a drive rod, a latching system, a striker, and a drive rod striking member. The drive rod striking member can be positioned adjacent the drive rod. Upon impact to the door, the drive rod is disengaged from the door handle and/or the latching system through inertia, the drive rod striking member impacting the drive rod, or any other disengagement mechanisms. The drive rod striking member prevents the drive rod from re-engaging with the latching system. The disengagement of the drive rod prevents the drive rod from controlling the latching system to disengage from the striker, either through deformation of the door, or through actuations by the door handle.
US08128146B2	Trunk box structure of automobile A cargo compartment structure for an automobile is disclosed. In one example, the cargo compartment comprises a trunk box disposed in a cargo compartment in a rear part of the automobile, the trunk box having an opening on its upper side; a cargo board capable of changing its position between a closed position where the opening is closed by the cargo board, and an open position where the opening is opened, the open position of the cargo board being frontward of the closed position; and a board holder for holding the cargo board in a specific state so that a top surface of the cargo board is downwardly inclined toward a rear side of the automobile and so that while the cargo board is in the open position, a rear end of the cargo board is disposed rearward of a front end of the trunk box.
US08128141B2	Safety hook for fall arrest system A safety hook includes a hook body comprising a recess at back of an intermediate portion, a locking dog at one end, a ring at the other end, and a front opening; a spring depressible latch member having a U section and comprising a plate interconnecting two side walls, the latch member being pivotably disposed on the back of the intermediate portion of the hook body with the plate being seated upon a flat portion of the recess; and a spring depressible lock member having a U section and comprising two side walls and a through hole on a groove portion. The lock member is pivotably disposed on a front side of the hook body with the side walls thereof partially straddled the hook body to be seated upon a portion of the plate. The locking dog is inserted into the through hole when the safety hook is locked.
US08128139B2	Vehicle bumper and mounting bracket assembly for a lamp A vehicle bumper and mounting bracket assembly for a lamp is disclosed. The mounting bracket has a geometry that facilitates mating with flanges disposed on apertures on the bumper. The mounting bracket also includes resilient tab locks configured to receive tabs on the flanges. Ledges of the mounting bracket are used to attach a lamp that is held in cantilever relation with the bumper.
US08128136B2	Closing device for a movable roof A closing device for locking and unlocking a movable roof to and from a vehicle body includes a hook and a lever system. The hook is movable between a closed position to engage a vehicle body component and an opened position to disengage from the component. The lever system has a hook lever and a drive lever pivotable about respective pivot axes extending in a longitudinal direction. The hook is connected to the hook lever to move between the closed and opened positions in response to the hook lever pivoting. The lever system has a control lever with first and second end portions and a middle section. The end portions are respectively connected to the hook lever at first and second link axes extending in the longitudinal direction and adjacent to the pivot axes to couple the hook lever and the drive lever together.
US08128133B2	Method and apparatus for tying necktie knot A method and apparatus for tying a necktie knot are provided. The apparatus includes a substantially triangular base having a front face, a back face, three edges and three corners. The apparatus also includes an integrated clip extending from an area of the back face of the substantially triangular base that is proximate to one of the three edges and between two of the three corners. The integrated clip has a flexibility that enables reception of at least one end of a necktie between the integrated clip and the substantially triangular base, and a rigidity that enables retention of the at least one end between the integrated clip and the substantially triangular base. The substantially triangular base maintains a substantially triangular structure of a necktie knot that is tied around and encases the substantially triangular base and the integrated clip.
US08128132B2	Pest control seal for recreational vehicle The pest control seal for a recreational vehicle (RV) comprises a relatively soft and resilient foam material, which is compressed into the annular opening between the conduit and a passage through the wall or panel of the service compartment of the RV, and a relatively thin, hard retainer, which is attached to the rim or flange of the hose or conduit opening or passage. The foam material and retainer may be attached to each other, or may be installed as separate pieces held in place by compression and suitable fasteners. The retainer may be formed as two semicircular components, or as a single annular piece.
US08128131B2	Ferrule for making fingertight column connections in gas chromatography A ferrule arrangement for use in sealing connections to gas chromatography columns includes a generally tubular metal ferrule with an axial bore to receive a fracturable column with a protective coating. The ferrule has a forward part that tapers to a tip region of the ferrule. A generally tubular former has a socket portion to receive the ferrule and further has an internal conical surface that, after such receipt, engages the forward part of the ferrule. A portion is provided on either or both of said ferrule and the former by which the ferrule and former may be directly or indirectly relatively moved together by application of finger force. The taper and the internal conical surface exhibit relative taper angles and the tip region of the ferrule is sufficiently radially thin whereby the application of finger force (i) is adequate to move the ferrule axially into the former to cause the conical surface to engage the tip region of the ferrule and to deform the tip region into sealing engagement with the protective coating of the column, but (ii) does not break the column.
US08128130B2	Plug-in hose coupling A plug-in hose coupling includes a housing input part with a receiving bore widened in an end region which faces toward the interior of the coupling. A tubular support sleeve is sealingly clipped into the widened end region by an annular collar which has multiple outward U-shaped channels. At least one annular seal and one annular holding element, which bears axially against the seal, is in the form of an open lock washer and is supported against an inner conical support face of the housing input part. The support face narrows conically counter to the plug-in direction of the tube end. The holding element has encircling cutting edges on the inner periphery for engaging the tube end. A fastening part is non-detachably joined to the housing input part and support sleeve by an overmolding connecting section.
US08128128B2	Skived manifold coupler A coupling of a heat exchanger includes a saddle for engaging a cylindrical manifold. The saddle has an arcuate cross-section extending between a first edge and a second edge. The saddle defines an opening and a tubular member extends through the saddle and between a top edge and a bottom edge. A lip extends outward from the top edge and a skirt interconnects the lip to the opening in the saddle. The tubular member is oblong-shaped adjacent the opening of the saddle and the tubular member has an oblong-shaped portion extending from the bottom edge to adjacent the opening in the saddle and terminating at a transition zone. The tubular member has a circular-shaped portion extending from the transition zone to the top edge. The oblong-shaped portion has a shorter dimension in the direction between the first and second edges than the circular shaped portion.
US08128126B2	Device and method for coupling a conduit A coupling device formed of two identical sides is disclosed. Each of the two sides have a snap fitting mechanism which engage each other to releasably secure the sides together thereby forming the coupling device. The coupling device as formed has a main body communicating with at least two openings. Each opening is sized to engage an end of a corresponding conduit. Generally, the conduits are corrugated such that the openings engage one corrugation to form the friction fit. The openings may be conically shaped with pre-scored cut lines that can be cut at different diameters to engage conduits of different diameters. The openings of the coupling device have pre-score cut lines that may be cut in order to create the friction fit with corrugated conduits having different diameters.
US08128124B2	Airbag cushion and airbag apparatus There is provided an airbag cushion which is configured to allow the joint between a distal end portion of a lid member and the airbag cushion by a separable joint member to be released easily and rapidly as a whole, and is able to be inflatable rapidly and substantially uniformly as a whole, and an airbag apparatus having the airbag cushion. A rear panel 14 of an airbag cushion 10 is provided with a vent hole 18 which communicates the interior and the exterior of the airbag cushion 10, and the vent hole 18 is covered with a lid member 60 from the inside of the airbag cushion 10. A distal end portion of the lid member 60 and portions of the front panel 12 and the rear panel 14 of the airbag cushion 10 overlapped with the distal end portion of the lid member 60 are releasably joined by a tear seam 70. The tear seam 70 is broken in 10 to 30 mS after having activated an inflator 36, and started with the inflation of the airbag cushion 10, and the joint among the front panel 12, the rear panel 14 and the distal end portion of the lid member 60 is released.
US08128120B2	Multi-position wheelchair for handicapped people According to the invention, the wheelchair is characterized in that it includes means to incline the whole seat structure, and inclining means that are interposed between the chassis and the lifting means and that include at least: a base (65) that is attached to the chassis (1) and that oscillates around a more-or-less horizontal axis, and on which the lifting means are fitted, and a mechanical assistance means that is interposed between the base (65) and the chassis (1) and that is designed to allow modification of the slope of the whole seat structure by rotation of the base (65).
US08128116B1	Tow bar and releasable lock for tow bar leg A tow bar includes a towing hitch member including a pintle hitch and secured to a towing vehicle; a towed hitch member secured to a vehicle to the towed; a head member with a lunette ring; a pair of tow bar legs, each including a proximal end including an outer member with a distal end, and a distal end including an inner member with a proximal end telescopingly displaceable within the distal end of the outer member; a leg connector mechanism pivotally connecting the proximal ends of the tow bar legs to the head member; towed connector elements secured to the distal ends of the tow bar legs and structured to releasably connect the tow bar legs to the towed hitch member; and a locking mechanism structured to automatically and releasably lock each of the tow bar legs in either a stored configuration or a deployed configuration.
US08128114B2	Vehicle stabilization apparatus and vehicle formed therewith A vehicle assembly includes a two-wheeled vehicle including a frame having opposed sides, opposed front and rear ends, and a front wheel mounted for rotation to the frame proximate to the front end of the frame positioned in front of an opposed rear wheel mounted for rotation to the frame proximate to the rear end of the frame and that is substantially in-line with respect to the front wheel. A member is carried by the frame of the vehicle between the front and rear wheels and has end portions disposed adjacent to the respective sides of the frame. A wheeled stabilizer assembly is carried by each of the end portions of the member to wheelingly interact with the ground over which the vehicle is driven along the sides of the frame proximate to the front and rear wheels of the vehicle.
US08128113B2	Frame for cycles, in particular for mountain bikes The frame (10) comprises a seat tube (11) to the top end (11a) of which a saddle (12) is to be connected, and a front structure (14) and a rear structure (15) which are identical and have, in side view, a generally V-shaped configuration with the ends (14a, 14b; 15a, 15b) connected to the seat tube (11) and the respective vertices (14c, 15c) facing in opposite directions relative to the seat tube (11).
US08128112B2	Bicycle with asymmetric steerer tube A bicycle steerer tube assembly having an oblong asymmetric cross section formed along a portion of the steerer tube. The asymmetric portion of the steerer tube has a first diameter that is generally aligned with an axis of rotation of the front wheel and a second diameter that is generally aligned with a plane of rotation of the front wheel. The first diameter is greater than the second diameter and provides lateral stiffness to the wheel assembly and the second diameter accommodates longitudinal impact absorption of the fork and wheel assembly.
US08128105B2	Vibratory rammer transport wheel assembly A wheel assembly for providing wheeled transport to a compaction tool having a foot structure. The wheel assembly comprises an axle support member comprising at least one attachment means for attaching the axle support member to a top surface of the foot structure. The assembly further comprises an axle removably attached to the axle support member and having first and second opposite ends. A first wheel is mounted on the first end of the axle and a second wheel is mounted on the second end of the axle. The axle support member is fitted on a pair of pre-existing nut-bolt fasteners on the top surface of the foot structure.
US08128100B2	Laminate air seal for a gas turbine engine A laminate air seal for a gas turbine engine includes at least one fabric layer made of fiberglass, ceramic fiber, basalt and/or carbon, and a polymeric resin that is stable at an operating temperature of the gas turbine engine. The resin may be preimpregnated into the fabric layers, or introduced into the fabric during assembly and formation of the laminate. The resin may be polyimide, bismaelimide (BMI) or cyanate ester. A particular resin selected may depend, in part, on the operating temperatures in that region of the gas turbine engine. In some embodiments, the laminate seal may include a coating to increase lubricity of the seal. In one embodiment, the laminate air seal is used to seal a gap between a pylon fairing and an exhaust nozzle of the turbine engine.
US08128097B2	Mechanical seal The present invention provides a mechanical seal preventing the deformation of the cartilage and exhibiting a good sealing performance. In said mechanical seal, the deformation of the back portion of the cartilage due to the force from the pump housing is absorbed by forming a groove portion having cross section substantially a triangular shape at the back portion of the cartilage. As a result, the deformation hardly transfers to the area near the inner tube portion of the cartilage 16 and the inner tube portion of the back portion; and the relative position of the seal ring, and the bellows or so scarcely changes with respect to the structure of the mating ring or so on the side of the rotation axis, thus the assembling length and the assembled load of the mechanical seal does not change, which allows the mechanical seal to exhibit good sealing performance.
US08128095B2	Mechanical shaft seal An improved mechanical shaft seal to give a tight seal between relatively rotating machine parts and prevent the escape of particulate material into the atmosphere or into the mechanical components of the housing under adverse operating conditions. The seal provides a grease chamber that prevents solid particles from reaching the main seal by migration within the mechanical shaft seal.
US08128093B1	Spinner balls lawn game The spinner balls lawn game is a game that includes a plurality of stringed ball assemblies and a frame including a series of rotatable arms located thereon. The stringed ball assemblies each consist of two balls each secured to an end of a string, and a middle ball having a hole bored there through and of which said string is threaded thereon such that the middle ball can traverse back and forth along said string and in between the two balls located at each end. The frame supports the rotatable arm across a central arm such that the rotatable arms rotate along a horizontal axis. The rotatable arms and the central arm are each color-coded and upon landing a stringed ball assembly shall award a point designated by the rules of the game. The stringed ball assemblies can impact or land upon the rotatable arms, which may cause the rotatable arms to rotate about the horizontal axis via bearings affixed between the rotatable arms and the central arm.
US08128092B2	Game A game having a plurality of game cards, a plurality of targets, a plurality of objects; and a launcher for launching at least one of the objects at one of the plurality of targets is disclosed. The game also includes at least one special game card, the at least one special game card being played to launch one of the plurality of objects at one of the plurality of targets.
US08128091B2	Casino poker games A method, system, and computer readable storage medium to provide a player versus dealer poker game which allows the dealer to raise based on the contents of the dealers unrevealed hand. The player can then choose to match the dealer's raise or fold. Then, both the player's hand and the dealer's hand are revealed, and the higher hand wins.
US08128090B2	Methods of play for board games Methods of play for board games are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method of play for a board game with a game board having a plurality of spaces includes the steps of: (a) providing a first player game piece having a strength value; (b) providing a first chance device capable of indicating chance values; (c) determining the movement of the first player game piece among the spaces of the game board; and (d) determining that the first player game piece located on a first space has defeated a second player game piece located on a second space adjacent to the first space, wherein the determinations in steps (c) and (d) are each based on both the strength value of the first player game piece and a chance value provided by the first chance device.
US08128089B2	Automated bingo game based on RFID-tagged balls Embodiments of the disclosed technology provide a method of integrating radio frequency identification (RFID) and near field communication (NFC) to add excitement, features, automation or semi-automation, and digital connectivity to a traditional Bingo or lottery game. Any game of chance may be played using embodiments of the disclosed technology. Balls used for purposes of randomization comprise freely movable RFID tags situated therein. When a ball is chosen, such as when it is the first or only ball to pass through an exit tube of a mixing apparatus, its RFID tag (with data corresponding to indicia on the ball) is read, and appropriate action can be taken, such as to update a video screen accordingly, check Bingos, check lottery winning tickets, and so forth.
US08128086B2	Sheet stacking apparatus and image forming apparatus A sheet discharged from a sheet discharging portion arranged at a distance from a sheet stacking portion, to a stacking portion, is conveyed along the sheet stacking portion while the sheet edge on an upstream side in a sheet discharging direction is held. A shifting unit arranged downstream of the sheet stacking portion in the sheet discharging direction shifts the discharged sheet from the sheet discharging portion toward the downstream side in the sheet discharging direction while a pressing member presses the sheet to the sheet stacking portion.
US08128085B2	Sheet ejecting device A sheet ejecting device having a pair of ejection rollers, a strengthener provided in a sheet ejection route, a tray for receiving ejected sheets and a driver for lifting up and down the tray. A sheet is ejected via the ejection rollers while being strengthened by the strengthener. A specified time after the sheet comes into contact with a stack of sheets on the tray, the tray is lifted up so that the contact point between the currently ejected sheet and the stack of sheets on the tray becomes nearer to the pair of ejection rollers.
US08128078B2	Jig A jig for fixing a subject body, is provided with a support block configured to support the subject body, which includes a support face, a coating discharge-deposited to coat the support face, which includes a ceramic, and a fixation member configured to fix the subject body in cooperation with the support block.
US08128076B2	Noise attenuator for side wall panel A noise attenuator for attaching a side wall panel to a frame that is exposed to vibratory loads and which includes a rigid core having a sleeve with two radially disposed end plates. A bracket encircles a portion of said sleeve between the end plates and is in non-contiguous relationship with the core. An elastomeric bushing is bonded to a portion of the bracket and the core with the exception of the outer faces of the end plates, which remain exposed. Voids are passed through the rear plate and extend axially between the bracket and the sleeve some length into the sleeve. Due to the geometry of the unit, the non-voided sections of the bushing are loaded in either a combination of tension and shear or compression and shear when the core is connected to a vibrating frame and the bracket is connected to a side wall panel.
US08128071B2	Method and apparatus for improved gas/fluid contact A spray tower (20) for improving contact between a gas stream (22) and a fluid (24). The spray tower (20) includes a tank (26) having an inlet (32) and an outlet (34), and a plurality of spray nozzles (28) positioned in the tank, each of the plurality of spray nozzles including a spray outlet (38). Each of the plurality of spray nozzles (28) is adapted to spray a cone (40) of the fluid (24) through the spray outlet (38) into the tank (26). The spray tower (20) also includes a perforated plate (30) having a plurality of perforations (44). The perforated plate (30) is positioned in the tank (26) so as to define a cross-section of the tank and each of the plurality of perforations (44) is aligned with the cone (40) flowing from the spray outlet (38) of one of the spray nozzles.
US08128070B1	Venturi aeration circulation system An intake pipe is positionable adjacent to the bottom of a body of water. The intake pipe has at least one perforate section adapted to receive stagnating un-aerated water. A discharge pipe is positionable between a waterline of the body of water and the discharge pipe. The discharge pipe has at least one orifice for injecting aerated water into the body of water. An intermediate pipe section has an input end coupled to the discharge pipe. The intermediate pipe section has an output end coupled to the discharge pipe. A pump moves water from the perforate section of the intake pipe to the orifice of the discharge pipe. A venturi assembly injects air into water flowing to and through and out of the discharge pipe into the body of water.
US08128068B2	Personal lift device A personal lift device is disclosed having a motor having an output shaft. A gearing system is operatively connected to the output shaft for increasing torque. A strap for suspending a weight is wound onto a spool and rotating the spool extends and retracts the strap. A drive connection is made between the gearing system and the spool to permit said motor to drive said spool. A brake is associated with said spool to prevent unwanted extension of said strap from said spool, when a weight is suspended by said strap. In a preferred embodiment a clutch is provided between the brake and the drive train, and the greater the weight supported by the spool the greater the braking force. An emergency lift and lower device is also provided in the event of a failure of the motor.
US08128067B2	Device and method providing redundant automatic clutch release and engine shut down on a drilling or production rig A drilling rig control system adapted for easy interface between a compressed air supply and a drilling rig clutch and brake. Both manual and automatic controls are provided to initiate the device to interrupt and vent the compressed air supply to the clutch and concurrently communicate compressed air to the brake to cause it to engage the drum winding the cable for the rig. Over-pull sensors monitor cable tension and initiate valves in the control system to initiate the compressed air interruption and rerouting upon any sense of over-pull.
US08128064B2	Floor-bound transportation vehicle, in particular for the transportation of containers The invention relates to a floor-bound transportation vehicle for the transportation of containers, with at least one lifting platform which is arranged on a vehicle frame of the transportation vehicle and can be lifted from a lowered transportation position into a raised transfer position via a lifting drive and, conversely, can be lowered. The lifting platform is fastened on the vehicle frame via at least one toggle lever. The lifting platform can be raised or can be lowered via the at least one toggle lever. The lifting drive acts on the at least one toggle lever, and the lifting platform is guided on the transportation vehicle for the lifting and lowering movement.
US08128061B2	Capacity control valve A capacity control valve includes a solenoid portion; a tube placed in the solenoid portion; and a movable core which forms a slide surface that is fitted to the tube. An actuation rod has a joint portion and a valve body, the joint portion being engaged with an abutting surface of a solenoid rod portion, and the valve body opening or closing a control fluid passage. The joint surface of the solenoid rod portion or the abutting face of the actuation rod has a concave cone-shape surface while the other has a convex cone-shape portion. A bottom face of the concave cone-shape surface is formed as a wide area of either a planar surface or a circular cross section, wherein a head portion of the convex cone-shape portion is truncated to form a truncated cone surface, the truncated cone surface corresponding to the bottom face of the concave cone-shape surface.
US08128059B2	Solenoid valve control apparatus and actuator In a certain brake control apparatus, a valve main body of a hydraulic control valve and a coil unit are separately formed, are assembled with each other, and are mounted on an actuator block. Further, bias current is secured even though the supply of current is temporarily unnecessary depending on a control state and a period between the termination and the start of the driving of the hydraulic control valve. Accordingly, it may be possible to maintain a contact state between the inner peripheral surface of the coil unit and the outer peripheral surface of the valve main body during the driving control period.
US08128057B2	Methods and apparatus for regulating gas turbine engine fluid flow A valve assembly may include a body having an axis and a flow tube attached to the body for flowing a fluid therethrough, the flow tube having a first bend and a second bend. The valve assembly may further include a valve attached to the flow tube having an axle that is perpendicular to the axis, and a piston attached to the body and the axle and parallel to the axis.
US08128053B2	Vertically adjustable furniture item A vertically adjustable item of furniture with a vertical pipe, a supporting base arranged at a first end of the vertical pipe, a guide bush fastened to a second end of the vertical pipe opposite to the supporting base, a cylinder which is arranged coaxially in the vertical pipe a piston which divides the cylinder into a first work chamber and a second work chamber, a piston rod fastened by its first end to the piston extends through the second work chamber and a connection between the first work chamber and the second work chamber which can be blocked by a valve actuatable by an actuating device. The valve is controllable electromagnetically. The furniture item comprises a sensor or switch which generates a signal causing the valve to close when the piston reaches a position in the cylinder near the valve.
US08128048B2	Mountable box holder and method for mounting a box A box holder for mounting a box, such as a tissue box, on a surface is provided. The box includes a wall having a slot formed or pre-formed thereon. The box holder has structure for mounting to a surface, specifically an upper portion having a front edge and a base portion having a fastener to mount the box holder to the surface. The front edge is adaptable for insertion through the slot thereby allowing the box to be mounted on the box holder.
US08128047B1	Clamp mechanism for accessory mounts A mounting base mechanism for releasably securing an accessory device to a mechanical structure having opposed oppositely angulated clamp surfaces. The mounting base mechanism defines a first clamp surface having clamping engagement with one of the angulated clamp surfaces. A clamp support structure projects laterally from the mounting base mechanism and provides support for a clamp actuating mechanism having a clamping plate. A retainer device supported by the clamp support structure is operative to move the clamping plate substantially linearly for clamping engagement of the clamp plate with the other of the oppositely angulated clamp surfaces. A keeper member prevents inadvertent separation of the retainer and clamping plate from the clamp support structure.
US08128046B1	Combined mobile electronic device holder and fastener mechanism A mobile electronic device holder adapted for removable attachment to a connector device is disclosed.
US08128039B2	Aerodynamic surface assembly for aircraft Disclosed is a set of aerodynamic surfaces for an aircraft. There is included in the set a fixed aerodynamic surface delimited by two external walls which, at the rear, converge toward one another. A mobile flap extends the external walls, forming a mobile trailing-edge. An actuator is positioned so as to cause the mobile flap to rotate. A vane runs in the overall direction of the span of the fixed aerodynamic surface, and rotates with the flap.
US08128037B2	Apparatus and method for passive purging of micro-perforated aerodynamic surfaces A purging system for a laminar flow control system comprises an air scoop and a diffuser fluidly connected thereto. The air scoop is disposable into an external flow of an external atmosphere. The diffuser is configured to fluidly connect the air scoop to a suction cavity of the laminar flow control system wherein the suction cavity may be disposed adjacent a porous skin of an airfoil such as adjacent a leading edge of the airfoil. The laminar flow control system may be configured to suction boundary layer flow passing over the porous skin by drawing a portion of the boundary layer flow through a plurality of pores formed in the porous skin. The diffuser ducts high pressure flow captured by the air scoop to the suction cavity for discharge through the pores to reduce the potential of blockage thereof.
US08128034B2	Rotorcraft with opposing roll mast moments, and related methods In rotorcraft having rotors on multiple masts, a controller causes opposing roll mast moments to be applied to the different rotors. In preferred embodiments, the opposing roll moment is the result of increasing the lift on the advancing blade and reducing the lift on the retreating blade on the second rotor. This can be accomplished in any suitable manner, such as by applying differential cyclic roll control to the two rotors by tilting the two Swashplates of the two rotors or by using Individual Blade Control (IBC).
US08128031B2	Spar for sailwings A sail wing for a lightweight aircraft comprising a membrane; a front spar; and a tensioned rear wire attached to a trailing edge of the membrane, such that when the front spar is bent to match a curve of the tensioned trailing edge of the sail wing membrane, the sail wing membrane has substantially little or no twist, and results in substantially little or no induced drag.
US08128023B2	Aircraft with jet engines arranged at the rear When an aircraft is propelled by at least one jet engine fixed in a rear part of the aircraft, at least one substantially horizontal rear aerodynamic surface, the rear horizontal surface, is arranged at the rear of the aircraft and at least one jet engine is fixed under the rear horizontal surface by an attachment mast fixed by its upper part to the rear horizontal surface and maintains, by its lower part, the jet engine. The rear horizontal surface is also the horizontal tail unit of the aircraft or a horizontal surface maintained above the fuselage. The rear surfaces and the fuselage are arranged such that the engines are installed and removed using a vertical movement of the engines, which are advantageously one, two or three in number, in the rear zone of the aircraft.
US08128021B2	Engine mount system for a turbofan gas turbine engine A mount system for a gas turbine engine includes an aft mount which reacts at least a portion of a thrust load at an engine case generally parallel to an engine axis.
US08128020B2	Active twisting of an aircraft lifting surface via modulated clamping of substructure A system and method for enabling controlled twisting of a tip of a wing in response to the aerodynamic forces experienced by the wing. The structural stiffness of the wing is modulated to modulate the twist of the wing in the presence of aerodynamic forces.
US08128018B2	Automatic sensing and outputting device The automatic sensing and outputting device of the present invention includes a base, a shell, a cover and a roller unit. The base has a longitudinal rod extending from an upper side thereof which the shell parallels. The cover pivoted at one ends on the shell and is swayable. The roller unit is rotatably disposed in the shell and is driven by a rotating means. Thereby, the cover and the roller unit are adapted to clamp a sheet-like object therebetween and to output the sheet-like object when the roller unit rotates.
US08128015B2	Tool mounting A cutter assembly for a rotary, shear-type shredder including a cutting-tool carrier having a body possessing a rotational axis, a shear cutting tool, and a generally radial, sliding-friction-type, heat-cycle, binding interface removably anchoring the tool to the carrier body. This assembly is made by (a) forming a projection on one of the tool and the carrier, (b) forming a generally complementary, projection-receiving void space in the other of the tool and the carrier, whereby the projection and the void space nominally have an interference-fit relationship relative to one another, (c) creating a temperature differential between the tool and the carrier to an extent producing a clearance-fit relationship therebetween, (d) following that creating, fitting the projection snugly inside the void space, (e) reducing the created temperature differential toward zero, and (f) thereby establishing a robust, linear-sliding-friction anchoring interface between the tool and the carrier.
US08128014B2	Turbo pulp lifter A pulp lifter for installation in a rotary grinding mill has a leading edge wall and a trailing edge wall with respect to rotation of the mill. The leading edge wall and the trailing edge wall define a pulp lifter chamber, and a grate allows slurry to pass to a radially outward collecting region of the pulp lifter chamber for removal from the mill by way of a radially inward discharge region of the pulp lifter chamber. In one embodiment, a gate is positioned between the collecting region and the discharge region, the gate being movable between an open position, in which the gate permits solid material to pass from the collecting region to the discharge region, and a closed position, in which the gate prevents return movement of solid material from the discharge region to the collecting region.
US08128013B2	High efficiency single pass shredder-granulator The present invention is a shredder-granulator comprised of a plurality of rotary shear blades and a plurality of stationary bed knives fixedly attached to two counter-rotating shafts. The stationary bed knives are also secured to a frame. The shredder-granulator is capable of shredding and granulating materials in a single pass.
US08128010B2	Waste toner cartridge processing equipment In a waste toner cartridge processing equipment (100) including a crushing means (303) for crushing a waste toner cartridge (101) and extracting various materials (106 to 108) constituting the waste toner cartridge, the crushing means (303) performs crushing while spraying water (104).
US08128008B2	Fluid dispenser nozzle and a fluid dispenser device including such a nozzle A fluid dispenser nozzle comprising: a rigid support; a fluid passageway; and an annular sealing element that is made of elastomer, that surrounds the rigid support, and that is provided with a lip adapted to close off the passageway so long as the fluid is not arriving under pressure from said passageway. The fluid dispenser nozzle being wherein the rigid support comprises a side wall which internally defines the passageway, the side wall extending along a central axis, and wherein the rigid support further comprises an end wall which closes off the fluid passageway at the second end of the side wall, said end wall being provided with at least one hole that is covered by the lip of the sealing element.
US08128007B2	Radially outward flowing air-blast fuel injector for gas turbine engine An air-blast fuel injector is disclosed which includes an outer air circuit having an exit portion, an inner air circuit having an outlet configured to direct air toward the exit portion of the outer air circuit, and a fuel circuit radially outboard of the inner air circuit and having an exit communicating with the outer air circuit upstream from the exit portion of the outer air circuit.
US08128006B1	Apparatus and method for dispensing flavoring substance An apparatus for dispensing a flavoring substance into a consumable beverage by a dispensing device consisting of a tubular body having a substantially hollow interior and formed with valves provided at distal and proximal ends thereof. Upon positioning of the tubular body into the container, the distal end of the body is pressed against interior of the container, so as to activate the distal valve. The proximal valve is activated to break a vacuum in the interior chamber and to enable the flavoring substance to pass through the open distal valve into the consumable beverage.
US08128004B2	Method and apparatus for operating an injection valve In order to operate an injection valve, a freewheeling operating state is controlled as the nozzle needle moves to its closing position, and a current through the coil is detected as a freewheeling current during freewheeling. As the nozzle needle moves to its closing position, a braking current pulse (I_BR) is generated on the basis of a time derivative (DI_DT_FW) of the freewheeling current and is impressed on the coil.
US08128003B2	Burner for heating a catalytic converter with open-loop or closed-loop controlled fuel delivery The invention concerns a burner, particularly an auxiliary burner in a motor vehicle and most especially a burner to rapidly heat up a three way catalytic converter of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, with a fuel supply mechanism to deliver fuel to the burner, an air supply mechanism to deliver air to the burner, as well as with an open-loop or closed-loop control mechanism to set a desired fuel-air-ratio in the burner. The invention additionally concerns a procedure to operate such a burner. Provision is made, that the open-loop or closed-loop mechanism adjusts the fuel mass delivered from the fuel supply mechanism to the burner to the air mass delivered from the air supply mechanism to the burner.
US08128002B2	Smart card communication routing A computerized device has an open communication session with a smart card via a smart card reader. The smart card reader and the computerized device cooperate to enable another computerized device to communicate with the smart card over the open communication session. Communication between the other computerized device and the smart card is routed via the computerized device that has the open communication session.
US08128001B2	RFID label, method for producing the RFID label, device for producing the RFID label, sheet member (tag sheet) used for the RFID label, and cartridge attached to the device for producing the RFID label A method for producing a RFID label comprises conveying a first label base material which is transparent from a first holding portion holding the first label base material, forming an image on a surface of the first label base material, conveying a second label base material including at least one of a RFID antenna conductor and an IC chip from a second holding portion holding the second label base material and joining the second label base material and the first label base material on which an image has been formed together, wherein, when an image is formed on the first label base material, the image is formed on a surface of the first label base material, the surface being joined to the second label base material.
US08127999B2	Wireless mobile communicator for contactless payment on account read from removable card A wireless mobile communications apparatus reads removable cards and can communicate an account corresponding to the removable card in order to conduct a wireless transaction with a merchant on the account with the wireless mobile communications apparatus. A total currency amount for the transaction, and remaining balance in the account after the transaction, can be displayed on a display screen of the wireless mobile communications apparatus. The removable card can be a gift card bearing a magnetic strip having an identifier for the account encoded thereto that will be read when inserted into the wireless mobile communications apparatus which can be a cellular telephone or Web enabled portable device. The magnetic strip gift card can be substantially composed of paper so as to be intended for disposable after use.
US08127990B2	Methods for utilizing RF tags to collect data concerning post-consumer resources A post-consumption item that has a Radio Frequency (RF) tag associated therewith is disposed of by reading the RF tag to obtain information stored thereon and selecting a manner to dispose of the post-consumption item based on the obtained information. An inventory of post-consumption items that have RF tags associated therewith, respectively, is maintained by reading the RF tags to obtain categorization information stored thereon and maintaining the inventory of the post-consumption items based on the obtained categorization information.
US08127987B2	System and method for disputing individual items that are the subject of a transaction A system and method for disputing individual items that are the subject of a transaction includes storing, in a database, a record of a transaction in which a plurality of goods or services were sold to an individual that owns a transaction card through which access to monetary funds may be obtained, so that the transaction is identified by a transaction identifier. Also, information identifying each good or service that is a subject of the transaction is associated with said transaction identifier. A cost associated with one of the goods or services associated with the transaction identifier is disputed, without subjecting costs of all goods or services that are associated with said transaction identifier to dispute.
US08127986B1	Card registry systems and methods A card registry system is configured to automatically identify financial card information in one or more credit files associated with a consumer and populate a card registry account of the consumer with the identified financial card information. Once the financial card information has been obtained from the credit file(s), the card registry system may transmit cancellation and/or reissuance requests to the respective card issuers in the instance that one or more cards are compromised, so that the financial cards may be easily and efficiently cancelled and/or reissued at the request of the consumer.
US08127983B1	Cash dispensing automated banking machine with GPS Automated banking machines include a Global Positioning System (GPS). The machines can transmit their GPS location reading to a service center. The service center can receive through a customer's cell phone, a customer request for directions to the nearest cash dispensing machine that does not have a transaction fee. The customer request can include account data and GPS location of the cell phone. The service center can determine from the account data which financial networks would not cause the customer to be assessed a transaction fee for a cash withdrawal. The service center can then determine from the GPS locations of the machines in these financial networks, which machine is geographically closest to the cell phone's GPS location. Directions to this nearest automated banking machine are then sent to the cell phone.
US08127981B1	Banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records An automated banking machine operates responsive to data bearing records. The machine includes a housing, a card reader in operatively-supported connection with the housing and operative to read indicia on user cards corresponding to financial accounts, a display in operatively-supported connection with the housing, and a cash dispenser in operatively-supported connection with the housing. The machine further includes a fascia movably mounted in operatively-supported connection with the housing and a journal printer assembly mounted to the fascia. The journal printer assembly includes a vertically arranged print head, a paper supply, and a paper take-up.
US08127977B1	Thermal stir welder A welding apparatus is provided for forming a weld joint between first and second elements of a workpiece. The apparatus heats the first and second elements to form an interface of material in a plasticized or melted state interface between the elements. The interface material is then allowed to cool to a plasticized state if previously in a melted state. The interface material, while in the plasticized state, is then mixed, for example, using a grinding/extruding mixer, to remove any dendritic-type weld microstructures introduced into the interface material during heating.
US08127976B2	Stapler cartridge and channel interlock A surgical stapling device including a handle assembly, an endoscopic portion and an end effector is disclosed. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the handle assembly and defines a first longitudinal axis. The end effector defines a second longitudinal axis and includes an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly. The end effector includes a cartridge channel configured and dimensioned to securely receive a cartridge therein.
US08127967B1	Volumetric control apparatus for fluid dispensing The present invention provides an apparatus for dispensing fluid in preselected volumetric quantities. The apparatus comprises a valve positioned inline with a conduit holding fluid under pressure, a flow meter positioned inline with the conduit, a control unit communicatively coupled to the valve and flow meter, the control unit adapted to open and close the valve and detect data from the flow meter associated with the volume of fluid passing through the conduit, a units select switch having a plurality of preselected settings associated with a plurality of volumetric units, the units select switch communicatively coupled to the control unit, and an incrementing switch communicatively coupled to the control unit, whereby the control unit opens the valve responsive to activation of the incrementing switch thereby permitting fluid flow through the conduit until the control unit closes the valve responsive to the flow meter indicating a volume of fluid passed through the conduit substantially equal to a volumetric unit selected on the units select switch.
US08127965B1	Tool bucket organizer An insert for containers designed to store and organize small hand tools comprising two (2) discs, each of a slightly smaller diameter than the interior diameter of the bucket is herein disclosed. Each disc is provided with multiple holes and slots to hold various types of hand tools. The discs are separated a few inches from each other and the lower insert is held off the bottom of the bucket by a set of legs. The insert is designed to hold hand tools such as screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, hammers, utility knifes and the like. The configuration of the discs allows each tool to stand upright and not fall over, enabling a user to quickly find a desired hand tool.
US08127957B2	Suspended receptacle for at least one piece of dough and set consisting of a plurality of suspended receptacles of this type A suspended receptacle for at least one piece of dough has a base comprising two lateral retaining pins with which the base can be connected, so as to pivot about a pivot axis, to a conveyor element conveying a plurality of suspended receptacles of this type. A dough support element of the suspended receptacle has a support for the piece of dough. The dough support element is configured as an exchangeable insert which is detachably connected to the base.
US08127948B2	Supporting consumer products A shelving system supporting consumer products includes a base structure, a plurality of vertical support members, side cross-members, and a mobile support shelf. The base structure includes two side base members and a front base member attached to each side base member to define a substantially U-shaped enclosure. Each vertical support member includes a base end and a top end and each support member is attached to the base structure at the base end. Each side cross-member is coupled between two vertical support members. The mobile support shelf includes a shelf frame adapted to fit within the U-shaped enclosure. The shelf frame includes wheels coupled to the shelf frame and a latch pin adapted to engage a slot in a proximate side base member as the shelf frame is inserted into the U-shaped enclosure. The mobile support shelf includes a shelf pivotally coupled to a topside of the shelf frame.
US08127946B2	Eyewear display system The present invention provides a lockable eyewear display system. One embodiment of the system includes a support frame on which the eyewear is placed, a lock that secures the eyewear to the frame, and a key that removes the lock from the frame. The device may further include an anchor connected to the frame that anchors the frame to a fixture or display object such as a rack or furniture. In another embodiment, the eyewear display device includes an articulating joint allowing at least a portion of the support frame to be swiveled.
US08127945B2	Vertical tool storage device Disclosed is a vertical tool rack storage device which includes a hollow upright pivot shaft, a plurality of flat tool racks for holding tool bits and parts, and a plurality of connectors for pivotally coupling the flat tool racks to the hollow upright pivot shaft for enabling the tool racks to be arranged in a stack and individually turnable about the hollow upright pivot shaft.
US08127944B2	Product management display system with trackless pusher mechanism A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf includes using a trackless pusher mechanism that travels along a surface on which product is placed. The pusher mechanism of the invention also includes a pusher paddle and a floor that extends forward of the pusher paddle. A flat coiled spring or other biasing element may be operatively connected behind the pusher paddle and extend across the floor of the pusher mechanism and to the front of the shelf. In use, the product to be merchandised may be placed on the coiled spring and on the floor of the pusher mechanism. With this configuration, the pusher paddle is prevented from tipping or bending backwards during operation. The invention may be used with the merchandising of product on horizontal or non-inclined shelves or surfaces, as well as with gravity-fed systems, or systems that use gravity as a mechanism to urge product toward the front of the shelf.
US08127941B2	Cable management assembly, system and method A cable management assembly, and method related thereto, including a riser panel having an interface portion and a plurality of cable management devices. The interface portion having a plurality of shaped apertures. The cable management devices having attachments that correspond to the shaped apertures to secure the cable management devices to the panel at selected vertical and horizontal locations. The cable management assembly being configured to extend between two adjacent telecommunications racks or to couple to the end of a telecommunications rack.
US08127940B2	Rail including a shelf for supporting an information handling system A rack system for supporting one or more information handling systems is provided. The rack system may include a rack and one or more rails coupled to the rack and configured to support one or more information handling systems. At least one of the rails may include an upper support structure, a lower support structure, a slot defined between the upper and lower support structures and configured to receive a guide structure of the information handling system, and a shelf. The slot may have a front end opening proximate to a front end of the rail, and extend toward a back end of the rail. The shelf may extend forward from the front end opening of the slot, and can support a portion of the information handling system when the guide structure is not received in the slot. The shelf may also not be coupled to any other rail.
US08127939B2	Horizontal cable troughs and tool drawer The present invention relates to telecommunications equipment racks including vertical cable guides, horizontal troughs, cross aisle panels and cross-connection modules for telecommunications equipment racks. The vertical cable guides define vertical cable channels for both network infrastructure and cross-connection cables. The structure defining the second cable channel is hingedly attached to the structure defining the first cable channel. The horizontal cable troughs include both upper and lower troughs. The upper cable trough defines two cableways for directing cross-connection and other cables, and provides access openings for cables to pass into and out of each cableway and between the two cableways. The lower cable trough defines a cableway and provides access openings for cables extending into and out of the cableway. Cable troughs attached to adjacently mounted equipment racks cooperate to form continuous horizontal cableways. The cross aisle panel includes movable cable guide structures to permit access to connectors mounted on the panel. The cross-connection modules provide multiple connector planes on the rear of the module to increase the number of circuits the module can support.
US08127934B2	Fluid filter element A filter element is removably positionable within a filter housing defining a filter chamber for said filter element. The filter housing comprises a standpipe extending within the filter chamber. The filter element includes a tubular filter media circumscribing the standpipe, a first end cap supporting the filter media at one end thereof, a second end cap longitudinally spaced from the first end cap and supporting the filter media at the opposite end thereof, and a center tube extending between the first and second end caps. The center tube has at least one inlet opening therethrough, a bypass opening at a first end thereof adjacent to the first end cap and a standpipe opening at a second end thereof adjacent to the second end cap and through which the standpipe is adapted to be inserted longitudinally into the center tube.
US08127929B1	Paper pallet for packaging A paper pallet for packaging comprising: a load bearing base and a packaging protective frame, wherein the load bearing base is composed of a plurality of vertical supporting components and a plurality of horizontal supporting components. The load bearing base is composed of the vertical supporting components and the horizontal supporting components intersecting and subsequently interlocking with each other, and the packaging protective frame is composed of a plurality of side boards. Therefore, the side boards intersect and subsequently interlock with each other to form a packaging protective frame, which is inlaid at a set distance from the edge around the load bearing base to form a paper pallet for packaging. Thus, the paper pallet for packaging is formed by combining the packaging protective frame with the load bearing base to become the packaging box for delivering goods.
US08127928B2	Suspension packaging The present invention relates generally to a collapsible shipping container utilizing standard box making equipment manufactured from material such as paper, corrugated board, and corrugated plastic, and in particular, to a package that employs a tensioned film system, that holds a product hammock style, between two layers of film and/or between a film and a wall of the package. To use the box, the formed box which has been stored in a flat configuration, is unfolded to a substantially rectangular or square configuration by folding at least one flap panel about its fold line to a position superadjacent a central panel and conforming the container to a hexagonal cross-section. In this configuration the box retains its hexagonal cross-section and can be self supporting in a vertical position, in order to facilitate the filing operation.
US08127925B2	Container package and dispenser A package for a number of beverage or non-beverage containers includes an overlay member covering the top or bottom ends of the containers. The overlay member has a central, generally planar panel positioned on the ends of the containers and may include a number of perimeter panels each joined to and positioned on a perimeter of the central panel. Each perimeter panel is oriented generally perpendicularly relative to the central panel. A dispenser opening is in the central panel of the overlay member through which the containers may be removed from the package. An overwrap member such as a thermoplastic shrink wrap film envelops the array of containers and the overlay member to provide a robust, unitary package for transport and storage. A line of weakness in the overwrap member is aligned with the dispenser to allow a user to puncture the overwrap member in the vicinity of the line of weakness and gain access to the containers via the dispenser. The package may be supported on a shelf such as within a refrigerator or storage rack with a side of the package facing downwardly and the dispenser positioned proximate the downwardly facing side of the package.
US08127917B2	Pile transfer device and method In a mail processing system, a support element has a flat floor with elements spaced from each other so that a comb-type or fork-type structure is produced, wherein the elements have front section extending upwards. A first transport device has a number of bands equipped with sectional separators, which are spaced from one another. To transfer piled postal items from the support element to the first transport device the floor is aligned with the transport device, and the floor and the transport device are interlocked, so that at least a part of one of the bands extends between the elements.
US08127907B1	Marine transmission using rheological fluids A marine transmission provides first and second drive gears that have first and second driving surfaces in contact with first and second quantities of rheological fluid. First and second driven surfaces of a propeller shaft are also in contact with the rheological fluids within first and second cavities. Torque is transmitted between the drive gears and the propeller shaft through the increase in viscosity of the rheological fluid. A dog clutch can also be provided in order to lock the propeller shaft to the driving one of the first and second drive gears after the rheological fluid is used to spin up the propeller shaft to the appropriate speed.
US08127901B1	Hydraulic damping device for drawer A hydraulic damping device includes a cylinder holding a hydraulic fluid, a piston rod moving in and out of the cylinder and having a pin at one end inside the cylinder, a rigid valve block affixed to the inner end of the pin of the piston rod and having equiangularly spaced through holes, a retainer affixed to the outer end of the pin of the piston rod, a piston coupled to the pin of the piston rod and movable along the pin between the rigid valve block and the retainer and having a plurality of axially extending through holes, a number of the through holes of the piston being respectively aimed at the through holes of the rigid valve block for allowing the hydraulic fluid to pass through the piston in one direction at a high speed during outward stroke of the piston rod and to pass through the piston in the other direction at a low speed during inward stroke of the piston, and a shock absorber that buffers the impact of the rigid valve block when the piston rod is extended out of the cylinder.
US08127895B2	Device for a skateboard A braking device removably attachable to a skateboard having a plurality of wheels, the device comprising a plurality of wheel engaging means, each for engaging a wheel of a skateboard, said device being operable to restrain the wheels against rotation relative to the skateboard.
US08127894B2	Elevator motor drive tolerant of an irregular power source A hoist motor (12) for an elevator (14) is continuously driven from an irregular power supply (16). A regenerative drive (10) delivers power between the power supply (16) and the hoist motor (12). A controller (11) measures a power supply voltage in response to a detected change in the power supply voltage and controls the regenerative drive (10) to adjust a nominal motion profile of the elevator (14) in proportion with an adjustment ratio of the measured power supply voltage to a normal power supply voltage.
US08127893B2	Elevator and arrangement An elevator having an elevator car with a car frame on which are mounted a first set of diverting pulleys from which the hoisting ropes go downwards and a second set of diverting pulleys from which the hoisting ropes go upwards. The rope tension in the rope portions going from the diverting pulleys of the first set is smaller than the rope tension in the rope portions going from the diverting pulleys of the second set by a specified ratio. According to the invention, the diverting pulleys of the first set are at a larger average distance from the car frame than the diverting pulleys of the second set. In a possible inventive arrangement, the distance of an up-direction diverting pulley from the car frame is smaller by a specified ratio than the distance a corresponding down-direction diverting pulley.
US08127890B2	Flat-fold step stool A step unit includes right and left step frames and two steps coupled to the right and left step frames.
US08127884B2	Electric power steering apparatus A flange member 20, which is formed as a separate body from a motor shaft 6, is screwed to an end 6a of the motor shaft 6. The flange member 20 functions as a flange 19 of the motor shaft 6. A flange 18, which is formed at an end 13a of a ball screw nut 13, is fastened to the flange 19 of the motor shaft 6. This couples the ball screw nut 13 to the motor shaft 6. A coupling member 27 is arranged in the joint portion between the ball screw nut 13 and the motor shaft 6. The coupling member 27 is formed by a tubular portion 28 and a plate flange 29, which extends radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of an end of the tubular portion 28. The tubular portion 28 of the coupling member 27 is fixed to the motor shaft 6, and the plate flange 29 is fixed to the flange member 20.
US08127883B2	Safety interlock system for hand operated accelerator control devices A safety interlock system for hand operated vehicle accelerator control systems is disclosed which permits a hand operated accelerator control system to be immobilized so that it cannot be activated unintentionally or accidentally by an individual operator who is not familiar with a vehicle so equipped. The safety interlock system may be selectively activated by the vehicle operator manually directly by mechanical means or remotely by means of a switch-controlled hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical activator. An indicator system is provided which indicates the status of the safety interlock system to the vehicle operator.
US08127882B2	Security device A security device for a means of transport comprising a radiation source to direct radiation into the eye of a person intending to take control of the means of transport, so that the radiation is internally reflected within the eye and emerges from the eye with a substantial spectral content corresponding to the spectral content of food flowing through the retina of the eye, and a receiver arrangement to receive the radiation emanating from the eye of the person and to perform a spectral analysis of the reflected radiation to determine the concentration of at least one chemical within the blood of the person, the device further comprising an alarm unit to generate an alarm and/or an immobilizer unit to immobilize the means of transport, the or each unit being responsive to the said determination of concentration when the concentration of the said chemical is outside a permitted threshold range. Preferably, radiation is transmitted to the retina, and the spectral analysis is carried out for radiation reflected from the retina.
US08127878B2	Intake air introducing structure for automobile An intake air introducing structure for an automobile includes an intake air guide member provided between a front grill and a radiator. The intake air guide member is open at front and upper sides, and has a curved guide surface that inclines upward from a bottom side toward a rear side and has a curved shape that protrudes downward. A block wall protrudes toward a side of the curved guide surface and is provided in an upper portion of the curved guide surface.
US08127876B2	Cooling enclosure for electronic motor control components A cooling enclosure is mounted to the frame of a grass mowing machine adjacent the engine cooling fan of an internal combustion engine. The engine cooling fan draws ambient air across the controllers and batteries in the cooling enclosure. The cooling enclosure includes a one piece molded plastic structure that holds and supports batteries and electronic controllers at positions spaced from its bottom surfaces. One or more removable or hinged panels cover the top of the structure.
US08127875B2	Power driven wheelchair A power driven wheelchair and a method for operating same are provided. In one embodiment, the power driven wheelchair includes a system controller with a main controller, a storage device, and at least one input device, a motor assembly, and a common bus. The motor assembly may include a drive motor, a local controller, and a sensor sensing a condition associated with the drive motor and in communication with the local controller. In another embodiment, the power driven wheelchair includes the system controller, an actuator assembly, and the common bus. The actuator assembly may include an actuator mechanism, a local controller, and a sensor sensing a condition associated with the actuator mechanism and in communication with the local controller. Multiple embodiments of the method are related to controlling various arrangements of motor assemblies or actuator assemblies.
US08127867B1	Method and system for surface filtering of solids from return fluids in well operations A system and method for separating solids from return fluids in well drill-out, flow back, well-test, and other production operations. Solids are collected in a filter comprising a perforate inner tube inside a solid outer tube with an annulus therebetween. The fluid stream from the well enters the filter through the inner tube so that the solids are captured inside and the filtrate flows out through the annulus. The filtrate is passed though a flow back line to a flow back tank. As needed, the solids are removed from the inner tube into a debris tube without interrupting the fluid flow through the filter. Chokes are included for equalizing the pressure along the flow path as the debris is moved from the filter to the debris tube and from the debris tube into to a debris pit so that dramatic changes in pressure are avoided.
US08127866B2	Air injection collar The present invention is an air injection collar for use in the drilling industry that is used to reduce the weight of the column of returning drilling mud and debris without causing unnecessary frictional wear on the drill pipe. The invention is a unique sleeve that is coupled to a drill casing that includes an input port for receiving the pressurized air or other fluid from the surface, an annular plenum extending around the drill casing, and a series of openings in the plenum leading to the inside of the drill casing. These openings disperse the pressurized air or other fluid into the upflowing mud around the central drill pipe so that it is not concentrated in one place, especially the center of the casing, where it could cause frictional damage to the drill pipe.
US08127863B2	Drill bit having enhanced stabilization features and method of use thereof A drill bit for drilling a borehole in earthen formations comprising a bit body having a bit axis and a bit face. In addition, the drill bit comprises a primary blade extending radially along the bit face, the primary blade including a cutter-supporting surface that defines a blade profile in rotated profile view extending from the bit axis to an outer radius of the bit body. The blade profile is continuously contoured and includes a plurality of concave regions. Further, the drill bit comprises a plurality of cutter elements mounted to the cutter-supporting surface of the primary blade. Each cutter element on the primary blade has a forward-facing cutting face with a cutting edge adapted to penetrate and shear the earthen formation.
US08127862B2	Power tool A power tool capable of performing vibration damping action in working operation, without an increase in size. The working tool includes a motor, a housing in which an internal mechanism driven by the motor is stored, a tool bit disposed on one end of the housing, a hand grip continuously connected to the other end of the housing, and a dynamic damper. The dynamic damper is disposed by utilizing a space between the housing and the internal mechanism so that the damping direction of the dynamic damper faces the longitudinal direction of the tool bit.
US08127861B2	Front folding agricultural implement frame with rearwardly telescoping tongue A forwardly folding agricultural implement frame includes a tongue having a forward section and a rearward section telescopically extendable relative to the forward section. A carriage having support wheels is mounted on the forward tongue section. Left and right wings are pivotally connected to the rearward tongue section and foldable between a field position wherein the wings are generally perpendicular to the tongue and a transport position wherein the wings are generally parallel to the tongue. During the folding process, the carriage remains generally centered under the frame such that the majority of the weight of the implement is carried by the wheels and not shifted forwardly to the tractor drawbar.
US08127851B2	Mill and method for drilling composite bridge plugs A system used to remove multiple isolation plugs from a wellbore. The system is efficient in fluidizing and circulating proppant located below an upper plug resting on top of proppant settled above a lower plug. The system uses a central port of the mill that is in communication with coiled tubing to fluidize and circulate the proppant around the perimeter of the upper plug. Once the proppant has been circulated from underneath the upper plug, the upper plug may mate and rotationally lock with a lower plug set within the wellbore. Upon locking, the system is able to rapidly mill out the upper plug and the lower plug until the lower plug is no longer set within the wellbore. The system provides for the rapid removal of multiple plugs positioned within a wellbore where an amount of proppant is present between the plugs.
US08127850B2	Method of treating subterranean formations using sequential proppant stages An increase in effective propped lengths is evidenced in hydraulic fracturing treatments by the use of ultra lightweight (ULW) proppants. The ULW proppants have a density less than or equal to 2.45 g/cc and may be used as a mixture in a first proppant stage wherein at least one of the proppants is a ULW proppant. Alternatively, sequential proppant stages may be introduced into the formation wherein at least one of the proppant stages contain a ULW proppant and where at least one of the following conditions prevails: (i.) the density differential between the first proppant stage and the second proppant stage is greater than or equal to 0.2 g/cc; (ii.) both the first proppant stage and the second proppant stage contain a ULW proppant; (iii.) the rate of injection of the second proppant stage into the fracture is different from the rate of injection of the first proppant stage; or (iv.) the particle size of the second proppant stage is different from the particle size of the first proppant stage.
US08127849B2	Method of using lightweight polyamides in hydraulic fracturing and sand control operations Lightweight polyamide particulates may be used in treatment of subterranean formations, including hydraulic fracturing and sand control methods, such as gravel packing. The polyamide particulates typically have an apparent specific gravity (ASG) between from about 1.05 to about 2.0 and are stable at temperatures up to 500° C. The polyamide particulates may be used in combination with a filler which further serves to increase the strength and temperature stability of the resulting composite. Fracture conductivity may be increased by the placement of the low density polyamide particulates as a partial monolayer.
US08127847B2	Multi-position valves for fracturing and sand control and associated completion methods A completion tubular is placed in position adjacent the zone or zones to be fractured and produced. It features preferably sliding sleeve valves one series of which can be put in the wide open position after run in for gravel packing and fracturing zones one at a time or in any desired order. These valves are then closed and another series of valves can be opened wide but with a screen material juxtaposed in the flow passage to selectively produce from one or more fractured zones. An annular path behind the gravel is provided by an offset screen to promote flow to the screened production port. The path can be a closed annulus that comes short of the production port or goes over it. For short runs an exterior screen or shroud is eliminated for a sliding sleeve with multiple screened ports that can be opened in tandem.
US08127846B2	Wiper plug perforating system A method and system for cementing and perforating a wellbore in a single step by coupling a perforating gun with a wiper plug. The method includes injecting cement in a wellbore having casing therein and an annulus between the casing and wellbore. A wiper plug is dropped on the cement having a perforating gun attached to the wiper plug. The plug is forced downward pulling the perforating gun along. The downward motion of the plug in turn pushes the cement out the bottom end of the casing and into the annulus. The cement in the annulus is allowed to set and the perforating gun is activated.
US08127844B2	Method for oilfield material delivery In an embodiment, a method of operating at least one pressure vessel to inject a particulate slurry into a high-pressure line, comprises a first operating cycle comprising: isolating the at least one pressure vessel from the high-pressure line; introducing particulate solids into the pressure vessel through a particulate solids inlet aperture; a second operating cycle comprising: providing high-pressure flow into the pressure vessel; and providing a high-pressure slurry flow from the pressure vessel into the high-pressure line. The method further comprises operating the at least one pressure vessel in the second operating cycle to create a heterogeneous flow of slurry into the high-pressure line.
US08127843B2	Solidification of residuals from water treatment systems in heavy oil recovery operations Solidification of water treatment wastewater brines from oil production operations. Concentrated wastewater brines from water treatment systems in heavy oil recovery operations are converted to solids suitable for landfill using Portland cement. The solidification process eliminates expensive drying equipment for wastewater brine solids, as well as the associated operation and maintenance of expensive dewatering equipment.
US08127836B1	Top drive with an airlift thread compensator and a hollow cylinder rod providing minimum flexing of conduit A top drive for engagement with a travelling block with a hook can include an airlift thread compensator connected to a bail. An enclosure can be connected to the bail with an airbag disposed therein. A bail pin can be engaged through the enclosure, and can be connected to the airbag. The airbag can support weight of the top drive. Upper links can be connected to the enclosure and to a top drive housing. The top drive housing can support a stem connected to a motor, and a bearing can be disposed about the stem. Lower links can be connected to the top drive housing and to an elevator for moving tubulars. An inside blow out preventer can be connected to the stem and to a saver sub. A torque wrench assembly can be connected to the top drive housing for gripping tubulars.
US08127833B2	Methods and apparatus for harvesting potential energy downhole Methods and apparatus for harvesting energy while moving a tool through a well are shown and described. The harvested energy can be used by the tool to perform work once it reaches an intended location in the well, or along the way. A considerable amount of potential energy is typically lost by oilfield tools as they move down through a borehole. Methods and apparatus described herein recover and/or store some of the energy during the downward movement of the tool.
US08127830B2	Air conditioner An air conditioner is disclosed which includes a case including an external air inlet opening formed in a side of the case, a heat exchanger provided in the case, and a guide part which guides external air which enters the case through the external air inlet opening into an interior of the heat exchanger.
US08127827B2	Process and apparatus for direct chill casting An improved apparatus for direct chill casting of metals includes a mold, a bottom block assembly and a coolant. The mold is configured to surround a molten metal with a mold wall and the mold wall has an outer surface and an inner surface being in contact with the molten metal. The bottom block assembly is arranged at the bottom of the mold and includes a direct chill casting block configured to move away from the mold as the casting forms a solidifying shell of the molten metal. The coolant surrounds the outer surface of the mold wall and is arranged to remove heat away from the molten metal via the inner surface of the mold wall. The outer surface of the mold wall has a circumferential groove filled with a brazing alloy.
US08127825B2	Casting tool and method for producing workpieces cast from light-metal alloys The invention relates to a casting tool for producing workpieces from light metal alloys. The system includes a positioning element, a core part, a first mold part structured to carry the positioning element and be movable toward the core part, and a core part support structured to support the core part. The system also includes at least one stop structured to limit movement of the front mold part toward the core part and to allow the positioning element to be introduced into the core part, whereby the positioning element holds the core part in a predetermined position for casting.
US08127819B2	Composite lay-up head with a retractable device for separating a prepreg from its support tape A lay-up head receives a prepreg bonded to a support tape, and the prepreg is separated from its support tape by peeling, by means of a separator just upstream of a depositing member for depositing the prepreg tape on a deposition tool; the head includes, downstream of the separator, a retractable device for moving the prepreg away from the support tape, allowing the prepreg to be moved away just upstream of the separator, by means of which the prepreg can be separated earlier when the retractable device is activated.
US08127817B2	Rubber sheet jointing apparatus and method A rubber sheet jointing apparatus is provided with a first holding member for releasably holding a joint end portion of one of two rubber sheets; a second holding member provided movably relative to the first holding member for releasably holding a joint end portion of the other of the two rubber sheets; and an operating member for pressure-contacting the end surfaces of the two rubber sheets respectively held by the first and second holding member by moving the second holding member relative to the first holding member. Mutually facing surfaces of the first and second holding member are respectively provided with holder portions which are formed as rugged portions each taking a comb tooth shape and which are able to partly overlap to mesh with each other.
US08127814B2	Safety tire and hollow ring body for safety tire It is to solve a problem of an elongation of a partition in a safety tire wherein hollow particles called as a foamable composition are filled in a hollow ring-shaped partition and to propose a safety tire with a partition structure sufficiently developing a function of hollow particles. In a safety tire comprising a tire-approved rim assembly formed by assembling a tire onto an approved rim, a chamber defined inside the assembly through a hollow ring-shaped partition and extending along the rim in a circumferential direction, and thermally expandable hollow particles filled in the chamber, each of which particles consisting of a continuous phase of a resin and a closed cell(s), a hollow ring-shaped sub-partition is disposed on at least radially outside of an outer peripheral portion of the partition and a tire internal pressure is applied to an inside of the sub-partition.
US08127813B2	Pneumatic tire for two-wheeled vehicle The pneumatic tire for two-wheeled vehicles including a plurality of tread rubbers constituting a tread wherein a region occupying 15 to 35% in the center of a stretched tread width, which is obtained by stretching the tread with respect to a tire equatorial plane as the center, is defined as a tread central section; the remaining regions at both ends are defined as tread side sections; regions in the respective tread side sections each occupying 4 to 13% from the corresponding tread end toward the center of the stretched tread width are defined as side-section shoulder-end regions; and the remaining regions of the respective tread side sections are defined as side-section near-center regions, a modulus of the tread rubbers for the side-section shoulder-end regions at 100% elongation is smaller than a modulus of the tread rubbers for the side-section near-center regions at 100% elongation, at least at a tread surface.
US08127810B2	Internal wheel suspension and shock absorbing system An internal wheel suspension and shock absorbing system, including a hub with radially extending rods or blades, cooperating with sector braces, fixedly mounted by hubs to the interior of the rim for a wheel. The rods and blades secure onto a hub, that mounts onto the vehicle axle, for rotation. When a force is encountered, the forces are absorbed by the blades that extend either through or cooperate with the braces and biasing springs, which are adjustable, that bias against the outer radial edges of the blades or telescoping rods, and absorb the vector forces generated from any impact.
US08127804B2	Device and method for the dilution and preparation of antiblastic drugs A device and a method for the dilution and preparation of antiballistic drugs, the device comprises a drug preparation unit connected to a controlling device; the drug preparation unit comprises a first central tank, in which there is a solvent, typically a physiological and/or glucosate solution, a first positive-displacement pump, an emptying unit connected to a positioning and locking arrangement provided with a housing suitable for receiving various dimensions and formats of dimensions and formats of bottles of drug; the first positive-displacement pump transfers in a dosed manner the solvent from the central tank to the bottle, and in succession from the bottle to a further tank of semifinished drug; the diluted drug solution in the further tank is then transferred to a container of prepared drug in a determined quantity for infusion into a patient.
US08127803B2	Reinforcing bar binding machine A reinforcing bar binding machine is provided with: a guide tube for guiding a wire from a wire reel mounted on a binding machine body; a curl guide; a wire cutting mechanism disposed between the guide tube and the curl guide; a first guide pin that is disposed at an end portion of the guide tube or in a vicinity of the end portion of the guide tube, and guides an outer side surface which is an outer side of a wire curve; a second guide pin that is disposed at the end portion of the guide tube or in a vicinity of the end portion of the guide tube, and guides an inner side surface which is an inner side of the wire curve; and a third guide pin that is disposed inside of the curl guide and guides the outer side surface. The wire is brought into contact with the first guide pin, the second guide pin, and the third guide pin, when the wire is fed around a reinforcing bar.
US08127799B2	Aircraft fluid transport line repair kit and method of use thereof A repair kit for use in repairing hydraulic lines, such as are found on aircraft, is described along with a method of utilizing the repair kit to repair hydraulic lines in aircraft. The kit in its most basic form comprises one or more series of rigid hydraulic line tubing sections. Each series comprises a plurality of tubing sections bent to a variety of different angles. To repair a leaking or damaged line, the repair technician removed the damaged section. If the damaged section includes a bend therein, the technician selects a repair tubing section having a similar bend. The repair section is appropriately sized and secured into place to complete the repair.
US08127797B2	Construction-kit system A construction-kit system includes at least one primary-valve block (10), with at least two groups of connection lines (12, 14) interconnected at one point (16) via a connection line of one of the groups (12) to form a fluidic connection. At least two additional connection lines of the one group (12) are respectively connected to a corresponding connection line of the other group (14). At least three dummy components (18) are connected in the connection lines of the other group (14) for the insertion of predetermined valve components. At least two additional dummy components (20) are connected between a common connection line (14a) of the other group (14) and an additional respective corresponding connection line (14b) of the other group (14).
US08127794B2	Dispenser arrangement for fluidic dispensing control in microfluidic system A dispenser arrangement for fluidic dispensing control into a microfluidic component comprising an enclosed fluid holding area having a base portion and a top portion and a valve adapted to be movable between an open position and a closed position and positioned at least partially in the fluid holding area. The valve comprises an elongated hollow portion having a body and two ends adapted for fluid flow from the fluid holding area to the microfluidic component in the open position, a first opening on the body of the hollow portion positioned within the fluid holding area allowing fluid communication from the fluid holding area to the microfluidic component in the open position, a sealing portion connected to a first end of the hollow portion positioned within the fluid holding area adapted for sealing connection with the top portion of the fluid holding area in the closed position and a slant second opening at a second end of the hollow portion positioned outside of the fluid holding area. The slant second opening is adapted to pierce through a sealing layer covering the microfluidic component in the open position and to insert into a first substrate housing the microfluidic component in the closed position. A dispenser unit comprising a dispenser arrangement and an actuator, wherein the actuator is a piston is also disclosed.
US08127792B2	Pressure equalization system for a bi-directional orifice fitting A pipeline flow meter orifice fitting includes a first body, a flow bore through the first body, a chamber in the first body adjacent to the flow bore, an orifice plate supported in alignment with the flow bore by an orifice plate carrier, wherein the orifice plate carrier is exposed to the chamber and divides the flow bore into a first region to one side of the orifice plate and a second region to the other side of the orifice plate, a second body coupled to said first body, a first flow path fluidicly coupling the first region and the chamber through the second body, and a second flow path fluidicly coupling the second region and the chamber through the second body. In some embodiments, a three way valve is mounted on the first body, the three way valve selectably actuatable to open a first flow path between the first region and the chamber or a second flow path between the second region and the chamber.
US08127791B2	Solenoid operated fluid control valve Solenoid operated fluid control valve for controlling the pressure of a fluid in a fluid control system comprises a solenoid housing having therein a solenoid coil, an armature movable in response to electrical current applied to the solenoid coil, a valve member for controlling fluid flow to a fluid passage, an actuator pin disposed between the armature and the valve member for moving the valve member in response to armature movement, and one or more features including an armature damping member, tubular actuator pin support body, flow diverter, coil bobbin support sleeve, and/or internal particle gettering magnet to improve valve operation.
US08127790B2	Hydraulic valve with a filter and check valve band An hydraulic valve has a body with an exterior surface, a longitudinal bore, and first and second fluid ports in communication with the bore wherein the first fluid port opens through the exterior surface. A band is wrapped in first and second layers around the exterior surface which layers extend over the opening of the first fluid port. The first layer has a plurality of apertures there through and overlaying the opening to provide a filter. The second layer has a flap that flexes in response to pressure to open and close the plurality of apertures thereby acting as a check valve. An actuator slides a spool within the bore thereby selectively connecting and disconnecting the first and second fluid ports.
US08127787B2	Siphon breaker A siphon breaker includes a housing having a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The siphon breaker includes a stop valve adapted to transition from a closed position in which gas is substantially prevented from entering the gas inlet, and an open position in which gas is introduced into the gas inlet. The siphon breaker includes a control valve having a control valve gas inlet, a control valve gas outlet, and an electrically operated actuator. The control valve is adapted to transition from a closed position in which gas is substantially prevented from entering the control valve gas inlet, to an open position in which gas is through the control valve gas inlet.
US08127786B2	Proportional selector valve for selecting between two pressure sources A selector valve selects between the supply of a primary pressure supply and a secondary pressure supply to a downstream use. The selector valve moves between a first position at which it supplies fluid from a primary line to the use, and a second position at which it supplies fluid only from a secondary line to the use. The selector valves moves through an intermediate position at which fluid is supplied from both supplies to the use.
US08127777B2	Applicator for applying a substance Various embodiments of a device for applying a substance to eyelashes and/or eyebrows may include a receptacle containing the substance and an applicator including an applicator member. In some examples, the applicator member may include a twisted support extending along a longitudinal axis and bristles held by the support. The applicator member may define at least one first longitudinally-extending region having a succession of notches configured to be loaded with the substance and at least one second longitudinally-extending region configured to separate eyelashes and/or eyebrows. In some exemplary embodiments, the first region may include at least five notches.
US08127775B2	Hair extension A hair extension includes a weft having an upper edge and a lower edge, a plurality of hair strands that are attached to the weft and are suspended below the lower edge of the weft, and a plurality of elongated rods. Each rod includes a base that is attached to the weft, and an extended portion that extends from the base and is adapted to be inserted into a tube for holding hair strands. The weft has a predetermined width. The extended portion of the rod protrudes from the upper edge of the weft, and is bent toward the lower edge of the weft. The extended portion includes a free end that is spaced from the weft by a predetermined distance. The base is embedded within the weft.
US08127768B2	Apparatus for the treatment of feminine pelvic organ prolapse An apparatus for treating pelvic organ prolapse, comprising a main body adapted to provide pelvic organ support when inserted into a vagina; and, an applicator for inserting the main body into a vagina.
US08127764B2	Respiratory mask cushion and mask using same A seal and a mask using a seal that includes a first end portion adapted to be coupled to a seal support, a second end portion adapted for sealing engagement with a face of a user, and a sidewall extending between the first end portion and the second end portion. The first end portion, second end portion, sidewall, or any combination thereof is formed from an elastomeric material having an elongation of at least 1000%. The seal preferably formed from a unitary piece of elastomeric material.
US08127761B2	Device for detecting relative humidity in a respiratory circuit A device for detecting the relative humidity in a respiratory circuit is provided which includes a housing closed towards the outside by a transparent element, and towards the inside by a membrane permeable to the humidified gas passing through the equipment to which the device is applied and wherein the housing includes a humidity indicator element.
US08127760B2	Low-cost heliostatic mirror with protective inflation stabilizable surface element means Increased utilization of solar power is highly desirable as solar power is a readily available renewable resource with power potential far exceeding total global needs; and as solar power does not contribute to environmentally harmful pollutants associated with fossil fuel power, such as unburned hydrocarbons, NOx and carbon dioxide. The present invention is motivated by the fact that heliostats are the single biggest cost element for utility-scale central receiver solar thermal powerplants. This invention provides a low-cost heliostatic mirror with protective inflation stabilizable surface element means for providing adverse weather performance & survival, where the inflation stabilizable surface element means include inflation stabilizable near-spherical surface element means and may include inflation stabilizable near-cylindrical surface element means.
US08127758B2	Solar-thermal fluid heating for aerospace platforms An aerospace platform includes a structure having a cavity and a light-transmissive portion that exposes the cavity to sunlight. The aerospace platform further includes a fluid heating system. The fluid heating system includes a fluid-carrying, thermally absorptive structure within the cavity, and a solar collector for collecting light transmitted through the light-transmissive portion and focusing the collected light onto the absorptive structure. The thermally absorptive structure has a high surface absorptivity that retains thermal energy when exposed to solar irradiance and heats fluid contained therein.
US08127756B2	Method of grinding concrete block and apparatus for grinding concrete block The present method of grinding side ridge line portion and a side surface of concrete blocks having the flowing steps: providing a rotating shaft of the grinding machine to be rotationally supported by lower ends of two vertical bars facing each other in the direction in which a conveyor is advanced and suspended from a frame above the conveyor and positioning an axis of the rotating shaft to be laterally and above the conveyor, moving the concrete blocks to a position where it is ground by the conveyor and then positioning the concrete blocks to make side ridge line portions on the bottom surfaces thereof protrude from the conveyor, and grinding the side ridge line portions and/or side surfaces on the upper or the bottom surface of the concrete block by lowering the grinding machine suspended from above the concrete block, the side ridge line portions and/or the side surfaces of the concrete blocks are ground by abutting the grinding machine against the surface of concrete blocks, while at the same time rotating the rotating shaft by a rotating means.
US08127755B2	Air gun and magazine for air gun According to the present invention, by providing an extremely simple member such as a partition wall having a microscopic hole section, it is possible to reliably reduce the speed of a bullet to within a fixed speed, even a complicated decompression device such as a regulator is not provided. As a result, manufacturing time for the air gun is shortened, it is possible to lower manufacturing cost, and there is the effect of improving the manufacturing efficiency.This is because with an air gun or a magazine for an air gun of the present invention, by having a structure where the opening area of the microscopic hole section of the partition wall is smaller that the gas discharge path opening when the gas discharge path of the discharge valve is open, the gas volume per unit time that flows into the discharge valve chamber from the gas canister side by means of the microscopic holes section is smaller than the gas volume per unit time that flow out from the discharge valve chamber as a result of opening the gas discharge path of the discharge valve, which means that gas speed and gas pressure from the discharge valve chamber to the chamber where a bullet is positioned is lowered. The firing speed of a bullet is thus reduced.
US08127753B1	Toy projectile launcher A toy projectile launcher for launching a projectile from a housing having a trigger mounted to the housing which can be depressed to actuate a motor. A mechanical linkage operatively interconnects the motor with an actuator which generates a source of pressurized air upon movement of the actuator from its cocked to its un-cocked position to effect automatic repeated movement of the actuator to its cocked position and release from its cocked position. Repeated intermittent sources of pressurized air are generated for sequential launching of projectiles. Disclosed embodiments also include a toy projectile launcher having an air passageway through which compressed air is passable to a plurality of sequential projectile holders holding respective projectiles to be launched. The projectile holders are advanced into operative launching engagement with the air passageway sequentially by an advancing mechanism.
US08127750B2	Method of using lean fuel-air mixtures at all operating regimes of a spark ignition engine The present invention refers to a method of using lean fuel-air mixtures at all operating regimes of a spark ignition engine, which is provided with an intake port fuel injection system, wherein said method is characterized in that in order to achieve the efficient lean mixture combustion process, an HHO oxy-hydric gas direct injection should be at a minimum pressure of 10 bar, during compression stroke, after intake valve closing, so that the hydrogen/fuel mixture volumetric fractions value is within the range of about 15% to 25%.
US08127744B2	Cold start engine control diagnostic systems and methods An engine control module includes a spark control module, an engine speed module, a residual determination module, and a metric determination module. The spark control module actuates spark plugs based on a commanded spark timing. The engine speed module determines a desired engine speed based on an engine temperature and a period of time an engine is in operation after a cold start. The residual determination module determines a desired spark timing based on the desired engine speed, and determines a residual spark timing based on a difference between the commanded spark timing and the desired spark timing. The metric determination module detects a spark timing fault based on the residual spark timing and a predetermined spark timing range.
US08127743B2	Brake for a hedge clipper A work implement in the nature of a drive for a tool includes a starting and/or switching-off braking device for the tool. A brake button is provided which can be externally actuated by a user, with which a starting and/or switching-off brake can be released. A device is also provided which can change the rotational speed of the drive, the device having a throttle button capable of being actuated by the user from outside. The brake button and the throttle button are arranged on a handle so that they can be contacted simultaneously by the hand of a user, where the throttle button can be actuated when the starting and/or switching-off brake is applied.
US08127741B2	Ignition plugs for internal combustion engine An ignition plug for an internal combustion engine is provided, which includes a pre-combustion chamber cell (150) and at least three exhaust nozzles (160, 170). The pre-combustion chamber cell (150) is disposed to surround a pair of electrodes (140b) in the lower portion of a main cell (110) and is formed in the inner portion where the electrodes (140) are contained. Meanwhile, a circular main exhaust nozzle (160) through which a fluid goes in and out is disposed in the central region of the pre-combustion chamber cell (150). The ignition plug enables the whole engine to have a quick combustion speed. As a result, a more reliable improvement of a combustion performance can be obtained. Also, a fuel-to-air ratio can be enhanced, and an exhaust gas reduction effect can be obtained.
US08127739B2	Variable stroke engine A variable stroke engine has a crankshaft, a camshaft, and a rotational shaft, having an eccentric shaft, which are rotatably supported in a crankcase so as to have axes parallel to one another. A connecting rod is connected, at one end portion thereof, to a piston by a piston pin, and a control rod is connected, at one end portion thereof, to the eccentric shaft. The other end portion of the connecting rod and the other end portion of the control rod are linked to each other by a link member rotatably supported on the crankshaft. A rotative power of the crankshaft is transmitted to the camshaft and the rotational shaft, respectively. A timing driving wheel transmitting the rotative power to the camshaft side is mounted on the crankshaft, and a timing driven wheel driven by the timing driving wheel is mounted on the rotational shaft.
US08127736B2	Balancing assembly of an engine A balancing assembly of an engine may include a crankshaft in which crank pins each connected to a connecting rod, are disposed at both ends thereof, and that is equipped with a counterweight opposite to and corresponding to each crank pin, a balance shaft that is disposed at a distance from the crankshaft and that rotates by the crankshaft, and a balance weight that is eccentrically formed with a balance shaft and that absorbs vibration.
US08127734B2	Internal combustion engine having guillotine sliding valve An internal combustion engine employing a valve regulating the passage of a fluid between the hollow interior of the combustion chamber and the atmosphere. The valve includes a valve body having a valve opening and a blade track passing around the valve opening. A guillotine blade slides linearly along the blade track between an open position in which said fluid may pass through the valve opening and a closed position in which the fluid is restricted from passing through the valve opening. A reciprocating driver moves the guillotine blade along the blade track when actuated by an electronic control signal.
US08127730B2	Device for coupling valve activating levers of an internal combustion engine Device for coupling two valve activating levers of an internal combustion engine with at least one carrier body (1) mounted on the internal combustion engine, wherein at least one hollow shaft (2) in which oil of the internal combustion engine is stored is attached to the carrier body, and a coupling pin (9) is supported parallel to the hollow shaft (2) in each of the valve activating levers (4a, 4b) and is spring loaded on one side and loaded by pressurized fluid on the other side in such a way that the coupling pin (9) connects or releases the valve activating levers (4a, 4b), wherein control of the pressurized fluid that is taken advantageously from the oil circuit of the internal combustion engine is realized by at least one electromagnetically activated valve (14) and wherein the supply of pressurized fluid is realized by channels (13) that are provided in the carrier body (1) or carrier bodies of the internal combustion engine.
US08127725B2	Engine with hydraulic variable valve timing In one example, a method is described for an engine with a hydraulically actuated phaser for adjusting cam timing. The phaser is controlled by a hydraulic spool valve, for example, having a de-energized position that results in hydraulic force urging the phaser to a base timing. When it is desired to operate the cam timing at base timing, rather then leave the spool valve in a de-energized position that can generate leakage, the spool valve is adjusted to near a null position to reduce the hydraulic pressure drop across the cam journal and thus reduce oil leakage. In this way, it is possible to maintain base timing, while also reducing leakage.
US08127722B2	Cooling circuit for the thermal engine of an automotive vehicle A cooling circuit for the thermal engine of an automotive vehicle includes a main loop that includes a first exchanger for collecting the heat from a first heat source, a first radiator and a pump connected in series by ducts for the circulation of a cooling liquid, the temperature of the cooling liquid being kept under normal operation conditions at a temperature lower than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. The cooling circuit includes a first bypass of the main loop in parallel relative to said first radiator, the first bypass including sequentially, in the circulation direction of the cooling liquid, a second exchanger for collecting the heat from a second heat source and a second radiator connected in series by ducts for the circulation of the cooling liquid, the temperature of said cooling liquid at the outlet of said second exchanger being set, under normal operation conditions, at a temperature higher than or equal to the predetermined threshold value.
US08127719B2	Foldable pet crate A pet crate is provided having a blow molded polymeric base along with side, front and top panels made with strong, lightweight polymeric frame members and grates. The grates are used in the front, back and side panels to provide strength as well as a large open mesh area for better visibility and pet comfort. The mesh preferably is provided as hinged access panels at least on the sides. The front and top of the crate are also openable for access to the pet crate. The pet crate is collapsible to a folded, flat condition by unlatching the front panel and stowing it along the inside of the top panel and releasing latches between the top and back panels and the side panels. The side panels, back panel and top panel can then be collapsed inwardly onto one another to form a generally flat, stowed configuration for the pet crate.
US08127717B1	Waste deposit station A waste station which facilitates the deposit of urine by a male dog and structured for use primarily, but not exclusively, in an indoor or other environment where the deposit of waste is typically inappropriate. The station includes a base formed of a flexible, absorbent material. An elongated pole, dimensioned to accommodate the size of the dog intending to use the station, is disposed on the base inwardly of the surrounding periphery thereof and includes an absorbent material covering structure disposed in overlying or covering relation to the pole. The base may be removably secured to a supporting surface within the environment and the pole may comprise either a fixed/rigid structure or a collapsible structure and be connected or disposed in an extended, operative orientation extending outwardly from the base. When incorporating the collapsible structure, the pole may be disposed in a substantially collapsed, stored orientation to facilitate storage or transport thereof.
US08127715B2	Mobile pet bed/carrier The present invention relates to a mobile pet bed wherein the top and bottom units of the mobile pet bed are reversibly attached to each other. When the top unit is removed from the bottom unit the mobile pet bed functions similarly to a traditional pet bed. When the top unit is attached to the bottom unit the mobile pet bed functions as a pet carrier. Additionally, the top unit of the mobile pet bed has a door portion that can be opened and closed to permit pet ingress and egress as well as permitting easy loading of the mobile pet bed with the animal without necessitating the removal of the top unit from the bottom unit.
US08127710B2	Arrangement for the coating of workpieces An arrangement for coating a workpiece with a working surface comprises a movement rail and a lacquering robot. The movement rail is moveable relative to a stationary reference point parallel to the working surface. The lacquering robot is disposed on the movement rail and is moveable on the movement rail. A lacquering cabin for coating a workpiece comprises at least two chassis parallel to one another and a lacquering apparatus with an opening. The lacquering apparatus is supported on the two chassis and is moveable with the chassis. A method for coating a workpiece using a lacquering cabin comprises subdividing the workpiece into adjacent sections, moving the lacquering cabin to a position corresponding to a section, and coating the section.
US08127706B2	Deck configuration for ocean bottom seismometer launch platforms A configuration for the deck of a marine vessel, wherein parallel and perpendicular travel paths, for movement of individual OBS unit storage baskets, are formed along a deck utilizing, in part, the storage baskets themselves. A portion of the deck is divided into a grid defined by a series of low-to-the-deck perpendicular and parallel rails and each square in the grid is configured to hold an OBS unit storage basket. Around the perimeter of the grid is an external containment wall which has a greater height than the rails. Storage baskets seated within the grid are configured to selectively form internal containment walls. Opposing internal and external containment walls define travel paths along which a storage basket can be moved utilizing a low, overhead gantry. A basket need only be lifted a minimal height above the deck in order to be moved along a path. The containment walls and the deck itself constraining uncontrolled swinging of baskets, even in onerous weather or sea conditions. The system is flexible to meet the needs of a desired operation since the internal walls of the grid can be reconfigured as desired in order to free up a particular storage basket or define a particular travel path.

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