最新美国发明专利第2012-05-15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
US08177182B1	Wireless remote control device for a portable media device A wireless remote control device for a portable media device can include a touch-sensitive faceplate and a base section coupled to the faceplate such that the faceplate is rotatable relative to the base section. The base section can house electronic circuitry including a wireless transmitter that transmits signals to portable media device in response to a user touching the faceplate. Clamping feet can be attached to the base section, e.g., using hinges so that the wireless remote control device can be mountable on a vehicle steering wheel. The hinges can be movable in a lateral direction to vary the pitch between the clamping feet to accommodate various thicknesses of steering wheels. The clamping feet can be movable in an arcuate motion in order to clamp to or unclamp from the steering wheel.
US08177179B2	Locking sensor A locking sensor for locking into the recess of a housing with a sensor body, of locking elements, that are arranged on the sensor body and that extend in the direction of a lengthwise axis over a length. The locking elements have steps and at least two steps are spaced apart from each other in the direction of the lengthwise axis.
US08177172B2	Wire-type cable raceway, especially a cable raceway for home use A cable raceway of this kind consists of lengths of wire-type cable raceway comprising both essentially rectilinear lengthwise or weft wires (2) and polygonal-shaped transverse or warp wires (4), with an opening formed in a corner and an even number of sides. Each length comprises at least four lengthwise weft wires (2) supported by at least four separate sides (6, 8, 10, 12) of the transverse or warp wires. For each lengthwise weft wire (2) there is a lengthwise weft wire (2) on the opposite side. The two corresponding lengthwise or weft wires (2) are located opposite each other, that is to say they are both in the same plane and the plane is approximately parallel to one of the lengthwise faces of the cable raceway.
US08177169B2	Integrative structure for aircraft fairing Joining structure for aircraft fairing (7), said fairing (7) being arranged between the horizontal stabilizer and the vertical stabilizer or fuselage section (6) of the aircraft, the structure comprising fittings (2) in the shape of angle, the fittings in turn comprising a vertical surface and a horizontal surface, the fittings (2) being joined via their vertical surface to the fairing (7) with removable fixing parts (12), the structure also comprising a deformable resilient element (13) between the fairing (7) and the vertical surface of the fitting (2), such that the resilient element (13) is able to compensate for the necessary deformation play and the manufacturing and assembly tolerances of the fittings (2), the fairing (7), the horizontal stabilizer and the vertical stabilizer or fuselage section (6) with different torques for tightening of the above parts.
US08177167B2	Central section of aircraft with ventral or belly fairing capable of movement An aircraft center section includes a center part of an aircraft fuselage, a wing section, a center wing box installed at least partly in the fuselage and providing a junction between the wing section and the fuselage, and a ventral fairing partly enveloping the fuselage and the wing section, with the ventral fairing being attached directly to the wing section and to the fuselage by means of structural elements that can make the ventral fairing a working fairing.
US08177165B2	Aircraft seat An aircraft seat in a cubicle able to provide privacy via a hidden, sliding/pocket door drawn to a seat-side end of a divider between adjacent seats from within a facing panel of the next divider in the line of seats. The divider provides a recessed backing for the seat; whilst a return recess provides foot rest space opposite the seat. The dividers are generally S-shaped in one form. The seat in one form is a double seat, in that it comprises a convertible seat and a fixed seat immediately next to each other. The fixed seat provides an alternative seating position when the convertible seat is in bed configuration and a seat for a friend when the convertible seat is in seat configuration. In one form not only the convertible seat, but also the fixed seat have seat belts, the latter seat's belts being provided in case of turbulence during use. The convertible seat has a seat squab, a backrest and a leg rest both pivotally connected to the seat squab that are reclinable via a reclining mechanism.
US08177163B2	Aircraft video control station with stowable seat The disclosure provides for an aircraft video control station. In an embodiment, the aircraft video control station comprises a wall mounted control panel, a desktop, a seat that is stowed when not in use, and a cabinet that contains the wall mounted control panel, the desktop, and the seat. The cabinet may have a depth in the range of about 10 inches to about 37 inches, and preferably has a depth of 15 inches. The seat may be in the form of a swing out seat.
US08177162B2	Wingtip and sponson interaction on an amphibious aircraft A system for enhanced lateral stability of an amphibious aircraft includes a buoyancy system laterally displaced from opposite sides of the fuselage of the aircraft and wingtip system having a hydrodynamic planing surface associated with each wingtip. The hydrodynamic planing surface on each wingtip prevents the submersion of an associated buoyancy structure. By supplementing the lateral stability of the buoyancy structures using hydrodynamic planing surfaces, the combined lateral width of the fuselage and buoyancy structures can be reduced without detrimentally impacting operational performance. This reduced lateral width enables the amphibious aircraft to be configured for storage and transportation on a trailer or shipping container.
US08177159B2	Emergency and rescue aircraft A rescue aircraft having a rigid body with gas-filled envelopes and propulsion devices located inside rotatable aerodynamic toroidal modules. A longitudinal through passage in the lower part of the aircraft connects a crew cabin, a cargo-and-passenger compartment, fuel tanks, and accessories. The aircraft has exit hatches, mooring devices, and a gangway with railings and a removable cart. The aircraft also has a cross passage with exits onto its wings and a vertical passage with a pulley and other devices for lowering and lifting people and cargo. The lower part of the aircraft and hollow wings are filled with a foamed plastic for buoyancy and strength.
US08177157B2	Castellated reel core A spool or reel for retaining continuously wound material may include a central barrel and spaced apart flange members extending from the central barrel. The central barrel has an outer face for receiving the continuously wound wire, wherein both ends of the barrel are castellated. The inner face of a first and second flange include an interrupted groove comprised of a series of slots that are sized to receive the castellated first end of the barrel and the flanges are secured to the barrel by a plurality of through-bolts extending from the first flange to the second flange, securing the first flange to the first end of the barrel and the second flange to the second end of the barrel. The castellated ends of the barrel and the portions of the interrupted groove between the slots form a criss-crossed pattern that prevents the wire from entering the slots or entering the barrel and tangling during payoff of the wire, even when the spool is heated.
US08177156B1	Sheet roll dispenser A sheet roll dispenser includes an open-top hollow housing closed by a hingedly mounted lid. A first embodiment includes first and second roller support members mounted within the housing. A roll of sheet material is supported by the first roller support member when the housing is in a tabletop orientation and by the second roller support member when in a wall-mounted orientation. A nip is mounted in registration with an opening formed in the front wall. A free end of the sheet material is disposed in the nip. A switch actuator actuates a motor, causing the free end of the sheet material to be unrolled from the core and dispensed to a user through the opening. In a second embodiment, the roller support members may be rotatably mounted rollers, low-friction surfaces, or both. A third embodiment eliminates the rollers and plates and provides a “U”-shaped low friction surface.
US08177155B2	Apparatus and method for compressing and winding overlapped fibrous blankets In the description and drawings methods and apparatus for the compression and winding of a plurality of overlapped fibrous blankets are disclosed. The methods and apparatus may allow a leading edge of a trailing blanket to be overlapped with a trailing edge of a leading blanket that is being wound by a compressing winder assembly. As the compressing winder assembly winds the leading blanket, the trailing blanket may be moved downstream by the leading blanket and an overlapped portion of the two blankets may move through a compression zone of a winder feed chute.
US08177154B1	Multi-purpose yarn creel adapter A multi-package yarn creel adapter mounts on a creel adjacent a textile machine. The yarn creel adapter includes a base designed for being carried by the creel. A plurality of radial spacers are attached to the base. A plurality of elongated package supports extend outwardly from respective radial spacers, and are adapted for carrying respective yarn packages to supply at least one end of yarn to the textile machine.
US08177153B2	Side rail for a shredder with embedded fingers A side rail for installation in a shredder and method of fabrication in which the side rail has fingers that are partially embedded in a base. The fingers are made from steel and the base is made from cast aluminum. The fingers have a dovetail shape at an outer end thereof that is immersed in molten aluminum in a mold. When the aluminum is allowed to harden the fingers are embedded in the base. The side rails are much lighter weight than previous side rails, and are still sufficiently strong to be used in a mobile shredder.
US08177148B1	Irrigation sprinkler with adjustable nozzle trajectory One embodiment provides an asymmetrical nozzle housing within a nozzle base of a sprinkler which, when rotated, changes its angular orientation relative to the nozzle base. Since the nozzle is disposed within the nozzle housing, it similarly changes angular orientation relative to the nozzle base, thereby modifying the trajectory of ejected water during irrigation. In this respect, a user can change the trajectory of a watering stream by simply rotating the nozzle housing.
US08177142B2	Method and apparatus for an improved aerosol generator and associated uses and equipment The invention is an apparatus and methods for optimizing the performance and protecting one or more aerosol generating transducers from deterioration while operating in a chemically reactive aqueous solution by utilizing one or more protective barrier techniques to eliminate chemical interaction between the aqueous solution and the transducers, among other features of the generator including these transducers. The method of the present invention produces an aerosol producing transducer with the transducer housing and assembly to be constructed in such a way as to assure its efficient and effective long-term and problem free operation in an aqueous solution that is chemically reactive.
US08177140B1	Method and apparatus for driving, shaping, and carrying fluids An apparatus and method for providing an atomizing, shaping and driving fluid that can be used primarily in the painting industry. The apparatus includes a first heating and cooling unit for heating or cooling the paint carrying fluid, a series of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and argon units for adjusting the concentration of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and argon in said fluid, a manifold for mixing and controlling the flow rate of said fluid, a second heating and cooling unit for heating or cooling the fluid exiting said manifold, and an ionization unit for adjusting ionization of the fluid exiting the second heating and cooling unit.
US08177132B1	RFID tracking for currency transfers and transportation Methods and devices provide for a cash handling device to dispense funds for a transfer into a container. RFID indicia may be generated as a receipt and imprinted directly on the container. Alternatively, RFID indicia may be printed and affixed to the container in the form of a tag, ticket, label, sticker, etc. Transportation carriers may use an RFID reader to read the receipt one or more times at one or more locations in order to collect data for data tracking purposes. Notifications may be provided to a bank regarding the transfer. A bank may alter staffing needs based on any such notification. The bank may use an RFID reader to read data from the receipt and compare to verified data in order to identify any discrepancies for the transfer.
US08177127B2	Systems, methods and computer program products for wirelessly preprocessing a transaction while in a queue for a point-of-transaction A transaction is preprocessed wirelessly in response to a wireless transaction preprocessing user device being in a queue for a point-of-transaction. The transaction that was preprocessed is then completed in response to the wireless transaction preprocessing user device reaching the point-of-transaction. Financial transactions and/or purchase of goods and/or services may thereby be preprocessed wirelessly and then completed at a point-of-transaction. Related devices and computer program products are also disclosed.
US08177123B2	Systems and methods for freezing, storing and thawing biopharmaceutical materials A system for use in storing biopharmaceutical materials includes a holder and a container for holding biopharmaceutical materials therein. The container includes a storage portion and a sampling portion connected to each other by a connecting portion. The holder has a storage cavity receiving the storage portion and a sampling cavity receiving the sampling portion. The holder includes a first portion and second portion. The container is received between the first portion and the second portion to connect the container to the holder. The holder includes an interior storage cradle bounding the storage cavity of the holder. The holder includes an interior sampling cradle bounding the sampling cavity. The sampling cradle is separated from the storage cradle and connected to the storage cradle by a passage receiving the connecting portion connecting the storage portion to the sampling portion. An outer rim of the holder is connected to the cradle and separated from the cavity.
US08177122B2	Providing diagnostic information on the processing of variables in source code Provided are a system and article of manufacture for providing diagnostic information on the processing of variables in source code. Source code is scanned for an instance of a variable. An entry is added to a symbol table for the variable and indication is made in the entry that the variable is declared in response to determining that the symbol table does not include an entry for the variable and that the instance of the variable comprises a declaration of the variable. A message is generated indicating that the variable is referenced and undeclared in response to determining that the instance of the variable comprises a reference of the variable and that the symbol table does not include one entry for the variable.
US08177121B2	Automated aggregation and comparison of business spending relative to similar businesses A system and method compares aggregated spending transactions of a target entity with those of a collection of entities. The system and method aggregates spending transactions of the target entity, and compares with the corresponding aggregated spending transactions of the collection of entities.
US08177118B2	Demountable packing box A demountable packing box of the present invention comprises a main body, an upper cover located at the upper portion of the main body, a lower cover located at the lower portion of the main body, and a plurality of connecting bands respectively connected to the upper cover and the lower cover. The main body is a flat plate with two connecting portions at opposite sides thereof after disassembled. A pair of fixing parts matable with each other is respectively disposed at the two connecting portions of the main body. The upper cover is a flat plate with a predetermined shape. A plurality of upper tabs respectively extends outwards from the periphery of the upper over. The lower cover is a flat plate with a shape corresponding to the upper cover. A plurality of lower tabs extends outwards from the periphery of the lower cover. The upper portion of the main body is provided with a plurality of upper positioning parts corresponding to the upper tabs of the upper cover. The lower portion of the main body is provided with a plurality of lower positioning parts corresponding to the lower tabs of the lower cover.
US08177116B2	Method of bonding titanium to stainless steel A method of bonding a stainless steel part to a titanium part by heating a component assembly comprised of the titanium part, the stainless steel part, and a laminated titanium-nickel filler material placed between the two parts and heated at a temperature that is less than the melting point of either the stainless steel part or the titanium part. The component assembly is held in intimate contact at temperature in a non-reactive atmosphere for a sufficient time to develop a hermetic and strong bond between the stainless steel part and the titanium part. The bonded component assembly is optionally treated with acid to remove any residual free nickel and nickel salts, to assure a biocompatible component assembly, if implanted in living tissue.
US08177110B1	Truck utility box A utility box structure for pick-up trucks and the like, wherein a guide rail of the structure is adapted for mounting on the top rim of the sides and front of the cargo body of the vehicle within the cargo bay thereof, wherein the box is affixed to rail follower means mounted within the guide rail structure whereby the box can be moved by hand along the guide rail structure to easily position the box at the front or at either side of the cargo bay or at any location therebetween.
US08177107B2	Belt clip attachment apparatus and method for mobile phone or the like A retractable belt clip button is slidably engaged in a recess in the rear face of the housing of a mobile phone or other portable electronic device for movement between an extended position projecting out of the rear face of the housing and a retracted position in which an outer face of the button is substantially flush with the rear face of the housing. A spring biases the button into the extended position. A push button latching mechanism is provided for releasably holding the button in the retracted position when it is pushed into the recess, and the latching mechanism is released when a user pushes the button inwardly from the latched position, allowing the button to pop out into the extended position under the action of the biasing spring.
US08177093B1	Method and apparatus for supporting faceplates A paint tray and/or paint tray insert and method of manufacturing same.
US08177089B1	Reusable tamper indicating transport tube A reusable tamper indicating transport tube that can be used to securely transport large drawings and other documentation without damaging or distorting them. The tamper-evident tube comprises an outer tube, an inner tube, an outer cap, an inner tube cap, an inner tube locking mechanism, and an outer tube locking mechanism that is affixed to the peripheral surface of the outer cap.
US08177088B1	Adjustable sealing device for storage containers An adjustable sealing device for a storage container is disclosed that has a compressible sealing ball to provide a seal with the inner surface of containers having a variety of sizes and shapes. The device's valve ball for its vent is normally biased closed by a tensioner, and is selectively opened by a flexible lead. The lead passes through a container lid and compression washer(s) located between the sealing ball and lid. To insert the sealing ball into the container the lead is tensioned, to orient the longitudinal axis of the washer(s) perpendicular to the lid and sealing ball, so that pressure on the lid will be transmitted to the sealing ball through the compression washer(s). Releasing the lead's tension enables the lid to be placed on the container, and the lead and compression washers to be compactly draped over the sealing ball inside of the container.
US08177085B2	Tooth protector A tooth protector device is disclosed for attachment to the top of a glass bottle to provide protection against injury, including chipping of teeth that can occur during drinking from a glass bottle. One embodiment comprises a monolithic structure for insertion into the mouth of a glass bottle and comprises inner, outer and top portions. The inner portion and the outer portion are substantially concentric structures defining an annulus for engaging the mouth of the bottle, and the top portion joins the inner and outer portions and protects the consumer from the top edge of the bottle. The length of the outer portion is selected such that the bottom part of the consumer's mouth is protected from the bottle. When installed, a tooth protector according to the present invention cushions the teeth and mouth from any blunt force or impulse that can occur when a bottle is hit or blocked.
US08177081B2	Lattice mast crane and lattice mast boom This invention relates to a lattice mast crane with a lattice mast boom to be luffed up in a vertical luffing plane, which comprises a pivot piece, a plurality of lattice pieces releasably connectable with each other, and a head piece. In accordance with the invention, the lattice mast boom includes a first and a second region, wherein in the first region the lattice mast boom includes at least two first strands of interconnected first lattice pieces extending in parallel in longitudinal direction of the boom, which are connected with the pivot piece via a lower cross-beam and with the head piece via an upper cross-beam, and wherein in the second region the lattice mast boom only consists of a second strand of interconnected second lattice pieces.
US08177071B2	Injector for flotation cell An injector for a flotation cell, comprising a feed channel for feeding a fiber suspension flow to the flotation cell, a flow distribution element for distributing the fiber suspension flow fed to the injector into partial flows, a mixing apparatus for mixing air with the fiber suspension flow, and at least one air input point for sucking air to be mixed with the fiber suspension flow into the injector. The feed channel, the flow distribution element and the mixing apparatus are in the injector arranged with respect to one another such that a flow direction of the fiber suspension flow in the feed channel is substantially opposite to a flow direction of the fiber suspension flow through the flow distribution element and the mixing apparatus.
US08177067B2	Suspension packaging system A suspension packaging system can include a foldable member configured to form a cavity as well as a suspension device for suspending an article to be packaged within the cavity. The suspension portion can include foldable portions configured to cooperate with a retention member having pockets. The foldable portions can fit into the pockets and then be folded so as to generate tension in the retention member. The entire device, with the exception of the retention member, can be made from a single piece of material, such as corrugated cardboard, which thus reduces waste and simplifies bulk distribution of such a suspension packaging system.
US08177066B2	Printed packaging High visual impact plastic packaging is described as well as methods for producing such packaging. Sealing portions of a package to each other in an interwoven manner is described. Printing on multiple surfaces of a package to obtain appealing visual effects is described. Methods of sealing plastic packages are described, including some that use heat sealing techniques. Plasticized or laminated paperboard materials can be used, as well as plastic materials such as mineral-based materials, polylactic acid, and recycled and/or recyclable polyurethane.
US08177063B1	Hypodermic needle holder A combination needle holder and suture needle and suture thread device has a variety of features that make it an optimal device for safe storage and disposal of hypodermic needles and disposal of sutures. The needle holder of the present invention includes at least one hypodermic needle retainer for engaging and keeping a hypodermic needle in a variety of settings. A flange with adhesive assist helps position the holder in a wide variety of instances of different structures being available to the practitioner.
US08177062B1	Protective case for retractable magnifier or digital media A protective case for a retractable item, such as a magnifier or digital media. The case is a hollow shell bisected from end to end to form two halves. At each end of each half there is a pivotal hinge. The hinges at one end join the halves mutually. The hinges at the other end support two arms separately. The two arms at their ends support the item mutually via a pivotal hinge. The case halves may be affected to remain apart by a spring and to remain joined by a releasable hook. To use the item, the halves are parted, the arms extend the item, and the halves are re-joined. To protect the item, the halves are parted, the arms retract the item, and the halves are re-joined.
US08177061B2	Ski cover for a snowmobile ski A cover for the ski of a snowmobile mountable to the ski portion thereby protecting the ski portion from damage due to exposure to the elements, especially damage from the sun during off-season storage.
US08177057B1	Coin display methods and apparatus A set of coins is arranged relative to a display having discrete regions associated with discrete coins within the set. In a preferred embodiment, the display is a map, and an opening is provided within the borders of or proximate to each state on the map in order to receive a respective coin.
US08177055B2	Conveyor with at least one conveyor support apparatus A conveyor includes at least one conveyor support apparatus. Each conveyor support apparatus includes one or more bases and a plurality of supports adjacent to the at least one base. The supports are comprised of concrete. The supports extend vertically from the base. One or more idlers are connected to the supports for supporting a moveable belt. The moveable belt is supported by the one or more idlers for movement such that the moveable belt is able to move material. A method of providing conveyors and concrete support apparatuses that may be used in such conveyors are also disclosed herein.
US08177054B2	Method of conveying material A method for conveying material wherein a conveyor belt is guided over head drums so as to form a forward travelling and returning stretch. The conveyor belt is guided in such a way that the forward travelling and returning stretches intersect each other as seen in the horizontal projection, i.e., as seen in the direction of the drum axes, and the conveyor belt travels over both head drums from the top toward the bottom.
US08177052B2	Belt edge sensor and actuator for controlling tracking of such belt A sensor and controller for a belt moving about a path, the sensor and controller including an analog sensor including a medium that changes a characteristic to give a signal that varies continuously with any lateral belt edge position, thus yielding improved resolution of actual belt edge position, and a control mechanism responsive to the changes in characteristics of the medium for more accurate edge position control.
US08177051B2	Monitoring of conveyor belts A system for monitoring the condition of a conveyor belt having magnetically permeable cords, has a magnetic field generator, a magnetic field sensing unit, and a processor for performing a discrete wavelet transform. The wavelet may be a Morlet waveform. The sensing unit can include an array of spaced magnetic field sensors, and the transform can be performed on signals supplied by the sensors.
US08177050B2	Cooling method of carrying section and carrier In a cooling method of a carrying section including a conveyor for carrying an inverter component, a heating furnace covering a part of the carrying conveyor and heating the inverter component, and a mechanism for cooling the carrying conveyor and cooling the carrying conveyor by means of the cooling mechanism, the conveyor for carrying the inverter component is provided with a roller for carrying the inverter component by touching it, a roller cooling member surrounding the outer periphery of the carrying roller and having an opening for projecting a part of the outer periphery of the carrying roller is provided as the cooling mechanism, and the carrying roller heated by the heat of the heating furnace is cooled by the roller cooling member.
US08177049B2	Chain and flight conveyor A chain driven by two sprockets spaced a short distance apart along their common axial centerline. The chain includes elongated pins that extend beyond the outer surfaces of the chain link plates, on both sides, by a distance about equal to the width of the spaced apart sprockets. The chain is aligned midway between the sprockets, and the sprocket teeth drive on the extended portion of the chain pins. Where a flight is attached to the chain links, the pins are extended still further, to fit into the indentations or holes in the flights. This provides an exposed length of each pin in alignment with the sprocket on each side for driving purposes. The chain has a piece extending between the plates to reduce the likelihood of a pin extending further outside of one side plate or the other. A shoulder on the pin further reduces the likelihood of this happening.
US08177046B2	Method and apparatus for validating bank notes A banknote validator takes both reflection and transmission optical measurements at different wavelengths. An emitter and sensor on one side of the banknote path are used to make a calibration measurement using light reflected from a window on the other side of the path, overlying another optical device. Each measurement is normalized on the basis of multiple measurements of different wavelengths, distributed over a substantial area, such as along the relevant scan line, preferably using a value representing the dispersion of the measurements.
US08177045B2	Hydraulic system with a regulating circuit for controlling a motor vehicle transmission with automated actuation of clutches A hydraulic system for controlling a motor vehicle transmission having automated actuation of clutches. The hydraulic system includes a first valve connected downstream from a hydraulic energy source for producing a system pressure to control and/or regulate a clutch pressure. A second valve is connected downstream from the first valve and ahead of two clutches of the motor vehicle transmission to control and/or regulate the clutch pressure, wherein the second valve includes a regulating circuit to regulate the clutch pressure.
US08177044B2	Automotive impact absorbing member An automotive impact absorbing member integrally formed of synthetic resin material having lengthwise shape that extends with a constant hollow cross section. The impact absorbing member includes: plate-shaped rib portions each extending in a direction perpendicular to an impact load input direction; and load transmitting portions connecting with rib portions at either widthwise end thereof for transmitting a widthwise direction component force of the impact load to the rib portions. At least one of the plate-shaped rib portions has a thin portion of minimum thickness dimension situated in a widthwise center section thereof, and has a pair of gradual change portions situated to either side of the thin portion in a width direction and which increase gradually in thickness dimension outwardly in the width direction.
US08177043B2	Steering damping method for vehicle and steering damping device for vehicle A steering damper can generate a smaller damping force according to a first damping force characteristic or a larger damping force according to a second damping force characteristic by controlling a flow of hydraulic oil during a steering operation of a steering member. When the associated vehicle is running at a relatively low or medium speed and is not accelerating, and if an operational speed of the steering damper is lower than a predetermined value, damping force according to the first damping force characteristic can be generated in the steering damper. On the other hand, when the operational speed of the steering damper is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, damping force according to the second damping force characteristic can be generated in the steering damper. While the vehicle is running at a high speed or is accelerating, the damping force according to the second damping force characteristic can be generated in the steering damper regardless of the operational speed of the steering damper.
US08177037B2	Brake system A brake system of the present invention is a dual braking system, which includes an ECU that controls parts for braking when a brake pedal is operated, a main brake that is controlled by ECU by locking a wheel disc for braking in normal braking, and a sub-brake that is mounted on the wheel disc and achieves sub-braking function to achieve emergency braking for safety by locking the wheel disc by control of ECU that has detects failure of main brake. Therefore, it is possible to improve safety by achieving emergency braking while achieving F-S (Fail-Safe), when the motor of main brake fails. Further, it is possible to also achieve stable FR (Failure Rate) in an EWB or an EMB that is practically applied to a vehicle, as in a hydraulic brake system, and to expedite common use of brake systems where a BBW (Brake By Wire) technology, such as EMB and EWB, is applied.
US08177036B2	Communication of elevator reassignment information in a group elevator system Elevator reassignment information is communicated to passengers in a group elevator system (10). The group elevator system (10) includes a group of elevators (14a, 14b, 14c) that is operable to transport each of the passengers to one of a plurality of floors (L, F2, F3, F4, F5). A destination entry input device (30, 35) at each floor permits each passenger to enter destination input information. A dispatch controller (20) assigns an elevator to each passenger based on the destination input information. When service of a dispatched elevator is terminated, a communication device (46, 50) communicates elevator reassignment instructions to passengers assigned to or located in the dispatched elevator.
US08177035B2	Elevator system which controls a value of overspeed An elevator system in which a controller monitors whether or not a speed of an ascending/descending body reaches a preset overspeed. At a time of maintenance work, a stopper is interposed between a buffer and the ascending/descending body to limit a lowered position of the ascending/descending body. A stopper detector detects installation of the stopper onto at least one of the buffer and the ascending/descending body. When the stopper is detected by the stopper detector, the controller lowers a set value of the overspeed.
US08177034B2	Elevator system which controls a value of overspeed An elevator system in which a controller monitors whether or not a speed of an ascending/descending body reaches a preset overspeed. At a time of maintenance work, a stopper is interposed between a buffer and the ascending/descending body to limit a lowered position of the ascending/descending body. A stopper detector detects installation of the stopper onto at least one of the buffer and the ascending/descending body. When the stopper is detected by the stopper detector, the controller lowers a set value of the overspeed.
US08177031B2	Commissioning of elevator hallway fixtures in a destination entry group elevator system A destination entry input device (30, 35) is commissioned in a group elevator system (10). The destination entry input device (30, 35) is connected to a dispatch controller (20). A network address is input into the destination entry input device (30, 35) corresponding to an installation location of the destination entry input device (30, 35). When the network address is input, installation location information related to the installation location of the destination entry input device is downloaded to the destination entry input device (30, 35) and verified.
US08177029B1	Tool and supply bag for use with a stepladder The tool and supply bag includes a frame that can rest atop a stepladder, and further includes a tool and supply bag that attaches about the exterior of said frame. A removable box or cooler accompanies the tool and supply bag and provides further storage when carrying the device to and from a stepladder via a shoulder strap. The tool and supply bag still provides access to the paint holder accessory of a ladder. At least one optional holster is included on the tool and supply bag as a means of supporting a tape measure, cordless drill, or like-handled tool.
US08177028B2	Ladderway system for underground raises A ladderway system for an underground raise includes an elongate tube adapted to generally conform to the shape of the raise. The tube is of circular cross-section to generally conform to the shape of a round bored raise. The tube is formed with a longitudinal slit along its entire length, whereby the diameter of the tube can be adjusted to generally conform to the shape of the raise. The ladderway system further includes a ladder adapted to be mechanically coupled to an interior of the tube. The tube is manufactured of a sufficiently rigid and strong plastics material, such as polyurethane, so that it acts as a surface membrane or liner within the raise.
US08177027B2	Safety measure for a pitched roof Safety measure for accessing a pitched roof. A belt provided with loops for anchoring a person who accesses the roof is proposed. This belt is permanently installed on the roof slab and under the horizontal battens that support the roof elements, such as tiles. After removing one or more tiles, the belt, and more particularly the loops thereof, is exposed and a safety measure can be provided.
US08177026B2	Tree stand safety belt and method A Tree Stand Safety Belt device prevents a person (wearer/user) from falling out of a tree stand used for viewing or hunting wildlife. When properly positioned and securely attached, the device of this invention maintains substantially continuous contact of the wearer's back to a tree trunk. This contact not only provides a physical barrier to moving; that sense of contact also protects its wearer/user from experiencing height disorientation and possibly losing their balance. The device is designed for its wearer to use in either a sitting or standing position.
US08177024B2	Accoustic attenuation device for an intake line of a combustion engine and intake line incorporating same The present invention relates to an acoustic attenuation device for an intake line of an internal combustion engine and to an intake line such as this incorporating same. An acoustic attenuation device according to the invention is intended to have a flow of pressurized gaseous fluid passing through it and comprises: a conduit structure which has a tubular wall ending in two ends, these respectively being the fluid inlet and fluid outlet ends, which are able to be incorporated into the intake line, and at least one resonance chamber which is arranged on the outside of this structure and which communicates therewith via at least one opening formed in said wall, the or each chamber being axially delimited by two transverse partitions. According to the invention, the or each chamber further comprises at least one gravity discharge orifice for discharging condensate which is formed in said wall in the vicinity of one of the transverse partitions, the or each chamber being delimited by two longitudinal walls which are joined together by these transverse partitions thereby forming a housing which is closed by a cover formed as one piece with this housing.
US08177006B2	Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle A vehicle propulsion system and a method of its operation are described. As one example, the vehicle propulsion system includes a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. The method may include starting the engine responsive to different criteria, including criteria related to potential degradation effects that may occur due to excessive durations of engine off vehicle operation.
US08177005B2	Vehicle, driving device and control method thereof When a gear of a transmission for transmitting torque of a motor to a drive shaft is shifted while an accelerator is off or an accelerator pedal is slightly stepped on, an upper limit rotation speed is set using a fluctuation rate of a value smaller than a value when the gear is not shifted, a target rotation speed of an engine is set using this upper limit rotation speed, and control is carried out so that an engine is operated at the target rotation speed. By this arrangement, when the accelerator pedal is stepped on and a large torque demand is demanded, rise of the engine rotation speed is restricted, a portion used for raising the rotation speed in power outputted from the engine is made smaller, and a larger power can be outputted to the drive shaft.
US08177004B2	Control system for drive unit of hybrid vehicle A control system for a drive unit of a hybrid vehicle, which is capable of preventing an uncomfortable feeling, when a vehicle is driven by a power of an electric motor. The control system includes an electric motor, another power unit other than the electric motor, and a transmission, including a speed change inhibiting mechanism for inhibiting a speed change operation of the transmission in case the vehicle is run by a power of the electric motor.
US08177003B2	Fuel cell electric vehicle A fuel cell electric vehicle includes a driving motor for driving a pair of wheels, a fuel cell for generating electricity used in the driving motor with the fuel cell being disposed above the driving motor, and supply/discharge manifolds. The supply/discharge manifolds are for transporting the fuel gas, the oxidizing gas and the coolant to or from the fuel cell from lateral end portions of a lower part of the fuel cell so that the fuel gas, the oxidizing gas and the coolant supplied to and discharged from the fuel cell flow in a substantially vertical direction with respect to a vehicle without the fuel gas, the oxidizing gas and the coolant passing through a center portion between the lower part of the fuel cell and an upper part of the driving motor.
US08176998B2	Method and device for core drilling A method in core drilling, wherein a tubular drill bit (8) being arranged at the end of a tubular drill string (6) is driven under rotation against a material intended for drilling, and wherein for the purpose of core retrieving, a tool (17, 20) is brought inside the drill string to an operative position in the area of the drill bit. Acoustic vibrations (24, 25) from the drill string are sensed when the tool is brought to its operative position, sensed acoustic vibrations are analysed for detecting the occurrence of acoustic vibrations characteristic for when the tool has reached its operative position, and an output signal is emitted when the occurrence of vibrations characteristic of when the tool has reached its operative position has been detected. The invention also concerns a device and a drill rig.
US08176989B1	Wheeled support for using a trimmer as a hand-held lawn edger A wheeled support adapts a trimmer to function as a lawn edger. Because there are various trimmers to which the wheel may be mounted, an adapter plate is provided that is configured to match a selected trimmer on which adapter plate the wheel may be mounted. A bearing is provided between the adapter plate and the wheel so the wheel rotates freely on a drive shaft of a trimmer powered drive independent of rotation of the drive shaft. A mounting plate mountable to the wheel is typically provided for convenience of mounting the bearing and adapter plate to the wheel with the bearing fitting within the adapter plate and over the mounting plate. A trimmer cutter, which may be either a flexible line dispenser or a blade, typically is mounted to the drive shaft outside the wheel after the drive shaft passes through the adapter plate, bearing, mounting plate and wheel, although the cutter may mount inside the wheel.
US08176987B2	Self-aligning cover spring for a concealed sprinkler A spring may include an annular plate having a central aperture; a plurality of spring members protruding from the annular plate, the plurality of spring members being resiliently flexible and radially disposed around the central aperture; and a plurality of alignment tabs protruding from the annular plate.
US08176985B2	Well drilling and production using a surface blowout preventer Production and drilling may be achieved by a system which uses a rotating head coupled to surface blowout preventer stack for fluid flow control. A casing connects these surface components to a subsea shutoff assembly with a pair of ram shear devices to cut off the string to the wellhead. Both the casing and an alternate line may be latched so that they may be released if necessary. The rotating head may include a rubber packer to prevent upward flow of drilling fluid and production hydrocarbons and, at the same time, provide rotation to the drill string. Managed pressure drilling or under balanced drilling may be used in some embodiments.
US08176984B2	Systems and methods for downhole sequestration of carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is sequestered in a formation using dual or multiple completion and injection methods that reduce or eliminates upward leak rates of the sequestered carbon dioxide. The dual or multiple completion and injection method involves the injection of a benign fluid such as brine (water) into a permeable layer of the formation located above the sequestration layer and which is separated form the sequestration layer by a nearly impermeable layer. The water is injected at the same time the carbon dioxide is injected.
US08176982B2	Method of controlling a recovery and upgrading operation in a reservoir A method and system of generating a range of petroleum products from bitumen or heavy oil reservoir by installing wells from a combination of surface and underground well-head platforms while controlling carbon dioxide emissions during thermal recovery operations are provided.
US08176981B2	Fluorinated surfactants and methods of using the same A composition comprising a nonionic fluorinated polymeric surfactant having a weight average molecular weight of least 100,000 grams per mole, the nonionic fluorinated polymeric surfactant comprising: divalent units independently represented by formula (I): in a range from 30% to 65% by weight, based on the total weight of the nonionic fluorinated polymeric surfactant; and divalent units independently represented by formula (II): in a range from 70% to 35% by weight, based on the total weight of the nonionic fluorinated polymeric surfactant. Rf is a perfluoroalkyl group having from 3 to 4 carbon atoms; R and R2 are each independently hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R1 is alkyl of 16 to 24 carbon atoms; and n is an integer from 2 to 11. Foams comprising the nonionic fluorinated polymeric surfactant and a liquid hydrocarbon and methods of making and using the foams are also disclosed.
US08176980B2	Method of gas-cap air injection for thermal oil recovery A method for producing bitumen or heavy oil from a subsurface oil sands reservoir, the subsurface oil sands reservoir and an overlying gas zone in fluid communication, the method includes providing an in situ combustion process in the overlying gas zone, to create or expand a combustion front within the overlying gas zone, providing a thermal recovery process in the oil sands reservoir, to create or expand a rising hot zone within the oil sands reservoir, and selectively operating the thermal recovery process or the in situ combustion process or both such that the rising hot zone does not intersect the overlying gas zone until the combustion front has moved beyond that portion of the overlying gas zone at the intersection.
US08176978B2	Method for optimizing in-situ bioconversion of carbon-bearing formations Processes relating to the production of methane, carbon dioxide, gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons, and other valuable products from subterranean carbon bearing formations, in-situ, are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, such production utilizes indigenous and/or non-indigenous microbial consortia that are capable of converting a carbon bearing material such as shale or coal to desired products. In a particularly preferred embodiment there is provided a process for bioconverting a carbon-bearing subterranean formation, wherein the process comprises injecting fluid into a carbon bearing deposit with at least one injection well and removing injected fluid and product from the deposit through at least one production well, and controlling fluid pressure within at least a portion of the deposit by use of the injected fluid, the pressure being controlled such that the fluid pressure within at least a portion of the deposit exceeds the fluid pressure that normally exists in that portion.
US08176976B2	Lubricator for use with coiled tubing apparatus and universal rig having coiled tubing and top drive capability A lubricator for use with a coiled tubing injector comprising an elongated housing having a first end and a second end. There is a guide system disposed in the housing for guiding coiled tubing passing through the housing, a first director proximal the first end of the housing to direct the coiled tubing in a first direction and a second director proximal the second end of the housing to direct the coiled tubing in a second direction.
US08176975B2	Tubing pressure insensitive actuator system and method A tubing pressure insensitive actuator system includes a housing having a bore therein. A force transmitter is sealingly moveable within the bore, the force transmitter defining with the bore two fluid chambers. One of the fluid chambers is at each longitudinal end of the force transmitter. At least two seals are sealingly positioned between the housing and the force transmitter, with one of the seals isolating one end of the force transmitter from tubing pressure and another of the seals isolating another end of the force transmitter from tubing pressure. A method is also included.
US08176969B2	Apparatus for continuous strip casting An apparatus for continuously casting thin strip includes a caster having a pair of casting rolls having a nip there between capable of delivering cast strip downwardly from the nip and an first enclosure capable of forming a protective atmosphere into which the strip can be formed in loop to extend over a plurality of rollers into pinch rolls with the strip having a strain of less than 0.4%, which may be provided by a plurality of rollers at entry of the strip into the pinch rolls to carry the strip into the pinch rolls, with at least a first entry roller having a diameter between 200 and 650 millimeters and being below a majority of other rollers.
US08176968B1	Vent passage heaters to remove core gas from casting dies A metal casting system and related method are described that eliminate or at least significantly reduce deposition and buildup of resinous materials in gases vented during a casting operation. One or more heating assemblies are provided in vent passageways in the casting equipment, and particularly in the casting dies. The heating assemblies maintain exposed vent passageway surfaces at relatively high temperatures.
US08176966B2	Process and equipment for producing copper alloy material A process for producing a copper alloy material from a copper alloy of a precipitation reinforced type, which contains a process to perform individually a dissolution of a pure copper and a dissolution of an additional element or a mother alloy containing the same, comprises the steps of: melting an element and/or a mother alloy at a same time, that is selected from a Ni, a Co, an Si, a Ni—Cu mother alloy, a Co—Cu mother alloy, an Si—Cu mother alloy, a Ni—Si—Cu mother alloy, and a Co—Si—Cu mother alloy with combining therebetween, and melting thereof with an assistance of a generation of a heat of mixing, in a case of forming a high density melt containing at least either one of the Ni or the Co, and the Si, as high density thereof; forming the high density melt as a content of the Ni to be 80 mass % at maximum; and forming an alloy molten metal having a predetermined component and concentration, by adding the melt into a pure copper molten metal to be supplied from another melting furnace.
US08176965B1	Hurricane protection screening and system Hurricane protection screening and system including a length of flexible screening material having a substantially uniform continuous cross-section and being sized in length to substantially exceed a height of a building opening and sized in width to exceed or equal a width of the building opening. A plurality of separate spaced, parallel thickened areas are connected to and extend along the entire length of the screening material and are spaced apart over the width thereof, one of the thickened areas extending along each longitudinal side margin of the screening material. The system includes x-shaped buckles each configured for attachment to an upper or lower end of one of the thickened areas of each screen panel, the buckles themselves connectable to a frame of the building opening.
US08176963B1	Storm shutter panel and system with light openings An accordion-style storm shutter panel and system for use in covering an opening in a building structure including an outer frame assembly and a plurality of vertically mounted elongated panels foldably connected together in accordion style fashion. The panels are joined by slip fitted lateral knuckle joints and a track engaging a guide which extends from ends of the knuckle joints. A plurality of spaced apertures are formed through and extend over the substantial length of each of the panels, each of said apertures preferably having a notch-and-tab arrangement extending around a periphery thereof. A plurality of transparent, translucent or opaque locking plugs are sized and have a spaced locking tab arrangement around a periphery thereof, which matably and releasably lockingly engages within each aperture. Alternately, the plugs may be fixed in place and be light-transmitting.
US08176960B2	System for transporting and manipulating tires and wheels A factory layout including a track circuit, one or more wheeled carts for traversing the track circuit and a tire/wheel assembly carried by the wheeled cart. One or more work stations can be positioned at locations along the track circuit. Various wheeled cart embodiments are disclosed and various work station configurations are disclosed.
US08176957B2	Tension-based non-pneumatic tire A non-pneumatic tire for supporting a load by working in tension comprising a generally annular inner ring, a generally annular outer ring, and an interconnected web having a plurality of web elements and comprising a plurality of generally polygonal openings. Web elements are sized, curved, oriented, and comprised of varying thicknesses of material which facilitates buckling when subjected to a compressive load. By buckling, those elements in a deformed portion of the tire between a wheel and a footprint region where the tire contacts a surface can assume a significantly reduced portion of the load, if any. This causes web elements in other portions of the interconnected web to operate in tension to support the load.
US08176956B2	Pneumatic radial tire for motorcycle There is provided a pneumatic radial tire for a motorcycle, which reduces a difference between rigidities of the center section and the shoulder sections of a tread section to simultaneously provide a long wear life, high grip force, and high-speed durability without impairing linear characteristics of handling. It is a pneumatic radial tire for a motorcycle having a carcass 1 and a belt layer 2. A tread section is formed of a center section rubber 3, disposed in a widthwise center region of the tire and on both sides of a tire equator, and both side rubber 4, disposed on both widthwise ends of the tire. In addition, the tread section has a structure in which the center section rubber 3 and the both side rubber 4 are successively laminated upon each other at both widthwise ends of the tire. Further, the ratio of the thickness of both side rubber 4 in the tread section increases towards both widthwise ends of the tire, and a modulus of the both side rubber 4 is less than a modulus of the center section rubber 3.
US08176952B2	Device for preventing filled vessels from spilling during conveying of the same A system for conveying open containers filled with liquid, especially wide-necked containers, whereby the containers can be conveyed in the open state safely and without contamination, including an anti-slosh device which prevents the liquid from sloshing out as the containers are being transported.
US08176948B2	Apparatus and system for liquid dispensing and storage A liquid dispensing vending system that includes a closed, integrated system of bottles and dispensing machines. The bottles used with the instant dispensing system are designed to minimize the growth of mold, mildew, bacteria and other harmful micro organisms. The vending system may be used to dispense water, soft drinks, coffee, tea, water with nutrients, and/or antioxidants, into containers such as rugged bottles capable of being reused many times. The bottles are designed to be refilled by the dispensing machines, and therefore are tampered resistant. The bottles are made of an antimicrobial plastic and their contents are stored under pressure to discourage bacterial and organic growth inside the bottle.
US08176945B2	Paper machine clothing Paper machine clothing that includes interwoven warp threads and weft threads forming a weaving pattern composed of repeat units having at least 26 warp threads. The weaving pattern, one of on its own or in combination, is formed by at least one of: at least one basic textile weave, at least one derivative of a basic textile weave, and at least one extension of a basic textile weave.
US08176944B2	Papermachine clothing Paper machine clothing, such as a forming fabric formed by a large number of repeating units, wherein each repeat unit includes a paper-side woven structure having paper-side warp and weft threads and a machine-side woven structure having machine-side warp and weft threads, such that the paper side and the machine side woven structures are connected to each other by binding threads, and each repeat unit being formed by at least 26 warp threads and the paper machine clothing having a total thickness of 0.78 mm and less.
US08176941B2	Apparatus for stabilization and deceleration of supersonic flow incorporating a diverging nozzle and perforated plate An apparatus is disclosed for reducing pressure and velocity of a particulate-laden, supersonic vent gas stream from a pressure vessel such as an autoclave. The apparatus includes a diverging duct in which the vent gas expands, and a perforated plate located inside the diverging duct. The perforated plate provides an area reduction that increases back pressure and forces an upstream normal shock in the diverging duct, thereby bringing about a desired reduction in pressure and velocity. The perforated plate is comprised of a material, such as a ceramic, that is resistant to erosion by the abrasive particulate entrained in the high velocity vent gas. The perforated plate has a central portion provided with holes and an imperforate peripheral portion which is resiliently received between connection flanges of the duct.
US08176940B2	Pressure accumulator, in particular pulsation damper A pressure accumulator, in particular a pulsation damper, has an accumulator housing (1) defining a longitudinal axis (3) and having an inflow opening (15) and an outflow opening (17) for a fluid. A gas space (23) for a working gas and a fluid space (33) are separated from one another inside the accumulator housing (1) in a gas-tight manner by a bellows-like separating member (21). The separating member (21) is connected at one end (25) to a lid (27) forming a fixed termination of the gas space (23) in relation to the housing and at its other end (29) to a piston part (31) axially movable in the accumulator housing (1) and forming a movable termination of the gas space (23). Working movements of the piston part (31) bring about changes in volume of the working spaces adjoining the separating member (21). Inflow opening (15) and outflow opening (17) are respectively provided at the one end and at the other end, opposite one another in the axial direction of the accumulator housing (1). Fluid can then flow through the accumulator housing (1) in its longitudinal direction and in the direction of the working movement of the piston part (31).
US08176932B2	Defined leak path for high pressure seal Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and devices for conveying or containing fluids under pressure in which seals are provided with a defined path to vent fluid in the event of a seal failure.
US08176928B2	Method of setting up a portable barrier A method includes (a) moving a first lateral leg of a pedestal assembly and a second lateral leg of the pedestal assembly away from each other, (b) deploying a flooring in response to step (a), (c) moving a first lateral arm of a cover assembly and a second lateral arm of the cover assembly away from each other, (d) deploying a covering in response to step (c) so as to define an occupant space between the flooring and the covering, (e) positioning a chair in the occupant space on the flooring.
US08176919B2	Respiratory mask including an adjustable forehead abutment member An adjustable respiratory mask includes: a mask body including a rear side, and a front cover having a connecting hole and projecting upwardly; an adjuster housing formed on top of the front cover, and having a sleeve that extends within the adjuster housing in a front-to-rear direction and that has a rear opening exposed from the adjuster housing; a forehead abutment member having a shank projecting forwardly from the forehead abutment member and extending into the sleeve through the rear opening; and an adjusting unit for adjusting a distance of the forehead abutment member from the adjuster housing. The shank is movable relative to the sleeve so that the forehead abutment member is movable toward and away from the adjuster housing.
US08176917B2	Oxygen conservation system for commercial aircraft An emergency oxygen supply system for use on aircraft in the event of a loss in cabin pressure is configured for delivering allotments of oxygen and timing the delivery such allotments to each passenger so as maximize the efficiency of the transfer of such oxygen into the passenger's bloodstream. The delivery of each allotment is selected so that the entire allotment is available for inhalation into the region of the lung most efficient at oxygen transfer while the volume of the allotment is selected to substantially coincide with the volume of such region of the lung.
US08176916B2	Filter and/or HME device for respiratory circuits comprising a condensation trap A filter and/or HME device including an upper shell suitable to be connected to ventilation means, a lower shell suitable to be connected to a tracheal or tracheostomy tube of a patient, a filter and/or HME element disposed between the upper shell and the lower shell and a condensation screen disposed in front of the filter and/or HME element and facing the lower shell wherein the condensation screen has a conical wall extending from the opposite part of the filter and/or HME element to produce, together with a portion of the lower shell a collection chamber for the condensation that forms.
US08176913B2	Respirator helmet with quick release safety lens An apparatus including a lens, a gasket to receive the lens and a frame removably coupled to a respirator helmet is defined. The gasket forms a seal with a respirator helmet. The frame secures the lens within the gasket and defines a release mechanism to enable a quick release of the frame from the respirator helmet.
US08176912B2	Light-condensing device and method of fabricating the same A light-condensing device and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The light-condensing device includes a central block, a pair of vertical diffraction grating blocks respectively located left and right of the central block, and a pair of horizontal diffraction grating blocks respectively located above and below the central block. The vertical diffraction grating blocks include parallel vertical diffraction gratings in the form of lines extending in the direction of a vertical axis, and the horizontal diffraction grating blocks include parallel horizontal diffraction gratings in the form of lines extending in the direction of a horizontal axis.
US08176909B2	Grinding tool for natural stone floors, artificial stone floors and industrial soils A grinding tool for natural stone floors, artificial stone floors and industrial floors allows a greatest possible adaptation to the unevennesses of worn natural and artificial stone floors to be restored by using diamond tools that are flexibly attached. The diamond tools are fixed on a mat so that each individual diamond tool can adapt individually to the grooves and unevennesses of an animated natural stone and stone floor. The grinding pattern of a surface machined with said grinding tool corresponds to a newly produced natural stone or artificial stone floor.
US08176908B2	Variable pneumatic sear for paintball gun An improved paintball gun uses a low-pressure pneumatic sear to hold the firing valve closed against the high pressure gas occupying the other side of the valve. In this manner, only one operation is required between depressing the trigger and the firing of the paintball gun because a double-acting cylinder is not required as an interface between the trigger depression and actuation of the valve. The paintball gun is also substantially faster than existing electro-pneumatic paintball guns because it uses a blow forward bolt, in which higher-pressure gas is held directly behind the bolt and has only one direction to travel during the firing of the paintball gun.
US08176903B2	System and method for improving exhaust gas recirculation for a turbocharged engine A system and method for delivering EGR to an internal combustion engine is presented. The system can reduce system cost and lower system complexity.
US08176895B2	Electronic control governor In an electronic control governor that adjusts the amount of fuel supplied to an engine so as to coincide an engine rotation speed with a target rotation speed, by driving an actuator for actuating a fuel adjusting mean due to an actuator driving current overlapped with a dither current, an amplitude or frequency of the dither current is changed, corresponding to a change in the supply quantity of the actuator driving current. Or, the amplitude and frequency of the dither current are changed corresponding to a change in the engine rotation speed. Alternatively, a ratio between turn-on time and turn-off time during one period of the dither current is changed, depending on the velocity ratio between the increased velocity and the decreased velocity of the actuator driving current. Preferably, the ratio of the turn-on time to one period of the dither current is set at 20 to 40%.
US08176893B2	Engine combustion control using ion sense feedback A system and method for operating an engine having at least two spark plugs per cylinder include controlling at least one actuator to alter combustion within a selected cylinder such that the combustion burn rate determined by ion sense current signals associated with the at least two spark plugs of the selected cylinder approaches a desired combustion burn rate. A desired combustion burn rate is determined based on current engine/vehicle operating and ambient conditions with ion sense signals from each spark plug analyzed to determine combustion timing relative to corresponding ignition timing. Ignition timing and/or other actuators are controlled in response to provide a desired combustion burn rate.
US08176887B2	Electromagnetic actuating device An electromagnetic actuating device comprising a plurality of electromagnetic actuation units (10, 12, 14), which can be selectively controlled for exerting an actuating force on a corresponding plurality of elongated tappet units (22, 24, 26) that are supported axially parallel, wherein the actuation units are provided in a common housing (18, 20; 78, 82) along the actuating direction axially parallel to each other, and form a contact surface that is at least planar in some sections and can be axially moved in the actuating direction at each associated engagement end facing the tappet units. A face (34, 36, 38) on the engagement side of each of the tappet units interacts with the engagement surface (28, 30, 32), wherein at least one of the plurality of tappet units sits eccentrically and/or with only a partial surface, with the face thereof on the engagement side, on the engagement surface of the associated actuation unit, particularly adheres to it magnetically.
US08176886B2	Camshaft adjusting device A camshaft adjusting device for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The camshaft adjusting device has a stator which is driven via a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and a rotor which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the camshaft. The rotary angle position of the rotor can be varied with respect to the stator by way of a piston which can be displaced in the radial direction.
US08176883B2	Retractable articulating robotic sootblower A sootblower is provided having a multidirectional cleaning range for directing a cleaning medium against heated surfaces in a heat exchanger. The sootblower includes a rotatable lance tube that is selectively advanced and withdrawn along a longitudinal axis from an interior volume of the heat exchanger. The lance tube includes an articulating wrist coupled to a nozzle for projecting the cleaning medium in multi-directions onto the heated surfaces when the lance tube is advanced into the heat exchanger. The nozzle is pivotable about the longitudinal axis and about a second axis transverse to the longitudinal axis.
US08176882B2	Boiler for combustion of solid fuel A boiler for combustion of solid fuel, especially biomass, a first combustion stage with a primary air supply, an igniter, a fuel supply, a second combustion stage a burn-up and calcination space, a combustion chamber which is upwardly open and with a flue, the burn-up and calcination space being located underneath the combustion site such that fuel can be moved from the combustion site of the first combustion stage into the burn-up and calcination space. The primary air supply is located within the combustion chamber above the combustion site such that air can be blown into the first combustion stage, flue gases which form in the burn-up and calcination space are routed essentially passed the primary air supply means and the combustion site so that the flue gases of the second combustion stage do not adversely affect the combustion of the fuel at the combustion site.
US08176873B2	Milking liner A milking liner for an automated milking machine includes a barrel that moves between an uncollapsed position and a collapsed condition when it is subjected to a vacuum milking condition. The barrel defines at least three parallel channels open to the inner surface of the barrel. The configuration of the sidewall of the barrel and the channels cause the barrel to uniformly collapse when the barrel is subjected to a vacuum milking condition. In one configuration, ribs protrude from the barrel sidewall and define channels with the same wall thickness as the sidewall segments disposed between the ribs.
US08176868B2	System and method for connecting marine bodies A coupling to engage and retain two adjacent buoyant marine bodies in a side to side abutting relationship, is described. The coupling has two coupling portions (9), one each on one of the two adjacent buoyant marine bodies. The coupling portion (“first coupling portion”) including a downwardly directed receiving recess that includes at least one bearing surface (7) that faces away from a plane of abutment of the two marine bodies and that increases in distance away from the plane of abutment from top to bottom. The coupling also having a locking bar to be retained by the other coupling portion (second coupling portion) in a manner to allow it to move vertically thereto and to project from the second coupling portion for engagement with the first coupling portion, the locking bar including a receiving surface (16) to abut with the bearing surface (7). The relative movement of the two marine bodies together causes the locking bar to drop down the receiving recess thereby holding the two marine bodies together, in more restrained juxtaposition.
US08176865B2	Steering actuator for a steer-by-wire ship's control system and method for operating said steering actuator A steering actuator (1) designed as a linear electro-mechanical actuator for a ship control system which comprises an electric motor (2), a controller (11) connected, via a CAN bus, to the electronic control unit of the ship control system (ECU) and an angle sensor (12) actively connected to the controller (11) for determining the angular position of the rudder (13). The electric motor (2) is designed as a vector-controlled brushless motor.
US08176863B2	Sewing method for seat cover A method is provided for sewing a seat cover to provide a front panel and a side panel with an L-shaped separable seam and inner and outer chutes for air bag deployment. The method comprises sewing the front panel and the inner chute together with permanent vertical extending and horizontal extending seams that will not break during air bag deployment, and sewing the side panel and the outer chute together with permanent vertical extending seams and horizontal extending seams that will not break during air bag deployment. And thereafter sewing the front panel and the side panel together with separable vertical extending seams and horizontal extending seams that will break upon the air bag deployment to allow inflation of the air bag while the inner chute remains attached to the front panel and the outer chute remains attached to the side panel to guide the inflating air bag.
US08176857B2	Versatile furniture units suitable for children A furniture unit adapted for use with another unit having a similar design. The furniture unit includes a top panel, a latch member and a slot. The latch member projects outwardly from the furniture unit proximate the top panel and the slot is defined in the furniture unit proximate the top panel. The slot is adapted to securably receive the latch member whereby the two furniture units can be secured together. A plurality of legs extends away from the top panel. The legs are angled progressively outwardly as the legs extend away from the top panel whereby the furniture units can be stacked on top of one another for storage. Various accessories are disclosed which can be used with the furniture unit.
US08176855B1	Food and beverage tray A food and beverage tray in various implementations has one or more of drink bands, retractable legs and/or a collapsing tray assembly. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08176851B2	Small gas generator for gas actuator and pretensioner system A gas generator including a cup filled with gas generant molded articles that generate gas by combustion, and an ignitor on which an ignition agent is disposed. Each gas generant molded article is formed of smokeless powders containing nitrocellulose as its major ingredient. Each gas generant molded article includes an explosive containing a fuel agent containing a guanidine derivative and/or a tetrazole derivative and an oxidizing agent containing a metal nitrate and/or perchlorate. Thus, it is possible to provide a gas generator by which the amount of CO gas generated in operation can be reduced and the combustion speed can easily be controlled, and to provide a pretensioner system provided with the gas generator.
US08176848B2	Electronic blasting system having a pre-fire countdown with multiple fire commands A system and method for conducting a firing sequence including a master device and a plurality of electronic pyrotechnic devices, wherein the master device broadcasts, multiple times, a fire command to the plurality of electronic pyrotechnic devices, the electronic pyrotechnic devices commence a pre-fire countdown in response to each fire command received without error, and each electronic pyrotechnic device conducts a pre-fire countdown to expiration and thereupon commences a final fire countdown that concludes with firing.
US08176845B2	Form cylinder of a printing press comprising a plurality of sections in series on its circumferential surface in its axial direction, and printing couple comprising such form cylinder A form cylinder of a printing machine includes a plurality of sections in series in an axial direction of the cylinder surface. At least one printing form is arranged in each one of these sections. The form cylinder has at least one channel, also extending in the axial direction of the cylinder. That channel has an opening on the surface of the form cylinder. At least one holding device for each of the sections is arranged in this channel. Each such holding device can be pneumatically actuated in sections. At least one recess, open to the cylinder surface, is formed outside of these sections. A device that is usable to distribute compressed air to the respective sections of the form cylinder is provided in this at least one recess. The device for distributing the compressed air is configured as a plurality of valves. At least one control device is provided outside of the form cylinder and is used to activate the plurality of valves in a non-contact manner. The control device associated with each valve is oriented toward the surface of the form cylinder and acts in a radial direction.
US08176844B2	Heated humidified food cabinet A food container or cabinet may have a power cord extending and exiting from the cabinet at recess formed at a corner of side, top and back walls. The cabinet may be heated and humidified and operated with a control that operates air and water heating elements alternately and not simultaneously. The control may include a microprocessor and a digital storage device storing instructions for the microprocessor. An interface may be provided at the cabinet via which electronic signals can be directed to or received from the microprocessor or digital storage device. The container may be provided with a removable water receptacle and a water heating element positioned within the receptacle. The water heating element may be mounted in a pivotable fashion such that as the receptacle is removed from the container, the heating element is automatically pivoted out from within the receptacle and as the receptacle is returned to the container, the heating element is automatically pivoted into the receptacle.
US08176841B2	Cooking impliment shelf and food warming drawer for use with commercial griddles and charbroilers A cooking implement shelf is disclosed that is attachable to a commercial griddle and is able to support and position cooking implements such as a spatula, grill weights, cooking tongs, a salt shaker, etc, in a location that is readily accessible to a grill cook and does not taking up space on the cooking surface. One aspect of the invention is attachable to a staging feature on top of a barrier that runs along the backsplash of the griddle, while another aspect is directly attachable to the backsplash or to a side splash guard of the griddle. In preferred embodiments, the accessory is made from stainless steel, includes a warming tray and drip pan under the shelf, can be positioned above the cooking surface so as to warm items in the tray without harming them, and is adjustable horizontally and in height from 8″ to 17″ above the cooking surface.
US08176840B2	Brewing device and brewing capsule system with a capsule holder for facilitating insertion and removal of capsules A brewing device for the brewing of a capsule containing beverage ingredients. This device includes a frame, first and second capsule enclosing members for at least partially enclosing the capsule during brewing, wherein the first enclosing member is mobile along the frame in relation to the second enclosing member, a closing mechanism to actuate the first enclosing member, the closing mechanism including an actuation member; a capsule holding member for receiving the capsule during insertion of the capsule between the first and second enclosing members and for holding it in place during closing of the enclosing members.
US08176839B2	Appliance for producing hot drinks An appliance for producing hot drinks comprising a water heating device; a heating source; a seat adapted to receive a product for preparing the drink; a duct for feeding hot water from the water heating device to the seat; a control device operatively associated with the heating source for adjusting the temperature of the water contained in the water heating device; and a compensating device to dynamically compensate for temperature drop undergone by the water flowing along the duct from the water heating device to the seat.
US08176835B1	Sliding stock for firearm A handle assembly and combined interface system for use with a semi-automatic firearm to facilitate controlled bump firing methods. The handle assembly includes a finger rest for the user's trigger finger. The interface system is attached to a receiver of the firearm, and is slideably disposed in the handle assembly for reciprocation. In use, the user pushes a firing unit portion forward with an opposite hand so that its trigger collides with the user's finger, thus stimulating a round of ammunition. Recoil forces the firing unit rearwardly so that the trigger separates from the finger. The user then applies another forward activation force that urges the firing unit forwardly again to repeat the cycle for as long as the user chooses. A lock can be selectively engaged to restrict longitudinal movement of the firearm relative to the handle, thereby returning the firearm to normal semi-automatic functionality.
US08176834B1	Determination of weapons fratricide probability A method is provided for determining fratricide probability of projectile collision from a projectile launcher on a platform and an interception hazard that can be ejected or launched from a deployment position. The platform can represent a combat vessel, with the projectile launcher being a gun, the interception hazard being a missile, and the deployment position being a vertical launch cell. The projectile launcher operates within an angular area called the firing zone of the platform. The method includes determining the firing zone, calculating an angular firing area, quantifying a frontal area of the interception hazard, translating the resulting frontal area across a flight trajectory, sweeping the projectile launcher to produce a slew angle, combining the slew and trajectory, and dividing the combined interception area by the firing area. The firing and interception areas are calculated using spherical projection.
US08176831B2	Armor plate An armor plate transforms projectile energy into solid-state lattice waves and facilitates absorption of these waves at different wavelengths. For high frequency lattice waves, dopants are used for absorbing the lattice waves and converting them to thermal energy. Heavy dopants and layered materials can also be use for reflecting lattice waves to facilitate attenuation through absorption. A spreading layer can also be used for dispersing non-absorbed lattice waves.
US08176830B1	Ballistic shield A ballistic shield for protection against up to 7.62×63 mm AP rounds (NIJ Level IV). The ballistic shield is multiple layered and includes polymer foam, ceramic tiles, and a support structure fabricated from ballistic resistant fabric. Individual layers are bonded with adhesives and preferably wrapped with fabric. Under the fabric cover of the exterior surface of the shield is a polymer foam layer that exhibits excellent blast impact resistance and blast attenuation properties as well as a hard ceramic or the like layer. The foam layer is preferably made from liquid crystal or semi-crystalline polymer to enhance fire resistance and provide enhanced ductility. According to various preferred embodiments, the man-portable ballistic shield also incorporates a compact video system for viewing the front side of the ballistic shield to eliminate the transparent view port of current ballistic shields and protective foam about the periphery and on the rear surface thereof.
US08176828B2	Glass-ceramic with laminates A transparent armor system includes a hard face fabricated from a substantially transparent glass-ceramic material exhibiting crystalline bodies throughout the mass of the glass-ceramic material and a backing covering a rear surface of the hard face opposite an anticipated incoming projectile. The backing has a refractive index substantially matching that of the hard face such as to allow substantial transparency of the transparent armor system. The hard face serves to disburse energy caused by the impact of an incoming projectile with the transparent armor system, while the backing serves to retain any pieces of the hard face fractured during ballistic impact. In certain embodiments, a plurality of hard faces are held in parallel and spaced apart arrangement.
US08176826B2	Bandolier with laterally offset and spaced work piece A method of operating a progressive die wherein the progressive die acts on a work piece having an elongated body with a blank at one end. The work piece is supported by a bandolier which is also formed in the progressive die. The progressive die acts on each blank.
US08176824B2	Miter saw with bevel stop toggle A miter saw comprises a base and a bevel support pivotable with respect to the base. A cutting blade is supported by the bevel support and moveable between a plurality of cutting positions. The miter saw further comprises a bevel stop member moveably connected to the base between a plurality of stop positions. The plurality of stop positions include a first stop position where the bevel stop member is configured to stop the bevel support at a bevel angle of less than forty-five degrees. The plurality of stop positions also include a second stop position where the bevel stop member is configured to stop the bevel support at a bevel angle of about forty-five degrees. Furthermore, the plurality of stop positions include a third stop position where the bevel stop member is configured to allow the bevel support to pivot to a bevel angle of greater than forty-five degrees.
US08176823B2	Miter saw with bevel lock arrangement A miter saw with a bevel lock arrangement comprises a base with a bevel arm configured to rotate about a first axis that is substantially parallel to a support surface provided on the base. A cutting arm is pivotably connected to the bevel arm and configured to rotate about a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. A locking surface is connected to the base and is oriented substantially perpendicular to the support surface. A clamping surface is moveably connected to the bevel arm and configured to engage the locking surface. An actuator is configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position. The actuator is configured to force the clamping surface against the locking surface when the actuator is in the locked position and to release the clamping surface from the locking surface when the actuator is in the unlocked position.
US08176818B2	Rotary tool with an indicating coiled spring A rotary tool includes a tool body having a driving end formed thereon and an annular groove defined therein. An indicating coiled spring is received in the annular groove. The indicating coiled spring has a colored indicating mark formed thereon for easily identifying a standard of the rotary tool. The indicating coiled spring is made of metal, wherein the indicating coiled spring is hard to be broken and a lifetime of the indicating coiled spring is lengthened. The indicating coiled spring is able to elastically expand to be easily and co-axially sleeved on the annular groove of the tool body, such that the indicating coiled spring being replaceable and re-useable. When operating, the indicating coiled spring is rotatable relative to the tool body.
US08176817B2	Tool coupling structure A tool coupling structure comprises a first post member including a fitting end disposed on one end thereof and a polygonal cavity mounted on another end thereof; the cavity including a hole formed on an outer wall thereof, and the hole including a biasing element installed therein; a second post member including a coupling end fixed on one end thereof and a polygonal sphere knob formed on another end thereof to be fitted to the cavity of the fist post member, and the sphere knob including an elastic engaging member fixed on a peripheral side thereof in response to the hole of the first post member to be retained in the hole.
US08176814B1	Wire forming plier and electrical multi-tool A wire forming plier and electrical multi-tool for the purpose of forming, stripping, crimping and cutting electrical wire is disclosed. The plier features two arms overlapped and pivoted together; the posterior ends of the arms serve as handles. Two symmetrically shaped round barrels, different in size, identified with indicia, extend from the anterior ends of the plier arms for the purpose of forming a controlled bend in electrical wires/conductors of varying thicknesses/gauges to fit around specific terminal screw/stud sizes. As the handles are squeezed together, the cylindrical tips will grasp the electrical conductor by applying pressure to the wire between the round and smooth barrel surfaces. While the wire is securely held between the cylindrical tips the wire loop is quickly and easily formed around either barrel by manually rotating the entire tool about a longitudinal axis in either direction.
US08176810B2	Wire attachment Wire attachment and attachment method for a sheathed wire including a wire and a sheath coaxially surrounding the wire, the wire attachment including: a housing; an axial bore inside the housing including an opening adapted to receive the sheathed wire; a spool slidably arranged inside the bore, the spool receiving the wire and including an engagement member for fixedly engaging the wire, such that any longitudinal movement of the wire will be transmitted to the spool; a sheath attachment member for fixing the sheath to the wire attachment inside the axial bore at a distance from the receiving bore, such that the spool and the wire are free to move axially with respect to the sheath. The sheath attachment member is arranged to exert a substantially radial pressure onto the surface of the sheath, such that it may be attached essentially without disturbing the axial position of the sheath.
US08176802B2	Fibrous particle generating apparatus and test system There is provided a fibrous particle generating apparatus and a test system. The fibrous particle generating apparatus includes a base material containing a fibrous material; a holding unit holding the base material; a fibrous particle generator generating fibrous particles by chafing the base material; and a movement unit moving the holding unit such that the base material held by holding unit is chafed against the fibrous particle generator. With this configuration, fibrous particles can be stably generated, and an evaluation of the object apparatus can be carried out on the basis of the generated fibrous particles.
US08176792B2	Inspection system and inspecting method An inspection system for inspecting a processing accuracy of a work piece is provided. The inspection system includes a supporting mechanism which supports the work piece in a same posture as a posture in which the work piece is assembled to a body; a load reproduction device which applies a load to the work piece along a substantially vertical direction; and a measurement device which measures positions of at least one characteristic portion of the work piece while the load is being applied to the work piece.
US08176786B2	Methods, apparatuses, and systems for damage detection Methods, apparatuses, and systems for damage detection and for other detection of the state of a structure or material. Such damage detection and detection of the state of a structure may be performed and operated without the use of baseline data. The present invention may operate using time reversal acoustics or polarization characteristics of piezoelectric devices. The present invention may include a piezoelectric device including two or more piezoelectric transducers.
US08176780B2	Angular velocity sensor An angular velocity sensor includes a supporting substrate, a detecting portion, a displacement detecting portion, a first driving portion, and a second driving portion. The detecting portion is supported by the supporting substrate movably in at least a free direction. The displacement detecting portion detects a displacement of the detecting portion in the free direction. The first driving portion excites a first reference oscillation of at least a portion of the detecting portion so that a first Coriolis' force in the free direction is generated in response to an angular velocity about a first axis. The second driving portion excites a second reference oscillation of at least a portion of the detecting portion so that a second Coriolis' force in the free direction is generated in response to an angular velocity about a second axis.
US08176778B2	Capacitive level sensor with a plurality of segments comprising each a capacitor and a circuit A capacitive level sensor comprises a probe which is longitudinally segmented into a plurality of segments. Each segment comprises an electrode forming an electrical capacitor to a common ground electrode. Each electrode is connected to a measuring circuit via an associated one of a plurality of controllable switches. A control means controls said switches to successively and separately connect the capacitors to the measuring circuit. To simplify the design and manufacture of the level sensor, the controllable switches are individually arranged in the associated segments of the probe, and the control means is subdivided into control units respectively arranged in the segments and connected to a single control line. Alternatively, if a plurality of controllable measuring circuits are individually arranged in the associated segments and connected to an associated one of said electrodes, and if the control means successively and separately activates the measuring circuits, the control means is subdivided into control units respectively arranged in the segments of the probe and connected to a single control line.
US08176774B2	Process and device for testing the mobility of a negative pressure relief valve of the fuel system of a motor vehicle The invention relates to a method for testing the mobility of the negative pressure relief valve of the fuel system of a motor vehicle, the negative pressure relief valve depending on the pressure within the fuel system having to be moved between a closed position which closes the fuel system and an open position which clears the fuel system, with the following steps: a) Testing the position of the negative pressure relief valve; and b) Testing the position of the negative pressure relief valve in reaction to a pressure increase within the fuel system if the negative pressure relief valve in step a) was in the closed position. The invention furthermore relates to a system for testing the mobility of the negative pressure relief valve of the fuel system of a motor vehicle.
US08176770B2	Sniffer leak detector A sniffing leak detector which comprises a mass spectrometer, a turbomolecular pump and a forevacuum pump. In case that the sniffing hose with the hand-operated sniffing probe becomes detached from the main device, atmospheric pressure would pass into the gas inlet conduit and disrupt the high vacuum in the mass spectrometer. In order to protect the mass spectrometer and the vacuum pump apparatus, a flow restrictor with an upstream filter is arranged in the gas inlet conduit.
US08176767B2	Exhaust gas sensor Exhaust-gas sensors that have a sensor element, which is surrounded by two protective tubes on a side facing the exhaust gas and which is additionally protected by a porous fiber package, are already known. The fiber package is disposed between the two protective tubes and is meant to protect the sensor element from thermal shock by water droplets hitting the sensor element. When the exhaust gas sensor is used as primary catalytic converter or raw emission sensor, the sensor element can get damaged by sulfur compounds contained in the exhaust gas. In the exhaust-gas sensor according to the invention, damage to the sensor element by exhaust-gas components contained in the exhaust gas is reliably prevented. According to the invention, the adsorption means is implemented in such a way that sulfur, phosphorus or silicon compounds are trapped irreversibly.
US08176764B2	Termination tool Disclosed is a termination tool and a method for securing a connector to a cable. The termination tool includes a holder receivable of the connector and a push block slideably located in the termination tool. The push block is capable of forming at least one axial crimp in the connector when the push block is articulated along a connector axis toward the holder. At least two crimp dies are rotably fixed to the termination tool and are capable of forming at least one transverse crimp in the connector when the at least two crimp dies are moved toward the connector axis. A lever is in operable communication with the push block and the at least two crimp dies. The lever is capable of urging the push block along the connector axis toward the holder and the at least two crimp dies toward the connector axis to form both the at least one axial crimp and the at least one transverse crimp.
US08176761B2	Keypad lockset A keypad lockset adapted for deadbolt as well as lever locks, and having as a first embodiment an exterior gear train, an interior gear train, and an electronically controlled clutch for coupling the gear trains when engaged and for uncoupling the gear trains when the clutch is disengaged, so that when the clutch is engaged rotation of an external thumb turn will permit the door latch to be withdrawn and thus to permit opening of the door, and a mechanical override mechanism that can be operated in case of electrical failure, and in which clutch mechanism and the override mechanism both operate through the single, standard 2⅛ inch door preparation hole, or alternatively as a second embodiment, a keypad lockset in which two four-bar mechanical linkages are used in place of gears as means to actuate the clutch, and alternatively to provide for a pass-through override function.
US08176759B2	Theft prevention device for two-wheeled vehicles Theft prevention device for enabling to lock the handlebar grip and the brake-lever of a two-wheeled vehicle, where the brake-lever is movably connected to the handlebar, to prevent stealing of the vehicle. The device may comprise a housing comprising at least two openings; a handlebar cuff that enables slidably attaching to the housing through the openings and cuffing of the handlebar grip therein; a brake-lever cuff that enables slidably attaching to the housing through the openings and, cuffing of the brake-lever therein; and a lock assembly that is operatively associated with the cuffs. The lock assembly enables locking the cuffs in a position where the cuffs cuff the handlebar grip and the brake-lever. To install the theft prevention device the cuffs should be approximate to one another, and then the user may lock the cuffs in the approximated cuffing position, using the lock assembly.
US08176745B1	Drinking-game thermal-racking systems This disclosure teaches an apparatus suitable for playing a drinking game using drinking cups and thrown projectiles on a playing surface having a rack to rack up a pre-determined configuration of the drinking cups. The rack includes an insulator to at least partially insulate the drinking cups and an electric cooler to cool the drinking cups during game play.
US08176743B2	Refrigeration device A refrigeration device includes a control unit, and a refrigerant circuit in which a compression mechanism, a radiator, a refrigerant cooling unit, a first expansion mechanism, a liquid receiver, a second expansion mechanism, and an evaporator are connected in sequence. The control unit performs refrigerant cooling control whereby the refrigerant is cooled by the refrigerant cooling unit so that the state of the refrigerant that has flowed out from the first expansion mechanism is near the saturation line and not near the critical point.
US08176742B2	Method for controlling intake of air-conditioner of vehicle A method for controlling an intake of an air-conditioner of a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes the a-1) step (S1) at which the main door (220) of the intake (200) opens the outdoor-air inlet port (211) and closes the indoor-air inlet port (212), so that only outdoor air flows into the intake, the b-1) step (S2) of detecting operation of the blower (130), the c-1) step (S3) of determining whether set indoor temperature of the vehicle is predetermined temperature or higher, and the d-1) step (S4) at which the subsidiary door (230) opens the subsidiary indoor-air inlet port (213) so that some indoor air flows into the intake. The method automatically controls the intake of the air-conditioner, thus allowing some indoor air to flow into the intake while outdoor air is flowing into the intake, therefore keeping the indoor temperature of the vehicle pleasant, and enhancing heating efficiency.
US08176741B2	Local air conditioning system for vehicle and method of controlling local air conditioning unit A local air conditioning system for a vehicle includes a local air conditioning unit for performing one of a cooling operation and a heating operation for a predetermined portion of a seat of the vehicle. In the local air conditioning system, information regarding a user is acquired, and a current scene is identified based on the acquired information. The local air conditioning unit is controlled to perform one of the cooling operation and the heating operation for the predetermined portion of the seat on condition that the current scene is identified as a getting-in-vehicle scene in which the user gets in the vehicle and sits on the seat. For example, the predetermined portion of the seat is a portion corresponding to a high body temperature portion of a user, such as a nape of a neck and backs of knees.
US08176740B2	Method of refurbishing a seal land on a turbomachine transition piece and a refurbished transition piece A method of refurbishing a seal land on a transition piece of a turbomachine includes applying a wear strip to a wall surface of the seal land, and covering the wear strip with a slot protector.
US08176738B2	Method and system for converting waste heat from cement plant into a usable form of energy Methods and systems for converting waste heat from cement plant into a usable form of energy are disclosed. The methods and systems make use of two heat source streams from the cement plant, a hot air stream and a flue gas stream, to fully vaporize and superheat a working fluid stream, which is then used to convert a portion of its heat to a usable form of energy. The methods and systems utilize sequential heat exchanges stages to heat the working fluid stream, first with the hot air stream or from a first heat transfer fluid stream heated by the hot air stream and second with the flue gas stream from a second heat transfer fluid stream heated by the hot air stream.
US08176735B2	Control device for multi-stage turbochargers A control device for multi-stage turbochargers is provided that is capable of improving fuel consumption in transient and stationary states of an engine equipped with multi-stage turbochargers. A control device 1 for multi-stage turbochargers which are turbochargers 6, 7 of at least two or more stages provided in series at an engine 2 and in which the high-pressure stage turbocharger 6 is configured by a variable-capacity turbocharger 6 equipped with a variable vane 64 comprising detection means 11, 12 for detecting a boost pressure or an intake air amount of a turbocharger 7 of a stage with a pressure lower than that of the variable-capacity turbocharger 6, the opening degree of the variable vane 64 being controlled on the basis of a detection value of the detection means 11, 12.
US08176733B2	Torque converter having an integrated cover with bearing support A torque converter including a cover, the cover having an axis and having an axially extending flange about the axis, the flange defining an aperture, a pilot fitted within the aperture, and a turbine hub connected to the flange.
US08176730B2	Exhaust gas purification device of internal combustion engine An SCR catalyst is provided in an exhaust pipe of an engine and a urea solution addition valve is provided upstream of the SCR catalyst in the exhaust pipe. An ECU calculates ammonia adsorption quantity of the SCR catalyst and controls urea solution addition quantity, which is added by the urea solution addition valve, based on the ammonia adsorption quantity. The ECU obtains temperature of the SCR catalyst or temperature information correlated with the temperature through measurement or estimation. The ECU switches an execution mode of the urea solution addition control based on the catalyst temperature or the temperature information. Thus, reducing agent addition control can be performed suitably and eventually NOx purification in a NOx catalyst (i.e., SCR catalyst) can be performed suitably.
US08176729B2	Perturbation control strategy for low-temperature urea SCR NOx reduction An emissions control method may include injecting a fuel into an engine exhaust gas provided to a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) when a DOC operating temperature is greater than a first limit, terminating the injecting when a temperature of a catalyst in communication with exhaust gas exiting the DOC is greater than a second limit, and injecting a dosing agent into the exhaust gas after the terminating.
US08176722B2	Method and device for the transfer of heat from a heat source to a thermodynamic cycle with a working medium of at least two substances with non-isothermal evaporation and condensation The invention relates to a thermodynamic circuit with a working medium comprising at least two substances with non-isothermal evaporation and condensation whereby the working medium can decompose above a given temperature. According to the invention, the heat from heat sources at temperatures above the decomposition temperature of the working medium may be made useful with little complexity and with high operational security, whereby the heat from the heat source is transferred in a first step to a hot liquid circuit and, in a second step, from the hot liquid circuit to the circuit with the working medium comprising at least two substances with non-isothermal evaporation and condensation. The heat introduced to the circuit with the working medium comprising at least two substances with non-isothermal evaporation and condensation can be reduced by means of the intermediate hot liquid circuit, such that a decomposition of the working medium can be avoided. Furthermore, the circuit with the working medium comprising at least two substances with non-isothermal evaporation and condensation is embodied as a standardized solution for use with differing heat sources each at differing temperatures, whereby matching to the temperature of the heat source is achieved by means of the intermediate hot liquid circuit.
US08176721B2	Methods and apparatus for a nitrogen purge system A method of operating a fuel system is provided. The method includes removing fuel from at least a portion of the fuel system using a gravity drain process. The method also includes channeling nitrogen into at least a portion of the fuel system to facilitate removing air and residual fuel from at least a portion of the fuel system, thereby mitigating a formation of carbonaceous precipitate particulates. The method further includes removing air and nitrogen from at least a portion of the fuel system during a fuel refilling process using a venting process such that at least a portion of the fuel system is substantially refilled with fuel and substantially evacuated of air and nitrogen. The method also includes removing air from at least a portion of the refilled fuel system using a venting process. The method further includes recirculating fuel within at least a portion of the fuel system, thereby removing heat from at least a portion of the fuel system and facilitating a transfer of operating fuel modes.
US08176720B2	Air cooled turbine component having an internal filtration system A centrifugal particle separator is provided for removing particles such as microscopic dirt or dust particles from the compressed cooling air prior to reaching and cooling the turbine blades or turbine vanes of a turbine engine. The centrifugal particle separator structure has a substantially cylindrical body with an inlet arranged on a periphery of the substantially cylindrical body. Cooling air enters centrifugal particle separator through the separator inlet port having a linear velocity. When the cooling air impinges the substantially cylindrical body, the linear velocity is transformed into a rotational velocity, separating microscopic particles from the cooling air. Microscopic dust particles exit the centrifugal particle separator through a conical outlet and returned to a working medium.
US08176719B2	Reinforcing cord and rubber product using the same A reinforcing cord of the present invention is a reinforcing cord (10) for rubber reinforcement including a fiber core (11) and a plurality of strands (12) disposed around the fiber core (11). The fiber core (11) is formed of one or a plurality of highly elastic fibers having a tensile elastic modulus of at least 100 GPa. Each of the plurality of strands (12) is formed of a plurality of glass fibers that are primarily twisted, and the plurality of strands (12) are finally twisted to be disposed around the fiber core (11). The direction of the final twist of the plurality of strands is opposite to the direction of the primary twist in each of the plurality of strands (12). The number of final twists of the plurality of strands (12) is 1.0 to 3.0 times/25 mm, and a ratio of the number of primary twists in each of the plurality of strands (12) to the number of final twists of the plurality of strands (12) (the number of primary twists/the number of final twists) is in a range of 1.5 to 2.5.
US08176718B2	Cable, combined cable made of plastic fibers and steel wire strands, and combined strands made of plastic fibers and steel wires A combined cable comprising a core cable of high-strength synthetic fibers, which take the form of a twisted bundle of monofilaments or a plurality of twisted bundles of monofilaments, and comprising an outer layer of steel wire strands, is characterized in that the bundle or bundles of monofilaments is or are stretched, with a reduction in diameter, and held in this state by a sheathing, in particular a braided sheathing. The extension under strain of the core cable under load is thereby reduced, so that the load distribution between the cross section of steel and the cross section of synthetic material of the cable improves.
US08176713B2	Tubular bagging method A tubular bagging machine includes an innovative indentation-forming device and a modified cross-sealing device. The innovative indentation-forming device includes two punches that form two indentations in the foil web. The machine then forms the foil web into a foil tube with the indentations aligned directly opposite each other and bowed outward. The cross-sealing device includes two opposing sealing jaws each having a blank formed in it. The jaws are closed together to form transverse seal zones in the foil tube. The blanks are aligned with each other and receive the aligned indentations so that they are not sealed together, resulting in the formation of an air bubble in one of the seal zones. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing the bags, bags produced by the disclosed machines and methods, and retrofit kits for upgrading existing tubular bagging machines.
US08176712B2	System for packing and shipping erosion control blankets A system for packing and shipping erosion control blankets that maximizes the use of the interior space of a shipping container. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the system relates to packing, handling, storing and shipping of erosion control blankets adapted for delivery to customers with the most efficient use of space during shipping.
US08176711B2	Machine for horizontally manufacturing flexible sheet material packagings with outside chamber Machine for manufacturing flexible sheet material packagings, including an area for feeding a continuous web of flexible sheet material, a preforming area including an area for folding a bottom wall of the packaging, a welding area, an area for filling the packagings, an area for outputting the packagings, a first chemical decontamination treatment area using a gas, arranged between the preforming area and the filling area, and an outside chamber that surrounds the machine at least partially and is depressed atmospherically with respect to the first area. The outside chamber acts as an additional barrier between the first area and the outside.
US08176702B2	Modular block system A modular block system comprises a first block, a second block, a third block, a fourth block, and a capstone, the first block having a front face, a back face, a first side, a second side, a top, and a bottom, with the front face being wider than the back face and the first side being slanted from the front face toward the back face, the second block having a front face, a back face, a first side, a second side, a top, and a bottom, with the front face being wider than the back face and the first and second sides being slanted from the front face toward the back face, the third block having a front face, a back face, a first side, a second side, a top, and a bottom, with the front face being wider than the back face and the first side being slanted from the front face toward the back face, and the fourth block having a front face, a back face, a first side, a second side, a top, and a bottom, with the front face being wider than the back face and the first side and the second side being from the front face toward the back face.
US08176699B1	Hurricane truss roof system Each of a plurality of vertically disposed trusses having angled rafters and a joint is coupled to a ridge board. Upper TboxTrusses function as the rafters. Each upper TboxTruss has a planar plate. The planar plate has a hollow box depending downwardly there from. An interior sheet of fire resistant fabric sheet material is above the upper TboxTrusses. An exterior sheet of the fire resistant fabric sheet material is below the upper TboxTrusses. Insulation material is located between the interior and exterior sheets and bounded by adjacent hollow boxes.
US08176697B1	Building block Plastic building blocks made from structural foam polymer such as polyethylene, polypropylene or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene are strong, lightweight and may be easily disassembled. The top surface of each block has frusto-conical posts which fit into corresponding bores in the bottom surface of adjacent blocks to provide interlocking capability.
US08176696B2	Building construction for forming columns and beams within a wall mold The present invention relates to an improved wall system where a wall form mold has a structural insulated core assembled to form a structural insulated panel (SIP) to form a concrete beam and concrete column to be poured anywhere within the wall as well as between building modules when placed together and erected vertically. The interlocking wall molds interlock within the wall as well as between panels and modules. The wall panels allow concrete columns and beams to be formed in any size and shape. The structural insulated core consists of interlocking foam spacers and support channels which can be glued or screwed together to form an independent wall or as part of a precast wall with columns and beams integrated within the wall panels. Insulated flanges within the wall forming mold separates the wall forming structure from the wall surfaces.
US08176688B1	Flashing attachment apparatus A flashing attachment apparatus and method includes an angle plate with a horizontal leg and a vertical leg wherein the horizontal leg includes a top and a back and wherein the vertical leg includes a front and a back. A bent plate is connected with the back of the vertical leg and a self adhering membrane is connected between the bent plate and the vertical leg to the back of the vertical leg wherein the self adhering membrane includes a removable cover shielding adhesive on the self adhering membrane.
US08176687B2	Gutter system and associated methods A gutter system is provided to guard a gutter from the entry of leaves, debris, pine needles, twigs, and the like, and to prevent water and animals from entry. In at least one embodiment, a hanger bracket is configured to secure a gutter to a building, and configured to secure an upper gutter cover and a lower gutter cover, in a tiered, stair-step manner, to the gutter. In another embodiment a gutter system is provided that includes a gutter, an upper gutter cover, a lower gutter cover, and a hanger bracket configured to secure the gutter to a building having a roof and rainwater runoff, and configured to secure the upper gutter cover and the lower gutter cover, in a tiered, stair-step manner, to the gutter. In yet another embodiment a method for protecting gutters from debris other than rainwater runoff is provided.
US08176684B2	Method and device for automatic systems designed to operate movable barriers Method, together with the devices implementing said method, for controlling the closing and opening movements of a movable barrier (103) so as to prevent a dangerous impact with an obstacle or crushing thereof, said movable barrier (103) comprising a closing edge having, positioned thereon, one or more sensors (108) connected to a first transceiver (27b) able to exchange a signal with a second fixed transceiver (27a) in communication with a control unit which manages the movement of the barrier (103), comprising a step defining for said signal a communications protocol consisting of more than two signal configurations (A, B, C, D).
US08176682B2	Double panel door and double frame providing radio frequency shielding and soundproofing Double paneled door assembly providing RF shielding and soundproofing through the use of two door panels, i.e., back door panel and front door panel, as well as respective back door frame and front door frame. The door panels and door frames are joined together by door pins and door pin bushing as well as frame pins and frame pin bushings, and the double door panels are mounted on the double frames by heavy duty hinges. The use of two door panels and frame panels with a volume of sealed air or other inert gas between the panels aids the RF shielding and soundproofing properties of the door. The bushings act as damping mechanisms to reduce transmission of vibration from the front side of the door assembly to the back side of the door assembly that will ultimately reduce waves permeating into an enclosed room or area.
US08176678B2	Telescoping security window A removable security structure interposed between two window configurations is comprised of interconnecting horizontal and vertical members. The vertical members engage a gear junction of the horizontal members such that upon rotation of the vertical members, the horizontal members telescopically collapse. The reduction of length of each horizontal member disengages each horizontal member from a frame housing the window configurations. The rotation of the vertical members also frees the upper portion of the vertical members of the security structure. With the upper and side portions of the security structure freed, the security structure can be rotated and removed from the frame allowing egress.
US08176675B2	Fishing device for use in trolling A device for bringing a fishing hook attached to a line out to the side of a boat during trolling, comprising an elongated hull (5), a keel (6) and a line (7) with a release device (8), where the release device is arranged to hold the line during trolling and release the line when a fish bites on the hook.
US08176665B2	Portable target stand for signage There is disclosed an improved portable stand especially adapted for mounting targets for a shooting range, which consists of a base unit formed by a first leg and a second leg rotationally mounted to the first leg. The first leg is provided with a pair of spaced apart mounting apertures, each of the mounting apertures provided with lock means incorporated therein. At least two vertical arms are adapted to be mounted into each of the mounting apertures and lockingly engaged therein, and the vertical arms are adapted to hold and display a target therebetween.
US08176657B2	Article of footwear with tubular support structure An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly. The sole assembly is secured to the upper and includes a support assembly. The support assembly has a plurality of primary tubular members spaced from one another and extending laterally across at least a portion of the sole assembly. A plurality of secondary tubular members extends laterally across at least a portion of the sole assembly, with each secondary tubular member positioned between and interconnecting a pair of adjacent primary tubular members.
US08176651B2	Method for drying objects in a washer A method of drying articles within a washer comprising: creating an airflow from an upper compartment of a chamber to a lower compartment of the chamber through a gap such that a curtain of air is formed along side walls of the chamber; creating an air flow from the lower compartment to the upper compartment through an opening therebetween wherein a portion of the curtain of air is drawn in a first direction over articles in the lower compartment and a portion of the curtain of air continues along the side walls and is redirected in a second direction over the articles in the lower compartment; heating the air in the upper compartment to a temperature sufficient to vaporize fluid in the chamber; venting a portion of the air in the lower compartment; and introducing clean filtered air into the upper compartment.
US08176649B2	Extraction cleaning with plenum and air outlets facilitating air flow drying A portable cleaning apparatus includes a base module having a base housing with a bottom base wall, and enclosing a fan. The base module is moveable along an external surface in a first direction. The fan can move air through the base housing from an interior of the base housing to exteriorly of the base housing through an exhaust outlet in the base housing. A plenum fluidly communicates at a first end with the exhaust outlet and at a second end with at least one plenum outlet opening. The at least one plenum outlet opening is between the base wall and the external surface. The at least one plenum outlet opening can direct air exhausted from the interior of the base housing along the external surface in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
US08176647B2	Hand sizing tool A hand sizing tool includes a base platform and a secondary platform affixed to and raised above the base platform. The platforms include a palm heel indicia on the base platform and an index finger tip indicia on the secondary platform. Each of an index finger guide, an index finger measurement slider, and a palm width measurement slider extends out of the secondary platform, these elements being adapted for measuring the hand size.
US08176639B2	Filament clamp for a vegetation trimmer A vegetation trimmer with a spool and hub assembly has a cutting filament wound around the spool. The free end of the filament extends through an aperture in the hub into the cutting plane. The spool and hub are rotated at a high rate to allow the filament to cut vegetation. The spool includes a plurality of arms which engage with arms on the hub. When the spool is acted upon, the arms on the spool disengage with the arms on the hub to permit relative rotation of the spool to the hub to feed additional filament into the cutting plane. An indexing feature is used to regulate the amount of additional cutting filament that is allowed to be fed into the cutting plane. When the spool and hub are engaged, the cutting filament is forcible clamped between the arms on the spool and the arms on the hub to prevent the centrifugal force generated by the filament in the cutting plane from acting upon the filament wound around the spool at cutting speed so that the filament does not have means to tangle or weld together and break prematurely. Upon disengagement of the spool and hub, the cutting filament is released to permit the additional cutting filament to be fed into the cutting plane.
US08176634B2	Method of manufacturing a well screen An expanded non-bonded mesh well screen. A method of manufacturing a well screen includes the steps of: expanding at least a portion of a screen jacket; and then securing the screen jacket onto a base pipe. A well screen system includes a base pipe and an at least partially expanded screen jacket surrounding the base pipe. The screen jacket is expanded prior to being positioned on the base pipe.
US08176629B2	Method for screwing skirt and crown parts of a metal piston together A method for screwing together two metal parts that are spaced apart from one another close to a screw connection element and elastically deformable relative to one another, and for the remainder lie against one another. In order to obtain a firm and secure screw connection, with little expenditure of torque, one of the metal parts is deformed, before the metal parts are screwed together, in such a manner that regions close to the screw connection element come close to one another, and the metal parts are then screwed together. A region of the one metal parts remains deformed after they have been screwed together, as a result of the screw connection element.
US08176623B2	Method of manufacturing a magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording A method of manufacturing the magnetic head includes the steps of: forming the pole-layer-encasing layer; forming an initial nonmagnetic layer in the groove of the pole-layer-encasing layer by physical vapor deposition, the initial nonmagnetic layer being intended to become the nonmagnetic layer later by undergoing etching of a surface thereof; etching the surface of the initial nonmagnetic layer by dry etching so that the initial nonmagnetic layer becomes the nonmagnetic layer; and forming the pole layer in the pole-layer-encasing section formed by the nonmagnetic layer.
US08176620B2	Aluminum oxide particle strengthened niobium-tin superconducting composite wire A composite superconducting wire and a method of manufacturing the wire is disclosed. Nano-particle dispersion strengthened copper is co-drawn with Niobium rod to produce DSC-1Nb wire. n numbers of DSC-1Nb wires are then stacked in a hollow DSC tube and drawn to form a DSC-n.Nb hexagonal wire. In a separate preliminary process, Tin rod is co-deformed with Copper tube to form a Cu-1Sn wire. m DSC-n Nb wires and 1 Cu-1Sn wires are then wrapped by Niobium foil and placed into a Copper tube. This entire assembly is then drawn to a finished size. The drawn composite is then subjected to heat treatment with a final stage at 650-700° C. for about 100 hours or longer. The new wire has higher electric critical current and higher mechanical strength than the controlled conventional ones.
US08176618B2	Method for producing gas sensor A solid electrolyte body is placed on and fixed to an upper plate of a press jig such that a major surface (an upper surface) of the solid electrolyte body faces one major surface of a guide plate having an open space. The upper plate is rotated by a transfer mechanism to incline the solid electrolyte body in one direction, and the inclined solid electrolyte body is moved toward the other major surface of the guide plate such that a first edge of the solid electrolyte body protrudes from the open space. Then, a cutter is slid along the other major surface, so that the first edge is chamfered to form a first chamfered portion.
US08176614B2	Drawer-type dishwasher having modular support body A dishwasher includes a tub having a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls that collectively define a first washing chamber. The tub is supported in an outer, modular support body having first and second opposing side walls joined by a bottom wall, as well as a pair of upper frame members. In one embodiment of the invention, first and second support bodies are mounted one atop another to establish a dual drawer-type dishwasher, with the first and second support bodies being joined, preferably at a stepped interface region, by a plurality of brackets. The first and second support bodies are preferably aligned by arranging lugs formed on upper in-turned flanges on a lower support body within recesses formed in the bottom wall of the upper support body.
US08176606B2	Method of fabricating a piezoelectric vibrating piece To carry out frequency adjustment easily, accurately and efficiently and achieve low cost formation and promotion of maintenance performance without being influenced by a size of a piezoelectric vibrating piece, there is provided a method of fabricating a piezoelectric vibrating piece which is a method of fabricating a piezoelectric vibrating pieces having a piezoelectric plate 11, a pair of exciting electrodes 12, 13, and a pair of mount electrodes electrodes 15, 16 by utilizing a wafer S, the method including an outer shape forming step of forming a frame portion S1 at the wafer and forming a plurality of piezoelectric plates to be connected to the frame portion by way of a connecting portion 11a, an electrode forming step of respectively forming pairs of exciting electrodes and pairs of mount electrodes to the plurality of piezoelectric plates and forming a plurality of pairs of extended electrodes S2, S3 to be respectively electrically connected to the pairs of mount electrodes by way of the connecting portion, a frequency adjusting step of adjusting a frequency of the piezoelectric plate while applying a drive voltage between the pair of the extended electrodes, and a cutting step of fragmenting the plurality of piezoelectric plates.
US08176602B1	Reclosable storage bag closure with internal valving A reclosable fastener having a one-way valve interposed between first and second sets of interlocking members permits fluid flow in one direction through the fastener and blocks fluid flow in an opposite direction through the fastener.
US08176600B1	Money pin A money pin device is a device that conveniently and securely holds paper money and/or similar paper instruments on one's person for celebratory or suitable purposes. It also can be decoratively streamed lined and used as a simple filing system for posting receipts, notes, memos, and/or similar postings.
US08176599B2	Cinching and bundling tie A cinching and bundling tie consisting of a planar strap having multiple teeth along both edges that engage when the strap is tied around an object or objects. The tie is self engaging, re-usable, simple in design, effective in its performance, easy to use, quick to apply, and adjustable.
US08176593B2	Drain cleaning apparatus with electronic cable monitoring system A drain cleaning machine with an electronic cable monitoring system is disclosed which comprises a frame supporting a rotatable drum which is driven by a motor through an endless belt. The drum contains a flexible drain cleaning cable which is rotatable with the drum and axially displaceable into and out from the drum, and the frame supports a cable feeding device through which the cable extends and by which the cable is displaced into and out of the drum. An electronic cable monitoring system is configured to assess an amount of cable payed out from and retracted into the drum. A process determines an amount and direction of relative movement between a rotatable drum and a cable follower member and generates a signal representative of an amount of cable payed out or retracted into the drum.
US08176592B1	Methods and apparatus for removing paint from a barrel of a paintball gun An apparatus for removing paint from a barrel of a paintball gun.
US08176591B2	Electrical toothbrush An electrical toothbrush includes an electrical toothbrush main body including a drive source of a brush; an orientation sensor configured to detect an orientation of the electrical toothbrush main body; and a controller configured to switch an operation mode of the electrical toothbrush according to a result of comparing an orientation value, which is a value calculated from an output of the orientation sensor, and a threshold value set in advance. A threshold value used for switching determination from an operation mode to an operation mode, and a threshold value used for switching determination from the operation mode to the operation mode are set to different values.
US08176590B1	Oscillating toothbrush Unique dental care devices, systems and methods for cleaning teeth and oral tissue comprises an oscillating tooth brush with dual opposing brush heads, adapted to clean teeth and sulcus area. The devices are capable of brushing a set of opposing upper and lower teeth of the mouth simultaneously. The devices, once inserted and positioned into the mouth to clean a pair or a set of opposing upper and lower teeth, can be maneuvered inside the mouth cavity from one side of the mouth to the other to clean all the teeth without requiring removal from the mouth and repositioning.
US08176588B2	Inflatable furniture An inflatable furniture comprises: a receiving body, a plurality of side-board-connecting members, airbag-connecting members, a pump, a power supply, two airbags, and an audio device. By opening the side boards and inflating the airbags, the airbags can be inflated into beds or sofas, and when after use, the airbags can be deflated and folded into the receiving body. Furthermore, the receiving body can also be temporarily used as a tea table or a stool.
US08176586B2	Arm-positioning cushion and pillow An ergonomic, arm-positioning pillow includes an ornamental design including an upper portion having a top surface for supporting the head of a sleeper and a bottom portion having a lower surface for supporting the arm-positioning pillow and having a first space extending at an oblique angle from a first space located along the lower surface for receiving an arm therein and supporting the sleeper to position the arm for managing the amount of pressure applied to the arm, and a second space located in the lower surface for receiving a second arm or for receiving the second arm to provide for ambidextrous use of the arm-positioning pillow and to obtain improved sleep performance in the form of reduced snoring and sleep apnea.
US08176583B2	Siderail assembly A siderail assembly 40 for a bed 20 includes a link P pivotably connectable to a bed frame at a joint PF and to a rail at a joint PR. The link P has at least one reaction surface 64, 66. The assembly also includes a link R having a rail end 78 and a common end 80. The rail end of link R is pivotably connected to the rail at a joint RR. The assembly also includes a link Q having a frame end 72 and a common end 74. The frame end of link Q is pivotably connected to the frame at a joint QF. The common ends of link Q and link R are pivotably connected to each other at a joint A constrained to move substantially parallel to the reaction surface.
US08176576B2	Container A container comprising a body (1), a lid (5) for the body (1), and a locking arrangement for securing the lid (5) to the body (1): the locking arrangement comprising a handle (23) which fits around at least a part of the periphery of the lid (5), and at least one locking device which connects the handle (23) to the lid (5) such that the lid (5) is movable by the handle (23), which is such that the locking device locks when the handle (23) is lowered with respect to the lid (5), and which is such that the lifting of the handle (23) away from the lid (5) causes the locking device (4) to unlock.
US08176573B2	Boxer shorts and process of making boxer shorts from one or more webs A boxer-style pant and methods of making a boxer-style pant having side seams and hanging legs. At least a portion of each of the hanging legs may be non-planar in an uncontracted state prior to formation of the side seams. The methods each involve providing at least one web. In some methods, a crotch panel is bonded to first and second regions of the web between two leg openings, and a distance between bonded regions of upper and lower edges of the crotch panel, measured parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pant, is shorter along a central region of the crotch panel and longer in distal regions of the crotch panel, such that the bonded region results in a bow-tie-shaped crotch panel. In some methods, a crotch region of the web is folded and stabilized along a longitudinal centerline of the web. In some methods, leg extensions are attached to at least a portion of each of two leg openings. Front and back regions may be joined together to form the side seams. An absorbent structure may be attached to the web.
US08176569B2	Advanced engineered garment An under body armor hybrid fabric garment has first and second fabric portions. The first fabric portion, configured to cover an upper torso region of a user's body left exposed by the body armor and extending into a second body transition region covered by the body armor, is formed of low or no stretch fabric. The second fabric element, configured to cover a lower torso region of the user's body underneath the body armor, is formed of stretchable fabric.

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