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

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US08178267B2	Electrophotographic toner A set of toners comprising a yellow toner, a magenta toner, a cyan toner and a black toner for forming a full color image with an electrophotographic method, wherein the yellow toner comprises toner particles containing at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Yellow 74, C.I. Pigment Yellow 139, C.I. Pigment Yellow 155, C.I. Pigment Yellow 180 and C.I. Pigment Yellow 185; the magenta toner comprises toner particles containing a dye represented by Formula (X-1) and a metal compound represented by Formula (1); and the cyan toner comprises toner particles containing a silicon phthalocyanine represented by Formula (2):
US08178258B2	Electrochemical device with a LSGM-electrolyte An electrochemical device including an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein the electrolyte membrane has a material of formula La1−xSrxGa1−yMGyO3−0.5(x+y), wherein x and y are independently a value of 0.1 to 0.3, said material having a relative density of at least 90% and including LaSrGaO4 in a percentage of 0.05 vol % to 10 vol %. A method for producing energy and a method for separating oxygen from a gas mixture are also disclosed.
US08178257B2	Polymer electrolyte membrane and membrane/electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cell A membrane/electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell capable of exhibiting high power generation performance constantly for a long period of time in a high temperature and low humidity environment, and a polymer electrolyte membrane whereby such a membrane/electrode assembly is obtainable.A polymer electrode membrane 15, comprising a proton conductive polymer which has an electrical conductivity of at least 0.07 S/cm at a temperature of 80° C. at a relative humidity of 40% and which has a water content of less than 15 mass; and a membrane/electrode assembly 10 comprising an anode 13 and a cathode 14 each having a catalyst layer 11, and a polymer electrolyte membrane 15 disposed between the anode 13 and the cathode 14.
US08178254B2	Cell for solid oxide fuel cell and method for manufacturing same There is provided an SOFC cell and manufacturing method thereof whereby the occurrence of Cr poisoning of the air electrode can be satisfactorily suppressed in an SOFC cell formed by joining together an air electrode with a Cr-containing alloy or the like. A Cr(VI) oxide suppressing state is induced for suppressing the formation of Cr(VI) oxides in an alloy or oxide during a firing process in which an alloy or oxide and an air electrode are fired in a state of being joined together.
US08178252B2	Method to maximize fuel cell voltage during start-up A method of operating a fuel cell system is disclosed, the method including the steps of providing a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cell assemblies, each fuel cell assembly having a proton exchange membrane disposed between a plurality of fuel cell plates, wherein water is purged from the fuel cell system during a shutdown operation, and a current is produced in the fuel cell system following the shutdown purge to produce product water to hydrate the proton exchange membrane.
US08178249B2	Fuel cell humidity control system and method A control system for controlling the amount of water in at least one fluid stream that is passed through a fuel cell stack comprises a humidifier arrangement, a sensor and a controller. The humidifier arrangement is operable to humidify the fluid stream. The sensor is disposed downstream of the humidifier arrangement and configured to measure at least one characteristic of the fluid stream. The at least one characteristic of fluid stream is indicative of the amount of water in the fluid stream. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the sensor and to use the signal to determine a difference between an amount of water in the fluid stream and a target amount of water. The controller is operable to control the humidifier arrangement to control the amount of water in the fluid stream based on the difference.
US08178246B2	Nonaqueous electrolyte solution, nonaqueous electrolyte secondary cell, and carbonate compounds The present invention provides a nonaqueous electrolytic solution which can give excellent cycle characteristics. The nonaqueous electrolytic solution contains a linear carbonate represented by the formula (1): wherein, in the formula (1), Xa represents each independently hydrogen or any group; Ra represents optionally substituted alkyl; and n represents an integer of zero or more.
US08178245B2	Electrode assembly having porous separator that contains an antacid and secondary battery having the same An electrode assembly and a secondary battery having the same are provided. The electrode assembly includes a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material layer, a negative electrode including a negative electrode active material layer, and a porous layer for separating the positive and negative electrodes from each other that is formed of a combination of a ceramic material having a particle size of about 50 to 300 nm (particle size distribution value: D50) and a binder. Moreover, the porous layer contains an antacid. The secondary battery having the electrode assembly has satisfactory lifespan and overcharge characteristics.
US08178244B2	Non-aqueous electrolyte battery and battery pack A non-aqueous electrolyte battery comprises a negative electrode comprising a current collector, and a negative electrode layer formed on one or both surfaces of the current collector, a positive electrode, and a separator interposed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode. The negative electrode layer comprises a plurality of layers laminated each other and containing a different active material each other, the layers comprising a first layer which is contacted with the current collector and contains spinel-type lithium titanate as an active material, and a second layer which is disposed to face the separator and contains Ramsdellite-type lithium titanate or anatase-type titanium oxide as an active material.
US08178239B2	Cathode material for secondary battery, method for producing same, and secondary battery A cathode material for a secondary battery containing a cathode active material represented by the general formula LinFePO4 (wherein n represents a number from 0 to 1) as a primary component and molybdenum (Mo), wherein the cathode active material LinFePO4 is composited with the Mo. In a preferred embodiment, the cathode material has conductive carbon deposited on the surface thereof.
US08178236B2	Secondary battery including an insulation case with an insertion groove A secondary battery includes: a bare cell; an insulation case located on the bare cell; a protection device seated on the insulation case and electrically coupled to the bare cell; and a first lead electrically coupled to a first terminal of the protection device, where the insulation case includes; a base portion on which the protection device is seated; an anchor portion provided on a surface at one end of the base portion; and a hook portion projecting from one side surface of the anchor portion toward a center of the base portion and having an insertion groove at a lower portion thereof. The first lead is connected to the hook portion of the insulation case.
US08178235B2	Battery with cap plate having inclined edge A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly having a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, a case for receiving the electrode assembly, the case having an open end, and a cap plate having an inclined outer edge surface, an outer end of the included outer edge surface being attached to a surface of the open end of the case.
US08178232B2	Battery pack A battery pack includes a multi cell assembly having a plurality of bare cells, the multi cell assembly defining opposing planar surfaces. The battery pack also includes a protection circuit at one side of the multi cell assembly, a case surrounding a periphery of the multi cell assembly and the protection circuit and exposing the opposing planar surfaces of the multi cell assembly to an exterior of the multi cell assembly and reinforcing tape attached to the opposing planar surfaces.
US08178231B2	Composition and energy storage device In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a cathode composition is provided that includes at least one transition metal or a transition metal salt, wherein the transition metal is at least one selected from the group consisting of nickel, iron, cobalt, chromium, manganese, molybdenum, and antimony; an alkali metal halide; a salt comprising an alkali metal halide and a metal halide; and a metal polysulfide compound MSn wherein M is a metal and n is an integer equal to or greater than 2. The salt comprising an alkali metal halide and a metal halide has a melting point of less than about 300° C. An energy storage device comprising the electrode composition is also provided.
US08178228B2	Solid-state battery The present invention provides an all-solid-state battery capable of improving output power. The all-solid-state battery includes a wound solid electrolyte/electrode assembly and a case housing the solid electrolyte/electrode assembly with a pressurized fluid being filled between the inner periphery surface of the case and the solid electrolyte/electrode assembly.
US08178222B2	Decorative part and process for producing the same A decorative part and a process for producing the decorative part. A first nitride layer containing at least one metal selected among hafnium, titanium, and zirconium is formed on the surface of a decorative part comprising a soft base made of a material selected among stainless steel, titanium and titanium alloys, brass, etc., and a second nitride layer containing at least one metal which is selected among hafnium, titanium, and zirconium and is different from that in the first nitride layer is formed on the first nitride layer to thereby form a primer layer. A multilayered hardened layer including a gold alloy layer is further formed as a finish layer on the primer layer.
US08178221B2	{100}<100> or 45°-rotated {100}<100>, semiconductor-based, large-area, flexible, electronic devices Novel articles and methods to fabricate the same resulting in flexible, {100}<100> or 45°-rotated {100}<100> oriented, semiconductor-based, electronic devices are disclosed. Potential applications of resulting articles are in areas of photovoltaic devices, flat-panel displays, thermophotovoltaic devices, ferroelectric devices, light emitting diode devices, computer hard disc drive devices, magnetoresistance based devices, photoluminescence based devices, non-volatile memory devices, dielectric devices, thermoelectric devices and quantum dot laser devices.
US08178219B2	Wetting resistant materials and articles made therewith Ceramic materials with relatively high resistance to wetting by various liquids, such as water, are presented, along with articles made with these materials. The oxide materials described herein as a class typically contain one or more of ytterbia (Yb2O3) and europia (Eu2O3). The oxides may further contain other additives, such as oxides of gadolinium (Gd), samarium (Sm), dysprosium (Dy), or terbium (Tb). In certain embodiments the oxide, in addition to the ytterbia and/or europia, further comprises lanthanum (La), praseodymium (Pr), or neodymium (Nd).
US08178216B2	Quinoxaline derivative, and light-emitting element, light-emitting device, and electronic device including quinoxaline derivative An object of the present invention is to provide a quinoxaline derivative represented by a general formula (1). Ar1 represents one of a substituted or unsubstituted biphenyl group, and a substituted or unsubstituted terphenyl group; Ar2 represents one of a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted biphenyl group, and a substituted or unsubstituted terphenyl group; α1 represents an arylene group having 6 to 25 carbon atoms; and R11 to R15 are the same or different from one another, and each of them represents any one of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 25 carbon atoms.
US08178215B2	Organic compound containing at least two carbazolyl-substituted phenyl structures; charge-transporting material and organic el element containing the compound An organic compound and a charge-transporting material which are excellent in both a hole-transporting property and an electron-transporting property and have excellent electrical oxidation/reduction durability and a high triplet excitation level are provided, and an organic electroluminescent device which uses this organic compound and has high luminous efficiency and high driving stability and long lifetime is provided, wherein the organic compound has two or more partial structures represented by the following Formula (I): wherein Cz denotes a carbazolyl group; Z is as defined; and Q denotes a direct link connected to G present in a moiety represented by the following Formula (II): wherein B1 ring is a six-membered aromatic heterocycle containing n N atoms as a hetero atom; n is an integer of 1 to 3; G is as defined; and m is an integer of 3 to 5.
US08178212B2	Functionally graded high temperature bonding of fiberglass fibers to steel Method for chemical bonding of fiberglass fibers to steel surfaces to prepare the steel for bonding with carbon composite material. This fiber-bonding step greatly increases the strength of the subsequent metal-composite bond. The fiberglass fibers which are chemically bonded to the steel provide a high surface area interface to entangle with carbon fibers in the composite component, and thereby inhibit crack formation on the boundary surface between the steel and composite components when they are bonded together.
US08178206B2	Solar control laminates Provided is a solar control composition comprising an infrared absorbing phthalocyanine compound or naphthalocyanine compound and a resin having a modulus from 20,000 psi (138 MPa) to 1000 psi (7 MPa) and solar control laminates comprising the solar control composition of the invention.
US08178201B2	Electroconductive particle comprising graphene-coated polymer particle, anisotropic conductive film comprising same and method of making thereof An electroconductive particle that includes (a) a polymer microparticle, and (b) a graphene coating layer grafted on the polymer microparticle, which has improved long-term stability of the conductivity, surface conductivity, durability, and thermal resistance, and is applicable for producing an anisotropic conductive film used for packaging electronic devices.
US08178195B2	Biaxially oriented film laminated board, electrical insulation board and machine part Disclosed is a biaxially oriented film laminated board having a thickness of 0.5 mm or more, wherein biaxially oriented films composed of a resin composition having a melting point of 240° C. or higher are laminated at a multi-layer condition without interposing an adhesive therebetween. This biaxially oriented film laminated board is characterized in that the minimum value among the elongation at break in the longitudinal direction and that in the transverse direction is 25% or more when the board is punched into a rectangular form. Also disclosed are various electrical insulation boards and machine parts each using the laminated board. A laminated board having properties of a biaxially oriented film including thermal resistance, electrical insulation, mechanical strength, flexibility and workability can be obtained.
US08178182B2	Multilayered clutch lining and method for production of a multilayered clutch lining A multilayered friction lining, including friction member (4, 4a) that forms a friction surface; and reinforcement member (3, 3a). Reinforcement member (3, 3a) is wound of reinforcement yarn and friction member (4, 4a) is wound of friction yarn. The friction yarn features friction and/or anti-wear properties better than of the reinforcement yarn, the friction member (4, 4a) is wound with a friction coil-winding ratio and the reinforcement member (3, 3a) is wound with a reinforcement coil-winding ratio, and the friction coil-winding ratio is greater than or equal to said reinforcement coil-winding ratio.
US08178170B2	Method for depositing inorganic/organic films The present invention describes a method for applying a hybrid coating to a substrate. A coating according to the invention is formed by an inorganic component and an organic component. As a result, this coating has the hybrid character whereby the advantages of inter alia hardness are combined with flexibility. The invention also describes a device for the manufacture of a hybrid coating.
US08178169B2	Methods of leveling ink on substrates using flash heating and apparatuses useful in printing Methods of leveling ink on substrates and apparatuses useful in printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the methods includes irradiating ink disposed on a first surface of a porous substrate with radiation emitted by at least one flash lamp. The radiation flash heats the ink to at least a viscosity threshold temperature of the ink to allow the ink to flow laterally on the first surface to produce leveling of the ink. The ink is heated sufficiently rapidly that heat transfer from the ink to the substrate is sufficiently small during the leveling that ink at the substrate interface is cooled to a temperature below the viscosity threshold temperature thereby preventing any significant ink permeation into the substrate from the first surface.
US08178167B2	VOC-free or VOC-poor polyurethane coating The invention relates to humidity hardening compounds containing at least one polyurethane polymer, P, exhibiting an isocyanate group, at least one polyimine ALD of Formula (I) of at least 22% by weight, in relation to the sum of the components of the compound which contain the isocyanate group, as well as, if necessary, a polyisocyanate oligomer OP. The humidity hardening compound is particularly suitable for providing coatings and linings. The use of the imines makes possible VOC-free or VOC-poor compounds, which is a substantial advantage for indoor applications.
US08178165B2	Method for fabricating a long-range ordered periodic array of nano-features, and articles comprising same A long range, periodically ordered array of discrete nano-features (10), such as nano-islands, nano-particles, nano-wires, non-tubes, nano-pores, nano-composition-variations, and nano-device-components, are fabricated by propagation of a self-assembling array or nucleation and growth of periodically aligned nano-features. The propagation may be induced by a laterally or circularly moving heat source, a stationary heat source arranged at an edge of the material to be patterned (12), or a series of sequentially activated heaters or electrodes. Advantageously, the long-range periodic array of nano-features (10) may be utilized as a nano-mask or nano-implant master pattern for nano-fabrication of other nano-structures. In addition, the inventive long-range, periodically ordered arrays of nano-features are useful in a variety of nanoscale applications such as addressable memories or logic devices, ultra-high-density magnetic recording media, magnetic sensors, photonic devices, quantum computing devices, quantum luminescent devices, and efficient catalytic devices.
US08178157B2	Gas sensor and manufacturing method thereof A gas sensor and manufacturing method thereof. The gas sensor includes a substrate, a pair of electrodes disposed on the substrate, and a gas sensing thin film covering the electrodes, the gas sensing thin film is made up of carbon nanotubes and tin oxide.
US08178154B2	Method for disposing a component A method for disposing a component comprises: a step of preparing a substrate and a first liquid; preparing a component-containing liquid containing the components and a second liquid; a step of disposing the first liquid in a hydrophilic region; a step of bringing the component-containing liquid into contact with the first liquid disposed on the hydrophilic region; a step of removing the first liquid and the second liquid to dispose the component on the hydrophilic region. The hydrophilic region is composed of a component-disposing region and a liquid-capturing region formed on the periphery of the component-disposing region. The liquid-capturing region comprises a surface represented by the following chemical formula I.
US08178151B2	Frozen aerated confection A frozen aerated confection comprising an ice structuring protein (ISP) and a hydrophobin is provided.
US08178141B2	Articles of manufacture and methods for absorbing gasses released by roasted coffee packed in hermetically sealed containers Articles of manufacture and methods for absorbing gasses released by roaster coffee packed in hermetically sealed containers.
US08178135B2	Aqueous solution of conophylline and/or conophyllidine PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTIONTo provide aqueous solutions of conophylline and/or conophyllidine; methods for purifying conophylline and/or conophyllidine from the aqueous solutions; methods for producing the aqueous solutions, water-soluble compositions containing conophylline and/or a conophyllidine useful for food compositions or pharmaceutical compositions or methods for preparing the same; as well as food compositions or pharmaceutical compositions containing the water-soluble compositions.MEANS OF SOLVING THE PROBLEMSIt has been found that conophylline and/or conophyllidine can be efficiently extracted from a plant producing conophylline and/or conophyllidine with an acidic aqueous solution having a pH equal to or less than 4. The extract thus obtained, i.e., aqueous solution of conophylline, and/or conophyllidine is useful for production of, for instance, food compositions, pharmaceutical compositions, etc.
US08178133B2	Magnesium compositions and uses thereof A composition for administration to a subject, such as oral administration to a subject, for example, has been provided. Such a composition may comprise at least one magnesium-counter ion compound. A magnesium-counter ion composition described herein may be useful for any of a variety of applications provided herein, such as maintaining, enhancing, and/or improving health, nutrition, and/or another condition of a subject, and/or cognitive, learning, and/or memory function. A magnesium-counter ion composition provided herein may be useful for administration to a subject presenting magnesium deficiency, mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ALS, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, migraine, anxiety disorder, mood disorder, and/or hypertension. A kit, method, and other associated technology are also provided.
US08178132B2	Magnesium-containing food compositions A composition for administration to a subject, such as oral administration to a subject, for example, has been provided. Such a composition may comprise at least one magnesium-counter ion compound. A magnesium-counter ion composition described herein may be useful for any of a variety of applications provided herein, such as maintaining, enhancing, and/or improving health, nutrition, and/or another condition of a subject, and/or cognitive, learning, and/or memory function. A magnesium-counter ion composition provided herein may be useful for administration to a subject presenting magnesium deficiency, mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ALS, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, migraine, anxiety disorder, mood disorder, and/or hypertension. A kit, method, and other associated technology are also provided.
US08178129B2	Formulations of water insoluble or poorly water soluble drugs in lipidated glycosaminoglycan particles and their use for diagnostic and therapy The invention provides a formulation of water insoluble or poorly water soluble drugs encapsulated in lipidated glycosaminoglycan particles for targeted drug delivery.
US08178124B2	Drug carrier and drug carrier kit for inhibiting fibrosis An astrocyte-specific drug carrier containing a retinoid derivative and/or a vitamin A analog as a constituent; a drug delivery method with the use of the same; a drug containing the same; and a therapeutic method with the use of the drug. By binding a drug carrier to a retinoid derivative such as vitamin A or a vitamin A analog or encapsulating the same in the drug carrier, a drug for therapeutic use can be delivered specifically to astrocytes. As a result, an astrocyte-related disease can be efficiently and effectively inhibited or prevented while minimizing side effects. As the drug inhibiting the activity or growth of astrocytes, for example, a siRNA against HSP47 which is a collagen-specific molecule chaperone may be encapsulated in the drug carrier. Thus, the secretion of type I to type IV collagens can be inhibited at the same time and, in its turn, fibrosis can be effectively inhibited.
US08178123B2	Method for augmentation of intraepithelial and systemic exposure of therapeutic agents having substrate activity for cytochrome P450 enzymes and membrane efflux systems following vaginal and oral cavity administration A vaginal or buccal delivery of therapeutic agents having a substrate affinity for metabolic cytochrome P-450 enzymes and membrane efflux transporter systems. A method for augmentation of systemic exposure to the therapeutic agents having a substrate affinity for cytochrome P-450 enzymes and membrane efflux transporter systems, by delivering said agents to the systemic circulation through vaginal or buccal mucosa.
US08178121B2	Ready-to-use paracetamol injection solutions containing propylene glycol as the only cosolvent The present invention refers to ready-to-use highly stable paracetamol injectable solutions, prepared by mixing paracetamol, water, propylene glycol, and a citrate buffer. (pH 4.5 to 6.5), and by heating said solution under preset conditions. The resulting solution may be stored for an extended period of time within a wide range of temperatures, with no paracetamol precipitation and/or its chemical modification.
US08178117B2	Liquid water based agrochemical formulations The present invention relates to a formulation comprising (a) at least one pesticide; and (b) at least one non-ionic surfactant of formula (I): R1—O-(AO)x—(H); wherein R1 represents straight-chain or branched alkyl having 4 to 20 carbon atoms; AO is ethyleneoxy, propyleneoxy or a mixture of ethyleneoxy and propyleneoxy; and x correspond to values from 2 to 30; and (c) at least one ionic tristyrylphenyl alkoylate; and (d) at least one oil; and (e) water, wherein the pesticide is present in the aqueous phase in form of a suspension and the oil is essentially free of pesticide.
US08178113B2	Cosmetic composition and methods of use A cosmetic composition is provided including about 25 wt % to about 55 wt % Aloe vera gel, about 9 wt % to about 33 wt % exfoliant, about 5 wt % to about 20 wt % vitamin C, and about 0.25 wt % to about 1.0 wt % retinyl propionate (vitamin A), wherein said composition has a pH of about 2.0 to about 3.7. Methods of using said composition are also included.
US08178108B2	Methods for expression and purification of recombinant human growth hormone The present invention relates generally to the production, purification, and isolation of human growth hormone (hGH). More particularly, the invention relates to the production, purification, and isolation of substantially purified hGH comprising non-naturally encoded amino acids and hGH from recombinant host cells or culture medium including, for example, yeast, insect, mammalian and bacterial host cells. The process of the present invention is also useful for purification of hGH linked to polymers or other molecules.
US08178105B2	Composition containing Agaricus blazei Murill The invention provides a composition containing a fruit body of Agaricus blazei murill or an extract of the fruit body, and an amino acid constituting the ornithine cycle or a salt thereof, wherein the pharmacological activities of the fruit body of Agaricus blazei murill or the extract of the fruit body and the amino acid constituting the omithine cycle or the salt thereof are increased synergistically. Such a composition can contain a fruit body of Agaricus blazei murill or an extract of the fruit body, and an amino acid constituting the ornithine cycle or a salt thereof in 10-100 parts by weight per 1 part by weight of the fruit body or the extract.
US08178100B2	Antibodies to IP-10 for treating bone diseases with bone destruction The present invention is directed to providing the IP-10 protein (interferon-γ-inducible protein 10) as a novel therapeutic target relating to the etiology of bone diseases with bone destruction associated with RNAKL expression and osteoclast formation. More specifically, the present invention relates to (i) a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating a disease or disorder associated with the expression of RANKL (receptor activator of NF-κB ligand), (ii) a method for inhibiting the expression of RANKL and (iii) a method for screening an antibody drug candidate to inhibit the expression of RANKL.
US08178097B2	Methods of treatment utilizing binding proteins of the interleukin-21 receptor The present invention provides binding proteins and antigen-binding fragments thereof, including human antibodies, that specifically bind to the human interleukin-21 receptor (IL-21R), and methods of using them. The binding proteins can act as, e.g., antagonists of IL-21R activity, thereby modulating immune responses in general, and those mediated by IL-21R in particular. The disclosed compositions and methods may be used, e.g., in diagnosing, treating, and/or preventing IL-21R-associated disorders, e.g., inflammatory disorders, autoimmune diseases, allergies, transplant rejection, and other immune system disorders.
US08178096B2	Use of an anti-CD151 antibody in the treatment of cancer The present invention relates to the use of at least one antibody, or a functional fragment thereof, which is capable of binding to the CD151 protein and thereby inhibiting tumor growth, in the preparation of a medicament intended for the treatment of cancer.The invention is also directed to a composition for the treatment of cancer, comprising, as active ingredient, at least one anti-CD151 antibody, or a functional fragment thereof, which is capable of binding to the CD151 protein and/or of inhibiting the development of primary tumors and/or of inhibiting its metastasis-promoting activity, which antibodies may consist of the antibodies TS151 and/or TS151r.
US08178091B2	Compositions and methods for the treatment of respiratory disorders Methods and compositions are provided for the treatment of acute lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis by administering inhibitors of IGF-1R signaling activity.
US08178089B2	Neuronal progenitors from feeder-free human embryonic stem cell culture The present invention relates to methods for producing feeder cell-free neuroprogenitor cells (preferably adherent) from embryonic stems cells, preferably human embryonic stem cells, the feeder cell-free neuroprogenitor cells, preferably human cells themselves, as well as methods for producing feeder cell-free samples of neuronal cells, preferably adherent human neuronal cells and the feeder cell-free neuronal cells themselves. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treating neurodegenerative diseases as well as the use of the described cells in assay systems is also described.
US08178087B2	Process of production of bacteriophage compositions and methods in phage therapy field A method for producing bacteriophage stock compositions including (a) incubating a culture medium including at least one bacterial strain, at least one bacteriophage strain that can infect the bacterial strain, and at least one antibiotic, wherein the concentration of the antibiotic in the medium is in a range which causes about 0.1% to about 99.9% inhibition of the growth of the bacterial strain in the absence of the bacteriophage strain; (b) continuing incubation of the culture medium until bacterial lysis occurs, thereby obtaining a bacteriophage lysate; and preparing a crude bacteriophage extract from the culture medium.
US08178086B2	Activation of HCV specific T cells Methods for activating HCV-specific T cells are described. The methods utilize one or more administrations of HCV protein compositions, followed by one or more administrations of a viral vector comprising a nucleic acid encoding a least one HCV epitope that is present in the first composition. The protein compositions can further comprise an immunostimulatory nucleic acid and or other adjuvants and immune stimulatory compounds.
US08178080B2	Hair care compositions Hair care compositions are disclosed which comprise a silicone polyurethane polymer, an ester, and a fluorosilicone. The compositions are useful for improving color retention of artificially colored hair.
US08178078B2	Compositions containing a solvated active agent suitable for dispensing as a compressed gas aerosol A composition for solvating one or more active agents in an aqueous solution which is suitable for dispensing as a compressed gas aerosol composition is disclosed. The composition includes at least one surfactant, at least one active agent (such as a fragrance or an insecticide), and a compressed gas propellant. The at least one surfactant is preferably present in an amount from about 0.1 wt. % to about 3 wt. %. The at least one active agent is preferably present in an amount from about 0.1 wt. % to about 2 wt. %. The compressed gas propellant is preferably present in an amount from about 0.1 wt. % to about 1 wt. %. The total surfactant weight to active agent weight ratio for the composition is preferably about 1:3 to 5:1. The composition uses a reduced amount of surfactant and active agent thereby allowing for a more efficient active agent loading and a reduced stickiness or tackiness on surfaces contacted during use.
US08178076B2	Diagnosis and assessment of skeletal related disease using calcium 41 A method of determining calcium metabolism in a patient comprises the steps of administering radioactive calcium isotope 41Ca to the patient, allowing a period of time to elapse sufficient for dissemination and reaction of the radioactive calcium isotope 41Ca by the patient, obtaining a sample of the radioactive calcium isotope 41Ca from the patient, isolating the calcium content of the sample in a form suitable for precise measurement of isotopic calcium concentrations, and measuring the calcium content to determine parameters of calcium metabolism in the patient.
US08178073B2	Making method for titania nanoparticle The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing titania nanoparticles, and specifically to a method of manufacturing titania nanoparticles wherein the particle size is uniform, it is possible to manufacture monodisperse particles without aggregation among particles, a uniform coating can be applied, that is suitable to large-scale production, and that can obtain high-resolution images by maintaining the toner electric charge and electric charge distribution; and the developer included in said titania nanoparticles.
US08178071B2	Metal oxide nanoparticles, production method thereof, light-emitting element assembly, and optical material Metal oxide nanoparticles, production method thereof, light-emitting element assembly, and an optical material are provided. A method of producing metal oxide nanoparticles includes the steps of (A) mixing a first metal alkoxide containing a first metal, a second metal alkoxide containing a second metal different from the first metal, and a surfactant under an inert atmosphere to prepare a reaction solution; and (B) mixing a reaction initiator prepared by mixing a catalyst with a solvent and the reaction solution, and then heating the mixture of the reaction initiator and the reaction solution under an inert atmosphere to produce metal oxide nanoparticles which have a rutile-type crystal structure based on an atom of the first metal, an atom of the second metal, and an oxygen atom, and the surfaces of which are coated with the surfactant.
US08178067B2	Method of making amorphous silicon powder A production method of amorphous silicon oxide powder comprises a step of preparing a wood, agricultural crop or plant containing hexose and/or pentose and silicon oxide as a starting raw material, a step of hydrolyzing the starting raw material with nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid or organic acid to reduce a content of the hexose to 10% by weight or less and/or a content of the pentose to 20% by weight or less, and a step of burning residue yielded in the hydrolyzing step at a temperature of 400° C. to 1200° C.
US08178066B2	Method for stabilizing calcium phosphates fine particles, method for manufacturing calcium phosphates fine particles by using the method, and use thereof The present invention provides a method for stabilizing fine particles of calcium phosphates without lowering their solid phase forming activity.It is possible to stabilize the fine particles of calcium phosphates by stopping the growth of the fine particles formed in an aqueous solution supersaturated with respect to calcium phosphates. More specifically, the fine particles of calcium phosphates were stabilized by lowering the inorganic ion concentration of a fine-particle-forming solution containing fine particles of calcium phosphates by dialysis, ion exchange, dilution, or the like, or by separating the fine particles of calcium phosphates from the fine-particle-forming solution by filtration, centrifuging, or the like.
US08178064B2	Treatment of power utilities exhaust Provided is a process for treating nitrogen oxide-containing exhaust produced by a stationary combustion source by the catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxide in the presence of a reductant comprising hydrogen, followed by ammonia selective catalytic reduction to further reduce the nitrogen oxide level in the exhaust.
US08178062B2	Reforming apparatus for fuel cell In a reforming apparatus, for use in a fuel cell, for reforming a raw fuel into a hydrogen-rich reformed gas, a reformer generates the reformed gas from the raw fuel. A shift reactor reduces carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas through a shift reaction. A selective oxidation unit reduces the carbon monoxide contained in the reformed gas that has passed through the shift reactor by performing selective oxidation on the carbon monoxide. A reforming reaction tube houses linearly the reformer, the shift reactor and the selective oxidation unit in this order. A combustion means produces combustion exhaust gas by combusting the raw fuel. An outer casing is placed around the reforming reaction tube, and the outer casing has a larger diameter than that of the reforming reaction tube. A heated flow passage through which the combustion exhaust gas passes to heat the reforming reaction tube is formed between the reforming reaction tube and the outer casing.
US08178056B2	Biochemical reaction cartridge and biochemical treatment equipment system There is provided a biochemical reaction cartridge comprising at least one chemical reaction chamber that accommodates a solution for biochemically treating a sample, a reaction chamber for performing detection reaction of a target substance in the biochemically treated sample, and a detection reaction information fetching section for fetching information on whether or not the detection reaction is performed, wherein the biochemical reaction cartridge is provided with a covering unit that can cover and expose at least the reaction information fetching section.
US08178051B2	Apparatus and process for hydrogenation of a silicon tetrahalide and silicon to the trihalosilane A reactor for hydrogenation of a silicon tetrahalide and metallurgical grade silicon to trihalosilane includes a bed of metallurgical silicon particles, one or more gas entry ports, one or more solids entry ports, one or more solids drains and one or more ports for removing the trihalosilane from the reactor. Fresh surfaces are generated on the bed particles by internal grinding and abrasion as a result of entraining feed silicon particles in a silicon tetrahalide/hydrogen feed stream entering the reactor and impinging that stream on the bed of silicon particles. This has the advantages of higher yield of the trihalosilane, higher burnup rate of the MGS, removal of spent MGS as a fine dust carryover in the trihalosilane effluent leaving the reactor and longer times between shutdowns for bed removal.
US08178047B2	Miniature chemical analysis system An apparatus, according to one aspect, may include a chromatograph and a bulk acoustic resonator. The chromatograph may include a channel that is defined at least partially in a monolithic substrate. The channel may have an inlet to receive a sample and an outlet. A chromatography material may be included in the channel. The bulk acoustic resonator may have a first electrode and a second electrode that has a chemically functionalized surface. The chemically functionalized surface may be included in a chamber that is defined at least partially in the monolithic substrate and that is coupled with the outlet of the channel. Methods of making and using such apparatus, and systems including such apparatus, are also disclosed.
US08178045B2	Interchangeable preconcentrator connector assembly An interchangeable preconcentrator assembly comprises an outer housing and an inner housing defining a chamber. A biased urging member is held at least partially within the outer housing and slidably biased toward a surface of the inner housing. When the biased urging member is at least partially retracted, a space is defined between the urging member and the surface of the inner housing for accommodating at least one preconcentrator chip. A continuous fluid flow path is defined through the outer housing and through the space. The interchangeable preconcentrator assembly may further comprise at least one modular preconcentrator carriage.
US08178041B2	Method and apparatus for controlled reoxygenation A method and apparatus for performing coronary perfusion and cardiac reoxygenation that enables accurate control of oxygen levels in blood used for the coronary circulation. Deoxygenated blood and oxygenated blood are collected and oxygen levels are measured by sensors. The deoxygenated and oxygenated blood is then mixed and the mixed blood is measured by another sensor. The sensors provide data used to provide real-time oxygen level measurement and adjustment for blood supplied for coronary circulation.
US08178038B2	Undercut crankshaft hardening coil Improved induction coil apparatus and methods are presented for induction hardening undercut fillets of crankshafts or other workpiece recesses in which an active turn is energized for heating a journal area in the workpiece recess and one or more passive turns are translated toward undercut fillets once the coil assembly is moved toward the recess with coupling portions of the passive and active turns coupling energy from the active turn to the passive turn(s) for heating the undercut fillets.
US08178037B2	System for releasing gas into molten metal A device for releasing gas into molten metal includes a base having a discharge. The discharge has a first section including a first cross-sectional area and a second section including a second cross-sectional area, wherein the first section is upstream of the second section and the first cross-sectional area is smaller than the second cross-sectional area. A gas-release opening is positioned so that it can release gas into one or more of the first section or the second section. As the molten metal moves from the first cross-sectional area to the second cross-sectional area gas is released into the molten metal and the molten metal flow helps to draw the gas into the flow, thereby lowering the pressure required to release gas into the molten metal. Metal-transfer conduits other than a discharge incorporated in a pump base are also disclosed, as are pumps including either a discharge or other metal-transfer conduit according to the invention.
US08178036B2	Impeller for dispersing gas into molten metal An impeller for dispersing gas into molten metal includes a rectangular prism body having upper and lower faces and four side walls. The body has an opening extending through the upper and lower faces and defines a hub around the opening on the upper face. The impeller further includes a plurality of elongate grooves extending radially outwardly from the hub.
US08178030B2	Electrospinning of PTFE with high viscosity materials An improved process for forming a PTFE mat is described. The process includes providing a dispersion with PTFE, a fiberizing polymer and a solvent wherein said dispersion has a viscosity of at least 50,000 cP. An apparatus is provided which comprises a charge source and a target a distance from the charge source. A voltage source is provided which creates a first charge at the charge source and an opposing charge at the target. The dispersion is electrostatically charged by contact with the charge source. The electrostatically charged dispersion is collected on the target to form a mat precursor which is heated to remove the solvent and the fiberizing polymer thereby forming the PTFE mat.
US08178029B2	Manufacturing device and the method of preparing for the nanofibers via electro-blown spinning process The invention relates to a nanofiber web preparing apparatus and method via electro-blown spinning. The nanofiber web preparing method includes feeding a polymer solution, which is a polymer dissolved into a given solvent, toward a spinning nozzle, discharging the polymer solution via the spinning nozzle, which is charged with a high voltage, while injecting compressed air via the lower end of the spinning nozzle, and collecting fiber spun in the form of a web on a grounded suction collector under the spinning nozzle, in which both of thermoplastic and thermosetting resins are applicable, the solution does not need to be heated and electrical insulation is readily realized.
US08178026B2	Nanoimprinting method and mold for use in nanoimprinting A nanoimprinting method includes: forming at a region for performing a first nanoimprinting process on a substrate, a first patterning region with a first affinity to resin; forming at a region for performing a second nanoimprinting process on the substrate, a second patterning region with a second affinity to resin, the second affinity being lower than the first affinity; applying the resin to the first patterning region and transferring a pattern of a mold to the resin by the first nanoimprinting process; and modifying the second patterning region to a region with affinity to resin that is higher than the second affinity, then applying the resin to the modified region, and performing the second nanoimprinting process to process the second patterning region thereby connecting patterns formed at the first patterning region and the second patterning region to each other.
US08178025B2	Embossing system and product made thereby with both perforate bosses in the cross machine direction and a macro pattern An embossing system is provided for embossing at least a portion of a web comprising a first roll and at least a second roll. The first roll and second roll may define a first nip for embossing the web. At least one of the first roll and the second roll has elongated embossing elements extending substantially in the machine direction and optionally at least one of the first and second rolls has elongated embossing elements extending substantially in the cross-machine direction. At least one of the first roll and the second roll may also have perforate embossing elements extending substantially in the cross-machine direction that may or may not be elongated. The embossing elements are capable of imparting one or both of a cube embossing pattern or a perforate emboss on the web. The web may be a cellulosic fibrous web, a portion of which is lignin-rich, high coarseness fiber having generally tubular fiber configuration. In addition, the web may be creped with an undulatory creping blade.
US08178024B2	Injection molding die and injection molding method A die is formed of a cavity mold having a hollow portion and a slidable core mold that allows a core to be inserted into hollow portion of cavity mold. An insert part that has been previously molded is fitted to and supported by the front end of core of core mold. Then, insert part is inserted into die and clamped therein, then a molten molding material is injected into die so as to perform injection molding of a container body of a substrate storage container with its rear part formed with insert part. Since insert part is put into contact with hollow portion of cavity core so as to restrain vibration of tapering flat core, core of core mold will not be flapped or flexed even if difference in injection pressure occurs in the molding material.
US08178022B2	Method of manufacturing an article of footwear with a fluid-filled chamber An article of footwear may have a sole structure with a chamber, a plate, and an outsole. The chamber encloses a fluid and has an upper surface and an opposite lower surface. The plate is positioned adjacent to the upper surface and has a plurality of projections that extend into indentations in the chamber. The outsole may be positioned adjacent to the lower surface and may have a plurality of projections that extend into indentations in the chamber. In some manufacturing processes for the sole structure, the plate and outsole may be located within a mold, and the chamber may then be shaped by surfaces of the plate, outsole, and mold.
US08178021B2	Method of manufacturing a drawn biodegradable micro-filament The invention resides in enabling biodegradable filament of polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid and the like to manufacture biodegradable micro-filament by simple and convenient means without needing special, high-accuracy and high-level apparatus; it is characterized in that highly molecular oriented micro-filament those of 12 μm or less and generally from 2 μm to 3 μm can be obtained by heating biodegradable filament by infrared beam and the heated original filament is drawn to 100 times or more by tension of 10 MPa or less.
US08178020B2	Multicomponent textile fibers, methods for their production, and products made using them A fiber is produced comprising polymers of differing types which are not admixed during production. The differing polymer types are heated to the point of softening in a vertically-oriented crucible and a fiber comprising the polymers in positions corresponding to their positions in the crucible is drawn from an orifice at the lower end of the crucible.
US08178018B2	Methods for manufacturing fiber-cement soffits with air vents Methods and apparatuses for producing fiber-cement soffit building products. In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for producing fiber-cement soffits includes a punch assembly, a support assembly facing at least a portion of the punch assembly, and an actuator operatively coupled to at least one of the punch assembly or the support assembly. The punch assembly can include a punch plate and a plurality of punches coupled to the punch plate. Each punch can have a length and a first cross-sectional dimension generally normal to the length. The support assembly can have a support plate, and at least a portion of the support plate is juxtaposed to at least a portion of the punch plate. The support plate can include a plurality of holes arranged in a pattern so that each hole in the portion of the support plate juxtaposed to the punch plate is aligned with a corresponding punch on the punch plate. Each hole can have a second cross-sectional dimension greater than the first cross-sectional dimension of the punches to define a radial punch/hole clearance between each punch and each hole. The radial punch/hole clearance, for example, is generally greater than that of metal punch presses to allow the punches to be removed from a fiber-cement panel without delaminating portions of the panel.
US08178017B2	Method for producing granular composition A method for producing a granular composition including the steps of: stirring and granulating a mixture containing not less than 3 parts by weight and not more than 80 parts by weight of a phenol compound represented by the formula (1): wherein R1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, X is an n-valent alcohol residue having 1 to 18 carbon atoms optionally containing a heteroatom, a cyclic group, or a heteroatom and a cyclic group, and n is an integer of 1 to 4, and not less than 3 parts by weight and less than 20 parts by weight of a binder to obtain a granular agglomerate; and cracking the granular agglomerate at a temperature of not lower than 25° C. and lower than the temperature which is 10° C. lower than the melting point of the binder, through a cracking machine equipped with a separation mechanism capable of recovering a granule having a particle size not more than 5 mm, and a cracking mechanism, to obtain a granule.
US08178016B2	Method for manufacturing a multilayered composite molded part A method for manufacturing a multilayered composite molded part in a pressing tool, comprises: for a lower layer, particles provided with binder are poured into a mold in a lower part of the pressing tool; a pre-pressed molded part, which has coarser particles than those of the lower layer, is inserted into the first layer; the layers are compressed together with the pre-pressed, inserted molded part under the influence of pressure and heat so as to form the multilayered composite molded part, via the inserted molded part corresponding to the lower layer by means of an upper part of the pressing tool which is guided onto the upper layer. A product manufactured thereby has the form of a multilayered composite molded part with high strength and finely structured outer surfaces or layers and combines within it advantages of various conventional individual products.
US08178015B2	Process and device for melt-spinning and cooling synthetic filaments A process and a device involves melt-spinning and cooling synthetic filaments. Therein, a plurality of filaments is extruded from a polymer melt and, after the extrusion, is guided into a cooling shaft for cooling. Within the cooling shaft cool air is blown, via a blower wall, into the cooling shaft, where, for cooling, the filaments are guided along the blower wall and at a distance from it. In order to obtain cooling adapted to the particular filament titer, the blowing onto the filaments can be set by selecting one of several operating positions, where to change the operating position of the blower wall it is moved in the direction towards the filaments or in the direction away from the filaments.
US08178013B2	PLGA/hydroxyapatite composite biomaterial by gas bubble formation Tissue engineering is a growing field where new materials are being developed for implantation into the body. One important area involves bone graft materials to replace areas of bone lost to trauma or disease. Traditionally, graft material may be harvested from the bone of the individual receiving the graft material. However, this requires an additional surgery and additional recovery. Bone also may be taken from others, or even cadavers, but this introduces biocompatibility problems as well as the risk of disease transfer. Ideally, a biocompatible material is sought that will act as a filler with appropriate mechanical strength, encourage bone healing, and degrade to allow new bone ingrowth without the risk of disease transfer. The present invention is a new composite bone graft material made from biocompatible poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and nano-sized hydroxyapatite particles exposed on its surface using a gas foaming particle leaching (GF/PL) method. A further embodiment of this invention involves coating this PLGA/hydroxyapatite biomaterial with an adherent, fast, uniform coating of a mineral such as apatite. The PLGA polymer portion of the composite provides sufficient mechanical strength to replace bone and is degradable over time to allow new bone tissue ingrowth. The incorporated hydroxyapatite particles increase the composite material's osteogenic properties by providing sites for tissue attachment and propagation. Finally, a uniform coating of mineral apatite on the surface of this novel biomaterial composite further enhances its osteogenic qualities.
US08178005B2	Liquid phosphite compositions having different alkyl groups A composition comprising at least two different alkylaryl phosphites, wherein some alkyl groups have a different number of carbon atoms than other alkyl groups and wherein the composition is a liquid at ambient conditions.
US08178000B2	Deep red phosphor and method of manufacturing the same Disclosed is a deep red phosphor (600 nm to 670 nm) of Mn activity having a chemical formula of (k-x)MgOxAF2GeO2:yMn4+ where k is a real number between 2.8 and 5.0, x is a real number between 0.1 and 0.7, y is a real number between 0.005 and 0.015, and A is Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn, or a mixture thereof, or a mixture of Mg and at least one of Ca, Sr, Ba and Zn. The deep red phosphor has a high excitation efficiency and thus can be applied to light emitting diode (LED) packages, which uses an ultraviolet (UV) light source or a blue light source as an excitation light source. The deep red phosphor is applied to a phosphor layer of a phosphor lamp such as a cold cathode fluorescence lamp (CCFL) and a flat fluorescent lamp (FFL).
US08177997B2	Chemical method and composition for soil improvement A composition for chemical soil improvement includes a synthetic fluid or base oil, a pour point depressant, polyisobutylene, and synthetic fibers, and various combinations thereof.
US08177994B2	Electrolytic solution for aluminum electrolytic capacitors, and aluminum electrolytic capacitor using the same The present invention provides an electrolytic solution for aluminum electrolytic capacitors which has a high sparking voltage while maintaining its specific conductivity at 30° C. of 4 to 25 mS/cm and which has no possibility of corroding capacitor elements, and an aluminum electrolytic capacitor using the same. The electrolytic solution of the present invention is characterized as being an electrolytic solution containing an electrolyte (C) composed of an alkyl phosphate anion (A) represented by formula (1) or (2) given below and a cation (B), and an organic solvent (D), wherein the content of phosphoric acid in the electrolytic solution is 1% by weight or less: wherein R1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and R2 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms.
US08177993B2	Apparatus and methods for cleaning and drying of wafers An first example method and apparatus for etching and cleaning a substrate comprises device with a first manifold and a second manifold. The first manifold has a plurality of nozzles for dispensing chemicals onto the substrate. The second manifold is attached to a vacuum source and/or a dry air/gas source. A second example embodiment is a wafer cleaning device and method that uses a manifold with capillary jet nozzles and a liquid capillary jet stream to clean substrates.
US08177992B2	Plasma etching apparatus In one embodiment, a method of removing film materials on an edge area of a substrate in a plasma etching apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a chamber, a substrate support, a shield disposed with a gap on the substrate such that plasma is not generated therein while allowing an edge portion of the substrate to be exposed, and an antenna disposed on an outer wall of the chamber to apply plasma-generating power to an area between the edge portion of the substrate and an inner wall of the chamber. The method includes spraying a curtain gas to a space between the shield and the substrate, using a curtain gas passageway; and spraying a reaction gas to an area between a side surface of the shield and an inner sidewall of the chamber formed within the shield, using a reaction gas supply passageway.
US08177989B2	Copper conducting wire structure and fabricating method thereof A copper conducting wire structure is for use in the thin-film-transistor liquid crystal display (LCD) device. The copper conducting wire structure includes at least a buffer layer and a copper layer. A fabricating method of the copper conducting wire structure includes the following steps. At first, a glass substrate is provided. Next, the buffer layer is formed on the glass substrate. The buffer layer is comprised of a copper nitride. At last, the copper layer is formed on the buffer layer.
US08177988B2	Method for manufacturing liquid discharge head A method for manufacturing a substrate for a liquid discharge head having a silicon substrate provided with a supply port of a liquid comprises steps of preparing a substrate which is provided with a passive film on one side face thereof, has a first recess and a second recess provided therein so as to penetrate from the one side face into the inner part through the passive film, wherein the recesses satisfy a relation of a ×tan 54.7 degrees≦d, where a is defined as a distance between the first recess and the second recess, and d is defined as a depth of the second recess, and forming the supply port by anisotropically etching the crystal from the one side face.
US08177986B2	Method for deodorization The present invention relates to a method for deodorising organic fluids or inorganic fluids, which comprises creating a continuous flow or semi continuous flow of the fluids throw a column having one or more trays, creating a plug flow of the fluids through a labyrinth of passages on each tray by regulating the flow through the passages by use of a regulating valve at an exit in the tray, introducing sparging gas on the bottom level of each tray, contacting the fluids with the sparging gas in the plug flow, removing volatiles from the fluids, and transferring the sparging gas and the volatiles in ducts inside the column or outside the column. The present invention relates also to a plug flow tray, a column, a deodorizing plant, and use thereof.
US08177984B2	Methods especially useful for separating water-hydrocarbon emulsions having low interfacial tensions Separation media, separation modules and methods are provided for separating water from a water and hydrocarbon emulsion and include a fibrous nonwoven coalescence layer for receiving the water and hydrocarbon emulsion and coalescing the water present therein as a discontinuous phase to achieve coalesced water droplets having a size of 1 mm or greater, and a fibrous nonwoven drop retention layer downstream of the coalescence layer having a high BET surface area of at least 90 m2/g or greater sufficient to retain the size of the coalesced water droplets to allow separation thereof from the hydrocarbon.
US08177980B2	Separation of a mixture of polyhydric alcohols The present invention provides methods of separating at butanediol compound from a mixture containing polyhydric alcohols and butanediol compounds. The mixture of polyhydric alcohols typically contains propylene glycol and ethylene glycol in addition to the butanediol contaminants. Butanediol contaminants are removed by contacting the mixture with a chromatographic matrix. Either the butanediol compounds or the non-butanediol compounds adsorb to the chromatographic matrix. If desired, the adsorbed compounds may be eluted from the matrix, purified and used in products.
US08177978B2	Reverse osmosis membranes An interfacial polymerization process (IFP) for preparing a highly permeable TFC RO membrane by contacting on a porous support membrane for IFP, a polyfunctional acyl halide monomer and a polyamine monomer and recovering a highly permeable thin film (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. At least one of solutions may contain nanoparticle additives which may release ions into solution and at least one of the solutions may contain additional ions from a second additive. The presence of the nanoparticle additives during IFP may increase the hydrophilicity and/or permeability of the recovered membrane compared to a control membrane. The presence of the additional ions from the second additive may also increase the permeability of the recovered membrane.
US08177976B2	Liquid filter assembly, components; and methods A liquid filter assembly is provided. The preferred assembly includes a serviceable filter cartridge having a primary filter section and a secondary or bypass filter section. The preferred assembly includes a bypass valve arrangement and a suction filter arrangement. A valve, to allow flow from an interior of the assembly to a reservoir if needed, is provided. Preferred serviceable filter cartridges are shown.
US08177974B2	Disposable tangential flow filtration device holder Tangential flow filtration device is provided wherein liners are provided between the filtration element and the top and bottom holders or manifolds. The liners incorporate the flow channels and inlet and outlet ports that were previously present in the manifolds. The liners are made of an inexpensive material and therefore are disposable after a single use, making it more cost effective to dispose of them than to clean the conventional manifolds. In addition, the liners can be pre-sterilized.
US08177973B2	Annular collar for encapsulated water treatment system A water treatment system is provided having an encapsulate manifold with a reverse osmosis cartridge and one or more filter cartridges, and an annular collar to adapt and connect the manifold to the cartridges. The filter cartridge includes a detent for being received within a slot in the manifold head for secure locking engagement. The water treatment system is also provided in a modular arrangement wherein manifold heads are physically and fluidly coupled together via a clip which interfaces with the modular manifold heads. The water treatment system also allows for a retrofit application to include a permeate pump. The cartridges are also designed to provide a minimum annular inlet gap to minimize spillage during changing of the cartridges.
US08177972B2	Adapter for fastening a filter element An adapter is provided for fastening a filter element in a cylindrical receiving opening of a bottom part of a lower piece of a filter housing. The adapter has at least one seal arranged in a peripheral groove on the circumference of the adapter to permit fluid-tight separation of a non-filtrate chamber, which surrounds the external jacket of the filter and from which medium to be filtered can be delivered to the filter, from a filtrate chamber into which the filtrate can be introduced from the filter. The seal is connected by injection molding to a base surface of the peripheral groove and is at a distance from at least one side wall delimiting the base surface of the groove.
US08177968B2	Filter cup assembly A filter cup assembly includes a first cup having a one-way valve connected to a center of the underside of the first cup 10 and a filtering part is connected to the underside of the first cup. An adaptor is connected between the filtering part and a second cup. A presser includes a pressing plate connected with a rod, the pressing plate is inserted into the first cup to force contaminated water in the first cup to pass through the one-way valve, the filtering part and is collected in the second cup. All of the parts are threadedly connected to each other so that they can be separated individually. The first cup is sized to receive the second cup, the filtering part and the adaptor when not in use.
US08177967B2	Spin-on filter with performance enhancement features A disposable, spin-on fluid filter for mounting to a fluid-directing head includes a molded housing having a closed base and a sidewall defining a hollow cavity. Filtering media is positioned within the hollow cavity and a nutplate is joined to the housing so as to enclose the filtering media. The nutplate includes a plurality of inlet flow openings and a lobed sleeve extending into the filtering media. An endplate is joined to the filtering media including a flange portion and a sleeve portion. The fluid filter includes an elastomeric valve having a first portion positioned between the flange portion and the inlet flow openings and a second portion positioned between the sleeve portion and the lobed sleeve. The valve provides an anti-drain back capability and in cooperation with the lobed sleeve provides a filtering media by-pass capability.
US08177966B2	UV liquid storage and dispensing device A liquid storage and dispensing device with a filter for removing minerals and a UV light source for killing pathogens existing in a liquid. A liquid is introduced into the device via the inlet. The liquid passes through the filter into a collector. The filtered liquid flows from the collector through a thru passage into a UV chamber. The UV light source emits UV rays through a UV transmissive wall into the interior portion of the UV chamber. Exposure to the UV light kills pathogens present in the filtered liquid. Substantially purified liquid can then be dispensed from an outlet.
US08177962B2	Metal corrosion inhibitor and hydrogen chloride formation inhibitor in a crude oil atmospheric distillation unit The quaternary ammonium compound described by general formula 1 below (wherein R1, R2 and R3 are the same or different hydrocarbon radicals with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and n is an integer between 1 and 10) is used as a metal corrosion inhibitor. With this metal corrosion inhibitor, it is possible even with the addition of small quantities to adequately prevent corrosion of metal in a steam generating unit or petroleum refining or petrochemical process unit. Moreover, (β-hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium hydroxide is used as a hydrogen chloride formation inhibitor for a crude oil atmospheric distillation unit. With this hydrogen chloride formation inhibitor, it is possible to prevent the formation of hydrogen chloride itself in a crude oil atmospheric distillation unit without having any adverse effect on the catalyst.
US08177959B2	Treatment of hydrocarbon fluids with ozone A method of treating a hydrocarbon fluid that includes contacting the hydrocarbon fluid with an effective amount of ozone. A method for separating contaminants from a contaminated material includes supplying the contaminated material to a processing chamber, moving the contaminated material through the processing chamber, heating the contaminated material by externally heating the processing chamber so as to volatilize the contaminants in the contaminated material, removing vapor resulting from the heating, wherein the vapor comprises the volatilized contaminants, collecting, condensing, and recovering the volatilized contaminants, and contacting the volatilized contaminants with an effective amount of ozone.
US08177955B2	Electrodeposition of FeCoNiV films with high resistivity and high saturation magnetization for magnetic head fabrication A magnetic layer that may serve as a top pole layer and bottom pole layer in a magnetic write head is disclosed. The magnetic layer has a composition represented by FeWCoXNiYVZ in which w, x, y, and z are the atomic % of Fe, Co, Ni, and V, respectively, and where w is between about 60 and 85, x is between about 10 and 30, y is between 0 and about 20, z is between about 0.1 and 3, and wherein w+x+y+z=100. An electroplating process having a plating current density of 3 to 30 mA/cm2 is used to deposit the magnetic layer and involves an electrolyte solution with a small amount of VOSO4 which is the V source. The resulting magnetic layer has a magnetic saturation flux density BS greater than 1.9 Telsa and a resistivity ρ higher than 70 μohms-cm.
US08177949B2	Diamond microelectrodes A microelectrode comprising a diamond layer formed from electrically non-conducting diamond and containing one or more pins or projections of electrically conducting diamond extending at least partially through the layer of non-conducting diamond and presenting areas of electrically conducting diamond.
US08177948B2	Device for carbon deposition A method for carbon deposition using a pulsed, plasma-supported vacuum arc discharge, having an anode, a target cathode made of carbon, a pulsed energy source and at least two ignition units. The at least two ignition units are positioned in the edge area of target cathode and each have two planar metallic electrodes and a planar ceramic insulator positioned between the electrodes. The planar shape of ignition units and their positioning on target cathode enables homogeneous utilization of the entire target surface and homogeneous coating of workpieces.
US08177943B2	Solid polysilane mixtures The invention is directed to mixtures of polysilanes macroscopically solid at ambient temperature wherein the individual components of the composition SinH2n and/or SinH2n+2 of which decompose before they are boiling at an applied process pressure and which are produced from the hydrogenation of plasmachemically generated largely chlorinated polysilane mixtures. These mixtures of polysilanes are especially suited to be applied onto surfaces as solutions or dispersions and to obtain silicon-based structures or layers in subsequent process steps. Furthermore, they are especially safe in handling and can be additionally made up into transport forms in suitable transport containers.
US08177941B1	Hydrogen fuel storage and recovery system A hydrogen storage and recovery system includes a substrate having embedded hydrogen molecules and a grid of cells. Each cell includes an electron source for directing electrons onto the substrate, two orthogonal magnetic or electric fields that are oriented so that the electrons pass through both magnetic fields prior to striking the substrate, and an ion guide. A voltage source establishes a potential for the electrons that is equal to the ionization potential of the hydrogen molecules, so that hydrogen molecules are ionized when the electrons impinge on the substrate. The magnetic fields can be manipulated to deflect, or change, the direction of said electrons passing through the fields, so that electrons strike the substrate at different locations, which allows for more recovery of the embedded hydrogen molecules from the substrate. The ion guide uses an applied electric field to draw hydrogen ions that have been ionized for subsequent storage.
US08177936B2	Device for evaporating calciferous water by means of electrical heating Evaporation of calciferous water is performed by an evaporator using electrical heating. An injection nozzle is connected to a spray hose arranged in an upper third of the evaporator, immediately above a thermostat that is disposed on the bottom side of the evaporator. A distance between the injection nozzle and the thermostat is less than 15 mm. A steam hose is connected to the evaporator via a steam connector. The steam connector has an inside diameter of at least 5 mm. The steam hose leads to a collector situated at an angle of inclination of 5° to 10°.
US08177934B2	Rotocast composite hybrid process for molding composite parts A rotocast composite hybrid method for efficiently making strong but lightweight parts. The method includes filling a mold with a volume of resin through an access port and then sealing the access port by positioning a lid over the access port. The method includes mounting the mold in a rotocasting machine and then operating the rotocasting machine to rotate the mold about two orthogonal axes until a layer of the resin is applied uniformly over an inner surface of the mold to form an outer wall of a part. The method includes removing the lid and then applying a reinforcement material (e.g., sheets of woven fiberglass) to an inner surface of the outer wall of the part through the access port. The applying of the reinforcement material also involves wet layup such as by binding the reinforcement material to the inner surface by applying additional resin to the reinforcement material.
US08177933B2	Method to manufacture a hollow, single-piece bladed disc A first insert (15) forming a ring is placed inside and in contact with a core (10) in degradable material. On the outer face of the core a plurality of inserts (20) is arranged each comprising a platform (21) applied against the outer face of the core and at least one blade (22) extending substantially radially outwards. A fibrous structure (56) is wound around the core passing over the platforms (21) and over the inner surface of the ring-shaped insert (15). Molding of the fibrous structure, impregnated with a composition containing a resin, is performed before polymerization of the resin and removal of the core.
US08177931B2	Method for perforating heat meltable material The present invention relates to a method for making holes in a layer (1) of heat-fusible material. According to the invention a layer of absorbent material (2) is placed in contact with a layer (1) of heat-fusible material, following which the layer of heat-fusible material is heated locally so that holes are formed in the material.
US08177929B2	Method of making an embossed metal gasket A metal gasket formed from a suitable iron-nickel chromium alloy includes at least one embossment that exhibits essentially full functional recovery at temperatures exceeding 1000° F. and including in the range of 1100° F. to 1600° F. or more and which is made from sheet material that is work hardened and strengthened by cold rolling, or a combination of cold rolling and precipitation hardening, without any post embossment heat treating that would act to further harden the material. Suitable iron-nickel-chromium alloys include those comprising, by weight, greater than 18% nickel; greater than 14% chrome and 0.1-10% of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mo, Ti, V, Al, Co, Nb, Ta and Cu, with the balance being substantially Fe, wherein the gasket sheet alloy has a deformed microstructure.
US08177925B2	High-tensile steel plate, welded steel pipe or tube, and methods of manufacturing thereof In a high-tensile steel plate according to the invention, the carbon equivalent Pcm represented in Expression (1) is from 0.180% to 0.220%, the surface hardness is a Vicker's hardness of 285 or less, the ratio of a Martensite Austenite constituent in the surface layer is not more than 10%, the ratio of a mixed structure of ferrite and bainite inside beyond the surface layer is not less than 90%, the ratio of the bainite in the mixed structure is not less than 10%, the thickness of the lath of bainite is not more than 1 μm, the length of the lath is not more than 20 μm, and the segregation ratio as the ratio of the Mn concentration in the center segregation part relative to the Mn concentration at a part in a depth equal to ¼ of the thickness of the plate from the surface is not more than 1.3. Pcm=C+Si/30+(Mn+Cu+Cr)/20+Ni/60+Mo/15+V/10+5B . . . (1) where the element symbols in Expression (1) represent the % by mass of the respective elements. In this way, the high-tensile steel plate according to the invention has a yield strength of at least 551 MPa and a tensile strength of at least 620 MPa as well as high toughness, high propagating shear fracture and high weldability.
US08177923B2	Nano-crystalline, magnetic alloy, its production method, alloy ribbon and magnetic part A magnetic alloy having a composition represented by the general formula of Fe100-x-yCuxBy (atomic %), wherein x and y are numbers meeting the conditions of 0.1≦x≦3, and 10≦y≦20, or the general formula of Fe100-x-y-zCuxByXz (atomic %), wherein X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, S, C, P, Al, Ge, Ga and Be, and x, y and z are numbers meeting the conditions of 0.1≦x≦3, 10≦y≦20, 0
US08177919B2	Medical cleaning device for cleaning interior surfaces of hollow shafts A medical cleaning device is used to clean interior surfaces of hollow shafts of medical instruments. The device has a closed body which can be inserted into the hollow shaft of the medical instrument to be cleaned, an outer diameter of the body being smaller than a clear inner diameter of the hollow shaft such that an inner lumen remains which is reduced compared to the inner lumen of the hollow shaft. The body has a connection starting from one end, a cleaning liquid can be guided into the reduced inner lumen when the body is inserted in the hollow shaft. Furthermore, provision is made for a support by means of which the body can be supported on the medical instrument.
US08177918B2	Cleaning system for an electric shaver A cleaning system for an electric shaver having a body and a shaving head generally includes a cradle configured to receive the shaving head of the shaver, and a reservoir positioned beneath the cradle and configured to retain cleaning fluid therein. The cleaning system also includes a drive assembly operable to move the reservoir between a raised position and a lowered position. In the raised position, the reservoir is positioned relative to the cradle such that at least a portion of the shaving head is submerged in cleaning fluid within the reservoir. In the lowered position, the reservoir is positioned relative to the cradle such that no portion of the shaving head is submerged in cleaning fluid.
US08177911B2	Damage evaluation method of compound semiconductor member, production method of compound semiconductor member, gallium nitride compound semiconductor member and gallium nitride compound semiconductor membrane A method of evaluating damage of a compound semiconductor member, comprising: a step of performing measurement of photoluminescence on a surface of the compound semiconductor member; and a step of evaluating damage on the surface of the compound semiconductor member, using a half width of a peak at a wavelength corresponding to a bandgap of the compound semiconductor member, in an emission spectrum obtained by the measurement of photoluminescence.
US08177908B2	Binder for mine tailings, alluvial sand and the like A binder for mine tailings, alluvial sand and other aggregate used as a backfill for an underground void comprises ferrous slag, cement kiln dust and/or lime kiln dust, and Portland cement and/or lime; the binder displays strength characteristics better than or comparable to those achieved with conventional binders based on Portland cement or Portland cement and slag.
US08177906B2	Treatment of fly ash for use in concrete A process for treating fly ash to render it highly usable as a concrete additive. A quantity of fly ash is obtained that contains carbon and which is considered unusable fly ash for concrete based upon foam index testing. The fly ash is mixed with a quantity of spray dryer ash (SDA) and water to initiate a geopolymerization reaction and form a geopolymerized fly ash. The geopolymerized fly ash is granulated. The geopolymerized fly ash is considered usable fly ash for concrete according to foam index testing. The geopolymerized fly ash may have a foam index less than 40%, and in some cases less than 20%, of the foam index of the untreated fly ash. An optional alkaline activator may be mixed with the fly ash and SDA to facilitate the geopolymerization reaction. The alkaline activator may contain an alkali metal hydroxide, carbonate, silicate, aluminate, or mixtures thereof.
US08177905B2	Fluidising composition A fluidizing admixture for use with sprayable cementitious compostions, the admixture consists of 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid and at least one selected polymer derived from ethylenically-unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acids. Citric acid may optionally be present. The admixture has good fluidizing properties and outstanding shelf-life.
US08177904B2	Use of polymeric microparticles in building material mixtures The use of polymeric microparticles having a cavity in hydraulically setting building material mixtures is described, from 1 to 100% by volume of the cavity of these microparticles being filled with water. In this way, remarkable concrete resistance to the freezing and thawing cycle is achieved, these microparticles providing improved protection for the concrete from the effects of the freezing and thawing cycle, even at a diameter of from 0.1 to 1 μm and in doses which are 1 to 2 orders of magnitude lower than those described in the prior art. Moreover, the compressive strength of the correspondingly hardened concrete is substantially improved, which was likewise not foreseeable.
US08177900B2	Compositions for use in making models Gypsum-based molding materials are customized by hydrating the molding material to workable (malleable) consistency with a moistening solution containing 0.001 to 60% polytetrafluoroethylene. The addition of latex results in a more flowable material.
US08177899B2	Non-aqueous pigment ink A non-aqueous pigment ink comprising a pigment, a pigment dispersant and a non-aqueous solvent, wherein the non-aqueous solvent comprises an alcohol solvent, a fatty acid ester solvent and a hydrocarbon solvent, the alcohol solvent comprises a saturated branched alcohol containing 14 to 18 carbon atoms and having one branch, and an amount of the saturated branched alcohol is within a range from 3 to 40% by mass relative to a total mass of the ink.
US08177898B2	Water-based ink for ink-jet recording, ink cartridge, ink-jet recording apparatus and method of stabilizing water-based ink for ink-jet recording A water-based ink for ink-jet recording includes a coloring agent and water. The coloring agent includes a dye represented by the following general formula (1). In the ink, an amount of glycerin is set so as to satisfy the following condition (A). 3.5X−5≦Y1≦3.5X (A) X: an amount of a dye represented by general formula (1) relative to a total amount of the ink (wt %) Y1: an amount of glycerin relative to a total amount of the ink (wt %)
US08177894B2	Canisters A canister includes a canister case having an adsorbent chamber, an adsorbent housed in the adsorbent chamber of the canister case, a filter disposed between the adsorbent chamber and a port mounted on an end wall of the adsorbent chamber, and a tentative filter engaging projection provided in the adsorbent chamber. The filter is loosely fitted within the adsorbent chamber and then welded on the end wall of the adsorbent chamber. The tentative filter engaging projection tentatively holds the filter loosely fitted within the adsorbent chamber in a welding step of the filter.
US08177891B2	Membrane comprising oxyethylene groups The present invention relates to a membrane wherein said membrane comprises a polymerized composition that comprised prior to polymerization at least one type of compound comprising at least 70 oxyethylene groups and at least two polymerizable groups. The invention further relates to the use of this membrane for separating polar gases and vapors.
US08177890B2	Stable supported Pd-alloy membranes A Pd alloy membrane and method of making are described.
US08177884B2	Fuel deoxygenator with porous support plate A device for use in a fluid system includes a fuel channel for receiving fuel having dissolved gas therein. A gas permeable membrane supported by a porous support, the gas permeable membrane in communication with the fuel channel. A gas-removal channel adjacent the gas permeable membrane for receiving the dissolved gas from the fuel through the gas permeable membrane and the porous support.
US08177881B2	Method for extracting and separating rare earth elements Solvent extraction from an aqueous phase containing first and second rare earth elements is carried out by contacting an organic phase containing a diglycolamic acid as an extractant and a hydrocarbon or a low-polar alcohol as a solvent, with the aqueous phase below pH 3 for extracting the first rare earth element into the organic phase, back-extracting from the organic phase with an aqueous acid solution for recovering the first rare earth element, and recovering the second rare earth element which has not been extracted into the organic phase and has remained in the aqueous phase.
US08177880B2	System and method of producing metallic iron A hearth furnace 10 for producing metallic iron material has a furnace housing 11 with a drying/preheat zone 12 capable of providing a drying/preheat atmosphere for reducible material, a conversion zone 13 capable of providing a reducing atmosphere for reducible material, a fusion zone 14 capable of providing an atmosphere to at least partially reduced metallic iron material, and optionally a cooling zone 15 capable of providing a cooling atmosphere for reduced material containing metallic iron material. A hearth 20 is movable within the furnace housing 11 in a direction through the drying/preheat zone 12, then the conversion zone 13, then the fusion zone 14, and then the cooling zone 15. A separation barrier 30 is positioned within at least a portion of the conversion zone 13, the separation barrier 30 separating the conversion zone 13 into a combustion region 32 and a reducing region 31 with the reducing region 31 adjacent the hearth 20 and the combustion region 32 adjacent the reducing region 31 and spaced from the hearth 20.
US08177878B2	Bonding material with exothermically reactive heterostructures A bonding material including a meltable joining material and a plurality of heterostructures distributed throughout the meltable joining material, the heterostructures comprising at least a first material and a second material capable of conducting a self-sustaining exothermic reaction upon initiation by an external energy to generate heat sufficient to melt the meltable joining material.
US08177875B2	Aerosol separator; and method Crankcase ventilation arrangements are shown. Preferred wet laid media materials, for use in such arrangements are described. Also described and shown are example crankcase ventilation components, parts for use with a preferred media described and characterized.
US08177868B2	Reforming apparatus and method A multiple adiabatic bed reforming apparatus and process are disclosed in which stage-wise combustion, in combination with multiple reforming chambers with catalyst, utilize co-flow and cross-flow under laminar flow conditions, to provide a reformer suitable for smaller production situations as well as large scale production. A passive stage by stage fuel distribution network suitable for low pressure fuel is incorporated and the resistances in successive fuel distribution lines control the amount of fuel delivered to each combustion stage. The fuel distribution system allows relatively constant fuel and air flow during turn up or turn down conditions. High efficiency is achieved by capturing heat from reforming syngas product to preheat gases before entering the reformer. Conditions that would produce unwanted coking or metal dusting are also eliminated or localized to locations within the apparatus outside the heat exchangers, but which locations can be cost effectively protected.
US08177863B2	Method for the production of membrane/electrode units A method for production of a membrane/electrode unit for a fuel cell is disclosed. The conducting polymer membrane is compressed with two electrodes until a given compression is achieved. The method permits an increase in resting voltage of the membrane/electrode unit in use, the amount of damage during production is reduced, and a constant thickness within a production run is achieved.
US08177851B2	Prosthetic liner for an acetabular prosthesis A prosthetic liner includes a convex exterior surface, a concave interior surface and a rim portion connecting the interior surface and the exterior surface. The liner includes a plurality of recesses and a plurality of fingers. Each of the plurality of recesses is formed in the exterior surface of the liner without extending to the interior surface of the liner. The plurality of fingers is positioned in the plurality of recesses and each of the plurality of fingers is connected to the exterior surface and extends toward the rim portion. The plurality of fingers may be resiliently moveable in the plurality of recesses. The plurality of fingers may be integral with the exterior surface of the liner. The rim portion may define a plane into which at least one of the plurality of fingers extends.
US08177849B2	Methods and apparatuses for attaching tissue to orthopaedic implants Methods and apparatuses for attaching tissue structures to orthopedic implants. In one exemplary embodiment, the methods and apparatuses are used to attach soft tissue and/or bone to a proximal tibial implant. In another exemplary embodiment, the methods and apparatuses are used to attach soft tissue and/or bone to a proximal femoral implant.
US08177844B2	Insertion apparatus for aligning cage of intervertebral fusion An apparatus for inserting an intervertebral fusion cage includes a dilatation set, a guiding set and an insert set. The dilatation set includes first and second dilatation barrels non-rotationally and telescopically connected to each other. The guiding set includes first and second guiding tubes provided around the first and second dilatation barrels. The second guiding tube includes a guiding hole defined therein and a smooth arched face formed thereon in the guiding hole. The insert set includes a leading rod inserted in the second guiding tube and a push rod pivotally connected to at the leading rod. The intervertebral fusion cage is located in the second guiding tube. The fusion cage is movable out of the second guiding tube along the smooth face and the guiding hole to shorten surgery time and position the fusion cage precisely.
US08177842B2	Implants and methods of use Implant devices, and method of using the same, are provided. The implant devices have circular, or oblong, articular ends. The articular ends have a convex upper face and a concave lower face, the convex upper face blending to the concave lower face, and the concave lower face having a curvature less than the curvature of the convex upper face. The implant devices further have a stem extending from the concave lower face away from the upper face, the stem having a maximum radius at the convex lower face and tapering to lesser radius along the length of the stem.
US08177836B2	Apparatus and methods for minimally invasive valve repair A surgical fastening apparatus including at least one self-closing clip and a deployment device. The self-closing clip comprises a wire defining an intermediate portion interconnecting opposing, first and second side portions having a memory set loop shape. The deployment device includes a clip holding assembly and an actuator. The clip holding assembly includes first and second containment arms and a transfer rod. The containment arms have a distal segment defining a lumen extending from an open, distal end. The transfer rod is associated with at least one of the containment arms in an axially movable fashion and forms an engagement feature. The actuator is connected to the transfer rod for controlling movement of the rod. Upon final assembly in a pre-deployment state, the engagement feature of the transfer rod engages the intermediate portion of the clip, and the side portions are captured by the containment arms.
US08177834B2	Woven fabric with shape memory element strands The disclosure relates to a woven fabric for use in an implantable medical device. The woven fabric comprises shape memory element strands woven with textile strands. At least one of the shape memory element strands has at least one float of at least five textile strands between binding points.
US08177833B2	System and method for forming a junction between elements of a modular endovascular prosthesis The present invention provides a system and a method for forming in vivo a junction between a first and a second element of a modular endovascular prosthesis used for repairing defects in vessels and other lumens within the body of a patient. The first element is adapted to have a receiving element, and the second element is adapted to have a protruding element. In the final deployed configuration of the endovascular prosthesis, the protruding element of the second element is adapted to be engaged with the receiving element of the first element, substantially preventing axial separation of the elements relative to each other. The receiving element of the invention may have various forms, and may include a fold in the wall of the first element, an expandable framework having protruding struts, or a flexible thread. The protruding elements of the invention may be formed from an expandable framework having protruding struts, or may be formed from a fold in the wall of the second element, or may comprise a flexible thread.
US08177832B2	Endoluminal expansion system An endoprosthesis expansion system having, in combination, a delivery component such as a length of catheter tubing having at its distal end an intermediate sheath component, and an inner tube within the full length of the delivery catheter and intermediate sheath component. The inner tube has a protrusion affixed to its distal end, and an expandable endoprosthesis is fitted in a compacted state about the intermediate sheath, immediately proximal to the protrusion. If the endoprosthesis is a self-expanding endoprosthesis (as is preferred), an exterior constraining sheath is required around the outer surface of the endoprosthesis. Following insertion of the endoprosthesis and delivery system into a body conduit (such as a blood vessel) and transport of the endoprosthesis to the desired site within the body conduit, the endoprosthesis is deployed by axially moving the protrusion against the system, thereby applying a radially directed outward force and causing simultaneous dilatation of the intermediate sheath and disruption of the exterior constraining sheath. Disruption of the exterior constraining sheath, in the case of a self-expanding prosthesis, releases the stored energy in the formerly constrained prosthesis, allowing it to expand and accomplish full deployment against the luminal surface of the body conduit at the desired site.
US08177829B2	Auxiliary balloon catheter A balloon catheter may comprise a primary inflation balloon and a secondary inflation balloon located to one side of the primary inflation balloon. The secondary balloon comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion located closer to the primary balloon. The second portion has a greater size than the first portion, and a portion of the second portion extends outwardly beyond the first portion and overhangs the first portion. In some embodiments, a cross-sectional shape of the secondary balloon in an inflated state comprises a mushroom shape.
US08177826B2	Methods and devices for extracting thermal energy from the body core of a mammal Methods and devices for extracting thermal energy from the core body of a mammal are provided. In practicing the subject methods, a portion of the mammal, e.g. a limb or portion thereof, is placed in a sealed enclosure to produce an enclosed portion of the mammal. A surface of the enclosed portion of the mammal is then contacted with a low temperature medium under negative pressure conditions for a period of time sufficient to provide for the desired core body thermal energy extraction. The subject methods and devices find use in a variety of applications, e.g. providing relief from temperature sensitive disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, and the treatment of hyperthermia, among other treatments. The subject methods and devices are particularly suited for use in enhancing the physical ability of a mammal.
US08177823B2	Orthopedic clamping hook assembly An occipital clamping hook assembly includes a hook for engaging a first side of an occipital bone and a compressor movable relative to the hook for applying a compressive force to the occipital bone from a second side of the occipital bone. The occipital clamping assembly further includes a rod-receiving portion coupled to the hook for coupling a rod to the occipital bone engaged by the hook.
US08177820B2	Bone plate comprising at least one screw to be fixed at a stable angle Disclosed is a bone plate comprising at least one screw that is to be fixed at a stable angle to at least one through-hole and at least one bone screw which is provided with an external thread in the top region. Said external thread tapers more in the screwing direction than a mating thread of the through-hole embodied as an internal thread such that the top of the bone screw is clamped in a stable direction in a torsion-proof manner when the bone screw is screwed in. The bone plate is configured elastically in at least one area adjoining the through-hole such that the material of the bone plate is not deformed in the ductile area because of the expansion resulting from the head of the bone screw being screwed in. As a consequence, the area surrounding the through-hole is not overstretched in any position of the bone screw along the entire length of the threads because of the interaction between the external thread of the top of the bone screw and the internal thread of the plate while the torsion-proof condition is maintained.
US08177808B2	Vein holder The vein holder has an upright wall forming a central opening. The central opening is large enough to allow easy access by a needle. A bottom flange extends outwardly from the wall and rests against the patient's skin. It is the bottom surface of the flange 14 which holds the skin tight to prevent movement of the vein relative to the skin. In addition, pressure applied by the vein holder closes the vein at an end away from the syringe opening.
US08177805B2	Removable anchored lung volume reduction devices and methods An intra-bronchial device may be placed and anchored in an air passageway of a patient to collapse a lung portion associated with the air passageway. The device includes an obstructing member that prevents air from being inhaled into the lung portion, and an anchor that anchors the obstruction device within the air passageway. The anchor may piercingly engage the air passageway wall. The anchor may be releasable from the air passageway for removal of the obstructing member. The anchor may be releasable by collapsing a portion of the obstructing member, or by drawing the obstructing member toward the larynx. The obstructing member may be a one-way valve.
US08177800B2	Methods and apparatus for removing veins A method for removing a vein includes making an incision through a skin layer of a patient, inserting a surgical instrument through the incision, visualizing the vein through the skin layer using a light source positioned subcutaneously and in proximity of the vein, and cutting the vein using the surgical instrument. The vein can be visualized by directing light from the light source at the vein from underneath the vein or from a side of the vein. A device for illuminating a body structure has a housing with a distal end configured for subcutaneous insertion into a patient's tissue and positioning in proximity of the body structure, a light path supported by the housing and configured for directing light at the body structure, and a fluid line supported by the housing.
US08177799B2	Method and apparatus for anastomosis Apparatus and methods for performing a surgical anastomotic procedure are disclosed herein. Apparatus according to the present disclosure include at least one fastener including a first fastener portion having an anchoring leg portion, a second fastener portion including an anchoring leg portion, wherein the first and second fastener portions are operatively associated with one another to selectively fix the position of the first fastener portion relative to the second fastener portion.
US08177798B2	Adhesive coated stent and insertion instrument A deployment cartridge is provided to insert a coated stent into a junction formed between two tubular tissue sections. The deployment cartridge includes a pusher and a coated stent contained within the pusher. The pusher includes support structure for engagement with the stent. The stent is coated with a tissue sealant or tissue adhesive. An insertion instrument is also disclosed for advancing the deployment cartridge into the junction formed between the two tubular tissue sections. There is also disclosed a method of facilitating the support and healing at a juncture formed between tubular tissue sections with a coated stent.
US08177793B2	Surgical staple remover A surgical staple remover apparatus is disclosed. The surgical staple remover apparatus comprises a first elongated element having a handle on one end and a downward facing protrusion on the other end and a second elongated element having a handle on one end and an upwards sloped planar element on the other end, wherein the first and second elongated elements are pivotally connected. The apparatus further includes a cutout located at a midpoint of a tip of the upwards sloped planar element and a housing running a length of the second elongated element, beginning at the upwards sloped planar element and including an opening facing the planar element, such that surgical staples removed with the apparatus are drawn into the housing. The apparatus further includes a spring loaded element within the housing, wherein the spring loaded element grabs removed surgical staples and draws them into the housing.
US08177792B2	Plugged tip delivery tube for marker placement An intracorporeal marker delivery device includes a delivery tube which has a tapered, tissue penetrating distal tip, an inclined discharge orifice in the tapered distal tip and an inner bore extending to the orifice. A plurality of remotely detectable markers, which are formed at least in part of bioresorbable material, are slidably disposed within the inner bore. A plug having an inclined exposed surface, which is formed at least in part of bioresorbable material, is releasably secured within the inner bore of the delivery tube distal to the plurality of remotely detectable markers disposed therein to retain the plurality of remotely detectable markers within the inner bore. The plug is disposed at least in part within the inclined discharge orifice. A plunger is slidably disposed within the inner bore proximal to the plurality of remotely detectable markers.
US08177790B2	Medical retriever The invention relates to a device for the extraction of a spiral from a blood vessel with said device comprising a guide wire (3) which bends back on itself in its distal region where it forms into an arched structure and thus an anchoring part. The free end (7) of the guide wire (3) points towards the proximal end of said wire (3) and can be hooked onto the spiral (8) that is to be extracted.
US08177787B2	Disposable battery pack for a surgical drill; and method A surgical procedure is disclosed utilizing a cordless surgical handpiece powered from a sterile battery pack that contains a battery in condition for immediate use without further charging or sterilization. The battery chemistry is based upon lithium/manganese dioxide, and the battery after a single use may be disposed of into non-hazardous waste. The compact surgical handpiece has a brushless DC motor and a manually operated external trigger for activating and controlling the motor operations. Interengaging sets of contacts on the handpiece and battery are adapted to become lockingly and conductively interengaged upon rotation of the battery pack relative to the handpiece, in a manner that rapidly achieves correct alignment of the parts and also ensures stable mechanical attachment and support during the surgical procedure.
US08177786B2	Orthopaedic trauma hip screw assembly and associated method A hip screw assembly for fixation of a fractured femur is provided. The hip screw assembly includes a screw for engagement with the femur. The hip screw assembly also includes a barrel defining a cavity in the barrel. The barrel is fixedly secured to the plate. The screw including a portion thereof fitted in the cavity of the barrel. The hip screw assembly also includes a stop positionable in the barrel. The stop provides a limit on the movement of said screw in said barrel. The screw and the barrel have a first arrangement between each other in which the screw slides in the cavity of said barrel a first selectable predetermined distance and a second arrangement in which the screw slides a second selectable predetermined distance. The second distance is greater than the first distance.
US08177784B2	Electrosurgical device having floating potential electrode and adapted for use with a resectoscope Disclosed herein are embodiments of an electrosurgical device that include one or more floating electrodes and are specifically adapted to remove, cut, resect, ablate, vaporize, denaturize, drill, coagulate and form lesions in soft tissues, with or without externally supplied liquids, preferably in combination with a resectoscope, particularly in the context of urological, gynecological, laparoscopic, arthroscopic, and ENT procedures. Specific adaptations for urological and gynecological applications, for example kidney stone removal and BPH treatment, are also described.
US08177781B2	Apparatus and methods for treating female urinary incontinence Apparatus and methods are provided for treating female urinary incontinence by applying a form of energy to tissue in the vicinity of the urethra and/or bladder outlet to change tissue compliance without substantially narrowing the urethral and/or bladder outlet lumen. The apparatus comprises an elongated shaft having a means for treating urethral tissue and an expandable member deployable distal of the means for treating. The expandable member is configured to be anchored against the bladder outlet to dispose the means for treating at a desired treatment site in the urethra using only tactile feedback. The means for treating may include a needleless RF electrode, an ultrasound transducer, or a cryogenic probe configured to be advanced through a hollow needle, each of which are designed to reduce or eliminate symptoms associated with urinary incontinence.
US08177780B2	Surgical system and procedure for treatment of medically refractory atrial fibrillation The invention provides surgical systems and methods for ablating heart tissue within the interior and/or exterior of the heart. A plurality of probes is provided with each probe configured for introduction into the chest for engaging the heart. Each probe includes an elongated shaft having an elongated ablating surface of a predetermined shape. The elongated shaft and the elongated ablating surface of each probe are configured to ablate a portion of the heart. A sealing device affixed to the heart tissue forms a hemostatic seal between the probe and the penetration in the heart to inhibit blood loss therethrough.
US08177779B2	Controllable pressure cryogenic balloon treatment system and method Devices, systems, and methods controllably cool blood vessels and other body lumens. The blood vessel will often be treated for atherosclerotic or other diseases by inflating a balloon so as to engage the surrounding luminal wall. Controlled cooling of the balloon effected by a change in phase of a cryogenic fluid within the balloon typically a change from a liquid phase to a gas phase can be provided with a controlled, gradual inflation of the balloon. A single control system can be used for any of a variety of alternative selectable balloon catheters having significantly differing cooling fluid flow characteristics.
US08177776B2	Independent surgical center A portable surgical tray unit can include a portable surgical tray for housing a processing unit, and that includes an opening extending entirely therethrough. The portable surgical tray unit can also include a plurality of instruments connected to the portable surgical tray and operably coupled to the processing unit, and a user input device positioned on at least one of the instruments. The user input device can be operably coupled to the processing unit and can be configured to receive a user input for controlling an operating parameter of one or more of the instruments. The processing unit can be configured to receive user input through the user input device and transmit an operating command to the one or more instruments. The portable surgical tray and the plurality of instruments can be sterilized and prepackaged in a single package.
US08177773B2	Locking medical catheter A flexible filament controlled locking medical catheter having a flexible tube with at least one drainage or feeding hole, a restraining portion at its distal end and a housing at its proximal end, and a filament having a proximal control portion for controlling the restraining portion of the tube. The flexible filament passes through an open port in the sidewall of the housing and an elastomeric cover as well as through the interface between the cover and a seal sleeve over the cover. A locking mechanism to lock the filament in position is provided and may comprise corresponding teeth with means for moving the teeth into tight engagement to clamp the flexible filament therebetween.
US08177769B2	Methods, systems, and kits for lung volume reduction Lung volume reduction is performed in a minimally invasive manner by isolating a lung tissue segment, optionally reducing gas flow obstructions within the segment, and aspirating the segment to cause the segment to at least partially collapse. Further optionally, external pressure may be applied on the segment to assist in complete collapse. Reduction of gas flow obstructions may be achieved in a variety of ways, including over inflation of the lung, introduction of mucolytic or dilation agents, application of vibrational energy, induction of absorption atelectasis, or the like. Optionally, diagnostic procedures on the isolated lung segment may be performed, typically using the same isolation/access catheter.
US08177768B2	Vial adapter having a needle-free valve for use with vial closures of different sizes A vial adapter having a needle-free valve, a sharpened cannula used to perforate a vial's rubber stopper, and a circular array of claws of different lengths to engage vial closures of different diameters. The array of claws includes a first set of claws each having a first length extending inwardly from the periphery of the housing of the adapter and a second set of claws alternating with the first set of claws and each having a longer length. The second set of claws are mounted so that they deflect and plastically deform out of the way in the case where the adapter is engaged with a vial that exceeds a predetermined size. The housing includes a shroud that is at least as long as the sharpened cannula to protect medical personnel who use the adapter from inadvertent punctures. The needle-free valve includes a resiliently deformable piston element with a naturally open bore. The interior of the piston provides a fluid flow path through the adapter. In one embodiment, the first set of claws of the adapter may be used with a vial closure of at approximately 20 mm in diameter and the second set of claws may be used with a vial closure of approximately 13 to 17 mm in diameter.
US08177766B2	Stretch laminate, method of making, and absorbent article A stretch laminate includes a first layer including an elastomer film, the first layer having a surface, and a second layer including a nonwoven material, the second layer having a basis weight of less than about 25 gsm and a surface that is attached to the surface of the first layer. The elastomer film has a strength of an engineering tensile strength, at an engineering strain rate of about 600/s, of at least one of about greater than about 14 MPa for a plain specimen or about greater than about 7 MPa for a notched specimen. A method of making the stretch laminate and an absorbent article having at least one region defined by the stretch laminate are also provided.
US08177765B2	Collection devices for catheter assemblies A collection device for a catheter assembly is disclosed providing for an easier catheterization process and fluid collection with the device capable of being folded from a larger form into a smaller, more mobile form. The collection device may have attached to its top portion a connecting tube capable of being stretched and compressed, thereby allowing the user more flexibility and convenience while catheterized. Additionally, the collection device may contain antiseptic agents, fold lines, a drainage tube, fastening mechanisms, and leg strap holders in order to make the device more convenient to use.
US08177763B2	Canister membrane for wound therapy system A portable system for subatmospheric pressure therapy in connection with healing a surgical wound includes a wound dressing dimensioned for positioning relative to a wound bed of a subject and a collection canister in fluid communication with the wound dressing. The canister includes a first vacuum chamber for drawing a vacuum and a second fluid chamber for collecting fluids removed from the wound dressing under the vacuum. The vacuum chamber may have a vacuum and a power source. The canister further includes a hydrophobic membrane separating the first and the second fluid vacuum chambers. The hydrophobic membrane is dimensioned to span a major portion of the cross-sectional area of the canister. The hydrophobic membrane may be dimensioned to substantially span an internal dimension of the collection canister. The hydrophobic membrane may include one or more outwardly extending lobes. The outwardly extending lobes may be arranged in staggered relation. The hydrophobic membrane may be releasably mountable to the canister, and, may be supported within a divider separating the first vacuum chamber and the second fluid chamber.
US08177761B2	Assembly for cleaning luer connectors Illustrative pairs of caps are disclosed, each of the caps being sized and shaped to provide a protective union about a separated medical connector. The pair of caps comprises an assembly that includes a male cap and a female cap. The assembly is sealed until the caps are separated for use, thereby maintaining sterility of the internal surfaces of the caps. One or more absorbent pads may be impregnated with an antiseptic agent and positioned within the pair of caps.
US08177760B2	Valved connector A valved connector for controlling the flow of fluid having a valve assembly positioned within a connector housing having a first position wherein the valve assembly prevents fluid flow through the connector housing, and a second position wherein the valve assembly permits fluid flow through the connector housing. The valve assembly may be movable from the first position to the second position by a male luer fitting. The valve assembly is configured for multiple and repeated access and also for minimizing fluid flow restrictions. The valved connector may be designed for use with a catheter to provide for “over the guidewire” placement or replacement techniques with little or no bleed-back or air embolism.
US08177759B2	Medicament delivery device A medicament delivery device includes distal and proximal housings; a medicament container having a slidable stopper partially, slidably arranged within the proximal housing; a plunger rod within the distal housing having a proximal end abutting the stopper; a driver within the distal housing operably connected to the plunger rod for driving the plunger rod and stopper toward the device's proximal end; and a priming device having a distal end including an engagement mechanism arranged to cooperate with an engagement mechanism at the housing's proximal end, an end wall abutting the container's proximal end, and a passage on the end wall. An engagement mechanism at the priming device's proximal end cooperates with a delivery member engagement mechanism. Distal displacement of the priming device relative to the proximal housing causes distal displacement of the container relative to the plunger rod, forcing proximal displacement of the stopper, thereby priming the container.
US08177754B2	Surgical port seal A seal device having a substantially conical shape including a slit opening at its tip defined by a pair of planar surfaces, the opening reinforced by gussets on the exterior surface of the seal device and adjacent to the end regions of the slit. The gussets help bias the ends of the slit towards a closed position, even when an instrument is located within the slit, to thereby reduce “cat-eye”-ing and minimize leakage therethrough. The seal device may include ramps on respective inner surfaces of the device, the ramps functioning as a lead-in to the slitted opening such an inserted instrument contacts the ramps first and opens the slit prior to the instrument contacting the material of the slit. Along the outer surface of the device is a flexible body portion to minimize the effect on the opening when an instrument is inserted into the device.
US08177753B2	Catheter insertion assembly A catheter insertion assembly for inserting a catheter into a body lumen of a patient is disclosed as well as a method of using the assembly. The assembly comprises a hub, a catheter stiffener and a valve. The valve is disposed in the lumen of the hub and prevents substantially all fluid flow through the lumen in at least one direction below a pressure threshold. The proximal end of the stiffener is attached to the hub and the stiffener extends distally of the distal end of the hub. The stiffener lumen is in fluid communication with the hub lumen. The stiffener occupies a lumen of the catheter and provides additional stiffness to the catheter such that a catheter introducer is not necessary for insertion of the catheter.
US08177745B2	Needle safety module comprising a locking mechanism and a user identification A needle safety module for being connected to an injection device for administering a liquid product to a patient, the module including a housing, a needle connected to the housing, and a needle protective sleeve having one end which can be placed on an injection point of the patient and displaced axially in relation to one of the needle or the housing from a starting position in which the needle tip is covered to an injection position in which the needle tip at least touches the injection point, the needle protective sleeve lockable in relation to one of the needle or the housing.
US08177737B2	Drainage system for treating hydrocephalus The present invention relates to a drainage device comprising: an internal chamber; at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port communicating with the internal chamber; a shutter disposed at least in part in the internal chamber; at least one first valve seat associated with the inlet port, the shutter being capable of bearing against the first seat in order to isolate the inlet port from the outlet port, in particular when the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet ports is less than a predetermined first opening pressure; and at least one flow constriction associated with the outlet port, the shutter being capable of shutting said constriction, while allowing a minimum, safety flow to pass at a rate that is greater than or equal to 2.5 mL/h even in a maximally-shut position, referred to as a “closed” position, which position is reached in particular for pressure differences between the inlet and outlet ports that are greater than or equal to a predetermined closure pressure.
US08177735B2	Cardiotomy and venous blood reservoir and method A cardiotomy and venous blood reservoir including a housing assembly, a downtube, and a bowl. The housing assembly forms a chamber. The downtube extends from an inlet port to a downstream end within the chamber. A diameter of the tube lumen increases to the downstream end. The bowl forms a floor surface shoulder, intermediate segment, and protrusion. The shoulder circumferentially surrounds, and is spatially above, the downstream end. The intermediate segment extends radially inwardly and downwardly from the shoulder to a bottom face. The protrusion extends radially inwardly and upwardly from the bottom face to a center that is aligned with the lumen and below the downstream end. The flared inner diameter of the lumen reduces fluid velocity as venous blood enters the reservoir. The bowl floor surface gently receives the incoming venous blood at the protrusion, and smoothly guides the blood flow.
US08177732B2	Methods and apparatuses for rehabilitation and training A rehabilitation apparatus with at least three degrees of freedom of motion, comprising: a plurality of brakes; a motor, wherein the motor is operationally connected to the brakes; a plurality of surfaces, wherein each of a plurality of the surfaces correlates to a brake; and, wherein when the motor is activated, the brakes are selectively advanced to make contact with the surfaces causing friction between the brakes and the surfaces and thus causing variable resistance in the three degrees of freedom to the apparatus based on the extent of advancement of the brakes.
US08177730B2	Blood expression device An embodiment of a device for expressing blood from a wound site formed in dermal tissue is constructed in the shape of a cap removably mounted onto a lancing instrument. The blood expression device includes an annular support member and a plurality of movable fingers integrally formed onto the support member in a spaced apart relationship, the free ends of the plurality of fingers together defining a generally circular opening. Each finger is adapted for pivotal displacement in such a manner that its free end projects into the circular opening. In use, the free ends of the plurality of fingers are disposed in contact against the dermal tissue immediately surrounding the wound site. As the device is urged downward onto the dermal tissue, the free ends of the plurality of fingers collapse inward from the force of an axially movable sleeve and pinch into the dermal tissue, resulting in the expression of blood.
US08177729B2	Method of tetherless biopsy device operation A method of biopsy device operation comprises rotating a first rotating member at a first rotational speed to rotate a cutter. A second rotating member is rotated at a second rotational speed to translate the cutter. The first and second members are rotated simultaneously and in the same direction. The first rotating member rotates with the cutter, while the second rotating member rotates about the first rotating member. The difference between the first and second rotational speeds, as well as threaded engagement between the first and second rotating members, provides the translation of the cutter. A method of biopsy device operation also comprises moving a shuttle valve slider to selectively vent or seal the second lumen of a needle. The shuttle valve slider is responsive to translation of the cutter, though some degree of lost motion is provided between the shuttle valve slider and the cutter.
US08177728B2	Valve mechanism for tetherless biopsy device A biopsy device comprises a body, a needle, a cutter, and a shuttle valve slider. The needle has a first lumen and a second lumen. The cutter translates relative to the needle. The shuttle valve slider translates in response to translation of the cutter. The shuttle valve slider vents the second lumen when the shuttle valve slider is in a first longitudinal position and substantially seals the second lumen relative to atmospheric air when the shuttle valve slider is in a second longitudinal position. A degree of lost motion is provided between the cutter and the shuttle valve slider, such that the cutter moves the shuttle valve slider only when the cutter moves through a first part of the cutter's range of motion; and such that the cutter does not move the shuttle valve slider when the cutter moves through a second part of the cutter's range of motion.
US08177725B2	Reflexometry and hormone function A method including measuring time periods in which a reflex point of a subject is struck and a reflex response is observed. A method including determining a resting metabolic rate of a subject by applying the Kail-Waters equation. An apparatus including a striking instrument capable of delivering a kinetic energy to a reflex point of a subject; and a measurement instrument capable of being coupled to a subject and measuring a reflex response. A machine-readable storage medium containing executable program instructions which when executed cause a digital processing system to perform a method including determining time periods in which a reflex point is struck and a reflex response is observed. A machine-readable storage medium containing executable program instructions which when executed cause a digital processing system to perform a method including determining a resting metabolic rate of a subject by applying the Kail-Waters equation.
US08177723B2	Filter for blood pressure monitor An automatic blood pressure monitor having a housing containing a first water and air tight chamber and a second air supply chamber, the chambers being separated by a common wall. Pneumatic equipment is mounted in the first chamber having a flow circuit for inflating and deflating a blood pressure cuff. A filtering unit is mounted in the common wall for retaining particulate material and moisture that is exchanged between the two chambers. The flow circuit has an air inlet port and an air exhaust port which are both located adjacent to the filter contained in the filtering unit whereby particulate material and moisture drawn into the flow circuit is retained upon the filter during inflation cycle and the particulate material and moisture retained on the filter is blown back into the air supply chamber during the deflation cycle. A drain is mounted in the floor of the air supply chamber through which particulate material and moisture collected in the chamber is discharged to the surrounding ambient. A restricted opening is provided in an outer wall of the air supply chamber which allows ambient air to enter the chamber through a tortuous path of travel.
US08177721B2	Remote blood pressure waveform sensing method and apparatus The invention as disclosed is a non-contact method and apparatus for continuously monitoring a physiological event in a human or animal, such as blood pressure, which involves utilizing a laser-based interferometer system in combination with a laser tracking system and a signal processor to produce a waveform that is representative of a continuous physiological event such as blood pressure or respiration in a subject.
US08177720B2	Apparatus for detecting vital functions, control unit and pulse wave sensor An apparatus for detecting vital functions has a pulse wave sensor attachable to a body and a control unit. The control unit checks if amplitude of pulse wave signals produced from the pulse wave sensor varies. The control unit further checks if a large change in the amplitude during a systolic phase of a pulse wave corresponding to the systolic phase of the heart. If a first large change in the amplitude during a diastolic phase of a pulse wave corresponding to the diastolic phase of the heart, it is highly probable that a motion artifact has occurred. Therefore, a motion artifact flag is set. Next, it is checked if the amplitude in the next diastole is changing by more than 30%. if it is presumed that the occurrence of cough is highly probable, a cough flag is set. if it is neither the motion artifact nor the cough, then a yawn flag is set.
US08177713B2	Motor-driven laparoscopic seal assembly A motor driven seal assembly for permitting hand assisted laparoscopic procedures. The seal assembly includes a seal cap having a seal positioned within a housing, the housing includes a lower seal ring having a track which supports an upper seal ring for rotational motion relative thereto. The seal is supported between the upper seal ring and the lower seal ring for rotation between an open orientation and a closed orientation. A motor-driven drive assembly is associated with the lower seal ring and the upper seal ring for controlling relative to movement thereof.
US08177712B2	Body insertable apparatus and body-insertable apparatus system To provide a capsule endoscope in which a degree of appearance of a sting-like member in a captured image is reduced, a capsule endoscope (2) includes an optical system (18) having a predetermined principal point, an imaging unit (19) which captures light focused by the optical system (18), and an attachment member (28) which is arranged at a predetermined position on a window portion (17a) having optical transparency and forming a portion of an outer casing member (17) housing the optical system (18) and the imaging unit (19). The capsule endoscope (2) further includes a traction member (29) having one end secured to the attachment member (28) and extending by a predetermined distance in a direction from the optical system (18) toward a position of the attachment member (28). Since the traction member (29) has such a structure, an appearance of an image of the traction member (29) can be reduced at the imaging unit (19).
US08177709B2	Rotary self-propelled endoscope system A rotary self-propelled endoscope system includes an insertion section body, an insertion section, a drive unit, a torque detection unit, and a control unit. In a distal end portion of the insertion section body, a rigid distal end portion including an image pickup apparatus is disposed. The insertion section is rotatably fit to the outside of the insertion section body, and includes a rotary tubular member having a helical portion formed by a helical concave-convex portion. The drive unit applies the rotary tubular member with axial and rotational drive force. The torque detection unit detects torque information of the rotary tubular member. On the basis of the torque information detected by the torque detection unit, the control unit compares a present value with a preset limit value for controlling the torque of the rotary tubular member, and controls the drive unit on the basis of the comparison result.
US08177706B2	Method of treating urinary incontinence A method for treating urinary incontinence includes the steps of inserting into the woman's vagina a first disposable device, removing the first disposable device, and inserting a second disposable device substantially identical to the first disposable device. The disposable devices have a working portion with opposed faces to provide support to an associated urinary system and an anchoring portion to maintain the disposable device in place during use. The anchoring portion has at least one member extending beyond at least one end of the working portion.
US08177696B2	Method and apparatus for milling thermal barrier coated metals A method is provided for milling a thermal barrier coated metal part. This method includes selectively removing a portion of a ceramic coating using a mechanical cutting tool, thereby forming a counterbore, and machining the metal part through the counterbore. A drilling head for drilling thermal barrier coated metal parts is also provided. The drilling head comprises a mechanical cutting tool, which is operable to mill through ceramic, and an electrode for electrical discharge machining. The electrode may be used to mill the metal part, and may be interchangeable with the mechanical cutting tool.
US08177695B2	Abdominal training machine and method Some embodiments provide an abdominal training machine that uses an adapted reverse crunching motion to minimize stress to the knees, back, shoulders, and neck when training the abdominal muscles. The machine combines weight resistance training with a replicated natural motion of each leg to produce the adapted reverse crunching motion. The adapted reverse crunching motion is performed using a section of the lower part of the body closest to the abdominal muscles while the upper body or torso remains stationary. In some embodiments, the abdominal training machine includes a frame, a body support member, and two individually rotating resistance members. Each resistance member includes a weight assembly for providing a user adjustable amount of resistance.
US08177694B1	Chin-up exercise apparatus and method An exercise apparatus is disclosed. The exercise apparatus may include a frame and a rail suspended from the frame. The rail may have a length extending horizontally. The exercise apparatus may further include two carriages, each configured to roll along the rail independent of one another. A handle may be connected to each carriage. A user may grasp the handles, one with each hand, and execute an exercise such as a chin-up, pull-up, bicep curl, lat pulldown, or the like.
US08177692B2	Pike pole exercise apparatus A pike pole exercise apparatus is provided for firemen to train and condition themselves for using a pike pole hook. A base has an elongated post attached thereto which extends generally vertically therefrom. An elongated hollow slide member is slidably mounted on the elongated post for sliding thereon and has a weight attached thereto so that a fireman can grip the slide member and slide it up and down on the elongated pole to exercise and train for using a pike pole hook.
US08177689B2	Oxygen trainer device An oxygen trainer assembly for use in athletic activities to increase inspiratory muscular endurance, the assembly comprising: a mouthpiece having a mouthpiece opening; a circulation chamber housing having a circulation chamber in fluid communication with the mouthpiece opening; a first endcap having a first endcap aperture and a second endcap having a second endcap opening in fluid communication with the circulation chamber housing; a first endcap insert disposable in the first endcap operative to control the level of air resistance in the assembly during inhalation and exhalation; a one-way valve disposable in the second endcap sized and configured to allow the flow of air away from the circulation chamber during exhalation.
US08177685B2	Method for shifting gears in a dual clutch transmission A method for shifting gears in a dual clutch transmission within a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle implementing said method are suggested providing a smooth transition between gears particularly in the starting phase. The dual clutch transmission comprises a first clutch and a second clutch as well as a first partial transmission having a first and other gears and a second partial transmission having a second and other gears. The clutches are controlled to a) decrease a torque transmitting capacity of the first clutch; b) increase a torque transmitting capacity of the second clutch; c) adapt the rotational speed of the motor in direction of a rotational speed of an input shaft of the second partial transmission via increasing the torque transmitting capacity of the second clutch; and d) control the torque transmitting capacity of the second clutch to a final torque value.
US08177679B2	Control device for vehicular drive system A drive system has an electrically controlled differential portion (11) in which a differential state between an input-shaft rotation speed and an output-shaft rotation speed is controlled upon controlling a first electric motor (M1), and a shifting portion (20) and a second electric motor (M2) disposed in a power transmitting path between the electrically controlled differential portion and drive wheels (34). In a control device for controlling the drive system, a rotation direction of an output shaft (18) of the shifting portion is able to be determined without increasing the number of component parts such as a rotation speed sensor. The control device includes rotation direction determination means (86) for determining a rotation direction of an output shaft (22) of an automatic shifting portion (20) based on an engagement of a given coupling element and a detected result of rotation direction detection means (92). This enables the rotation direction of the output shaft 22 of the automatic shifting portion (20) to be suitably detected without increasing the number of component parts such as the rotation speed sensor.
US08177675B2	Multi-speed transmission A transmission of the present invention has an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes. The torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish at least ten forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
US08177674B2	Multiple speed automatic transmission A multiple speed transmission includes an input and output; a first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets, each gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier, and pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and the ring gear; a first epicyclic gearing assembly including the first gear set, the second gear set, a first clutch, a second clutch, a first brake, and first, second, third and fourth rotating members, said first clutch being operable to couple said first rotating member to the input, said second clutch being operable to couple said second rotating member to the input, and said first brake being operable to hold said fourth rotating member against rotation; and a second epicyclic gearing assembly including the third gear set, the fourth gear set, a third clutch, a second brake, a third brake, and fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth rotating members, the third rotating member being secured to the eighth rotating member, said third clutch being operable to couple said seventh rotating member to the input, said second brake being operable to hold said seventh rotating member against rotation, said third brake being operable to hold said fifth rotating member against rotation, and said sixth rotating member being secured for rotation to the output.
US08177672B2	Driving-force transmitting apparatus for four-wheel-drive vehicle A driving-force transmitting device includes a first disengaging mechanism that disengages a driving force from an engine to a driving-force transmitting unit and a second disengaging mechanism having a synchronizing mechanism that disengages the driving force from a driving-force transmitting unit to a right-rear-wheel driving shaft. A change gear ratio between front wheels and rear wheels is constructed so that a driving-force transmitting unit side of the first disengaging mechanism rotates at a speed higher than that of an opposing side at the time of completion of synchronization of the second disengaging mechanism. In switching from a two-wheel drive mode to a four-wheel drive mode, synchronization of the second disengaging mechanism first starts to increase the rotation speed of the driving-force transmitting unit, and next connects the first disengaging mechanism when a rotation speed of the driving-force transmitting unit side of the first disengaging mechanism matches that of an opposing side.
US08177669B2	Pulley structure A pulley structure having a first rotating member that is rotatable around a first axis. A second rotating member is rotatable around the first axis and in at least partial axial coincidence with the first rotating member. A spring containing chamber is defined between the first and second rotating members. A spring, having axially spaced first and second ends defined by coils, extends around the first axis. At least one coil at each of the first and second axially spaced ends of the spring is radially biased relative to the first axis to thereby be frictionally held against each of the first and second rotating members to thereby allow forces generated by relative rotation between the first and second rotating members to be transmitted through the spring.
US08177668B2	Dart The present invention provides a dart having a durable and break-resistant structure. A dart in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention has, in order from the front thereof, a tip, a barrel, a shaft, and a flight. At the rear of the shaft, a cap-receiving portion having a diameter smaller than that existing elsewhere is formed, this cap-receiving portion being capable of receiving a cap-like portion of the flight. At the front end of the flight, a hollow cylindrical cap-like portion containing a hole for attachment to the cap-receiving portion of the shaft is formed. The shaft and the flight are connected to each other by a sliding engagement method.
US08177667B2	Intra-digital orthosis for use in shooting a ball such as a basketball An intra-digital orthosis for use in shooting a ball such as a basketball comprising: index and ring finger receptacles each having an aperture; a middle finger backstop; and first and second shafts joining the index and ring finger receptacles to the middle finger backstop. The orthosis preferably spaces apart and/or encourages flexion of the distal phalanges of at least a user's index and ring fingers and/or facilitates an arch angle between those fingers and the user's middle finger that approximates the curvature of the ball being thrown so as to facilitate and enhance the user's ability to position the hand when shooting the ball.
US08177665B2	Multi-layer golf ball A four-piece solid golf ball construction is disclosed, including one or more core layers, an inner mantle layer, an outer mantle layer, and one or more cover layers. The inner mantle layer has a Shore D hardness in the range of 20 to 60, and the outer mantle layer has a Shore D hardness in the range of 40 to 80 and exceeding that of the inner mantle layer by at least 3. The solid golf ball provides a high spin rate when struck not only by a full 8-iron, but also by a soft pitching wedge, for short shots near a putting green.
US08177662B2	Golf club head weight with seal and vibration dampener A metal golf club head that allows a user to customize the location of the center of gravity. The metal golf club head comprises a hollow body with a weighting port. The weighting port allows a user to place weighting material inside the hollow body, customizing the location of the center of gravity, the swing weight, the total weight, and the balance of the golf club.
US08177661B2	Golf club A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, a sleeve including a top portion and a middle portion connected to the top portion is described. The middle portion includes a thin wall thickness. A bottom portion is connected to the middle portion including a plurality of engaging surfaces. A central longitudinal axis and an offset angle offset from the central longitudinal axis is described. The offset angle allows a maximum loft change of about 0.5 degrees to about 4.0 degrees. The total weight of the sleeve is less than 9 g.
US08177660B2	Releasable and interchangeable connections for golf club heads and shafts Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: a shaft adapter, a shaft retainer, and a club head having an interior chamber. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft adapter so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.
US08177659B1	Golf club head with improved aerodynamic characteristics A golf club head comprising an aerodynamic hosel is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the hosel has an upper portion and a swept transition portion which connects to the golf club head, and all points at which the swept transition portion contacts the club head are spaced rearwardly from a vertical face plane. In a further embodiment, both the upper portion and the swept transition portion comprise coaxial shaft receiving bores. In yet another embodiment, the swept transition portion of the hosel has a trailing edge that is truncated, or that has one or more surface discontinuities. In yet another embodiment, the swept transition portion has a height and a diameter, each of which is less than or equal to one inch.
US08177657B2	Quick release connection system for golf clubs The present invention is directed at a quick release connection system to facilitate customization of golf clubs. It can be used to interchange shafts, removable weights, or soleplates quickly and easily. Teeth are disposed on the inside of a frame so that a shaft may be inserted with minimal resistance, but cannot be removed without specific steps which may require the use of a simple tool. Strengthening and interlock devices are provided to ensure performance quality akin to tradition al golf clubs.
US08177656B2	Putter training system A putter training system includes a putter with putter head, an attachment secured adjacent the putter head, and a grid having sidewalls and a grid bottom. The putter head includes a bottom, a top and a face, where the top has at least one putter alignment line appearing thereon. The grid sidewalls are spaced apart by a distance larger than a length of the putter head. The grid bottom includes at least one grid alignment line cooperable with the at least one putter alignment line to facilitate alignment perception during a putting stroke. Additionally, the attachment is cooperable with the grid bottom to facilitate alignment feedback during the putting stroke.
US08177652B2	Golf downswing guide A golf downswing guide which prevents medial rotation (rotation towards the center of the body) of the right arm for a right handed golfer during the backswing but more specifically during the downswing.The device consists of a lower and an upper elongated member joined together by an elbow joint which allows pivoting on a single plane. The device attaches to the right arm (for a right handed golfer)A counter acting elongated member is mounted on the lower and upper elongated members by means of pivoting joints.A holding device consisting of a pivoting arm with an elongated opening at the non-pivoting end is attached to a ratchet device which is attached to a base section which in turn attaches to the waist area of the golfer.During the backswing but more specifically the downswing, the counter acting elongated member stays inside the elongated opening of the pivoting arm of the holding device and prevents the counter acting elongated member from moving out of the elongated opening and consequently prevents the right arm from medially rotating during the downswing. The ratchet device allows the pivoting arm to rotate only in one direction.
US08177651B2	Weighted ball rebounder A weighted ball rebounder and method for increasing power on an athletic performance provide a trampoline member including a resilient sheet affixed to a peripheral frame pivotally coupled to a base and disposed on a substantially horizontal surface. Stabilizing members prevent the rebounder from moving along the surface when a weighted ball such as a 2–20 pound medicine ball, is rebounded therefrom. The trampoline member is angularly adjustable up to 180° in fixed positions. The method provides a user drawing a weighted ball in a direction away from the rebounder, then abruptly swinging the weighted ball toward the rebounder and releasing. The rebounder returns the weighted ball in flight, to the user.
US08177645B2	Methods and apparatus for providing communications services at a gaming machine In a first aspect, a method is provided that includes the steps of (1) providing an auxiliary unit adapted to allow a gaming machine to be retrofitted to provide communications services; and (2) retrofitting a non-communications-enabled gaming machine with the auxiliary unit so that the non-communications enabled gaming machine is adapted to provide communications services based on game play at the non-communications-enabled gaming machine. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US08177644B2	Wagering game with fantasy-sports feature A gaming system and method of conducting a wagering game having a fantasy-sports feature on a gaming system is disclosed. A wager is received from a user to play the wagering game. A roster having one or more player is created, via user selection. A projected team score and an actual team score for the created roster are determined. A ratio is calculated for the actual team score to the projected team score. An award is provided to the user if the calculated ratio meets a predetermined criterion.
US08177641B2	Systems and methods for quickly selecting video games A video game controller is equipped with an electronic input that can read a game identification code from an electronic key. When the user presents the key to the game controller, it relays the game ID to the game console. This electronic key may be read via RFID from a detachable faceplate for the controller. The game console utilizes the game ID to quickly find and launch the game from game storage. The game console itself may also be equipped with such an electronic input. The game storage can be built into the console, or on a server accessed through a home network or through the internet. Such use of an electronic key and detachable faceplate is extended to rapid and easy personalization, customization, and function enhancement of entertainment and other consumer electronics devices as well.
US08177640B2	Game system Disclosed is a novel game system, comprising a computer device; a game platform to communicate with the computer; and at least one game control module to detect environment data and to transfer the environment data to the game platform. In the present invention, the game platform stores at least one game software to be executed in the computer and the game platform provides the environment data to the computer whereby the computer executes the game software in association with the environment data. The environment data represent the position, orientation, acceleration of the game control module, and their variations.
US08177639B2	Controlling an interactive story through manipulation of simulated character mental state In various embodiments, methods and systems are provided for simulating the effect of mental state on character behavior in an interactive story environment. One method embodiment includes facilitating manipulation of a simulated mental state model of a character in the interactive story, wherein the mental state model comprises at least one pre-behavior representation associated with at least one character behavior which may be a thought, verbal expression, or action, for example; and, applying the manipulated mental state model to generate at least one behavior of the character in the interactive story.
US08177637B2	Button panel control for a gaming machine Disclosed are gaming machines, including related methods, apparatus, and systems, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing a game of chance. Peripheral devices, such as a bill acceptor and ticket printer, are consolidated in a central region of the gaming machine, behind a moveable door of the machine. Doors of the machine, including a door having a display, are moveable in directions along a longitudinal axis of the machine between open and closed positions. An adjustable button panel is moveable to a plurality of positions along the longitudinal axis, independent of the moveable doors. An array of networked displays on one or more gaming machines are controlled to simultaneously output lighting patterns, including synchronized patterns, associated with various events. Designated lighting patterns can also be output on light borders disposed around groups of buttons and other input devices on the button panel. A player interface is coupled to receive player input for setting parameters defining the audio and video presentation of game data on the machine. Contributing to the audio presentation, one or more speakers situated in an upper region of the cabinet are oriented at a downward angle.
US08177636B2	Gaming system having a plurality of gaming machines linked by network and control method thereof According to a gaming system of the present invention, the control device cumulatively counts a part of the number of game media betted in each of the gaming machines as a cumulative value. Further, when the cumulative value reaches a predetermined value, a common game is executed in the gaming machine. When the common game is executed, the control device lights the illuminants included in the coupling illuminated line provided for each of the gaming machines based on a result of the common game and pays out a predetermined number of game media to the gaming machine provided with the coupling illuminated line with all the illuminants included therein having been lighted.
US08177633B2	Gaming system and method providing an award for designated losing conditions The gaming system and method disclosed herein provides an award to one or more players for a non-occurrence of a designated event. The gaming system monitors a plurality of games played at a plurality of gaming devices. If the designated event occurs, the gaming system resets an event counter associated with tracking the non-occurrence of the designated event. If the designated event does not occur, the gaming system: (i) increments the event counter to account for the non-occurrence of the designated event, and (ii) determines if the quantity of games played since the last event occurred at least equals a predetermined quantity of games played. If the quantity of games played since the last event occurred at least equals the predetermined quantity, the gaming system provides one or more of the players an award for the non-occurrence of the designated event.
US08177632B2	Information flow control for gaming machines requiring server support A computing apparatus operating as a gaming machine permits wagering on games. A browser generates a request for information contained on a remote server. An intermediate client-side processing, ICSP, engine coupled with the browser receives the request and generates a corresponding request that is transmitted to the remote server. The browser, following the transmission of the first message, being released to process other actions without having yet received a reply to the first message.
US08177626B2	Gaming machine When a player starts playing a game by operating a MAXBET button (e.g. when the bet count is 30 bets) and determined that the currently owned credit count is insufficient to the credit count required for the MAX bet, the current game rate set in a slot machine (the credit count per bet required for betting) is changed to a lower game rate.
US08177622B2	Wagering game with background modification feature A method of playing a wagering game. The method includes conducting the wagering game at a gaming terminal. A plurality of symbols is displayed, each of the plurality of symbols located in a cell of an array. In response to at least one of the plurality of symbols achieving a winning outcome, a player is awarded a winning award and a background of a cell associated with the winning outcome is modified. Also, the modification of the background causes an alteration in the wagering game.
US08177617B1	Three card video poker A poker game which comprises generating a row-column grid or matrix of three cards by three cards, a total of nine cards, such that there are three horizontal rows of poker hands and three vertical columns of poker hands a total of six poker hands. The nine cards and the replacement cards may be dealt or generated from a special or custom deck or a standard deck of 52 cards. Multiple standard 52 decks may be used.
US08177615B2	Blackjack game for electronic gaming devices A method of playing a wagering blackjack-type card game on an electronic device wherein the object of the game is to play and win or at least tie both of two player hands against a single dealer hand. Preferably four cards are dealt to each player who has placed a wager, and at least an initial up card for the dealer is displayed. Each player then has the option of forfeiting at least a portion of his wager, or continuing to play. If the player decides to continue playing, the initially-dealt cards are then randomly displayed as two cards in each of two separate player hands. Each player hand is then finalized according to traditional blackjack rules, including doubling, hitting and standing. Each finalized player hand is then compared with a finalized dealer hand, with the winning wagers being determined by a predetermined paytable. A side bet is also disclosed.
US08177614B2	Blackjack variation with up-card bonus A method, system, and computer readable storage medium to provide a variation of a blackjack game. If the dealer's up-card is of a predetermined card, then the dealer will automatically reveal the dealer's hole card, thereby providing the player with additional information. If the player's initial hand comprises a predetermined hand or hands, then the player can earn a bonus which can be multiplied based on a multiplier associated with the dealer's up-card.
US08177613B2	Trivia question wagering system A method and system for providing a pari-mutuel wagering environment is presented. The method includes receiving a wager amount at a server from each of a plurality of players, allocating a portion of each wager amount to a payout pool, and allocating a second portion of each wager amount to a jackpot. The method further includes simultaneously presenting a question to the plurality of players and receiving answers to the question from the players. The method also includes allocating pro rata shares of the payout pool to each player that answers the question correctly, and, if a specified percentage of the players answer the question correctly, allocating pro rata shares of the jackpot to each of the players that answered the question correctly. The system further includes a plurality of remote terminals and servers for performing the method.
US08177612B2	System and method for playing a game involving the conversion of a communicated message to a text message This invention is directed to amusement devices wherein players attempt to rapidly convert target messages into a “text message” using a conventional keypad arrangement such as that provided on a push button phone. The target message is the message that is intended to be translated may be communicated to the player using a visual display or be provided to a player orally. The object of the game is to accurately convert the target message to a “text message” as rapidly as possible using the keypad and the translated message is sent from the keypad data entry device to a central processing unit where it is then displayed and provided a score or rank according to predetermined scoring criteria.
US08177610B2	Combination residue spreader and collector for single pass harvesting systems A crop residue harvesting system for a harvesting machine is provided. The crop residue harvesting system includes a blower and a transition member having a first position and a second position. In a first position the transition member directs at least a portion of the crop residue to the blower for harvesting of the crop residue. In a second position the transition member allows for spreading at least a portion of the crop residue. A lever or actuator may be operatively connected to the transition member for selecting between the first position and the second position or selecting an intermediate position to control the proportions of the crop residue harvested and the crop residue spread.
US08177608B2	Fan-type grinding wheel A fan-type grinding wheel comprises a rigid support plate and is provided with grinding elements. These grinding elements comprise a main portion forming a first working face and a bending portion forming a peripheral working face. Furthermore, they comprise an outer portion forming a second working face.
US08177606B2	Dust shroud for rotary tools A dust shroud for rotary tools includes a front half and a back half which are attachable together along an axis thereof to form a dust shroud. The dust shroud is mountable to a rotary power tool after mounting a mandrel in the power tool, and includes one or more openings to allow a person to lock the shaft of the tool while the dust shroud is mounted thereto to allow a person to change a worn out abrasive pad. The dust shroud is particularly suited for use with die grinders and similar rotary tools.
US08177603B2	Polishing pad composition Polishing pads for use in chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) or polishing elements/surfaces of such pads are made from a combination of immiscible polymers, for example polyurethane and polyolefin. The polymers are selected on the basis of interfacial interaction, melt index and ratios of melt indices between the polymer phases—a matrix phase and a dispersed phase. By selecting the polymer system such that the two polymers are immiscible in one another and preferentially form separate domains, the dispersed phase can be removed when conditioning or polishing processes expose it. The melt index of individual polymers and the ratio of melt indices determines dispersability of a smaller phase into the matrix, hence the phase size.
US08177602B1	Apparatus and method for enhancing a woman's cleavage with floating brassiere cups A brassiere with floating cups which are independently positionable in relation to the brassiere body. Depending on the point of attachment to the brassiere, the floating brassiere cups control the support, position, cleavage, and separation of individual breasts. The floating cups are partially or fully detached from the brassiere at various selectable locations. It is not just rotational motion, but also lifting the breasts upward and toward the center of the chest. The brassiere has floating cups that apply rotational pressure to move the breasts closer together if rotated in one direction, and will move the breasts apart if rotated in the other direction. The cup positioning mechanism can be implemented by an adjustable clip, by integral hook and loop strips, buttons, ornamental clasps, straps, string ties, or other suitable devices.
US08177596B2	Fishing trawler net resistant subsurface buoy tether system An anchoring base and a buoy that are adapted to resist entanglement with a trawler net that may be dragged over the anchor and buoy. The buoy may have a plurality of cones that are secured to the tether in a spaced relationship proximate the lower end of the buoy. The anchoring base has a top side having an upper surface that defines a plurality of indentations between raised portions. The tether may be received in at least one of the indentations when the tether is pressed against the upper surface of the insert to protect the tether from being damaged or severed.
US08177592B2	Personal watercraft A personal watercraft comprises a water jet pump configured to be driven by an engine to generate a rearward water jet, a reverse bucket mounted at a periphery of the water jet pump and movable between a forward driving position and a reverse driving position, a driving power operation member configured to control an engine driving power, a reverse driving operation member configured to change a position of the reverse bucket from the forward driving position to the reverse driving position, and a deceleration operation member, wherein the reverse bucket is in the forward driving position when the deceleration operation member and the reverse driving operation member are not operated, and the reverse bucket is in a deceleration position between the forward driving position and the reverse driving position when the deceleration operation member has been operated and the reverse driving operation member is not operated.
US08177590B2	Crimping terminal and method of manufacturing terminal-provided wire A crimp terminal whose crimp state can be easily evaluated and to provide a method of manufacturing a terminal-provided wire comprising the crimp terminal. The crimp terminal includes a pair of conductor barrels which are crimped onto a conductor of an electric wire. The conductor barrel has an outer surface provided with a crimp state indicator for evaluating a crimp level thereof. The indicator may be a mark so shaped that a position of an internal end of an outwardly exposed part thereof is varied in a terminal axial direction corresponding to the crimp level, or include a plurality of marks spaced in a direction perpendicular to the terminal axial direction.
US08177588B1	Battery terminal A battery contact terminal assembly for electrically connecting the conducting end of a cable to a battery post so that the mechanical and electrical connection can be effectively ensured. The assembly includes two hingedly mounted members with semicircle ends each that embrace the post when a fastening member tightens the free ends. The fastening members include a hook that pulls the conducting end against one of the members. An anti-corrosion member is sandwiched between the two free ends for protection against the electrolyte chemical reaction typical in batteries.
US08177583B2	Compression connector for coaxial cable A compression connector for smooth walled, corrugated, and spiral corrugated coaxial cable includes an insulator disposed within the body, wherein the insulator contains a central opening therein which is dimensioned smaller than a collet portion which seizes a center conductor of the coaxial cable. The connector also includes a clamp disposed inside the body as well as a compression sleeve assembly. An intermediate connector element includes a transitional surface which interacts with the clamp. When an axial force is applied to the compression sleeve, the clamp is forced by the transitional surface into the body, causing the clamp to squeeze onto an outer conductor layer of the coaxial cable. At approximately the same time, the collet portion is forced through the central opening of the insulator, causing the collet portion to squeeze onto the center conductor.
US08177581B2	Electrical connector with board locks with retaining portions abutting block portions of the connector An electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a plurality of terminals and a pair of board locks retained in the housing. The insulative housing defines a mating surface, a mounting surface opposite to the mating surface, a plurality of passageways penetrating through the mating surface and a pair of slots penetrating through the mounting face and a first side face of the insulative housing. The terminals are received in the passageways. The board locks are secured in the corresponding slots of the insulative housing. Each board lock includes a retention portion and a lock tail extending from the retention portion beyond the mounting face. The insulative housing further defines a pair of block portions unitarily protruding from the first side face adjacent to the corresponding slots, and each board lock includes a retaining portion abutting against the corresponding block portion on a face opposite to the mounting face.
US08177580B2	Disconnect adapter for electrical meter A meter disconnect adapter is provided that allows a utility meter to be connected to a meter socket while electrical service is disconnected to a facility. The meter disconnect adapter includes housing having an interior area. A plurality of terminals are coupled to the housing. Each terminal includes a stab portion and a jaw portion. The stab portion is sized to provide less than rated current flow to the utility meter. The jaw portion is sized to facilitate the coupling of the meter to the adapter. Use of this adapter enables the terminals to transfer only enough current to power the electrical meter whereby the utility may monitor and verify that no electrical power is being consumed.
US08177577B2	Printed wiring board having a substrate with higher conductor density inserted into a recess of another substrate with lower conductor density A printed wiring board includes a first substrate having a recess portion and multiple conductors, a second substrate having multiple conductors and inserted in the recess portion of the first substrate such that the first substrate has a surface exposing at least a portion of a surface of the second substrate. The multiple conductors in the first substrate is electrically connected to the multiple conductors in the second substrate, and the second substrate has density of the conductors which is higher than density of the conductors of the first substrate.
US08177575B2	Connector assembly A connector assembly includes a first connector and a second connector. The second connector has a receptacle portion configured to receive a mating portion of the first connector, a lock key, and a biasing member. The lock key has a pushed portion and is received in the receptacle portion so as to be movable between a locking position and an unlocking position. The biasing member is configured to bias the lock key toward the locking position. The mating portion of the first connector has a positioning key having a pusher and a locking portion. When the first connector is inserted along the insertion direction, the pushed portion is pushed by the pusher, so that the lock key is temporarily moved to the unlocking position and then moved to the locking position. Thus, a mating state of the first connector and the second connector is locked.
US08177574B2	Electrical connector capable of preventing solder wicking The invention relates to an electrical connector capable of preventing solder wicking. The electrical connector has an insulating body that includes a plurality of containing grooves and conductives terminals installed in the containing grooves, a solder stop portion extended from a sidewall of the containing groove, the terminal having a main body portion between the solder stop portion and the sidewall, a contact portion extended upwardly from both ends of the main body portion and bent to both sides of the bump stopper and the solder stop portion separately, and a soldering portion extended downwardly from the main body portion and including a diffusion preventing area for separating the main body portion and the soldering portion, and the diffusion preventing area being higher than the lowest point of the solder stop portion.
US08177573B2	Waterproof plug and wiring harness having the same A waterproof plug, which is mounted around an electric wire connected with a terminal to be received in a terminal receiving section of a connector housing, and waterproofs between an inner wall of the terminal receiving section and the electric wire, includes a waterproof member made of elastic material having a cylindrical main body, a plurality of inner lips projecting inwardly from an inner surface of the main body, and a plurality of outer lips projecting outwardly from an outer surface of the main body; and a resin member made of synthetic resin, having a cylindrical portion and a plurality of internal portions projecting from an end of the cylindrical portion along an axis of the cylindrical portion, and the plurality of internal portions is arranged with a distance between each other around the cylindrical portion and arranged in the main body of the waterproof member.
US08177567B2	Apparatus for signal and current transmission between end points which can move relative to one another Apparatus for signal and current transmission between end points capable of moving relative to one another having a flat ribbon line arranged in between. The ribbon has at least two conductors, embedded in an insulating sheath. The ribbon is subdivided into winding areas, connected by a U-shaped reversal point and is accommodated in a cassette, having a rotor and stator. The rotor and stator enclose between them an annular winding area for the ribbon. A strip of insulating material is arranged in the winding area of the cassette and has at least two sections which are offset with respect to one another in the circumferential direction of the cassette and have reversal points and associated winding areas. The strip is placed around turning points, fitted to the stator. The strip supports the ribbon such that turns of the ribbon do not fall on one another.
US08177560B2	Magnetic connector for electronic device An electrical plug and receptacle relying on magnetic force from an electromagnet to maintain contact are disclosed. The plug and receptacle can be used as part of a power adapter for connecting an electronic device, such as a laptop computer, to a power supply. The plug includes electrical contacts, which are preferably biased toward corresponding contacts on the receptacle. The plug and receptacle each have a magnetic element. The magnetic element on one of the plug or receptacle can be a magnet or ferromagnetic material. The magnetic element on the other of the plug or receptacle is an electromagnet. When the plug and receptacle are brought into proximity, the magnetic attraction between the electromagnet magnet and its complement, whether another magnet or a ferromagnetic material, maintains the contacts in an electrically conductive relationship.
US08177556B2	Healing abutment and dental implant having the same A healing abutment includes a main body portion and a coupling portion. The main body portion has an inclined section that is inclined such that at least a part of a gum contact portion that contacts a gum when coupled to a fixture that is implanted into an alveolar bone has an outer diameter that decreases from a lower end toward an upper end. The coupling portion is coupled to the main body portion to detachably couple the main body portion to the fixture.
US08177553B2	Dental strip An elongated flexible dental strip includes front and rear surfaces defining a thickness therebetween. The strip also includes first and second edges defining a lateral width therebetween. A first portion of the strip further is spaced from a second portion along the length of the strip, wherein the thickness of the first portion is different from the thickness of the second portion. The strip has a constant thickness across a lateral width defined between the first and second edges.
US08177552B1	Elastic bands for orthodontic use An orthodontic band is provided made from an elastomeric material wherein the band has a shape which simulates the profile of an object with an open area within the band. In its unstretched condition the outer perimeter of the band is of a shape which is not a smooth continuous endless curve to thereby simulate the profile of the object, such as a star or heart. The band is mounted to a bracket on an upper tooth and to a bracket on a lower tooth by stretching the band and looping the open area over hooks on both brackets. The stretched band thereby provides a force against the teeth.
US08177548B2	Device for mounting a fan burner on a combustion chamber Device for mounting a forced-air burner 2 to a combustion chamber housing 4, having an attaching section to attach the device to a combustion chamber housing 4 demarcating a combustion chamber or to a unit 5 located on a combustion chamber housing 4 and a seating section to absorb forces and/or moments caused by a forced-air burner 2 located on the device.
US08177545B2	Method for operating a combustor having a catalyst bed A method for operating a combustor having a catalyst bed. The method includes the steps of directing a flow of air through a catalyst bed, providing heat to the catalyst bed, sensing the temperature in an upstream portion of the catalyst bed to provide an upstream temperature, directing a flow of a fuel through the catalyst bed when the upstream temperature reaches a light-off temperature to produce a combustion reaction, increasing the flow of the fuel until the flow of air and the flow of fuel have a selected air to fuel ratio, and controlling the combustion reaction within the catalyst bed by adjusting the flow of air and the flow of fuel while maintaining the selected air to fuel ratio. The method can include sensing temperatures within the catalyst bed and controlling the combustion reaction in response to the sensed temperatures. The heat provided to the catalyst bed can also be adjusted in response to the sensed temperatures. The methods can further include exchanging heat between heated combustion products and one or more reforming reactants.
US08177544B2	Selective lockout in a fuel-fired appliance A control system for a fuel-fired appliance and methods of operating are disclosed. When a failed ignition of a burner is detected, the control system is configured to enter a soft lockout state if the voltage level of a burner of the fuel-fired appliance is low during the failed ignition and a hard lockout state if the voltage level of the burner is not low during the failed ignition. In some cases, if a period of time has elapsed and/or the voltage level of the burner has increased after the control system enters the soft lockout state, the control system may be configured to initiate one or more subsequent ignition trials. In some cases, if the one or more subsequent ignition trials fail, the control system may be configured to then enter the hard lockout state.
US08177540B2	Method and apparatus for the production of high tenacity polyolefin sheet A process for the production of virtually full density polyolefin suitable for further processing by drawing to form a high tenacity, highly oriented polyolefin sheet comprising: a) feeding a metered amount of polyolefin powder into the nip between two heated calender rolls; b) rolling the powder through the nip under these conditions until a coherent sheet of polyolefin is produced. According to a highly preferred embodiment, initially, the nip is set at a gap smaller than the size of the smallest polyolefin powder particle and at a temperature above the melting point of the powder and once a coherent sheet of polyolefin exits the nip the temperature in the nip is lowered to a temperature below the melting point of the polyolefin powder and the gap increased to a desired level above the thickness of the largest powder particle.
US08177537B2	Method and apparatus for making porous agarose beads The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming agarose or cored agarose beads. The process involves dissolving/gelation the agarose in a suitable liquid, mixing it with a hydrophobic liquid to form an emulsion and maintaining that emulsion at a temperature equal to or greater than the gelation point of the agarose, passing it through a static mixer to create agarose droplets and solidifying the agarose droplets in a second bath of hydrophobic liquid. The beads can then be washed and used or further processed to crosslink the agarose and/or add various functionalities on to the agarose. Another method for solidifying the agarose droplets is by using a heat exchanger to cool the stream continuously after it exits the static mixer. A similar process is used for the “cored” beads except cores, preferably in bead form, are introduced to the agarose before it enters the first hydrophobic liquid so that the agarose forms a coating on the cores. A similar process with either agarose beads (made by this or another process) or cored agarose (made by this or another process) can be used to add multiple layers of agarose on to the existing beads. An apparatus for running the process is also disclosed.
US08177530B2	Miniature heat-dissipating fan A miniature heat-dissipating fan includes a stator and a rotor. The stator has a first leakage flux absorber, a coil layer arranged on the first leakage flux absorber, and a hole. The coil layer has a plurality of coils, and the hole passes through the first leakage flux absorber and the coil layer. The rotor has an impeller, a second leakage flux absorber and a permanent magnet. The second leakage flux absorber and the permanent magnet are attached to a bottom of the impeller, such that the rotor is rotatably coupled to the stator. Consequently, magnetic flux leakage under the stator is prevented to assure that electromagnetic interference will never be caused, and an overall axial thickness of the miniature heat-dissipating fan is reduced by the configuration of the stator.
US08177526B2	Gas well dewatering system Power and control logic configurations for gas well dewatering systems are provided. In one example, a reservoir is configured to contain hydraulic, lubricating fluid. An electric motor is configured to receive fluid from the reservoir for lubrication and a hydraulic pump powered by the electric motor is configured to receive fluid from the reservoir and pump the fluid into a hydraulic circuit. A positive displacement oscillating pump is powered by the hydraulic pump and configured to pump fluid from the reservoir to an outlet from the well. The electric motor and hydraulic pump receive the same fluid from the reservoir for lubrication and to create pressure in the hydraulic circuit, respectively. A switching device is connected to the hydraulic circuit and is switchable between a first position wherein fluid pressure from the hydraulic pump causes the piston pump to move in a first direction and a second position wherein fluid pressure from the hydraulic pump causes the piston pump to move in a second direction.
US08177524B1	Manual locking clamp for piston paint pump Apparatus for securing and selectively releasing a piston pump from a drive assembly including two collar segments, with one segment fixed to the drive assembly and the other segment movable only linearly transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the piston pump, with an over-center mechanism to lock the movable segment via a pair of links. The piston is engageable and disengageable with a drive mechanism in the drive assembly via a pair of interengaging surfaces, with one C-shaped member receiving the other member which is T-shaped.
US08177523B2	Linear compressor A linear compressor includes a cylinder part with a cylinder bore. A piston is disposed in the bore and slidable therein. A main spring connects the cylinder part to the piston. A connecting member connects between the main spring and the piston. The connecting member passes through the air gap of a stator of a linear electric motor. At least one armature pole of the motor is located along the connecting member. The stator comprises a plurality stator parts opposed across the air gap. The cylinder part includes a tapered clamp for each stator part. The tapered clamp widens outward from the air gap. Each stator part has a matching taper and is engaged in the tapered clamp.
US08177522B2	Mode changing apparatus for a scroll compressor A mode changing apparatus for a scroll compressor is provided that may include a low-pressure passage that communicates with a suction side formed by an orbiting motion of an orbiting scroll, an intermediate-pressure passage that communicates with an intermediate-pressure side formed by the orbiting motion of the orbiting scroll, a block assembly mounted at the fixed scroll and having a connection channel that connects the low-pressure passage and the intermediate-pressure passage, a switching device disposed at the block assembly that opens/closes the connection channel, and a pressure supply device that selectively applies, to the block assembly, a discharge gas pressure discharged from the fixed and orbiting scrolls and a suction gas pressure sucked into the fixed and orbiting scrolls, to thereby operate the switching device. With such a simplified structure, the gas compression capacity of a scroll compressor may be varied, enhancing energy efficiency of a system.
US08177521B2	System and method for monitoring and controlling oil return to compressor A system and method for monitoring and controlling oil return to a compressor, characterized by monitoring and controlling oil level, oil temperature, and compressor outlet pressure, so as to determine whether the oil level is lower than a predetermined level threshold, whether the temperature in the lubricating oil box is lower than a predetermined temperature threshold, and whether the compressor outlet pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure threshold, so as to control the flow of lubricating oil returned to the oil box by controlling the valve opening of the oil return valve according to a non-segmentation principle or a segmentation principle, ensure sufficient lubricating oil in the oil box, and enhance efficiency of the system.
US08177517B2	Blade for a wind turbine rotor A blade (1) for a rotor of a wind turbine having a substantially horizontal′ rotor shaft, said rotor comprising a hub, from which the blade extends substantially radially from said rotor when mounted. The blade (1) has a chord plane (K) extending between the leading edge (5) and the trailing edge (S) of the blade (1). The blade (1) comprises a root area (2) closest to the hub, an airfoil area (4) furthest away from the hub and a transition area (3) between the root area (2) and the airfoil area (4), and comprises a single airfoil along substantially the entire airfoil area (4). The blade (1) comprises at least a first root segment (7) and a second root segment (8) along substantially the entire root area (2), said segments being arranged with a mutual distance, as seen transverse to the chord plane (K). At least one of the root segments (7, 8) has an airfoil profile.
US08177511B2	Blower wheel A blower wheel comprising a centerdisk comprising a conical portion (16), a planar portion (160) for receiving a hub (7), and an arcuate portion (15) intermediate the conical portion and an outer portion (14), a plurality of blades (2) connected to the outer portion, the blades further connected to a ring (3), and a hub connected to the planar portion, the hub comprising a fastener (13) for attaching the centerdisk to a shaft (200).
US08177509B2	Lightning protection system for a wind turbine blade The invention relates to a lightning protection system for a wind turbine blade, where the blade is a shell body made of a composite material and comprises a root area and a tip end. The lightning protection system comprises at least one lightning receptor arranged freely accessible in or on the shell unit surface on or in the immediate vicinity of the tip of the blade, and a lightning conductor made of electrically conductive material extending within the shell body along substantially the entire longitudinal direction of the blade. The lightning receptor and the lightning conductor are electrically connected by means of a connection area. The lightning conductor in its entire longitudinal direction as well as the connection area between the lightning conductor and the lightning receptor are electrically insulated in order to prevent lightning striking through the surface of the blade.
US08177507B2	Triangular serpentine cooling channels A cooled airfoil includes a concave pressure wall extending radially from a base to a tip of the airfoil, a convex suction wall connected to the concave pressure wall at a leading edge and a trailing edge spaced axially from the leading edge, and cooling channels extending radially between the base and the tip of the airfoil between the concave pressure wall and the convex suction wall and configured to receive a cooling fluid supply through the base of the airfoil. The cooling channels include a leading edge channel, a trailing edge channel, a serpentine cooling circuit, and a dedicated up-pass channel. The serpentine cooling circuit includes a first up-pass channel forward of the trailing edge channel and configured to be in flow communication with a supply channel through the base of the airfoil, a down-pass channel forward of and in flow communication with the first up-pass channel, and a second up-pass channel forward of and in flow communication with the down-pass channel. At least the down-pass channel and the second up-pass channel of the serpentine circuit have a generally triangular transverse cross-sectional shape. The dedicated up-pass channel is arranged between the leading edge channel and the second up-pass channel of the serpentine cooling circuit.
US08177503B2	Turbine engine rotating cavity anti-vortex cascade A gas turbine engine rotor drum includes spaced apart discs providing a cavity between the discs. The discs are configured to rotate in a rotational direction about an axis. An annular support is mounted on at least one of the discs and within the cavity. A cascade of relatively short anti-vortex members is mounted circumferentially on the annular support. The anti-vortex members include an outer end having a concave surface extending within the cavity radially outward from the annular support. The concave surface faces the rotational direction and promotes swirl as the rotor drum rotates.
US08177499B2	Turbine blade cascade end wall In the turbine blades set to a large outflow angle, the performance of the entire turbine is improved by reducing a cross flow generated on the turbine end wall and a whirling up of flow on the suction side of a blade irrespective of the difference of the blade shape, thereby reducing the loss. There is provided a turbine blade cascade end wall positioned on the hub-side and/or the tip side of a plurality of turbine blades arranged in an annular shape, including a first projection having a ridge extending downward from the trailing edge of a turbine blade toward the downstream side gently at the beginning and steeply at the end, and along the suction side of an adjacent turbine blade.
US08177494B2	Buried casing treatment strip for a gas turbine engine A multiple of circumferential grooves within said arcuate engine casing and an abradable material located radial inboard of the multiple of circumferential grooves.
US08177491B2	Variable geometry nozzle device A compressor nozzle device comprises a set of adjustable vanes which is interposed between two opposite wall members (3, 5), and a unison ring (7) for actuating said vanes (1). The unison ring (7) is arranged at a side of one of said wall members (3) opposite to the other side thereof facing the vanes (1).
US08177487B2	Rotary machine balance weights In a one embodiment, a balance weight includes a base, a rotational axis extending from the base, and a circumference having opposite cam surfaces about the rotational axis. The opposite cam surfaces are at least partially angled toward one another in a direction away from the base along the rotational axis. The balance weight is designed to mount in a groove of a rotary component of a turbine engine.
US08177484B2	Impeller of multiblade blower and method of manufacuturing the same An impeller of a blower is disposed with circular support plates that are made of a resin and rotate about an axis of rotation and a plurality of blades that are made of a resin. The blades are disposed on outer peripheral portions of the circular support plates so as to be parallel to an axis of rotation, and serrated shapes are formed on the blades by cutting out blade tips at plural places. Additionally, a step is formed in a blade face of each of the blades at a position a predetermined distance from the blade tip where the serrated shape is formed.
US08177479B2	Mobile energy recovery apparatus and method An energy recovery apparatus and method for recovering and harvesting energy from passing air is disclosed. Energy recovery and harvesting from passing air is accomplished by creating a pressure differential using high and low pressure ports. The energy represented by the pressure differential is extracted using a mass airfoil device which, in turn, is used to create alternative forms of energy which, in turn, is used to support auxiliary and main systems aboard any moving object or form of transport.
US08177475B2	Contaminant-deflector labyrinth seal and method of operation A seal assembly for deflecting contaminated fluid flowing through the seal assembly from an upstream space to a downstream space includes an annular housing, at least one vent hole peripherally disposed on the annular housing, a first set of seals disposed within the annular housing adjacent to the downstream space, the first set of seals having an inclined surface to deflect the flow of contaminated fluid through the at least one vent hole, and a second set of seals mounted on the shaft, disposed within the annular housing, adjacent to the first set of seals and adjacent to the upstream space. The second set of seals may have larger inside diameter than the first set of seals. The seal assembly may prevent contaminated fluid from entering an air bearing cooling circuit, thereby preventing bearing wear, erosion and failure.
US08177474B2	System and method for turbine engine clearance control with rub detection A method of detecting rubs during operation of a turbomachine comprising at least one rotating object having a tip and a shelf is provided. The method includes generating signals representative of a sensed parameter and processing the signals to generate height versus time data for the tip. The height of the tip corresponds to the distance between the tip and the shelf. The method further includes monitoring the height versus time data, in order to determine whether a change in the height data exceeds a threshold value, and detecting a rub of the rotating object(s) on a second object, when the change in the height data exceeds the threshold value. A rub detection system for a turbomachine and a turbine engine system with rub detection are also provided.
US08177471B2	Cargo handling apparatus module A goods handling' apparatus for a cargo storage and transport vehicle includes a movable cargo platform continuous with a portion of cargo enclosure floor, when the cargo platform is in an upper position. Cargo may be slid between the trailer floor and the cargo platform. A vertical actuator raises and lowers the cargo platform between the upper position and a lower position atop the ground or other vehicle support surface whereupon cargo may be slid between the cargo platform and the ground or other positions. The cargo platform is disposed substantially within the plan perimeter of the floor of the cargo module during raising and lowering. A modular system may be integrated into the cargo enclosure, or may be incorporated into a modular enclosure for appending to a cargo box of the prior art. An underside is disposed in vertically adjusting communication with the cargo platform.
US08177470B2	Cutter dome for reclaim system A cutter dome for use with a reclaimer includes a sidewall that at least partially encircles a central axis and that extends from a lower end to an upper end, the sidewall having a lower portion that bounds a first chamber and an upper portion that bounds a second chamber, a collection opening being formed on the lower portion of the sidewall so that a reclaimer, such as an auger, can pass through the collection opening and communicate with the first chamber. A roof is disposed on the upper end of the sidewall so as to cover second chamber, the roof having a first inlet formed thereon. A first passageway is disposed within the second chamber and extends from the first inlet to a first outlet, the first outlet communicating with the first chamber.
US08177463B2	System for connecting and disconnecting containers from a base A system for locking and unlocking containers to transport modes and other containers comprises an actuating unit in an upper corner fitting of a container, a mechanical connecting mechanism connected to the actuating unit, and guides to route the connecting mechanism from the actuating unit to a rotatable locking leg housed in a lower corner fitting of the container. The twist lock of a lifting spreader engages the upper corner fitting of a container, urging the actuating unit. The connecting mechanism is in turn urged thereby causing the locking leg to rotate. The locking system, and apparatus to unlock a container twistlock, comprises in addition to an actuating unit, a locking mechanism in a lower corner fitting of the container, and a vertical coupler connecting the actuating unit with the locking mechanism. A torsional force applied to rotate the actuating unit is converted to a tension force by the actuating unit to move the vertical coupler, thus resulting in the rotating and unlocking of the locking mechanism.
US08177462B2	System and method for arranging wind turbine blades A system for arranging wind turbine blades includes first and second root cradles and a first support proximate to the second root cradle. A first tip cradle is rotatably connected to the first support, and a second tip cradle is proximate to the first root cradle. A method for arranging wind turbine blades includes transferring a first wind turbine blade proximate to a first root cradle and rotating the first wind turbine blade at least 90 degrees so that the first wind turbine blade is angled approximately 20 to 90 degrees with respect to a horizon. The method further includes transferring a second wind turbine blade proximate to a second root cradle and nesting the second wind turbine blade with the first wind turbine blade.
US08177459B2	Ball nose end mill and insert A cutting insert for a ball nose end mill includes a body including two opposed substantially flat retention surfaces. Each retention surface includes a chip control groove thereon extending from a point at or near an axial center of the body at an angle relative to the axial center of the body. The insert further includes a peripheral surface joining the two retention surfaces, wherein the peripheral surface includes a locating surface at a first end thereof and two arcuate surfaces at an opposed, second end thereof extending rearwardly from approximately the axial center of the second end and positioned on opposite sides of the insert symmetrically with respect to the centerline of the insert. The arcuate surfaces each including an arcuate cutting edge at the intersection of outer portion of a chip control groove and the arcuate surface. The arcuate surfaces are formed with a face clearance angle under the cutting edges.
US08177456B2	Pavement milling assembly A pavement milling sled upholds a rotating pavement milling drum during travel over pavement preselected for milling. Coplanar lower faces of laterally-separated left and right runners configured for sliding travel on the surface of the pavement define a sled floor. A milling frame mounted between the runners circumscribes a milling region, wherein rotation of the milling drum dislodges pavement located in the path the sled below the sled floor, pulverizes dislodged pavement, and deposits pulverized pavement to the rear of the sled. Left and right milling region sidewalls extend upwardly from the sled floor on opposite sides of the milling region. A guard plate is secured between the milling region sidewalls forward of the milling region at a distance above the sled floor. A discharge baffle extends between the milling region sidewalls at the back of the milling region in close proximity to the sled floor. The discharge baffle includes a rear wall separated from the floor extending upwardly between the milling region sidewalls at the back of the milling region, and a vertically-adjustable pulverized pavement exit gate depending from the rear wall. Milling region sidewalls project forward of the guard plate forming opposed sidewalls of an entry scoop having a mouth located at the front of the sled, a roofing plate bridging between the sidewalls of the entry scoop at a distance above the floor of the sled, and a downwardly depending pivotable admission flap mounted across the mouth of the entry scoop.
US08177448B2	Writing implement having a capillary writing tip A writing instrument that includes a barrel having a front end, a fluid reservoir compartment, and a longitudinal axis. The writing instrument further includes a head disposed at the front end of the barrel where the head has a front part with an opening and at least one rib having a peak; a capillary connector having a front portion, a main portion having a diameter, a rear portion having a diameter, and a radial shoulder, where the capillary connector extends from the front part of the head to the fluid reservoir compartment; and a ring substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis and disposed at a distance from the opening in the front part of the head. At least one air passage is formed between the ring and the barrel and the at least on rib extends in a radial direction between the ring and the barrel.
US08177442B2	Digital printing machine and platen assembly for printing on multiple garment portions A digital printing machine and a platen assembly therefore for printing on multiple garment portions, the platen assembly comprising a base member configured for operation with a printing machine, and multiple garment support members that are attached to the base member. Each support member comprises a first portion attached to the base member and a second substantially horizontal portion extending outwardly from the base member. The garment support members are configured to support multiple garment portions, permitting printing on the multiple garment portions in a single printing operation.
US08177441B2	Imaging apparatus An imaging apparatus 10 comprises a lower housing 11, an upper housing 21, an outer camera 25, and at least one photographing button (buttons 14H and 14G). The upper housing 21 is connected to an upper surface of the lower housing 11 such that the upper housing 21 and the lower housing 11 are foldable. The outer camera 25 is provided in an outer surface of the upper housing 21 which is located outside when the two housings 11 and 21 are folded. The at least one photographing button is provided on an upper surface of the lower housing 11 for performing an instruction to store an image taken by the outer camera 25.
US08177439B2	Capillary tube for holding an optical fiber A capillary tube holds an optical fiber. The capillary tube includes an insertion hole for inserting and fixing the optical fiber formed therein, a cylindrical surface as an outer circumferential surface, and a groove formed in the cylindrical surface in an axial direction thereof. Regions from the cylindrical surface to both inner side surfaces of the groove each have a projecting curved surface, and regions from both the inner side surfaces of the groove to a bottom of the groove each have a recessed curved surface.
US08177438B2	Double row thrust roller bearing A double row thrust roller bearing includes a pair of inner and outer cages arranged radially in two rows in separate coaxial relation, each cage including an annular inner peripheral wall, an annular outer peripheral wall, a plurality of pillar portions interconnecting the annular inner and outer peripheral walls at intervals in a circumferential direction thereof, and a plurality of pockets each formed between the adjacent pillar portions. Rollers are rotatably held and retained respectively in the pockets. The annular inner peripheral wall of the inner cage is guided by an annular flange formed at an inner peripheral edge of one race, and the annular inner peripheral wall of the outer cage is guided at an inner periphery thereof by the annular outer peripheral wall of the inner cage.
US08177433B2	Hydrodynamic bearing unit A housing for a hydrodynamic bearing unit of this type is formed from a resin material having high oil resistance and low outgassing property to ensure the cleanliness of the bearing unit. An ester-based lubricating oil is used as a lubricating oil filled inside the hydrodynamic bearing unit 1, and the housing 7 is formed from an LCP-based resin material.
US08177429B2	Foldable nuclear medicine gantry In accordance with one aspect, imaging system (10, 190) includes a plurality of detector heads (12, 14, 80, 100, 202) and a frame (20) on which the plurality of detector heads are mounted. The frame is configurable in (i) an operational configuration in which the detector heads are arranged to be manipulated by the frame to acquire imaging data, and (ii) a shipping configuration in which the detector heads remain mounted on the frame and the imaging system is reduced in size along at least one dimension compared with the operational configuration.
US08177428B2	Holder device for dental x-ray digital sensor A sensor holder (10) includes a frame member (20) that bounds a void area (21) and which is configured to receive a sensor (11). A retaining means (50, 51) is provided to hold the sensor (11) to the frame (20) such that a connecting cable (12) affixed to the sensor (11) is secured and positioned by the void area (21) for a subsequent imaging procedure.
US08177426B2	Sub-threshold CMOS temperature detector A CMOS temperature detection circuit includes a start-up circuit for generating a start-up voltage (VN), and a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current generator coupled to the start-up circuit for generating a PTAT current. The start-up voltage turns on the PTAT current generator, and the PTAT current generator uses the sub-threshold characteristics of CMOS to generate the PTAT current. A PTAT voltage generator coupled to the PTAT current generator receives the PTAT current and generates a PTAT voltage and an inverse PTAT voltage (VBE). A comparator circuit coupled to the voltage generator compares the inverse PTAT voltage to first and second alarm limits, which are defined using the generated PTAT voltage, and generates an alarm signal based on the comparison results.
US08177417B2	Apparatus for continuous blending The present invention provides a continuous blender having a drive unit assembly with a shell assembly mounting assembly and a shell assembly structured to be removably coupled to the shell assembly mounting assembly by one or more clamps. The drive unit assembly may be coupled to shell assemblies having different lengths and diameters. Thus, by changing the shell assembly coupled to the drive unit assembly, the output of the continuous blender may be dramatically changed.
US08177413B2	Scientifically designed barrier screw A novel barrier screw scientifically designed with new structural features that eliminate the shortcomings of the previous barrier screws and further improve their performance. The important new structural features include a structure of originating the barrier flight without creating any dead-spot while maintaining a constant solid channel width, a structure of terminating the barrier flight without creating any dead-spot while assuring good melt quality, a melt channel structure of avoiding excessively deep channel depth while assuring sufficient melt conveying capacity, and a solid channel structure of avoiding excessively large channel area with shallow channel depth while assuring good melt quality.
US08177408B1	Light filtering directional control element and light fixture incorporating the same In one embodiment of this invention, a light filtering directional control element provides increased spatial color or luminance uniformity and desired angular color uniformity and customizable light re-direction properties. In one embodiment of this invention, a light filtering directional control element directs light off-axis and focuses light in the far field. In a further embodiment of this invention a light fixture comprising the light filtering collimation element has a spatial luminance uniformity greater than 80%, a color uniformity Δu′v′ of less than 0.04 and a short mixing distance. In a further embodiment, the light fixture incorporating the element has electronically or manually configurable light output profile.
US08177407B2	Plane-like lighting units and display equipment provided therewith A light unit which includes a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) light sources arranged in parallel, a light-guiding member arranged on said LED light sources, a light reflecting part for reflecting light from said LED light sources forward, a light diffusion part for outgoing light from the surface of said light-guiding member to outside, and an optical path changing part arranged above said light-diffusion part, wherein a side of said light-guiding member that faces said light diffusion part is flat.
US08177403B2	Vehicle headlamp A vehicle headlamp is provided with a projection lens, a light source, a reflector, a first shade, and a second shade. The first shade includes an upper end crossing in a vicinity of a rear side focal point of the projection lens. The first shade shields a part of the light emitted from the light source and reflected by the reflector to form a first light distribution pattern. The second shade includes a light shielding portion for shielding a part of the light emitted from the light source and reflected by the reflector to form a second light distribution pattern. The second shade is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the second shade is positioned above the first shade and is separated from the first shade so that the first light distribution pattern is formed. In the second position, the second shade covers the upper end of the first shade so that the second light distribution pattern is formed.
US08177399B2	Desk lamp with parallel guidance In a lamp, in particular a desk lamp, with a base plate (2) and a lamp head (3), the lamp head (3) is held on the base plate (2) via two profile elements (4, 5) running next to one another, wherein the profile elements (4, 5) represent current-conducting elements.
US08177392B2	Light strip including a core layer of insulating material receiving spaced apart light emitting diodes A light strip comprises an elongate core layer of insulating material having a plurality of light mounting apertures extending through the core layer between the two opposed faces of the core layer and receiving respective light emitting diodes therein. Two conductive elements extending in the longitudinal direction along the outer surface of the elongate core layer between which the light emitting diodes are connected. A cover layer spans in the longitudinal direction adjacent each one of the two opposed faces of the elongate core layer to enclose opposing ends of the light mounting apertures with the light emitting diodes therein.
US08177391B2	Tube-type or channel-type LED lighting apparatus A light emitting diode (LED) lighting apparatus that may be used as interior lighting or advertisement lighting is disclosed. The LED lighting apparatus includes a channel-type or tube-type optical housing with a light emission surface and an LED array arranged in the optical housing. The light emission surface includes a valley line and a first inner ridge and a second inner ridge disposed on opposing sides of the valley line, and the LED array includes a plurality of LEDs whose centers are arranged along the valley line.
US08177389B1	Deterministically calculating dimming values for four or more light sources An intelligent light source deterministically calculates luminous flux levels of individual color sources of four or more light sources without a look-up table to determine the luminous flux levels.
US08177388B2	LED tube structure capable of changing illumination direction An improved LED tube structure capable of changing an illumination direction allows for use of a conventional fluorescent lamp holder and is capable of changing an illumination direction. The LED tube structure includes a transparent tube having a plug track disposed on an inner tube wall thereof, wherein the plug track is disposed approximate to or above a horizontal center line of the transparent tube, and the plug track is adapted for an LED lamp strip to be plugged therein; a conductive terminal having a tandem piece between two terminals thereof; and a positioning enclosure having two terminal plugholes spaced apart disposed in the middle portion thereof for the terminals to be fixedly plugged therein. The plug track grooves are disposed at different angles for the plug track on the inner wall of the transparent tube to be selectively plugged therein.
US08177378B2	Light emitting apparatus and image displaying apparatus A light emitting apparatus is provided which includes a plurality of light sources for emitting a light, and a light guide plate having a substantially plate shape orthogonal to the optical axis direction of the light source, which includes a light incident face into which a light exited from the light source is incident and a light exit face from which the light incident from the light incident face is exited. Irregularities each made of a first slope forming an angle θa with the plane of the light incident face and a second slope forming an angle θb with the plane of the light incident face are continuously formed on the light incident face.
US08177375B1	Protective cover for binoculars A protective cover for the front and rear lenses of a barrel of an optical instrument such as a set of binoculars. The cover includes a removable shield for each of the lenses, wherein each shield is attached to a support which is removably attached to a barrel of the binoculars. The cover is constructed of flexible materials having elastic properties.
US08177372B2	Projector apparatus This invention provide a projector apparatus enabled to lower its exhaust air temperature by adding only minor modifications to the existing structure, without altering its basic structure. The liquid crystal projector apparatus of the invention has a casing (1) for accommodating therein a light source (4), an optical system adapted to construct imaging light in response to a beam of light received from the light source, a power supply (9), and a cooling unit (6) mounted on the side wall of the casing (1) to cool the components in the casing. Provided on the inner wall of the casing is an air inspiration mechanism (16, 17, 18, 126) in association with the exhaust unit (6), whereby the exhaust unit (6) can inspire ambient air through the air inspiration mechanism to lower the temperature of the air to be expired from the exhaust unit.
US08177368B2	Projection apparatus and method for Pepper's ghost illusion An image projection apparatus includes a projector, a frame, and a partially transparent screen. The frame retains the screen under tension, such that the screen is inclined at an angle with respect to a plane of emission of light from the projector. The screen has a front surface arranged such that light emitted from the projector is reflected therefrom. The projector projects an image such that light forming the image impinges upon the screen such that a virtual image is created from light reflected from the screen, the virtual image appearing to be located behind the screen.
US08177364B2	Illumination device as well as observation device Disclosed are an illumination device for an observation device comprising one, two or more observation beam paths with one respective beam of observation rays, especially for an ophthalamogic surgical microscope, and a corresponding observation device. Said illumination device is provided with at least one light source for generating at least one beam of observation rays in order to illuminate an object that is to be observed. According to one embodiment of the invention, at least two partial bundles of illumination rays are provided, each of which extends coaxial to a corresponding beam of observation rays, while the partial beams of illumination rays are embodied so as to form two or several illumination spots on the fundus of an object that is to be observed, e.g. an eye, said illumination spots having variable sizes, thus allowing the illumination beam to cooperate in a precisely defined manner with the observation beam paths, which makes it possible to meet especially the practical requirements regarding homogeneity of the red reflex.
US08177363B2	System and method for tracking eyeball motion Detecting position information related to a face, and more particularly to an eyeball in a face, using a detection and ranging system, such as a Radio Detection And Ranging (“RADAR”) system, or a Light Detection And Ranging (“LIDAR”) system. The position information may include a location of the eyeball, translational motion information related to the eyeball (e.g., displacement, velocity, acceleration, jerk, etc.), rotational motion information related to the eyeball (e.g., rotational displacement, rotational velocity, rotational acceleration, etc.) as the eyeball rotates within its socket.
US08177362B2	Optical image measurement device A device is an OCT device that splits a low-coherence light into a signal light and a reference light, detects an interference light obtained by superimposing the signal light propagated through an eye and the reference light propagated through a reference mirror, and forms an image of an fundus oculi. The device has a scan unit that scans the eye with the signal light. When a cross-section position is designated in an fundus oculi image, the device repetitively scans with the signal light along each cross-section position to repeatedly forms tomographic images at each cross-section position, thereby displaying a tomographic motion image at each cross-section position on a display. An operator can observe the tomographic motion image to designate the range and timing for measurement of a tomographic still image.
US08177361B2	Spectacle glass and spectacle lens for data reflection The invention relates particularly to a spectacle lens having a first and a second surface, wherein at least the first surface of the spectacle lens has a major portion zone and at least one prism zone. The major portion zone of the first surface, together with the opposing second surface of the spectacle lens, forms a major portion of the spectacle lens, which is designed for vision in at least a predetermined distance. The prism zone of the first surface, together with the opposing second surface of the spectacle lens, forms a prism portion, which is designed and arranged such that an optical image of a display is formed at a predetermined virtual distance in front of the eyes of the spectacle wearer. The invention further relates to spectacles, which comprise the spectacle lens, and to a method and apparatuses for calculating or optimizing and producing the spectacle lens.
US08177360B2	Magnetic eyeglass hinge The present invention provides eyeglasses including a frame and an arm connectable to the frame. The eyeglasses include a magnetic hinge connecting the arm to the frame. The magnetic hinge includes a first housing having an first inner cavity and a first outer protruding edge having a plurality of extending flanges disposed thereon, a first magnet disposed inside the first housing, a central washer including at least a portion of the central washer having magnetic attraction capabilities, a second housing having a second inner cavity and an inner lip portion radially disposed within the second inner cavity and a second magnet disposed inside the second housing. The magnetic hinge is magnetically held in place by the magnetic attraction between the first magnet and the second magnet via the central washer and the engagement of the extending flanges within the inner lip portion.
US08177359B2	Health-caring glasses A pair of health-caring glasses consists of two lenses, a bridge and two temples. The bridge is fixed between the lenses by screws, provided with two nose pads respectively inlaid with a loadstone. The temples are respectively positioned at an outer portion of the lenses, provided with a rubber sleeve made of far infrared material, and a plurality of massage projections closely spread on the rubber sleeve. By means of resonance created by the loadstone, far infrared released by the rubber sleeves and massage projections to massage acupuncture points about head, a user wearing the glasses can ease eyes fatigue, has his or her face beautified and brain stimulated.
US08177358B2	Polarized eyewear An article of polarized eyewear has a lens, with a first substrate lens material transparent to visible light and a pattern of elongated structures formed from at least a second material having a complex index of refraction, wherein the second material is deposited directly onto a curved surface of the first substrate lens material. A pitch between adjacent elongated structures is less than 300 nm and a width of each elongated structure is less than 90% of the pitch. A photochromic material is deposited onto the polarized eyewear.
US08177351B2	Method for producing record product, and intermediate transfer body and image recording apparatus used therefor In the image-recording of an intermediate transfer system applying an ink jet recording method, reactive liquid reactable with ink is properly formed on the intermediate transfer body. By using the intermediate transfer body having a pattern consisting of lyophilic and lyophobic sections on a surface thereof, the reactive liquid is uniformly applied to the intermediate transfer body to form a layer having a suitable thickness. Thereby, it is possible to form an ink image on the intermediate transfer body while preventing the miss landing of ink droplets and restricting the deformation of an ink dots. By transferring this ink image to a recording medium, it is possible to form a high-quality ink image on various kinds of recording media in a stable manner.
US08177350B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus and liquid ejecting method A liquid ejecting apparatus includes (A) a carriage that moves a nozzle ejecting a liquid which is cured by irradiation of an electromagnetic wave in a moving direction, (B) a first irradiation section that is installed on the carriage and irradiates electromagnetic waves on dots formed by landing the liquid which is ejected from the moving nozzle, on a medium, and (C) a second irradiation section that is installed on the carriage and irradiates electromagnetic waves on the dots which are irradiated by the electromagnetic waves from the first irradiation section, in which an irradiance level of the electromagnetic waves from the second irradiation section is different from that of the electromagnetic waves from the first irradiation section.
US08177349B2	Image forming apparatus and method The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming device which forms an image on a recording medium; a transparent UV ink droplet ejection device which ejects and deposits droplets of transparent UV ink onto the recording medium; a UV light irradiation device which irradiates UV light onto the transparent UV ink having been deposited on the recording medium; a gloss condition setting device which sets a gloss condition of the image; and a UV light irradiation control device which controls an irradiation timing of the UV light irradiated from the UV light irradiation device in accordance with the gloss condition.
US08177345B2	Liquid ejecting head, liquid ejecting apparatus, and method for manufacturing liquid ejecting head A liquid ejecting head including a plurality of nozzle orifices for liquid ejection, a reservoir plate made of rolled metal rolled in a first direction which includes a liquid reservoir communicating with the plurality of nozzle orifices, and a compliance plate made of rolled metal rolled in a second direction, laminated on the reservoir plate, and having a thin portion that is formed by forming a recess which extends in the lengthwise direction in the opposite surface of the reservoir plate from the surface facing the liquid reservoir, the thin portion serving as a wall of the liquid reservoir. The second direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the recess and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.
US08177339B2	Fluid reservoir with compliant wall A fluid dispensing assembly has a fluid reservoir, a reservoir structure having at least one opening corresponding to a location of at least one fluid chamber in the reservoir structure, and a compliant film arranged to seal the opening and flex in response to pressure fluctuations in the fluid chamber. A system has a fluid supply, a fluid dispensing assembly having a fluid reservoir to receive fluid from the fluid supply, the fluid dispensing assembly having a reservoir structure with at least one opening corresponding to at least one fluid chamber, and a compliant film arranged to cover the opening such that a side of the film contacts fluid in the chamber and a side opposite the side contacting the fluid contacts air and is arranged to allow the film to flex.
US08177337B2	Flow path unit, inspection apparatus, and inspection method A flow path unit of one aspect of the invention includes: a plurality of plates, each of the plurality of plates having a hole, the plurality of plates being laminated in a lamination direction with a predetermined positional relationship such that a flow path is formed by mutual communication of the holes provided at the plurality of plates. Each of the plurality of plates having a side surface, and a slit portion formed at the side surface, and the slit portions of the plurality of plates are connected to one another in the lamination direction of the plurality of plates. Each of widths of the slit portions of the plurality of plates is equal to or below an allowable error of a positional deviation of the plurality of plates so as to allow a formation of the flow path by the plurality of holes.
US08177336B2	Method of driving piezoelectric actuator and method of driving liquid ejection head A method of driving a piezoelectric actuator has the step of driving a piezoelectric actuator including a diaphragm, a lower electrode formed on one surface of the diaphragm, a piezoelectric film formed in epitaxial growth or oriented growth on an opposite side of the lower electrode to the diaphragm so as to be preferentially oriented in a (111) direction, and an upper electrode formed on an opposite side of the piezoelectric film to the lower electrode, by application of an electric field in a direction opposite to a direction of polarization of the piezoelectric film.
US08177331B2	Liquid jetting apparatus, liquid container, and method of controlling multiple liquid containers The liquid jetting apparatus includes a container installation portion, a first wire line, a control circuit and a first switch. The container installation portion receives installation of a first liquid container having a first electrical device. The first wire line, in a state with the first liquid container installed in the container installation portion, electrically connects to the first electrical device. The control circuit transmits or receives a varying signal of varying potential to or from the first electrical device via the first wire line. The first switch supplies a prescribed potential to the first wire line when the control circuit is not transmitting or receiving the varying signal.
US08177330B2	Liquid discharge head, ink jet recording head and ink jet recording apparatus The invention provides an ink jet recording head, in which, for improving heat-dissipating property and electrode terminal connectivity and reducing production cost, second electrode terminals provided on a supporting surface of plural laminated sheets for supporting a liquid discharge substrate and to be connected with first electrode terminals of the liquid discharge substrate are provided outside an ink supply aperture formed in an outermost sheet constituting the supporting surface, and are supported by the outermost sheet and at least a sheet laminated thereunder.
US08177328B2	Ink jet printing apparatus and ink jet printing method Provided are an ink jet printing apparatus and an ink jet printing method which are capable of printing high-quality images by performing printing scanning in a forward direction and in an opposite direction without needing complicated control of a transfer amount of a printing medium nor causing throughput degradation. Inks are ejected from odd-numbered nozzles in scanning in the forward direction and are ejected from even-numbered nozzles in scanning in the opposite direction.
US08177324B1	Printers and apparatus to clean printer surfaces Printers and apparatus to clean printer surfaces are disclosed. An example apparatus to clean a surface in a printer includes an endless cleaning material loop and an advancer to advance the cleaning material loop when the loop is not engaged with the surface and to not advance the loop when the loop is engaged with the surface.
US08177322B2	Printing apparatus and printing method Quality degradation of a print image due to a deviation amount in a landing position of ink is prevented while suppressing degradation of through-put. In a method of completing a print to a unit region by at least one reciprocal scan to the unit region of a print medium by a printing head in which plural ink ejection ports are arrayed for ejecting ink, a printing rate in a scan direction where a deviation amount in a landing position of ink in an array direction of the ink ejection ports is relatively large is set relatively low and the printing rate in the scan direction where the deviation amount in the landing position of ink in the array direction of the ink ejection ports is relatively small is set relatively high.
US08177321B2	Image forming apparatus, image forming system and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having function to drive transport belt based on charge leak An image forming apparatus includes a voltage applying unit to apply a voltage to and charge a surface of transport belt, a leak judging unit to judge a charge leak on the surface of the transport belt, and a recovery operation unit to perform a charge leak recovery operation in which the transport belt is driven in a state where the voltage applying unit applies no voltage to the transport belt, if the leak judging unit judges that the charge leak is generated on the surface of the transport belt. The leak judging unit again judges whether the charge leak is generated on the surface of the transport belt after the recovery operation unit performs the charge leak recovery operation.
US08177320B2	Carriage and image forming device including carriage In a carriage of a liquid drop discharging device, an encoder sensor is arranged to read slits on a linear scale at a slit reading position. The carriage includes a stain detection part that detects a stain on the linear scale based on position information output from the encoder sensor. An encoder sensor moving part moves the encoder sensor from the slit reading position in a width direction of the linear scale. An encoder sensor movement control part controls movement of the encoder sensor from the slit read position by the encoder sensor moving part based on stain information output from the stain detection part.
US08177318B2	Orifice health detection device An orifice health detection device includes a fixed array of ink ejecting orifices, the ink ejecting orifices configured to eject at least one ink drop, a light source that produces a light beam configured to scatter light from the at least one ejected ink drop, and a light detector configured to detect light scattered from the at least one ejected ink drop.
US08177316B2	Ink jet printing device A blower is disposed at least at backward side of printing moving direction of the head unit, out of two sides of the head unit. The blower has air nozzles for injecting compressed air perpendicularly to the printing plane, and the bottom of the blower is provided with a curved plane and a parallel plane so that the compressed air injected from the air nozzles may be bent in a direction at right angle by Coanda effect. The curved plane and the parallel plane generate a horizontal air stream parallel to the printing plane, toward a direction departing from the adjacent head unit, at the downside of the blower. The printing device, using the ink jet head, dries the ink on the printing medium by the horizontal air stream injected from the blower while printing on the printing medium.
US08177312B2	Monitor opening and closing mechanism A monitor opening and closing mechanism according to the present invention includes a first guide means guiding a monitor to rotate from home position to a first opened position, and a second guide means guiding the monitor to rotate from the first opened position to a second opened position where the monitor is further opened, wherein the center of rotation about which the second guide means guides the monitor to rotate is disposed more nearly to the side of the home position than the center of rotation about which the first guide means guides the monitor to rotate is disposed.
US08177310B2	Elastomeric track field-repair assembly The field-repair assembly is used for temporarily repairing a ruptured or otherwise damaged elastomeric track mounted on a vehicle and generally allows the vehicle to proceed, preferably on its own, to a maintenance site located nearby where replacement or permanent repair of the track can be undertaken. The assembly comprises a plurality of spaced-apart and generally parallel support members, each of which being generally transversely disposed on the ground engaging outer surface of the track. The transverse members are secured to each side of the track via retention brackets. The transverse members are further linked together via flexible cables which are fixedly mounted to retention brackets. The assembly further comprises a bridging element generally mounted to a subset of the transverse members. The bridging element is generally located over the damaged area of the track and on the outer surface thereof for providing continuity and support to the damaged track.
US08177309B2	Braking booster system leak diagnostics A leak diagnostic system for a vehicle comprises a calculation module and a diagnostic enabling module. The calculation module calculates a decay rate of a brake booster vacuum. The diagnostic enabling module selectively enables the decay rate calculation based on mass airflow (MAF) into an engine and engine vacuum.
US08177308B2	Controller for electromechanical braking system with running clearance adjustment and method A system and method for establishing a running clearance position for an electromechanical actuator (28), wherein the running clearance is based on an actuator ram (34) position attained during a force application to a brake stack (30). In particular, a running clearance calibrator (66) determines a position value corresponding to a position of the force applicator when retraction from an application of force on the brake stack commences. The running clearance calibrator also generates a running clearance position as a function of the position value.
US08177306B2	Two master cylinder braking system for a vehicle having a safety function A braking system for a vehicle having two pairs of wheels, has two master cylinders operating as pumps, wherein each master cylinder is operated by its own brake pedal and controls the braking on one rear wheel, as well as on the front wheels through a valve for the disconnection of the front vehicle braking. Each master cylinder is of the tandem type including two sections, the first section controlling the braking of the front wheels through the valve, whereas the second section controls the braking of that rear wheel, being a part of the pair of rear wheels, which is associated with the master cylinder. The first sections of both master cylinders are supplied by a first oil reservoir and the second sections of both master cylinders are supplied by a second oil reservoir at least partially independent from the first oil reservoir.
US08177304B2	Side dump body A side dump body or trailer comprising a wheeled frame having one or more side dump bodies pivotally mounted thereon which may be individually moved from a transport position to a side dumping position at either side of the truck or trailer. Once the side dump body is in its dumping position, the side dump body may be moved somewhat upwardly and inwardly away from the pile of material which has been dumped at one side of the truck or trailer.
US08177301B2	Armrest An armrest, has a stationary shaft rotatably supporting an armrest body against a seat frame. The stationary shaft is inserted, so as to have fastening tolerance, inside a coil lock spring and to have a stationary-side hook and a free-side hook. A diameter of the coil lock spring is reduced or enlarged according to a normal or a reverse rotation, respectively, of the armrest body, so as to prevent or permit, respectively, the rotation of the armrest body. One of the inside diameter of the lock spring and the outside diameter of the stationary shaft is tapered in said shaft's axial direction.
US08177295B2	Dual panel sunroof A dual panel sunroof is provided. The sunroof includes a front glass guide that supports a front glass panel and a rear glass guide that supports a rear glass panel. The rear glass panel is disposed rearward of the front glass panel when the dual panel sunroof is in a fully closed position. A front link is rotatably mounted to a front portion of the front glass guide such that the front link drives a front end of the front glass in an upward direction away from a vehicle body when the front link is driven in a rearward direction.
US08177294B2	Vehicle roof A vehicle roof with a roof opening disposed within a fixed roof outer skin of a vehicle and a cover (10) to optionally close and at least partially open the roof opening. To at least partially open the roof opening, the cover can be both tilted out from a closed position at its rear edge and displaced in the driving direction to the rear. The cover has at least one locking lug (12a, 12b) in the region of its leading edge (14) that engages, from below in a closed position of the cover, into a support element that is stiff in a direction perpendicular to the roof outer skin. Additionally, the cover is formed at its rear edge such that engagement from below under the lateral and rear areas of the roof opening does not occur in the closed position.
US08177289B2	Method and apparatus for improving the damage-resistance of container body top rails Various embodiments of an improved top rail for a container body, e.g. a truck body, are disclosed. In exemplary embodiments, a support structure is disposed at least partially within a channel of the top rail to provide increased strength to the top rail and to protect the top rail and container body from damage. Examples of support structures include support blocks, such as composite blocks, and support rails, such as metal rails. In an exemplary embodiment, a low-profile light source can be installed on the top rail and/or the support structure.
US08177288B2	Motor vehicle A motor vehicle with at least one air guide device, which can be extended by means of a drive device, and which can be adjusted to at least one intermediate position between a maximally extended and a completely retracted position. The motor vehicle comprises an adjustable sliding/tilting roof, wherein a control unit is provided, which is designed so that it acts on an air guide element of the air guide device as a function of the position of the sliding/tilting roof.
US08177280B2	Vehicle seat device A vehicle seat device is designed to perform tilt adjustment of a seat cushion in a construction which is high in rigidity, downsized and high in the quality of external appearance. The device comprises rotational links; floor attached front brackets and front swing links which make couplings between first joint portions of the rotational links and upper rails; flank brackets coupled to the rotational links at front portion thereof; floor attached rear brackets and rear swing links which make couplings between rear portions of the flank brackets and the upper rails; a front drive device secured to one of the flank brackets for rotationally driving the rotational links; and cushion frames coupled to the flank brackets and second joint portions of the rotational links respectively at rear portions and front portions thereof. The second joint portions and the cushion frames are coupled to respective both ends of cushion frame swing links.
US08177276B2	Vehicle bed extender assembly A bed extender assembly for a vehicle bed includes at least one bed extender device having a longitudinal length greater than a length of the vehicle bed. The at least one bed extender device has a first end disposed in the vehicle bed and a second end spaced apart from the first end to define the longitudinal length. The second end is spaced rearwardly apart from a rearward end of the vehicle bed. A locking bar extends transversely across the vehicle bed adjacent the first end to lock the first end of the at least one bed extender device against the bed floor.
US08177273B2	Device for bailing shallow puddles on flexible sheet surfaces A device for bailing liquid and associated debris from shallow puddles on flexible sheet surfaces comprises a open-ended container, having an oblong transverse cross-section, and a transverse handle, which is attachable to an extension pole.
US08177269B2	Energy absorbing element and motor vehicle body using the same Embodiments of a body of a motor vehicle are provided, as are embodiments of an energy absorbing element for a motor vehicle body. In one embodiment, the body of a vehicle includes a longitudinal member, a cross-member, and an energy absorbing element mounted between the longitudinal member and the cross-member and extending in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The energy absorbing element includes a tube section, which is formed from a single metal strip and which includes: (i) a cross-section having at least one concavity, as taken along a plane substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the tube section, and (ii) opposing longitudinal edges disposed substantially adjacent one another and within the at least one concavity. The energy absorbing element further includes at least one weld seam joining the opposing longitudinal edges to the single metal strip.
US08177267B2	Door anti-latch device A door anti-latch device includes a base mounted to a door or a door frame, and a lever rotatably mounted to the base so that the lever can rotate about a pivot point from an open position to a latching position. The lever includes a handle end and an opposing stop end. The lever can be rotated between the open position and the latching position by moving the lever handle. The lever stop prevents the door from latching when the lever is in the open position and will not prevent the door from latching when the lever is in the latching position. The door anti-latch device can be moved from the open position to the latching position without leaving the room or opening the door.
US08177263B2	Pipe coupling having movable gripping bodies A coupling for securing pipe elements together in end-to-end relation has segments joined end-to-end by adjustable connection members. The segments surround a central space which receives the pipe elements. One or more gripping bodies are captured between the segments. The gripping bodies are arranged opposite to each other. The segments have angularly oriented reaction surfaces on the connection members. The gripping bodies have angularly oriented contact surfaces which interface with the reaction surfaces. When the segments are drawn toward each other by the connection members, interaction between the reaction surfaces and the contact surfaces forces the gripping bodies radially inwardly. Inwardly facing arcuate surfaces on the segments and the gripping bodies engage and retain the pipe elements.
US08177262B2	Mid-seal for expandable connections An expandable tubular connection includes a pin member and a box member. The pin member includes a pin thread formed on a small step and a large step and a first seal surface formed between the small step and the large step. The box member includes a box thread formed on a small step and a large step and a second seal surface formed between the small step and the large step. The pin thread and the box thread are wedge threads. Upon a selected make-up of the pin member with the box member a selected gap exists between the first seal surface and the second seal surface. The gap is selected such that, when plastically radially expanded by a selected amount, a seal is formed between at least a portion of the first seal surface and the second seal surface.
US08177260B2	Coupon redeemable upon completion of a predetermined threshold of physical activity A coupon for providing an incentive for a user to participate in physical activity. The coupon detects the physical activity of a user and indicates to the user when the threshold of physical activity has been reached. Once the coupon has indicated that the threshold has been reached, the user may redeem the coupon for a reward.
US08177258B2	Trailer system A trailer system that is quickly and easily assembled and disassembled. The trailer components can be shipped and stored in a knockdown configuration and then quickly assembled with single wrench and little mechanical skill. A plurality of structural members are bolted onto a beam set to form the trailer bed. A simple trailer axle and wheel assembled can then be attached to the trailer bed. The shipping container is used to form the surfaces of the trailer.
US08177244B2	Supporting structure for vehicle suspension component A vehicle suspension includes a vehicle body, a supporting member, wherein a proximal end is attached to the vehicle body at a central axis. The supporting member is configured to secure an end of a vehicle suspension component to the vehicle body. A distal end of the support member includes a hanger configured to receive and to allow a tie-down hook to move in an arcuate path defined by a circle centered at the central axis.
US08177242B2	Portable x-ray grid cabinet A radiographic grid cabinet for holding x-ray grids and/or cassettes that can have a vertical structure attached to a flat base with wheels that engage when the device is tilted backward like a handcart so that the cabinet can be easily transported from place to place. In an alternate embodiment, wheels can fold out when needed. The device also can have a support plate that can move vertically on a set of rails or other structure attached to the cart. A thumb controlled pin on a clamp or other locking device can select one of a number of holes in the rails to lock the cabinet into a fixed vertical position. The device can also have a rotating bearing that allows the grid holder to be rotated from a horizontal to a vertical position, or through a vertical position from either of two horizontal positions. The motion can optionally be restricted by the bearing so that the grid holder cannot rotate more than 180 degrees and cannot be turned upside down. This allows slipping in the grid and holding it without retainers. An optional counterweight or counter-balance can be used to make the vertical motion easier. The device can be supplied in different sizes and can be used with different sized grids. The grid assembly can be removable and independently usable for supine x-ray viewing or for other uses.
US08177238B2	System and method of a flange seal ring Method and system of a flange seal ring. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems comprising a metallic ring and a plurality of cogs. The metallic ring comprises a central bore that defines an internal diameter, a first sealing face that defines a first plane, a second sealing face that defines a second plane, a first groove in the first sealing face, and a second groove in the second sealing face. The plurality of cogs couple to the metallic ring, each cog extends through the first plane, and the plurality of cogs positioned one each at a plurality of radial positions around the metallic ring. At least one of the plurality of cogs configured to have an adjustable position relative to the central bore, and the cogs configured to align the central bore to a corresponding bore of a flange.
US08177235B1	Bonus game involving card range wagering A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to implement a bonus parlay wager for a wagering game with a bonus round. The bonus round in the wagering game is activated only based upon certain conditions. The player can earn a top payout for the bonus parlay wager by winning the bonus round in two consecutive games of the wagering game.
US08177233B2	Cups and games of skill involving such cups Cups and games of skill involving such cups are provided. A representative cup includes: an aperture communicating with a cavity; and a barrier extending partially about the periphery of the aperture such that a portion of the cup lacking the barrier forms a lateral entrance to the cavity, the barrier having an upwardly and outwardly sloping first portion and a downwardly and outwardly sloping second portion, the first portion being located between the second portion and the aperture.
US08177231B2	Conveying body and image forming device A conveying body that can attract and peel-off a recording medium by a simple mechanism, and an image forming device using the conveying body are provided. One end portions of through-holes of a drum are blocked by a blocking member, and a suction member and a blowing-out member are provided at other end portions of the through-holes. Due to a suction pump being operated and suction force being generated within the through-holes via a suction port of the suction member, the suction force passes through the through-holes and acts on long grooves of an outer peripheral surface of the drum, and a sheet can be attracted reliably to the outer peripheral surface of the drum. Further, because air is blown-out from the blowing-out member by operation of the suction pump, a leading end portion of a sheet can be reliably peeled-off from the outer peripheral surface of the drum.
US08177229B2	Sheet transport roller system A sheet transport roller system and methods for reducing sheet skew using a sheet transport roller system are disclosed. A sheet transport roller system for use in a document processing device may include a plurality of idler rollers, a plurality of drive rollers and a load distribution mechanism. Each drive roller may correspond to a corresponding idler roller. The load distribution mechanism may be configured to support the plurality of idler rollers and to equalize normal forces applied by each idler roller towards the corresponding drive roller. The load distribution mechanism may include a center loading spring in contact with the document processing device.
US08177225B2	Automatic document feeder with reversing path An automatic document feeder of the present invention is provided with a turning/discharging path in a reversing path in order to read images on both sides of documents in lengths less than the main size and discharge in a discharging tray. Further, an aligning wall is provided to bump ends of documents discharged from the turning/discharging path against it. Thus, the documents of which both sides are read are discharged in the sequentially collated state at a high-speed and the aligned state.
US08177218B2	Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus A sheet feeding device includes a loading tray configured to receive a plurality of sheets thereon; a sheet transporting unit which transports the uppermost sheet among the sheets to an image forming unit; a blowing unit which blows air to one end portions of the sheets to lift the end portion of the uppermost sheet to separate the sheets from each other; a rear end regulating member which is disposed behind the rear ends of the sheets; and side end regulating members which are disposed next to both side ends of the sheets. A portion of the side end regulating members at which the side end regulating members come in contact with the sheet is provided with an emission portion allowing air to be emitted from the blowing unit.
US08177210B2	Work positioning method, and positioning device A method for positioning a work, which is adapted for a knock hole of a small diameter and which can absorb a pitch error between a main positioning hole and an auxiliary positioning hole of the work is disclosed. An insert shaft of a main positioning device is inserted into the main positioning hole. An auxiliary positioning device includes a base lower block having a parallel slide holding surface, a sliding flange having a sliding surface, and an insert shaft disposed above the sliding flange. The sliding flange of the auxiliary positioning device is guided and moved by the slide holding surface, and is inserted, while absorbing the pitch error, into the auxiliary positioning hole, thereby to position the work.
US08177207B2	Fixture and method for supporting door panels during painting and finishing A fixture that allows for quickly preparing, painting and finishing a plurality of door panels that have opposed side surfaces interconnected by a relatively narrow edge. The fixture includes upper and lower horizontal support bars. A plurality of spaced vertical support bars extend between and are slidably attached to the upper and lower horizontal support bars so that the spacing between vertical support bars may be adjusted to accommodate the size of the door panels. A plurality of mounting stations are on the vertical supports. A pair of pins are received by the mounting stations and engage the opposite edges of a panel for pivotal movement, painting and finishing of the panel there between.
US08177204B2	Clamping device Disclosed herein is a securing device for plate-like work pieces, comprising a body member and an anchor member, the body member having a first end and a second end, the first end having an engagement portion, a biasing member to basis the body member laterally within a plurality of aligned openings in said work pieces and biasing the engagement portion past the openings, the engagement portion having an operative surface to engage an outer surface on a first outer work piece, the body member including a threadable portion, the anchor member being operable to engage an outer surface on a second outer work piece, the anchor member including a threaded member to engage the threadable portion, the threaded member be rotationally operational to draw the body member toward the anchor member.
US08177203B2	Clamp and lever therefor A clamp that includes a bar and a jaw assembly. The jaw assembly is configured to receive the bar to therethrough and to be slidably positionable along the bar. The jaw assembly comprises a lever that forms an aperture through which the bar passes, the lever being movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position within the jaw assembly, wherein if the lever is at the disengaged position within the jaw assembly the lever is slidable along the bar and if the lever is at the engaged position within the jaw assembly the lever engages the bar to hold the lever at a fixed position along the bar, and wherein the lever has a shape that is not substantially straight and reduces the positional difference between the engaged position and the disengaged position.
US08177198B2	Quench zone design using spray nozzles A liquid distribution device is presented for the collection and distribution of liquid between reactor or adsorbent beds. The device includes a liquid collection tray, a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the liquid collection tray, a liquid distribution tray in fluid communication with the mixing chamber, and a plurality of nozzles for delivering the liquid over the top of a reactor or adsorbent bed.
US08177197B1	Continuous carbonation apparatus and method The present invention provides a method and compact apparatus for providing a continuous flow of carbonated water. The apparatus atomizes the water into microscopic particles allowing for significantly increased interaction between the water and the carbon dioxide. The water and the carbon dioxide then travel into a mixing chamber where further mixing takes place. The invention does not require the use of a pump or the use of a large carbonator vessel.
US08177196B1	Oxygen supply humidification system An oxygen therapy humidification device is disclosed. The humidification device includes a hollow water reservoir that includes an upper end that has an upper cross-sectional area and a lower end that has a lower cross-sectional area. The lower cross-sectional area is smaller than the upper cross-sectional area. The device also includes an oxygen inlet and an oxygen outlet, both of which are positioned at the upper end of the hollow water reservoir and provide fluid communication to and from the hollow water reservoir. The oxygen inlet includes a bypass valve that is connected to a duct that extends from the oxygen inlet to a diffuser that is positioned at the lower end of the hollow water reservoir. The bypass valve allows the user to control the proportion of water vapor or humidity delivered to oxygen that is passed through the device, with the oxygen entering through the inlet and leaving through the outlet at the desired humidity level.
US08177193B2	Grain bin lifting system and method A building and grain bin lifting system utilizing a combination of lifting assemblies for lifting building and grain bin components. The lifting assembly includes a mobile supporting structure, a jack disposed within the mobile supporting structure configured to linearly travel, a mounting bracket attached to the jack, connectably interfacing with a building component, an exclusive power source for providing operating power to the jack, an onboard controller enabling selective raise/lower activation of the jack, and a remote control unit in communication with the controller allowing an operator to operate one or more controls associated with the lifting assembly.
US08177192B1	Hammer with concealed adjustable fulcrum A hammer with concealed adjustable fulcrum having a pivot region recess in the head, a tab slide recess in the handle, and a shaft opening formed within the head and handle. An extension rod with distal end shaped to form a rocker plate capable of flush recession within the pivot region opening is slidably adjustable within the shaft opening. Single-handed manual depression of a release tab bends a spring steel tab into the shaft opening to slide a T-clip out of a T-guide recess opening for slidable adjustment of the rod and rocker plate to one of a plurality of possible positions. Conversely, manual release of the tab causes the spring steel tab to bend towards the tab slide region thereby inserting the T-clip into a T-guide recess to lock the rod and corresponding rocker plate into a desired position.
US08177190B2	Vacuum valve A vacuum valve including a valve body with a valve orifice, a closure member for closing the valve orifice, a first piston-cylinder unit, a second piston-cylinder unit, a first control element, and a second control element. When opening the vacuum valve, a pressure medium line, which applies pressure to the opening cylinder space of the second piston-cylinder unit, is blocked during the first part of the opening process, and is released at the end of the first part of the opening process by the first control element. When closing the vacuum valve, a pressure medium line, which applies pressure to the closing cylinder space of the first piston-cylinder unit, is blocked during the first part of the closing process, and is released by the second control element at the end of the first part of the closing process.
US08177183B2	Portable multipurpose platform A multipurpose platform suitable for use as a desk and an easel is disclosed. The multipurpose platform includes a tablet with a flat front surface and items attached to the tablet, including at least one retractable hook, a retractable primary shaft, and a retractable shaft locking mechanism that can fix the position of the primary shaft relative to the platform. The retractable hook is deployable as a hook when the tablet is configured as a desk, and as a leg when the tablet is configured as an easel. The retractable primary shaft is deployable against a vertical surface, when the tablet is configured as a desk, and against a horizontal surface when the tablet is configured as an easel. Embodiments include a base and stand pole that can support the platform as a lectern or podium, a light, electronic accessories, and storage compartments. Some embodiments can be folded in half.
US08177181B2	Carrying arrangement A carrying arrangement having a carrier arm adjustable in elevation is improved so that a load carried thereby can be easily exchanged. A gas-pressure spring (6) incorporates a latching device in such a manner that the gas-pressure spring self latches when a predetermined blocking position (P2) is reached and the self-latching device is disabled in response to an application of pressure to the carrier arm so as to move the carrier arm beyond the blocking position (P2).
US08177180B2	Mounting assembly for arrays and other surface-mounted equipment A mounting system is provided for supporting equipment such as solar module arrays on a rooftop or other underlying surface. The mounting system includes a pipe, and a grasp section. These couple to a base that is extended into or otherwise integrated with the underlying surface. The pipe may be coupled so as to extend a height from the underlying surface. The grasp section is coupled to a top section of the pipe and is structured to secure to a section of the solar module array when the solar module array is installed on the underlying surface.
US08177178B2	Dual attachment base for cradle A novel device cradle formed with a substantially rigid spine with a device rest and a spaced apart device retainer formed on a front surface of the spine and adjacent to opposite first and second end thereof. A dual attachment base of the novel device cradle is formed on a back surface of the spine opposite from the front surface thereof and is positioned between the first and second ends thereof. The dual attachment base has a raised attachment plate that is spaced away from the back surface of the spine, a pair of spaced apart fastener attachment holes that are formed through the attachment plate and positioned adjacent to opposite front and back surfaces of the spine, and a pair of spaced apart T-slots that are formed through the attachment plate and positioned substantially between the attachment holes.
US08177177B2	Adjustable quick mounting system An adjustable quick mounting system to be used with fixed position tree stands or similar support platforms, often found used for hunting or other outdoor activities. The adjustable mounting system includes a mounting base, detention hooks, and locking pin. The mounting base is connected securely to a tree or pole using a ratchet strap, cable or similar attachment device. The detention hooks are attached to tree stand or platform, preferably on the vertical support(s). The detention hooks are then engaged onto the mounting base by placing the open end of the detention hooks over the top portion of the mounting base. The mounting base has elongated slots manufactured into the design to allow the detention hooks to seat securely onto the base to prevent shifting of the base. The top surface of the mounting base has integrated tabs which are bent up and drilled to accept the locking pin. The top bend of the detention hooks have integrated holes that line up with the mounting tabs, in turn with the locking pin inserted, the system cannot disengage.
US08177175B2	Digital mobile device and stand module thereof The present invention discloses a digital mobile device and a stand module thereof. The digital mobile device includes a stand module comprising a fixing element and a rotating element. The fixing element is disposed on a side of the digital mobile device and includes an elastic element and a positioning member. The positioning member is disposed on a side of the elastic element. The rotating element is pivotally connected to the fixing element and has a positioning hole. The elastic element and the positioning member are disposed in the positioning hole. If the rotating element is rotated with respect to the fixing element, the elastic element will compress the positioning member to abut the fixing element, such that the fixing element and the rotating element are maintained at a positioning angle.
US08177171B2	Piping installation structure for vehicle There is provided a piping installation structure for a vehicle which is installed under a floor of a vehicle body and configured to support and fix a long part including at least piping, the piping installation structure including: a clamp member for supporting and fixing the long part; a stud for fixing the clamp member under the floor of the vehicle body; a stud fixing member to which the stud is fixed; and an underfloor structural member installed under the floor of the vehicle body, in which the stud fixing member and the underfloor structural member are joined to form a closed cross section on a plane which is orthogonal to a front-rear direction of the vehicle body.
US08177170B2	Aircraft comprising a central fairing that adjusts the pressure on the wing structures by means of local geometric deformations An aircraft including: a fuselage and two wings to which engine nacelles are attached and that are each connected laterally to the fuselage, one on each side thereof, by a central fairing. The central fairing includes, facing each wing, two opposed surfaces connected one to a suction face side and the other to a pressure face side of the wing and that extend longitudinally along the fuselage. At least one of the two surfaces includes at least one local geometric deformation configured to generate lateral aerodynamic disturbances on the central fairing toward the wing to control the flow of air over the wing.
US08177164B2	Infill panel of a supply arrangement in a passenger cabin A supply device in a passenger cabin, such as an aircraft passenger cabin, includes a first panel or “function panel” having one or more comfort elements, operating elements, visual display elements, and communication elements; and a second panel or an “infill panel”, which includes flexible supply channels. The panels are guided and lined up in a rail system of a PSC channel that is arranged in the direction of flight above a passenger seat row. The function panels are individually positionable in the PSC channel relative to the passenger seat row, wherein the infill panel synchronously follows a linear actuating movement of the function panel, and in this process automatically compensates for the distance dimension S1 between function panels that are positioned so as to be spaced apart from each other.
US08177161B2	Retracting air cushioned landing system for air vehicles An air vehicle includes a bag skirt extendable along a portion of a hull of the air vehicle. The bag skirt is inflatable to provide an air cushion during touchdown and deflatable during flight of the air vehicle. The air vehicle also includes a cover roller adjacent the bag skirt, and a cover portion coupled to the cover roller. The cover roller is operable between exposed position and unexposed positions to expose and hide the bag skirt with the cover portion. The cover roller includes an extensible shaft and a pad securely wrapped around the extensible shaft. The extensible shaft is capable of being rotated along a shaft axis. One end of the extensible shaft is pivotally coupled to the hull by an anchor. A circumference of the cover roller is configured as a function of a distance between the exposed and the unexposed positions.
US08177158B2	Reel and recording tape cartridge At a reel, an outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical tube portion of a reel hub is a tape winding surface around which a magnetic tape is wound. In a free state, the tape winding surface forms a substantial taper shape in which an outer diameter is greater at an upper end portion side where a radial direction rigidity is relatively low, than at a lower end portion side where the rigidity is high. In a state in which a magnetic tape is wound, the tape winding surface can form a shape that is substantially symmetrical with respect to a transverse direction of the magnetic tape. As a result, the reel and a recording tape cartridge are obtained in which the outer peripheral surface of the hub forms a proper shape in a state in which a recording tape is wound.
US08177152B2	Asphalt shingle recycling system The asphalt roofing material is delivered into a treatment chamber of a processor. Hot oil is passed through a jacket surrounding the treatment chamber. Heated asphalt forms a hot solid and/or a liquefied slurry. The hot solid and/or the liquefied slurry is then removed from the treatment chamber. The asphalt roofing material in the treatment chamber can be agitated to promote mixing. The asphalt is heated to a temperature in the range from 200 degrees Fahrenheit to 650 degrees Fahrenheit within the treatment chamber. The solid and/or liquefied slurry is milled after it has been removed from the treatment chamber. The solid and/or the liquefied slurry is cooled after it exits the treatment chamber, preferably to a temperature in the range of approximately 90 degrees Fahrenheit to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The hot solid and/or the liquefied slurry is passed through a hammer mill after the hot solid and/or the liquefied slurry exits the treatment chamber to reduce the particle size of the solid particles.
US08177151B2	Separation of materials comprising super absorbent polymers using reduced water Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method for separating a material comprising a super absorbent polymer, a fiber and a plastic to separate the material into components thereof, one method comprising shredding the material, adding salt to the material, and agitating the material, wherein the material does not comprise a slurry.
US08177149B2	Method for the production of very fine particles by means of a jet mill The invention relates to a method for producing very fine particles by means of a jet mill (1). The relative distance a/dDüse between at least approximately concentric milling jet inlets (5) whose center lines intersect at least approximately in one point is adjusted in accordance with the pressure of the working medium, a representing the jet length and dDüse representing the nozzle diameter.
US08177145B2	Feed injector system A feed injector system comprises a movable central member, a first member substantially concentric with the central member to define a first channel for conveying a first fluid oxidizer stream, a second member substantially concentric with the first member to define a second channel for conveying a fuel feed, and a third member substantially concentric with the second member to define a third channel for conveying a second fluid oxidizer steam. The first member and the second member are configured to enhance instability in the fuel feed emanating from the second channel.
US08177143B2	Hand-held dispenser A hand-held dispenser for precisely controlling the flow rate of water therethrough and for precisely injecting a liquid chemical into the water passing through the apparatus. The dispenser is also capable of dispensing a water-only rinse spray.
US08177141B2	Laminar deck jet Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for fluid handling devices with enhanced functionality. In some embodiments, the fluid handling device may include a plurality of filters coupled to the fluid handling device, where passing a first stream of fluid through the plurality of filters may improve the laminarity of the first stream of fluid, an orifice situated about the fluid handling device, where the first stream of fluid may exit the fluid handling device through the orifice in a substantially laminar state, and a surface disruptor coupled to the fluid handling device, where the surface disruptor may provide a second stream of fluid and where the disruptor may be positioned such that the second stream of fluid interferes with the first stream of fluid exiting the fluid handling device.
US08177137B2	Sensor device having non-contact charge function and containers having the same A first base having a first antenna receiving electromagnetic waves and a second base having a sensor portion are separated. An antenna is provided over each of the first base and the second base such that the antennas are electromagnetically coupled. The first antenna constantly receives electromagnetic waves to generate electromotive force and charges a power storage portion. Since the electric power of the power storage portion is also used for driving of a sensor portion, the sensor portion operates even without communication with the external device. Provision of the first antenna receiving electromagnetic waves and the sensor portion on different bases permits miniaturization of a base having the sensor portion. Further, provision of the power storage portion storing electric power converted from electromagnetic waves received by the antenna enables operating the sensor actively.
US08177136B2	Embedded optical signatures in documents A method of embedding an optical signature in a document and document produced therefrom. The optical signature uses an invisible optical pattern or covering that can reflect light in non-visible wavelengths, such as light in infrared, or fluoresces when exposed to a particular wavelength of light, such as ultra-violet light. The invisible optical pattern can be a covering over another optical pattern, or a base pattern upon which a second optical pattern is embedded.
US08177131B2	Data communication system, device for executing IC card function, control method for the device, and information processing terminal An information processing terminal defines a data transfer state for permitting a contactless data communication through an IC card and a data not transfer state for not permitting the contactless data communication so that the IC card manages the communication state of the information processing terminal. The IC card can transfer data to the terminal side depending on whether it is in any of the data transfer state and the data not transfer state without depending on the notification from the information processing terminal, synchronization can be easily established, a transfer speed can be increased, and a large amount of data can be transmitted.
US08177129B2	Interactive multimedia smart affinity card with flash memory A multipurpose card, including a multimedia card portion with tiny protrusions on its face and a second card portion with tiny recesses which mate with the protrusions, wherein the two card portions easily connect and come apart. The multimedia card portion includes a flash memory device, which can be a removable, and a plug for programming the flash memory device. The multimedia card portion can also include an elongated finger hole and ‘wings.’ The finger hole and wings allow a user to grip the multimedia card in one hand with a thumb and middle/ring finger and pop apart the second card portion with an index finger.
US08177128B2	Information processing device for card-like recording medium A processing device for a card-like recording medium may include a path for transferring the recording medium, a frame including a first frame and a second frame, a detector structured to detect presence of the recording medium, an imager structured to capture an image record on the recording medium. The detector may be placed in the frame before the imager in a transfer direction of the recording medium. The information processing device may further include a neutralizing member structure to remove static electricity charged in the recording medium, the neutralizing member being placed between the imager and the detector.
US08177124B2	Online purchasing system supporting sellers with affordability screening An online system uses, in various embodiments of the invention, credit report information, loan affordability screening and credit approval and management functionality to facilitate the purchase and finance of products online. The online system may include both sellers of products and lenders that offer financing to buyers seeking to purchase the products. The system may automatically obtain a buyer's credit report information and use that information to determine if the buyer is pre-approved, for example, to obtain financing for a particular product or products. The system also enables use of buyer credit information to identify only those of a seller's products for which the buyer is pre-approved, for example, to finance using one or more loans. The system then enables selection of an identified product or products for purchase, and selection of a loan, for example, for financing of the selected product or products. Credit approval (or pre-approval) may be performed automatically, and along with credit processing, may be performed completely online.
US08177119B2	Pressed paperboard servingware with arched bottom panel and sharp brim transition A disposable servingware container 10 press-formed from a generally planar paperboard blank has a characteristic diameter, D, and includes a bottom panel 12 having an arched central crown 14 with a convex upper surface 14a, a first annular transition portion 16 extending upwardly and outwardly from the bottom panel, with the proviso that a portion of the arched central crown defines a substantially continuous, convex arched profile 18 spanning at least 75% of the horizontal distance between center 20 of the container and the first annular transition. An optional sidewall portion 26 extends upwardly and outwardly from the first annular transition portion, while a second annular transition portion 28 flares outwardly with respect to the first annular transition portion defining a second radius of curvature, R2. The ratio of R2/D is 0.0125 or less. An outer flange portion 32 extends outwardly with respect to the second annular transition portion and forms the outer perimeter of the container.
US08177113B2	Apparatus and system for welding preforms and associated method An assembly for positioning a structural assembly for friction stir welding, and a system and method for friction stir welding the structural assembly are provided. The assembly includes a frame defining an aperture therein, and at least one structural member positioned within the aperture. The assembly also includes at least one spacer positioned within the aperture such that the spacer and structural member substantially fill the aperture to secure the structural member within the frame, as well as a substrate secured to the frame and positioned adjacent to the structural member in an overlapping configuration to define an interface between the substrate and structural member. In this configuration, the substrate and structural member are capable of being friction stir welded together.
US08177112B1	Fixation devices for cochlear implant speech processors A kit of fixation devices for cochlear implant speech processors comprising a spring loaded alligator clip including front and rear pivotally connected legs, a top portion of the front leg forming a support latch with an upper portion of one of several vertically extending cradles shaped to receive and support speech processors of different size while (i) allowing for replacement of the battery pack of the processor, (ii) protecting the control panel thereof against accidental actuation and (iii) supporting the processor cable, the front and rear legs of the alligator clip including hooks for engaging and capturing a safety pin that may have been already attached to the clothing of a user of the processor.
US08177108B1	Hooded holster A holster for a weapon, the holster having a hood assembly pivotably connected to the body of the holster, wherein the hood assembly is pivotable between a closed position for securing the weapon within the holster and an open position for insertion or removal of the weapon; a locking mechanism securing the hood assembly in the closed position when a weapon is held in the body cavity; a release mechanism associated with the locking means for releasing the hood assembly to the open position for removal of the weapon; and a mechanism for automatically pivoting the hood assembly to the closed position and thereby automatically engaging the locking means upon insertion of the weapon into the body cavity, wherein the mechanism for automatically pivoting the hood assembly includes at least one pivot arm that extends from the hood assembly to a pivot plate.
US08177105B2	Portable hand-held pleating apparatus for creating pleats in any fabric material A portable hand-held pleating apparatus for fabric material consisting of two halves containing a total of ten to twenty fingers adapted to allow fabric material to be pleated into numerous uniform pleats, specifically accordion pleats. The pleating apparatus can hold fabric material to allow for pleating by any user weaving said material through said fingers and then being removed by a simple upward motion. The pleating apparatus can be adjusted to enable variable pleat widths in a facile way.
US08177104B2	Cap drying apparatus A cap drying and shaping apparatus includes a substantially planar base, an inflatable bladder disposed proximal one end of the planar base, and a ribbed cage member. The ribbed cage member includes a domed portion having a predetermined radius to the apex and a predetermined diameter parallel to the planar base, and a planar portion at least as long and wide as a bill on a typical ball cap. Attachment means are disposed on top of the planar base for removably clamping the ribbed cage member to the planar base.
US08177102B2	Pump A pump comprising a container containing a dispense material, an outlet and an actuator arranged to alternate between a first and a second configuration in response to a change in the pump's environment, which change in configuration causes an aliquot of dispense material to be expelled through the outlet.
US08177100B2	Beverage dispensing apparatus with butterfly plates and molded cluster bearings An apparatus for dispensing a beverage, for use with pressurized sources of one or more fluids, includes a handle having one or more valve chambers; a fluid valve in each valve chamber; one or more butterfly plates, each configured to bias one or more of the valve stems of the valves towards a valve-open position when the butterfly plate is pressed, thus opening fluidic communication from each of the fluid sources to a corresponding discharge opening; and a ball bearing cluster which provides one or more pivot points for the butterfly plates. The ball bearing cluster includes a retainer and at least one ball-shaped projection projecting from the retainer. The ball-shaped projection remains in a substantially fixed position and orientation with respect to both the retainer and the handle when one or more of the butterfly plates is pressed. The ball bearing cluster and butterfly plate may be molded.
US08177099B2	Cartridge A cartridge for storing and dispensing substances that are in paste form and/or capable of flow is formed by at least one tube, in which a closure piston and a dispensing piston adjustable by means of a piston rod are disposed, so as to form a seal, in such a manner that a chamber is formed between the pistons. At least one passage opening is provided in the closure piston, and at least one projection is provided in the tube assigned to this closure piston and/or an outlet opening, whereby the passage opening and the projection are adapted to one another, in terms of their shape, in such a manner that the closure piston can be displaced between a closure position, in which the chamber is closed, and a dispensing position, in which the chamber stands in a flow connection with the outlet opening, by means of the passage opening.
US08177098B2	Molded preform and container having integrated pour spout A one-piece plastic container includes a body defining a longitudinal axis and having an upper portion, a sidewall portion and a base portion. The upper portion has a spout defining an opening into the container and a finish offset radially outwardly from the spout. A trough defines a passage into the body. The trough slopes toward the passage and defines a non-orthogonal angle relative to the longitudinal axis. According to other features, the sidewall portion is integrally formed with and extends from the upper portion to the base portion. The base portion closes off an end of the container. The finish defines at least one thread, for attaching a closure thereon.
US08177097B2	Personal hydration systems, dryer mechanisms for use with personal hydration systems, and methods of drying personal hydration system reservoirs Personal hydration systems include a flexible bladder, a fill port assembly, an exit port, and a dryer mechanism. The dryer mechanism is configured to be selectively positioned to engage the outer surface of the flexible bladder and deform the flexible bladder from a non-drying configuration into a drying configuration in which opposing side portions are spaced further apart from each other and further away from the central axis of the flexible bladder than when the flexible bladder is in the non-drying configuration to enable circulation of air in the internal compartment of the flexible bladder. In some embodiments, the dryer mechanism is coupled to the fill port assembly. In some embodiments, the dryer mechanism includes at least one elongate member that is pivotally coupled to the fill port assembly.
US08177092B2	Can end An easy open end for a pressurized food container, having an end panel and a conventional aperture score, surrounding the periphery of an aperture through which the contents of the container may be dispensed. A tab is provided to facilitate easy opening of the aperture. The easy open end also includes a vent score, which is arranged to rupture before the main aperture score, to vent the internal pressure in the container, before the container is opened. The end panel and/or tab also defines a shield to prevent the egress of product from the vent opening, when the vent score is severed.
US08177087B2	Concrete washout bag system A concrete washout bag system is disclosed that is easy to transport and to assemble at a construction site and includes a frame and a foldable washout bag which is assembled onto the frame by means of unitarily formed sleeves, and is manufactured from a strong, water-proof material that allows it to be hoisted for carrying away heavy loads without tearing and includes a drawstring closure for retaining of washout materials during the hoisting, removal process.
US08177080B2	Girder block lifting method and jack-up stage used therefor A girder block lifting method, which can solve a problem that steel beams are inclined or fallen inward by lifting a heavy material, and a jack-up stage used therefor are provided. The method includes a main beam which can be provided between steel beams being targets of connection with the girder to construct a rigid frame structure, a height adjustment means (gate-shaped base) mounted on a cross beam member being parallel to the main beam and connecting other steel frames for adjusting height to the main beam, a connection beam for alternately connecting the main beam and the height adjustment means (gate-shaped base), and an auxiliary beam for connecting the connection beams. On a frame stage formed by connecting these beams, a plurality of lifting jacks are provided and a lifting sling is hung from upper part of the steel beam to enable jack-up of the girder block.
US08177078B2	Eyeglasses retainer for handle bars An eyeglass retainer for handle bars, including two spring-loaded pivot arms, attached to the handlebars with the pivot ends toward the stem, such that the pivot arms retail the temple pieces of the sunglasses with the temple pieces extending below the handlebars and the nosepiece of the glasses resting on the stem or stem connecting piece.
US08177075B2	Method for storing sandals and other loose items A method for storing and displaying footwear including, without limitation, flip-flops and thong-type sandals, as well as other loose items, is provided. An elongate central body, such as a length of ribbon or other similar structure, having a number of upwardly facing hooks—typically combined in pairs—arrayed along the length of the central body, is suspended from a support. Sandals and other loose items are hung on the hooks.
US08177074B2	Housing for a drying device A housing for a drying device which can be folded in and folded out comprises a base which is situated on the rear side and can be attached to a vertical support, such as a wall, and with respect to which the drying device can be folded in to form an elongate unit, wing means which are suspended on the base and can be pivoted along a pivot axis directed in the longitudinal direction of the unit between a closed position for covering the folded drying device and an open position in which the drying device can be folded in and out, as well as supporting means for supporting the drying device with respect to the housing. The wing means, in the closed position, extend forwards with respect to the base.
US08177070B2	Air sieving method and apparatus An air sieving apparatus capable of sieving particles in a particle size range below 50 μm includes a cylindrical screening case defining an internal space and provided with a screen dividing the internal space into an upper space and a lower space. Powdered material is fed through a powdered material feed opening onto a bottom plate disposed to cover the lower open end of the screening case with gaps formed therebetween. Air in the screening case is sucked upward by a suction blower. The fed powdered material is dispersed by currents of air sucked through the gaps and the dispersed powdered material is sucked upward. Fine particles that have passed through the screen 3 flow through a fine particle recovery duct into a cyclone and a fine particle container. Coarse particles remaining in the lower space drop through the coarse particle recovery opening into a coarse particle container.
US08177069B2	System and method for sorting dissimilar materials Sorting dissimilar materials, such as sorting plastics from wood, foam, or rubber. These systems and methods employ either dielectric heating or fluorescent dye absorption characteristics of materials to distinguish the materials. The systems and methods may employ differential dielectric heating and thermal imaging to sort wood, rubber, and foam, from plastic, metals, and other materials that do not undergo dielectric heating. Similarly, systems and methods may employ the greater liquid absorption properties of wood, rubber, and foam as compared to plastic. The dissimilar materials are subjected to fluorescent dye and carrier liquid, that is differentially absorbed by objects. Fluorescent imaging can be used to distinguish the materials. In either case, a computer-controlled system can be used to sort material types based on an evaluation of the thermal or fluorescent image.
US08177068B2	Packaging and display box A packaging and display box (1). The box (1) has a base (2) with a retaining wall (4) adjacent a section of its perimeter. The wall is for retaining a primary package. The box has a lid (3) which extends between two portions of the base. The lid (3) covers at least a part of the primary package. The lid (3) is attached to the retaining perimeter wall such that removal of the lid from the package causes detachment of the perimeter wall from the base.
US08177064B2	Surgical pack and tray A surgical pack includes a platform having a plurality of recesses configured to function as a surgical tray. A plurality of surgical instruments are contained in a corresponding recess of the platform. The recess may have the shape of the surgical instrument that it is designed to receive. The recess may also include safety mechanisms to protect the tips of certain instruments and to lower the risk of injury caused by them. A packaging or covering holds the platform and the plurality of surgical instruments in a substantially sterile condition.
US08177060B2	Retail box for displaying a tie A tie box suitable for receiving one or more ties includes a base structure having a floor and upstanding peripheral walls that extend outwardly therefrom to define an interior compartment and a cover that is constructed to mate with the base structure. The tie box includes at least one elastic tie retaining member that is disposed within the interior compartment for receiving and holding the tie between the elastic tie retaining member and the floor. A ribbon member is disposed within the interior compartment for tying around the tie.
US08177053B2	Air cushion conveyor stacker reclaimer device and method thereof An air cushion conveyor stacker reclaimer device and a method thereof, wherein burial of enclosed air cushion outfeed conveyors eliminates the need for costly, reinforced underground tunnels and walkways, wherein overhead suspension of air cushion infeed conveyors eliminates the need for construction of raised walkways and costly ground support structures, wherein lightweight air cushion conveyor stacker devices eliminate the need for massive counterweights, and wherein the fully exploited method for stacking and reclaiming bulk materials via enclosed tubular components, stacking boom curtains, and/or domed enclosures essentially eliminates adverse environmental impact.
US08177047B2	Adaptable assembly fixture apparatus An apparatus for transporting a first workpiece assembly, the apparatus includes a pallet, a universal fixture and an adaptable fixture. The pallet has a rectangular base and support members fixed to opposite edges of the base. The universal fixture has a frame, a first and second support arms and three workpiece mounts. The support arms are fixed to opposite sides of the frame and are rotatably supported in the support members of the pallet. The adaptable fixture has a frame, three fixture mounts and three workpiece mounts. The fixture mounts are disposed on the bottom surface of the frame and aligned with the workpiece mounts of the universal fixture. The workpiece mounts of the adaptable fixture are disposed on the top surface of the frame and aligned with a first, second and third locator of a workpiece assembly.
US08177042B2	Rotary damper In a rotary damper capable of being easily assembled by reducing the remaining air inside an accommodation portion and reducing the non-uniformity of damping torque, a center shaft 73 is provided in the center of a fixing and supporting member 71, an inner cylinder wall 63 into which the center shaft 73 is inserted rotatably is provided in a driven rotation member 61, an O ring 81 which prevents the leakage of viscous fluid 101 from between the driven rotation member 61 and the fixing and supporting member 71 is provided, a first path 70 which enables the accommodation portion 91 to communicate with its outside is provided between the center shaft 73 and an inner circumference face of the inner cylinder wall 63, and a hole 63c which allows the bottom side of the O ring 81 inside the accommodation portion 91 to communicate with the first path 70 is provided in the driven rotation member 61.
US08177039B2	Hydraulic vehicle brake system and method for operating the hydraulic vehicle brake system A hydraulic vehicle brake system, which has a brake pressure signal generator which can be activated by a brake activation device, wherein the brake pressure signal generator can be connected to wheel brakes of the vehicle via at least one hydraulic line and is composed essentially of a master brake cylinder and a hydraulic booster which is connected upstream and which has a return flow chamber and a boosting chamber, a working piston arranged therein and a control piston, wherein the working piston is operatively connected in the force outputting direction to a master brake cylinder piston via an activation element, and a hydraulic pressure of a hydraulic pressure source can be applied to the booster via an inlet for the purpose of boosting braking force, wherein an outlet of the booster can be connected to a reservoir vessel.
US08177033B2	Transportation system with capacitive energy storage and non-volatile memory for storing the operational state of the transportation system upon detection of the operational anomaly in power A transportation system and a method are provided for backing up the operational state of a transportation system. The transportation system includes a control apparatus for controlling the operation of the transportation system. The control apparatus further includes capacitive energy storage and a power supply backup circuit adapted to maintain power supply from the said energy storage to a storage circuit for a given length of time in connection with an operational anomaly in power supply to the control apparatus.
US08177032B2	Elevator having regenerative voltage control A car is suspended by suspension means and raised and lowered by a hoisting machine. Electric power supplied to a motor of the hoisting machine is controlled by an electric power converter. The electric power converter is controlled by a control apparatus. The control apparatus estimates a maximum value of a regenerative voltage at time of a regenerative operation of the hoisting machine when the car is running. When the estimated maximum value of the regenerative voltage reaches a predetermined voltage limit value, the control apparatus controls the electric power converter so as to stop an increase in estimated maximum value of the regenerative voltage.
US08177030B2	Sheathed shrink net and support assembly A flexible member used as a rope in a mesh has an outer sheathing which is easy to touch and an inner core which is shrinkable so that when used in a mesh which is suspended on a frame, it pulls the frame tautly by the shrinkage of the inner cords. Also, a connection between a support member and a border can be effected using one way mechanical fasteners. Shrink nets can be further used on a frame without sheathing with a twisted cord.
US08177025B2	Safety harnesses, connective ring attachments for use in safety harnesses and back pads for use in safety harnesses A back pad system for use in connection with a safety harness which includes at least two spaced back straps and a connector adapted to be connected to a line or lanyard includes a back pad having passages through which the two back straps can be passed to be crossed over the connector, an attachment to which the connector can be moveably attached, and at least one member that captures the connector in an upright position upon application of force such as manual force (either directly or indirectly) to the connector to move the connector to the upright position. A back pad for use in connection with a safety harness includes at least two spaced back straps and a connector adapted to be connected to a line or lanyard. The back pad includes a base comprising passages through which the two back straps can be passed to be crossed over the connector and at least one load indicator. The load indicator includes an area of reduced strength in the base so that the area visibly distends or breaks upon the back pad being subjected for a substantial load. The substantial load can, for example, be predetermined to be at least approximately 450 pounds of force. The area of reduced strength can, for example, be an area of reduced thickness. The back pad can, for example, include a plurality of areas of reduced thickness.
US08177021B1	Diaphragm for speaker, frame for speaker, dust cap for speaker, speaker and apparatus using them, and method for manufacturing component for speaker A speaker diaphragm is configured by a compound mixed with resin and bamboo fiber. The diaphragm satisfying the advantage of the bamboo fiber of high sound quality and a large degree of freedom in the setting of the characteristic value of the diaphragm and the advantage of the diaphragm made of a resin with improved humidity resistance reliability and strength, excellent external appearance, and enhanced productivity and dimension stability is obtained.
US08177018B2	Electric power steering system over-speed energizing brake system A bi-directional over-speed energizing brake system which implements automatically in the event an electric power steering system is in an over-speed condition. For rotational speeds of a rotating component exceeding a predetermined rotational speed threshold, centrifugal force acting on brake arms of a braking assembly overcome biasing by springs such that the brake arms will frictionally engage a non-rotating brake ring to thereby slow the rotational speed of the rotating component.
US08177017B2	Traveling working machine The present invention relates to a traveling working machine, in particular an excavator, with an undercarriage on which the traveling gear is arranged, and an uppercarriage rotatably arranged on the undercarriage about a vertical axis of rotation. In accordance with the invention, the load-bearing steel construction of the uppercarriage is composed of at least one first and one second element, which are connected with each other via bolts and/or screws.
US08177015B2	Motorcycle The motorcycle is provided in an embodiment with a vehicle body frame, an engine, and an exhaust pipe connected to the engine. The vehicle body frame has a front frame supporting at least a part of the engine, a left rear frame connected to the front frame and extending rearward of a vehicle body on the left with a center of a vehicle in a horizontal direction as a basis, and a right rear frame extending rearward of the vehicle body on the right. The exhaust pipe has at least a crossing part partially crossing the center of the vehicle in the horizontal direction with a first supporting member mounting a left part of the crossing part to the left rear frame on the left and a second supporting member mounting the right part of the crossing part to the right rear frame on the right.
US08177012B2	Saddle-ride type fuel cell three-wheeled vehicle A saddle-ride three-wheeled vehicle has a fuel cell which generates an electric power by a chemical reaction between a fuel gas and a reaction gas. The three-wheeled vehicle includes a drain pipe which guides water discharged from the fuel cell out of a vehicle body; a rear body to which a pair of left and right rear wheels are journaled; and a linking mechanism which swingably links the rear body and a front body to allow the front body to sway left and right with respect to the rear body, wherein the drain pipe has a drain port between the pair of left and right rear wheels.
US08177011B2	Easily removable forecab for a motorcycle A forecab and additional electrical and mechanical components attachable to a motorcycle for converting a motorcycle between its standard configuration and a three-wheeled vehicle is disclosed. The forecab has two front wheels, chassis, a body, a motorcycle front wheel cradle, headlights and parking lights, and standard automobile-type components such as a steering wheel, foot brake, clutch, and foot-manipulated gas pedal. The forecab components are connected to corresponding motorcycle components using both electrical connections, and mechanical linkages as appropriate. The invention adds components to the motorcycle so that the linkages between the forecab and the motorcycle component may be implemented. The mechanical linkages, electrical connections and motorcycle-securing mechanisms are designed to they can be easily connected and disconnected in a manner so that the biker can easily transition between the three-wheeled motorcycle-powered vehicle and the standard motorcycle without tools.
US08177010B2	Device and method for carrying out wheelbase adjustment for utility vehicles An apparatus and method for effecting wheelbase adjustment for utility vehicles having one or more axles with wheels, includes one or more adjustment mechanisms to which compressed air can be applied. The adjustment mechanism(s) adjust at least one of the axles in relation to the body of the vehicle. A pressure sensor measures the pressure of the compressed air in the adjustment mechanism(s) and generates corresponding pressure signals. A pulse-controlled valve or, alternatively, a spring-return valve, is employed to optionally feed the compressed air into the adjustment mechanism(s) and discharge the compressed air from the adjustment mechanism(s).
US08177009B2	Independent displacement opposing pump/motors and method of operation A hydraulic machine includes first and second opposing motors. Displacement of the first and second motors is controlled such that while the sum of the displacements of the first and second motors is below a threshold, the displacement of the first motor is substantially equal to the sum, and the displacement of the second motor is substantially equal to zero. While the sum of the displacements is above the threshold, the displacement of the first motor may be substantially equal to the displacement of the second motor, either as a displacement percentage or as a displacement volume. The first motor may be equal in capacity, or smaller than the second motor.
US08177008B2	All-terrain vehicle with improved power steering unit A vehicle is provided with a front hood 33 that covers, from above, the front of the front panel 5, a battery 49 provided below the front hood 33, where at least the top of the battery is positioned above the top 3a of the front wheels 3 when in a stationary state, an electric power steering unit 40 that is provided under the front hood 33, having an electric motor 40a disposed so that at least a portion thereof overlaps at least a portion of the battery 49 vertically, and an electric power steering control device 50 that is connected to the battery 49 and the electric motor 40a.
US08177002B2	Motor vehicles A wind-powered pneumatic engine including one or more impeller chambers and one or more impellers disposed in the impeller chambers is provided. One or more air inlets for receiving external wind resistance airflow are disposed on the impeller chambers, and the external wind resistance airflow entering the air inlets drives the impellers to operate to generate power output. The wind-powered pneumatic engine further includes an air-jet system for jetting HPCA into the impeller chambers, and the internal high-pressure compressed air jetted by the air-jet system in conjunction with the external wind resistance airflow entering the air inlets drives the impellers to operate to generate power output. In the present invention, the external resistance airflow around a motor vehicle moving at a speed is converted into power for use, which greatly reduces energy consumption and improves the moving speed of a motor vehicle. A motor vehicle equipped with wind-powered pneumatic engine is also provided.
US08177001B2	Earth-boring tools including abrasive cutting structures and related methods A drill bit includes a bit body having a face on which two different types of cutters are disposed, the first type being cutting elements suitable for drilling at least one subterranean formation and the second type being at least one of an abrasive cutting structure and an abrasive cutting element suitable for drilling through a casing shoe, reamer shoe, casing bit, casing or liner string and cementing equipment or other components, as well as cement. Methods of forming earth-boring tools include disposing at least one abrasive cutting structure or element on the earth-boring tool. Methods of drilling with earth-boring tools including drilling with at least one abrasive cutting structure or element.
US08177000B2	Modular system for a back reamer and method A modular back reamer to be used in subterranean drilling includes a drive stem connected to a drill string and configured to support a reamer body, the reamer body providing a plurality of receptacles, wherein the receptacles are configured to retain a cutting leg assembly at varying heights within a predetermined range, and a plurality of shims engaged within the receptacles to secure the cutting leg assemblies at a specified height within the predetermined range, wherein the cutting leg assembly is secured to the reamer body with at least one mechanical fastener.
US08176999B2	Steerable drill bit arrangement This invention relates to a steerable drill bit arrangement, in particular for the use in drilling boreholes for oil and gas extraction. According to the invention there is provided a steerable drill bit arrangement comprising a drill bit, a steering component and a stabilizer, the steering component being adapted to provide a steering force which in use can drive the drill bit along a non-linear path, the stabilizer being located between the drill bit and the steering component and in use providing a fulcrum for the steering force provided by the steering component, the position of the fulcrum provided by the stabilizer being adjustable relative to the drill bit and the steering component. In use, the position of the fulcrum can be adjusted to vary the maximum curvature of the borehole and to suit the rock type(s) being drilled.
US08176997B2	Hand-held power tool with a chuck for receiving a percussion working tool A hand-held power tool includes a work spindle (4)in which a chuck (3) for receiving an axially displaceable, within limits, percussion working tool (2), is mounted on. The work spindle (4) having a coaxial die (5) located in its interior for imparting blows to the percussion working tool (2). At least one cooling air channel (7) extends in an outer housing (6) radially outwardly of the work spindle and opens into a chuck free space (8) which adjoins the work spindle (4). The at least one cooling air channel (7) communicates with the interior of the work spindle through an opening (10, 10′) formed in the work spindle. A seal (9, 9′) completely flowtight seals the free space (8) outwardly.
US08176994B2	Transmission device The invention relates to a gearbox device, in particular, for a hammer drill or chisel, with a torque transmission mechanism, which has a first torque transmitting region for transmission of a torque to a first component and at least one second torque transmitting region for transmitting a torque to a second component. According to the invention, the first torque transmitting region and the second torque transmitting region at least partly have a corresponding partial contour for transmitting the torques.
US08176992B2	Electronically controlled hydraulic system for an agricultural implement A hydraulic control apparatus for a foldable farm includes first hydraulic control system is used to control weight transfer to ground engaging tools mounted to a stationary and foldable wing frame sections. A second hydraulic system is used to fold and unfold the wing sections. A hydraulic control is provided that interfaces with both hydraulic systems to control sequencing of the functions provided by the first and second hydraulic systems. The first and second hydraulic systems have electronically controlled valves to control the flow of hydraulic fluid to various lifting, folding, and down pressure cylinders.
US08176990B2	Apparatus for removing obstructions from a worksite A device for removing obstructions from a work site. The device is attachable to the front of a work machine. The device comprises a frame, a flange, a rotatable cutting member supported on the flange, and a motor that rotates the cutting member. The flange is non-rotatable, but is movable along at least one length relative to the frame. The motor may be supported on the flange. The device further comprises a plurality of removably attachable blocking members for decreasing the range of travel of debris generated during operation of the cutting member. The rotatable cutting member is movable about three axes relative to the flange such that changes in conditions or temperatures do not cause the cutting member to break.
US08176988B2	Early suppression fast response fire protection sprinkler An early suppression fast response pendent-type fire protection sprinkler is suitable for use in accordance with one or more of NFPA 13, NFPA 231 and NFPA 231C to protect single row rack storage, double row rack storage and multiple row rack storage, the sprinkler having a K-factor of about 25 and flowing pressure of about 15 pounds per square inch. Preferably, the sprinkler has a body defining an orifice and an outlet for delivering a flow of fluid from a source, and a deflector mounted with a first surface opposed to flow of fluid from the outlet. The deflector defines at least one pair of generally opposed reentrant slots extending from the first surface through the deflector, the reentrant slots extending from slot openings at an outer peripheral edge of the deflector inwardly from the peripheral edge toward a deflector axis.
US08176986B2	Method of circulating while retrieving bottom hole assembly in casing Retrieving a down hole tool at a lower end of a string of casing can be performed with drill pipe during a casing-while-drilling operation. The operator suspends the casing on a landing sub landed in a drilling rig floor opening. A string of drill pipe is lowered into the casing while the casing is suspended for engaging and retrieving the down hole tool. A spillage preventer in the landing sub prevents spillage of drilling fluid as the drill pipe is being retrieved. When circulation is desired, the operator secures a circulation tool to an upper end of the drill pipe, then lowers the drill pipe and the circulation tool to close off an upper end of an inner annulus between the drill pipe and the casing. A connection between the circulation tool and the landing sub allows the operator to reciprocate the casing.
US08176979B2	Injection well surveillance system A method and apparatus for surveying a well in real-time and responding to operational conditions in response to the surveillance. According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure a method for surveillance of a well includes providing a producing a fluid from the formation into the wellbore, injecting a fraction of the fluid from the wellbore into an injection zone of the formation via operation of a pumping system. Well data is sensed in the wellbore proximate to the injection zone and a formation injection performance parameter is determined using the sensed well data. The formation injection performance parameter comprises one selected from the group of stable injection, negative skin, positive skin and water channeling.
US08176977B2	Method for rapid sealing of boreholes A method and apparatus for rapidly installing or withdrawing a sealing liner into or out of a subsurface well bore or borehole. An eversion aid, such as an open-ended cylinder, is engaged with the liner, the eversion aid serving to push the liner down the borehole during installation, and to assist in proper liner extraction during its withdrawal from the borehole. Water is transferred between the liner interior and the borehole outside the liner to regulate the disposition of borehole water, and to aid in proper sealing functions of the liner and to promote proper liner extraction during withdrawal.
US08176974B2	Heat transfer unit for high reynolds number flow In one aspect, a heat transfer unit is provided for increasing the temperature of process fluids, such as gas-phase fluids, having a Reynolds Number (RE) of at least about 275,000 with a low overall pressure drop and without exceeding the wall temperature limits of the material used to construct the heater. The heater generally includes a heater conduit having the gas-phase fluid flowing therethrough and a heat source, such as a radiant heat source, providing an inconsistent or variable heat flux along a length of the heater conduit where the heat source has a peak heat flux greater than an average heat flux.
US08176973B2	Finned heat pipe comprising concentric pipes of different length A heat sink assembly in accordance with the present invention increases heat dissipation area, improves heat dissipation efficiency and comprises a base, a core pipe, an outer pipe, a top cover and a working fluid. The base has a top surface. The core pipe is mounted securely on and protrudes from the top surface with an air-tight fit and comprises an inner surface, an outer surface, a wick, multiple holes and a top. The wick is formed on the inner and outer surface. The outer pipe is mounted securely on and protrudes from the base concentrically around the core pipe and comprises an inner surface, an outer surface, a wick and a top. The wick is formed on the inner surface. The holes are formed around the core pipe away from the base. The top cover closes the top of the core pipe and the top of the outer pipe.
US08176964B2	Curtain system comprising several flat panels A curtain system includes several flat panels made of curtain fabric or other planar materials. The top of each flat panel is provided with a horizontal metal, wood or plastic horizontal slat on which the curtain fabric or flat panel hangs in a loose manner. Both ends of the horizontal slat include a fastening device for rollers or sliders. The rollers or sliders at one end of each horizontal slat are guided inside a first common track, while the rollers or sliders located on the other end of each horizontal slat are guided inside a second common track, such that the flat panels can be slid on top of each other. The flat panels extend at an acute angle relative to the first and second common tracks and can be slid on top of each other until the flat panels nearly overlap when the first and second common tracks are mounted parallel to each other, because the fastening device therefore is designed so that the fastening device does not laterally protrude from the horizontal slat or the alignment thereof.
US08176962B2	Door barrier with a pet portal A door barrier with pet portal is provided for temporary use and installation with a swing hung door. The door barrier includes a frame positionable within the opening of a door frame, and a flexible barrier extending from the frame that is attachable to a door along an upper and outward edge thereof for extending across the doorway of the door when partially held open. The flexible barrier includes an opening permitting the passage of a pet therethrough.
US08176959B2	Multi-functional tape applicator A multifunction tape applicator for applying a section or sections of pressure sensitive adhesive tape to a carton selectively in different carton sealing configurations, namely C-clip; single L-clip, front and back L-clips and sectional skip-gap taping. The multifunction tape applicator comprises a basic tape applicator unit to apply a common C-clip tape from a tape roll with built-in design apparatus for tape applying, tape cutting, tape tension control to facilitate other functions and a mechanical or powered actuation attachment unit which is to be installed onto the modified basic tape applicator unit to actuate other functions based on the requirement of the application.
US08176949B2	Liquid crystal dispensing system A liquid crystal dispensing system includes a frame, a stage coupled to the frame; at least one liquid crystal dispenser moveably coupled the frame over the stage, and at least one measurement member operatively coupled to the liquid crystal dispenser, wherein the at least measurement member detecting an amount of liquid crystal material dispensed from the at least one liquid crystal dispenser.
US08176947B2	Method and apparatus for the filling of target containers A container is filled to a predetermined target mass of a free-flowing substance with the help of a device that dispenses measured doses of the substance. The dispensing device has a valve for variably adjusting the mass flow rate of the substance from a reservoir into the container. The dispensing device further includes a device to measure the elapsed time from the beginning of the filling process, a balance for determining the mass of the substance in the container, and a controller unit with a valve control module. The controller unit includes an adjusting module, where a predetermined desired mass flow rate is stored. At an elapsed time, if the mass flow rate is smaller or larger than the desired mass flow rate, the flow rate is, respectively, increased or decreased by a flow rate adjustment. An adaptive filter of the controller unit determines the mass flow rate.
US08176946B2	Automatic wire cutting and twisting apparatus An automatic wire cutting and twisting apparatus includes a chassis board on which a start-terminal mounting rack, an end-terminal mounting rack, and a mounting track are mounted. The start-terminal mounting rack opposes a start terminal of the mounting track. The end-terminal mounting rack is position-adjustably coupled to an end terminal of the mounting track. A wire cutting mechanism is mounted on the start-terminal mounting rack and forms ingress and egress for wires. A wire twisting mechanism includes start-terminal and end-terminal rotation sections respectively mounted on the start-terminal and end-terminal mounting racks. A wire dragging mechanism includes a start-terminal dragging section mounted on the chassis board and a slidable dragging section movable above the mounting track. A wire pick-up mechanism is position-adjustably mounted on the mounting track. A cutting and twisting control mechanism is electrically connected to the wire cutting mechanism, the wire twisting mechanism, and the wire dragging mechanism.
US08176938B2	Hydrocarbon transfer system with horizontal displacement A hydrocarbon transfer system comprising a first structure with a length direction and a transverse direction having a frame carrying a fluid transfer duct with at its end a fluid connecting member for connecting to a second structure which is moored alongside the first structure and wherein the fluid transfer duct is placed on a movable frame part which is displaceable in the transverse direction.
US08176934B2	Valve control assembly Valve control assemblies are disclosed which accommodate out of plumb conditions using a flexible set of rings linked to the temperature control, and a projection/axial slot arrangement linked to the volume control. Different wall thicknesses are accommodated using one or more adaptors/extensions between a temperature bonnet control and a portion of the valve cartridge which controls temperature. There is also a combined shroud/tool for protecting the valve during rough-in and permitting it to be tested.
US08176930B2	Water supply apparatus for use in ice maker A water supply apparatus (1) for an automatic ice maker comprises: a water supply tank (10); an air pump (70); an air supply pipe (60); and a water supply channel, disposed between the water supply tank and an ice tray (80), for supplying water to the ice tray by using the air pump which feeds air into the water supply tank and through a pressure of the air sending the water outside of the water supply tank. The water supply channel includes a pressure adjusting chamber (40) for adjusting a pressure in the water supply channel and a water supply pipe (50) for causing the water to flow into the ice tray. The water supply pipe includes first and second water supply pipe parts (51), (52) that are attachable and detachable. The air supply pipe includes first and second air supply pipe parts (61), (62) that are attachable and detachable.
US08176926B2	Batch dishwasher with waste water heat recovery A cleaning machine, in particular a batch dishwasher, comprising an individual cleaning chamber in which the items to be cleaned are accommodated, a pump which circulates washing liquid within the cleaning chamber, and a further pump which delivers fresh water, and also a boiler which stores and heats fresh water, wherein the boiler has an associated heat exchanger by means of which heat is indirectly or directly transferred from waste water which is stored in a reservoir to the fresh water which is stored in the boiler.
US08176924B2	Color changing artificial fingernails Electronic color changing artificial nails comprise a polymer layer in a general shape of a human natural nail, bistable electro-optic material and a ledge on which display electrodes are disposed located at a tip of the artificial nail. Once the artificial nail is attached to the natural nail, the artificial nail can be updated by simply plugging the tip into a separate electronic color changing device which is used to set the color of the nail to whatever the user desires.
US08176921B2	Dynamically inflatable therapeutic support and methods of using the same A therapeutic cushion (1) having a plurality of fluid-filled chambers (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), with each chamber having an internal volume that is independently adjustable. In a pillow embodiment, air-filled chambers are dynamically regulated in response to a monitored behavior or characteristic of a resting user. Air cushion (1) includes a lower chamber (2) upon which the other chambers are arranged. First or basic chamber (3) extends laterally along, and is directed inwardly from, a rear edge of underlying chamber (2). Adjoining first chamber (3) are first and second supporting chambers (4, 5), these being separated from one another to leave a region (10) that is disposed between their ends (7, 8) and bisected by center line (9). Region (10) is intended to accommodate the resting user's head. A second lateral chamber (6) extends laterally along and is directed inwardly from a forward edge of underlying chamber (2) to adjoin supporting chambers (4, 5), providing a neck support. To configure the cushion (1) to provide a therapeutic treatment for snoring, at least one sensor is included to detect and monitor snoring intensity and thereby provide feedback to the dynamic pressure regulation process.
US08176920B2	Artificial airway apparatus The invention relates to apparatus (19) for use in establishing an artificial airway in a patient, the apparatus comprising a tube (19a) for introduction into the patient's trachea for passage of gases to and from the patient's lungs, an inflatable seal (20) disposed upon the tube (19a) to provide, on inflation, a seal between the tube and the trachea of the patient, the seal (20) thereby defining a lung-side portion (19c) of the apparatus and a mouth-side portion (19d) of the apparatus, the apparatus further having the ability to facilitate removal of fluid from at or adjacent the said mouth-side portion (19d) of the apparatus (19).
US08176918B2	Three dimensional face mask A three dimensional face mask comprises: a three dimensional cup, a three dimensional soft rubber washer, an elastic tape, and an anti-skid band; it is characterized in that: the three dimensional cup is made by hot pressing of multilayer of filtration material, the three dimensional soft rubber washer is provided with a soft nose cushion and is bonded to an outer periphery of the three dimensional cup by hot pressing, the anti-skid band is bonded to a lower edge of the three dimensional cup, the elastic tape has two ends symmetrically bonded to both sides of the three dimensional cup. The three dimensional non-woven face ensures a good air tightness against the face while leaving a large enough space between the three dimensional cup and the nose and mouth area to ensure conformable wearing, good filtration, making the wearer easy to breathe and talk.
US08176914B2	Anesthetic absorbing circle The present invention relates to an anesthetic absorbing circle, comprising: a first common tube, providing an anesthetic gas mixture; an inspiration branch, connected to the first common tube and delivering the anesthetic gas mixture to a patient end; an expiration branch, connected to the first common tube and sending back the expired gas from the patient end to the first common tube; a second common tube, connected with the inspiration branch and the expiration branch at its first end and connected with the patient end at its second end; and a flow sensor, wherein the flow sensor is disposed in the first common tube. Thus, according to the present invention, the flow sensor can conduct bidirectional monitoring, the flow sensor is remote from patients, and water accumulation at the probe will not appear; in addition, the probe can be easily detached and disinfected at a high temperature, and can be used between adults and children.
US08176907B2	Projectile-loading assembly for air-powered gun A projectile-loading assembly (1) for an air-powered gun is configured to load projectiles (3) in a barrel (4) and includes a magazine module (10) and a slider module (20). The magazine module (10) includes a projectile chamber (11), a rail tube (14) located over the projectile chamber (11) to be aligned with the barrel (4), and a projectile-loading block (15) sheathed the rail tube (14). The slider module (20) slides with respect to the barrel (4) and includes: a spring (21) for pushing the projectile-loading block (15) to depart from the barrel (4), and an elastic piece (22) for pushing the projectile-loading block (15) to approach the barrel (4). The elastic piece (22) pushes the projectile-loading block (15) to slide toward the barrel (4) when the slider module (20) slides forwards, thereby pushing one projectile (3) into the barrel (4) while closing the projectile chamber (11).
US08176906B2	Cable buss apparatus for deflecting tension cables in a compound bow A cable buss apparatus for an archery bow for laterally deflecting tension cables extending between two opposing cams of the bow to prevent interference with an arrow. The apparatus includes a first cable alignment rod that is attachable to an upper portion of the bow for deflecting a first section of the cables extending between an upper cam and a cable guard. A second cable alignment rod is attachable to a lower portion of the bow for deflecting a second section of the cables extending between a lower cam and the cable guard. The cable guard can be a conventional cable guard, or the cable guard can include one or more further cable alignment rods similar or different from the first and second cable alignment rods.
US08176905B1	Football throwing machine One embodiment of a football throwing machine using an axially aligned compression spring for propulsion and a latching mechanism for retaining the spring in its compressed state. A spiral shaped actuator mechanism is used to compress the spring with consistent torque throughout the compression stroke. The spring is released from its compressed state using an efficient triggering mechanism. A timing mechanism allows a delay so the user can position for the catch. The football is held by axially misaligned wheels on one end and a rotating cup on the other. As the spring pushes the ball between the wheels while being ejected from the apparatus, the wheel misalignment causes the helical spinning effect on the football while the cup holding the other end of the football spins freely.
US08176904B2	Intake system for an internal combustion engine In an intake system comprising a first intake passage (1) having an upstream end communicating with an intake duct (3) and a downstream end communicating with an intake port of an engine cylinder, a first intake control valve (6) provided in the first intake passage, a second intake passage (2) having an upstream end communicating with the intake duct and a downstream end communicating with the intake port of the engine cylinder, a second intake control valve (7) provided in the second intake passage, an accelerator pedal(ACL) and a control unit (100) for controlling opening angles of the first and second intake control valves, the second intake control valve is opened when the first intake control valve has opened to an effective opening angle and an intake air flow rate is required to be further increased. The effective opening angle may be defined in a region where a change in the intake air flow rate of the first intake passage for a given change in the opening angle of the first intake control valve falls below a prescribed level. Thereby, as the accelerator pedal is depressed, a continuous increase in the intake air flow rate without involving a saturated region can be achieved.
US08176899B2	Device for accelerating combustion of liquid fuel and system for accelerating combustion of liquid fuel for internal combustion engine The present invention relates to a device for accelerating the combustion of liquid fuel for improving the combustion efficiency of liquid fuel used in an internal combustion engine and a system for accelerating the combustion of liquid fuel using the device. The device is characterized in that magnets are provided in a metal pipe, and pure tourmaline ceramics and mixed tourmaline ceramics are used as a catalyst, so that fuel molecules are atomized by the magnetic field, generated by the magnets, and by far infrared rays, radioactive rays, and the like generated from the catalyst, thereby accelerating the combustion of fuel. The internal combustion engine using the device and system of the present invention can realize fuel savings and can reduce the discharge of environmental pollutants.
US08176898B2	Fuel delivery pipe and method of manufacturing the same A fuel delivery pipe delivers fuel to a plurality of fuel injection valves corresponding to cylinders of an internal-combustion engine. The fuel delivery pipe includes a pipe body made of carbon steel for machine structural use and a plating film disposed on an inner surface of the pipe body. Preferably, the fuel delivery pipe includes a plating film disposed on an outer surface of the pipe body.
US08176897B1	Electronic pressure regulator The invention includes a very fast voice coil actuator, in the range of 2-5 millisecond full stroke response with high force, a circuit board located in the enclosure, a pressure sensor sensing pressure internal to the system which in the preferred embodiment is located in the actuator cap assembly but could be located in other locations, a diaphragm, a link plate, a mating ring, and a mechanical pressure regulator. An electronic pressure regulator receives pressure commands from the engine control module in a manner similar to receiving pulse width from an engine control module to an injector and calculates the required new pressure command. A novel feature of the present invention includes the Delta P control and the control of the regulator based on direct feedback of pressure.
US08176892B2	Internal combustion engine The invention concerns an internal-combustion engine, the engine comprising an engine housing having a combustion chamber and a piston travelling within the combustion chamber along a path of movement delimited between an upper dead center position and a lower dead center position. The engine housing comprises a first housing part and a second housing part, the first housing part and the second housing part delimiting portions of the combustion chamber, abutting each other, and defining a parting plane, the parting plane being arranged parallel to the path of movement of the piston.
US08176890B2	Engine oil pan structure An engine oil pan structure includes a lower case having a pair of side walls and a plurality of bearing cap sections for connection between the side walls. A balancer device provided under the lower case, mounts on a mounting section formed at positions of the bearing cap section adjoining the side walls. An oil pan covering the balancer device is joined to lower end portions of the side walls. A reinforcing rib having a horseshoe-shaped form and surrounding the balancer device is provided on an external surface of the oil pan, and two end portions of the reinforcing rib are joined or monolithic with portions of a flange section for joining the oil pan to the side walls adjoining the mounting section to reduce noise of an engine having a balancer device.
US08176889B2	Intake manifold for engine An intake manifold for an engine includes a plurality of intake distribution pipes arranged in a side-by-side relation to one another; an intake inlet pipe provided in an end wall and arranged in a direction of the intake distribution pipes; a surge chamber provided inside the intake manifold, and providing communication between the intake inlet pipe and the intake distribution pipes; and an intake guide wall provided integrally with the intake manifold. The intake guide wall extending in the direction in which the intake distribution pipes are arranged. One surface of the intake guide wall is smooth-and-flat and the other side surface of the intake guide wall includes a plurality of thinned concave parts separated by a plurality of ribs provided between the concave parts.
US08176888B2	Method for starting a mixed fuel engine A method for improving starting of an engine that may be operated with fuels having varying alcohol concentrations is presented. In one embodiment, the method adjusts a compression ratio of an engine in response to a number of combustion events after an engine stop and a concentration of alcohol in a fuel supplied to the engine. The method may make engine starting more repeatable at lower engine temperatures.
US08176881B2	Systems and methods for controlling a water heater A control for a water heater is provided that comprises a pressure switch for sensing a predetermined level of airflow sufficient for maintaining proper burner operation, and a temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of the water in the tank. The control further comprises a processor for controlling the operation of the burner to maintain the water temperature above a predetermined value. When the processor receives a signal from the pressure switch or temperature switch indicating a malfunction, the processor shuts down the burner and subsequently attempts to restart the burner. The processor will lock-out further burner operation after a predetermined number of consecutive shut downs occurs, and will communicate any malfunction information to a remote display device.
US08176880B2	Therapeutic pet boot A pet boot having therapeutic properties is worn on a pet's injured or sensitive paw to facilitate healing and or provide protection. The therapeutic pet boot includes an external boot member having a shaft and a paw portion constructed to form a cavity integrated therein appointed to receive an injured paw of a pet. The therapeutic pet boot further includes an internal therapeutic member appointed to be received within the cavity of the external boot member and is appointed to intimately contact the injured paw. The therapeutic pet boot is appointed to be worn on the injured paw of the pet to facilitate healing. The internal therapeutic member may comprise a gel bootee having a massaging gel sole or may comprise a gel inner layer or gel insole. Advantageously, the internal therapeutic member may directly deliver medicament to the paw and/or provide cold treatment or hot treatment therapies to the paw, while providing cushioning, shock absorption and protection from dirt and debris.
US08176877B2	Collapsible pet enclosure A collapsible pet enclosure in the form of a planar sheet material configured in the shape of a trapezoid. The planar sheet material is foldable along creases to create three subparts, each subpart being in the shape of a triangle. At least one of the triangular subparts is provided with an opening configured therein.
US08176876B2	Aquarium pump with LED lamps An aquarium pump having LED lamps, wherein the coil unit of a motor unit in the pump housing is used as a primary coil unit, and a first insulating layer is used to envelop the primary coil unit, then a secondary coil unit is used to wind the primary coil unit; taking advantage of induction of the secondary coil unit to the primary coil unit to generate a low voltage for using by the LED illuminating lamp set. Kinetic energy during rotation of an internal magnet of a motor for the pump is used as induction potential, this is the energy required that can get an effect of energy saving and carbon reducing.
US08176871B2	Substrate processing apparatus Disclosed is a substrate processing apparatus, including: a processing space to provide a space in which a substrate is to be processed; a heating member to heat the processing space; a gas supply member to supply at least first and second processing gases to the processing space; an exhaust member to exhaust an atmosphere in the processing space; and a control member to control at least the gas supply member and the exhaust member such that supply and exhaust of the first and second processing gases are alternately repeated a plurality of times so that the first and second processing gases are not mixed with each other in the processing space when forming a desired film on the substrate, and both the first and second processing gases are supplied to the processing space when coating a surface of an inner wall of the processing space with a desired film.
US08176870B2	Liquid material application device A liquid material application device having high space utilization efficiency and having excellent maintainability. In a liquid material application device for applying a liquid material to a desired position on a surface of a workpiece in a box by relatively moving a nozzle for discharging the liquid material and a table on which the workpiece is placed to face the nozzle, the liquid material application device comprises a carrying in/out opening formed in a side surface of the box and allowing the workpiece to be carried in and carried out therethrough, a beam extending toward the carrying in/out opening, an application head movable in the extending direction of the beam, beam moving means for moving the beam above and in parallel to the table, and a control unit for controlling operations of the aforesaid components.
US08176866B2	Methods of and apparatus for mooring and for connecting lines to articles on the seabed The invention provides a tether connection apparatus for remotely interconnecting respective free ends of two portions of a mooring tether, such as that used to moor a floating production vessel to the seabed. The apparatus includes a frame, a winch mounted on the frame and operable to pull-in to the apparatus the free end of one of the portions of the mooring tether, subsequent to deployment of the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a connector mount on the frame for releasably mounting a connector. The connector is designed to interconnect the respective free ends of two portions of the mooring tether, once the winch has pulled into the apparatus the free end of a first of the portions of mooring tether. The mount is operable to release the connector subsequent to interconnection.
US08176862B2	Fitted tablecloth A method for making a fitted tablecloth for covering a utility or card table is disclosed. The steps include providing a primary panel having a plurality of sides, providing a rail panel having a plurality of side panels and a plurality of pleats, such that the plurality of side panels are separated by the plurality of pleats, folding the plurality of pleats against the plurality of side panels such that the plurality of side panels meet at a plurality of joints, connecting the primary panel to the rail panel such that the plurality of side panels are connected to one another at a plurality of top joints, and stitching the side panels from the plurality of top joints to a portion of the side panel forming an inner seam.
US08176861B2	Embroidery data processor, sewing machine, and computer readable medium for embroidery data processing An embroidery data processor includes an embroidery data storage that stores embroidery data for sewing embroidery patterns by an embroiderable sewing machine; an embroidery data preparator that prepares the embroidery data of the embroidery patterns to be sewn by reading the embroidery data from the embroidery data storage or by receiving the embroidery data from external source; and a data generator that generates temporary stitch data for temporarily sewing an interlining on an underside of a workpiece cloth prior to embroidery sewing based on the embroidery data prepared by the embroidery data preparator.
US08176860B2	Sewing machine A sewing machine including a needle bar; a sewing needle attached to the lower end of the needle bar; a needle bar drive mechanism vertically driving the needle bar; a presser foot capable of applying releasable pressure on a workpiece cloth and that releases the pressure to allow manual movement and sewing of the workpiece cloth; a regulatory needle including a tip and being capable of assuming a pierced state where the tip is pierced through the workpiece cloth and a non-pierced state, wherein the regulatory needle is moved along with the workpiece cloth while retaining the pierced state of the tip; a regulatory needle drive unit vertically driving the regulatory needle between the pierced state and the non-pierced state in coordination with vertical movement of the sewing needle; and a regulatory needle regulator limiting horizontal movement of the regulatory needle so as not to exceed a predetermined stitch pitch.
US08176858B2	Composite desk A composite desk, including: two desk sideboards and a desk top, the two desk sideboards support the desk top, the desk sideboards and the desk top are made of the plastic composite board completely or partially; the plastic composite board includes a top board; a bottom board; a honeycomb board and a liner part, the honeycomb board is stuffed between the top board and the bottom board, the liner part is disposed between the top board and the bottom board, the liner part entirely or partly wraps the honeycomb board along the sides of the honeycomb board; the connection between the desk sideboard and the desk top is hanging connection.
US08176854B2	Roof structure for a locomotive power module A roof structure for a power module of a locomotive is disclosed. The roof structure may have an upper roof layer and at least a portion of the upper roof layer may have a first set of cooling passages. The roof structure may further have a lower roof layer at least partially positioned below the upper roof layer and at least a portion of the lower roof layer may have a second set of cooling passages. Each of the cooling passages of the first set of cooling passages may not overlap a cooling passage of second set of cooling passages.
US08176853B2	Amusement park ride using motion-driven positioning for 360-degree vehicle orientation An amusement park ride adapted for fully rotating a passenger compartment in response to vehicle motion along a guide track. The ride includes a vehicle chassis that engages the guide track and travels along the ride path during operation of the ride. The ride further includes a cam-based positioning assembly that is supported by the vehicle chassis to move with it along the guide track. The positioning assembly operates in response to being moved along the guide track to rotate the passenger compartment. The positioning assembly rotates the passenger compartment in counterclockwise and clockwise directions to provide 360-degree rotation. The positioning assembly includes a cam shaft with three cam follower pairs offset along the shaft and extending outward from the shaft at angular offsets, and three cam rails are used to selectively position the followers to rotate the cam shaft and set the position of the passenger compartment.
US08176852B2	Toy track The invention is directed to a toy track for traversal of at least one toy vehicle. It includes a track segment having a flipper disposed therein, the flipper being attached to the track segment at a pivot point and capable of movement thereabout. A vibration damper post having a stanchion portion and a resilient portion for supporting the track segment is also included.
US08176850B2	Special purpose small arms ammunition A multi-piece projectile for a small arms cartridge includes a metal cup that has a bore, a plastic sheath having a through hole and a high-density core. The cup is a cylindrical metal structure having a bore. The sheath is a cylindrical end and a conical end and a through hole. The core is a cylindrical structure having conical end and a blunt end. The projectile is assembled by placing the core in the through hole of the sheath and then pressing the sheath into the bore of the cup. The assembled projectile is attached to the cartridge by crimping the cup to the orifice in the end of the cartridge casing after it is filled with the propellant. When the projectile is fired all of the components remain coupled together but break apart upon impact with a target. Because the core has a higher mass than the other components the components separate very easily, the majority of the kinetic energy remains in the core. Once separated from the other components, the core is able to penetrate through various protective materials.
US08176849B1	Warhead comprised of encapsulated green fragments of varied size and shape A fragmentation warhead includes a cylindrical body, and an explosive charge disposed within the innermost part of the warhead body. Upon detonation of the explosive charge, the warhead body is ultimately caused to shear and break into fragments with controlled sizes, shapes. Metallurgical composition of the warhead body can be used to influence the size of fragments ultimately generated when the warhead breaks apart through detonation, since the size and positioning of fragments in the warhead body is preselected. Fabrication of explosive fragmentation ammunition with preformed fragment tungsten alloy fragmenting shells of complex shapes and small and medium calibers is provided in this invention. According to an embodiment of this invention, fabrication begins with “green” tungsten alloy fragment pellets of a given, full strength, enwrapped in a green lower strength matrix alloy. The product is said to be green because tungsten is largely used to replace other metals such as lead which may be considered more toxic. Next, in the process is pressing to the approximate shape desired of the bulk of the green fragments and matrix mix. This is ultimately followed up with sintering. According to an embodiment of this invention, the sintering process will ultimately result in full strength preformed fragments of tungsten alloy enwrapped in a low strength matrix of tungsten alloy, sized to a desired shell shape and thickness.
US08176846B2	Printing plate positioning A method for positioning a printing plate includes supporting the printing plate on a support surface. A first force is applied to the printing plate to move the printing plate over the support surface along a path. A second force is applied to the printing plate to alter the movement of the printing plate along the path. The printing plate is pivoted on the support surface while applying the first force and the second force to the printing plate, wherein the printing plate is pivoted about a pivot point located on the printing plate at a location different from each of the locations on the printing plate to which the first and second forces are applied.
US08176842B2	Baking pan The baking pan which may have various forms has a substantially metal base and a substantially metal side wall connected by a flexible loop. The base comprises first and second metal segments that are connected by a flexible strap-like band. One edge of the band is connected to an edge of the first metal segment and a second edge of the band is connected to an edge of the second metal segment. Both ends of the strap-like band are connected to the first edge of the loop. The band can flex along its length to allow the metal segments to move with respect to each other to aid in the detachment of baked food from the base.
US08176838B2	Hydraulic machine arrangement A hydraulic machine arrangement includes at least one hydraulic machine having a plurality of pistons reciprocating within corresponding cylinders. The pistons can be driven by a cam to operate the hydraulic machine as a pump, and they can drive the cam to operate the hydraulic machine as a motor. The hydraulic machine can be configured to selectively disengage a certain piston or pistons from the cam to operate at less than full displacement. Controlling the pressure in the cylinders corresponding to the disengaged pistons can be accomplished by a number of mechanisms, including selectively exhausting fluid from the cylinders, or using a jet pump to siphon off some of the fluid from a high pressure side of the hydraulic machine. Two of the hydraulic machines can be mounted together to help balance axial forces and eliminate the need for an expensive high capacity thrust bearing.
US08176836B2	Double action short reset trigger system The mechanism is simple, with longer service life, and allows for a safe carrying for prolonged periods and quick subsequent shots of the firearms. The striker (1) has a middle enlargement (1b) that is closer to the front enlargement (1c). The rear face of the middle enlargement (1b) serves as a forward rest for the mainspring (4). The forward face is a rear rest for the safety spring (5) with its front part resting on the rear face of the axially floating ring (3) with an internal diameter smaller than the external diameter of the front (1c) and middle (1b) enlargements. The external diameter is greater than the internal diameter of the front enlargement (1c). Between the rear part of the mainspring (4) and the bushing (6) there is a second axially floating ring (2) with an internal diameter smaller than the external diameter of the rear (1a) and middle (1b) enlargements. The spring (12) that returns the trigger (10) is pushing the trigger (10) forward and the trigger bar (14) up.
US08176833B2	Firearm receiver with extended bridge A firearm receiver with an extended bridge is created to prevent the fully automatic fire of an assault rifle. The extended bridge receiver has a narrowed magazine well for a single stack removable magazine, safety catch with one or more grooves on its lower left hand side, new sporting stock where grip part and butt-stock part form one unit and barrel extension permanently attached to the muzzle. The receiver can be configured with a rivet on the bridge in a location that prevents backward turning of the safety catch, where the modified safety catch has two positions (i.e. safe and fire), rather than the three positions consistent with a fully automatic firearm. In a second version, the extended bridge lacks a release lever groove. In yet another version, an inseparable, double stack magazine box is used.
US08176832B1	System and method for obstruction deflection A system and a method for obstruction deflection for a vehicle. The system generally includes a guide; and a support structure. The support structure includes one or more supports; one or more guide connectors; a fixed single support bracket; a tilt bracket; and a fixed multiple support bracket. The fixed single support bracket, the tilt bracket, and the fixed multiple support bracket are mounted to the vehicle, a first end of each of the supports is installed onto the fixed single support bracket, the tilt bracket, and the fixed multiple support bracket, a second end of each of the supports is installed onto the guide connectors, and the guide is rotatably attached to the guide connectors such that the guide is positioned longitudinally on the vehicle and the guide is curved with the vehicle on the inside of the curve. When the tilt bracket is locked to prevent tilting, and the vehicle is operated in either of a first direction and a second direction, and an obstruction is encountered by the guide, cooperative flexing of the guide and of the supports in combination deflects the obstruction away from the vehicle.
US08176829B1	Armor system and method of manufacture An armor system includes a hard face and at least one reinforcing layer covering a rear surface of the hard face. The reinforcing layer is fabricated from a glass-ceramic material exhibiting crystalline bodies throughout the mass of the glass-ceramic material. At least one resilient layer forms a rearward outer layer of the armor system. The hard face and cooperating reinforcing layers serve to disburse energy caused by the impact of an incoming projectile with the armor system, while the resilient layer serves to retain any pieces of the hard face and reinforcing layers fractured during ballistic impact. In certain embodiments, a plurality of hard faces, each with cooperating reinforcing and resilient layers, are held in parallel and spaced apart arrangement.
US08176827B2	Hand gun The present invention relates to a hand gun with a tensioning lever (cocking lever), connected with the lock, with a handle for cocking the weapon, for which at least two alternative fastening positions are provided for the handle for actuating the tensioning lever. The relative position of the handle for actuating the tensioning lever is changeable on the weapon, so that one can engage for cocking in various positions on either the right hand or left hand side, so that the tensioning lever can be adjusted to fit and be operated by a right-handed or a left-handed person.
US08176820B2	Apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles, and noodle scraper An apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles, includes: the pair of cutting blade rolls at which a plurality of toroidal-groove sections is formed, the cutting blade rolls cutting a noodle band and ejecting a plurality of noodles; and a noodle scraper constituted of a plate body having a bent section extending along a longitudinal direction, the noodle scraper including a plurality of scraping tines formed in a comb form, the scraping tines being provided at one of long sides of the plate body and engaged with each of the toroidal-groove sections, wherein each scraping tine includes a tine-edge section, the plurality of tine-edge sections are engaged with the plurality of toroidal-groove sections at a front position and a rear position in a circumferential direction of the cutting blade rolls, in accordance with the depths of the toroidal-groove sections engaged with the scraping tines.
US08176815B2	Pneumatically powered roof stripping device Embodiments of the invention described herein pertain to a pneumatically powered shingle removing apparatus. The shingle removing apparatus includes a frame having a first end and a second end. A first pneumatic cylinder assembly is mounted adjacent the first end of the frame and a second pneumatic cylinder assembly is mounted adjacent the second end of the frame. The first pneumatic cylinder and the second pneumatic cylinder extend substantially parallel from the frame and each have a chisel extending at least partially from the respective first pneumatic cylinder assembly and the second pneumatic cylinder assembly, the chisels being moveable back and forth from a forward position. A stripping blade is attached to a front end of the chisels of the first pneumatic cylinder assembly and the second pneumatic cylinder assembly. A first air conduit delivers pressurized air to the first pneumatic cylinder assembly and a second air conduit delivers pressurized air to the second pneumatic cylinder assembly. The pressurized air moves the chisels of the first pneumatic cylinder assembly and the second pneumatic cylinder assembly back and forth from the forward position thereby forcing the stripping blade to move in a reciprocating motion for removing shingles from a roof.
US08176812B2	Methods of forming bodies of earth-boring tools Methods for forming bodies of earth-boring drill bits and other tools include milling a plurality of hard particles and a plurality of particles comprising a matrix material to form a mill product comprising powder particles, separating the particles into a plurality of particle size fractions. Some of the particles from the fractions may be combined to form a powder mixture, which may be pressed to form a green body. Additional methods include mixing a plurality of hard particles and a plurality of particles comprising a matrix material to form a powder mixture, and pressing the powder mixture with pressure having an oscillating magnitude to form a green body. In yet additional methods a powder mixture may be pressed within a deformable container to form a green body and drainage of liquid from the container is enabled as the powder mixture is pressed.
US08176806B2	Two-axle drive system In a two-axle drive system (10) for holding and moving large sunlight-absorbing, concentrating or reflecting surfaces about an azimuth axis (14) and an elevation axis (15), in the case of which a first gear unit which is driven by a first drive (43) is provided for a rotational movement about the azimuth axis (14), and a second gear unit which is driven by a second drive (45) is provided for a rotational movement about the elevation axis (15), the first gear unit being located in a first housing section (23), and the second gear unit being located in a second housing section (24), the first and second housing sections (23, 24) are immobile relative to each other. High stiffness is obtained as a result.
US08176804B2	Motor actuator and opening/closing device In a driving force transmission mechanism in a motor type damper device, when a small AC synchronous motor rotates in one direction and a tooth-missing gear part of a tooth-missing gear engages with the first rack part of a rack member the rack member is moved upward to operate a baffle in an open direction and, when the tooth-missing gear part engages with the second rack part of the rack member, the rack member is moved downward to operate the baffle in a close direction. In this manner, even when the baffle and the rack member are operated in both directions, the tooth-missing gear is required to be rotated in only one direction and the rotation of the small AC synchronous motor is not required to be reversed. Therefore, the structure of a control circuit for the motor type damper device can be simplified.
US08176801B2	Interface port for connection of a sampling device to an analytical instrument The present invention relates to devices for collecting and storing chemical samples and transferring those samples to analytical devices for analysis. In one implementation the device includes an interface for transferring samples and electrical signals. In another implementation, the device includes an analytical device having an interface for transferring samples and electrical signals with a sampling device. In another implementation, the device includes a sampling device having an interface for transferring samples and electrical signals with an analytical device.
US08176799B2	State measuring apparatus for rolling bearing unit and method of manufacturing the same The sensor holder has an annular portion that holds the sensors. A holding ring that is securely fitted in an inner peripheral surface of a cylinder portion constituting a cover made of metal in terms of a large tight fit is embedded in an intermediate portion of this annular portion in the axial direction. A portion of a folded portion of the holding ring in the axial direction is set in a just center position between axial positions of sensing portions of both sensors. According to this configuration, the above problem is solved by preventing such a situation that the thermal expansion or the thermal contraction yields a phase difference between the output signals of both sensors.
US08176798B2	Method and apparatus for determining laundry load A method and apparatus for operating a laundry treating appliance that has a rotating treating chamber, which is rotatable about a rotation axis by a motor operably coupled to the rotating treating chamber, with the operation of the motor being controlled by an underdamped control scheme to determine a laundry load size.
US08176795B2	Apparatuses for prestressing rod-type specimens in torsion for in-situ passive fracture toughness testing in an extremely high-pressure environment of hydrogen An in-situ specimen fixture particularly adapted for prestressing rod-type SNTT-type specimens comprising a tube and end cap wherein the specimen is secured at one end to the tube, and at the opposite end to the end cap. The end cap is rotatable relative to the tube, and may be fixedly secured for creating a torsional force prestressing the specimen enclosed within the tube.
US08176793B2	Method to estimate the effect of weld location on weld strength A method to diagnose a failed weld in a welding process includes monitoring a location of a weld created on a plurality of work pieces, diagnosing the weld as a failed weld based on said location with respect to a closest edge of one of the work pieces, and identifying said failed weld based on the diagnosing.
US08176791B2	Elastic ceramic body and pressure sensor with an elastic ceramic body An elastic ceramic body and a pressure sensor. The elastic ceramic body comprises: a base body of an elastic ceramic material; and a cover layer, which covers at least one section of a surface of the base body, wherein the cover layer is of a material other than that of the base body, and the cover layer comprises microcrystalline Al2O3 (corundum). The cover layer is preferably prepared in a sol gel process. The pressure sensor, comprises: a disk-shaped measuring membrane, which is embodied as an elastic ceramic body according to the above definition; and at least one membrane support body, on which the measuring membrane is connected at its edge region along an encircling joint to form a pressure-tight measuring chamber between the membrane support body and the measuring membrane.
US08176790B2	Pressure sensor assembly and method of using the assembly A pressure sensor assembly comprises a sensor housing having a flexible wall that is configured to deform in response to a pressure difference between the interior and exterior of the sensor housing; -a first fiber optical cable section that is bonded to the flexible wall of the sensor housing such that the length of the first fiber optical cable section changes in response to deformation of the wall in response to the said pressure difference; a second fiber optical cable section which is bonded to a thermal reference body, which body is connected to the sensor housing by a strain decoupled connection mechanism, such as a tack weld or flexible glue, and is configured to deform substantially solely in response to thermal deformation, such that the length of the second fiber optical cable section solely changes in response to thermal deformation of the thermal reference body.
US08176785B2	Method and device for detecting water in a cellular structure The invention relates to the detection of liquid in a cavity of a structure, e.g. a sandwich-structure cell with honeycomb core and carbon fiber composite coating. The structure is subjected to a mechanical vibration, at a frequency fm in the audible range, by an excitation wave, the area being explored is subjected to an incident electromagnetic wave and the reflected electromagnetic wave is analyzed to deduce therefrom the presence or the absence of liquid in cavities. The Faraday wave induced on the surface of the liquid in the cavity comprises subharmonic frequencies of fm which modulate the reflected electromagnetic wave and make it possible to identify the presence of liquid. A detection apparatus comprises an excitation wave generation device for generating the vibration excitation wave, an electromagnetic wave generation device for generating the incident electromagnetic wave, a measuring device for detecting and measuring the reflected electromagnetic wave, and a signal processor.

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