最新美国发明专利第2012-08-28期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US08252344B2	Partially hydrated hemostatic agent A composition for promoting the formation of clots in blood comprises a zeolite and a binder. The zeolite is adjusted to have a specific moisture content. Processes by which the moisture content is adjusted include drying, re-hydrating, and combinations of drying and re-hydrating. A method of forming the composition comprises the steps of providing a zeolite and adjusting the moisture content such that upon application of the composition to a wound, a heat of hydration is reduced and heat transferred to the wound is reduced. A method of clotting blood flowing from a wound comprises the steps of applying the zeolite to the wound and maintaining the zeolite in contact with the wound for a predetermined amount of time, the zeolite having an adjusted moisture content and being capable of producing a controllable exothermic effect on the wound.
US08252339B2	Medical treatment applications of swellable and deformable microspheres A method for medical treatment was developed in which microspheres with novel properties are administered in a mammal. The microspheres are made using a novel process that results in microspheres with new combined properties of high density, low fracture, high swell capacity, rapid swell, and deformability following swell. These microspheres may be administered for void filling, tissue bulking, non-vasculature occlusion, body fluid absorption, and delivery of medications.
US08252336B2	Escitalopram and solid pharmaceutical composition comprising the same The present invention relates to Escitalopram having a small median particle size and a solid pharmaceutical composition comprising the same.
US08252335B2	Healing powder and method of use thereof A wound healing powder, comprising a sugar selected from the group consisting of one or more pharmaceutically acceptable monosaccharides and disaccharides, in an amount of at least 25% by weight of the powder mixture; and an absorbent agent which forms a bioabsorbable biocompatible matrix with wound secretions, comprising a polymer formed of one or more of saccharide or saccharide derivative monomers and lactic acid monomers, in an amount of at least 25% by weight of the powder mixture.
US08252333B2	Biodegradable, non-toxic biological adhesive for use in abdominal surgery A biological adhesive formulation comprising dextrin, at least one adhesiveness modifier agent, and at least one antibiotic is suitable for promoting healing of tissue in a patient, for example, to prevent anastomosis of a surgical wound in the digestive system of a patient, and for affixing a prosthesis during a hernia operation.
US08252331B2	Osmotic device containing amantadine and an osmotic salt The osmotic devices of the present invention contain a unitary core comprising a salt of amantadine and an osmotic salt, wherein the two salts have an ion in common. The release rate of the amantadine is modified from a first order release profile to a zero order, pseudo-zero order or sigmoidal release profile by increasing the amount of the osmotic salt in the core of the device. The osmotic device includes a semipermeable membrane having a controlled porosity that can be adapted as needed to cooperate with the osmotic salt in providing a predetermined drug release profile. The osmotic salt need not be coated and it is in admixture with the amantadine salt.
US08252330B2	Tablet containing coated particles of cetirizine, pseudoephedrine, and/or naproxen In one aspect, the present invention features a tablet including a first drug layer and a second drug layer, wherein: (i) the first drug layer includes first drug particles including naproxen and third drug particles including cetirizine, where the first drug particles and/or the third drug particles are coated with an immediate release coating; and (ii) the second drug layer including pseudoephedrine, wherein said second drug layer is a sustained release layer adapted to deliver a therapeutically effective amount of pseudoephedrine for a period of at least twelve hours.
US08252327B2	Oral controlled release dosage form A dosage form that provides a controlled release solid dosage form for the oral administration of a central nervous system stimulant, preferably methylphenidate hydrochloride.
US08252326B2	Self-microemulsifying dosage forms of low solubility active ingredients such as co-enzyme Q10 The invention includes dosage formulations, dosage forms and related methods for providing oral dosage forms of low solubility active ingredients such as coenzyme Q10. The present invention includes a Self-Microemulsifying Drug Delivery System (SMEDDS) in the form of a self-microemulsifying mixture that comprises a combination of a hydrophilic surfactant and a lipophilic co-surfactant (forming a surfactant pair). The preferred surfactant pair comprises a hydrophilic surfactant and a lipophilic co-surfactant with respective HLB (Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance) values of more than 12 and less than 8 respectively. The systems also contain at least one lipophilic solvent. The formulations exhibited excellent dissolution properties and storage stability.
US08252318B2	Devices and methods for the delivery of blood clotting materials to bleeding wounds An apparatus for promoting the clotting of blood and controlling bleeding comprises a receptacle for retaining blood clotting material in particulate form therein. A pad for controlling bleeding comprises a mesh structure and a support attached to the mesh structure to facilitate the application of pressure to the pad and the wound. A bandage applicable to a bleeding wound comprises a mesh structure and a flexible substrate attached to the mesh structure, the substrate being a cloth or plastic member that may be adhesively attachable to cover a wound. In any embodiment, at least a portion of the receptacle or mesh structure is defined by a mesh having openings therein, and at least a portion of the particulate blood clotting material is in direct contact with blood. The mesh may include a zeolite powder impregnated or otherwise incorporated therein.
US08252314B2	Hypoallergenic composition This invention is directed generally to compositions (including foods, supplements, treats, toys, etc.) for animal (including pet) consumption, and particularly hypoallergenic compositions, and more particularly semi-solid hypoallergenic compositions and hypoallergenic compositions that comprise a hydrolysate. This invention also is directed generally to methods for using such compositions. This invention is further directed generally to processes for making such compositions.
US08252311B2	Bone strengthening food supplement Black beans B are coated with a mineral layer 1 containing calcium powder and dolomite powder, a dough layer 2 formed by roasting a dough mixture containing flour, and an outside layer 3 formed by solidifying a seasoning mixture containing, for example, soymilk powder and powdered tea with hardened fat or oil. In 30 parts by weight of black beans, from 2 to 5, both inclusive, parts by weight of the calcium powder, from 30 to 45, both inclusive, parts by weight of the dolomite powder, and from 5 to 15, both inclusive, parts by weight of the soymilk powder, are contained.
US08252309B2	Dietary supplement energy-providing to skeletal muscles Dietary supplements—providing energy and strengthening skeletal muscles and facilitating skeletal muscles ability to sustain prolonged periods of physical activity—containing propionyl-L-carnitine or one of its salts, coenzyme Q10, nicotinamide, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and optionally other components such as amino acids and creatines.
US08252303B2	Injectable depot compositions and uses thereof Injectable depot compositions are provided that include a bioerodible, biocompatible polymer, a solvent having a miscibility in water of less than or equal to 7 wt. % at 25° C., in an amount effective to plasticize the polymer and form a gel therewith, a thixotropic agent, and a beneficial agent. The solvent comprises an aromatic alcohol, an ester of an aromatic acid, an aromatic ketone, or mixtures thereof. The compositions have substantially improved the shear thinning behavior and reduced injection force, rendering the compositions readily implanted beneath a patient's body surface by injection.
US08252298B2	Color cosmetic A foundation having a shade which covers a wide spectrum of different skin tones and undertones, comprises red and gold interference pigments, which provide a formula that is adaptable to both red and yellow skin undertones. The composition virtually eliminates the risk of application of the wrong foundation color, and provides enhanced color and textural effects, and superior optical performance.
US08252296B2	Aqueous polymer dispersion and use thereof in cosmetics The present invention relates to an aqueous polymer dispersion which is obtainable by free-radical polymerization of a monomer mixture which comprises at least one amide-group-containing compound, at least one crosslinker and at least one monomer with at least one cationogenic and/or cationic group. The invention further relates to the polymers obtainable by drying such a polymer dispersion, and to cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions which comprise such a polymer dispersion or such a polymer.
US08252292B2	Eimeria vaccine for turkeys The present invention discloses a vaccine that provides protection to turkeys from coccidiosis, and methods of making and using the vaccine alone, or in combinations with other protective agents. In addition, the present invention discloses PCR primer sets that are useful in identifying the species of Eimeria in a biological sample.
US08252289B2	N protein of a virus of the paramyxoviridae family-protein of interest fusion proteins The invention relates to N protein-protein of interest fusion proteins, optionally in the form of soluble N protein-protein of interest/P protein complexes, the N and P proteins being proteins of a virus of the Paramyxoviridae family. When the protein of interest is an antigen, the invention relates also to vaccinal compositions and diagnostic reagents comprising those N protein-antigen fusion proteins or those N protein-antigen/P protein complexes. The N protein-protein of interest fusion protein can also be used as a “vector” for transporting into cells therapeutic molecules of interest, such as antivirals or anticancer agents.
US08252288B2	Methods of using multimeric complexes of antigens and an adjuvant The invention relates to a product which comprises a C4bp domain of a non-mammalian origin, particularly SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:23 or SEQ ID NO:37, or a variant thereof, and an antigen. The product is desirably in the form of a fusion protein. The chicken C4bp domain of SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:23 is also described. Antigens include monomeric antigens such as malarial and influenza antigens. The C4bp domain provides for assembly of multimeric complexes of the antigen, or mixtures thereof. The complexes are useful as vaccines.
US08252287B2	Blood coagulation factor VIII activation-enhancing antibodies For the first time, the present invention provides antibodies that enhance the generation of activated blood coagulation factor VIII. The antibodies enhance the cleavage of blood coagulation factor VIII at the Arg of position 372 and suppress the cleavage at the Arg of position 336 by recognizing and binding to the A2 domain of blood coagulation Factor VIII. Such antibodies are expected to be useful in preventing or treating diseases that develop or progress due to decrease or loss of the blood coagulation factor VIII activity, for example, hemophilia A, acquired hemophilia, and von Willebrand's disease.
US08252284B2	High affinity, anti-human IgE antibodies The invention relates to high affinity human monoclonal antibodies, particularly those directed against isotypic determinants of immunoglobulin E (IgE), as well as direct equivalents and derivatives of these antibodies. These antibodies bind to their respective target with an affinity at least 100 fold greater than the original parent antibody. These antibodies are useful for diagnostics, prophylaxis and treatment of disease.
US08252281B2	Methods for the treatment of sepsis and sepsis-associated cardiac dysfunction Methods for the treatment of sepsis related cardiac dysfunction are disclosed.
US08252280B1	MAPC generation of muscle The present invention relates to methods of increasing function and/or mass in damaged striated muscle tissue of interest (e.g., cardiac or muscle tissue) by providing of a population of multipotent adult progenitor cells (“MAPCs”), which effectively generate new striated muscle over time.
US08252279B2	Methods for cell therapy The subject invention pertains to materials and methods for inhibiting process formation and extension by cells in culture. The subject invention further includes cultures of process-forming cells wherein formation and extension of processes have been inhibited. In another aspect, the subject invention concerns methods of transplantation using process-forming cells that have been cultured by the process-inhibiting methods of the invention.
US08252278B2	Baculovirus expression system Described herein are baculovirus vectors, host cells containing the baculovirus vectors, methods of using the baculovirus vectors for cloning genes, and kits containing the baculovirus vectors.
US08252277B2	Virulent oncolytic herpes simplex virus strains engineered to counter the innate host response The present invention relates to an avirulent, oncolytic herpes simplex virus modified from a wild-type herpes simplex virus so that both γ134.5 genes of the virus have been deleted and each replaced with an interferon-resistance gene that is expressed as an immediate-early gene. The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition that includes the modified herpes simplex virus of the present invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle for in situ administration to tumor cells. Also provided in the present invention are methods for killing tumor cells in a subject and for immunizing a subject against an infectious disease, cancer, or an autoimmune disease that involve administering to a subject the modified avirulent, oncolytic herpes simplex virus of the present invention.
US08252276B2	Cyclodextrin-based polymers for therapeutics delivery The present invention relates to novel compositions of therapeutic cyclodextrin containing polymeric compounds designed as a carrier for small molecule therapeutics delivery and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. These cyclodextrin-containing polymers improve drug stability and solubility, and reduce toxicity of the small molecule therapeutic when used in vivo. Furthermore, by selecting from a variety of linker groups and targeting ligands the polymers present methods for controlled delivery of the therapeutic agents. The invention also relates to methods of treating subjects with the therapeutic compositions described herein. The invention further relates to methods for conducting pharmaceutical business comprising manufacturing, licensing, or distributing kits containing or relating to the polymeric compounds described herein.
US08252274B2	Treatment and composition for achieving skin anti-aging benefits by corneum protease activation Novel methods and compositions for treating aged and environmentally damaged skin are disclosed which provide improvements in the skin's visual appearance, function and clinical/biophysical properties by activating at least one proteolytic enzyme in the skin's stratum corneum. The disclosed treatment methods involve topical application of a novel cosmetic composition containing a combination of a cationic surfactant such as N,N,-dimethyldodecyl amine oxide (DMDAO), an anionic surfactant such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), or monoalkyl phosphate (MAP) and a chelating agent such as ethylene diamine tetraacetate (EDTA) to stimulate a chronic increase in the replacement rate of the skin's stratum corneum by means of corneum protease activation. This chronic, low level stimulation is effective to induce repair and replacement of the stratum corneum, epidermis, and dermis of the skin and improvements in the appearance, function, and anti-aging properties of the skin.
US08252273B2	Ultraviolet absorber There is provided an ultraviolet absorber having a strong absorptive capacity in the UVA range and an absorptive capacity in the UVB range to have an ultraviolet inhibitory effect in a wide range of wavelength, increasing in an ultraviolet absorptive capacity over the course of ultraviolet irradiation time in both the UVA and the UVB ranges and having an excellent solubility. An ultraviolet absorber comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound of General Formula I: (where —OA is an alkoxy group) that exhibits an ultraviolet A wave absorptive capacity which increases over time and that has an ultraviolet B wave absorptive capacity.
US08252264B2	Method for production of carbon nanostructures A process for the production of carbon nanostructures by an oxidation-reduction method is described. The growth of carbon nanorods, nanotubes, and nanoclusters on planar and non planar substrates, and free standing is demonstrated. In one embodiment a reactive gas is generated in situ and reacted with a carbide while the byproducts are removed, thereby adjusting the equilibrium to favor the formation of the carbon nanostructured product.
US08252259B2	Surfactant incorporated nanostructure for pressure drop reduction in oil and gas lines Nano-sized rare earth metal oxide particles are prepared from aqueous reverse micelles. The engineered nanoparticles have large surface area to volume ratios, and uniformly incorporate a surfactant in each particle, so that when applied to the inner surface of a pipeline or sprayed onto a fluid stream in a pipeline, the particles reduce the roughness of the inside surface of pipe being used to transport fluid. The application of a nanolayer of this novel nanoceria mixture causes a significant reduction in pressure drops, friction, and better recovery and yield of fluid flowing through a pipeline.
US08252258B2	Diesel oxidation catalyst with layer structure for improved hydrocarbon conversion Provided is a diesel oxidation catalyst for the treatment of exhaust gas emissions from a diesel engine and a method for treating a diesel exhaust gas stream, the method comprising providing a diesel oxidation catalyst and contacting said diesel exhaust gas stream with said diesel oxidation catalyst for the treatment of exhaust gas emissions. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a catalyst structure comprising three distinct layers; in which layer comprises a precious metal component such as palladium is located between two hydrocarbon storage layers comprising a molecular sieve such as a zeolite.
US08252256B2	Synthesis of zinc-oxide nanoparticles and their use for photo catalytic degradation of cyanide A simple, room-temperature method of producing zinc oxide nanoparticles was established by reacting zinc nitrate hexahydrate and cyclohexylamine (CHA) in either aqueous or EtOHic medium. Particles of polyhedra morphology were obtained for zinc oxide, prepared in EtOH (ZnOE), while an irregular spherical morphology, mixed with some chunky particles forzinc oxide prepared in water (ZnOW). The results indicate that there are significant morphological differences between ZnOE and ZnOW. ZnOE showed a regular polyhedral shape, while spherical and chunky particles were observed for ZnOW. The morphology was crucial in enhancing the cyanide ion photocatalytic degradation efficiency of ZnOE by a factor of 1.5 in comparison to the efficiency of ZnOW at equivalent loading of 0.02 ZnO nanoparticles wt %. Increasing the loading wt % of ZnOE from 0.01 to 0.07 led to an increase in the photocatalytic degradation efficiency from 67% to 90% after 45 minutes and a doubling of the first-order rate constant (k).
US08252253B2	Process for recovering ruthenium from used ruthenium oxide-comprising catalysts The invention relates to a process for recovering ruthenium from a used ruthenium-comprising catalyst which comprises ruthenium as ruthenium oxide on a support material which is not readily soluble in mineral acid, which comprises the steps: a) the ruthenium oxide-comprising catalyst is reduced in a gas stream comprising hydrogen chloride and, if appropriate, an inert gas at a temperature of from 300 to 500° C.; b) the reduced catalyst from step a) comprising metallic ruthenium on the sparingly soluble support material is treated with hydrochloric acid in the presence of an oxygen-comprising gas, with the metallic ruthenium present on the support being dissolved as ruthenium(III) chloride and obtained as an aqueous ruthenium(III) chloride solution; c) if appropriate, the ruthenium(III) chloride solution from step b) is worked up further.
US08252251B2	Fluid cooled reformer and method for cooling a reformer The present subject matter discloses a fluid cooled reformer for gas turbine systems and a method for cooling both a fuel reformer and a heated reformate stream produced by such fuel reformer. The fluid cooled reformer may include a pressure vessel and a reactor assembly disposed within the pressure vessel. The reactor assembly may include a reactor and may be configured to receive and reform an oxygen/fuel mixture to produce a heated reformate stream. Additionally, the fluid cooled reformer may include an inlet configured to direct a fluid stream into the pressure vessel. At least a portion of the fluid stream may be used to cool the reactor assembly. A reformate cooling section may be disposed downstream of the reactor of the reactor assembly and may be configured to cool the heated reformate stream.
US08252249B2	Biochemical chip and production method thereof A biochemical chip in which at least the inner surface of a flow path is covered with a chemisorption monomolecular film having arbitrary surface energy, and the method includes: a step for pre-forming a chemisorption monomolecular film having arbitrary surface energy on the inner surfaces of flow path parts of first and second members which are processed to have flow paths; and a step for facing and bonding the first and second members.
US08252248B2	Analytical test element The invention relates to an analytical test element for analysis of a liquid sample. The analytical test element may contain a channel which is suitable for capillary transport of the liquid sample and which is provided with an inlet opening for the liquid sample and with an air outlet opening. At least one test field may be arranged in the channel, spaced apart from the inlet opening. The test element comprises a sample application site which is closed with a seal and which is designed in such a way that, when the seal is opened, the sample application site and the inlet opening of the channel are simultaneously open to the outside environment of the test element. The test element can then receive the liquid sample inside the channel via the sample application site and inlet opening, for analysis in the test field. The invention also relates to a test element magazine and to a system for analysis of liquid samples with at least one test element.
US08252247B2	Universal sterilizing tool The sterilizing tool is configured to wipe debris from and to sterilize and/or dry a working end-site of medical device; using a wiping, twisting, dabbing, push/pull, and/or screwing motion around all of the surface aspects of the device to be sterilized. Additionally, the sterilizing tool is configured to form fit to the surfaces of the end-site and to apply an inclusive layer of an anti-pathogenic agent to the inner and outer surfaces of the working end-site. The sterilizing tool may be frictionally engaged with and retained on the working end-site until removed and the end-site is ready for use. The sterilizing tool is intended for a one time, single use, disposable application.
US08252241B2	Apparatus for producing trichlorosilane and method for producing trichlorosilane An apparatus for producing trichlorosilane in which metallurgical grade silicon powder supplied to a reactor is reacted with hydrogen chloride gas while being fluidized by the hydrogen chloride gas, thereby discharging trichlorosilane generated by the reaction from the reactor, includes: a plurality of gas flow controlling members which are installed along a vertical direction in an annular shape R from an inner peripheral wall of the reactor in an internal space of the reactor; and a heat transfer tube which is installed along the vertical direction in the annular space R and through which a heating medium passes.
US08252235B2	Monitoring method, monitoring apparatus, and liquid sample analyzer A liquid sample is aspirated using an aspirating tube provided with a flow path extending lengthwise in the interior of the tube, and an aspiration orifice for aspirating the liquid sample formed near the tip of the tube. The aspiration of the liquid sample to the aspirating tube is monitored during aspiration. Liquid sample is aspirated by the aspirating tube, and the collected material in the aspirating tube in the region at the tip side from the region containing the liquid sample to be used for measurement is delivered to a detecting part provided externally to the aspirating tube, and whether or not liquid sample is contained in the collected material is detected in the detecting part.
US08252232B2	Automated system for storing, retrieving and managing sample An automated storage system for storing large quantities of samples in trays includes a storage compartment, a tray shuttle compartment abutting the storage compartment on one side and a plurality of independent modules on the other side. The modules perform processing of samples that are retrieved from the storage compartment by a tray shuttle, including extraction of selected samples from retrieved source trays and transfer of the selected samples into a separate, destination tray that can be further processed or removed from the system for use. The independent operation of the modules permits handling and processing to be performed simultaneously by different modules while the tray shuttle accesses additional samples within the storage compartment. In one embodiment, a vertical carousel is used to vertically align a desired tray with the tray shuttle, while the tray shuttle operates within a horizontal plane.
US08252231B2	Analyzer and its abnormality coping method An analyzer includes plural stirrers that have plural sound-wave generating units, which are provided on respective vessels holding liquid and generate sound wave toward the liquid, and drive units, which drive the plurality of sound-wave generating units, and that stir the liquid using sound wave generated by the sound-wave generating units; a power detecting unit that detects traveling-wave power output from the drive unit and reflected-wave power reflected from the sound-wave generating unit; and a control unit that determines whether an abnormality occurs in each of the stirrers on the sound-wave generating unit side or on the drive unit side in each of the stirrers based on a reflectivity of the power, and controls continuation or suspension of an analytical work based on a result of the determination.
US08252230B2	System and method for sanitization A system for sanitizing products on a conveyor including a conveyor for moving products along a direction of conveyance. A first generator and a second generator are each operable to generate airborne sanitizing agents. The first generator includes an outlet configured to discharge at least a portion of the airborne sanitizing agents generated therein across the conveyor in a first direction. The second generator includes an outlet configured to discharge at least a portion of the airborne sanitizing agents generated therein across the conveyor in a second direction. The outlet of the first generator is configured to direct the discharged airborne sanitizing agents toward an inlet of the second generator.
US08252226B2	High energy treatment of cutter substrates having a wear resistant layer A high-energy treated cutter comprising a substrate having a top surface, an outer region, and an inner core and a wear resistant layer coupled to the top surface. The high-energy treatment alters the substrate's physical properties so that the inner core provides greater toughness and the outer region provides greater hardness, and greater abrasion resistance. The layer is protected prior to commencement of the treatment. In one embodiment, a cover is positioned to surround the layer and then the cutter undergoes treatment, wherein the cutter is subjected to impact forces with other cutters. In another embodiment, the cutter is positioned within a recess formed in a tray table, thereby providing protection to the layer. The cutter is secured in place via vacuum, glue, or weight. A spray nozzle applies shot material directed to the substrate of the cutter, thereby applying the impact forces to alter the substrate's properties.
US08252220B2	Injection mold Disclosed, amongst other things, is a molding apparatus and an injection molding process. The molding apparatus includes a positioner that is configured to regulate, in use, a relative position between a gate member and a nozzle of a melt distribution apparatus between a retracted position and an extended position for adjusting a volume of a nozzle melt reservoir that is definable between the gate member and the nozzle between a reduced volume and an expanded volume, respectively. The injection molding process includes regulating a relative position between a gate member and a nozzle of a melt distribution apparatus, with a positioner, into one of a retracted position and an extended position for adjusting a volume of a nozzle melt reservoir that is definable between the gate member and the nozzle between a reduced volume and an expanded volume, respectively.
US08252215B2	Method for fabricating a stent with nucleating agent The use of nucleating agents to manufacture polymeric stents is disclosed. The resulting stents may have increased crystallinity, decreased crystal size, increased mechanical properties, and faster degradation times.
US08252214B2	Gas extraction method from mold cavity A gas extraction method including: providing an injection mold apparatus (100) including a mold cavity (300), a gas vent (490) and a gas vent pin (49), the mold cavity including an end portion of a material injection path (210), the gas vent communicating with the end portion, the gas vent pin being received in the gas vent; injecting molten material into the mold cavity and toward the end portion; venting gas from a gap between the gas vent pin and the gas vent as molten material is injected into the mold cavity; driving the gas vent pin to substantially close the end portion of the material injection path when the mold cavity having been injected with molten material to about 95 percent of a capacity of the mold cavity.
US08252212B2	Method for manufacturing inorganic spheroidized particles A method for producing inorganic spheroidized particles according to the present invention includes a step of producing the inorganic spheroidized particles by means of a diffusion type burner (12), wherein the burner (12) comprises a first raw material supply path (1A), a fuel supply path (4A), a raw material diffusion chamber (9), a primary oxygen supply path (5A), a second raw material supply path (6A), a secondary oxygen supply path (7A), and a combustion chamber (8).
US08252209B2	Photochromic compounds based on ring opening and closing of an [1,3]oxazine compound We have designed a molecular switch based on the photoinduced opening and thermal closing of a [1,3]oxazine ring. A substituted [1,3]oxazine compound described as having a general (i.e., unsubstituted) structure with fused indoline and benzooxazine fragments such that they share a common bond in the [1,3]oxazine compound: (i) the bond connecting positions 1 and 2 of the indoline fragment and (ii) the bond connecting positions 2 and 3 of the benzooxazine fragment. Irradiation by light of suitable wavelength and intensity of this photochromic compound induces cleavage of a [C—O] bond of the [1,3]oxazine ring to form a phenolate chromophore. The photogenerated (e.g., colored) isomer may revert thermally to the starting (e.g., colorless) oxazine. Alternatively, the switch may be between isomers of the compound that absorb at different wavelengths. Reversible coloration of silica or polymeric materials and switching optical signals may involve many cycles of interconversion between different colored states. A colorless/colored state may be maintained by constant irradiation or chemical trapping.
US08252201B1	Liquid crystalline medium The present invention relates to low viscosity, broad range nematic media having large birefringence and moderately large dielectric anisotropy. The nematic media are useful in a variety of electrooptical devices, including electronic lenses.
US08252199B2	Coolant composition The disclosed embodiments include coolant compositions, packages of such compositions, and articles of manufacture derived from coolant compositions. According to one embodiment disclosed a liquid coolant composition is disclosed that comprises: (a) glycerol, (b) an aqueous solution of menthol, (c) calcium hydroxide, (d) barium hydroxide, and (e) water. According to another embodiment, a gel coolant composition is disclosed that comprises: (a) glycerol, (b) an aqueous solution of menthol, (c) calcium hydroxide, (d) barium hydroxide, (e) water, and (f) sodium polyacrylate. Such gel coolant composition can be converted to solid form by adding paraffin.
US08252193B2	Plasma processing apparatus of substrate and plasma processing method thereof A substrate plasma processing apparatus includes a chamber of which an interior is evacuated under a predetermined vacuum condition; an RF electrode which is disposed in the chamber and configured so as to hold a substrate to be processed on a main surface thereof; an opposing electrode which is disposed opposite to the RF electrode in the chamber; an RF voltage applying device for applying an RF voltage with a predetermined frequency to the RF electrode; and a pulsed voltage applying device for applying a pulsed voltage to the RF electrode so as to be superimposed with the RF voltage and which includes a controller for controlling a timing in application of the pulsed voltage and defining a pause period of the pulsed voltage.
US08252192B2	Method of pattern etching a dielectric film while removing a mask layer A method of pattern etching a thin film on a substrate is described. The method comprises preparing a film stack on a substrate, wherein the film stack comprises a dielectric layer formed on the substrate and a mask layer formed above the dielectric layer. A pattern is created in the mask layer, and the pattern is transferred from the mask layer to the dielectric layer by performing a plasma etching process. While transferring the pattern to the dielectric layer, the mask layer is substantially removed using the plasma etching process. The plasma etching process can use a process gas comprising a first gaseous component that etches the dielectric layer at a greater rate than the mask layer, and a second gaseous component that etches the dielectric layer at a lesser rate than the mask layer.
US08252191B2	Sub-micron decal transfer lithography The present invention provides a method of sub-micron decal transfer lithography. The method includes forming a first pattern in a surface of a first silicon-containing elastomer, bonding at least a portion of the first pattern to a substrate, and etching a portion of at least one of the first silicon-containing elastomer and the substrate.
US08252188B1	F.O.G. separator control A separator for separating F.O.G. from an effluent that contains F.O.G. includes a tank, an inlet to the tank for receiving effluent that contains F.O.G., and an outlet to allow grey water to leave the tank. The tank has a size to enable stratification of a layer of F.O.G. present in the tank on water in the tank, and first and second thermocouples are positioned at differing levels in the tank. Conductors couple the thermocouples to sensors, and differing voltages in the thermocouples can be sensed to determine if the thermocouples are surrounded by F.O.G. or water.
US08252187B2	Particle separator A method and apparatus (10) for separating magnetic and non-magnetic particles from water in a domestic central heating system is disclosed. A magnet (60) is located in the housing and the inlet and the outlet are arranged so that, in use, water flows through the apparatus in a cyclonic motion from the inlet downwardly proximate the walls of the housing, and then upwardly within the downwardly flowing water, to the outlet. Particles entrained within the water separate out by vortex separation as the water flows downwardly. Also, magnetic particles entrained within the water are collected on the magnet as the water flows upwardly. The apparatus also comprises a sleeve (30) located within the housing such that an outer circulation channel (31) is defined between the housing and the sleeve. The magnet is located within the sleeve such that an inner circulation channel (61) is defined between the sleeve and the magnet. The inlet (40) of the housing is arranged to deliver the water into the outer circulation channel, and the outlet (50) of the housing is arranged to exhaust the water from the inner circulation channel.
US08252186B1	Making and using porous acrylonitrile-based hydrogel particles to treat water Novel compositions of matter synthesized from acrylonitrile and crosslinker, and subsequently coated with various hydrophilic monomers, can be used in the remediation of uranyl ions from groundwater, drinking water, or wastewater and as part of a system for measurement of uranium in environmental and biological samples.
US08252185B2	Water treatment apparatus and method A water treatment apparatus includes a housing comprising multiple housing portions and a plurality of treatment sections disposed within the housing, each treatment section comprising at least one distinct particulate layer. The apparatus is designed so that no water pressure need be applied to force the water through the apparatus, as gravity pulls the water down through the filtering layers. Water may also be force fed through the treatment apparatus; when the water is force fed, the housing portions need not be vertically stacked, but may be configured in any suitable arrangement. The treatment sections are distributed through the various housing portions in logical groups to perform various kinds of filtering. The housing portions are detachable and sealably stackable in multiple configurations, thus passing water through more or fewer treatment layers, depending on the quality of the incoming water.
US08252183B1	Treating nitorogen-contaminated wastewaters An exemplary method of treating nitrogen-contaminated wastewaters, especially those with high ammonia concentrations, according to the invention includes the steps of ammonia degassing and recapture, and of nutrient assimilation with microalgae. Organic nitrogen, organic carbon, phosphorus, heavy metals and other compounds may also be removed in different embodiments of the invention. Examples of applicable wastewaters include landfill leachate, municipal solid waste anaerobic digester effluent, agricultural anaerobic digester effluent, municipal wastewaters, agricultural wastewaters, and other similarly contaminated wastewaters.
US08252176B2	Pool cleaning vehicle having an advanced drain system Disclosed herein is a pool cleaning an electric pool cleaning vehicle having a drive assembly and including an advanced system for draining water from the vehicle as the vehicle is removed from a pool of water. The vehicle includes a housing defining a body shell and the body shell having an interior cavity and an electrical power cord to supply power to the vehicle having a connection point on the vehicle. A filtering system is located within the body cavity. The vehicle includes a drain door assembly and the drain door assembly has an inlet connected to the filtering system. A handle is located adjacent the electrical cord connection point, sized and shaped to easily lift the vehicle filled with water out of a pool and the drain door assembly being on an opposed portion of the vehicle from the handle.
US08252170B2	Optimizing feed mixer performance in a paraffinic froth treatment process The invention relates to improved bitumen recovery processes and systems. One process provides for operation of a bitumen froth treatment plant at optimum shear rates in the feed pipe carrying the bitumen froth to the froth settling unit. Another process provides for optimizing the design of a bitumen froth treatment plant by optimizing the diameter of the feed pipe to impart an optimum shear rate to the bitumen froth mixture and further optimizing the volume of the feed pipe to impart an optimum residence time for the bitumen froth stream in the feed pipe. An optimal plant design is also disclosed, the plant including optimal diameter and volume of the feed pipe.
US08252168B1	Methods and systems for modifying asphalts A method for modifying asphalt comprises blowing an oxygen-containing gas through a base asphalt at a high gas flow rate while simultaneously agitating the base asphalt at a high shear rate and at an elevated temperature for a period of time that is effective to substantially improve at least two paving properties of the base asphalt. In preferred embodiments, modified asphalts are produced having both substantially improved rutting resistance and substantially improved fatigue resistance as compared to the base asphalt.
US08252165B2	Method for the electrochemical deposition of carbon nanotubes This invention relates to the electrochemical deposition of carbon nanotubes (“CNTs”) on a substrate using an electrochemical cell. A dispersion of a complex of CNTs and an anionic polymer is neutralized and thereby caused to deposit on the anode plate of the cell.
US08252162B2	Capillary electrophoresis apparatus The invention provides a capillary electrophoresis apparatus which can improve the operability and measuring speed. According to the invention, a sensor for identifying the type of sample containers is fixed at the position away from a capillary anode electrode. The sensor is made to be closer to the sample containers by moving a moving stage so that the sample containers disposed on the moving stage can be identified by the sensor. A fixing apparatus for fixing at least a pair of sample containers is provided on the moving stage.
US08252152B2	Perpendicular magnetic recording medium and method of manufacturing the same and product thereof The quantity of oxide contained in a magnetic layer is controlled to control the crystal grains and the segregation structure for ensuring low noise characteristic in a granular magnetic layer of a perpendicular magnetic recording medium. The granular magnetic layer consists of ferromagnetic crystal grains and a nonmagnetic grain boundary region mainly of an oxide surrounding the ferromagnetic crystal grains. The perpendicular magnetic recording medium has a nonmagnetic underlayer composed of a metal or alloy having hexagonal closest-packed crystal structure. The ferromagnetic crystal grain is composed of an alloy containing at least cobalt and platinum. The volume proportion of the nonmagnetic grain boundary region mainly of the oxide falls within a range of 15% to 40% of the volume of the total magnetic layer.
US08252148B2	Containment extension and processing method A mobile waste processing system and method is disclosed for processing materials in a tank, typically an underground storage tank. A mobile fluid processing module is disposed adjacent to or over the tank, and sealingly connected to the tank through a tank riser. Support equipment, which may include an electric power module, a chiller module, a heating module, and a control and monitor module, are disposed a distance from the processing module, and connected thereto. A pump and optionally a dispersal nozzle are deployed from the processing module into the tank, and effluent is extracted for processing. The processing trailer includes effluent processing equipment such as an evaporator and demister, condenser, vacuum pump, and interim storage tank. The effluent is processed, and at least a portion is removed. Some of the processed effluent may be returned to the tank.
US08252147B2	Press felt for papermaking A press felt 10 comprises a base body 30 and a batt layer having a wet paper side layer 20. The wet paper web side layer 20 has a base body side batt layer 22, upright fiber bundles 50 are formed in the basebody side batt layer 22. After needle punching a core-in-sheath fiber 41, the upright fiber bundles are formed by melting the sheath member of the core-in-sheath fibers 41 into a pillar form melted by heat treatment. As a result, the base body side batt layer 22 is made dense and blocks water within the press side batt layer 23 from moving to the wet paper web side, thereby preventing rewetting; moreover, the invention successfully enhances resistance to abrasion and compression fatigue of the felt 10 by the upright fiber bundles 50 fusion-bonded into a pillar form.
US08252146B2	Fabric belt for a machine for the production of web material, particularly paper or cardboard The invention relates to a fabric belt for a machine for the production of web material, particularly paper or cardboard, including a first fabric layer providing a web material contact side and formed by way of the interweaving of warps with wefts, and a second fabric layer positioned below the first fabric layer and formed by way of the interweaving of warps with wefts, wherein the ratio of the number of warps of the first fabric layer to the number of warps of the second fabric layer is greater than 1.
US08252145B2	Method and device for installing seamed industrial fabric A method of installing an industrial fabric on a machine configured to utilize such a fabric includes as a first step: (a) providing an industrial fabric having: a plurality of machine direction (MD) yarns, the MD yarns forming seam loops at first and second ends of the fabric; a first flap attached adjacent the first end and underlying a first portion of the fabric, the first flap including a first zipper track on an edge portion thereof; and a second flap attached adjacent the second end and underlying a second portion of the fabric, the second flap including a second zipper on an edge portion thereof, the second flap able to stretch elastically such that the distance between its attachment to the second portion of the fabric and the second zipper track can increase when a load is applied to the second zipper track. The method comprises the further steps of: (b) positioning the industrial fabric in the machine; (c) intermeshing the first zipper track and the second zipper track; (d) interdigitating the seam loops on the first end and the second end; and (e) inserting a pintle through the interdigitated seam loops. The use of the flaps can help to align the seam loops, thereby facilitating the subsequent insertion of the pintle.
US08252144B2	Flame resistant paper product and method for manufacturing The invention relates to a flame resistant paper product and a method for manufacturing a flame resistant paper product. In an embodiment the invention is a paper product comprising a paper substrate having a first surface and a second surface and a flame retardant composition, wherein the first surface is smoother than the second surface. In another embodiment, the invention is a method for forming a flame resistant paper product comprising applying a flame retardant composition to a web of fibers having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is smoother than the second surface by at least about 70 SSU according to TAPPI T538.
US08252141B2	Method for recovering a low sodium content lignin fuel from black liquor Disclosed herein is a method for recovering a low sodium content lignin from spent kraft cooking liquor without the use a of strong mineral acid for acidulation.
US08252139B2	Method of making a fluid separator collection card A method of making a fluid sample collection card includes providing a support layer, forming an upper layer with a card stock, the upper layer including a sample window and a viewing window, supporting an absorbent layer with the support layer, and positioning the upper layer on the absorbent layer, wherein the upper layer is configured such that as a fluid is being absorbed by the first absorbent layer portion, presence of a portion of the fluid within the second absorbent layer portion indicates that a first volume of the fluid absorbed by the absorbent layer is a minimum necessary volume of the fluid sufficient to perform at least one test on at least one component in the fluid.
US08252136B2	Method for manufacturing connected sheet material, connected sheet material and method for manufacturing optical display unit The invention is to provide a process for production of a connected sheet product, which makes it possible to connect opposed end faces of two or more sheet products. A process for production of a connected sheet product including sheet products that are connected to one another and each have at least an optical member and a release film provided on one side of the optical member with a pressure-sensitive adhesive interposed therebetween, comprising: opposing a transverse end face of a first sheet product to a transverse end face of a second sheet product; connecting release films of the first and second sheet products with a connecting member (30a); and connecting surface members of the first and second sheet products with a connecting member (30b) on the opposite side from the release films.
US08252134B2	Device for maintaining and depositing a thermoplastic composite material on a shaping tool and method for making a composite part According to the invention, one or more thermoplastic sheets (NdT: “feuilles thermoplastique” in the original) (2) are applied on a flat or curved tool (13), and strips (NdT: “des bande” in the original) of a polymer are applied and pressed onto the sheets (2). They are maintained by suction pumps (8), the orifices (4) of which open into a closed volume or one substantially delimited by a sealing joint (3) and occupied by a draining fabric (7). The heating treatment concomitant to the deposition to harden or consolidate the prepreg softens the sheets (2), distorts them to the curvature of the tool (13) and incorporates them in the structure of the prepreg.Application to methods of draping parts with composite material.
US08252130B2	Surface treatment for titanium alloy member for aerospace equipment Surface processing of titanium alloy members for aerospace equipment imparts high wear resistance, lubricity and high fatigue strength. The method includes an oxygen diffusion step for causing oxygen to diffuse and penetrate in solid solution form into a surface of a titanium alloy member under an oxygen-containing gas atmosphere and a particle bombardment step for bombarding the surface of the titanium alloy member with an airflow containing particles. The aerospace equipment can include a flap rail member and slat rail member for aircraft.
US08252128B2	Aluminum alloy and extrusion A population of extrusion billets has a specification such that every billet is of an alloy of composition (in wt. %): Fe<0.35; Si 0.20-0.6; Mn<0.10; Mg 0.25-0.9; Cu<0.015; Ti<0.10; Cr<0.10; Zn<0.03; balance Al of commercial purity. After ageing to T5 or T6 temper, extruded sections can be etched and anodised to give extruded matt anodised sections having improved properties.
US08252126B2	Sputter targets and methods of forming same by rotary axial forging A method of making sputter targets using rotary axial forging is described. Other thermomechanical working steps can be used prior to and/or after the forging step. Sputter targets are further described which can have unique grain size and/or crystal structures.
US08252122B2	Use of an agent that contains carbamide and/or at least a derivative thereof as a cleaning agent The invention relates to the use of an agent that contains 5 to 99.9% in weight of carbamide and/or at least a derivative thereof, as a cleaning agent for closed systems, in particular as a dishwasher detergent, as a laundry detergent for washing machines, as an agent for cleaning, sanitizing and/or disinfecting for equipment in the food processing industry and for medical equipment, the use as a hand dishwashing detergent or sanitary cleaner or as a hand cleaner. In addition, the invention relates to a method for reducing or avoiding enzymes in cleaning agents for closed systems, in hand dishwashing detergents or in sanitary cleaning agents as well as an enzyme-free dishwashing detergent or enzyme-free sanitary cleaning agent that contain 5 to 99.9% in weight of carbamides or derivates thereof. Finally, the invention relates to the use of percarbamide as a bleaching agent in particular in dishwashing detergents and in sanitary toilet cleaning agents.
US08252118B2	Substrate support device and plasma processing apparatus There is provided a substrate support device capable of preventing powder dust from being produced. A thermoconductive intermediate member is interposed between a base table and a substrate support table and has a communication aperture path for communicating the aperture path of the base table with the aperture path of the substrate support table. An elastic member such as bellows tube is disposed in the communication aperture path of the thermoconductive intermediate member, for insulating the thermoconductive intermediate member from the inert gas which flows through the communication aperture path.
US08252116B2	Perimeter partition-valve with protected seals and associated small size process chambers and multiple chamber systems A seal-protected perimeter partition valve apparatus defines a vacuum and pressure sealed space within a larger space confining a substrate processing chamber with optimized geometry, minimized footprint, and 360° substrate accessibility. A compact perimeter partitioned assembly with seal protected perimeter partition valve and internally contained substrate placement member further provides processing system modularity and substantially minimized system footprint.
US08252105B2	Biodegradable vehicle/carrier for printing ink Embodiments of the present invention provide a composition useful as an additive to a printing ink. In one embodiment a composition is used that includes a biologically derived base material formed from one or more saturated or unsaturated straight or branched chain triglycerides or combinations thereof, wherein the triglycerides are partially to fully hydrogenated and have a viscosity between about 50 and about 200,000 centipoise at temperatures about 72 degrees Fahrenheit. In another embodiment, the composition further includes a finely divided additive selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene or hydrogenated triglycerides in an intimate admixture with the base material. Other aspects relate to a method of making an ink additive and method for printing paper stock by letter press or lithography.
US08252097B2	Distributed air cleaner system for enclosed electronic devices An air cleaner for an enclosed electronic device such as an electronic slot machine, for use in areas that have a high level of air contamination from cigarette smoking such as casinos, includes an active field polarized media air cleaner or other filters for removing sub-micron particles, tars and/or volatile organic compounds (VOC's). In addition, a shared air cleaner for removing sub-micron particles, tars and/or VOCs is coupled to a plurality of enclosed electronic devices, such as a cluster of electronic slot machines.
US08252093B2	Filter service system and method According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a system for removing matter from a filtering device of a work machine includes a gas pressurization assembly. An element of the gas pressurization assembly is removably attachable to a first orifice of the filtering device without removing the filtering device from a work machine to which the filtering device is connected. The system also includes a heat source fluidly connected to the gas pressurization assembly.
US08252092B2	Water separation under varied pressure Water is substantially separated from a liquid mixture (e.g., saline water) that includes water using a humidification chamber at a lower pressure and a dehumidification chamber at a higher pressure. A carrier gas is flowed through the humidification chamber; and inside the humidification chamber, the carrier gas directly contacts the liquid mixture to humidify the carrier gas with evaporated water from the liquid mixture to produce a humidified gas flow. The humidified gas flow is then directed through the dehumidification chamber, where water is condensed from the humidified gas flow and collected. The absolute pressure inside the humidification chamber is at least 10% lower than the absolute pressure inside the dehumidification chamber.
US08252091B2	CO2 recovery from IGCC power plants In a system involving CO2 capture having an acid gas removal system to selectively remove CO2 from shifted syngas, the acid gas removal system including at least one stage, e.g. a flash tank, for CO2 removal from an input stream of dissolved carbon dioxide in physical solvent, the method of recovering CO2 in the acid gas removal system including: elevating a pressure of the stream of dissolved carbon dioxide in physical solvent; and elevating the temperature of the pressurized stream upstream of at least one CO2 removal stage.
US08252088B2	Particle concentrator Concentrating particles in a turbulent gas flow may include receiving, in a receptacle, a turbulent gas flow that includes particles. The concentration of particles in a gas flow exiting the receptacle at a first port is increased as compared with a concentration of the particles in the gas flow received by the receptacle. The increased concentration of particles is accomplished by removing a portion of the gas flow by using a second port, and fluidly communicating the gas flow through a tube in the receptacle. The tube has a smaller diameter at the end of the tube at which the gas flow exits the tube than diameter at the end of the tube at which the gas flow is received.
US08252084B2	Separator and crusher of minerals with microwave energy and method thereof One aspect provides for the separating of two or more joined materials by heating with microwaves, thereby producing differential thermal expansion of the materials. The pieces to be treated are exposed to microwave energy, producing differing rates of heating, and therefore expansion, of the differing materials making up the treated pieces of material. The differential thermal expansion of the differing materials will cause sufficient strain to separate the differing materials. Separation can be enhanced in some cases by following microwave heating with rapid cooling of the treated material.
US08252083B2	Filter-holding object The present invention is intended to provide a filter-holding object that allows air permeable filters to be peeled from a carrier tape in a satisfactory manner without increasing a tension applied to the carrier tape.A filter-holding object (1) includes: a carrier tape (2) extending in a specified direction; and a plurality of air permeable filters (3) held on the carrier tape (2) so as to be arranged in the specified direction. The air permeable filters (3) are shaped so that an end portion of each of the air permeable filters (3) on one side of the specified direction is sharpened toward the one side of the specified direction at an angle of 90 degrees or more. Preferably, the end portion of each of the air permeable filters (3) on the one side of the specified direction is sharpened at an angle of 135 degrees or less.
US08252079B2	Particle separating device for an aerosol stream Separating device for separating liquid or solid particles from an aerosol stream, comprising an impactor with a perforated plate against which the stream flows, and an impact plate arranged at a short distance behind the perforated plate, the side of the impact plate against which the stream flows having a separating layer with an open structure; in order that the separating device will have a consistently good separating effect during operation, the perforated plate is provided on its rear side with a plurality of spacer elements bearing against the region of the separating layer against which the stream flows, the height of the spacer elements, the support surfaces formed by the spacer elements for the separating layer, and the number and arrangement of the spacer elements being selected in dependence upon the material of the separating layer such that it is ensured that the holes of the perforated plate remain free from material of the separating layer also during operation.
US08252078B2	Ceiling type air conditioner There is provided a ceiling type air conditioner including a brush assembly for collecting foreign matters filtered by a filter. The brush assembly includes a brush that contacts the foreign matters filtered by the filter and a main body for collecting the foreign matters separated from the filter to store the foreign matters. Therefore, it is possible to effectively collect and store the foreign matters filtered by the filter in the main body due to the movement of the brush assembly. In addition, since a user does not have to exchange or clean the filter, it is possible to prevent inconvenience from being caused by exchanging or cleaning the filter and to prevent the filter from being contaminated.
US08252076B2	Buffing composition and method of finishing a surface of a material A buffing composition includes an emulsion having an aqueous liquid phase and an oily liquid phase; a solubilized zirconium carboxylate; and fine abrasive particles having a Mohs hardness of at least 4. The fine abrasive particles have a particle size distribution having at least one mode with a particle size of at least 5 micrometers. A method of finishing a surface of a material using the buffing composition is also disclosed.
US08252073B2	Tar-free gasification system and process A novel tar-free gasification process and system is disclosed that involves the partial combustion of recycled dry solids and the drying of a slurry feedstock comprising carbonaceous material in two separate reactor zones in a two stage gasifier, thereby producing mixture products comprising synthesis gas. The synthesis gas produced from the high temperature first stage reaction zone is then quenched in the second stage reaction zone of the gasifier prior to introduction of a slurry feedstock. The temperature of the final syngas exiting the second stage reaction zone of the gasifier is thereby moderated to be in the range of about 350-900° F., which is below the temperature range at which tar is readily formed, depending upon the type of carbonaceous feedstock utilized.
US08252070B2	Process and apparatus for producing solid fuel from coal The present invention provides a process and an apparatus for producing a low-pyrophoricity, transportable, storable dewatered solid fuel from a low rank coal, in which the amount of heavy oil added can be reduced. A solid fuel production process includes the steps of mixing an oil containing a solvent oil with a coal to prepare a raw material slurry; evaporating moisture from the raw material slurry; subsequently performing solid-liquid separation on the slurry to yield a solid fuel; and adding a heavy oil to the slurry after the completion of or in the course of evaporating moisture. A solid fuel production apparatus includes a mixing vessel 1 in which an oil containing a solvent oil is mixed with a coal to prepare a raw material slurry; evaporators 2 and 3 that evaporate moisture from the raw material slurry; a solid-liquid separation means that perform solid-liquid separation on the slurry from which moisture has been evaporated; and an addition means that adds a heavy oil to the slurry after the completion of or in the course of evaporating moisture.
US08252066B2	Pyramid receptacle for coupling a prosthetic limb to a socket A pyramid receptacle for coupling a prosthetic limb to a socket, comprising a unitary machined component formed with an externally-threaded neck section flanged by a larger-diameter disk. The disk is formed with a concave face, and a central cavity. A plurality of threaded set screws are journalled into the hollow threaded neck section through the threads thereof and into communication with the central cavity. Machining the threaded holes for the plurality of set screws directly through the hollow threaded neck section, and ensuring that the set screws stay flush or recessed when fully tightened effectively halves the length of the pyramid receptacle and facilitates angular adjustment of the prosthetic limb before affixing it in place, but does not significantly increase the profile length of the interconnection between socket and knee joint.
US08252061B2	Femoral stem for artificial hip joint and artificial hip joint including the same A femoral stem including a stem member having a distal part of the stem member which is inserted in a medullary cavity of a femur and fixed therein and a proximal part of the stem member which has a neck for fixing an artificial head and is positioned at a proximal end of the distal part. The distal part and the proximal part are integrated or separable. Also, a plate fixing portion is detachably attached at a top of the proximal part, and a greater trochanter plate is provided for depressing the greater trochanter. The greater trochanter is fixed to the plate fixing portion at a certain angle or is fixed to the plate fixing portion so as to adjust an angle of the trochanter plate.
US08252059B2	Full-metal dampening intervertebral implant A flexible element that may be configured, among various uses, as an intervertebral implant for insertion into an intervertebral disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies or between two bone portions. The flexible element includes one or more struts extending from superior and inferior endplates and bending towards one another for connection with one or more internal beams.
US08252058B2	Spinal implant with elliptical articulatory interface A spinal implant prosthesis includes a pair of end plates for affixation to adjacent vertebral bone structures and respectively defining inter-engaged convex and concave articulatory surfaces of elliptical profile. These elliptical articulatory surfaces are elongated in an anterior-posterior direction, and are comparatively shorter in a medial-lateral direction. With this configuration, in response to angular displacement and/or axial rotation, the elliptical surfaces displace in a manner increasing the distance between the adjacent vertebral bone structures, thereby tensioning the prosthesis and producing counteracting forces which urge the components back toward a substantially centered or neutral position. In addition, in the preferred form, the anterior-posterior length of the concave articulatory surface in incrementally greater than the anterior-posterior length of the convex articulatory surface to accommodate a limited range of anterior-posterior translation.
US08252053B2	Intraocular lens injector apparatus and methods of use An IOL injector kit comprising a first body portion having a first lumen disposed therethrough, a proximal end, a distal end configured to deposit an IOL into an eye, a second body portion having a second lumen disposed therethrough, a proximal end and distal end, a container comprising a wall defining a container lumen, a first open end configured to receive the proximal end of the first body portion into the container lumen, and a second open end configured to receive the distal end of the second body portion into the container lumen, and an IOL disposed inside said container.
US08252052B2	Methods and apparatus for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve Methods for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. In some embodiments, the method includes the steps of endovascularly delivering a replacement valve and an anchor to a vicinity of the heart valve, the anchor having a braid, and expanding the braid to a deployed configuration against the patient's tissue. The braid may be fabricated from a single strand of wire and/or may comprise at least one turn feature.
US08252048B2	Drug eluting stent and method of making the same A drug eluting stent comprising a multilayer tubular structure which includes at least one intermediate layer having reservoirs therein for deposition of a drug, the intermediate layer eluting drug in a lateral direction, and methods of making the same.
US08252047B2	Drug-delivery endovascular stent and method for treating restenosis A radially expandable, endovascular stent designed for placement at a site of vascular injury, for inhibiting restenosis at the site, a method of using, and a method of making the stent. The stent includes a radially expandable body formed of one or more metallic filaments and a liquid-infusible mechanical anchoring layer attached to or formed in outer surface of the filaments. A drug coating in the stent is composed of a substantially polymer-free composition of an anti-restenosis drug, and has a substratum infused in the anchoring layer and a substantially continuous surface stratum of drug that is brought into direct contact with the vessel walls at the vascular site. Thus, the rate of release of the anti-restenosis drug from the surface stratum into said vascular site is determined solely by the composition of said drug coating.
US08252044B1	Device for in vivo delivery of bioactive agents and method of manufacture thereof The disclosure of the invention provides an implantable structural element for in vivo delivery of bioactive agents to a situs in a body. The implantable structural element may be configured as an implantable prosthesis, such as an endoluminal stent, cardiac valve, osteal implant or the like, which serves a dual function of being prosthetic and a carrier for a bioactive agent. Alternatively, the implantable structural element may simply be an implantable article that serves the single function of acting as a time-release carrier for the bioactive agent.
US08252038B2	System for delivering a prosthesis to a luminal OS An embodiment of the invention provides a prosthesis delivery system comprising a delivery catheter having an expandable member and a prosthesis carried over the expandable member. The prosthesis includes a radially expandable scaffold section and at least two anchors extending axially from an end thereof; and means for capturing at least the anchors to prevent the anchors from divaricating from the expandable member as the catheter is advanced through a patient's vasculature.
US08252037B2	Device for treating a duct through which blood flows and associated preparation method This device comprises a tubular endoprosthesis (11) of axis (X-X′) and a stent (13) of axis (Y-Y′) defining a distal retention opening (23A) and a proximal retention opening (23B). The device comprises a distal wire-like tie (33A) and a proximal wire-like tie (33B). Each tie (33A, 33B) forms a retaining loop (43) running around the endoprosthesis (11). Each retaining loop (43) can stretch between a configuration in which the endoprosthesis (11) is kept in a contracted state against the stent (13) and a configuration in which the endoprosthesis (11) is released. When each retaining loop (43) is in its releasing configuration, the axis (X-X′) of the endoprosthesis (11) is inclined with respect to the axis (Y-Y′) of the stent (13) when no external stresses are applied. The axis (X-X′) of the endoprosthesis (11) intersects the axis (Y-Y′) of the stent in the internal line (18) defined by the endoprosthesis (11).
US08252034B2	Method of positioning a stent using rods A stent combined with a positioning apparatus to effectively place the stent at a precise deployment site within a narrowed vascular region such as an artery. The stent is maneuvered through the vessel and is guided by a guiding catheter up the vessel to where the narrowing is located. Upon exiting the guiding catheter and approaching the deployment site within the coronary artery, a deployment site locator expands to contact the vascular structure and, thereby, effectively position the stent at the deployment site within the narrowed vessel. This system apparatus and method is particularly useful for stent placement at an ostium (origin) of a vessel.
US08252030B2	Spinal implant connection assembly The present invention provides a connection assembly that can be used to securely connect a spinal implant to a bone anchor. In particular, the present invention preferably provides a spinal implant connection assembly that is able to securely connect the spinal implant to the anchors even when there is a variance in the angle and position of the anchors with respect to the spinal implant. Furthermore, the present invention provides a connection assembly with structure to increase the locking strength of the connection assembly.
US08252028B2	Posterior dynamic stabilization device A posterior dynamic stabilization system that allows a) elongation through a ligament connected to the bone anchors that ultimately reaches its full length to provide a secure flexion limit, and b) compression through a spacer positioned between bone anchors to provide an extension limit.
US08252027B2	System and method for facet joint replacement A facet joint replacement system includes an inferior implant with an inferior articular surface, a superior implant with a superior articular surface and may include a crosslink extending across a vertebral sagittal plane. The inferior implant may comprise an inferior strut, and a polyaxially adjustable, lockable mechanism which may couple the inferior articular surface with a first end of the inferior strut, and couple the inferior articular surface with the crosslink. A second end of the inferior strut may be secured to a polyaxially adjustable, lockable fixation assembly securable in a vertebra. The superior implant may be secured to a polyaxially adjustable lockable fixation assembly securable in a vertebra. The positions of the inferior articular surface and the first end of the inferior strut are independently translatable along a medial-lateral axis of the vertebra prior to lockout by the lockable mechanism. The crosslink may be placed into the lockable mechanism from a posterior approach.
US08252021B2	Fenestrated super atraumatic grasper apparatus A surgical tool assembly includes a pair of opposing jaws pivotally connected to each other. Further, at least one viewing opening may be provided in at least one of the opposing jaws. In this regard, the at least one viewing opening may extend from an upper to a lower surface of the opposing jaw in which the viewing opening is provided. Additionally, the at least one viewing opening may include a material retainer provided proximate the lower surface of the opposing jaw in which the at least one viewing opening is provided. Further, the material retainer may include an inclined surface inclined towards a central axis of the at least one viewing opening. Further, a grasping insert may be molded onto a lower surface of the opposing jaw in which the viewing opening is provided and an elastomeric material of the grasping inserts may within the at least one viewing opening, the material of the grasping inserts covering the inclined surface of the first material retainer.
US08252018B2	Helical embolic protection device An embolic protection device for capturing emboli during treatment of a stenotic lesion in a body vessel is disclosed. The device comprises an elongated shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion extending from the proximal portion. The device further comprises an expandable filter formed helically about the distal portion of the elongated shaft. The expandable filter is configured to helically close defining a collapsed state for delivery and retrievable of the device. The expandable filter is configured to helically open defining an expanded state for capturing emboli during treatment of the stenotic lesion in the body vessel. The expandable filter has at least one filter portion helically extending from the elongated shaft at a predetermined angle defining an opening when the filter is in the expanded state.
US08252015B2	Expandable guide sheath and apparatus and methods for making them An apparatus for providing access to a body lumen includes a tubular proximal portion and an expandable distal portion, which extends distally from a distal end of the proximal portion. The expandable distal portion includes an expandable sheath and a stiffening member. The proximal portion has a first lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof, and the expandable sheath defines a second lumen that is in fluid communication with the first lumen and extends distally from the proximal portion to a distal terminal opening of the second lumen. The stiffening member is attached directly to the expandable sheath so as to extend alongside the second lumen, and the distal terminal opening of the second lumen is defined by a portion of a perimeter of a distal terminal end of the expandable sheath that becomes spaced apart from the stiffening member when the sheath is expanded.
US08252014B2	Rapid exchange balloon catheter with braided shaft A balloon catheter for use alone or as a stent delivery system includes a balloon segment and a shaft segment having a varying flexibility. The shaft segment includes a polymer encased braid which extends along substantially the entire length of the shaft segment for added pushability and kink resistance. A flexible distal tip extends from the balloon for improved trackability.
US08252011B1	Minimally invasive technique for performing plantar fasciotomies and surgical instrument for use in such a technique A surgical instrument includes a clamp having a handle with a pair of substantially parallel prongs or tines extending from the handle, all formed as a unitary body or article of manufacture. The handle and prongs define a channel to receive a knife. The knife includes a handle, a scalpel, and an extension arm coupling the scalpel to the handle. The clamp defines a minor image about a central axis. In this way, the surgeon need not concern himself with whether the knife is oriented properly within the channel. Also, the extension arm of the knife includes graduations to assist the surgeon in predetermining precisely the distance of cut in using the instrument. The upper prong of the clamp includes a downwardly extending capture pad having a bottom surface substantially parallel to the inner surface of the lower prong. The upper and lower prongs define a mouth, having a continuously increasing distance between upper and lower prongs so that the clamp is guided onto the tissue target of choice in a non-invasive manner.
US08252004B2	Temporary retention device A retention device for anchoring indwelling catheters, sheath introducers, feeding tubes, ostomy bags or other medical devices beneath the skin of a patient includes an deployable section coupled to a medical device; following introduction into a patient, the deployable section is subcutaneously deployed, securely anchoring the device and coupled medical device for the duration of treatment.
US08252003B2	Surgical instruments for creating a pneumostoma and treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Surgical instruments and techniques are provided for creating a pneumostoma through the chest wall into the lung of a patient. The pneumostomy instruments and techniques may be used to create a pneumostoma which allows gases to escape from the lung through the chest wall and thereby treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
US08252002B2	Modular trial mechanism A prosthetic trial for a joint prosthesis includes a stem having a proximal section and a distal section for implantation in a bone. A body includes a channel receiving at least the proximal section of the stem. A locking mechanism is at least partially disposed within the body. The locking mechanism is biased into a locking position in which the mechanism locks the stem within the first channel of the body. The locking mechanism is accessible outside said body to be pulled into a releasing position to unlock the stem from the body.
US08252001B2	Apparatus and methods for inter-operative verification of appropriate spinal prosthesis size and placement A distractor and measuring device includes a first handle operatively connected to a first paddle and a second handle operatively connected to a second paddle. The first and second handles are pivotally connected to one another such that movement of the handles relative to one another causes the paddles to move relative to each other. At least one transducer is positioned on at least one of the first and second handles for measuring an amount of force applied during distraction. A measurement rod is pivotally connected to the device and is movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the first and second paddles. A potentiometer is operatively connected to the measurement rod to measure the angular orientation of the measurement rod.
US08251997B2	Method for inserting an artificial implant between two adjacent vertebrae along a coronal plane A method for inserting an artificial implant between two adjacent vertebrae along a coronal plane.
US08251992B2	Method and apparatus for gastrointestinal tract ablation to achieve loss of persistent and/or recurrent excess body weight following a weight-loss operation Devices and methods are provided for ablational treatment of regions of the digestive tract in post-bariatric surgery patients who fail to achieve or maintain the desired weight loss. Bariatric procedures include Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, biliopancreatic diversion, and sleeve gastrectomy. These procedures reconstruct gastrointestinal tract features, creating pouches, stoma, and tubes that restrict and/or divert the digestive flow. Post-surgical dilation of altered structures is common and diminishes their bariatric effectiveness. Ablation of compromised structures can reduce their size and compliance, restoring bariatric effectiveness. Ablation, as provided the invention, starts at the mucosa and penetrates deeper into the gastrointestinal wall in a controlled manner. Control may also be provided by a fractional ablation that ablates some tissue within a target region and leaves a portion substantially unaffected. Embodiments of the device include an ablational electrode array that spans 360 degrees and an array that spans an arc of less than 360 degrees.
US08251989B1	Combined bipolar and monopolar electrosurgical instrument and method An electrical switching system for use in various types of electrosurgical instruments and related tools comprises a system adapted to automatically determine which of at least two electrical current modes to deliver through an electrosurgical instrument based on a condition sensed by the electrosurgical instrument. In another embodiment, the electrical switching system comprises a generator, the generator including a first electrical distribution systems for delivering monopolar electrical energy, and a second electrical distribution system for delivering bipolar electrical energy, a controller coupled to the generator for selecting based on an input which of the first and second electrical distribution systems to activate.
US08251988B2	Ultrasonic treatment apparatus An ultrasonic treatment apparatus includes an ultrasonic instrument, a fluid irrigation unit, a fluid suction unit, an ultrasonic driving control unit, and an irrigation/suction control unit. The ultrasonic instrument treats a living-body tissue through ultrasonic vibrations. The fluid irrigation unit supplies a cooling fluid for cooling the ultrasonic instrument to the ultrasonic instrument. The fluid suction unit sucks a cooling fluid irrigated by the fluid irrigation unit to the ultrasonic instrument. The ultrasonic driving control unit controls the driving of ultrasonic vibrations of the ultrasonic instrument. The irrigation/suction control unit sequentially controls the driving of the fluid irrigation unit and the driving of the fluid suction unit in accordance with the output of the ultrasonic driving control unit.
US08251987B2	Microwave antenna According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a microwave antenna assembly is disclosed. The antenna assembly includes a feedline having an inner conductor, an outer conductor and an inner insulator disposed therebetween and a radiating portion including a dipole antenna having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The antenna assembly also comprises a sheath disposed over the feedline and the radiating portion defining a chamber around the feedline and the radiating portion. The chamber is adapted to circulate coolant fluid therethrough. The antenna assembly further includes a connection hub having cable connector coupled to the feedline, an inlet fluid port and an outlet fluid port. The connection hub includes a bypass tube configured to provide for flow of the coolant fluid from the cable connector directly to the outlet fluid port.
US08251984B2	Dental laser system using midrange gas pressure An improved dental laser system includes a DC power section that rectifies its AC electrical input energy in a format suitable for both CW and pulsed operation, an RF power supply operating in a range of about 40 to 125 MHz and configured for both CW and high peak power pulsing operation, a sealed-off, RF excited CO2 waveguide or slab resonator laser filled to a gas at a pressure between about 260 to 600 Torr (or about 34,700-80,000 Pa), and a beam delivery system to steer the beam from the output of the laser to the mouth, such as the patient's mouth.
US08251981B2	Regulator A flow regulator (19, 208, 308, 408) may be used in a drug delivery system 10. The regulator includes a chamber that is divided by a diaphragm (111, 211, 311, 411) into a first and second subchamber. A third subchamber is in fluid communication with the first subchamber. A valve (26, 217, 317, 417) is operatively connected to the diaphragm, wherein pressure differences between the first subchamber and second subchamber result in movement of the diaphragm and movement of the diaphragm controls operation of the valve. A flow restrictor (116, 216, 316, 416) is in fluid communication between the first and second subchambers. Flow of a drug (11, 101) is thereby regulated.
US08251980B2	Viscous fluid extraction An extraction sleeve assembly for use in extracting a viscous fluid from the posterior segment of an eye during vitreoretinal surgery is disclosed. The extraction sleeve assembly includes a luer lock fitting and a flexible, tubular extraction sleeve. The extraction sleeve assembly facilitates a shorter extraction time for the viscous fluid.
US08251972B2	Perforable closure for a container, mould and method for carrying out said closure A perforable closure for a container, is provided with at least a annular portion (2) fit to joint the container and connected to an end portion (3), perforable by means of a perforator (P) of an outflow or the like.At least the annular (2) and end (3) portions of said closure (1) are integral.
US08251970B2	Diaper closure system Disclosed are diapers, and particularly baby diapers, which are made and provided to the user in a substantially flat condition. The diapers are formed into a three dimensional garment by the user and maintained in this position through use of a closure system. The closure system includes a tape type closure system with a designated zone on the diaper where the tape type closures are to be attached. Preferably the closure system includes a mechanical interlocking system known as a hook and loop fastening system or Velcro™.
US08251969B2	Body adhering absorbent article The present invention provides a body adhering absorbent articles which is capable of absorbing bodily fluids. In particular embodiment of the present invention, provided is an absorbent article which is specifically designed for attachment to a wearer's skin in the vulva region of the wearer's torso.
US08251968B2	Absorbent article with a checking function for elastic elongation An absorbent article includes at least one elastic area. The article contains an element for checking the elongation of the elastic area, in conjunction with which a first indicator marker is connected to the elastic area and a second indicator marker is connected to a second piece of material. The first indicator marker and the second indicator marker are capable of displacement relative to one another in the direction of elongation of the elastic area, whereby the change in the relative position between the first and the second indicator marker in conjunction with the elongation of the elastic area from a non-elongated position provides a measure of the elongation of the elastic area.
US08251961B2	Safety needle assembly and method for making the same A safety needle assembly has a needle hub and a collar. Integrally formed from the proximal portion of the needle hub is a ring that surrounds its luer base. At the distal portion of the needle hub there are coaxially formed circumferential flanges which act to allow the collar to be rotatable about the needle hub. A needle protection housing is connected to the collar and is pivotable to cover the needle that extends from the distal end of the needle hub. Before use, the needle extending from the needle hub is covered by a needle sheath that has a groove formed circumferentially at its proximal end that snap-fits to a circumferential rib formed at the distal end of the collar.
US08251958B2	Medicament microdevice delivery system, cartridge and method of use A method and device for intradermal delivery of a reconstituted medicament. The device includes a chamber, which is in fluid communication with a microdevice, e.g. microabrader or one or more microneedles. A cartridge containing the medicament may be located within said chamber. At least one burstable membrane retains a medicament within the housing. The method involves the steps of positioning the device at a delivery site on the skin of a patient and intradermally administering the medicament by dispensing a diluent from a diluent source an through inlet port to rupture the membranes, reconstitute the medicament and deliver the reconstituted medicament through the microdevice to the dermal region of the skin.
US08251957B2	Catheter securement device A catheter securement device that adheres to the skin of a patient having an epidural catheter or similar small flexible tube member inserted percutaneously, the securement device having a flexible, sheet-like main body member capable of adhering to the skin of the patient, a notched pad member over which the catheter is bent, an exposed portion of adhesive to contact the catheter, and a releasable retention member to secure the catheter onto the main body member.
US08251956B2	Securement device A securement device holds a medical article such as a catheter hub in position upon the body of a patient and at least inhibits longitudinal movement of the medical article. The securement device includes a retainer and at least one anchor pad. The retainer includes a metallic insert having barbs or teeth extending into a central channel. The metallic barbs or teeth dig into the retained catheter hub. The metal insert springs open as the hub is inserted in to the device and retains the hub by virtue of its metallic barbs.
US08251955B2	Catheter stylet with catheter accommodating lumen The invention relates to a catheter stylet for stiffening a catheter during the placing process, wherein the stylet comprises an accommodating lumen for at least one fluid-guiding line of the catheter. It also relates to a catheter stylet catheter system, comprising such a stylet and comprising a catheter which comprises a fluid-guiding line, and to a method for stiffening a catheter during the placing process, wherein a stylet which comprises an accommodating lumen is arranged around at least one fluid-guiding line of the catheter.
US08251954B2	Fluid transportation system and method of setting fluid ejection amount A fluid transportation system includes a fluid transportation device housing a flexible tube, a pump unit for ejecting a fluid by squeezing the tube, a communication section, and a battery, an ejection data processing device having an input device for inputting to the fluid transportation device a driving condition for ejecting a desired ejection amount of the fluid, a display section for displaying at least the driving condition, and a communication device for connecting the fluid transportation device and the ejection data processing device to each other, wherein the fluid transportation device is driven based on the driving condition input from the ejection data processing device.
US08251953B2	System and method for drug preparation and delivery A disposable cassette for mixing a drug in a vial includes a liquid inlet for connection to a liquid supply, a first vial spike, a second vial spike, a chamber and a valve mechanism. The chamber, the first and second vial spikes, and the liquid inlet are in fluid communication with each other. The valve mechanism may be actuated to control flow between the chamber, the vial receptacles and the liquid inlet.
US08251947B2	Two-stage reconstituting injector An injector for injecting a medicament into a patient. The injector includes a container defining a first chamber, which contains a fluid therein, and a second chamber. The injector also includes an injection conduit configured for directing the fluid fired from the container into the patient. A transfer mechanism is operable by a user to transfer the fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber in a first stage of operation, and a firing mechanism is operable by the user for firing the fluid from the second chamber through the injection conduit in a second stage of operation. An energy source is in powering association with the firing mechanism to drive firing mechanism in the first and second stages.
US08251946B2	Method for constructing an instrument with a two-part plunger for subcutaneous implantation A method for constructing an instrument with a two-part plunger for subcutaneous implantation is provided. An incising body is formed by defining a non-circular coaxial bore and sharpening a distal bottom edge. A two-part plunger including a tongue blade assembly and a plunger assembly is constructed. The tongue blade assembly is constructed by sharpening a beveled end of a flat thin tongue blade and by affixing a straight tongue blade shaft to an end of the tongue blade opposite the beveled end. The tongue blade assembly has a length exceeding the coaxial bore. The plunger assembly is constructed by affixing a plunger to a plunger shaft on a distal end. The plunger assembly has a length exceeding the coaxial bore and is oriented adjacent to the tongue blade assembly. The two-part plunger is inserted through an end of the incising body.
US08251937B2	External fixator assembly An external fixator assembly structured for placement and use substantially adjacent the ankle area of the body and including a support assembly comprising at least one base segment and one or two contoured segments disposed substantially on opposite sides of the ankle area. Each of the contoured segments includes a contoured portion having a either different or substantially equivalent angular and/or convergent configurations disposed along a length or height of the ankle area. At least one transfixion member may be connected along the length of the contoured portion(s) as well as a remainder of the contoured segment(s) so as to extend transversely inward there from into operative engagement with tissue associated with the ankle area patient's body.
US08251936B2	Orthopedic walker boot having a removable heel plate An orthopedic walker boot for wearing on a lower limb of a wearer has a rigid external shell, a pliant internal boot positioned in the external shell, and a heel plate selectively detachable or attachable to the external shell. Selective transition of the heel plate between the detached condition and attached condition selectively provides the orthopedic walker boot with an open-heel configuration or a closed-heel configuration. The external shell includes an outer sole having a walking surface which is configured with two curved axes to facilitate walking while wearing the orthopedic walker boot.
US08251932B2	Orthopedic walker boot having an inflatable bladder An orthopedic walker boot for wearing on a lower limb of a wearer has a rigid external shell and a pliant internal boot received within the external shell. The internal boot includes a leg panel having an inflatable bladder and a pump panel having a pump for inflating the bladder. The leg panel is configured to wrap around a leg of a wearer and the external shell is sized and configured to receive the internal boot with the leg of the wearer wrapped therein. The pump panel has a first end fixably attached to the leg panel and has a selective and releasable operational orientation, wherein the pump panel is in an overlapping outer position relative to the leg panel.
US08251931B2	Casting apparatus and method for using the same A casting or splinting device comprises a plastic casting body formed into various configurations for immobilizing a bone fracture or the like. The casting body is filled with small spherical granules having a smooth and slippery surface. The casting body is sealed and provided with an outlet port for aspirating air from within the casting body. Aspiration of air from the casting body results in a rigid casting or splint.
US08251930B2	Walking assistance device A walking assistance device (1) has a body-mounted assembly (2) installed on the waist of a user (A), foot-mounted assemblies (3L, 3R) installed on feet, and leg links (4L, 4R) which connect the foot-mounted assemblies (3L, 3R) to the body-mounted assembly (2). The foot-mounted assemblies (3L, 3R) are provided with floor reaction force sensors (13L, 13R). Results obtained by multiplying the absolute values of floor reaction force vectors (three-dimensional vectors) detected by the floor reaction force sensors (13L, 13R) by a predetermined ratio are defined as target values of the magnitudes of the supporting forces transmitted to the leg links (4L, 4R) from the foot-mounted assemblies (3L, 3R). Actuators (20L, 20R) of the leg links (4L, 4R) are controlled such that the supporting forces having the magnitudes of the target values act on the leg links (4L, 4R) from the foot-mounted assemblies (3L, 3R) through the intermediary of joints (19L, 19R).
US08251925B2	Device and method for radial pressure determination Methods and apparatus for measuring ear canal wall pressure comfort level are provided. An expandable pressure exertion device is inserted into an orifice. The device is expanded inside the orifice in increments of pressure. A threshold level is saved where a user indicates that the pressure exerted against the walls of the orifice is becoming at least one of uncomfortable, painful, and noticeable.
US08251924B2	Neural translator A method and apparatus are provided for processing a set of communicated signals associated with a set of muscles, such as the muscles near the larynx of the person, or any other muscles the person use to achieve a desired response. The method includes the steps of attaching a single integrated sensor, for example, near the throat of the person proximate to the larynx and detecting an electrical signal through the sensor. The method further includes the steps of extracting features from the detected electrical signal and continuously transforming them into speech sounds without the need for further modulation. The method also includes comparing the extracted features to a set of prototype features and selecting a prototype feature of the set of prototype features providing a smallest relative difference.
US08251923B2	Device for introducing a catheter guide wire into a vessel A device for introducing a catheter guide wire into a vessel of a patient has a connector and a straightener for a J-shaped end of the guide wire, the connector having an axial bore, and its distal end and proximal end permitting a connection of the Luer type to a needle and to a syringe, respectively. The connector supports, on its inside, a sealing valve equipped with a slit, and the axial bore has, in its portion between the sealing valve and the distal end of the connector, a leaktight mating surface, the shape of which is such that it permits liquid-tight mating with the outer surface of the distal end of the straightener, when the latter is introduced into the connector via the sealing valve.
US08251919B2	Lancet and lancet device including the same In order to provide a lancet which has a simple structure and which can secure safety, in particular, after use, and a lancet device including the same, a lancet (20) includes a casing (22), and a puncture body (23) which is accommodated in the casing (22) so as to be movable in a puncturing direction. For removing the lancet (20) from a main body (30), the lancet (20) has a convex portion (22b) formed on an inner surface (22a) of the casing (22) and a recessed portion (groove (23c)) formed on the puncture body (23), which form fitting for holding the puncture body (23) so as to be immovable in the puncturing direction in the casing (22).
US08251918B2	Method and apparatus for simultaneously collecting exocervical and endocervical samples A method of simultaneously collecting exocervical and endocervical cells from a female patient, includes providing a combination exo-endocervical sampling device including a sampler having a pair of opposing wings and a prominence extending from the wings. The opposing wings include a sampling surface and the prominence includes a multiplicity of endless looped fiber pairs distributed axially along a distal end section of the prominence. Each looped fiber pair includes a first loop extending transverse from the shaft and a second loop extending transverse from the shaft. The loops define a void space therebetween configured to capture exo-endocervical cells. The method includes placing the sampling device in contact with a cervix of the female patient, collecting exocervical cells with the opposing wings of the sampling device, and simultaneously collecting endocervical cells with the prominence.
US08251917B2	Self-contained handheld biopsy needle A self-contained hand-held biopsy needle has various features relating to automated sampling and recovery. Among the disclosed features are ones suited to fully-disposable single-use automatic biopsy devices, such as light weight, low cost, and simple design.
US08251911B2	Monitoring physiological condition and detecting abnormalities A system and method for monitoring an individual's physiological condition and detecting abnormalities therein, comprising concurrently receiving an electrocardiograph signal and a ballistocardiograph signal. The electrocardiograph and ballistocardiograph signals are conditioned to minimize background extraneous noise after which, each signal is concurrently processed and analyzed to detect repeating cyclical patterns and further characterized to identify individual components of the repeating cycles. At least one individual component in one signal is selected as a reference marker or a selected component in the other signal. The two signals are then synchronized, outputs produced therefrom and stored in a database.
US08251904B2	Device and method for insulin dosing A device and method of providing instruction to a patient regarding the dosing of insulin is provided.
US08251902B2	Pedicle guided retractor system There is disclosed a retractor system to facilitate surgical access to an intervertebral disc between an inferior vertebral body and a superior vertebral body. In an embodiment, the retractor system includes an elongate member having an anchor to attach to a pedicle of an inferior vertebral body with respect to an intervertebral disc. A retractor body has a collar to attach to the elongate member, slides coupled to the retractor body, and a pair of blades mounted to the slides. The blades have a proximal end and a distal end, a distance between the proximal end and the distal end of each one of the blades configured for displacing tissue for access to an intervertebral disc. An attachment portion is adjacent the proximal end of each one of the blades for attaching one of the slides thereto. Geometry of the blade end conforms to anatomy surrounding the pedicle.
US08251898B2	Laryngoscope apparatus with enhanced viewing capability Laryngoscope apparatus including a curved laryngoscope blade and an optical system for affording a field of view along a deflected line of sight for reducing patient manipulation and/or the degree of force required to achieve a good glottic view.
US08251895B2	Endoscope with an electric heating system An endoscope is provided, comprising a first tube whose distal end is sealed with a cover glass disposed in a mount and an electric heating system for heating the cover glass, with the heating system comprising two electric connections which can be connected with a power source, and an electrically conductive coating which is applied to the inside of the cover glass and comprises two mutually spaced contact sections, of which one each is electrically connected with one of the connections, and with the mount being electrically conductive and a first of the two contact sections being electrically connected via the mount with the associated connection.
US08251891B2	Totally wireless electronically embedded action-ended endoscope utilizing differential directional illumination with digitally controlled mirrors and/or prisms A hand manipulated endoscopic medical device is disclosed. The medical device includes a body having a proximal end, which is hand manipulated, and a distal end which includes a manipulator. A light emitting device is centrally disposed at the distal end. An imaging device is centrally disposed at the distal end for imaging at least a portion of the region illuminated by the light emitting device. Also disclosed is a tool for extracting an artificial lumbar disc from between a pair of vertebral plates. The extraction tool includes a handle, a member for transmitting force, and a sharpened end, specially configured to be placed between the artificial disc and the vertebral plate. Further disclosed is a tool for implanting or explanting a ball to or from an artificial lumbar disc. The implanter/explanter includes a pinion shaft and a pinion shaft enclosure. A tightening knob is disposed at the proximal end of the shaft enclosure and coupled to the pinion shaft. A pinion is disposed at the distal end of the pinion shaft. A grappling device is disposed at the pinion, and it includes a pair of semi-circular rings. When the pinion is rotated, the semi-circular rings move relative to one another and are capable of grasping or releasing the ball.
US08251889B2	Apparatus and method for intra-abdominally moving a first internal organ to a position away from a second internal organ and then holding the first internal organ in the position without manual input An apparatus including a flexible length of cord and three tissue connectors positioned at the opposite ends of the cord and at an intermediate position of the cord is designed to be laparoscopically inserted through the abdominal wall and into the abdominal cavity, and used to move a first internal organ to a position away from a second internal organ where the apparatus holds the first internal organ in the position without further manual input, thereby providing surgical access to the second internal organ.
US08251887B2	Reproductive technology of low dose semen production and in vitro/in vitro fertilization in domestic animals Artificial insemination of female animals and in vitro fertilization of oocytes with fresh or frozen-thawed semen have been applied to the reproduction of animals. According to the traditional theory and conventional procedures, a great number of sperm cells are needed to ensure a successful fertilization.
US08251885B2	Applications of alternating magnetic fields on magnetic nanoparticles Embodiments include applying or generating an alternating magnetic field near an affected area of a subject to be treated. When magnetic nanoparticles are located in the affected area, the magnetic nanoparticles are oscillated by the alternating magnetic field, which causes the magnetic nanoparticles to be dispersed within the affected area, break up the affected area, and/or heat the affected area.
US08251884B2	Methods for asymmetrical irradiation of a body cavity The disclosure describes devices and methods for asymmetrical irradiation at a body cavity or site, such as after removal of tissue, e.g. biopsy or cancer. One device includes a lumen which is off-set or off-settable from a longitudinal axis to increase the intensity of radiation received from a radiation source by a first tissue portion surrounding the body cavity and to reduce or minimize radiation received by a second tissue portion (e.g. healthy tissue) surrounding the body cavity.
US08251882B2	Method for operating a longitudinal folding apparatus having a folding blade and a folding table, and longitudinal folding apparatus A longitudinal folding machine comprises a folding blade and a folding table. The folding blade is driven with a cyclical frequency relative to one or more elements of a web-processing machine, or relative to a flow of incoming products. The entry of a leading edge of products is detected at a first measurement point. A relative phase position between the movement of the folding blade and the phase position of the elements and/or the phase position of the flow of products is modified by one of a control and a regulation device to adjust a contact point of the folding blade with the products to be folded. The relative phase position is modified such that the leading edges of the products to be folded are maintained at a distance from the measurement point on the delivery route.
US08251879B2	Shoulder rehabilitation and exercise device A shoulder rehabilitation and exercise device is disclosed which enables a user to perform internal and external rotations of both right and left shoulder. The device is comprised of a base plate, hydraulic damper, restrictor arm, actuator arm, elbow cup and hand grip. A smooth, fluid-like movement is achieved during performance of arcuate internal and external shoulder rotations while also providing automatic increases and decreases in resistance to such motion in response to user effort. In certain preferred embodiments, in addition to such automatic adjustment of resistance, the device includes a means of manually adjusting resistance. The device may be utilized to perform the aforementioned internal and external rotations on a user's right or left side without need for making any adjustments to the machine. Range of motion limitations may be set to control the arcuate degree of internal and external rotations performed. Adjustment in the elevation of a user's forearm via adjustment of a two section, pivoting base plate is provided that enables elevation adjustment without effecting operating resistance. The actuator arm includes an adjustable elbow cup and adjustable hand grip. The device does not store potential energy or produce sufficient momentum to oppose a user's immediate and safe termination of motion.
US08251876B2	Breathing exercise apparatus A breathing exercise apparatus comprises a chamber having a vent open to the atmosphere, a mouthpiece having an opening, a first member having a plurality of apertures positioned in the chamber between the opening in the mouthpiece and the vent, a second member having a plurality of apertures positioned in the chamber adjacent the first member, and a motor coupled to the second member and operable to move the second member with respect to the first member such that the apertures in the second member intermittently align with the apertures in the first member to vary the resistance a user experiences when both inhaling and exhaling through the apparatus.
US08251875B2	Mobile wireless audio device We have disclosed a modular personal network (MPN) that includes multiple devices that may be worn, carried, or used in close proximity to a user. The devices communicate wirelessly. Functions of the MPN may be modified by adding or removing components. The MPN may communicate with a personal computer. General purpose devices may include a control unit, a display, a user input, and an audio output. The MPN may provide a variety of functions, including time, communication, entertainment, organization, guidance, athletic, medical, travel, outdoors, identity, security, and military.
US08251874B2	Exercise systems for simulating real world terrain An exercise system includes one or more exercise devices that communicate via a network with a communication system. The communication system stores and/or generates exercise programming for use on the exercise device. The exercise programming is able to control one or more operating parameters of the exercise device to simulate terrain found at a remote, real world location. The exercise programming can include images/videos of the remote, real world location. The control signals and the images/videos can be synchronized so that a user of the exercise device is able to experience, via the changing operating parameters, the topographical characteristics of the remote, real world location as well as see images of the location.
US08251867B2	Method for operating a drive train of a vehicle A method for operating a drive train of a vehicle in which the drive train has at least an internal combustion engine, an engine clutch, an electric machine, a single and a multi-group manual transmission with synchronized and/or unsynchronized shift elements for shifting gears, an axle transmission, as well as an associated control device for controlling the gear shifts. It is provided for the purpose of expanding the functional possibilities, that the electric machine is used, during gear shifts in the manual transmission, as a mode of synchronization, a synchronization aid, or at least as a shifting aid such that changes in the direction of rotation of the transmission shafts are taken into consideration.
US08251856B2	Multi-speed transmission having four planetary gear sets for producing at least eight gear speeds 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 two to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
US08251855B2	Multi-speed gearbox A transmission which comprises an input shaft and an output shaft, first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth shafts, first, second, third, fourth and fifth gearshifting elements for achieving eight forward gears and one reverse gear. The first gearshifting element, when engaged, couples the third shaft with a housing of the transmission. The second gearshifting element, when engaged, couples the fourth shaft with the housing of the transmission. The third gearshifting element, when engaged, couples the input first shaft with the fifth shaft. The eighth shaft (8) is coupled with the fourth gearshifting element and the fifth gearshifting element (E), when engaged, couples the fifth shaft (5) and the seventh shaft (7).
US08251853B2	Friction gear A planetary friction gear is enabled to make it possible to transmit comparatively great torque densities while providing a very high degree of smoothness of operation, preventing the unwanted slip-stick behavior in friction gears. The inventive gear is particularly suitable for actuators used in the immediate vicinity of humans in everyday life.
US08251850B2	Strong two-mode hybrid powertrain with two motor/generators A hybrid electro-mechanical transmission connectable with multiple power sources for launching and propelling a vehicle includes an output member and a stationary member. The transmission also includes a first and second planetary gear sets, and two members of the first planetary gear set are operatively connected to two members of the second planetary gear set, and a torque-transmitting device. The power sources include an engine, a first motor/generator and a second motor/generator. The engine and the second motor/generator are each operatively connected to the first planetary gear set, and the first motor/generator and the output member are each operatively connected to the second planetary gear set. Furthermore, the torque-transmitting device is engageable to ground the engine to the stationary member such that the transmission provides first and second drive modes for launching and propelling the vehicle.
US08251847B2	Drive mechanism for barrier operator An electric motor driven barrier operator includes spaced apart frame plates for supporting the motor, an intermediate drive shaft and an operator final output shaft. The motor output shaft, intermediate shaft and final output shaft are mounted on bearings at fixed centers on the frame plates and the motor and intermediate shaft are interconnected by a stretchable flexible drive belt reeved over respective drive pulleys mounted on the motor output shaft and the intermediate shaft. The drive belt may be mounted on the pulleys and replaced without adjusting the position of the motor output shaft, the intermediate shaft or the operator output shaft.
US08251846B2	Game ball having optimally positioned grooves A basketball having an outer surface and including a first set of channels formed into the outer surface of the basketball. The basketball further includes a bladder, a carcass and at least one cover panel. The carcass covers the bladder and has an outer surface that defines a second set of channels. The cover panel(s) is positioned over the carcass and over at least one of the channels of the second set of channels. The cover panel(s) generally conforms to the shape of the outer surface of the carcass such that the cover panel defines at least one groove in the outer surface of the basketball corresponding to the channels of the second set of channels. The depth of the groove is greater than or equal to 0.7 mm and less than or equal to 10 mm.
US08251842B2	Basketball shooting training glove A system and training method adapted to assist an individual in improving his or her basketball shooting skills and accuracy. The system includes an apparatus and glove that can be used independently or together. The apparatus is adapted for mounting to a basketball rim and includes flexible paddles for mounting to the rim so that the paddles project upwardly from the rim. The glove is adapted to be worn on the shooting hand and includes fingers, wrist and backhand portions. The fingers portion has three separate sleeves interconnected by elastic webs therebetween. The backhand portion interconnects the fingers portion to the wrist portion. The glove is configured so that the three middle fingers of the shooting hand are individually inserted into the sleeves and elastically held together by the webs, while allowing the thumb and outer finger of the shooting hand to spread outward and support the basketball during shooting.
US08251839B2	Multilayer golf ball containing at least three core layers, at least one intermediate barrier layer, and at least one cover layer The present invention is directed to multi-layer golf balls having at least three core layers, at least one cover layer, and at least one intermediate layer between the core and the cover layer that acts as a vapor barrier. Advantageously, the at least three core layers have a hardness gradient that either increases or decreases toward the at least one intermediate vapor barrier layer.
US08251838B2	Multi-layer cover golf ball having non-ionomeric intermediate cover layer A golf ball including a core and a cover disposed adjacent the core, the cover including an ionomeric thermoplastic inner cover layer disposed about the core and having a hardness of 55 Shore D to 60 Shore D; a castable thermoset polyurethane outer cover layer having a hardness between 55 Shore D and 60 Shore D; and a non-ionomeric thermoplastic intermediate cover layer disposed between the inner and outer cover layers, the non-ionomeric intermediate cover layer being formed of a polyester/polycarbonate blend and having a hardness greater than both the inner and outer cover layers; wherein the inner cover layer has a first thickness, the outer cover layer has a second thickness, and the intermediate cover layer has a third thickness less than the first or second thickness by at least 20%.
US08251834B2	Golf club head with improved performance A golf club head with an improved sweet spot, defined as a portion of the striking face that has at least 99.7% of the maximum ballspeed is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head with a significantly circular sweet spot that encompasses at least about 1.5% of the total striking face. A golf club head in accordance with the present invention may generally have a improved face geometry with an elliptical factor of greater than about 0.5, a beveled transition portion around the striking face of the golf club head, a variable face thickness region with decreases thickness, or even a tilted bulge and roll radius all helping improve the performance of the golf club head.
US08251833B2	Golf swing-aid trainer, a dynamic swing aid device for improving the golfer swing action A dynamic swing-aid device used to improve the golfer's swing action. It also reduces potential risk of swing injuries to golfers. The upper portion of this device is the wrist channel that fits over the forearm and allows the swing correction to occur. The lower part of the device is the handle guide that keeps the shaft of the golf club in the proper position with the clubface square to the target. This wrist swing-aid device is constructed of rigid material, and shaped to fit and support the club handle and to help the golfer's grip and swing motion. Its shape has a locating feature to lock in the top of club's handle. The sponge padded wrist channel has a self-adjusting feature to accommodate player's forearm size. The wrist channel upper portion may rest against the leading forearm to maintain a consistent swing motion and prevent wrist-hinging action during the club swing.
US08251830B2	Engine shaft for a gas-turbine engine A low-pressure turbine shaft (11) for a gas-turbine engine includes a fiber-composite plastic tube (13) with fiber layers provided in an inner wall area for taking up and transmitting torsional forces, and, in an outer wall area, with fiber layers suitably oriented for influencing stiffness and damping characteristics. The fiber layers are embedded in a high temperature resistant plastic matrix. A load input element (14) is an attachment flange (24) made of fiber-composite plastic material integrally formed on a fiber-composite plastic tube (13). A load output element (15) is a metallic driven protrusion inseparably connected to the fiber layers transmitting the torsional forces. Alternatively, the load input element may be provided as a metallic driving protrusion, which is firmly connected to the fiber layers taking up the torsional forces.
US08251829B2	Constant velocity ball joint in the form of a counter track joint A constant velocity ball joint is disclosed. The constant velocity ball joint may be a counter track joint, and may include first and second track pairs that form an opposite opening angle. The first track pairs may be provided with a track inflection point. The second track pairs may each form a second track centerline that has a path other than a singular circular path in a section between the central joint plane and the connection side.
US08251828B2	Constant velocity joint A constant velocity joint is disclosed that includes a first rotatable shaft comprising an axle portion having on one end an enlarged pocket end, the pocket end having a plurality of circumferentially and radially spaced ball pockets; a corresponding plurality of spherical balls disposed in the pockets; and a second rotatable shaft comprising a joint housing, the joint housing having a central bore with a corresponding plurality of axially extending, circumferentially and radially spaced ball grooves disposed about the second longitudinal axis and a base, the joint housing disposed over the pocket end with the corresponding plurality of balls disposed in the grooves, the joint providing a range of angular and axial movement of the first shaft relative to the second shaft, each of the plurality of ball pockets comprising a portion of the pocket having a conformity ratio C greater than about 1.04.
US08251827B2	Constant velocity joint of tripod type A constant velocity joint comprises: a hollow housing having a plurality of guide grooves therein, a tripod having a plurality of trunnions. Each trunnion includes two opposing spherical contact surfaces disposed in the directions subject to load, and two opposing side surfaces disposed between the two opposing spherical contact surfaces and in the directions perpendicular to the spherical surfaces and not subjecting to the load. A cross sectional shape of the trunnion, the cross section taken in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the trunnion, has a thickness at one or both lateral sides of the trunnion the same as or slightly less than a maximum non-interfering thickness of the trunnion. Preferably, a groove of circular or oval shape is formed on each of the two opposing spherical contact surfaces, the groove for retaining grease therein to lubricate contact surfaces.
US08251826B2	Transmission device having overload protection subassembly A transmission device includes a first transmission mechanism and a second transmission mechanism. The first transmission mechanism includes a first rotating portion and an engaging portion fixed on the first rotating portion. The second transmission mechanism includes a second rotating portion and at least one overload protection subassembly. The at least one overload protection subassembly includes a transmission member pivotally attached on the second rotating portion and two flexible members resisting against an opposite end of the transmission member at two opposite rotating directions of the transmission member to make the transmission member locate at a non-rotatable position with respect to the first rotating portion. An end of the transmission member engages the engaging portion to rotate with the first transmission mechanism.
US08251824B2	Central determination gaming system with a keno game A central determination gaming system with a keno game. Upon a player initiating a game play at a gaming terminal, the gaming terminal enables the player to select a plurality of symbols. The gaming terminal accesses a standard set of predefined symbols for the specific game played. The gaming terminal bidirectionally maps the player's selected symbols with the standard set of predefined symbols. The gaming terminal receives a predetermined game outcome seed from a central controller. The gaming terminal utilizes the selected game outcome seed to generate a plurality of game symbols. The gaming terminal determines if each of the generated game symbols needs to be modified. If so, the gaming terminal modifies these generated game symbols based on the bidirectionally mapping, presents the modified game symbols to the player and provides the player a game outcome that is determined based on the selected game outcome seed.
US08251818B1	Reflex training and improvement system A reflex training system operates on a computer or other processing system, having hand and foot controls for response to stimuli. The use of a computer allows the system to be portable and used in a variety of locations. The system is highly configurable and can be used for training for individuals having different needs and at different levels. The configurability relates to the types of stimuli presented to the user, the types of responses required by the user, and the characteristics of different levels. The system provides a variety of reports relating to performance so that progress can be reviewed. The system can be operated on-line to create a community of users.
US08251817B2	Game device, game control method, and game control program A game device includes a shape data storage which stores data of an object disposed in a three-dimensional space, a first rendering unit which sets a point of view and a line of sight and renders the object, a viewpoint changing unit which receives a change instruction indicating a change of the point of view or line of sight and changes the point of view or line of sight, and a character controller which moves a character along the outer surface of the object. The character controller allows the character to move between two-dimensional planes of objects rendered in such a manner that the objects are adjacent to each other in the two-dimensional planes generated by the first rendering unit, and the game device further includes a search unit which searches a set of objects lying within a predetermined range of distance in the two-dimensional plane, and changes the point of view or line of sight so that the searched objects can be rendered adjacently to each other in the two-dimensional plane.
US08251815B1	Synchronic construct of time implemented within video games and other computer software Time implementation feature for video games. The time feature employs a synchronic construct of time for use in a computer software program, including a video game. The synchronic construct of time comprises assigning to each action in the game a specific number of synchronic timekeeping units. The number of synchronic timekeeping units assigned to an action may approximate how long the action might take in real time and/or may be used to weight the importance of the action. The invention can be implemented via a stand-alone computing system or such a system interconnected with other platforms or data stores by a network, such as a corporate intranet, a local area network, or the Internet.
US08251813B2	Information processing device, control method for information processing device, and information storage medium To provide an information processing device for enabling a user to select their desired number of images from among a plurality of images displayed close to one another. A trajectory obtaining unit obtains a trajectory of a position, the position being designated by the user. A selection candidate image determination unit determines images, among the plurality of images, that are surrounded by the obtained trajectory. A number of times the images determined by the selection candidate image determination unit as being surrounded by the trajectory obtained by the trajectory obtaining unit are surrounded by the trajectory is obtained. An image selection unit selects the number of images, the number corresponding to the number of times obtained by a surrounding number of times obtaining unit, from among the images determined by the selection candidate image determination unit as being surrounded by the trajectory obtained by the trajectory obtaining unit.
US08251811B2	Game machine, game machine control method, and information storage medium A game machine includes playing content of a player in a game play part, in which the player operates an operation target, to be reflected in an action of the operation target in a video image. Reproduction data is recorded for reproducing a scene of the operation target moving in a game space according to the operation of the player. Base video image data is stored for reproducing a base video image representing a scene of a predetermined region of the game space. A video image is displayed based on a base video image and a reproduced video image such that a time of displaying a predetermined scene of the base video image and a time of displaying a scene of the operation target moving in the predetermined region in the reproduced video image based on the reproduction data are synchronized.
US08251810B2	Video game that generates characters from other characters A video game permits player characters to form relationships, including parent-child relationships. In addition, death and reincarnation of player characters can be employed as features of the video game.
US08251805B2	Gaming system having improved progressive jackpots A method of operating a wagering game comprises receiving a primary wager, displaying a randomly selected outcome of a primary wagering game, and displaying at least one progressive jackpot. A first portion of the primary wager is allocated to fund the at least one progressive jackpot. An increment amount to be added to the at least one progressive jackpot is randomly determined, the at least one progressive jackpot is incremented by the increment amount, and in response to a triggering event, the at least one progressive jackpot is awarded. Alternatively, a random determination is made whether to increase the at least one progressive jackpot by a predetermined increment amount and, in response to a determination to increase the at least one progressive jackpot, the at least one progressive jackpot is incremented by the predetermined increment amount.
US08251800B2	Class of feature event games suitable for linking to multiple gaming machines A gaming method, apparatus and system for playing a game of chance is disclosed in which a plurality of gaming machines may be linked together for mutually competitive play. According to one embodiment, two or more gaming machines are linked to a centrally located display exhibiting a game board comprising one or more groups of earmarkable cells in one or more groups. Players on the gaming machines wager and attempt to achieve winning outcomes which earmark cells in the group with designators of their respective gaming machines. When a predetermined number or configuration of cells of a group are earmarked, an award may be distributed to those gaming machines having earmarked cells according to the number of designators within that group associated with each gaming machine. The game of chance may be configured for play on an individual gaming machine.
US08251796B2	Gaming system and a method of gaming including a display device of generally diamond shaped configuration A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a plurality of display positions disposed in a display area, a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for display at respective display positions, and an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether the selected symbols correspond to a winning outcome with reference to at least one of a plurality of defined win lines. Each of the defined win lines comprises at least one display position, and at least some of the win lines comprise differing numbers of display positions. A corresponding method of gaming is also disclosed.
US08251794B2	Methods and apparatus for slot machine games A slot machine includes an option in which the probability of an outcome is influenced by changing the probability of one or more symbols occurring on one or more reels (reel 1, reel 2, . . . ) by randomly or pseudo-randomly selecting reels from a set of two or more reels. The probability can be adjusted by changing, adding or subtracting symbols on a reel strip.
US08251789B2	Game control program, game control method, and game device A game apparatus controls a game in which a user-controlled character and an opponent character hit a ball. A serve control unit receives the first input operation from a user and makes the character perform an action of tossing the ball when the character performs a serve. The serve control unit receives the second input operation from the user and makes the character perform an action of the serve. The serve control unit determines a ball power or ball speed in the serve based on the first input operation, and determines a shot type in the serve based on the second input operation. The serve control unit makes the character perform the serve according to the determined ball power or ball speed and the determined shot type.
US08251786B2	Protection device for ventilation ducts The invention relates to a protection device for ventilation ducts where at least one duct opening for the supply and/or evacuation of air is provided, in particular for fire protection of air conditioned rooms for information technology installations. To separate the protection zones in the event of an emergency according to high safety standards, it is suggested that said protection device comprises at least one protection slide that is supported in a vertically displaceable manner and furthermore includes a sliding mechanism by means of which said protection slide is movable from an open position to a closed position of said duct opening, said duct opening being completely covered by said protection slide in said closed position.
US08251783B2	Apparatus and method for a sausage-casing-sensitive division of stuffed sausage strands An apparatus for a sausage-casing-sensitive division of stuffed sausage strands, having at least one pair of dividing elements for dividing the stuffed sausage strand and at least two guide elements between which the stuffed sausage strand is conveyed in the conveying direction. The distance between the guide elements can be adjusted in dependence upon the sausage caliber.
US08251782B2	Accumulator driven angle grinder An angle grinder for driving a cutting or grinding tool (12), includes a housing (11) having a first housing section (14) extending along a first axis (A1), and in which a motor (18) is arranged, and a second housing section (15) extending along a second axis (A2) and in which an accumulator receptacle is arranged, with the first and second axes (A1, A2) extending at an angle (α) to each other; and with a handle (20) having its first end (21) secured to the first housing section (14) and its second end (22) secured to the second housing section (15).
US08251780B2	Floor grinding machine and grinding head unit therefor A grinding head unit mountable in a planetary disk of a surface grinding machine generally including a housing mountable on the planetary disk, a holder supported on the housing and a surface grinding member detachably connectable to the holder wherein the holder is provided with a recess and the holder is provided with a portion receivable within such recess.
US08251778B2	Double-side grinding apparatus for wafer and double-side grinding method A double-side grinding apparatus is designed to be capable of minimizing thermal expansion of hydrostatic pad members and reducing nanotopography in performing wafer grinding. The double-side grinding apparatus is a double-side grinding apparatus for wafers that can simultaneously grind either surface of a wafer to be ground by pressing a grindstone against either surface of the wafer to be ground while hydrostatically supporting either surface of the wafer to be ground in a noncontact manner. Each hydrostatic supporting unit is formed with a hydrostatic pad member facing the wafer to be ground, and a base member placed on the back surface of the hydrostatic pad member. The hydrostatic pad member is made of a ceramic member, and the base member is made of a metal member.
US08251776B2	Method and apparatus for conditioning a CMP pad The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for conditioning a polishing pad used in chemical mechanical polishing in which a consistent pressing force can be provided between an abrasive conditioning member and the polishing pad. Specifically, a moveable weight member is provided that can be selectively moved along a length of a support arm in the conditioning apparatus. The position of the weight member relative to the position at which the abrasive conditioning member is mounted alters the resultant pressing force in view of the change in moment created. In a particular example, the positioning of the weight member can be automatically controlled using a drive mechanism controlled by a control unit, such as a computer. In a more particular example, the positioning of the weight member can be dynamically controlled if the control unit receives an external feedback upon which its control of the weight member position is based, such as a detected value of the pressing force exerted by the abrasive conditioning member. Finally, if the apparatus is appropriately arranged to permit the weight member to travel to an opposite side of the location at which the support arm is mounted from the abrasive conditioning member, then a “negative pressing force” can be generated, such that effective pressing forces less than the resting weight of the pad conditioning apparatus can be realized.
US08251770B2	Simulated eye for toy A simulated eye capable of being changed between a normal and a dilated state. The simulated eye includes an eyeball, a receiving member, at least one first electromagnets, at least one second electromagnets, and magnetic powder. The receiving member includes a translucent portion and a cylindrical portion. The at least one first electromagnets is received in the cylindrical portion and is adjacent to the translucent portion. The at least one second electromagnets is fixed to the cylindrical portion and engages with the translucent portion to close the cylindrical portion to form a closed receiving space. The magnetic powder is received in the closed receiving space. When the first and second electromagnet operates to move the magnetic powder toward and away from the translucent portion, a size of a color area of the translucent portion is changeable, whereby the simulated eye is changed between the normal state and the dilated state.
US08251768B2	Floating toy A floatable toy structure is disclosed herein, the floatable toy structure having a floatable base portion; a collapsible track section secured to the floatable base portion, the collapsible track section capable of being positioned in an extended position and a stowed position, the collapsible track section extending upwardly from the floatable base portion when it is in the extended position; and a collapsible support secured to the floatable base portion, the collapsible support capable of being positioned in an extended position and a stowed position, the collapsible support extending upwardly from the floatable base portion when it is in the extended position, the collapsible support engages and maintains the collapsible track section in the extended position when the collapsible support is in the extended position.
US08251764B2	Swim fin A swim fin includes a foot cover, a fin blade, and a pair of reinforcement ribs extending from two sides of the foot cover. The fin blade is disposed between the pair of the reinforcement ribs and fixedly connected to the pair of the reinforcement ribs. Each reinforcement rib includes a front rib portion, a middle rib portion, and a rear rib portion. The rear rib portion has a bottom fixedly connected to the foot cover. The middle rib portion has at least a cavity extending axially and a spring in the cavity to improve the resilience of the reinforcement rib. The spring has two ends connected to the front rib portion and the rear rib portion, respectively. The one spring or the plurality of springs in the reinforcement rib of the present invention is to replace a conventional solid reinforcement rib, with the property of the spring.
US08251762B2	HF-angle plug connector An HF angle plug connector having an exterior conductor component and an interior conductor component, wherein the interior conductor component has a fastening element for mechanical and electrical connection to an interior conductor component of a coaxial cable, wherein the exterior conductor component has a cable-side end on which the coaxial cable is arranged and a front face opposite the cable-side end, the front face being transected by a longitudinal axis of the installed coaxial cable, and wherein an inspection opening is on the exterior conductor component such that the fastening element of the interior conductor component is visible through the inspection opening after installation of the interior conductor component of the coaxial cable on the fastening element of the interior conductor component, wherein a cover component for closing the inspection opening is one piece with the exterior conductor component.
US08251757B1	Cable clamp having a base with a tapered hole and a sleeve with a tapered outer wall to clamp a cable in-between A clamp includes a main shaft, a clamping sleeve, an elastic element, and a securing cap. The main shaft includes a base portion and a guide bar. The base portion includes a first end surface, and a second end surface. The base portion defines a first receiving hole in the second end surface. The guide bar extends from the base portion. The clamping sleeve is arranged around the guide bar, and includes an outer sidewall for allowing a cable to wind. The elastic element is arranged around the guide bar. The securing cap is threadedly engaged with the guide bar, and the securing cap configured for rotatably operated to press the elastic element toward the clamping sleeve, such that the elastic element pushes the clamping sleeve against the base portion to clamp the cable between the outer sidewall and an inner sidewall of the base portion.
US08251756B2	Nut holding means within a busbar housing A device connector has a housing to be mounted on a device. Busbars are held in the housing. The housing includes nut holding portions, each of which has two nut holding legs at positions facing a device connecting portion of the corresponding busbar. A space between the nut holding legs is open sideways. Connecting nuts are sandwiched between the nut holding legs from lateral sides. Nut insertion holes are formed in the device connecting portions of the busbars and communicate with threaded holes of the nuts. Protecting walls are formed integrally to the housing and extend between the nut holding legs of the nut holding portion and cover the leading end of the bolt screwed into the nut.
US08251755B2	Connector with a laterally moving contact A connector includes a housing, a contact, an angled interface, and a resilient member. The contact is disposed in the housing and includes a mating end and an interface end. The angled interface includes a sliding surface that is oriented at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. The resilient member is coupled with the contact and the housing and is configured to apply a force to the contact in a direction that is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis. The mating end of the contact engages a conductive element of a mating connector and the interface end of the contact slides along the sliding surface of the angled interface when the contact is moved in a mating direction toward the conductive element. The angled interface translates movement of the contact in the mating direction into lateral movement across the conductive element.
US08251753B2	Electrical connector with contacts firmly retained in housing An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1) and at least one contact (4) assembled to the insulative housing. The insulative housing defines an insertion hole (15) along a mating direction and a passageway (131) opening at an upper face (10) thereof. The passageway has a first slot (132) at a side face of the insulative housing and a second slot (133) positioned between the first slot and the insertion hole along a transverse direction which is perpendicular to the mating direction. The second slot communicates with the insertion hole. The insulative housing includes a supporting part (134) between the first slot and the second slot. The at least one contact is assembled to the insulative housing from the upper face. The at least one contact includes a curved portion (40) crossing over the supporting part, a first arm portion (41) extending downwardly from the curved portion and retained in the first slot of the passageway, a second arm portion (42) extending downwardly from the curved portion and received in the second slot of the passageway, and a contacting portion (44) extending from the second arm portion into the insertion hole.
US08251749B2	Implementing impedance gradient connector for board-to-board applications A method and connector housing are provided for implementing an impedance gradient connector for board-to-board applications. The impedance gradient connector housing includes a plurality of impedance zones with a first impedance zone including a first mating face with a first Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and with a second impedance zone including a second mating face with a second PCB. Each of the respective predefined impedance zones including the first mating face and the second mating face include a selected impedance to minimize impedance mismatch with associated PCBs.
US08251741B2	Electrical connector integrally formed with screw holes An electrical connector includes a plurality of terminals and an insulating housing loading terminals and defining a pair of mounting portions. Each of mounting portions has a screw hole extending along an upper to lower direction in which the electrical connector is mounted. The hole is divided into at least a first segment and a second segment below the first segment. The first segment and the second segment are tapped with a plurality of threads thereinside and open in opposite directions along a front and rear direction respectively.
US08251732B2	Power input electrical connector A wiring harness electrical connector is provided having a detachable and re-attachable mounting system to permit the attachment of the connector on a frame surface of a semi-trailer, or workpiece, from the rear or interior side of the of the frame or workpiece without disruption to the integrally formed and moisture proof encasing of the connector.
US08251730B2	Electrical connector assembly with latch system easy to operating An electrical connector assembly includes an insulative housing defining at least two mating cavities arranged side by side in a widthwise direction and extending in a front and rear direction; two PCB modules received in each mating cavity in a stacked manner; a platform fitly attached to a top surface of the insulative housing and includes a pair of supporting sections disposed at a front edge thereof and a pair of connecting portion at a rear edge thereof; a pair of latches associated to the top surface of the insulative housing and comprising a locking portion for retaining a complementary connector and a pressed portion extending rearwards and disposed above the supporting portion ; and a driver rotatably retained on the pair of connecting portions of the platform and comprising a pair of contacting portions pressing against the pressed portions of the latches to urge the pressing portion downwards movement.
US08251721B2	Active connector An active connector is provided that allows for simple designing of devices for high-speed wideband pulse signal transmission without specialized technical know-how in the use of connectors. A connector base has a first connection terminal and a second connection terminal, and houses a first matching circuit, a second matching circuit, and a buffer circuit. The first connection terminal and the second connection terminal can be used as an internal port electrically coupled to a device circuit and an external port electrically coupled to a transmission line, respectively. An input signal inputted into the first connection terminal is supplied to the first matching circuit. The second matching circuit supplies an output signal to the second connection terminal. A buffer circuit between the first matching circuit and the second matching circuit inhibits mutual influences between the input signal and the output signal.
US08251719B1	Flash drive A flash drive includes a frame and a main body. A receiving portion defining a receiving space therein is formed on an end of the frame. Two arms extend from opposite ends of the receiving portion. A universal serial bus (USB) connector is formed on an end of the main body. The main body is slidably and pivotably installed between the arms. The main body is operable to slide toward the receiving portion to insert the USB connector into the receiving space. And when the USB connector is received in the receiving space, the main body is operable to slide away from the receiving portion, to move the USB connector out from the receiving space, and the main body is then pivotable relative to the arms.
US08251717B2	Electrical connector An electrical connector includes an insulative housing having a base portion extending along a front-to-rear direction and a strengthening rib protruding outwardly from an outer circumstance of a front end of the base portion. At least one receiving recess is defined on the strengthening rib and opened upwardly via an opening defined on an upper face of the strengthening rib. A plurality of contacts are secured in the insulative housing. A metallic shell surrounds the base portion and includes at least one retaining plate received in the receiving recess. A transverse width of the receiving recess becomes narrower and narrower in a vertical direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction so as to keep the retaining plate being secured.
US08251715B2	Electrical connector having latching members maneuvered by lever An electrical connector is adapted for electrically connecting an electronic package (3) to a circuit board. The electrical connector includes an insulative housing (10) for receiving an electronic package, a stiffener (30) supporting the insulative housing, a pair of latching members (50) mounted on the stiffener and pivotable about a respective first axis therethrough, and a lever (70) mounted on the stiffener and pivotable about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, the lever being operable to pivot the latching members to a closed position for pressing against the electronic package.
US08251714B2	Socket assembly having clip and articulated leaf selectively interlocked with stiffener An electrical connector is adapted for electrically connecting an electronic package (3) to a circuit board. The electrical connector includes an insulative housing (11), a stiffener (13) supporting the insulative housing and formed with a stopper (137), a clip (30) formed with a depressing portion (34), and a leaf (50) formed with an anchor (52). The clip is mounted on the stiffener and is pivotable between a first position and a second position. The leaf is mounted on the clip and is pivotable between the second position and a locked position. When the leaf is positioned at the locked position, the anchor is blocked by the stopper and the depressing portion of the clip depresses the electronic package.
US08251708B2	Connection apparatus and connection method thereof A connection apparatus used to connect a connector to a test apparatus includes a main board, a first connector, and a number of second connectors. The main board includes a number of pins arrayed a 9*10 matrix, the nine lines defined as A-I, the ten rows defined as 1-10. The second connectors are respectively connected to the pins A5, B5, D5, E5, G5, H5, B6, C6, E6, F6, H6, and I6 of the main board. The pins of main board in the 1-6 rows, the 3-8 rows and the 5-10 rows are respectively connected to the connector to be tested by the first connector. Signal transmission of the connector is input to the circuit board and output to the test apparatus by the second connectors.
US08251707B2	Patch panel assembly for use with data networks A structure for use with data network management systems uses a plurality of cables interconnecting patch panels, network devices and end-user devices and further utilizes integrated circuits to monitor the status of these end-user devices. The structure includes respective primary (36) and secondary (45) circuit boards. A plurality of connective jacks (31) are mounted on the primary circuit board and these jacks are interconnected to switches and other patch panels within the network. Wires from the jacks extend to and connect with end-user devices and a secondary circuit board is spaced apart from the primary circuit board so as to define a hollow nest (42) within the patch panel assembly that houses and protects integrated circuits (45, 52) and the like.
US08251703B2	Healthcare training system and method A healthcare simulation system includes a mannequin with active physiological characteristics, a display monitor adapted for displaying physiological parameters and a computer for controlling the mannequin and the monitor. A healthcare simulation method includes the steps of programming the computer with healthcare scenarios, operating active characteristics of the mannequin and dynamically displaying physiological parameters corresponding to patient vital signs.
US08251702B2	Methods and apparatus for online auctions and market-places utilizing program terms An on-line market-place includes an auction wherein one or more predefined terms, qualities, incentives, or other such indicia (generally, “Program Terms”) are associated with the particular product and/or service which is the subject of the auction. Customers rank or otherwise designate their preference for these Program Terms (e.g., by selecting a “Preferred Program Term”), and the system then partitions the customers into “pools” in accordance with the selected Program Terms. Merchants then compete to obtain that pool of customers by bidding on the Preferred Program Term. Customers may be pooled according to demographic or other customer characteristics (“Characteristic Pooling”), or according to level of commitment to purchase (“Commitment Pooling”).In one embodiment, customers who would otherwise be partitioned into different pools are grouped in the same pool, and changes to a first Preferred Program Term associated with a first customer automatically causes a bid of equivalent value to be made to a second Preferred Program Term associated with a second customer. In another embodiment, “ghost pools” are used select preferred merchants for particular auctions. In yet another embodiment, an electronic marketplace is provided wherein Program Terms can be highly tailored by the purchaser immediately.
US08251700B2	Surface treatment process for implants made of titanium alloy A titanium 6 A1/4V alloy is provided with a surface topography that is similar to the Osseotite® surface produced on commercially pure titanium. Native oxide is removed from the Ti 6A1/4V alloy, followed by contacting the metal at ambient temperature with an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution containing a relatively small amount of hydrofluoric acid.
US08251699B2	Orthodontic bracket and method of attaching orthodontic brackets to teeth An orthodontic bracket having an opening for receiving a wire, but without a base to create a lever arm when the bracket is oriented in free space at a customized angle relative to a tooth surface. The bracket can be embedded into or encapsulated by an adhesive that is bonded to the tooth. A clip is provided for holding the bracket in position and occluding the opening while the adhesive is applied. And indirect methods of attaching the brackets to teeth are provided wherein the brackets can be attached to the lingual side of the teeth in a low-profile arrangement. A first method includes the step of positioning the brackets on a physical model of the teeth by using a positioning machine. A second method includes the step of positioning virtual brackets on a virtual model of the teeth using software, then generating a physical transfer try using rapid prototyping.
US08251693B2	Injection mold having bearing plates to undertake a closing mold pressure Disclosed is an injection mold, comprising a moving half, a fixed half and a plurality of bearing plates positioned therebetween. The moving half comprises a moving half plate and a moving half core positioned thereon. The fixed half comprises a fixed half plate and a fixed half cavity positioned thereon. The bearing plates are positioned on one of the fixed half plate and the moving half plate and a bearing surface is formed thereon. The moving half core and the fixed half cavity contact with each other partially to form an arrangement surface. With the bearing plates positioned therebetween, the bearing surface and the arrangement surface can undertake the closing mold pressure generated by an injection molding machine together for reducing the arrangement surface area. The molding is easy and cost drops to improve productivity. The closing mold balance of the entire injection mold can be preferably ensured.
US08251690B2	Mold assembly including a fixing bolt and a screw bolt A mold includes a die block, a core, two fixing bolts and four screw bolts. The die block includes a top surface, and two side surfaces. The top surface defines a cavity receiving the core. The core includes two opposite outer side surfaces. One side surface defines a first and a second guiding slots extended to the other side surface and communicating with the cavity. One outer side surface defines a third guiding slot aligned with the first guiding slot. The other outer side surface defines a fourth guiding slot aligned with the second guiding slot. One of the fixing bolts inserts into the first and the third guiding slots. The other one of the fixing bolts inserts into the second and fourth guiding slots. The at least two screw bolts respectively engage with the die block until resisting on a corresponding fixing bolt.
US08251687B2	Process for the production of a long hollow cellulose body Process for the production of a long hollow cellulose body, where cellulose-forming organisms are cultivated in an interior space formed by a hollow mold, said space substantially having the shape of the long hollow body, in order to allow the long hollow body to grow in the interior space, wherein the direction of growth of the hollow body runs substantially from a first longitudinal side of the interior space to a second longitudinal side substantially opposite the first.
US08251686B1	Apparatus for making debris-free nail collation An apparatus for forming a plastic molded collated fastener assembly includes a conveyor for carrying a plurality of fasteners in a horizontal plane defining an upper surface and a lower surface, a preheater for preheating the plurality of nails and a plastic collation molding station. The molding station includes injection nozzles for applying molten plastic to the upper surface of the fasteners and to the lower surface of the fasteners. The station further includes forming wheels including a holding section to, in cooperation with the conveyor, secure the fasteners. The wheels include a forming section to mold the molten plastic to the fasteners to form a collation having a collar encircling the fasteners' shanks and a connecting portion extending between the collars. The apparatus includes at least one cooling spray nozzle to spray a cooling vapor onto the fasteners and collations and at least one cooling spray nozzle to spray a cooling vapor onto the forming wheels. An air chiller further cools the collations.
US08251685B1	Apparatus and methods for building or drywall tools The present invention is directed generally to building tools that are high quality, durable, and in some case lightweight and may include an output port assembly that has multiple sections that may be made separately and uniquely so as reduce tool weight, corrosion, and cost without degrading strength and durability.
US08251683B2	Variable capacity rotary compressor A variable capacity rotary compressor includes a rolling piston eccentrically rotated in the compression space of the cylinder assembly, and a vane coming in contact with the rolling piston. A vane restricting device restricts the vane by applying a pressure onto a side face of the vane, where a sectional area A of a passage through which the restriction pressure is applied to the side face of the vane is formed so as not to be larger than a vane area B of the vane to which the restriction pressure is applied through a passage. The passage includes a first passage for connecting an inner space of the casing to a vane slot which is provided in the cylinder assembly and has the vane slidably inserted therein, and a second passage for connecting the vane slot to an inlet which is connected to the suction chamber of the cylinder assembly.
US08251682B2	Multi stage rotary expander and refrigeration cycle apparatus with the same An integrally formed vane (301) is disposed slidably in a vane groove (205a) of a first cylinder (205) and a vane groove (206a) of a second cylinder (206). A cut-out (301a) with a width substantially equal to the thickness of an intermediate plate (304) is provided in the vane (301), which is divided by this cut-out (301a) into a first vane portion (301b) whose leading end makes contact with a first piston (209) at its leading end and a second vane portion (301c) whose leading end makes contact with a second piston (210). This configuration allows the first vane portion (301b) to be pushed toward the first piston (209) side by the pressure difference acting on the second vane portion (301c) and makes it possible to keep a contact state between the first vane portion (301b) and the first piston (209), even when no pushing force toward the first piston (209) side that results from the pressure difference acts on the first vane portion (301b).
US08251681B2	Fan and motor thereof A motor includes a rotor magnetic ring, a stator core, a first magnetic conducting sheet and a second magnetic conducting sheet. The stator core is disposed around and out of the rotor magnetic ring. The first magnetic conducting sheet has a ring shape with a protruding portion serving as a first magnetic pole. The second magnetic conducting sheet has a ring shape with a protruding portion serving as a second magnetic pole. The first magnetic conducting sheet is disposed at the upper side of the stator core, and the second magnetic conducting sheet is disposed at the lower side of the stator core. The projections of the first and second magnetic poles alternate with each other. A fan including the motor is also disclosed.
US08251679B2	Medical pump A medical pump for use in water jet surgery which provides ease of connection between a pump unit and a pump actuating device. The medical pump includes a pump unit and a pump actuating device. The pump unit has at least one piston. The pump actuating device includes a holding device and at least one coupling device, the combination of which is configured to connect the pump unit and pistons to the pump actuating device. The pump actuating device includes a drive device controlled by a control system to actuate the pump unit, to open/close the holding device, and to open/close the at least one coupling device. The pump actuating device includes a detection device in communication with the control system that detects a relative position between the pump unit and the pump actuating device and transmits detection signals to the control system.
US08251676B2	Axial-flow fan for a vehicle radiator An axial-flow fan for a vehicle radiator includes a fan wheel that delivers the main air flow and is driven by a hub motor coupled to the fan wheel. The vehicle radiator is on the intake side of the fan wheel, the hub motor during operation is cooled by a secondary air flow, and the cooling air flow of the hub motor flowing out from an air outlet opening is on the intake side in the hub area of the fan wheel. An air baffle device including a propeller is assigned to the hub motor and the cooling air flow passing through the air baffle device is led out of the air outlet opening, avoiding disturbances of the main air flow delivered by the fan wheel.
US08251662B2	Wind turbine blade assembly and apparatus In one aspect, a wind turbine blade assembly includes a central shaft defining an axis of rotation and a plurality of helically twisted blades supported on the central shaft. The helically twisted blades have an inner edge and an outer edge, and at least a portion of the helically twisted blades is radially spaced apart from the central shaft. In another aspect, a wind turbine apparatus employing the wind turbine blade assembly is provided.
US08251661B2	Blower wheel The invention relates to a blower wheel, especially a plastic blower wheel for a cylindrical rotor radial fan for the heating and air-conditioning systems of a motor vehicle. Said blower wheel comprises a plurality of blades (2), and the flow channel (3) between two blades (2) is embodied in such a way that it is convergent on the inflow side, divergent on the outflow side, and distinctively shaped.
US08251654B2	Hub cone for an aircraft engine A hub cone (20, 30, 40) is provided for an aircraft engine having a propeller (2, 32, 42) or a blower (fan) (3) enveloped by a casing (5). To reduce flow losses of the hub cone and increase efficiency of the engine, a contour of the hub cone is described by the following equation: S(x)=Rmax*{1−[(x−Lmax)/Lmax]2}1/M; where: S(x) is a shape of the cone defined along the machine axis x; Rmax is a maximum extension (26) of the cone in the radial direction; Lmax is a maximum extension (25) of the cone in the direction of the machine axis x and M is a quantity describing the shape S(x).
US08251653B2	Heat dissipation module and fastening structure thereof A heat dissipation module is disclosed, including a fan and a fastening structure. The fastening structure includes housing and at least one fixing element. The fixing element is disposed on the sidewall of the housing and has a first protruding part extruding from the inner side of the sidewall. When the fan is assembled with the fastening structure, the first protruding part partially enters into at least one molding hole of the frame of the fan and the first protruding part is placed against the edge of the molding hole.
US08251652B2	Gas turbine vane platform element A gas turbine CMC shroud plate (48A) with a vane-receiving opening (79) that matches a cross-section profile of a turbine vane airfoil (22). The shroud plate (48A) has first and second curved circumferential sides (73A, 74A) that generally follow the curves of respective first and second curved sides (81, 82) of the vane-receiving opening. Walls (75A, 76A, 77A, 78A, 80, 88) extend perpendicularly from the shroud plate forming a cross-bracing structure for the shroud plate. A vane (22) may be attached to the shroud plate by pins (83) or by hoop-tension rings (106) that clamp tabs (103) of the shroud plate against bosses (105) of the vane. A circular array (20) of shroud plates (48A) may be assembled to form a vane shroud ring in which adjacent shroud plates are separated by compressible ceramic seals (93).
US08251650B2	Compressor housing The present invention provides a compressor housing capable of reducing the weight of a compressor without leading to an increase in the size and a reduction in the efficiency of the compressor. The compressor housing includes: an inner cylinder made of a plastic material and extending in an axial direction and in a circumferential direction to surround blade tips of the blades; and an outer cylinder made of a plastic material and extending in the axial direction and in the circumferential direction to surround the inner cylinder. The inner cylinder and the outer cylinder are bonded or jointed at the first end, opposite the second end where the volute is formed.
US08251644B2	Engine blower An engine blower includes a centrifugal blower, an engine, and a frame for supporting the centrifugal blower. The centrifugal blower is supported by a back support of the frame via a flexible vibration-proofing section while being connected to the back support via a belt-shaped stopper. An engaging hole is provided on at least one of the centrifugal blower and the back support, and a thick engaging section is provided on at least one end of the stopper for being engaged with the engaging hole. When the stopper is inserted into the engaging hole and the one end of the stopper is pulled, the engaging section is engaged with the engaging hole. By further pulling the one end of the stopper, the engaging section is tightly buried into the engaging hole. Thus, the stopper can be reliably attached to the centrifugal blower or the back support.
US08251640B2	Blade assembly A blade assembly for a rotary component comprises an aerofoil member and a displacement apparatus on the aerofoil member for displacing a detached first portion of the aerofoil member in a rearward direction relative to a second portion of the aerofoil member. On failure of the aerofoil member, the displacement apparatus displaces the first portion from the second portion in the rearward direction.
US08251639B2	Gas turbine with at least one multi-stage compressor unit including several compressor modules A gas turbine includes at least one multi-stage compressor unit 2, with the compressor unit 2 including several, independent compressor modules 3-5, which, independently of each other, are rotatably borne on a drive shaft 1 and are each engageable with the drive shaft 1 by at least one clutch unit 9-11.
US08251634B2	Transfer plate and method for loading a cargo space The invention relates to a transfer plate for loading a cargo space. The transfer plate is intended to be moved, together with cargo units, into the cargo space and back again, the cargo units remaining in the cargo space. Rolling elements are arranged, over at least part of the length of the transfer plate, on the side of it facing the cargo units to permit movement between the transfer plate and the cargo units. The transfer plate is mainly of plastic and the thickness of the structure formed by the transfer plate and the rolling elements are less than 70 millimeters. The invention also relates to a method for loading a cargo space.
US08251633B2	Container inverting device A container inverting device is capable of inverting containers that have a neck oriented in a first direction at the entrance of the device and then in a second direction at the exit of the device. The inverting device includes at least one clamp (45) for holding the neck of a container. The clamp (45) is mounted on a belt (49) by a fixing bracket (47), and in order to invert the container, the belt passes around at least one pulley (33) and moves the clamp from one side of the pulley (33) to the other.
US08251632B2	System for transporting planar SOFC stack A system for transporting planar SOFC stack is disclosed, which comprises: a frame, for carrying a cell stack; a robotic arm, for grabbing and holding the cell stack; and a driver, coupled to the frame and the robotic arm and being used for driving the robotic arm. With the aforesaid system, the cell stack can be moved in and out of a high temperature furnace smoothly and rapidly, and then into a fuel cell control system, maintaining balance and stability of the cell stack.
US08251628B2	Joint tong apparatus for radiation shielding facility A joint tong apparatus for a radiation shielding facility. A spherical ball has a through-hole. An inner spherical socket and an outer spherical socket are installed in a hole formed in a partition between a radiation-shielded room and a control room so as to enclose the spherical ball on inner and outer sides. A bar is inserted and coupled into and to the through-hole of the spherical ball. An inner joint assembly has a first housing coupled to a shielded room-side end of the bar and a first pivot member pivotably mounted on a free end of the first housing. An outer joint assembly having a second housing coupled to a control room-side end of the bar and a second pivot member pivotably mounted on a free end of the second housing. The apparatus further includes a tong assembly, a handle assembly, a tong manipulation cable, and a pair of pivot manipulation cables.
US08251626B1	Bolt and receiver for adaptively attaching to surfaces A bolt and receiver are provided to securely attach a device (e.g. light reflector or a lane marker) to a surface (such as a roadway). In addition to initially attaching the device to the surface, the bolt will nest progressively within the receiver as the surface thickness erodes or deteriorates over time, thus reducing the bolt's effective overall length (and thus the bolt's height above the surface), in order not to protrude and puncture or damage tires.
US08251625B2	Cement anchor of lightweight construction panels In a cement anchor for use in lightweight construction panels which anchor comprises a cylindrical body and at least one piston body and which includes a sealed cylinder interior filled with a flowable cement, the cylindrical body has at opposite ends at least one discharge opening which is closed but can be opened by a pressure-controlled valve structure for discharging the cement to the ambient area when installed in the lightweight construction panel.
US08251622B2	Tube restraint and methods Devices for restraining tubular segments and methods for storing and accessing tubular segments may include a frame arrangement that has a plurality of parallel cradles for holding tubular segments and movable restraining handles for securing the tubular segments. A spring retention assembly may also be provided that has a spring force to hold the restraining handles against the tubular segments. A vehicle can be equipped to have a device for storing and accessing tubular segments, wherein the device is movable between a storage position and an access position.
US08251620B2	Method and system to manufacture oriented internal and external gear teeth A system and method for forming a feature on an inner surface of a gear includes a sensor for sensing the position of a feature on the gear, a cutting station having a cutting tool for forming the feature on the inner surface of the gear, and a controller. The controller is operable to determine an amount of rotation necessary to rotate either the gear or the cutting tool such that the feature on the inner surface of the gear is formed at a desired orientation relative to the feature on the outer surface of the gear.
US08251615B2	System and method for releasing a barge from a topside during a float-over installation A quick-release system for coupling a topside for a fixed or floating platform and a barge for float-over installation of the topside is disclosed. The quick-release system comprises one or more releasable connections, each releasable connection configured to support at least a fraction of the weight of the barge and to be remotely actuated to allow the barge to decouple from the topside. In some embodiments, the quick-release system comprises two plates, one coupled to the topside and the other coupled to the barge, and a plurality of bolts extending therebetween. A frangible nut is coupled to each bolt. The quick-release system is actuatable by an electric signal that causes the frangible nuts to fracture and the barge to subsequently be released from the topside.
US08251613B2	Pipeline laying vessel and method of laying a pipeline The invention relates to a pipeline laying vessel (1) for laying a pipeline (2) at a seabed (3) and comprising a tower (4) comprising a firing line (5) along which in use the pipeline is laid and at least one work station (6) for connecting a pipe section (7) to a suspended pipeline and a method of laying pipeline at a sea bed with such a pipe laying vessel.
US08251611B2	Drainage element and apparatus and method for making same A preassembled drainage line element is fabricated with one or more flaps. In one embodiment, the drainage line unit is made from a webs of net material and a web of water permeable material and has two flaps at diametric points. The webs are formed about a barrel and the longitudinal edges are secured together, as by sewing a seam, to form a flap. The seam can be sewn at one of a plurality of spacings from the barrel to form a drainage line element of a different diameter from a standard diameter without need to adjust or replace other components of the fabricating machine.
US08251609B2	Method of operating a shiplift A platform includes main transverse beams (“MTBs”), each supported by at least one hoist. It is determined whether a load on any MTB is different from the load on any other MTB by more than a predetermined amount. An MTB which has a load different from the load on any other MTB by more than a predetermined amount is selected and then vertically moved with respect to the other MTBs within a predetermined safety limit to transfer load between the selected MTB and the other MTBs while monitoring the loads on each MTB and the position of the selected MTB as vertical movement of the selected MTB proceeds. The monitored loads and position are compared with the safety limit; and the movement of the selected MTB stopped when either the desired load transfer is completed or the safety limit has been met.
US08251608B2	Method of operating a shiplift A platform includes main transverse beams (“MTBs”), each supported by at least one hoist. It is determined whether a load on any MTB is different from the load on any other MTB by more than a predetermined amount. An MTB which has a load different from the load on any other MTB by more than a predetermined amount is selected and then vertically moved with respect to the other MTBs within a predetermined safety limit to transfer load between the selected MTB and the other MTBs while monitoring the loads on each MTB and the position of the selected MTB as vertical movement of the selected MTB proceeds. The monitored loads and position are compared with the safety limit; and the movement of the selected MTB stopped when either the desired load transfer is completed or the safety limit has been met.
US08251603B2	Pressure fed squeege applicator A squeegee apparatus for coating mixed materials on a surface is used in combination with a source of pressurized activator and resin in fluid communication with a mixing tube having an outlet. The squeegee apparatus includes a manifold in fluid communication with the outlet of the mixing tube. The squeegee is held by either the manifold or a handle. At least one distribution tube is provided to distribute the coated material, where the tube has a length with a plurality of holes to dispense the mixed materials during use. The distribution tube is fluid communication with the outlet of the mixing tube, with the distribution tube being fastened to the manifold. Moreover, an elongated squeegee is fastened to the manifold. The squeegee has an edge configured to spread the mixed materials during use. The distribution tube and the squeegee edge are aligned along substantially parallel axes and held in fixed relationship to each other by the manifold.
US08251601B2	Camera module and method for fabricating the same The invention provides a camera module and a method for fabricating the same. A camera module includes an image sensor device chip having a plurality of solder balls on a bottom surface thereof. An optical lens is disposed on the image sensor device chip. A metal plate has a part that extending over the bottom surface of the image sensor device. A metal coating layer surrounds vertical surfaces of the optical lens and a top surface of the part of the metal plate. A first light shielding layer covers vertical surfaces of the metal coating layer.
US08251599B2	Telescoping camera crane A camera crane includes a telescopically extendible arm with a camera platform pivotally attached to the front end of the arm. An arm support can support a back section of the arm at two or more positions. Consequently the pivot axis of the arm can be shifted to the front or rear, to change rear clearance requirements, counterweight requirements, and the reach of the arm. A leveling system on a nose assembly includes at least one motor within a sealed motor housing. When the head moves to an out of level position, an electronic controller energizes the motor which exerts torque to return the head to level.
US08251597B2	Aerial support structure for capturing an image of a target An aerial support structure for capturing an image of a target via a camera mounted thereon includes a support platform, a frame mounted to the support platform and a beam movably attached to the frame. A camera platform suspends and is axially spaced from the support platform by a plurality of support cables. An actuator is mounted to one of the support platform and the frame, and the actuator is associated with each of the plurality of support cables. Operation of the actuator causes the beam to move with respect to the frame, thereby moving the camera platform relative to the support platform.
US08251596B2	Imaging apparatus An imaging apparatus allows an interior structure including a camera unit to make a retreating movement in response to a shock applied to a cover from various directions. The imaging apparatus includes a camera unit including a lens and an image sensor, a dome cover covering the camera unit, a tilt support stand tilt-rotatably supporting the camera unit, a pan rotary support member pan-rotating together with the tilt support stand, and an elastic member arranged on the pan rotary support member and imparting an urging force to the tilt support stand. When a force is applied from the dome cover, the camera unit can make a retreating movement in a vertical direction and a slanting direction.
US08251593B2	Connector having an floatable optical module A connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1) having a receiving slot (121) formed therein; a set of contacts (2) retained in the insulative housing; an optical module (3) for transmitting optical data and being movably received in the receiving slot along a front-to-back direction; a resilient member (4) for urging the optical module moving forwardly in the receiving slot; a stopping device (124,125) for orientating the optical module backwardly and sidewardly; a resisting device (75) for orientating the optical module along a height direction of the insulative housing; and a metal shell (7,8) shielding the insulative housing.
US08251592B2	Male optical connector and female optical connector and related optical fiber coupling assembly An optical fiber coupling assembly includes a male optical connector and a female optical connector. The male optical connector includes an insulative base having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a male transmitting surface, first lenses mounted to the insulative base and exposed at the male transmitting surface, and a cover having an arm and a blocking plate. One end of the arm is fixed to the second surface, the other end of the arm resiliently attached to the blocking plate. The blocking plate is apart from the first lenses for covering the first lenses. The female optical connector faces the male transmitting surface. The female optical connector includes an insulative supporting member having a female transmitting surface facing the male transmitting surface, second lenses mounted to the female transmitting surface, and two spaced pushing members formed on the female transmitting surface.
US08251589B2	Linear roller bearing with bonded rolling surface parts A guide carriage for a linear roller bearing is supportable in a longitudinally displaceable manner via a large number of rolling elements on a guide rail which extends in a longitudinal direction, and has at least one rolling surface part including at least one carriage rolling surface for the rolling elements and is attached to a main body of the guide carriage via at least one adhesive layer, and a thin sheet-metal panel which has at least one opening is located between the rolling surface part and the main body, with the adhesive layer located inside the opening.
US08251586B2	Lubricating member for linear motion rolling guide unit and slider for linear motion rolling guide unit A lubricant can be evenly applied onto raceway faces or raceway grooves of a rail even when fixed to a horizontal, vertical, tilted, or ceiling surface. One or a plurality of embedding portions (26e) having a recess or a hole is formed in a member body (26) straddling the rail (R). An impregnation holding member (30) holding a lubricant is embedded in the embedding portion. The lubricating member supplies the impregnating lubricant onto the rail raceway faces while making contact with them. Even when the rail is fixed to a horizontal, vertical, tilted or a ceiling surface, the embedding portion of the member body straddling the rail has at least a part maintained in position at a level equal to or higher than the level of at least a part of one of the raceway sections (21a, 21b) of the rail located higher relative to the other raceway section.
US08251582B2	Communications device with integrated case temperature measurement A communications device with integrated case temperature measurement includes a case having at least one thermally conductive wall and a circuit board at least partially disposed within the case. At least one electronic component is mounted on the circuit board and a temperature sensor is mounted on the circuit board. At least one thermally conductive protrusion extends from the wall and is thermally coupled to the temperature sensor.
US08251577B2	Heat sink tester A heat sink tester for pressing a heat sink against a simulation heat source includes a base, a pressing assembly and a supporting device. The base is for supporting the heat sink thereon. The pressing assembly presses the heat sink against the base along a first direction. The supporting device is for supporting the simulation heat source thereon. The supporting device pushes the simulation heat source through the base to engage against the heat sink along a second direction opposite to the first direction.
US08251576B1	Cold lift-off test for strength of film stack subjected to thermal loading Multilayer articles such as thin-film solar cells can be effectively tested under thermal load in a mini-module that includes a chamber or enclosure in which one or more laminated multilayer articles are housed. The inner dimensions of the chamber, at least along the axis that is perpendicular to the plane defined by the laminated solar cells, are configured to remain substantially constant during testing. Cooling the laminated solar cells in the mini-module device causes the encapsulant material to shrink and thereby induces accelerated failures in the laminated solar cells and associated structures. A technique of detecting the presence of defects or failures is near infrared radiation thermography wherein NIR images of the laminated solar cells are taken during the cooling process. The color patterns manifested from the cooled laminated solar cells can reveal the location, nature and extent of the defect or failure.
US08251573B2	Cutting tool for juicer with multiple blade and gearing arrangement A cutting tool for juicer includes a seat of axis, on which mounted a main blade axis, a main tool and an assistant blade axis for driving an assistant tool. The main blade axis drives the assistant blade axis to rotate via a gear A and a gear B of a gearing arrangement. The assistant blade axis drives the assistant tool to rotate. The revolving direction of the assistant tool is vis-à-vis with respect to that of the main tool, and the speed of the assistant tool is different from that of the main tool. A gear C is provided at the top of the assistant blade axis. An assistant blade pan of having inner teeth that extend inward is sheathed on the top of the main blade axis. The assistant tool is mounted on an outboard surface of the assistant blade pan. The gear C engages with the inner teeth of the assistant blade pan.
US08251572B2	Apparatus for releasing a cup from the cup holder of a food mixing machine A food mixing machine (16) includes an agitator (15) for mixing food in a cup (C). The cup (C) is received in a flexible boot (22) which is carried by a cup holder (21). The cup holder (21) also carries a cup release assembly (23) which is biased away from the cup by springs (24). At the end of the mixing cycle, a release initiating assembly (60) engages the cup release assembly (23) which overcomes the bias of the springs (24) and allows the cup release assembly (23) to engage the boot (22) which in turn releases the cup (C) from the cup holder (21).
US08251570B2	Method for blending of concentrations for dilution on the fly A process for concentrating and diluting a treatment substance to provide a diluted treatment for introduction to a wellbore is disclosed. In one embodiment, the process includes measuring a treatment fluid flow rate. The process also includes blending the treatment fluid with a treatment substance to produce a concentrated treatment fluid. The process further includes measuring a flow rate of the concentrated treatment fluid. Moreover, the process includes determining a difference between the treatment fluid flow rate and the flow rate of the concentrated treatment fluid. In addition, the process includes comparing the difference to a target difference. The process additionally includes adjusting the difference to be within a desired range of the target difference and diluting the concentrated treatment fluid to provide the diluted treatment fluid.
US08251569B2	Automated solution maker apparatus An automated solution maker is provided. The automated solution maker mixes a chemical with a solvent to a desired concentration. The concentration of the solution is monitored by measuring the conductivity of the solution. Based upon this measurement, the concentration of the solution may be adjusted.
US08251567B2	Mixer with pivotable bowl Mixer systems with pivoting mixer bowl arrangements are provided.
US08251566B1	Push button release for luminaires in a track lighting system The invention provides an apparatus for engaging and disengaging a track lighting assembly with respect to a track in a track lighting system. The apparatus includes a track engaging apparatus that includes a housing. The housing includes a rotation inhibitor that has a protruding end that protrudes from the housing for engaging with the track and preventing the track engaging apparatus from rotating with respect to the track. The rotation inhibitor further includes a receiving member for translating a force in a first direction into motion of the rotation inhibitor in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The apparatus further includes an actuator for applying the force in the first direction to the receiving member.
US08251565B2	Illumination device and display device A display device has at least one light source for emitting light and a light guide plate having a first surface for inputting light emitted from the at least one light source, a second surface for outputting illumination light, and a third surface opposite to the second surface. A display element having dots for displaying image information is arranged over the second surface of the light guide plate for receiving the illumination light. At least two microprisms are arranged on the third surface of the light guide plate in areas overlapping the dots of the display element. Each microprism has a height in the range of from 1 μm to 10 μm and a mirror surface for reflecting light emitted from the at least one light source. Each mirror surface has a base disposed perpendicular to a light path of the light emitted from the at least one light source.
US08251563B2	Polarized diffractive backlight A backlight is provided for illuminating an at least partially transmissive display. The backlight includes a light source. A light guide receives the light from an edge surface and guides the light by total internal reflection. The light is extracted from the lightguide using sub-wavelength extraction features designed on the basis of two interleaved grating structures. The emitted light, using this arrangement has a high level of polarization.
US08251562B2	Unitary light guide plate, light guide plate unit, planar lighting device and liquid crystal display device A unitary light guide plate includes a light exit plane, a thick portion located substantially on a center portion of the light exit plane, thin end portions formed on both sides of the thick portion, a half portion of a parallel groove formed on a backside of the light exit plane to accommodate linearly arranged light sources, inclined back portions arranged so as to become thinner from the thick portion to the thin end portions, and scattering means for scattering light entering from the light sources accommodated in the parallel groove into the thin end portions and propagated through the inclined back portions toward the thick portion. A light guide plate unit has two or more of the unitary light guide plates coupled together in such a way that respective light exit planes are arranged to form a same plane.
US08251549B2	LED module An LED module includes an LED and a lens fixed with the LED for refracting light emitted by the LED. The lens has a center axis and a concaved inner face for incidence of the light and an opposite convex outer face for the light refracting out thereof. A peak intensity for light generated by the LED occurs within 52-67 degrees off the center axis when the light leaves the outer face.
US08251547B2	Emission device, surface light source device and display A light flux control member has a back face provided with a recess and a ring-like-recess-portion surrounding the recess. Output light of a point-like-light-source (light emission element) is incident to the recess and the ring-like-recess-portion. Incident light to the recess is emitted from a light control emission face after inner-propagation. Incident light to the ring-like-recess-portion is refracted as to hardly generate inner-propagation light deflected to directions near to a direction of reference optical axis L, resulting in outgoing from any part of the light control emission face, or, if some outgoing occurs from the light control emission face, such outgoing occurs only at an outer periphery portion of the light control emission face. As a result, illumination light quality is avoided from being reduced by appearance of conspicuous ring-like bright part. In addition, uniform illumination light can be supplied to a broad angle range. Even if a plurality of point-like-light-sources are arranged at intervals, respective light fluxes originated from respective point-like-light-sources are well mixed.
US08251545B2	Lighting device and display device including the same A lighting device and a display apparatus are disclosed. The lighting device includes at least one light source installed on a substrate, spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other, and a filter member provided over the at least one light source having a variable thickness. Light emitted from the at least one light source transmits through the filter member. The display apparatus includes a panel that displays an image, a front cover that supports a front edge portion of the panel, and a lighting device mounted in an open portion formed at the front cover, the lighting device being exposed outside.
US08251541B2	Tubeless light-emitting diode based lighting device A tubeless light-emitting diode (LED) based lighting device includes at least one base, at least one LED lighting module, and at least one control circuit. The base includes a heat dissipation body. The LED lighting module is mounted to the base so that the base provides the LED lighting module with the functions of retention and heat dissipation. The control circuit is mounted to the base and is electrically connected to power wiring of the LED lighting module for ON/OFF switching of the LED lighting module and supplying of operation power. As such, a tubeless lighting device that emits light in a power saving manner and is constructed in a volume reduced manner is provided.
US08251540B2	Lamp for side-marker, clearance or combination thereof A low profile, streamlined, lamp for use as a side-marker and/or a clearance light on a vehicle which directs a substantial amount of its light output at an angle left and right of the perpendicular axis, and along the longitudinal axis through the agency of an optical element positioned between the light source and the outer cover.
US08251539B2	Energy saving lamp An energy saving lamp is provided. The energy saving lamp includes a main body, a circuit, an adjusting member, and a shielding device. The circuit includes a plurality of parallel loops, each parallel loop includes at least one light emitting member and a pair of open ends, the adjusting member is rotatably connected to the main body; the shielding device is fixed on the adjusting member; a conductive rod is fixed at the shielding device, and is received in an accommodating hole of the main body; when the adjusting member turns under a twisting force, it drives the shielding device to turn, the conductive rod moves in the accommodating hole to contact different number of the pairs of open ends to close the loops of the open ends, the light emitting members in the closed loops are thus turned on.
US08251538B2	Lighting device The invention relates to a lighting device (101) comprising a blue light source, e.g. an LED (102), combined with a wavelength converting ceramic (106) and a collimating optical component (110). The ceramic (106) is mechanically carried by the optical component (110), for example by a glue or by insert moulding. Intermediate gaps between the light source (102) and the converter (106) are preferably filled with a material like silicone.
US08251536B2	Flashlight with mounting apparatus A light and support structure apparatus, wherein the light may have beam width adjustment such that the beam may be easily adjusted from a wide beam to more of a spot beam. The light may also be able to switch to a different color beam. The light may utilize standard cylindrical batteries which are inserted into a battery compartment side by side with their positive and negative ends in the same orientation. The light may be mounted upon a tripod or a monopod, and in some embodiments a tripod with flexible legs utilizing ball and socket joint connectors which, when interconnected, form a flexible assembly. Each connector may include a body with a first and second end portion. An external socket engaging surface is provided at one end of the body. The other end of the body has an internal cavity. The socket engaging surface of one connector is snapped into the internal cavity of another to interconnect the connectors. In some embodiments, the ball and socket joint connectors utilize an over-molded strip around the outside of the connector to facilitate in their use for gripping.
US08251534B2	Key holder A key holder including an illumination means for illuminating a key shank, the key holder including first and second cooperating parts for accommodating the handle of the key therebetween, said first cooperating part including a fastening means releasably engageable with a key ring mount permanently fixed on said second cooperating part, said fastening means and key ring mount arranged in use to secure the cooperating parts to each other.
US08251533B2	Illuminary assembly An improved luminaria assembly with controlled ballast mechanism is provided. In one embodiment, the improved luminaria assembly has an outer container and an inner reservoir. In some instances, the outer container and inner reservoir are assembled over a base. The inner reservoir is configured to hold a controlled volume of ballast for the improved luminaria assembly and also to hold an illuminating source. In one embodiment, spillover cavities are provided on the base region surrounding the inner reservoir to enable removal of excess ballast from the inner reservoir. In one embodiment, a decorative sleeve is inserted in the region between the outer container and the inner reservoir. The decorative sleeve contains decorative elements that are visible when the luminaria is illuminated using the illuminating source. In some instances, the improved luminaria assembly is treated with fire retardants to mitigate fire hazards.
US08251530B2	Light emitting device To provide a low-profile light emitting device which can be manufactured with good productivity without worsening mold releasability and can prevent bending an end terminal of a lead electrode during handling of the light emitting device. A light emitting device comprising: a light emitting element; and a package having lead electrodes for connection to the light emitting element and an opening in front thereof for emitting light from the light emitting element in which parts of the lead electrodes project out of the package and are bent so that end portions thereof are located on side surfaces of the package, wherein side surfaces have a first face adjacent to a rear surface of the package, a second face having a plane direction different from the first face, and a third face adjacent to a front surface of the package, having a plane direction different from the second face.
US08251521B2	Projector having a projection angle adjusting mechanism A multipurpose projector is provided with a fiber bundle including a plurality of cores fixedly arranged on an input plane and an output plane, laser beam sources for emitting laser beams having directivities, an optical guide unit for modulating the laser beams emitted from the laser beam sources and guiding the modulated laser beams to the input plane of the fiber bundle, a projection lens for enlarging and projecting the laser beams emerging from the output plane of the fiber bundle to a display space, and a projection angle adjusting mechanism disposed on the side of the output plane of the fiber bundle for adjusting projection angles of the laser beams projected from the projection lens. Thus, the projector can have its projection space freely operated and enlarged to extend its application not only to image display, but also to illumination and decoration with colored light.
US08251517B2	Scanned proximity detection method and apparatus for a scanned image projection system A encoded image projection system (100) is configured to determine the proximity of the system to a projection surface (106). The encoded image projection system (100) includes a light encoder (105) that scans a non-visible light beam (115) on the projection surface (106) selectively when scanning visible light to create an image. A detector (118) is then configured to receive reflections of the non-visible light beam (115) from the projection surface (106). A control circuit (120) is configured to determine the distance (124) between the projection surface (106) and the system from, for example, intensity data or location data received from the detector (118). Where the distances (124) are below a threshold, the control circuit (120) can either reduce the output power of the system or turn the system off.
US08251515B2	Projector, projection system, image display method, and image display program A projector includes: a first image projection section adapted to project a first image based on a first image signal, a second image projection section adapted to project a second image based on a second image signal such that pixels of the second image are shifted from pixels of the first image, a correction section adapted to correct the image signal input to the image projection section using a correction filter adapted to correct a difference in optical transfer function between the plurality of image projection sections; and a sharpening section adapted to execute a sharpening process of sharpening an edge portion of the image to be displayed, on the image signal having been corrected by the correction section and to be input to the plurality of image projection sections.
US08251514B2	Rear projection image display device with a plane reflection mirror A rear projection image display device according to an aspect of the present invention for projecting an image from a projection device onto a screen from a rear side, includes a plane reflection mirror for changing an optical path of the image from the projection device, fixing members for fixing more than one points on the periphery of the reflection mirror, rod-shaped reinforcement members fastened along the periphery and arranged inside the periphery in the rear side of the reflection mirror, support members being movable in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the reflection mirror, for supporting predetermined points between the fixing members on the periphery of the reflection mirror.
US08251513B2	Projector apparatus The present invention provides a projector apparatus capable of ensuring stable operation, which is configured to efficiently cool an optical device by circulating air cooled by a cooling part of a refrigeration unit, and further to prevent moisture resulting from evaporation of dew adhered to the cooling part from adversely affecting the optical device when stopping the operation of the refrigeration unit. The optical chamber and the cooling chamber are enclosed respectively by adiabatic walls, the cooling chamber and the optical chamber are connected to each other through a cold air inlet port and a cold air outlet port, and the cold air inlet port and the cold air outlet port are provided with opening and closing mechanisms. In a cooling operation mode, the optical device is cooled with cold air by opening the opening and closing mechanisms, and upon stoppage of the cooling operation, the opening and closing mechanisms are closed to prevent the inflow of the moisture in the cooling chamber to the optical chamber.
US08251512B2	Equipment and methods for the display of high resolution images using multiple projection displays The present invention discloses systems, equipment and methods that allow the improved tiling of multiple projections displays in order to create higher resolution images. Equipment and methods are disclosed for improved blending of the seam by optical means where edge blending masks are employed to create a brightness ramp in the blending region. Equipment and methods are also disclosed for the correction of artifacts in an optically blended seam by modifying the brightness of image pixels in the overlap or blend region. Equipment, systems, and techniques are disclosed for preserving the resolution and uniformity of the image across each seam by actively controlling the position of each display using a servo controlled lens mount for the positioning of each projected image in conjunction with a real time image analysis system.
US08251511B2	Method for finding the lateral position of the fovea in an SDOCT image volume Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for finding the lateral position of the fovea in an OCT image volume. In one instance, a cost function is developed whose minimum is located at or near the foveal center. This cost function includes one or more measures of retinal layer thickness and/or measures of distance from blood vessels or a priori locations.
US08251509B2	Accommodation compensation systems and methods Methods and systems for obtaining an ocular aberration measurement of an eye of a patient are provided. Exemplary techniques involve obtaining a first induced metric for the eye that corresponds to a first accommodation state of the eye, obtaining a second induced metric for the eye that corresponds to a second accommodation state of the eye, and determining a natural metric of the eye based on the first and second induced metrics. An induced metric may include a pupil size or a spherical aberration. Techniques can also include determining a target metric for the eye base on the natural metric, determining whether an actual metric of the eye meets the target metric, obtaining an ocular aberration measurement of the eye if the actual metric meets the target metric, and determining a treatment for the eye based on the ocular aberration measurement.
US08251506B2	Ink-jet recording apparatus An ink-jet recording apparatus, including: an ink-jet head having an ejection surface; a conveyor mechanism having a conveyor belt with a conveyor surface and a belt drive mechanism for moving the conveyor belt and configured to convey a recording medium; a pair of comb electrodes disposed so as to be opposed to the ejection surface, each comb electrode including a plurality of electrode portions, the electrode portions of one and the other of the comb electrodes being alternately arranged; a voltage-application power source for applying a voltage between the comb electrodes; and a controller having an attraction control portion for controlling the power source so as to attract the medium to the conveyor surface, wherein the attraction control portion is configured to control the power source such that the voltage is applied between the comb electrodes after initiation of the movement of the conveyor belt by the belt drive mechanism.
US08251502B2	Liquid-jet head chip, liquid-jet head, and liquid-jet recording apparatus A liquid-jet head chip includes an actuator substrate having liquid discharge flow paths for discharging a liquid and disposed parallel to and at a distance from each other. Each of the liquid discharge flow paths is open on a surface of the actuator substrate. A cover plate substrate is bonded onto the surface of the actuator substrate and has an opening portion that opens on a surface of the cover plate substrate on a side opposite to the actuator substrate. The opening portion includes a concave portion and through-holes extending from the concave portion and communicating with the liquid discharge flow paths. A filter structure is disposed at an approximately constant distance from the surface of the cover plate substrate to which the actuator substrate is bonded. The filter structure is located at a position so as to substantially close the opening portion of the cover plate substrate.
US08251499B2	Securing arrangement for securing a refill unit to a print engine during refilling A securing arrangement for securing a printing fluid refill cartridge to a printing unit comprising a first engagement member arranged in the vicinity of an outlet of the refill cartridge through which printing fluid contained therein is dispensable and a second engagement member arranged in the vicinity of a refill port of the printing unit and configured to be removably securable with the first engagement member so as to engage and hold the refill port and the outlet together.
US08251498B2	Processing liquid applying apparatus and image-forming apparatus A processing liquid applying apparatus includes a processing liquid transfer roller which transfers a processing liquid to a transfer medium while rotating in a predetermined direction; a processing liquid applying section which applies the processing liquid to a surface of the processing liquid transfer roller; a downstream wall which is positioned on a downstream side in a rotating direction of the processing liquid transfer roller with respect to the processing liquid applying section; and a downstream wall moving mechanism which moves the downstream wall between a downstream wall first position at which the downstream wall is positioned when the processing liquid is transferred to the transfer medium and a downstream wall second position at which the downstream wall is positioned when the surface of the processing liquid transfer roller is washed with the processing liquid.
US08251494B2	Bondable printed wiring with improved wear resistance A printed wiring member includes a dielectric substrate; a patterned copper layer formed on the dielectric substrate. The patterned copper layer includes i) contact pads for wire bonding; ii) connector pads for making electrical connection with an electrical connector; and iii) conductor traces between contact pads and corresponding connector pads. A nickel coating is formed on the contact pads and the connector pads, and a gold layer is formed on the nickel coating on the contact pads and the connector pads. A palladium deposit is formed on the gold layer on at least the connector pads.
US08251493B2	Recording apparatus A recording apparatus which can prevent a drop of a recording head upon attachment of the recording head to a carriage is provided. When a head cartridge is attached/removed to/from a carriage, the carriage is moved to an overlapping position with a head supporting base and stopped there. Projection supporting portions to guide and support rough guide projections on both side surfaces of the head cartridge so as to be properly received to guides provided for the carriage are provided for the head supporting base.
US08251492B2	Droplet receiver and method of receiving droplets Disclosed herein is a droplet receiver. The droplet receiver includes an internal space formed such that its sectional area is reduced towards an input part, thus preventing the rebounding of droplets which enter a droplet receiving part, and includes an intercepting fluid layer so as to isolate the received droplets from the outside, thus preventing droplets received in the droplet receiving part from being contaminated and volatilizing.
US08251485B2	Fluid ejecting apparatus A fluid ejecting apparatus is provided, which includes: a fluid receptor that receives fluid; a moisturizing liquid receptor that receives moisturizing liquid; a fluid ejecting head that ejects the fluid supplied from the fluid receptor from nozzles formed on a nozzle forming surface; a cap device that has a spatial region becoming airtight by an opening being covered by another member, and is capable of retaining the moisturizing liquid supplied from the moisturizing liquid receptor within the spatial region; and a pressurizing mechanism that leads out the fluid from the inside of the fluid receptor toward the fluid ejecting head and leads out the moisturizing liquid from the inside of the moisturizing liquid receptor toward the inside of the spatial region of the cap device by applying pressure to the fluid receptor and the moisturizing liquid receptor.
US08251482B1	Printing apparatus and method of acquiring correction value of conveying error While a conveying error of a roller depends on the eccentricity of the roller, the amount and the state of the eccentricity sometimes makes the roller have different conveying errors from one point in the longitudinal direction of the roller to another. There is provided a construction for obtaining a correction value that is suitable for the correction of the conveying error even in such a case as described above. To this end, plural test patterns are formed in the longitudinal direction of the roller. Then, a suitable correction value for correcting the conveying error that depends on the eccentricity of the roller is obtained on the basis of these test patterns.
US08251481B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head provided with nozzle orifices which eject liquid; a heater provided facing a liquid ejecting face of the liquid ejecting head; a transport section which transports an ejection-receiving medium between the liquid ejecting head and the heater; and a suction section which sucks the ejection-receiving medium toward the opposite side to the liquid ejecting head; wherein the suction section is provided so as to be able to change suction power in a plurality of regions along one direction of the ejection-receiving medium, and the liquid ejecting apparatus further includes a suction controller which controls the suction power in a plurality of regions of the suction section along one direction on the basis of the width in one direction of the ejection-receiving medium.
US08251477B2	Multipass printing method A multipass printing method includes determining at the end of a printing pass if at least some dot depositing elements of at least one printhead require a servicing operation. In case the determination is positive, the method includes printing at least one incomplete printing pass in which at least the dot depositing elements of the at least one printhead that require a servicing operation are not operated to print. At the end of the incomplete printing pass, the method includes servicing at least the dot depositing elements of the at least one printhead and printing at least one compensating printing pass, which adds to the information to be printed in the compensating printing pass at least part of the information that failed to be printed by the dot depositing elements of the at least one printhead in the at least one incomplete printing pass.
US08251476B2	Ink drop position correction in the process direction based on ink drop position history A method compensates for changes in drop velocity of drops emitted by inkjets in a printhead of an ink jet imaging device. The method includes adjusting image data used to generate firing signals for an inkjet ejector in a printhead of an inkjet imaging device with an initial ink drop correction parameter, adjusting a portion of the adjusted image data with another ink drop correction parameter in response to the portion of the adjusted image data corresponding to a predetermined firing pattern mask, generating firing signals for the inkjet ejector from the adjusted image data, and transmitting the generated firing signals to the inkjet ejector in the printhead.
US08251475B2	Position detection with two-dimensional sensor in printer An inkjet printing system includes a roller for advancing a recording medium along a recording medium advance direction; an inkjet printhead that ejects drops of ink; a carriage for moving the printhead along a carriage scan direction that is substantially perpendicular or perpendicular to the recording medium advance direction; one or more motors for driving the roller and moving the carriage; a two-dimensional sensor mounted on the carriage which two-dimensional sensor is configured to sense either: a) the recording medium; b) the roller and the recording medium; or c) the roller; and a controller for receiving electrical signals from the two-dimensional sensor and for controlling the one or more motors.
US08251473B2	Inkjet printing apparatus To achieve high-quality printing by controlling an ink-travelling direction by an electrostatic force so that the ink can be accurately applied on a printing medium, the ink is landed on a desired position of the printing medium effectively without disturbing the ink ejection, independent of a difference in the thickness of the printing medium. An electric field between a printing head and the printing medium is generated by applying a voltage to a platen of conductive material positioned immediately below the printing medium. At this point, the voltage applied to the platen is adjusted so that the electric field of a preferable intensity can be generated on a face of the printing head where ejection openings are formed irrespective of the thickness of the printing medium.
US08251467B2	Server assembly with multi-funtional fixing frame An exemplary server assembly includes a computer server system and a fixing frame. The computer server system includes a server cabinet accommodating one or more servers therein. The fixing frame is adaptable to operate under a fixed state for fixing the computer server system onto a surface area, or under a transferable guiding state to obliquely interconnect two surfaces of two different levels, along which the computer server system can be moved between the two surfaces.
US08251465B2	Slide rail structure A slide rail structure includes a first rail, a second rail, a third rail, and two bearing seats including bearings. The bearing seat is disposed between the first rail and the second rail. The second rail is received between the first rail and the third rail. The second rail slides relative to the first rail via the bearings. The third rail slidably contacts the second rail.
US08251459B2	Spoke wheel protector A Spoke Seal Protector that comprises a visually pleasing outer shape with an internal cavity, where the internal cavity has a lower portion shaped complimentary to the industry standard wheel adjusters on the wheel spokes of either motorcycles, bicycles, or other motor conveyances using spoked wheels. The Spoke Seal Protector is adhered onto the spoke adjustor and the internal cavity encases the spoke adjuster. Spring clips may be secured on the adjuster nut and frictionally bear against the spoke seal protector, or the spring clips may be secured on the spoke seal protector and frictionally bear against the adjuster nut. The spoke seal protector and adjustor nut may additionally have a knurled surface to provide additional fiction to secure the spoke seal protector to the adjustor nut. A common automotive or industry sealant can also be placed in the lower counterbored portion of the Spoke Seal Protector and “glue” the Spoke Seal Protector to the spoke adjuster nut and additionally create an environmental seal between the components.
US08251457B2	Child restraint safety device An apparatus for securing the head and/or torso of a child by way of a belt securing system is provided. Adjustable head and torso supporting portions can be attached to the seat of a lightweight vehicle, such as a bike trailer, or an airplane.
US08251456B2	Locking mechanism for rotating seats A locking mechanism comprises an elongate body having first and second rails each having a first end and a second end and a void disposed therebetween. Lock slots are disposed in the first end of each rail and a pad is connected to each of the rails at the second ends to join the first and second rails. A mid bar is rotatably connected to the first and second rails and positioned within the void. An extension is disposed on a second end of the mid bar, wherein the extension provides a visual indication of both a locked state and an unlocked state.
US08251450B2	Second row front tumble hook protection A seat assembly includes a seat back pivotally coupled to a seat cushion. A front leg is pivotally coupled between the cushion and a floor for providing pivotal movement of the seat cushion between a seating position and a kneel position. A front link is pivotally coupled to the cushion and includes a hook for selectively engaging a striker mounted to the floor. A seat back bracket includes an upper portion operatively coupled to the seat back allowing pivotal movement of the seat back between upright and folded positions, and a lower portion releasably coupled to the floor. The hook is engaged with the striker in the seating position to secure the seat assembly to the floor and released from the striker in response to moving the seat cushion to the kneel position to allow pivotal movement of the seat cushion between the kneel position and a tumble position.
US08251445B2	Monitoring/entertainment system for a child's seat The invention relates to a monitoring and/or entertainment system (1), especially for a child seat (10), having at least one electronic assembly (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) for displaying and/or recording images, films or film sequences, and having a molded body (2) in which the at least one electronic assembly (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) is mounted and held. In order that the monitoring/entertainment system (1) can be used for a child seat (10) when the seat shell (12) of the child seat (10) is aligned in the direction opposite to the direction of travel, according to the invention the molded body (2) has at least one fixing element (3) which is arranged to form a force-based connection to the base frame (11) of the child seat (10), wherein when the molded body (2) is in the state in which it is fixed to the base frame (11) of the child seat (10) the front side (2a) of the molded body (2) and the electronic assembly (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) mounted in the molded body (2) face towards the seat shell (12) of the child seat (10).
US08251441B2	Chair Disclosed is a chair comprising a seat, a base, a pair of parallel spaced apart uprights extending from the base positioned to opposed sides of the spine of a user seated on the chair, the uprights supporting the seat and a body support member extending from each upright in opposed directions, said body support members being substantially parallel to the back of said user. Each body support members may integrally formed with an upright with have an arcuate portion therebetween. The chair may further comprise first and second pairs of body support members and be rotatable between first and second orientations in which either the first or second body support members may form the seat or back support for the user.
US08251440B2	Multi-segmented headliner having longitudinal joint The multi-segmented headliner for a vehicle includes an elongated intermediate segment, an elongated first side segment, and an elongated second side segment. In one configuration the segments are separate and form the complete headliner on assembly inside the roof of the vehicle. In another configuration the segments are joined together in a single piece, with the side segments being movable relative to the intermediate segment. Both configurations permit the replacement of the headliner of a van or sport utility by moving the headliner either in separate segments, or folded if a single piece, through the opening defined by the rear door or liftgate of the vehicle.
US08251437B2	Front assembly for a motor vehicle comprising a front bumper shield The assembly is of the type comprising two pairs of front longitudinal members of a chassis of a motor vehicle and support and fixing mounting plates arranged at the front ends of the longitudinal members and comprising a front bumper shield comprising a one-piece plastics material frame consisting of an upper bumper beam and a lower bumper beam and two vertical members connecting the upper and lower bumper beams, the vertical members of the frame being configured to act as impact absorbers and fixed resting directly against the mounting plates.
US08251429B2	Striker webbing guide assembly An automotive vehicle including a folding rear compartment seat, the seat resides adjacent the vehicle body. The vehicle body includes a latch assembly accessible via a slot. A seat belt retractor is disposed within the vehicle body above the slot. A seat belt webbing extends from the retractor. The seat is comprised of a seat back and a seat base with a pivot interconnecting the back and base. An assembly including a striker and a webbing guide is secured to the seat back. The assembly comprises a first arm mounted to the seat back and engaging the striker element and a second arm adapted to receive the seat belt webbing.
US08251425B2	Seat frame for a vehicle seat A seat frame (1) for a vehicle seat has two seat supports (3, 3) that extend in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and are intended for laterally attaching the seat frame (1) to a vehicle floor (2) or to adjustment rails (16) for the seat frame (1). A seat shell (4) is mounted in and connected to the seat supports (3, 3) and is configured for accommodating a seat cushion. The seat shell (4) is connected to the respective seat support (3) so that the seat shell (4) and the seat support (3) form a closed profile in the connection region. The seat shell (4) is formed from a light metal and combines maximum weight reduction with a high degree of rigidity, in particular high torsional or bending stiffness.
US08251421B1	Panel carrier A panel carrying device includes a flexible strap having a first end and a second and a panel receiving mechanism attached adjacent the second end of the flexible strap. The panel receiving mechanism includes a panel receiving platform for supporting a panel, the panel receiving platform having a proximal end and a distal end, and a counterbalancing portion connected to the distal end of the panel receiving platform for assisting in balancing the panel receiving platform during placement and carrying of the panel.
US08251419B2	Lens runner system grasping device A grasping device for grasping a lens runner system is disclosed. The grasping device includes a support having a connecting rod, four claws arranged around the connecting rod, a driving sleeve, and an actuator. Each claw includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end and tapers from the second end to the first end. The first end is elastically connected to the connection rod. Each two adjacent claws define a gap for receiving the lens runner system. The driving sleeve sleeves into the claws from the first end. The actuator is supported by the support and configured for driving the driving sleeve to move relative to the second end.
US08251415B2	End effector with suction cups having internal valves An air retriever, such as a bellows (24) is used in an end effector (18) for lifting work products (22) in prearranged configurations, and delivery to a container (20) in a predetermined pattern. An air flow control valve (50) is positioned in each bellows (24) for individually controlling the flow of air through each bellows so that the bellows in a pick zone may draw air for picking up work products while air flow is not applied to the other bellows out of the pick zone.
US08251411B2	Latching mechanism and electronic device using the same A latching mechanism includes an engaging member made of magnetically conductive material and a magnetic assembly. The magnetic assembly includes a magnetic member and two fixing members made of magnetically conductive material. The magnetic member is capable of contacting the fixing member to magnetize the fixing member to attract the engaging member, and capable of being detached from the at least one fixing member with the magnetic field being shielded by the at least one fixing member to release the engaging member. The present disclosure further provides an electronic device using the latching mechanism.
US08251410B1	Armor hold-down assembly Methods and apparatus are provided for a hold-down assembly for attaching an armor panel to the floor of a vehicle utilizing an existing integrated tie-down feature. The assembly includes a base member positioned underneath the tie-down feature and aligned with a through-hole in the panel. A top positioned over both the base member and the hole in the panel at least partially overlaps the panel around the hole. A fastener extending through the top and into the base is adapted to pull the top down onto the panel, holding the panel against the floor of the vehicle.
US08251408B2	Battery cover latch mechanism and portable electronic device using same A battery cover latch mechanism is configured for detachably assembling a battery cover on a housing. The battery cover latch mechanism includes a button, an assembly portion including two blocks positioned on the housing, a latching part positioned on the battery cover; and a resilient member secured on the button and latching to the blocks to provide a resilient force to the button. The button releasably latches to the latching part to lock the battery cover to the housing or release the battery cover from the housing.
US08251406B2	Discharge elbow provided with guide vanes A discharge elbow provided with guide vanes includes an elbow of rectangular cross section and magnification f of 1
US08251404B2	Data carrier with security element and method for the production thereof The present invention relates to a data carrier, especially a value document, such as a banknote, an identification card or the like, having a security element (20) that exhibits a print image (22) and a laser marking (24) at least partially overlapping the print image (22). According to the present invention, the security element (20) further exhibits, at least partially overlapping the print image (22), a laser modification area (26) that is in register with the laser marking (24) and in whose overlap area (28) with the print image (22) the visual appearance of the print image (22) is modified by the action of a laser beam.
US08251400B2	Restraint system for a transportation vehicle A restraint system for a transportation vehicle may comprise a restraint member movably mounted to the vehicle. The restraint member may have a first leg and a second leg that travel together along opposite sides of a seat carried by the vehicle as the restraint member moves relative to the vehicle. A restraint harness may include a retractor that may be mounted to one of the first and second legs, and a lap web having one end mounted within the first retractor and an opposite end mounted to the other of the first and second legs. The lap web may be configured to restrain an occupant of the seat when the restraint member is moved to an occupant restraint position. At least one lock may be mounted to the vehicle and configured to secure the restraint member to the vehicle when the restraint member is in the occupant restraint position.
US08251395B2	Gliding boards and methods of modifying gliding boards Gliding boards having removable edge sections and methods of modifying gliding boards are disclosed herein. A gliding board of one embodiment includes a board body having top and bottom sides and defining a recessed area therebetween. A plurality of edge sections are removable from and replaceable to the board body, and each edge section has an engaging region complementary to the recessed area of the board body.
US08251384B1	Axle and suspension An improved skateboard truck in which a curved support surface is configured to make line contact that sweeps back and forth along a working surface associated with a truck's axle as the axle oscillates through a cycle including left-turn and right-turn orientations. The axle pivots around the locus of line contact during at least a portion of the cycle. From a frame of reference associated with the support surface, the lines of contact are parallel at max-left and max-right turn configurations. Preferred embodiments include structure arranged to resist departure from a zero-turn configuration while permitting micro-turn adjustment. Structure may be included to limit the range of rolling rotation of the deck about its length axis.
US08251382B2	Stroller and seat assembly mechanism for a stroller A seat assembly mechanism for a stroller has a seat frame and a main frame. The seat assembly mechanism includes a positioning device and a seat supporting member. The positioning device is disposed on the seat frame and includes a positioning pin movable between a locking position and a releasing position. The seat supporting member is disposed on the main frame, and includes a positioning-device recipient corresponding to the positioning device and a positioning groove located at a side of the positioning-device recipient. Furthermore, the positioning device is detachably assembled to the seat supporting member, and the positioning pin inserts into the positioning groove when the positioning device is disposed in the positioning-device recipient of the seat supporting member for assembling the seat frame to the main frame.
US08251380B2	Foldable walker apparatus There is provided a walker apparatus having a brake, a braking handle, a brake wire, a brake rod, and a brake rod assembly. A gripping member connects to the brake wire. The gripping member includes a plate having a first end, a second end and an aperture near the second end. The plate connects to the brake wire near the first end and the plate slidably receives the brake rod through the aperture near the second end. The gripping member includes a clamp that engages the brake wire via a set screw. The gripping member is spring-biased to remain free of the brake rod in a non-actuated mode. When the braking handle actuates the brake wire, the plate tilts with the first end elevating relative to the second end, thereby causing the plate to engage with and abut the brake rod for thereby actuating the brake rod to brake.
US08251378B2	Foldable and flexible sled The Foldable/Flexible sled is a lightweight circular sled that folds up into itself, with two quick hand motions, for quick and easy transport. Made of soft, flexible material it is also less dangerous in the case of sledding accidents.
US08251374B2	Power-operated chuck In a power-operated chuck (1) with radially adjustable clamping jaws (5) that are attached so as to swivel and be axially adjustable on an articulation lever arranged in a chuck body (2), each of the articulation levers (10) is pivotably mounted on an articulation pin (21) that passes through the articulation levers (10) and the articulation pins (21) are supported in the chuck body (2) so as to prevent rotation and are guided to permit limited axial movement.This embodiment makes it possible not only to carry out precise clampings of workpieces (W) over a long period with a consistently high level of rigidity, but also to avoid wear to a large extent. As a result, workpieces can always be clamped precisely whilst a high level of repeat accuracy is provided.
US08251372B2	Cartridge and related methods A cartridge for mounting around a movable shaft is provided. According to one exemplary embodiment, the cartridge features a cartridge housing, first and second rings having respective radial inner peripheries for establishing interfaces with a movable shaft, first and second pressure plates situated in the cartridge housing between the first and second rings, and a biasing member urging the first and second pressure plates towards the first and second rings, respectively. According to a second exemplary embodiment, the cartridge features a cartridge housing, a ring having a radial inner periphery for establishing an interface with a movable shaft, a pressure plate situated in the cartridge housing between the protruding portion and the ring, and a biasing member urging the pressure plate towards the ring. The cartridges of both embodiments may be designed to permit removal of the ring(s) from the cartridge housing without requiring removal of either the pressure plate (s) or the biasing member(s).
US08251371B2	Segmented sealing lips for labyrinth sealing rings A labyrinth sealing ring for a labyrinth seal of a turbine disk 1 of a gas turbine includes a metallic annular element 3 with at least one annular sealing lip 4. The sealing lip 4 is provided with at least one groove 5 on its circumference which is essentially arranged in the radial direction.
US08251367B2	Board and board game with timing features A board game with a timing feature is disclosed. The board game includes a board with several bonus spaces or premium spaces that can change in value and/or availability as a game progresses. The board also includes indicator associated with the bonus or premium spaces that indicate whether the bonus or premium spaces are available and whether their values have changed.
US08251366B1	Cylindrical puzzle mechanism A cylindrical puzzle mechanism comprising a central shaft member, with at least two wheels mounted on the shaft member, and a plurality of puzzle components disposed along the outer circumference of each wheel. Each of the wheels is independently rotatable about the shaft member. A cylindrical frame is positioned concentrically around the wheels. The frame is rotatable about the wheels and shiftable along the axial direction of the shaft member. The frame comprises at least one driving element at each longitudinal end for shifting a longitudinally aligned row of puzzle components along an axial direction. Two rotatable stoppers for preventing each of the wheels from shifting axially along the shaft, is mounted on the shaft. The stoppers comprise at least one track for receiving a puzzle component thereon. A cap at each end of the shaft member prevents the stoppers from shifting axially along the shaft and for regulating the axial movement of the cylindrical frame.
US08251363B2	Image reader An image reader is provided, which includes an intermediate feed roller that is disposed downstream relative to a separation roller on a feeding path and configured to rotate in contact with a document sheet separated and fed by the separation roller and feed the document sheet to a downstream side on the feeding path so as to restrain a variation of a tensile force applied to the document sheet, which variation may be caused when the document sheet is fed and away from the separation roller, and only a single U-turn roller that is disposed downstream relative to the intermediate feed roller on the feeding path, and configured to rotate in contact with the document sheet fed by the intermediate feed roller and feed the document sheet to a reading unit in a U-turn manner on a U-turn path curved along an outer circumferential surface of the U-turn roller.
US08251361B2	Sheet processing apparatus In a sheet processing apparatus that, for example, sorts or staples sheets after image formation, when preceding finishing is not completed on a processing tray, a third sheet fed anew into awaiting tray of a sheet placing member configuring a sheet waiting unit, which temporarily puts a sheet conveyed thereto on standby, is stacked to be shifted such that leading ends of second and third sheets are located further on a conveying direction upstream side than a leading end of a first sheet. Consequently, longitudinal alignment in the processing tray after that is surely performed.
US08251358B2	Accessory for holding device Accessory (1) for a holding device, such as a vise, a clamp or the like intended for use in conjunction with the temporary attachment of at least one object with the aid of the holding device, in which the accessory (1) includes a body (2) having at least one groove (3) and at least one attachment device (4). The invention is distinguished by the groove (3) having at least one arch-shaped contact surface (5).
US08251357B2	Apparatus for treating food substances An apparatus for treating food substances includes a cutting plate defining a longitudinal axis and having at least one cutting surface for supporting food substances and a collecting tray releasably mountable to the cutting plate. The collecting tray defines a reservoir for collecting food substances cut on the culling surface. The collecting tray may define a spout adapted to facilitate pouring of liquid material of the food substances. The collecting tray may define first and second spout segments. The first and second spouts may be disposed in diametrical opposed relation.
US08251354B2	Gas spring A gas spring includes a rod body that has a base end side movable into and out of a cylinder body. The rod body is urged in a direction outward of the cylinder body by pressure from a gas sealed inside the cylinder body. A cylindrical cover body includes a base end portion connected to a distal end portion of the rod body that projects outside of the cylinder body. An end portion of the cover body receives a head end portion of the cylinder body inside a cylindrical cover member at an end portion of the cylinder body. The cover member covers a portion of the spring that would otherwise be exposed to the air between the end portion of the cover body and the end portion of the cylinder body when the cylinder body is contracted inside the cover body.
US08251350B2	Riding mower ramp A ramp is provided for lifting and supporting a wheel of a vehicle thereon when the wheel is driven onto the ramp. The ramp includes a body that is shiftable between a ready position and a discrete support position and presents a ground-engaging surface including a first portion that engages the ground in the ready position and a second portion that engages the ground in the support position. The first and second surface portions are substantially planar and define an angle therebetween through which the body rocks about a fixed pivot as a wheel moving along a wheel-engaging surface causes the body to move from the ready position to the support position. A pair of ramps is provided for lifting and supporting a pair of wheels, with the ramps being nestable for compact storage.
US08251348B2	Choke transfer valve trim The present invention relates to valve plugs for reducing erosion of the valve plug head and/or seat. More specifically, this invention comprises a valve plug incorporating a choke transfer trim that reduces the time of exposure of the plug head and/or seat to high velocity and high pressure drop at the interface of the plug head and seat when the valve is in the closed position. The choke transfer trim transfers the flow control area of the valve away from the plug head/seat interface to a location downstream, thereby reducing erosion at the interface between the valve plug head and/or seat that is typically used for fluid throttling and shut off.
US08251347B2	High pressure diaphragm valve with exchangeable seat assembly A high pressure diaphragm gas valve comprises a removable seat assembly (32), including a mounting ring (34) and a synthetic seat ring (36), which is fitted in a central seat hole of a mounting ring (34). A nozzle (60) penetrates in a sealed way into a central through hole (38) of the synthetic seat ring (36). A first gas port (28) is arranged in a front face (62) of the nozzle (60). A second gas port is formed by a gas collecting ring channel (30) incorporated into the valve body (12), wherein it surrounds a nozzle shoulder surface (64) of the nozzle (60) and is itself surrounded by an outer shoulder surface (102) of the valve body (12). The mounting ring (34) is supported with an inner ring flange (82) on the nozzle shoulder surface (64) and with an outer ring flange (84) on the outer shoulder surface (102), so that peripheral gas passages (86) open into the ring channel (30).
US08251346B2	Devices, assemblies, and methods for controlling fluid flow Valves are provided for controlling flow along a fluid line that includes an outer shell and an inner housing slidably disposed therein that includes connector threads surrounding a boss on one end and a passage including a tapered region within the boss. A shaft within the valve includes a base coupled to the outer shell, a tapered sealing pin disposed within the tapered region, and a fluid passage extending through the base to outlets in the sealing pin. A connector may be threaded into the one end of the inner housing, thereby slidably engaging the connector threads, camming elements on the inner housing causing the inner housing to move helically from a closed position wherein the sealing pin engages the boss to seal the outlets and an open position wherein the inner housing is directed away from the sealing pin to open a fluid path through the valve.
US08251345B2	Suck-back valve A suck-back valve having an open/close valve with a suck-back function is provided. The suck-back valve includes a suck-back chamber formed in a valve internal channel of the open/close valve, a piston shaft portion and an open/close pressuring member to apply pressure to a valve piece, bellows that accommodate the piston shaft portion inside and that are connected to the open/close pressuring member at one end and are supported by a casing at the other end, wherein a two-step operation is performed at the time of a closing operation of the valve piece, including a valve closing operation step in which the piston shaft portion moves to the fully closed position of the valve piece, and a suck-back operation step in which the piston shaft portion and the open/close pressuring member further move from the fully closed position of the valve piece to increase the volume of the suck-back chamber.
US08251340B2	Gripping mat A mat having a resiliently deformable mat portion and a securing element provided thereon for securing an item attached thereto against movement and relative to the mat portion is provided. The mat is arranged to grip a support surface on which the mat portion is laid, in use, by formation of at least a partial vacuum between the mat portion and the support surface upon deformation of the mat portion. The mat comprises a projection arranged to urge the item away from the mat when held by the mat, thereby to create a deformation in the mat portion.
US08251337B2	Tree stand A tree stand for supporting a cut tree in an upright position by its trunk features a sheet of flexible resilient material cut to form a plurality of retaining flaps extending inwardly from a perimeter portion of the sheet toward a centre thereof such that the retaining flaps will flex away from the perimeter portion of the sheet under forcing of a cut end of the tree's trunk against the center of the sheet to allow passage of a portion of the trunk therethrough while resiliently biasing back toward the perimeter portion of the sheet to engage a periphery of the tree's trunk. A support structure defines a base and supports the sheet at a distance upward from a plane of the base such that the tree's trunk passing through the sheet is held by the retaining flaps in a position projecting upwardly away from the plane of the base.
US08251335B2	Vehicular seat slide device A lower rail 3 has a first cut-and-raised piece 22, and an upper rail 4 has a second cut-and-raised piece 23. The first and second cut-and-raised pieces 22, 23 each have a facing surface 22a, 23a that faces and is contactable with the facing surface of the other cut-and-raised piece along the moving direction of the upper rail 4. The first and second cut-and-raised pieces 22, 23 are engaged with each other so as to limit the movement range of the upper rail 4 relative to the lower rail 3. On the facing surface 22a and the facing surface 23a, inclination angles α and β are provided that generate a force causing the first and second cut-and-raised pieces 22, 23 to be more deeply engaged with each other, respectively. This prevents the first and second cut-and-raised pieces 22, 23 from being easily disengaged from each other.
US08251332B2	Support stand for flat-panel display monitor A support stand includes a bracket and a base connected with the bracket. The bracket includes a main body, a movable member, and a resilient member. The main body defines a receiving slot therein, and the movable member is partially received in the receiving slot, with opposite ends of the resilient member resisting the main body and the movable member. The base includes a latching member sleeved on the main body of the bracket. The latching member includes a latching portion for impelling and guiding the movable member to be received in the receiving slot of the main body, and the movable member to contact the resilient member. After the movable member passes over the latching portion, an elastic force created by the resilient member extends the movable member from the receiving slot of the main body, and the movable member is latched in the base.
US08251323B2	Suction cup A cup body of a suction cup includes a flattenable curved disc portion made of a first elastic material, and an elastic cup portion made of a second elastic material and having the disc portion embedded therein. The first elastic material is stiffer than the second elastic material.
US08251320B2	Railway snow melter duct assembly The present disclosure relates to a component for a railway snow melter. The component includes a mounting plate adapted for connection to a tie duct. The mounting plate defines a point nozzle opening and/or a track duct nozzle. A point nozzle is mounted to the mounting plate at a location above the point nozzle opening. A track duct nozzle is mounted to the mounting plate at a location above the track duct nozzle opening.
US08251317B2	System and method for varying the porosity of an aerodynamic surface A variable porosity system for an aircraft includes a first layer, a second layer and an actuator mechanism. Each of the first and second layers has at least one pore and are slidable relative to one another. The actuator mechanism is operative to move the first and second layers relative to one another such that the pores are movable into and out of at least partial alignment with one another to allow for fluid communication therebetween. At least one of the first and second layers is substantially continuous with an outer mold line surface of an aerodynamic member such as an aircraft wing. The actuator mechanism is configured to modulate the frequency of the opening and closing of the pores with respect to flight conditions of an aircraft.
US08251316B2	Conformal airlock assembly and method A conformal airlock assembly for ingress and egress through a door from a high pressure environment to a low pressure environment. The airlock assembly includes a flexible, gas impermeable membrane that cooperates with a support wall in an airtight manner to form an interior pocket over the door on one side of the wall. A gas displacement system, in flow communication with the interior pocket, is selectively operable to flow air out of the interior pocket, collapsing the membrane toward a collapsed condition. An actuation system coupled to the flexible membrane is operable to displace the flexible membrane, in the collapsed condition, away from the one side of the support wall. Such displacement of the airtight membrane creates a low pressure space in the pocket that is selected to be sufficiently proximate that of the low pressure environment. Hence, the door may be opened to permit ingress and egress therethrough without a large pressure differential.
US08251314B2	Cargo receiving arrangement for an aircraft hold A cargo receiving arrangement for an aircraft hold with a cargo receiving area provided therein with at least one folding loading bridge (4, 5, 6) and a loading door (20) which closes the aircraft hold in a swivelling manner in the region of the loading bridge, characterized in that a loading door inner face (23) of the loading door is designed in such a way that, when the loading door is swung to, the folding loading bridge folds upwards as a result of the contact with the inner face of the loading door. This is important especially in regions of varying aircraft width, since the loading bridge collides there with the loading door.
US08251312B1	Method and system for control of upstream flowfields of vehicle in supersonic or hypersonic atmospheric flight The upstream flowfield of a vehicle traveling in supersonic or hypersonic atmospheric flight is actively controlled using attribute(s) experienced by the vehicle. Sensed attribute(s) include pressure along the vehicle's outer mold line, temperature along the vehicle's outer mold line, heat flux along the vehicle's outer mold line, and/or local acceleration response of the vehicle. A non-heated, non-plasma-producing gas is injected into an upstream flowfield of the vehicle from at least one surface location along the vehicle's outer mold line. The pressure of the gas so-injected is adjusted based on the attribute(s) so-sensed.
US08251311B2	Attachment pylon for aircraft having a rear engine attachment beam offset from the caisson An engine attachment pylon for an aircraft including an intermediate piece interposed between a crossbar support and a rigid caisson, a first shear slug passing through a first interface fixing plane between the piece and the caisson, and a second shear slug passing through a second interface fixing plane between the piece and the support. Also, in side elevation, the intersection point between an axis of the pin and the plane, as well as the intersection point between an axis of the pin and the plane, are located on the common axis of two lateral thrust force collection connecting rods articulated on the crossbar.
US08251309B2	Thrust force take-up device for an aircraft engine pylon engine mounting structure, comprising lateral link rods with integral spreader bar stops The invention relates to a device (9) for taking up thrust forces for an aircraft engine pylon, which includes safety means, associated with each of the two lateral link rods (90) for taking up forces and equipped with first end-stop means (108) fitted to the link rod, as well as second end-stop means (112) fitted to the spreader bar (91), where these end-stop means, once they have come into contact as a result of relative rotation between the spreader bar and the link rod around the axis (93) of a link rod pivot mechanism (92) and in a given direction of rotation, are used to stop the said relative rotation in the given direction of rotation.
US08251308B2	Bottom blade type trefoil flight vehicle Conventional bottom blade type trefoil flight vehicles have composite structures wherein a plurality of pairs of fixing plates, forward/backward adjustment blades, and left and right rotation adjustment blades are separately mounted and adjusted, and thus have difficulties in scouting and surveillance in an indoor area due to the heavy weights and the large volumes of the flight vehicles. Another conventional flight vehicle has drawbacks in that flight in the left and right directions is difficult, and an adjustment blade and a fixing plate are arranged adjacent to each other to cause mutual influences of wind and non-uniformity in the flow of wind. The present invention provides a flight vehicle characterized in that three pairs of fixing plates with fixed pitch propellers and adjustment blades are installed at an angle of 120 degrees. The present invention allows anti-torque, hovering, forward/backward advancing, left and right rotation, and flight in the left and right direction of flight vehicles, and scouting and surveillance in a narrow space. The flight vehicle of the present invention is simple in structure and control, lightweight, and small in size, thereby improving power efficiency.
US08251306B2	Turbofan engine for stol aircraft A module (10) for use with a bypass turbofan engine. The module comprises a hot flow channel through which the hot gas flow generated by the engine can flow and a bypass flow channel (14) through which the bypass air generated by the engine can flow. Part of the bypass air may be re-directed to be exhausted from the module at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the module so as to create vertical thrust. The hot flow channel may be separated from the bypass flow channel by a porous separator (12) that allows a degree of mixing between the hot gas flowing in the hot gas flow channel and the cold gas flowing in the cold gas flow channel.
US08251304B2	Reel lock for passenger restraint having dual locking positions Disclosed is an improved reel assembly for use in conjunction with an occupant restraint system. The assembly employs a dual locking arrangement whereby an occupant can be restrained during both major and minor incidents. After a major incident, the reel assembly remains locked until the occupant disengages the reel via a push button. After a minor incident, the reel assembly can be conveniently unlocked, without the need for accessing the push button, by applying counter tension to the webbing.
US08251302B2	Low profile attachment for emitting water with connector for corrugated pipe The present invention provides an attachment for emitting water from a water source. The attachment comprises an inlet end, a transitional section connected to the inlet end an outlet end connected to the transitional section opposite from the inlet end, and a reinforcement member attached to the transitional sectional and the outlet end to support the transitional section. The inlet end includes an external cover and an internal sleeve disposed within and spaced from the external cover.
US08251299B1	Screw top air freshener An air freshener has a fragrant gel material in a container with a double-wall including an inner wall and an outer wall with an annular gap. A cap was a sleeve extending into the annular gap. An opening is disposed in the sleeve. The cap is movable axially with respect to the container between a raised position in which the opening in the sleeve is exposed at least partially above the double-wall to release fragrance, and a closed position in which the opening in the sleeve is disposed in the annular gap to resist release of fragrance.
US08251297B2	Multi-stage boiler system control methods and devices Methods and Systems for controlling boiler systems are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, a derivative action control is used reduce the likelihood of overshoot from a newly activated boiler. When a newly activated boiler becomes active, the boiler is held at a low firing rate for a predetermined period of time. The predetermined period of time may be cut short or even entirely eliminated under certain conditions. The methods and devices are further adapted for use in multi-stage boiler systems. In one embodiment, only the first stage of a multi-stage boiler system that becomes active is held at the low firing rate.
US08251294B2	Payment device having appeal for status consumers An identification token includes a plastic body and an RFID IC embedded or contained in the body. An antenna is also embedded or contained in the body and is coupled to the RFID IC. A metallic coating is formed on the plastic body and is sufficiently thin so as permit wireless RF communication between the RFID IC and a proximity reader via the antenna. A clear protective coating is formed on the metallic coating so as to allow the metallic coating to be visible to a holder of the identification token.
US08251293B2	Card processing apparatus with liquid drain A card apparatus for use with a card may include a front bezel, a cart inlet slot placed in the front bezel, a card path continuously extending from the card inlet slot, a shutter installed between the card inlet slot and the card path for opening and closing the card path, a case body closely contacting the front bezel and internally including the card path, a tilted part that is tilted so as to become further away gradually from the card path in a direction from an inner part of the case body toward the front bezel to guide a liquid infiltrated through the card inlet slot, and liquid drain holes positioned at the front side of the front bezel to go through continuously to a side of the case body for draining the liquid.
US08251287B2	Site-specific access management A system for ensuring access management of a given site by providing integrated and comprehensive assessment of persons, livestock or objects that are given access to the site. The system includes a database of information about the site and potential accessors, a mobile wireless communication and scanning device to collect, retrieve and facilitate communication between a device user at the site as well as an administrator console. This system is flexible enough to maintain current information about the persons, livestock or objects requesting access to the site and communicating those results to the device user in real time. The system is further enabled through the Internet and the World Wide Web.
US08251285B2	Transaction card package assembly having enhanced security A transaction card package assembly comprising a transaction card connected to a first panel via a releasable interface, wherein the first panel is affixed to a second panel such that upon releasing the interface, the first panel remains affixed to the second panel and the transaction card is released from the package assembly.
US08251283B1	Token authentication using spatial characteristics Systems and methods for token authentication analyze token data over one or more read operations to compute a characteristic master signature for the token. This can be accomplished, for example by analyzing the token data statistically to compute a characteristic signature for the token. Similar techniques can be used to generate a subsequent signature that can be verified against the original characteristic signature to authenticate the token. For example, a signature can be generated on a per use basis and that signature verified against the characteristic signature to validate the token upon use.
US08251281B1	Automated banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records An automated banking machine operative to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The automated banking machine includes a card reader that is operative to read card data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. The automated banking machine is operative responsive to the card data to carry out transactions that transfer and/or allocate funds between accounts. The automated banking machine is further operative to provide users with a receipt for transactions conducted. The automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser operative to dispense cash to machine users and to cause the value of cash to be assessed to financial accounts corresponding to card data. The automated banking machine is further operative to receive currency bills or other sheets from a user and to process and store such sheets through operation of a currency accepting device. The account corresponding to card data may be credited for the value of bills or other sheets received.
US08251279B2	Variable data barcode A variable data barcode label, comprising sequence of barcodes integrated onto a substrate, the sequence of barcodes including a identification sequence and a reference sequence which defines the readable region of the barcode label; and a sensor integrated onto the substrate, wherein the output of the sensor measurement is located in the variable data field of the barcode label and is optically viewable by an optical reading device.
US08251278B2	Display control based on bendable display containing electronic device conformation sequence status A method includes, but is not limited to: obtaining information associated with one or more sequences of two or more conformations of one or more portions of one or more regions of a bendable display containing electronic device and controlling display of one or more portions of the bendable display containing electronic device regarding display of second information in response to the information associated with the one or more sequences of two or more conformations of the one or more portions of the one or more regions of the bendable display containing electronic device. In addition to the foregoing, other related method/system aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
US08251274B1	Solar substrate ribbon bonding system An ultrasonic solar substrate bonding system is provided. The system includes a first ribbon bonder including a first bonding tool, and a first ribbon feeding system configured to continuously supply a first ribbon material to the first bonding tool during bonding of the first ribbon material to a backside of each of a plurality of solar substrates. The system also includes a mechanism configured to manipulate each of the plurality of solar substrates after bonding by the first ribbon bonder to expose an opposite, frontside of each of the plurality of solar substrates for bonding. The system also includes a second ribbon bonder including a second bonding tool, and a second ribbon feeding system configured to continuously supply a second ribbon material to the second bonding tool during bonding of the second ribbon material to the frontside of each of the plurality of solar substrates.
US08251273B2	Continuous feed cap mechanism A continuous cap feed mechanism for use with fastener driving device includes a housing for receiving a coiled strip of interconnected caps removably mounted the fastener driving device. The housing includes a passageway for guiding the strip of caps from the coil to a position beneath a fastener to be driven by the fastener driving device and an advancing mechanism for moving the leading cap on said strip from the passage to the position beneath the fastener to be driven after the fastener driving device drives a prior fastener into a cap and as it is moved away from the previously driven fastener. The advancing mechanism includes a driver movably mounted in the housing for movement between an extended and retracted position adjacent the location on the fastener driving device at which the fastener driving device drives fasteners. The driver is moved from its extended to its retracted position as it engages a work piece to which a cap is to be fastened is biased towards its extended position and includes a pusher mechanism for engaging a cap in the strip in the housing and urging the strip in the passageway towards the fastener driving device as the driver returns to its extended position when the housing is moved away from the work piece.
US08251272B2	Stapler A stapler is provided with: a forming plate (2) configured to form a straight staple (S) into U-shape; a pusher (11) configured to push the formed U-shape staple (S1) in a first direction (Df) toward a driving portion (15); a driver plate (1) configured to drive the staple (S1) within the driving portion (15) toward sheets of paper (P); an engaging portion (27) formed on the forming plate (2); and a receiving portion (20) formed on the pusher (11). The engage portion (27) is configured to engage with the receiving portion (20), during a driving operation of the driver plate (1), so as to prevent the pusher (11) from moving in a second direction (Dr) which is opposite to the first direction (Df).
US08251269B2	Carrying device In one aspect, there is disclosed a carrying device that comprises in combination a bucket and a cover positioned about the bucket. The cover may include a cylindrical wall, an open top, and a bottom wall. The bottom wall includes an opening covered by a moveable barrier for allowing access to the bucket from a bottom of the cover. The cylindrical wall may include a zipper secured thereon. The zipper allows the cylindrical cover to open for positioning the bucket in and out of the cover. The bucket may further include a lid that is removably attached to the bucket. A padded cover may be positioned on the lid providing a seating surface.
US08251268B2	Carrier for vehicle A front carrier includes an outer frame pipe surrounding the periphery, and a cross pipe and a back-and-forth member which are provided inside the outer frame pipe. A front side portion of the outer frame pipe is lowered at a one-step to form a stepped bottom portion. The back-and-forth member is disposed to extend obliquely downwardly from the cross pipe toward the stepped bottom portion. In addition, the widthwise inside portion of the rear side portion is bent to be forward to form an end side portion, which is joined to the cross pipe to be flush with the back-and-forth member. Thus, a cargo support surface formed by the cross pipe, the back-and-forth member and the end side portion is surrounded by an outer frame portion higher at a one-step than the cargo support. Part of the outer frame portion is allowed to serve as a cargo stopper for the cargo.
US08251263B2	Container caps and systems Caps and container systems suited to dispensing products like cosmetics. Some of the caps include two portions that can be coupled together and that include a dispensing system that has at least two open positions and at least one closed position.
US08251262B2	Volume metered pour spout A pour spout including a liquid metering orifice and a reciprocating control valve assembly mounted to prevent “blocked”, “short shot” and “free pour” conditions. The control valve assembly controls a pressure differential to restrain and release a primary flow valve piece. Weight pieces are included at alternative shutter-acting control valve pieces. Other electromechanical and/or electromagnetic and/or permanent magnet control valve assemblies are disclosed. A molded pour spout is also provided having a check ball mounted for reciprocating movement between a plurality of integral ribs that project into a longitudinal flow path. An improved vent assembly is also provided to maintain the pour accuracy with progressively decreasing liquid volume.
US08251259B2	Method and apparatus for a beverage dispenser A product dispenser reconfigurable in the field includes a housing, at least one tower unit, and a removable ambient box. The at least one tower unit includes at least one dispense point, whereby a product or diluent is delivered from a diluent or product source to the dispense point. The ambient box is an insulated product path that is adaptable to at least one external source and the tower units or the dispense points. The external source may be conditioned externally or may deliver an ambient temperature product, wherein the product circuits passing through the ambient box may deliver product to any tower unit, thereby providing increased product variability within a same product dispenser. The product dispenser still further includes a tower structure that is removable without disabling the product circuits, and a method of merchandising on the tower structure.
US08251250B1	Tool box with a reinforced door A tool box having a reinforced door that withstands prying and resists flexing during use. The door comprises a reinforced region including a first flange, a second flange and a third flange extending from the first edge of the door. At least one additional flap extends from an edge of the door adjacent to the reinforced region and is welded to the reinforced region to provide additional strength. In another embodiment, a second and a third additional flap is included on the door, and each additional flap may be welded to an adjacent flap or welded to the reinforced region. Multiple reinforced regions, each including at least one flange, may also extend from the door body to provide increased strength.
US08251249B1	Hangable tamper resistant packaging system A clam-shell container system can include first and second container pieces that are hingedly connected. The first container piece can include a perimeter and a hangable tab, the hangable tab having an opening configured to receive a rod. The hinge connection can be perforated, such that it breaks upon actuation of the hangable tab to open the container system. The second container piece can include a cutout in proximity to the hinge connection and the hangable tab. Accordingly, the cutout can provide clearance for the rotation of the hangable tab beyond the hinge connection. Further, the second container piece can have a perimeter having a shape substantially similar to the perimeter of the first container piece. The perimeters can form a substantial seal in combination.
US08251247B1	Thermal holder for container A thermal insulated holder for a beverage can or bottle has a metal body accommodating a cylindrical core. A base having magnetic properties has a permanent ring magnet attached to a cup-shaped ferrous metal member.
US08251242B2	Tamper-evident container with extended band A container having a base, a lid, and a tamper-evident, closed band. The base includes a sealing section and defines a space and an opening at a periphery that has an outwardly extending base flange with a contact surface. The lid has a lid sealing section and an outwardly extending lid flange having a contact surface. The base sealing section and the lid sealing section form a reclosable snap fit. The lid and base flanges can also include a removed portion to create an increased distance between contact surfaces on the lid and base flanges. The tamper-evident, closed band can attach at a first end to one of the base and lid, with a free second end, can be substantially detachable from the base or lid as a closed band, and can also extend to substantially prevent direct manual access to the lid and base flanges.
US08251237B2	Ready-to-mount, modular container or same-type equipment A structure includes a plurality of ready-to-mount panels forming a base and lateral walls. Each panel defines a plurality of edges each defining a length, each edge having a male profile or a female profile. The male form of a profile is configured to fit into the female form of another profile. Each profile holds a moveable member, each moveable member configured to move longitudinally along the edge. The structure further includes a plurality of longitudinal members each passing through the moveable member of a male profile of a first panel and the moveable member of a female profile of a second panel, to hold the first and second panels in fitted position.
US08251232B2	Article advancing device and article arrangement shelf An article advancing device and an article arrangement shelf with simple structures can be securely operated without electric power. The article advancing device includes elongated drawer members with flexible band-shaped sheets and stopper structures disposed at distal ends of the flexible band-shaped sheets to allow articles to be arranged on the elongated drawer members when pulled-out, rollers for fixing proximal ends of the band-shaped sheets in position and winding up the band-shaped sheets by predetermined driving force while allowing the band-shaped sheets to be freely pulled out, and a main body for housing the rollers and the wound up band-shaped sheets. The rollers are disposed in parallel to each other within the main body, and the elongated drawer members are disposed on the rollers respectively so as not to overlap each other in a width direction.
US08251230B2	Notched wire, notched wire element and filtration apparatus A notched wire 4 that is disposed in layers in a filtration apparatus. First projection stripes 4d are formed on the top surface 4b of a base 4a at prescribed intervals in the longitudinal direction of the base 4a so as to extend in the width direction of the base 4a. Second projection stripes 4e are formed approximately at the centers of the first projection stripe 4d so as to extend between the first projection stripes 4d•4d. The second projection stripes 4e are projection stripes having an approximately semicircular cross section, for example. The second projection stripes 4e is smaller in height than the first projection stripes 4d, and the width of the second projection stripes 4e is shorter than the length of the first projection stripes 4d.
US08251221B1	Reusable protective enclosure system for an open-ended tubular member An improved reusable protective enclosure system, comprising a protective housing (20) and cap member (12) for jars, bottles and similar receptacles of glass (50) or other fragile material. Its main object is the construction of a housing that renders a vial or jar contained therein resistant from breakage if the housing (20) is allowed to fall or suffers a sudden shock. Another object of the reusable protective enclosure system is the construction of an airtight enclosure (20), which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Other advantages of the invention are that the inner receptacle (50) be it made of glass or other fragile material, can be readily and repeatedly accessed, removed for sterilization or recycling and replaced for continued use.
US08251219B1	Package for medicine A new package for medicine has an extended base section that has a generally planar top surface. A series of separate receptacles with frusto-conical walls are positioned across the base section. The receptacles are not integral with (or adhered to) the base section. Instead, each of the receptacles is nested in one of a series of apertures in the base section. Each receptacle has a flange that extends outwardly from and surrounds the opening on the receptacle. The flange has a top surface that is wider than the aperture in which the receptacle is nested, preventing the receptacle from falling through the aperture. A flexible, removable top sheet is sealed to a part of the top surface of the base section, sealing the medicine within the walls of the receptacles and preventing the receptacles from being lifted out of the aperture until the top sheet is peeled back. The top sheet may be adhered to the base section along lines of adhesion that surround each of the openings. Perforations in the top sheet enable individual receptacles to be exposed and removed from the base section without exposing other receptacles.
US08251216B1	Gas column structure for shockproof sleeve A gas column structure for a shockproof sleeve includes a gas-column sheet, two folding lines and two recessed buffer walls. Each of the recessed buffer walls has U-shaped members formed abreast through heat sealing. The middle short gas columns of the U-shaped members at two sides of the recessed buffer walls are unfilled, so that four corners of the gas column structure for the shockproof sleeve are free from being broken when contacting sharp points. The gas columns of the gas-column sheet may be formed through heat sealing to have irregular shapes, so the gas-column sheet is ideal for articles with sharp points and/or irregular shapes. A dark screen may be additionally provided for covering the accommodating space as a movable screen that covers and thereby protects the semi-open accommodating space.
US08251213B2	Patch package structure The present invention relates to a patch package structure which includes: a package including a first sheet material and a second sheet material, the first and second sheet materials being sealed together in peripheral parts thereof; and a patch disposed in the package, the patch contains a backing, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer laminated on at least one side of the backing, and a release liner which protects a pressure-sensitive adhesive surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, the release liner having on a surface thereof a cut line supporting a peel-off of the release liner at the time of using the patch, the patch being disposed in the package so that the release liner faces the inner surface of the first sheet material, the first sheet material having a first region in which the inner surface of the first sheet material faces the cut line of the release liner, the first sheet material having in the first region a minimum first distance between the inner surface of the first sheet material and the surface of the release liner, and the inner surface of the first sheet material being spaced from the surface of the release liner at the minimum first distance in the first region.
US08251212B2	Small hand carried barrel-shaped case for the storage and dispensing of spools of electrical wire The Invention is a hand carried barrel shaped plastic molded case with two mating sides connected with a hinge, which when the case is closed around a spool of wire, protect the wire from damage during storage, transport and use. The case has an integral handle to make transport of the wire easier and helps protect the spool from damage if the case is dropped. The case incorporates locking tabs on the two sides of the case. The case also comes with a locking hole in the handle through which a padlock can be placed to prevent theft of the wire. The case has a dispensing hole or slot for the wire. The case can be translucent or molded of different colors to correspond to specific types or gauges of wire.
US08251209B2	Golf bag with crossbeam assemblies A golf bag has a bottom base, multiple supporting rods, a top frame, a covering and multiple crossbeam assemblies. The supporting rods are mounted between the bottom base and top frame and are covered by the covering. Each crossbeam assembly has a pair of crossbeam members mounted between adjacent two supporting rods. Each crossbeam member has an engaging slot and an engaging protrusion engaged respectively with the engaging protrusion and engaging slot of the other crossbeam member to prevent the golf bag from inadvertently twisting.
US08251208B2	Retail display of flat roll gift wrap products A flat roll gift wrap package has an elongated form with planar opposed sides and convex arcuate transitions between the sides. Flexible material in sheet form, such as, for example, paper or plastic, can be wound about the form without formation of creases or folds at the arcuate transitions. Printed patterns applied to the flexible material in sheet form are visible in full or repeated one or more times on the material which extends over the planar opposed sides of the form. Multiple flat roll gift wrap packages are combined in display packages or envelopes, poly bags or boxes and stacked on the planar sides of the flat rolls or with the arcuate transitions of the flat rolls arranged side-by-side. Retail displays of flat roll gift wrap products include flat rolls of gift wrap sheet material contained in envelopes which are suspended or otherwise held in a generally vertical orientation upon a retail displays.
US08251206B2	Paste composition storage device and method A device for storing and mixing a plurality of paste components which, when mixed, form a hardenable composition, includes a base plate and a cover. The base plate has an upper planar surface bearing two or more non-self-leveling pastes and adhered thereon in spaced apart areas and. The cover is adhered to the upper surface of the base plate around the pastes and defines a chamber for the pastes. No portion of the cover contacts the pastes. The cover is removably affixed to the base plate, to allow exposure of the pastes for mixing together on the upper surface of the base plate.
US08251205B2	Contact lens case A new design for a contact lens case is disclosed herein. In a preferred embodiment, the design provides storage for extra contact lenses in the event that one contact is damaged or lost. Further in a preferred embodiment, a separate compartment is provided for housing a mirror. Optionally, the reservoirs holding contacts form a yin yang shape. Other embodiments provide a more compact solution that further includes a novel thumb latch design. Additionally in another embodiment, all compartments are located upon one another in the same footprint.
US08251203B2	Method of operating an installation for conveying and sorting baggage items A method of operating an installation for conveying and sorting baggage items within an airport building, preferably between the check-in area and reclaim area for the baggage items and the loading units assigned to a certain flight. The installation has a complex electrically and/or electronically driven and controlled conveying and handling system for transporting, sorting, transferring, storing and checking the baggage items, which are transported in a state in which they rest loosely on conveyors or are located in containers. In order to configure a method of operating the installation such that, along with relatively low energy costs and relatively low levels of wear, it is possible to reduce the operating costs of the installation and the maintenance costs, it is proposed that it is possible for the power supply to individual suitable installation parts or components to be switched on and off in dependence on the state of occupancy of the installation and/or on the varying loading.
US08251197B2	Banknote deposit machine, processing system and method A printed note deposit machine, comprises: a user recognition unit identifying a user with an authenticated person; an inlet unit serving as a receiving teller in which printed notes are deposited; a dispensing unit receiving printed notes deposited in the inlet unit to dispense them in sequence; an identifying unit classifying the dispensed printed notes into four categories of authenticated notes, counterfeit notes, unidentifiable notes, and rejected notes, and identified them with the four categories; a temporary money holder temporarily storing the authenticated, counterfeit, and unidentified notes but the rejected ones therein; a plurality of storage cells storing the printed notes after they are temporarily stored in the previous stage; and a rejection unit accumulating the printed notes identified with the rejected notes by the identifying unit to return them to the user. A printed note deposit system, comprises: a plurality of the printed note deposit machines; a database apparatus installed in a central office and receiving transaction data from the memory of each of the printed note deposit machines to accumulate the transaction data; and a trace unit matching the transaction data accumulated in the database apparatus with transaction data on the detected counterfeit or unidentified notes to track down a user of the unauthenticated notes.
US08251196B2	System consisting of bank note processing machines, bank note processing machine and associated operating method A system of banknote processing machines, a banknote processing machine and a method for operating same are provided wherein data necessary for operation of the banknote processing machines are exchanged between the banknote processing machines and a service center.
US08251195B2	Bearing A bearing includes a main body, a plurality of first magnetic members, a plurality of second magnetic members, and a plurality of friction members. The main body defines a pivot hole, and a plurality of first receiving portions and a plurality of second receiving portions around the pivot hole. Each of the second receiving portions defines a cutout. The first magnetic members are received in the first receiving portions. The second magnetic members together with the friction members are received in the second receiving portions, thus generating a repelling force between the first magnetic members and the second magnetic members to impel the friction members to partially extend out of the cutouts.
US08251191B2	Wet brake cooling fluid system A wet brake cooling fluid system includes a cooling fluid supply line that is divided into a plurality of parallel paths. One path is in fluid communication with the motive side of a venturi eductor pump. Another pump is directed into the brake after passing through a fixed orifice that restricts flow. At least on path is in fluid communication with the brake after passing through a valve that is piloted to a brake piston, the valve only opening upon actuation of the brake. A drain hose connects the brake to the suction side of the venturi eductor pump, thereby causing evacuation of the fluid from the brake. Due to the restriction of fluid flowing into the brake by the valve, the brake chamber remains substantially empty during non-braking conditions, and is flooded upon actuation of the brake and opening of the valve.
US08251190B2	Ventilated brake disc and corresponding vehicle A brake disc including two plates spaced apart from each other and connected together by ventilating blocks distributed in concentric circular rows including a first outlet row of blocks through which air exits the gap between the two plates and a second row upstream of the outlet row along the air flow direction. The blocks angularly offset from one row to the next. The blocks of the outlet row and of the upstream row are arranged to provide between them a first ring wherein the air entering between the plates is compressed, and a second ring wherein the air compressed in the first ring is sucked and then evacuated from the gap between the plates.
US08251188B2	Disc brake having a pin rail caliper A disc brake operable to apply a clamping force to a rotatable disc, the disc brake comprising: a support bracket including a pair of spaced apart frame members at opposite ends of the support bracket, each frame member having a surface with at least three arms extending therefrom, the at least three arms include a first arm, a second arm, and a third arm, each arm having an opening and being disposed in series with a spacing, therebetween, two opposing spaced apart slide pins engaged with the openings of the first, second and third arms such that at least one of the first, second, and third arms are configured to support the slide pins, inner and outer brake shoes, and a caliper body slidably supported by the slide pins, the caliper body having a slidable piston operable to cause the inner and outer brake shoes to move towards one another.
US08251185B2	Elevator rescue operation system with setting of priority response floor According to one embodiment, there is provided an elevator rescue operation system to be used in a building in which a plurality of elevators are installed in parallel. The system includes a disaster detection unit configured to detect, when a disaster has occurred in the building, an occurrence site of the disaster, a priority response floor setting unit configured to set a priority response floor on the basis of the disaster occurrence site detected by the disaster detection unit, and a rescue operation unit configured to cause a corresponding elevator for a rescue operation among the plurality of elevators to respond to the priority response floor set by the priority response floor setting unit, thereby carrying out a through-car operation up to a refuge floor.
US08251181B2	Ladder safety device A portable safety device locks onto a step of a ladder to provide cushioning for the legs and to prevent the user from tipping the ladder sideways. The device comprises a center component connected to two U-shaped leg braces, a closeable handle, and a retractable clamp. The retractable clamp is extended when the closeable handle is opened and retracted when the closeable handle is closed. In the retracted position, the clamp securely grasps the front and rear edges of a selected step on the ladder to effectively attach the device to the ladder in an operable position. The two leg braces partially surround the user's lower legs, between the ankle and the knee, and include a cushion material for added comfort when the user's legs lean against the braces. The leg braces attach to the center component by locking into a horizontal track which allows the braces to be separated or brought together to adjust for the user's natural stance and leg separation. The leg braces help to stabilize the user when standing on the ladder and discourage the user from leaning dangerously too far to either side of the ladder, thereby preventing the ladder from tipping and possibly injuring the user.
US08251180B1	Ladder stabilizer apparatus The ladder stabilizer apparatus provides for removable attachment to two rungs of a ladder. The case provides pivoting sleeves that may be indirectly or directly controlled by the apparatus crank, whereby either the sleeves or the sleeves with arms with optional vertical rollers are moved toward and away from the ladder. Rollers are provided for a given surface contact with the apparatus. Movement of the sleeves and the sleeves with arms provides for the contact devices to be positioned partially around a structure or object corner, within a corner, or any position between. The contact devices may be positioned outside boundaries of a window, for example, to provide a user best access to a window or other area that is not designed to have a ladder rested against it. The apparatus may be adjusted while in use.
US08251177B2	Collapsible access tower A collapsible access tower has a chassis 10 supporting a pair of road wheels 11 and outriggers 16,17 to impart stability when in use, and a pair of extensible multi-section columns 26,50 carrying a platform 35. A section 27 of one column 26 is rigidly connected to the chassis and another section 33 of that column to the platform 35. The other column is configured as an extendible ladder 50 one section 51 of which is hinged to the chassis 10 and another section 52 of which is hinged to the platform 35. When the platform is in its lowermost setting, the hinged connections of the two sections 51,52 of the ladder 50 are co-axial so that the ladder may be pivoted to a transit setting. A winch arrangement 39 is associated with column 26 to allow raising and lowering of the platform 35.
US08251171B2	Lattice structure for a distensible fuel tank A distensible fuel tank included in a vehicle is provided. The fuel tank may include a housing enclosing a lattice structure including at least two intersecting wall members, each wall member including a plurality of panels arranged in a repeating pattern, the plurality of panels having planar sides including a compliance panel having a first and second section configured to fold about a crease line. In this way, multi-directional compliance of the fuel tank can be achieved, while increasing structural integrity.
US08251170B2	Intake structure of vehicle An intake structure for a vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, a pair of occupant seats, an internal combustion engine, and an air cleaner. The pair of occupant seats are arranged side by side in a vehicle width direction in the vehicle body frame and includes a driver's seat and a passenger seat. The internal combustion engine is configured to generate a driving force. The air cleaner is configured to purify air and supply the purified air to the internal combustion engine. The air cleaner includes a first air cleaner chamber and a second air cleaner chamber that are disposed to sandwich a part of the vehicle body frame.
US08251167B2	Cooling structure for in-wheel motor A cooling structure for an in-wheel motor includes an in-wheel motor mounted within a wheel of a vehicle to drive the wheel or to be driven by the wheel, and an oil channel and a fin serving as “heat radiating portions” to facilitate cooling of the in-wheel motor. The in-wheel motor has a case serving as a “housing”. The “heat radiating portion” is located apart from the case.
US08251162B2	Traveling and turning device for construction machine A traveling and turning device for a construction machine is provided, which includes a left driving motor and a right driving motor driven by hydraulic fluid, a left main control valve and a right main control valve controlling movement of the left driving motor and the right driving motor, respectively, and a left pedal and a right pedal adjusting the operation state of the left main control valve and the right main control valve, respectively. One of the left pedal and the right pedal enables the construction machine to make forward and backward movement by simultaneously applying pressure to a left side of a spool of the left main control valve and a left side of a spool of the right main control valve or by simultaneously applying pressure to a right side of the spool of the left main control valve and a right side of the spool of the right main control valve, and the other of the left pedal and the right pedal enables the construction machine to make turning movement by simultaneously applying pressure to the left side of the spool of the left main control valve and the right side of the spool of the right main control valve or by simultaneously applying pressure to the right side of the spool of the left main control valve and the left side of the spool of the right main control valve.
US08251157B2	Battery pack for use with a power tool and a non-motorized sensing tool A system includes a power tool having a motor, a drive mechanism mechanically coupled to the motor, and an output element mechanically coupled to the drive mechanism. The motor is operable to drive the drive mechanism and the output element. The system also includes a non-motorized sensing tool having a printed circuit board and a sensing element electrically coupled to the printed circuit board. The sensing element is operable to detect an external characteristic and output a signal to the circuit board. The circuit board is operable to condition the signal into a human-comprehensible form. The system further includes a rechargeable battery pack removably and independently coupled to the power tool and the non-motorized sensing tool. The battery pack is operable to power the motor to drive the drive mechanism and the output element when connected to the power tool, and is operable to power the circuit board and the sensing element when connected to the non-motorized sensing tool.
US08251155B2	Method of running DTS measurements in combination with a back pressure valve A method of performing a wellbore operation at an oilfield comprises providing a bottom hole assembly comprising a backpressure valve on coiled tubing, deploying the bottom hole assembly into the wellbore with the coiled tubing, operating the backpressure valve to control a flow of fluid thereabove, and performing distributed temperature sensor measurements above the valve.
US08251153B1	Control line feed through clamp A clamping apparatus allowing a downhole line to be fed between downhole tubular members. The clamping apparatus can include a first and second half, each including: support arms with inner surfaces, connecting walls, and grips. The first and second halves can be selectively connectable. The clamping apparatus can include handles, hinges, and latches. A system for feeding a downhole line between an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member can include an outer tubular member disposed about an inner tubular member, wherein the clamping apparatus is disposed about the inner tubular member.
US08251147B2	Method and apparatus for continuously injecting fluid in a wellbore while maintaining safety valve operation The present disclosure is directed to a wellbore injection system. The wellbore injection system comprises a capillary fluid flow path positioned in a subsurface wellbore so as to allow fluid communication through the wellbore, the wellbore having a wellbore pressure. A receptacle is in fluid communication with a second fluid flow path that is positioned below the capillary fluid flow path in the wellbore. An injector is attached to a distal end of the capillary fluid flow path, the injector comprising an injector flow path. The injector is capable of being removably attached to the receptacle to provide fluid communication between the capillary fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path through the injector flow path. An isolation mechanism is capable of isolating the capillary fluid flow path from the wellbore pressure when the injector is not attached to the receptacle.
US08251143B2	Low permeability cement systems for steam injection application A cement slurry composition comprises a plugging agent with a glass-transition temperature lower than about 150° C. The plugging agent is preferably an including polyethlene wax, polypropylene wax, carnauba wax or scale wax. After the cement slurry sets, it may be heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the wax. The molten wax may then flow into pores in the set cement. Upon cooling, the wax solidifies. As a result, the porosity and permeability of the set cement are reduced.
US08251142B2	Super shoe swell packer System and methods for effectively and efficiently cementing a casing annulus are disclosed. A packer system includes an outer case, a landing collar within the outer case and a slidable shifting sleeve coupled to the landing collar. The landing collar and the shifting sleeve are movable. A connecter coupled to the shifting sleeve and is movable in a movement slot with the shifting sleeve. A rubber element is coupled at one end to the connector and is on an outside surface of the outer case. The displacement of the connector in the movement slot compresses the rubber element.
US08251141B2	Methods useful for controlling fluid loss during sand control operations Methods comprising providing a carrier fluid comprising an aqueous-based component, a water-soluble relative permeability modifier, and gravel particulates wherein the water-soluble relative permeability modifier suspends at least a portion of the gravel particulates; and introducing the carrier fluid into a well bore penetrating a subterranean formation, such that the gravel particulates form a gravel pack near the well bore. In some embodiments, the carrier fluid is substantially free of a viscosifying agent.
US08251137B2	Geometrically optimized expansion cone A geometrically optimized expansion cone for radially expanding a tubular member. In some embodiments, the expansion cone includes an annular body having an outer surface. The outer surface includes a linear surface having a constant diameter, a curvilinear surface extending from the linear surface, a recessed surface having a diameter less than the diameter of the curvilinear surface, and a chamfer between the recessed surface and the curvilinear surface. The diameter of the linear surface is substantially equal to an inner diameter of the tubular member after expansion, while the chamfer has a maximum diameter less than an inner diameter of the tubular member prior to expansion. The curvilinear surface has a diameter defined by a radius of curvature which is tangent to the chamfer at the maximum diameter and tangent to the linear surface.
US08251136B2	Cooling device A control device accommodating unit (15) is provided in a section (50) accommodating an indoor air blower (7) adjacently to an indoor air flow-in port (16), and an impeller (7c) of the indoor air blower (7) is sequentially opposite to the indoor air flow-in port (16) and the control device accommodating unit (15) by rotation of the impeller (7c), and a space (51) is formed between the indoor air flow-in port (16) and the control device accommodating unit (15). In this configuration, it is possible to obtain a cooling device decreased in drop of air flow rate and drop of cooling performance due to mounting a control device (14).
US08251135B2	Fixing device for an expansion valve of a motor vehicle air-conditioning system The invention relates to a fixing device (8) for a expansion valve (4) of a motor vehicle air-conditioning system (1), said expansion valve (4) being connected to two lines (5, 6). The two lines (5, 6) are positioned in relation to each other by means of a line positioning element (7) which is embodied as a sheet metal stamped part, said line positioning element comprising two slits which are used to receive the lines. The expansion valve (4) can be arranged on the housing (2), with the aid of the line positioning element (7), and can be fixed in an at least rotationally fixed manner, wherein one part of the motor vehicle air-conditioning system (1) is arranged.
US08251131B2	Injection cooling heat exchanger for vehicle electrical components A cooling device including a heat absorbing unit, provided with an inflow port of a coolant medium and a discharge port for discharging the coolant medium, sealing the coolant medium in parts other than the inflow port and the discharge port, wherein the heat absorbing unit includes an upper member having an installation surface where semiconductor elements serving as an object to be cooled are installed and a cooling surface serving as a back surface of installation surface, and a lower member forming a chamber having cooling surface as a part of a inner wall surface together with upper member. Injection ports communicating with inflow port for injecting the coolant medium toward cooling surface are provided and the discharge port is provided at a position lower than opening positions of injection ports in lower member.
US08251130B2	Gas leak detecting system for gas cooler A gas leak detecting system for a gas cooler includes, a gas cooler (1) for cooling a gas, which is supplied to and discharged from the interior of a cooler water chamber (2) via piping, with a coolant supplied to and discharged from the interior of the cooler water chamber; an automatic exhaust valve (12) for automatically discharging the gas, which has leaked into the cooler water chamber, to the outside; a gas leak detecting vessel (8) for accumulating a leakage gas discharged from the automatic exhaust valve; and a gas detecting device (13) for detecting the leakage gas within the gas leak detecting vessel.
US08251121B1	Shade for building openings A screened panel spans at least a portion of an opening of a building in order to shade occupants thereat. The panel has hems on all sides that overlap at the corners whereat grommets are located. Tensioning members attach at least two of the corners in order to provide a tight fit of the panel within the opening, the tensioning members being turnbuckles with carabiners on the distal ends thereof. Spring-locks are used to prevent rotation of the turnbuckles once the appropriate tension is achieved. Reinforcement bars within the upper and lower hems and a strong flexible webbing within the side hems provide for a strong panel periphery which adds rigidity and stability to the overall panel.
US08251120B2	Cordless blind structure The present invention relates to a cordless blind structure including a blind body further comprising a batten and a shade having an end disposed at an outer edge of the batten; a first end holder movably disposed at a first end of the batten; a second end holder movably disposed at a second end of the batten; and a limiting mechanism disposed between the blind body and the second end holder, the limiting mechanism including a resilient unit and an axial unit, the resilient unit being movably disposed at the second end holder, and the axial unit being movably disposed at the second end holder, controllably coupled to the resilient unit, and coupled to the second end of the batten. The shade is lifted or lowered by exerting a force thereon in conjunction with the limiting mechanism so as to ensure ease of use and enhance user safety.
US08251115B2	Postage label dispensing system having a peeler plow for dispensing application ready and/or lined postage labels A postage label dispensing system for dispensing adhesive-backed labels includes a conveyance system for displacing a supply of label material along a feed path wherein the label material includes a face material having an adhesive backing and a liner material detachably bonded to the adhesive backing. The adhesive backing defines a pair of longitudinal adhesive strips and a non-adhesive region disposed therebetween. The liner material has a longitudinal cut disposed adjacent to, and aligned with, the non-adhesive region to define a pair of liner strips. A peeler plow is disposed downstream of a bending means which induces a bend in the label material along an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal cut, i.e., in an area corresponding to the non-adhesive region, which bend produces an opening between the face material and the liner strips. The peeler plow includes a tip portion operative to penetrate the opening between the face material and the liner strips, and an arcuate blade, disposed to each side of the tip portion, operative to peel the liner strips from the adhesive backing of the face material. A processor is operative to control the conveyance system such that the tip portion of the peeler plow penetrates the opening and the liner strips are peeled from the face material to dispense an application ready printed label. Alternatively, the peeler plow may be repositioned, from a first to a second position, such that the label material is conveyed over an upper surface of the peeler plow to dispense a plurality of lined labels.
US08251112B1	Substantially helical, stepped blade row cutterhead having removable blade units A cutterhead for a peripheral milling machine including a cutterhead body including a generally cylindrical portion and a plurality of circumferential, spaced and offset blade unit mounting cavities extending into the cutterhead body from the periphery of the cylindrical portion for receiving a blade unit. The cutterhead further includes a plurality of blade units each having at least one cutting edge and means for removably securing each of the removable blade units in the corresponding blade unit mounting cavity. The cutting edge of each of the blade units is disposed to align with the cutting edge of each of the other blade units in adjacent mounting cavities to form a substantially helical, stepped blade row when the blade units are secured to the cutterhead body.
US08251110B2	Filling adapter A filling adapter for conveying liquid from a first liquid container to a second liquid container is provided. The filling adapter includes an adapter body having a top end and an opposite button end, the top end adapted for fitting an opening in the first liquid container, the bottom end adapted for fitting an opening in the second liquid container, and an open path in the adapter body from the top end to the bottom end for communicating liquid from the opening in the first liquid container to the opening in the second liquid container.
US08251107B2	Filling system for unpressurized hot filling of beverage bottles or containers in a bottle or container filling plant A bottle or container filling system for unpressurized hot filling of beverage bottles or containers in a bottle or container filling plant. The bottle or container filling system comprises an unpressurized hot liquid reservoir, at least one filling element, and a controller.
US08251099B2	Check valve A check valve in particular for medical applications has a first hose connecting casing and a second hose connecting casing and a membrane disk configured between the two hose connecting casings. The membrane disk is made of a resilient material and cooperates with an annular valve seat. The membrane disk is fitted radially outside the valve's seat with apertures leading to a discharge space. The wall of the second hose connecting casing is opposite the apertures and fitted with a surface curved away from the membrane toward the discharge channel. The discharge channel is fitted with an intake mouth in the wall, and conically tapers within a transition segment toward the intake mouth. Recesses communicating with the discharge space are fitted into the transition segment and are dimensioned in a way to substantially compensate the different flow cross-sections between the intake mouth and the discharge channel.
US08251097B2	Sliding valve A sliding valve having a valve slider that can be axially displaced relative to the valve sleeve in order to determine the size of variable passage cross-sections and for establishing a pressurization connection between a high-pressure connection and a working connection and a pressure-reducing connection between the working connection and a low-pressure connection, in that control edges running in the circumferential direction are configured on the outer circumference of the valve slider, which interact with the control edges of the valve sleeve. The control edges of the valve sleeve are configured as edges extending in the circumferential direction relative to the symmetry axis, which are a component of a lateral face of the valve sleeve.
US08251095B2	Articulated mast for a thick-matter delivery installation Articulated mast, in particular for concrete delivery installations, comprising at least two mast sections connected to one another by means of a swivel joint and having a straight longitudinal extent, wherein one mast section can be swiveled about a swivel joint axis with respect to the adjacent mast section, such that the articulated mast can be shifted from a folded transport position into a swung-out working position and wherein at least one swivel joint of the articulated mast has an inclined swivel joint axis.
US08251092B2	Flow based pressure isolation mechanism for a fluid delivery system The fluid delivery system includes a pressurizing device for delivering a pressurized injection fluid, a low pressure fluid delivery system, and a pressure isolation mechanism adapted for fluid communication with the pressurizing device and low pressure fluid delivery system. The pressure isolation mechanism includes a housing defining an inlet port, an isolation port, and an internal cavity. The housing defines a seal seat in the internal cavity between the inlet port and isolation port. A valve member is disposed in the internal cavity. The valve member is free floating in the internal cavity and is adapted to engage the seal seat. The valve member has an open position permitting fluid communication between the inlet port and isolation port, and is fluid flow responsive to fluid flow in the inlet port to engage the seal seat and attain a closed position preventing fluid flow between the inlet port and isolation port.
US08251090B2	Faucet having a pressure release function A faucet includes a faucet body, a control knob, a follower and a switching valve. The faucet body has a water inlet, a water outlet and a switching port. The switching valve includes a driven rod moved with the control knob, a sealing plate having a plurality of connecting holes, a pressure release plate detachably pressing the sealing plate, and an elastic member mounted between the sealing plate and the pressure release plate. Thus, the switching valve can release the water pressure in the faucet body automatically so that the sealing plate is moved downward by its gravity to detach from the switching port, and the water inlet, the switching port and the water outlet are connected at a normal state to allow passage of water to prevent the water from being introduced into the shower head at the next usage.
US08251087B2	Modular fittings and assemblies for fluid switching A modular fitting for use with a commercially-available fluid or pneumatic switch, such as solenoid valves. The modular fittings disclosed can be aggregated to form a resulting modular fitting assembly according to the number of fluid circuits desired. The modular fittings include one or more coupling features that provide the ability to couple adjacent modular fittings.
US08251082B2	Dual valve method and apparatus for limiting toilet water flow A dual valve assembly for limiting flow into a toilet tank comprises a fill valve, such as a float valve or ball cock valve, and a piston valve positioned between a water supply line and the fill valve. The piston valve operates independently of the fill valve, and is designed to shut off water flow after an approximate flow volume or time. The dual valve assembly may be provided in a single housing replacement part. The dual valve assembly may be provided as an adapter kit comprising a housing and piston valve which is installed in a toilet tank to accept a fill valve.
US08251081B2	Device for metering fluids A device for metering fluids includes a block provided with a channel connecting a fluid inlet in fluid communication with a fluid outlet. The device also includes a filter assembly within the channel and a fluid meter within the channel at a position downstream from the filter assembly. The device further includes a check valve assembly within the channel at a position downstream from the fluid meter. In addition, the device includes a calibration valve assembly within a channel section of the channel between the fluid outlet and the fluid meter. The calibration valve assembly is operable to move between a first position allowing passage of fluid from the fluid meter towards the fluid outlet and a second position blocking the passage of fluid from the fluid meter towards the fluid outlet.
US08251079B1	Walker device for gait training A walker device is described herein including two side frames, each side frame comprising a front vertical support, a rear vertical support and at least one connecting member extending between the front and rear vertical supports. The walker device further includes a cross bar extending between the two side frames and pivotally connecting to the front vertical supports of the two side frames. The walker device also includes a tension device which applies a resistive force to the pivoting motion between the first cross bar and the two side frames. The walker device is therefore capable of a pivoting configuration which enables the user to learn or re-learn a more natural gait pattern including rotation of the upper and lower body. Some embodiments of the walker device include a second, auxiliary cross bar that is parallel to the first cross bar and horizontally offset from the first cross bar.
US08251076B2	Oral hygiene case with dental floss lid compartment Oral hygiene case with dental floss lid compartment, refers to the present invention an improved case with lid compartment to hold dental floss or ribbon, and for keeping a toothbrush or toothpaste in its body that presents constructivity and advanced design with access to the cases body (1) interior concomitant with opening the dental floss lid compartment (2) for use, presents also length and intern volume flexibility, accessories to hang, allowing change of its shape, saving the use of pollutant materials, showing excellent cost-benefit ratio.
US08251073B2	Method and kit for the multiple treatment of a head of hair The method includes the sequential steps of gathering a first section (11) of hair from the head and passing the first section (11) of hair through a first hollow open-ended shield (21), gathering a second section (13) of hair from the head, laying the second section (13) against the outer surface (31) of the first shield (21), and treating the second section (13) of hair with a first coloring agent. A second hollow open-ended shield (23) is positioned around the first shield (21) and the second section (13) of hair, a third section of hair is gathered from the head, laid against the outer surface (33) of the second shield (23), and treated with a second coloring agent.
US08251072B1	One shot cigarette system A wrapper is fabricated of a biodegradable burnable material. The wrapper is in a generally cylindrical configuration. The wrapper has front and rear ends. In this manner a major chamber is formed. A bowl is fabricated of a biodegradable burnable material. The bowl has a peripheral edge. The bowl is attached to the wrapper adjacent to the front end of the wrapper. The bowl forms a minor chamber within the major chamber. The bowl extends interiorly of the wrapper. A quantity of smokable material is inserted into the bowl. In this manner the smokable material is lit and smoked.
US08251065B2	Four-sided dustproof mask The present invention relates to a four-sided dustproof mask including: an upper filter adapted to surround a wearer's nose area; a lower filter adapted to surround the wearer's chin area; and a protruded center filter adapted to attach the upper filter and the lower filter thereto in such a manner as to make the both ends of the upper filter and the lower filter correspond to center points formed at the both ends of a curved folding line dividing the protruded center filter into two sides, the curved folding line having a straight line portion having a predetermined length protrudedly extended from the center points thereof, whereby while the upper filter and the lower filter are being developed, the protruded center filter is protruded to a dome-like shape.
US08251064B2	Articulated firefighter breathing pack An articulated firefighter breathing pack includes multiple polymeric pressure vessels connected together and to a flexible manifold with sections of flexible conduit. The pressure vessels and sections of flexible conduit are encased in high strength fiber material. The pressure vessels are wrapped in high strength ballistic ribbon material. The manifold provides connections for a high pressure regulator and an air fill source. A low pressure hose is connected to the high pressure regulator, a low pressure regulator is connected to the low pressure hose and a mouthpiece connected to the low pressure regulator. A pressure vessel container attaches the pressure vessels, the flexible conduit and the manifold to a harness having a waist portion and two vertical straps extending upwardly over the shoulders and back down to the waist portion. A utility belt provides mounting for equipment for the breathing pack including hoses, a power supply, electronic sensors and controls.
US08251063B2	Medical aerosol non-diluting holding chamber A flexible bag aerosol holding chamber is sealed around the outlet passage of the actuator for a pressurized metered-dose inhaler. An elastic-loaded mouthpiece is sealed around the inlet passage of the actuator so that the user may intermittently break the seal around the inlet passage by withdrawing the mouthpiece, thus allowing inhalation of a portion of the aerosol contents of the chamber. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the aerosol contains a compound which has traditionally been smoked such as nicotine or a cannabinoid. The user may draw upon the chamber's contents a number of times at a frequency analogous to smoking until the chamber is fully collapsed. One inhaler actuation, and one filled chamber, are comparable to one cigarette. The collapsible bag chamber allows for economy of inhaler actuations relative to user inhalations, without the aerosol being diluted by ambient air.
US08251060B2	Device and method for delivering an aerosol drug A device and method for delivering a therapeutic drug to a patient in the form of an aerosol includes a heat generating chamber and an aerosol forming chamber separated by a heat conductor. A heating element is disposed within the heat generating chamber in heat conducting relation with the heat conductor. A substrate having a therapeutic drug and an aerosol forming agent deposited thereon is disposed within the aerosol forming chamber in heat conducting relation with the heat conductor. The heating element ignites a fuel source consisting essentially of a combustible liquefied gas to generate heat that is conducted to the heat conductor and then to the substrate via the heat conductor. The heat generated by the heating element activates the aerosol forming agent to volatilize the therapeutic drug into an aerosol drug contained within the aerosol forming chamber and made available to be inhaled by the patient.
US08251058B2	Portable sedation apparatus and related method Various embodiments of the invention may provide a breathing and/or anesthetic unit that is portable, compact, inexpensive, and convenient, and which may expedite medical procedures by allowing a health care provider to quickly sedate a patient. Such a unit may be ideal for minor medical procedures needing mild or moderate analgesia/sedation (e.g., <30 minutes) in various fields. Such a unit may include (i) a handheld gas supply container including a therapeutic amount of anesthetic gas; (ii) a mask; (iii) a single-use, uninterruptable flow coupler to couple the mask to the supply container; and (iv) a handheld, self-contained, recovery gas container, including a negative pressure, coupled to the mask.
US08251056B2	Inhaler An inhaler is provided with a closure which may be moved between a closed and open position in order to cover and uncover a mouthpiece. The closure is associated with a revolvable element including a restricting member. Movement of the closure from the open position to the closed position causes the revolvable element to revolve around an axis X thereby placing the restricting member in a restricting position which restricts relative movement between a container unit and the housing such that unintentional actuation of the inhaler is prevented. The inhaler is useful, for example, in the treatment of asthma.
US08251055B2	Continuous high pressure delivery system A drug delivery system, which includes an aerosol generator unit, a pumping unit, a flow tube, at least one condensate collector and an aerosol transition adapter. The aerosol generator forms an aerosol from a liquid formulation, which is partially volatilized. The pumping unit supplies the liquid formulation to the aerosol generator unit and a flow tube having an inlet end in fluid communication with an outlet of the aerosol generator unit and an outlet adapted for connection to a patient interface, which supplies ventilation gas to a patient's lungs. The system also includes at least one condensate collector adapted to collect condensed liquid or liquid produced by the aerosol generator unit, and a transition adapter arranged to mix aerosol produced by the aerosol generator unit with heated air or ventilation gas and direct the mixed aerosol into the inlet end of the flow passage.
US08251054B1	Device for collecting solar energy to produce heat A machine for tracking the sun's movement and concentrating sunlight consists of a main frame which pivots in the north and south direction on a base having conduit for a heat medium (a liquid usually of the Glycol family the main frame supports the mirror frame that pivots 360 degrees East to West allowing the mirror to focus the sunlight onto the conduit heating the liquid medium producing a very high and concentrated amount of heat during the entire daylight period and can be used for a small business or residential heating. An optional prism can be attached to the mirror frame to focus sun rays onto the conduit for added heat.
US08251052B2	Brick cutting apparatuses and methods This document discusses, among other things, apparatuses and methods for cutting a brick including a base configured to selectively support the brick. An actuating assembly is movable along a cutting line. The actuating assembly is movable by a cutting distance at least equal to a height of the brick. A shear blade is removably attached to the actuating assembly. The shear blade is movable with the actuating assembly along the cutting line. The shear blade is configured to shear the brick along the cutting line when moved toward the base through the brick.
US08251049B2	Adaptive intake oxygen estimation in a diesel engine A method for estimating an oxygen concentration in an intake manifold of a diesel engine utilizing exhaust gas recirculation includes monitoring engine operation, monitoring an exhaust gas recirculation valve, and monitoring an exhaust air fuel ratio. When the engine operates in steady state with the exhaust gas recirculation valve in the closed position, a volumetric efficiency for the engine is updated. A partial pressure due to exhaust gas recirculation within the intake manifold based upon the updated volumetric efficiency is determined, and an estimated oxygen concentration within the intake manifold based upon the partial pressure due to exhaust gas recirculation within the intake manifold and the exhaust air fuel ratio is determined. Operation of the engine is controlled based upon the estimated oxygen concentration within the intake manifold.
US08251048B2	Evaporated fuel controlling apparatus for all terrain vehicle An evaporated fuel controlling apparatus for an all terrain vehicle can avoid the influence of disturbance and can be disposed efficiently. The evaporated fuel controlling apparatus includes a canister adapted to absorb evaporated fuel generated from a fuel tank, a purge path adapted to connect the canister and an intake system of an engine to each other, and a purge controlling section adapted to control a flow rate of the evaporated fuel to be supplied from the canister to the intake system of the engine through the purge path. At least the canister from among the canister, purge path and purge controlling section is mounted on a vehicle body front frame FrF which supports a steering mechanism.
US08251040B2	Gasoline direct injection engine A gasoline direct injection engine that has an injector directly injecting fuel into a combustion chamber, a spark plug, an intake valve, and an exhaust valve and generates power by reciprocating a piston in a cylinder, may include a first cavity formed on a piston head of the piston to return at least some flow of the fuel injected from the injector to the spark plug, a protrusion protruding and off-set from the first cavity toward the exhaust valve, and a second cavity formed from the protrusion to the exhaust valve at a smaller height than the first cavity.
US08251038B2	Cylinder head rocker arm stand repair insert An insert for use in a remanufactured cylinder head rocker arm stand, the insert comprising an inner facing surface having a radius within a range of 35 to 45 mm and a length within a range of 70 to 103 mm, and an outer facing surface adapted for disposal against a channel in the rocker arm stand, the rocker arm shaft being disposed adjacent the inner facing surface in use, but not adjacent the rocker arm stand.
US08251037B2	Cylinder head for improved fluid flow performance A fluid flow valve in a cylinder head comprises a first valve end and an axially disposed second shaft end connected by a valve shaft. A first valve member is located at the first valve end and a second valve member is located axially from, and in fixed relationship to, the first valve member along the valve shaft. A valve support extends axially between and connects the first valve member and the second valve member; the valve support including an axially extending wall portion having circumferentially spaced support struts extending radially between the valve shaft and the wall portion. Fluid flow passages extend axially through the wall portion, between the circumferentially spaced support struts, wherein fluid flows simultaneously about the exterior of the wall portion and through the fluid flow passages in the wall portion when the valve member is biased to an open position.
US08251034B2	Control of a pre-spun starter A method is provided for controlling a starting system for an engine of a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle includes a pre-spun starter for selective meshing with and starting of the engine, and a controller for controlling the starting of the engine. The method includes sensing of a rotational speed of the pre-spun starter, and sensing of a rotational speed of the engine. The method additionally includes regulating the rotational speed of the pre-spun starter to substantially synchronize the rotational speed of the pre-spun starter with the rotational speed of the engine. Furthermore, the method includes engaging the pre-spun starter gear with the engine, and applying torque by the pre-spun starter to the engine, such that the engine is started.
US08251033B2	System and method for varying a duration of a closing phase of an intake valve of an engine A system is provided for varying a duration of a closing phase of an intake valve of an engine. The system includes a tappet assembly coupled to the intake valve, where the tappet assembly includes a first tappet body and a second tappet body within a guide housing. The system also includes a cam coupled to the main shaft. The cam engages the tappet assembly to initiate the relative oscillation of the first tappet body to the second tappet body. The system also includes a hydraulic piston positioned within the guide housing and coupled to the first tappet body. The hydraulic piston selectively varies a duration of the relative oscillation of the first tappet body to the second tappet body based upon a parameter of a hydraulic fluid supplied to the hydraulic piston, to selectively vary the duration of the closing phase of the intake valve.
US08251032B2	Swithchable finger lever for a valve train of an internal combustion engine A switchable finger lever for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, said finger lever comprising an inner lever comprising on an underside on one end, a support for a gas exchange valve and on another end, a contact surface for a head of a support element, said inner lever further comprising on the one end, axle stubs protruding on two sides of the inner lever, a first outer arm extending for pivoting relative to the inner lever on one of the axle stubs and a second outer arm extending for pivoting relative to the inner lever on another one of the axle stubs, said outer arms extending in direction of the another end while flanking outer walls of the inner lever and being made as separate parts from each other, a cam contacting surface being arranged on an upper side of each outer arm while, in the region of the another end, a coupling device for an optional connection of the outer arms to the inner lever is seated in the inner lever, and a restoring spring means for each outer arm acts at one end against the inner lever and at another end against the respective outer arm.
US08251031B2	Rocker shaft support structure in four-cycle engine In a four-cycle engine, the stiffness of a rocker shaft support portion is increased while avoiding an increase in the size of a cylinder head. The rocker shaft support portion that supports a rocker shaft is integrally formed on the cylinder head so as to be disposed between an engine valve and a camshaft as viewed from an axial direction of the camshaft and the rocker shaft. First reinforcement ribs are integrally disposed in a protruding condition on a plane orthogonal to an axis of a rocker shaft on a side face of rocker shaft support portions opposite a side of a camshaft.
US08251030B2	Rocker cover system A cover system for an internal combustion engine having an overhead valve or overhead cam configuration includes a cover attached to a head plate. The cover has sides extending from a top surface and terminating in a flange with an overhang. The overhang includes a catch. The head plate has sides extending from a bottom surface and terminating in a curl. The flange and the overhang are positioned adjacent to the curl with the catch engaging an end of the curl.
US08251018B2	Apparatus for use with a slatted floor Apparatus for use with a slatted floor comprises a floor covering apparatus for placement on the individual slats of a slatted floor. Each floor covering apparatus includes an elongated elastomeric mat (410) adapted to be fitted to a floor slat. The mat has a rigid fixing base (411), a flexible core (11) and an outer skin (415). The rigid fixing base (411), the flexible core (11) and the outer skin (415) are integrally formed together. The mat has a longitudinal leg (413) at each side to locate the mat. Also a flap valve (412) is mounted on each leg and protrudes into the gap between adjacent slats.
US08251016B2	Environmentally-friendly animal litter An animal litter composition including geopolymerized ash particulates having a network of repeating aluminum-silicon units is described herein. Generally, the animal litter is made from a quantity of a pozzolanic ash mixed with a sufficient quantity of water and an alkaline activator to initiate a geopolymerization reaction that forms geopolymerized ash. After the geopolymerized ash is formed, it is dried, broken into particulates, and sieved to a desired size. These geopolymerized ash particulates are used to make a non-clumping or clumping animal litter. Odor control is accomplished with the addition of a urease inhibitor, pH buffer, an odor eliminating agent, and/or fragrance.
US08251013B2	Vapor deposition device A vapor deposition device includes a holding compartment and a reaction device. The holding compartment defines a receiving chamber and includes a number of inner side surfaces and a number of holding plates disposed on the respective inner side surfaces, each holding plate defines a number of holding grooves for holding substrates. The reaction device is rotatably received in the receiving chamber and includes an outer barrel and an inner barrel received in the outer barrel, the outer barrel and the inner barrel cooperatively defines a first room, the inner barrel defines a second room; the reaction device includes ion nozzles communicating with the second room and precursor gas nozzles communicating with the first room; the outer barrel includes at least one crucible and at least one electron beam gun received in the first room, the inner barrel includes an ion source received in the second room.
US08251010B2	Masking material for painting The present invention is a masking material for painting for masking a surface to be unpainted, comprising: a masking material body for painting made of a carton having a shape conformed to the surface to be unpainted; a double-sided tape provided on the whole rear surface of the masking material body for painting; an incision formed in both the masking material body for painting and the double-sided tape; and a piece of thin paper that covers the incision.
US08251006B2	Vessel trim-tabs with pivotal connection A trim tab apparatus capable of causing the stern of a vessel to be raised or lowered relative to the surface of the water in which it rests. A trim tab plane can be pivotally attached to one or more arms that can be attached to a vessel by one or more brackets. When the trim tab plane is rotated in an aft direction as a vessel is moving, the force of water passing under the trim tab plane causes the vessel stern to be raised. If the trim tab planes are rotated in a fore direction as the vessel is moving, water is forced across the top of the trim tab planes causing stern-drag, so that the vessel stern is lowered in the water.
US08251003B2	Offshore buoyant drilling, production, storage and offloading structure An offshore structure having a vertically symmetric hull, an upper vertical wall, an upper inwardly-tapered wall disposed below the upper vertical wall, a lower outwardly-tapered wall disposed below the upper sloped wall, and a lower vertical wall disposed below the lower sloped wall. The upper and lower sloped walls produce significant heave damping in response to heavy wave action. A heavy slurry of hematite and water ballast is added to the lower and outermost portions of the hull to lower the center of gravity below the center of buoyancy. The offshore structure provides one or more movable hawser connections that allow a tanker vessel to moor directly to the offshore structure during offloading rather than mooring to a separate buoy at some distance from the offshore storage structure. The movable hawser connection includes an arcuate rail with a movable trolley that provides a hawser connection point that allows vessel weathervaning.
US08250993B2	Laptop computer storage assembly for a work surface A storage assembly adapted to be secured to a work surface includes an enclosure defining an interior, wherein the enclosure is adapted to be secured around an opening in the work surface. A platform is disposed within the enclosure, and a cover is connected to the enclosure and configured to enclose the interior of the enclosure. The cover is movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the cover in the closed position forms a top wall for the enclosure, and wherein the cover in the open position exposes the platform. A movement control arrangement is connected between the enclosure, the platform and the cover. The movement control arrangement and the enclosure have cooperating guide slot structure for receiving and guiding the platform, and enabling raising and lowering of the platform within the enclosure in response to movement of the cover between the open and closed positions.
US08250991B2	Automated railcar gate operating system An automated trackside railed car discharge gate operating system is disclosed which can automatically unload a string of cars “on the fly” and without the need for a separate indexing system. The system includes a pair of carriage-mounted tool systems for opening/closing capstan-operated railcar gates disposed to travel along a carriage track and including visual devices that acquire and track capstans and coordinate tool orientation and operation.
US08250988B2	Projectile having a guide sabot and pusher plate with an acceleration-optimized opening The invention relates to a subcaliber projectile, particularly for a dart projectile, having a resistance-stabilizing, conically designed guide mechanism having a frustum-shaped recess, wherein a guide cage has a substantially hollow cylindrical design in which a propulsion element is integrated therein on a rear side. To allow the propulsion element to be produced in a simple fashion and the guide cage to be lighter weight than comparable known drive cages, the propulsion element is designed substantially only as a disk-shaped metal plate extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the guide cage, wherein the drive element is mounted on an edge in an annular groove-shaped recess of the inner wall of the guide cage, wherein the disk-shaped metal plate comprises a central through hole, the diameter of which is as large as possible, but smaller than the maximum diameter of the frustum-shaped recess of the guide mechanism.
US08250987B1	Frangible kinetic energy projectile for air defense A Kinetic Energy penetrator round is shown effective in neutralizing incoming air borne threat munitions such as rockets, artillery, or mortars for instance, without posing a threat in urban environments to harm bystanders on the ground. There are also no hazards or expense with this round of cleaning up unexploded ordnance, which might have occurred with other types of rounds due to unreliability of self destruct mechanisms. Shown herein is a kinetic energy penetrator for air defense that merely self destructs beyond its operational range into fragments that are not lethal to personnel on ground; no pyrotechnic or energetic materials means are used to activate this self destruct process. A full bore projectile structure is shown that is composed of plural axi-symmetric circular disks stacked on each other and tied by a shape memory metal wire of Nitinol. While operational as a joined group, the disks are a formidable round to kill an incoming air target. After the self destruct phase however, each disk is separated from adjacent disks on either side by a spring mechanism that enables separation after the process is initiated in flight when the Nitinol wire deforms due to heating from air drag. Each disk then proceeds alone with low enough terminal kinetic energy on the ground to be less than lethal.
US08250986B1	Thermal enhanced blast warhead A warhead apparatus, method of making same, and method of detonating same comprising employing a high explosive core, an energetically and physically dense reactive material substantially surrounding the core, and a pressure vessel substantially surrounding the reactive material.
US08250975B2	Container with compactor A container is provided. The container includes a lid, a bottom and a compactor. The compactor is contained within the container and serves to collect, accumulate or compact any loose products within the container. The compactor and lid can mate such that rotation of the lid can transfer torque to the compactor to adjust a storage portion of the cavity of the container to collect, accumulate or compact the loose product.
US08250964B2	Gas system for firearms A piston assembly is provided for a gas-operated firearm of the type having a chamber and a barrel. The piston assembly includes a gas expansion housing and a piston mounted within the gas expansion housing. An annular recess is formed in the outer wall of the piston to receive exhaust gases diverted from the barrel upon firing of the firearm. At least one longitudinally extending groove extends from the annual recess to the head of the piston and forms a pathway for diverting the exhaust gases to the head of the piston. During firing, pressurized gases are diverted into the annular recess and expand longitudinally from the annular recess to the piston head, whereupon the pressurized exhaust gas drives the gas piston rearwardly along the housing.
US08250962B1	Bullet velocity enhancing rifle attachment assembly A bullet velocity enhancing rifle attachment assembly a sleeve having a first end, a second end and a perimeter wall. The sleeve has an aperture therein extending into the first end and outwardly of the second end. The aperture is defined by an inner wall including a first portion adjacent to the first end, an second portion adjacent to the second end and a central portion positioned between the first and second portions. The central portion has an toroidal shape. A coupler attached to the second end of the sleeve is releasably engageable with a gun barrel to align the aperture with the gun barrel. Pressure from a front side of a bullet traveling down the gun barrel is forced into the central portion to travel around the toroidal shape and back into the aperture toward the first portion, behind the bullet, as the bullet travels through the central portion.
US08250960B2	Catheter cutting tool Systems and methods for cutting, or trimming, a catheter at a specified location along the length of the catheter. The catheter preferably includes a stop feature which interacts with an elongate member of the cutting system to determine the catheter is in a proper position to be cut.
US08250957B2	Table saw with linkage drop system A table saw in one embodiment includes a swing arm assembly movable along a swing path between a first swing arm position whereat a portion of a shaping device supported by the swing arm assembly extends above a work-piece support surface and a second swing arm position, a first link arm with a first tracking component and a first slot, the first tracking component slidingly engaged with the swing arm assembly, a second link arm with a second tracking component engaged with the first slot, an actuator configured to pivot the second link arm from a first position whereat force from the first link arm acting on the tracking component is directed at a second link arm pivot toward a second position whereat the force is not directed at the second link arm pivot, and a control system configured to actuate the actuator in response to a sensed condition.
US08250955B2	Food article transfer mechanism for a food article slicing machine An automated sequenced food article tray loading method and apparatus for a slicing machine where food articles can be loaded sequentially into designated and separated lanes of a lift tray and automatically sequentially assume a preload condition. Food article separation is maintained on the lift tray after the food articles are loaded. A food article sweep mechanism receives the food articles on the lift tray in their separated positions and transfers the food articles into the food article feed mechanism while maintaining the separated positions. The food article sweep mechanism is a substantially open structure without enclosing walls.
US08250952B2	Method of machine tool calibration Methods are described for calibrating a turning machine having a first rotatable portion or chuck for holding a workpiece. The first rotatable portion has a first feature associated therewith. The method comprises the steps of using a measurement probe to determine the position of the first feature, rotating the first rotatable portion through an angle, and using said measurement probe to determine the new position of the first feature. The extension of the technique to swivel head mill-turn machines is also described.
US08250948B1	Open end wrench for engaging a faceted workpiece A wrench for engaging a workpiece comprises a pair of fixed jaws and a pair of movable jaws being movable relative to the pair of fixed jaws. The workpiece includes a plurality of flats which may be adjoined at a plurality of corners. The pairs of fixed and movable jaws may be configured to engage the workpiece in at least one of a flat engaging position and a corner engaging position. The flat engaging position comprises the pairs of fixed and movable jaws being engaged to one of the flats on each one of the opposing sides of the workpiece. The corner engaging position comprises the pairs of fixed and movable jaws being engaged to an adjacent pair of the flats on each one of the opposing sides of the workpiece.
US08250945B2	Adjustable operating mechanism for kick down switch An adjustable operating mechanism for a kick down switch includes a stopper formed on a stopper bracket and having a slope surface inclined in one direction, a kick down switch including a member for providing different mechanical operating feeling and a protrusion having a slope surface corresponding to the slope surface of the stopper, and a groove formed on an acceleration pedal arm to receive the kick down switch, the kick down switch being configured and dimensioned to be movable therein to a predetermined position so that a kick down-generating time point is adjusted.
US08250944B2	Accelerating handle assembly for electric vehicle An accelerating handle assembly for an electric vehicle includes first and second rings fixed together with a gap formed therebetween. A tubular handle has an end received in the gap and abutting a stepped portion of the first ring. A magnet is mounted to the tubular handle. A Hall sensor is fixed to the first or second ring and includes a detecting face facing the magnet. An arcuate clamping member is fixed to an outer periphery of the tubular handle and includes two ends respectively having two attachment seats. A spring unit includes a follower rod having two ends respectively fixed to the attachment seats of the first clamping member. The spring unit further includes a compression spring having a first end abutting an end of the first clamping member. The compression spring further has a second end abutting a restraining block of the second ring.
US08250939B2	Transmission of vehicle A transmission for a vehicle for performing a shift manipulation at a desired time while ensuring a favorable operation feeling. A lost motion member is arranged in a shift drive force transmitting mechanism arranged between a shift spindle and a shift drum, and a rotary position of the shift drum is resiliently held by a shift stopper mechanism in a state where one of a plurality of gear trains is established or in a neutral state. A state which allows a changeover operation of an established state of a plurality of gear trains due to an action of a shift drive force which is temporarily accumulated by a lost motion means and a state which interrupts the changeover operation can be changed over by a shift restricting mechanism which is provided as a part separate from a shift stopper mechanism.
US08250937B2	Aseptic manifold and probe assembly Manifold and probe assembly for use a bioprocessing vessel. The manifold has a chamber which communicates with the interior of the vessel and a plurality of ports which communicate with the chamber. Elongated sensing probes are threadedly connected to the ports with end portions of the probes extending into the chamber. Gaskets having generally annular bodies with conically inclined beveled faces are mounted on the end portions of the probes, with the beveled faces engaging conically inclined surfaces of seats in the ports and the gaskets being axially compressed and radially expanded into sealing engagement with the probes. The seating surfaces have inner and outer sections with different angles of inclination which produce greater radial expansion and tighter sealing with the probes. The probes are carried by adapter sleeves which are threadedly connected to the ports, with thrust washers between the distal ends of the sleeves and the gaskets for protecting the gaskets while the sleeves are being connected to the ports and the gaskets are being compressed. Stops limit the travel of the sleeves and control the degree to which the gaskets are compressed.
US08250932B2	Gas meter and gas security system The present invention is intended to make it possible to set security functions as necessary depending on usage environment, etc. and to improve the security functions; a function setting section 1116 sets security function information received from the outside via a communication line as security functions regarding the user of gas. According to the set security function, in the case that the operation conditions of the security function are satisfied, a monitoring section 112 detects a problem during the use of gas and outputs a security signal to a control section 114. Based on the security signal from the monitoring section 112, the control section 114 shuts off the supply of gas in the case that a phenomenon satisfying an operation condition of the set function having been set has occurred.
US08250931B2	Methods and compositions for inhibiting corrosion in non-aqueous, non-conductive liquids The present invention relates to a method for inhibiting in a non-aqueous, non-conductive liquid. The present method also relates to a corrosion inhibitor that can be employed in such a liquid. The method can include measuring or detecting the present corrosion inhibitor with a magnetic flow meter.
US08250928B2	Measurement of strain in an adhesively bonded joint including magnetostrictive material Sensing strain in an adhesively bonded joint includes inducing a strain wave in the joint, and sensing a change in local magnetic characteristics in the joint.
US08250927B2	Flexible, stretchable, and distributed strain sensors Methods and systems for sensing strain are disclosed. A thin film sensor includes a thin film polymer matrix that has two electrical terminals, conductive nanoparticles dispersed within the polymer matrix, and carbon nanotubes dispersed within the polymer matrix. The thin film sensor has a resistivity across the two electrical terminals that varies with a magnitude of strain applied to the thin film sensor. Strain may be sensed by applying a voltage to the thin film sensor, and an electrical response of the thin film sensor may be detected due to a strain present across the sensor. A magnitude of the strain can be determined based on the electrical response. Methods and systems for a memristor are also disclosed. The memristor has a resistivity that varies with a time-varying voltage input and with a time-varying strain input.
US08250922B2	Method and apparatus for identifying the modulus of elasticity of logs An apparatus for identifying the modulus of elasticity of logs includes a device (2) equipped for detecting at least one log (T) eigenfrequency (natural frequency) and with a plurality of supports (10) able to move by rotating between a pick up position, in which they are located at a loading station (7), and a release position in which they are located at an unloading station (8) which is on the opposite side of a supports (10) axis of rotation relative to the loading station (7). A method for identifying the modulus of elasticity of logs includes the steps of picking up a log (T) while it is fed along a first direction (A1) on a first conveyor line (102); subjecting the log (T) to a step of detecting at least one natural frequency; and a step of releasing the log (T) on a second conveyor line (103) defining a second feed direction (A2) which is transversal to the first conveying direction (A1).
US08250920B2	Inertial sensor An angular rate sensor and an acceleration sensor are sealed at the same sealing pressure. The sealing pressure at this time is put into a reduced pressure state below the atmospheric pressure in view of improving a detection sensitivity of the angular rate sensor. Even in the reduced pressure atmosphere, to improve the detection sensitivity of the acceleration sensor, a shift suppressing portion (damper) for suppressing shifts of a movable body of the acceleration sensor is provided. This shift suppressing portion includes a plurality of protruding portions integrally formed with the movable body and a plurality of protruding portions integrally formed with a peripheral portion, and the protruding portions are alternately disposed separately at equal intervals.
US08250917B2	Physical quantity sensor A physical quantity sensor includes a vibration element having drive arm sections and a detection arm section, a driving circuit generating a driving signal for driving the drive arm sections with a first driving line and a second driving line, and a detection circuit detecting a detected signal from the detection arm section with a first detection line and a second detection line. At least one of the first driving line and the second driving line is wired so that a static coupling is generated with respect to the first detection line and the second detection line.
US08250916B2	Inertial sensor One inertial sensor detects an acceleration in a driving direction as well as an angular rate about one axis and an acceleration in a detecting direction at the same time. A driving-direction acceleration detecting unit is provided to members vibrating in mass members on the left and right via an elastic body. In this manner, when an acceleration is applied in the driving direction, the mass members on the left and right normally vibrated with a same amplitude and in opposite phases have displacement amounts in a same phase, and the driving-direction acceleration detecting unit detects the displacement amounts in the same phase as a capacitance change, thereby detecting the acceleration in the driving direction.
US08250912B2	Method for checking a catalytic converter oxygen storage reservoir for sufficient storage capacity Four cases are to be distinguished from one another for an exhaust gas line of a motor vehicle with an oxygen storage reservoir and a lambda probe located downstream from at least part of the oxygen storage reservoir, specifically in each case, whether or not the oxygen storage reservoir has sufficient storage capacity and whether or not the lambda probe is fully serviceable. For this purpose, the exhaust gas line is supplied in an alternating sequence with rich and lean exhaust gas, in two different passes the degree of oxygen filling being varied differently. For a minor variation of the degree of oxygen filling, the serviceability of the lambda probe can be deduced on the basis of certain criteria. If the lambda probe is fully serviceable, the sufficiency or insufficiency of the oxygen storage capacity of the oxygen storage reservoir can be deduced for a greater variation of the degree of oxygen filling.
US08250910B2	Method for incrementally ascertaining a rotation angle of a shaft A method for incrementally ascertaining a rotation angle of a shaft, in particular of a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, the shaft being connected to a sensor wheel having teeth and tooth gaps, and at least one sensor being associated with the sensor wheel, the sensor generating a square-wave signal as an output signal which may assume a first value or a second value, and a signal edge being associated with a tooth edge, and the position in time of a counteredge with respect to the edge encoding a direction of rotation, an assignment of a direction of rotation reversal point to a tooth of the sensor wheel or a tooth gap of the sensor wheel being encoded by the position in time of the counteredge with respect to the edge, the rotation angle being ascertained by adding an increment for each signal edge to a counter, after a direction of rotation reversal while a tooth passes the sensor, a half-increment, having a sign of the direction of rotation after the direction of rotation reversal, being incremented once and in the event of a direction of rotation reversal while a tooth gap passes the sensor, a half-increment, having a sign of the direction of rotation prior to the direction of rotation reversal, being incremented once.
US08250907B2	System and method for determining atomization characteristics of spray liquids A system and method for determining the atomization characteristics of fluids is disclosed. In one embodiment, a fluid is emitted through a nozzle at controlled conditions. Vibrations occurring within the nozzle are sensed while the fluid is being emitted. An atomization characteristic of the fluid is predicted using the sensed vibrations. In one embodiment, the sensed vibrations are converted into a spectral density that is used to calculate a vibration power spectrum. In one embodiment, the atomization characteristic is the droplet size of the fluid with respect to the controlled conditions, and the droplet size is predicted based on a relationship between a descriptive attribute of the fluid and the vibration power spectrum of the fluid. In one embodiment, the descriptive attribute is the volume median diameter of the fluid.
US08250906B2	Leak detector A leak detector for use with a piping system, where the leak detector includes a housing configured to be attached to a conduit and a valve configured and arranged for axial movement with respect to the housing. Additionally, there is a magnet attached to the valve for movement therewith. Embodiments of the invention also preferably include a magnetically-actuated switch positioned within the leak detector along an axial flow path of a fluid such that axial movement of the magnet triggers the switch, which indicates fluid flow through the leak detector. In certain embodiments, there is also a leak passageway that permits a relatively small amount of fluid to pass to an outlet side of the valve even when a diaphragm is in seating contact with the valve if fluid pressure on the outlet side of the valve is slightly lower than fluid pressure on an inlet side of the valve.
US08250904B2	Multi-stage injector for fluid analysis The present invention generally recites a method, system and apparatus for fluid analysis and more specifically recites a method system and apparatus for multistage injection of a fluid to be analyzed into a fluid analysis instrument.
US08250903B2	Biological particle collector and method for collecting biological particles Provided are devices and methods for the collection of bioaerosols (such as viruses, bacteria, and proteins) from the exhaled breath of humans and/or animals, for the purpose of determining, for example, particle size, generation rate, diseases and interventions for particle release.

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