最新美国发明专利第2012-11-06期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US08303657B2	Polyethylene cross-linked with an anthocyanin A method for manufacturing of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) for implants, where the implants have been machined out of UHMWPE blocks or extruded rods, has anthocyanin dispersely imbedded in the polyethylene. The implant is then exposed to γ ray or electron beam irradiation in an amount of at least 2.5 Mrad followed by a heat treatment to prevent the implant from becoming brittle in the long term as well as to improve strength and wear. The method includes mixing a powder or granulate resin of UHMWPE with an aqueous liquid that contains anthocyanin in a predetermined amount. The water is then evaporated in order to deposit the anthocyanin in a predetermined concentration on the polyethylene particles. The doped UHMWPE particles are compressed into blocks at temperatures in a range of approximately 135° C.-250° C. and pressures in a range of approximately 2-70 MPa. Medical implants are made from the blocks.
US08303655B2	Ocular implant iris diaphragm An ocular implant alters iris color for medical and cosmetic purposes and is made of an inert, nontoxic, foldable and preferably permeable to fluid flow material. It is an annular non-planar structure that fits over the iris yet leaves the natural lens uncovered and extends approximately to the iridocorneal angle. Two different kinds of arc sections of a non-uniform thickness make up the structure: passage arc sections and support arc sections. The passage arc sections permit humor aqueous flow under the implant. The support arc sections make contact with the iris and provide the necessary support for the passage arc sections. Auricles extend from the support arc sections and are configured to hold the implant in place by engaging the eye at the iridocorneal angle. The implant may include an artificial lens, a limbal ring, and various means to anchor for the artificial lens.
US08303654B2	Device for use in eye surgery A sealing device for use inside a capsular bag after the natural lens has been removed comprises a plug part adapted to seal a rhexis in a capsular bag, thus preventing displacement through the rhexis of a lens-forming liquid material injected through the rhexis and adapted to replace the natural lens and form an intraocular lens implant. The plug part has a slightly larger area than the capsulorhexis and is made of a deformable polymer. The sealing device further comprises a removable adjusting means connected to the plug part, the adjusting means protruding anteriorly from an outer surface of the plug part and being capable of positioning the plug part to a desired location.
US08303646B2	Conformable stent structure and method of making same A stent (10) is provided with a plurality of stent rings (12) formed of a plurality of interconnected struts (14). Adjacent stent rings (12) are coupled to one another by a plurality of tie bars (16). Within each tie bar (16) there is provided a hinge (36) which facilitates the curving of the stent (10) in its longitudinal direction and minimizes the generation of returning force to a non-curved configuration by the stent (10). The hinge could, for example, be formed by heat treating a portion of the tie bar (16). This arrangement is particularly suitable for stents or other medical devices intended to be placed in delicate vessels, such as cerebral vessels.
US08303644B2	Stents with high radial strength and methods of manufacturing same Polymeric stents having fracture toughness and resistance to recoil after deployment are disclosed along with methods of manufacturing such stents. Improvements to mechanical characteristics and other improvements may be achieved by having polymer chains within individual stent struts oriented in a direction that is closer to or in line with the axis of the individual stent struts. The struts are connected to each other by hinge elements that are configured to bend during crimping and deployment of the stent. The hinge elements may be tangent or non-tangent to the adjoining struts so as to form W-shaped closed cells arranged in an offset brick pattern in which the size each W-shaped closed cell can be defined in part by a curvilinear length that is approximately 4.5 mm, which allows the stent to be crimped down to an OD of about 1.3 mm and expanded to an OD of at least about 3.5 mm.
US08303643B2	Method and device for electrochemical formation of therapeutic species in vivo A device and method are provided for spontaneous electrochemical production of therapeutic species, in vivo. An active metal is implanted in the tissue. The metal undergoes corrosion, thus acting as a reducing agent to constituents in the tissue, so as to cause these constituents to form the therapeutic agents.
US08303639B2	Releasable polymer on drug elution stent and method A method for treating a vascular condition is disclosed, the method comprising delivering a stent to a target region of a vessel, the stent including a drug polymer coating including an elution portion and a remaining portion, eluting the elution portion from the delivered stent for an elution period, heating the delivered stent after the elution period; and removing the remaining portion based on the heating.
US08303637B2	Catheter for topical cooling and topical cooling device using the same Topical cooling of spinal cord, brain, esophagus, etc. can be selectively and continuously carried out under convenient control without causing any changes in internal pressure of spinal cord cavity, brain pressure, etc. by inserting a catheter, which has no hole connecting to the outside and in which a heat- cooling medium is circulated in its inner space to thereby cool a topical site; into the spinal cord, the epidural cavity, the subdural cavity or the subarachnoid cavity of the brain or the esophageal cavity and placing therein and then circulating the heat/cooling medium within the inner space of the catheter.
US08303634B2	Bone screw, in particular for osteosynthesis A bone screw (1) having a threaded proximal portion (2), a threaded median portion (3), and a threaded distal portion (4). Threaded proximal portion (2) has a core (11) with a constant diameter and a proximal thread (12) with a constant diameter and a proximal pitch (P2). The threaded median portion (3) has a core (15), which is conical, with a diameter becoming increasingly larger from the distal end of the threaded median portion (3) to the proximal end thereof, and thread (16), which has a constant diameter smaller than the diameter of the thread (12) of the proximal threaded portion (2). The pitch of thread (16) of the threaded median portion (3) becomes increasingly smaller from the distal end of the threaded median portion (3) towards its proximal end. At the proximal end of the threaded median portion (3), the pitch of thread (16) is larger than the pitch (P2) of the thread (12) of the threaded proximal portion (2). The threaded distal portion (4) has a core (17) and thread (18), both having a constant diameter, and with thread (18) having a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the thread (16). The pitch (P4) of the thread (18) of the threaded distal portion (4) is larger than the pitch of thread (16) at the distal end of the threaded median portion (3).
US08303633B2	Dynamic anterior vertebral plate Provided is a novel system that includes a low profile dynamic anterior vertebral body plate and bone screws for the fixation and stabilization of the cervical spine, the system having a locking element through which the bone screw passes, the locking element being capable of movement relative to the plate when the bone screws are fully inserted and in a locked position. Also provided is a method of stabilizing cervical vertebrae using the disclosed system.
US08303628B2	Spinal stabilization system A spinal stabilization system is disclosed. The spinal stabilization system can include at least one anchorage component and a surgical rod. The anchorage component has a superior end, an inferior end, and an axial passage therebetween. The surgical rod is configured to be installed at least partially within the axial passage of the anchorage component. The surgical rod includes an elongate body having a first end and a second end. The first end or the second end is adapted to engage the superior end or the inferior end of the anchorage component. Further, the surgical rod is configured to substantially constrain rotational movement within the anchorage component.
US08303625B2	Biodegradable shape memory polymeric sutures Described herein are a group of degradable, thermoplastic polymers, which are able to change their shape after an increase in temperature. Their shape memory capability enables bulky implants to be placed in the body through small incisions or to perform complex mechanical deformations automatically. The shape memory polymers are preferably biocompatible and can be biodegradable or non-degradable polymers. Preferably, the biodegradable polymer has a linear degradation rate. In a specifically preferred embodiment, the suture is formed of biodegradable polymer capable of forming a self-tightening knot. In a most preferred embodiment, the suture is used to close a wound or body scission.
US08303621B2	Surgical treatment instrument A surgical treatment instrument according to the invention includes an insertion portion, an operation portion provided on one end of the insertion portion, a treatment portion provided so as to extend from the other end of the insertion portion, two gripping members provided on the treatment portion, each having a gripping face, an open/close operating member provided on the operation portion to perform opening/closing by at least one of the two griping members being moved, variable angle operating members respectively provided on the operation portion to change the treatment portion to a predetermined angle, a braked member provided within the operation portion and operating in conjunction with the operation of the variable angle operation portion, and a braking member provided within the operation portion to brake the braked member by operating in conjunction with the operation of the open/close operation member, wherein the treatment portion maintains a predetermined angle by the braked member being braked by the braking member.
US08303620B2	Torniquet article The present invention relates generally to first aid articles and more specifically tourniquets. One embodiment of the claimed subject matter includes a tourniquet article having a substantially rigid base. A handle is provided, the handle has first and second ends and a slot disposed between the first and second ends. A strap disposed adjacent to the substantially rigid base and passes through the slot of the handle. A structural member having first and second sides is attached to the base at least at first and second points along each of the first and second sides of the base such that the strap being sandwiched between at least a portion of the structural member and said base.
US08303617B2	Embolic protection system A catheter system 1 has an internal reception space for an embolic protection filter 10 to enable the filter 10 to be transported through a vasculature 20 and a treatment means such as a stent 15 to facilitate treatment. The catheter system may be used for retrieval of a filter 10 and stenting of a lesion with a stent 15. The procedure may also involve post dilatation using an on-board balloon 16.
US08303614B2	Double-ended lancet, method and lancet device using the double-ended lancet, and method of assembling and/or making the double-ended lancet Double-ended lancet unit for a lancet device. The unit includes a lancet body having a first end and a second end and being sized and configured to frictionally engage with a holding member of the lancet device. A first lancet needle projects from the first end and a second lancet needle projects from the second end and/or a lancet needle member has oppositely arranged pointed ends and is movably mounted to the lancet body. The body is made of a material different from that of the first and second needles or the pointed ends. First and second removable caps are respectively removably connected to the first and second ends. At least one of the first and second removable caps are re-installable on one of the first and second ends of the double-ended lancet unit. The unit is installable on the lancet device and each of the first and second needles or the pointed ends is structured and arranged to prick a user's skin to obtain a blood sample and is not usable for fluid injection.
US08303613B2	Ultrasonic instrument using langevin type transducers to create transverse motion A Langevin transducer horn uses split electroding or selective electroding of transducer elements and phase relationships of the voltages applied thereto to determine the relative longitudinal and flexural/transverse motion induced in the tip of the horn.
US08303612B2	Intravascular foreign matter removing wire and medical implement An intravascular foreign matter removing wire has a flexible long wire body, a first catching section located on the tip side of the wire body and operative to catch a foreign matter present inside a blood vessel, and a second catching section located in the vicinity of and on the base end side of the first catching section and operative to catch a foreign matter present inside a blood vessel.
US08303608B2	Fixation devices for variation in engagement of tissue Devices, systems and methods are provided for tissue approximation and repair at treatment sites, particularly in those procedures requiring minimally-invasive or endovascular access to remote tissue locations. Fixation devices are provided to fix tissue in approximation with the use of distal elements. In some embodiments, the fixation devices have at least two distal elements and an actuatable feature wherein actuation of the feature varies a dimension of the at least two distal elements. In other embodiments, the fixation devices have at least two pairs of distal elements wherein the pairs of distal elements are moveable to engage tissue between opposed pairs of distal elements. Systems are also provided having fixation devices and accessories.
US08303603B2	Clamping device for an epliation device A clamping device for a motor-driven epilation apparatus. The clamping device has a first clamping element with a first contact surface, in the region of which a three-dimensional clamping structure is provided. The clamping device has a second clamping element with a second contact surface. The contact surfaces of the clamping elements are intermittently brought in mutual clamping contact during the operation of the epilation apparatus. The hardness of the second clamping element in the region of the second contact surface is lower than that of the first clamping element in the region of the first contact surface.
US08303600B2	Targeting apparatus for use in a medical procedure A universal targeting apparatus includes a generally U-shaped body having one end configured to be coupled to the proximal end of the intramedullary implant and a mounting portion at an opposite end of said body. An arm is rotatably mounted to the mounting portion of the U-shaped body and includes bores defined at its opposite ends. Each bore is arranged at a different angle to correspond to the angle of a transverse aperture in the intramedullary implant. The arm can be rotated so an appropriate one of the angled bores is aligned with the transverse aperture to serve as a guide for creating targeting holes in the bone.
US08303598B2	Fenestrated bone tap and method A bone tap may be used to deliver and/or aspirate fluid to and/or from a bone. The bone tap may include a passage. A distal portion of the bone tap may be threaded. In some embodiments, openings in a distal portion of the bone tap may communicate with the passage. The bone tap may be driven into bone, and material may enter or exit the bone through the openings and passage.
US08303597B2	Systems and methods for guiding cuts to a femur and tibia during a knee arthroplasty An assembly for guiding resection of a femur and tibia of a knee joint in preparation for installing a femoral and tibial knee components. For example, the assembly can include tibial and femoral IM rods to which are connected through a tensioning bolt that allows controlled adjustment of the distraction of the tibia and femur during cut positioning in a range of flexion angles. Also, the assembly is usable with relatively small, noninvasive approaches to the knee joint by way of relatively narrow, low profile components that attach to tibial and femoral IM rods. Further, the assembly includes several quick-release components to allow fast assembly and disassembly in a surgical setting. Each of these aspects, along with the ability of the assembly to accurately guide initial reference cuts to the tibia and femur, promotes an improved outcome for the patient.
US08303595B2	Rod reduction device A rod reduction device includes a rod reducing member, an anchoring member, and a sleeve. The rod reducing member is configured to engage a spinal rod. The anchoring member is configured to removably attach to a bone anchor. The sleeve defines a longitudinal axis and is operably associated with the rod reducing member and the anchoring member. The sleeve is rotatable with respect to the anchoring member for longitudinally translating the rod reducing member relative to the anchoring member.
US08303594B2	Method and apparatus for removal of tissue A surgical instrument includes a deflectable cutting element extending from the distal end of the instrument. The deflection of the cutting element is controllable based on a user operating a moveable member of the instrument. The deflectable cutting element is normally disposed within a circumferential region defined by the distal end of the instrument. The moveable member can be moved in relation to the instrument to deflect the deflectable cutting element, such that the cutting element is at least partially outside of the circumferential region. The extent that the cutting element is outside of the circumferential region is a function of the position to which the moveable member is moved in relation to the instrument. The instrument further includes direct imaging of the distal end, such that the deflection of the cutting element for selective removal of bone tissue at the distal end of the instrument can be controlled in real-time.
US08303581B2	Catheter with remotely extendible instruments An electrosurgical apparatus for performing a surgical procedure includes a housing having an elongated flexible shaft with proximal and distal ends. The shaft having a plurality of tubes disposed therein that define a corresponding plurality of working channels configured to house a corresponding plurality of surgical instruments. An actuator is dimensioned for selective reciprocation within the shaft and configured to operably engage one or more of the corresponding plurality of surgical instruments and deploy the corresponding surgical instrument to an operating cavity as needed during a surgical procedure.
US08303577B2	Method device and system for determining a system parameter of a laser beam treatment system The invention relates to a method for determining an actual value of at least one system parameter or a deviation from a set value of at least one parameter of a system for the treatment of an eye using a treatment laser beam emitted by said system. According to the invention, the surface of a calibrating body is ablated with at least a partial beam of the treatment laser beam with a predetermined ablation program. The surface ablated by the treatment laser beam is examined by means of aberrometry and/or profilometry. The actual value of the system parameter or the deviation from the set value of the system parameter is determined on the basis of the examination data detected during the examination.
US08303571B2	Multiple-line connective devices for infusing medication A multiple-line connective device for use in a medication infusing system includes a connective device body forming a main flow passage from an inlet to an outlet along a longitudinal axis, the main flow passage including an interior surface having a raised surface feature configured to induce turbulent liquid flow through the main flow passage. One or more branches extend from the connective device body, each defining at least one branch passage in communication with the main flow passage. Each branch passage enters the main flow passage at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis that imparts a flow through the branch passage that has a directional component that is parallel to the longitudinal axis and in the direction from the inlet to the outlet.
US08303568B2	Shielded tip catheter A multilumen catheter assembly including an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end and a first lumen having a sidewall extending between the proximal end and the distal end, a first distal opening disposed at the distal end, and a first guide wire opening disposed proximally of the distal end and co-planar with the sidewall. The assembly also includes a second lumen connected to the sidewall and extending from the proximal end toward the distal end, proximally of the distal end. The second lumen includes a second opening extending obliquely away from the sidewall distally toward the first distal opening and a second guide wire opening disposed proximally of the second opening and in a plane generally parallel to the sidewall. A method of inserting the catheter into a vessel is also disclosed.
US08303567B2	Method for delivering a macromolecular complex to muscle cells A method for transferring a macromolecular complex to muscle cells by exsanguinating a region of the subject's microvasculature and delivering the complex to this region under high hydrostatic pressure. A balloon catheter having a balloon that extends substantially the full length of the cannula that is inserted into the subject is provided for use in the systemic delivery of macromolecular complex.
US08303563B2	Absorbent article with distinctive sheet underneath backsheet An absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, a panty-liner, or an incontinence guard for light incontinence, includes a cover sheet (15) and a backsheet (12). The absorbent article (1) includes a separate sheet (4) secured on that side of the backsheet (12) facing away from a user during use of the absorbent article (1). The separate sheet (4) is preferably divided into two short end portions (7) and an intermediate portion (8) extending between the short end portions. The short end portions (7) are permanently or releasably secured via securing members (11) at a respective end portion (19) in such a way that the intermediate portion (8) forms a laterally extending through-passage (22) against the backsheet (12). The separate sheet (4) is equipped with wings (9) along at least part of the side edges (6) of the separate sheet (4).
US08303559B2	Disposable diaper A disposable diaper is provided with a skin-contactable sheet piece above a liquid-pervious topsheet. The skin-contactable sheet piece is formed with openings extending in a back-and-forth direction through which body waste is guided toward the topsheet and both lateral zones of the sheet piece on both sides of these openings as viewed in a transverse direction are provided with elastic members attached under tension. Outside the skin-contactable sheet piece as viewed in the transverse direction, leak-barriers are provided and the lateral zones of the skin-contactable sheet piece are bonded to the leak-barriers along regions defined between proximal edges and free edges of the respective leak-barriers.
US08303556B2	Device for men to manage the involuntary loss of bladder control A device for men to manage the involuntary loss of bladder control, the device includes an upper portion integral to a lower portion, wherein the lower portion defines a retention body having a lower opening to access an inner chamber sized and shaped to accommodate the insertion of a male penis. The upper portion defines an upper hood having an open position and a closed position. A replaceable absorbent member is disposed on an interior of the upper portion, and an attachment member releasably secures the upper portion to the retention member such that the upper portion is in the closed position. The device further consists of a first layer having a plurality of vent holes positioned along the length and width of the first layer and, a second layer having a plurality of vent holes positioned along the length and width of the second layer. A plurality of dimples are sandwiched between the first and second layers that form a separation between the layers and provides ventilation to the inner chamber.
US08303555B2	Soft collector for a negative pressure wound therapy system and its combination A collector for a negative pressure wound therapy system has a soft collecting bag with a gas-permeable unit and a liquid absorber. The collecting bag is connected to a wound-dressing unit via an inlet connecting set and is connected to a sensor assembly via a detecting connecting set. With the soft collecting bag, the collector occupies less volume. By the gas-permeable unit and the liquid absorber, the liquid and gas entering into the collecting bag quickly isolate. Moreover, multiple collectors connect in series to form a collector combination to reduce the frequency to replace the collector combination so that a longer usage time of the collector combination is available.
US08303553B2	Flow limiter for a fluid flowing in an aspiration branch of a surgical system, and surgical system The invention relates to a flow limiter for a fluid flowing in an aspiration branch of a surgical system, which fluid is a surgical fluid and has emulsified particles in a surgical intervention, with a limiter element that comprises at least one flow channel arrangement with at least one main channel and at least one subsidiary channel that opens into the main channel at an angle of greater than or equal to 90°. The invention also relates to a surgical system, in particular an ophthalmic microsurgical system for lens surgery.
US08303552B2	Reduced pressure wound treatment system A reduced pressure treatment appliance is provided for treating a wound on the body of a patient. In some embodiments, the appliance comprises a cover, which can have a top cup member and an interface member. The interface member can have flow control means, configured to permit exudate from the wound to flow through the flow control means into the volume under the cover, but not in the opposite direction. Also, in some embodiments, the top cup member can have a lid member, a cup body member, and lid attachment means to removably attach the lid member to the cup body member. In some embodiments, the cover can be configured to facilitate access to the wound for monitoring, treatment and other purposes without removing the cover from the body. The wound treatment appliance can have a vacuum system to supply reduced pressure to the site of the wound in the volume under the cover. A suction bulb can be used to provide a source of reduced pressure to the cover. Additionally, methods are provided for using various embodiments of the treatment appliance.
US08303548B2	Injection device An injection device includes: a syringe 2 including a barrel 21 including a cylindrical barrel body 21a and a nozzle 21b provided at a front end of the barrel body so as to be communicated with the barrel body, a gasket 23 slidable in the barrel, and a plunger 24 connected with the gasket and capable of being placed into and removed from the barrel through a rear end opening of the barrel; a finger flange 25 provided in the vicinity of the rear end portion of the barrel body and molded integrally with or separately from the barrel body; and a holder 3 having an inner diameter that allows the barrel to be inserted in a bore of the holder, attached to the barrel, and including a spiral protrusion 31a formed on the inner surface of a portion of the holder disposed around the nozzle.
US08303544B2	Cystotomy catheter capture device A catheter capture device comprising a urethral sound and a sleeve that utilizes balloon inflation to capture the catheter. A catheter capture device comprising a urethral sound and a clamshell device. The clamshell device comprises two halves, one of which comprises two pins. One pin passes through the lateral holes in the tip of the catheter, and the other pin fits into a notch in the bottom half of the clamshell device. A catheter capture device comprising a urethral sound, a sleeve and a pin that passes through the lateral holes in the tip of the catheter. A catheter capture device comprising a urethral sound, a wire and a nodule, wherein the nodule captures the catheter by lodging in the tip of the catheter. The nodule could be a ball, hook, crimped wire or similar object. A method of capturing a catheter in an obese or non-obese patient.
US08303543B2	Bloodless catheter and needle shielding catheter insertion apparatus An insertion apparatus, including an object for insertion into a patient; an insertion structure including an annular mounting structure having a mounting structure interior, the mounting structure containing a resilient membrane barrier extending across the mounting structure interior with a resiliently closing membrane opening for passing the object; so that the object can be inserted forwardly through the membrane opening and into a patient and subsequently withdrawn from the patient and rearwardly from the membrane opening, the membrane opening resiliently closes as the object exits the membrane opening and thereby preventing patient bodily fluid from flowing rearwardly out of the insertion structure.
US08303542B2	Ophthalmic surgical cassette and system A cassette 74 for use with an ophthalmic surgical pump 16 for collecting aspirant fluid and tissue from a patient's eye includes a rigid walled container 18 having an interior volume 42. At least one tapered alignment slot 20 is formed in a side wall of the container 18 and extends from a back wall 24 towards a front wall 26. An irrigation and aspiration manifold base 50 is removeably attached to the container 18. An aspiration path 46 is formed within the container 18 for receiving the aspiration fluid and the tissue from the eye and directing the flow of fluid towards a front half of the container 18 before the fluid and tissue collects within a majority of the interior volume 42 of the container 18. A fluid level indicator 34 is formed on a wall 22 of the container 18, such that an associated photo-detector 86 of the pump 16 may determine a level of fluid in the container 18.
US08303541B2	Protective guard for needles of injection devices having removable needle assemblies Protection for the otherwise exposed sharp point of a needle of an injection device. A two part cover for the needle comprises a stationary base which engages the injection device, and a relatively movable cover. The cover is guided to slide longitudinally along the base by a groove-and-projection system. The projection is held in an initial position, and slides along the groove during injection. At the end of the injection, the projection is immobilized in the groove at a final position, and immobilizes the moveable cover in a deployed position covering the needle.
US08303535B2	Delivery device for use with a therapeutic drug A compact and one time use, self-administration device (10) for administering medication is disclosed. The device includes a housing (12) having a start button (26), a status indicator (28), a window (30), and a surface removably attachable to a user. The device (10) has a cartridge holder (34) providing in an aseptic environment a cartridge (32) containing the medication. The cartridge (32) is viewable through the cartridge holder (34) and the window (30). An included drive unit (42) provides a movable plunger (126) that breaks through a sterile barrier (130) of the cartridge holder (34) to dispense the medication from the cartridge (32) to an hollow needle (38) for administering the medication into the user. The device (10) provides means (36, 44) for extending and retracting the hollow needle (38) and an electronic control unit (40) which controls the drive unit (42), the extending and retracting means (36, 44), and interfaces with the start button (26), the status indicator (28), and the body sensor (24) to automatically administer the medication.
US08303533B2	Device and method for delivery of a physiologically active substance depending on a measured physiological parameter A device for delivery of glucose-regulating medication, particularly insulin, depending on the measured tissue glucose concentration, having a sensor for measuring the glucose concentration in tissue fluid, possibly a unit for removing fluid from subcutaneous tissue, as well as a container for the glucose-regulating medications, having a unit for subcutaneous delivery of the glucose-regulating medications, and having a unit connected to the glucose sensor for regulating the quantity of the glucose-regulating medication to be delivered depending on the measured tissue glucose concentrations. The device simulates the function of the natural pancreas and is constructed small and compact. The sensor for measuring the tissue glucose concentration or the unit for removing the tissue fluid is combined with the delivery unit for subcutaneous delivery of the glucose-regulating medication, particularly in a shared catheter, so that the measurement of the tissue glucose concentration is essentially performed at the location of the delivery of the glucose-regulating medication.
US08303532B2	Pertioneal membrane function test method, peritoneal membrane function test apparatus and peritoneal membrane function test program A peritoneal function testing apparatus tests the peritoneal function of a dialysis patient easily and with high accuracy. Standards of four kinetic parameters (CCr, Kt/V, MTACu, and MTACc) available in a definite dialysis guideline are computed in accordance with a relational expression, and a curve showing the relation between MTACu/c and the drained fluid volume is indicated in a graph together with the PET data of the patient which has been prepared separately. Thus, the peritoneal function can be evaluated based on the relative position of the patient's data and the curve showing the standard values in the graph.
US08303531B2	Spray applicator with positionable spray tip An apparatus for applying a spray to a selected site on a patient includes a sheath having a through bore extending from a first end to a second end. A flexible multi-lumen tube is secured within the sheath and has a distal portion that extends beyond the second end of the sheath. A malleable wire is positioned within at least the distal portion of the multi-lumen tube wherein manual force is exerted upon the distal portion to position the distal end in a selected position by bending the malleable wire. A housing is attached to the rigid outer sheath and has a plurality of ports for engaging a multi-tube syringe and a port for injecting a gas into the selected site wherein each port is in communication with at least one lumen. A spray nozzle is removably attached to the distal end of the multi-lumen tube wherein the at least one liquid and the gas are discharged from the multi-lumen tube and into the spray nozzle such that the aerosol exiting the spray nozzle is effective in treating the selected site.
US08303528B2	Orthopedic device for treatment of the back In an embodiment, an orthopedic device in the form of a lumbar support includes first and second elongate belt members, an anatomically shaped plate, and a closure system connecting the belt members to the plate. The closure system is arranged to move the belt members relative to the plate, and connects to the belt members via a flexible belt attachment which removably secures to the belt members. The closure system includes tensioning elements corresponding to the belt members, and a pulley system connecting to the tensioning elements. The closure system is slidably mounted to the plate and arranged to the belt members relative to the plate between opposed linear directions. The plate has various contours which provide pressure distribution over a lumbar region of a back. Anatomically shaped and resiliently formed handles secure to the tensioning elements and the belt members.
US08303526B2	Medical slings A medical sling made from material that is suitably shaped for use in a medical application has sides, portions of which are smoothed to prevent abrasion of surrounding tissue.
US08303525B2	Walking assist device Provided is a walking assist device including a seat member having a holding portion to be held by a user, a leg link connected to the seat member, and a driving source capable of driving the leg link in a direction of pushing up the seat member. At least a part of the body weight of a user is supported by the leg link through the seat member. The walking assist device can be self-mounted easily by the user. When a holding detection unit detects that the holding portion is held by the user, the walking assist device performs a mounting assist control by driving the leg link in the direction of pushing up the seat member until a seating detection unit detects the contact of the seat member with the crotch of the user.
US08303524B2	Control device for walking assist device A control device for a walking assist device is provided. The control device has a means that decides whether the total sum of measured values of treading forces of the legs of a user is greater than a predetermined value and a means which determines a predetermined ratio according to observed values or desired values of reference parameters obtained immediately before a negative determination result by using supporting forces acting on the leg links from the floor side as the reference parameters. This is in the case where the determination result of the decision means is negative and is a process undertaken instead of determining the predetermined ratio between the supporting forces acting on the leg links according to the measured values of the treading forces of the legs of the user.
US08303522B2	Device for transfecting cells using shock waves generated by the ignition of nanoenergetic materials A miniature device for generating shock waves using the energy of combustion of a nanoenergetic material and directing the shock waves into biological tissues is described.
US08303519B2	Guide wire having markings to indicate changes in structural features This invention provides a guide wire whose structural features can be determined through an endoscope. The guide wire is inserted into a patient's body and used in the lumen. It has markings at the positions where the structural features change.
US08303511B2	Implantable pressure transducer system optimized for reduced thrombosis effect This invention relates generally to systems and methods for optimizing the performance and minimizing complications related to implanted sensors, such as pressure sensors, for the purposes of detecting, diagnosing and treating cardiovascular disease in a medical patient. Systems and methods for anchoring implanted sensors to various body structures are also provided.
US08303506B2	Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and ultrasonic imaging method and program An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which one of an imaging method with advantageous time resolution and an imaging method with advantageous spatial resolution can be selectively used according to an imaging object. The apparatus includes a transmission control unit for controlling a drive signal generating unit to scan the object while shifting a center position of a group of transducers, which simultaneously transmit ultrasonic waves, by a distance not larger than an interval of plural transducers in a first imaging mode and shifting a center position of a group of transducers, which simultaneously transmit ultrasonic waves, by a distance not less than twice the interval in a second imaging mode, and an image generating unit for generating an image signal at a first frame rate in the first imaging mode and a second frame rate higher than the first frame rate in the second imaging mode.
US08303502B2	Method and apparatus for tracking points in an ultrasound image An ultrasound system comprises a position sensing module, an imaging tracking module, a display and a user interface. The position sensing module detects spatial information associated with a volume of data. The display displays first and second images based on the volume of data. The first and second images comprise first and second portions of the volume of data, and the first and second portions are at least partially different with respect to each other. The user interface selects a first image tracking point on the first image. The first image tracking point is indicated on the first image with a first indicator. The image tracking module tracks the first image tracking point within the volume of data. The image tracking module indicates on the display a spatial relationship of the first image tracking point to the second image.
US08303499B2	Minimal incision maximal access MIS spine instrumentation and method A surgical access device includes a frame defining an aperture, first and second support members mounted on the frame, and first and second retractor blades releasably coupled with the first and second support members, respectively. The first and second retractor blades each include a distal portion defining a recess having an arcuate profile, wherein the first and second retractor blades are movable between a close cooperative position and a spaced apart position with respect to each other.
US08303498B2	Surgical access system and related methods A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue retraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.
US08303497B2	Minimally invasive surgical retractor with an expanded field of vision A surgical retractor includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes a ring structure and a conical outer wall. The ring structure has a first opening and defines a first plane. The outer wall forms an ellipse-shaped second opening in communication with the first opening and extends below the ring structure at an acute angle with respect to the first plane. The second component includes a top structure and a conical inner wall. The top structure has a third opening and defines a second plane. The inner wall forms an ellipse-shaped fourth opening in communication with the third opening and extends below the top structure at an acute angle with respect to the second plane. The top structure is disposed at least partially inside the ring structure such that the second component is rotatably adjustable with respect to the first component.
US08303494B2	Electronic endoscope system, processing apparatus for electronic endoscope, and image processing method An image of a tissue site including a blood vessel is captured while broadband light and narrow band light are emitted to a body cavity. Thereby, broadband image data corresponding to the broadband light and narrow band image data corresponding to the narrow band light are obtained. Picture elements in the same positions are identified between the broadband image and the narrow band image to obtain a brightness ratio LM therebetween. Based on depth correlation information between the brightness ratio and blood vessel depth, a blood vessel depth D corresponding to the brightness ratio is obtained to determine whether each picture element includes a blood vessel and whether the blood vessel depth D is at the surface. Based on the determination, a surface blood vessel region is extracted. A broadband image having the surface blood vessel region with the reduced contrast is generated.
US08303492B2	Endoscope apparatus An endoscope apparatus includes a transparent member provided at a distal end of an insertion portion of an endoscope to face an image pickup optical system, an ultrasonic transducer attached to an inner surface of the transparent member, and a deflection portion provided at an outer surface of the transparent member which changes a direction of propagation of an ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic transducer. With the configuration, an ultrasonic wave for stain removal is efficiently propagated from the ultrasonic transducer into a region of an observation field of view in an observation window.
US08303487B2	Power driven bending endoscope device with detachable insertion portion An endoscope 2 includes an insertion body 3 equipped with a potentiometer 26 for detecting a bending state of a bending portion 3B which is allowed to be bent and inserted into a subject and an electric connector 18c for outputting an electric signal as a detection result of the potentiometer 26, and a motor unit 4 detachable with respect to the insertion body 3 via an attachment/detachment portion 14, which is equipped with an electric motor 23 for bending the bending portion 3B.
US08303484B2	Self-propelled robotic device that moves through bodily and other passageways A self-propelled robotic device moves through bodily and other passageways by inflating regions of an overlying bladder along the length of the robotic device in a sequence that imparts motion to the device. The regions of the overlying bladder are inflated by energizing a plurality of coils, which are surrounded by a ferrofluid, in a sequence. The ferrofluid responds to the magnetic field created by an energized coil by creating a bulge in the side wall of the overlying bladder.
US08303483B2	Adaptive device and adaptive method for automatically adapting the stomach opening of a patient In an adaptive device and an adaptive method for adapting the stomach opening of a patient, a gastric band having a non-elastic back part on the exterior and a first expandable chamber on the interior are placed around the stomach of the patient for adapting the stomach opening, and the stomach opening of the patient is adapted by modifying the amount of fluid in the first expandable chamber. For this purpose, the adaptive device includes a second expandable chamber, so that the second expandable chamber is connected to the first expandable chamber, and whereby the fluid is displaced from the one expandable chamber to the other expandable chamber in order to modify the stomach opening of the patient. The adaptive device can in particular be controlled by changing the position of the body of the patient.
US08303481B2	Devices and methods for assisting heart function Devices and methods for assisting heart function. In at least one embodiment of a device for assisting heart function, the device comprises at least two electromagnetic plates having an inner surface, a cardiac processor electrically coupled to at least one of the at least two electromagnetic plates, a bladder having an inner chamber, the bladder attached to an inner surface of at least one of the at least two electromagnetic plates, a source of gas in communication with the inner chamber of the bladder, and at least one catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and having a lumen therethrough, the at least one catheter defining at least one aperture positioned therethrough at or near the distal end of the at least one catheter and comprising a pericardial balloon coupled to the at least one catheter at or near the distal end of the at least one catheter, the proximal end of the at least one catheter in communication with the inner chamber of the bladder.
US08303479B2	Biophysiological regulator for therapeutic treatments The invention relates to a biophysiological regulator for therapeutic treatments, including brain stimulation coils (7) which generate current using a microcontroller (11). The invention includes a second microcontroller (16), a liquid crystal display (17), a selector (21) for selecting pre-recorded programs and a connection port (20) for an external device (19) which is provided with a speaker (24) and LEDs that indicate whether or not the battery is charged (18), the regulator is connected (27), an application is underway (26) and the battery is low (25), and an internal program (28) which regulates the frequency and typology of the output wave and the time. The invention also includes a tamper protection system formed by a microcontroller (29) inside a special connector (30) built into the assembly (applicator and cable), in which the internal software of the device reads the serial number located inside the microcontroller of the connector.
US08303473B2	Multi-sport athletic training apparatus and method An athletic training apparatus to assist a coach training muscle coordination of a player. An adjustable, delayed resistance, burst release, extension coil operatively couples to a first cable harness and a second cable harness. The first cable harness detachably couples to a coach and feedbacks real-time physical movements of the coach to the player. The second cable harness detachably couples to a training muscle group of the player. The training muscle group receives feedback from the real-time physical movements of the coach including a first resistance level during one portion of the exercise routine and a second resistance level during a second portion of an exercise routine. During an exercise routine, movements of the player are substantially unaffected and unstrained by the athletic training apparatus.
US08303469B2	Trampoline A trampoline comprises a flexible mat, a plurality of resiliently flexible rods each having an upper end retained in the flexible mat, and a base frame arranged to retain the lower ends of the flexible rods. The base frame comprises for each rod an aperture through an upper side of the base frame into the interior of the tubular frame, and a formation into the interior of the tubular base frame from the lower side of the base frame and spaced laterally from the aperture, which may be formed by deforming material of the underside wall of the base frame into the interior of the base frame, for receiving the lower end of the flexible rod.
US08303465B2	Method for controlling engine temperature of an engine A method for controlling engine temperature of an engine with a wide dynamic range is disclosed. In one example, the derivative of an engine temperature is assessed by a controller. The controller may adjust engine actuators to limit engine temperature in response to the derivative.
US08303462B2	Friction-ring transmission having a friction ring, and method for producing a friction cone A friction-ring transmission has a friction ring, a first friction cone including a first friction-ring running surface, a second friction cone including a second friction-ring running surface, and at least one axial friction-ring securing element for preventing critical travel of the friction ring beyond the friction-ring running surface. The friction ring is disposed to be displaceable axially on the friction-ring running surfaces and in a gap between the friction cones, whereby the at least one axial friction-ring securing element is disposed on at least one of the friction cones.
US08303461B2	Machine element A machine element that has at least one rotationally symmetrical section which is configured like a hollow body. In the machine element at least the rotationally symmetrical section is formed from two elements of bowl-shaped design which close the machine element on the end side and in the process enclose at least one cavity.
US08303460B2	Connection of sheet metal components of a transmission The invention relates to a connection of sheet metal components of a transmission, wherein the connection has at least one form fit between at least one first sheet metal component and at least one second sheet metal component, and here, the form fit is formed by means of at least one journal which projects out of the first sheet metal component, wherein the journal engages into an opening, which at least partially corresponds to the outer contour of the journal, on the second sheet metal component.
US08303456B2	Gear train of automatic transmission for vehicle A gear train of an automatic transmission includes eight forward speeds and two reverse speeds to improve power delivery performance and to reduce fuel consumption, by controlling two simple planetary gear sets and one compound planetary gear set through four clutches and two brakes.
US08303455B2	Multi-ratio transmission A multi speed transmission comprising planetary gearsets (P1, P2, P3, P4), shafts and shift elements. The sun gear of gearset (P1) couples shaft (4) which can couple housing (G) via brake (04) and the carrier of set (P1) couples shaft (3) which can couple housing (G), via brake (03), and drive shaft (1) via clutch (13), and shaft (6) via clutch (36). Shaft (6) couples the ring gear of gearset (P2) and the sun gears of gearsets (P3, P4). Shaft (1) couples the sun gear of gearset (P2) and is operatively connected to the carrier of gearset (P3). Shaft (7) couples the ring gear of set (P1) and the carrier of gearset (P2). The ring gear of gearset (P4) couples shaft (5) which can couple housing (G) via brake (05) and output shaft (2) operatively couples the carrier of gearset (P4) and the ring gear of gearset (P3).
US08303453B2	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.
US08303452B2	Automatic transmission An automatic transmission includes a first planetary gear set including first to third rotating elements; a second planetary gear set including fourth to sixth rotating elements; a third planetary gear set including seventh to sixth to ninth rotating elements; an input shaft constantly connected with the first rotating element; an output shaft constantly connected with the second rotating element; and at least five friction elements including a first friction element capable of locking a rotation of the eighth rotating element, a second friction element configured to selectively connect the second rotating element with the fifth rotating element, a third friction element configured to selectively connect the second rotating element with a second rotating member defined by the sixth and seventh rotating elements, a fourth friction element configured to selectively connect the fifth rotating element with the eighth rotating element, and a fifth friction element configured to selectively connect the first rotating element with the fifth rotating element. The automatic transmission achieves each of at least seven forward speed-ratios and one reverse speed-ratio, by a concurrent engagement of two friction elements which are selected from the five friction elements.
US08303451B2	Driving force distribution mechanism A driving force distribution device for distributing driving force from an engine to left and right rear wheels has: a differential case which accommodates a differential mechanism therein; an intermediate shaft which is provided parallel to an output shaft extending leftward or rightward from the differential mechanism; a speed-up mechanism which is provided to the left or right of the differential case and changes and transmits driving force input to the differential case to the output shaft via the intermediate shaft; and a clutch mechanism capable of switching between a transmitting state in which the speed-up mechanism transmits the driving force to the output shaft and a blocking state in which the transmission of the driving force is blocked. According to the driving force distribution device, cost reduction and downsizing of the driving force distribution mechanism and a housing thereof can be realized.
US08303450B2	Eccentric dual stepping gear roller bearing system An eccentric dual stepping gear roller bearing system, which consists of an input shaft and an output shaft associated with a gear ring holding an exterior row of equally spaced ball bearings, an output gear with an interior row of lesser diameter with fewer equally spaced ball bearings held at a different plane relative the exterior row, and at least one stepping gear with exterior and interior stepping gears having differing radii joined off-set on top of one another and eccentrically mounted on the drive shaft to act on the interior and exterior rows of roller bearings, which act as gear teeth to rotate the output gear to reduce shaft output.
US08303448B2	Speed change transmission apparatus Disclosed is an apparatus including a stepless speed change device receiving an engine drive; a planetary transmission device for, by a plurality of planetary transmission mechanisms, combining an output from the stepless speed change device and the engine drive not subject to a speed change by the stepless speed change device; and a speed range setting device for outputting the drive combined by the planetary transmission device and divided into a plurality of speed ranges. The planetary transmission device, the speed range setting device and a forward-reverse changeover device are located forwardly of a rear end of an upstream transmission case portion. An electric motor may be used instead of the stepless speed change device.
US08303442B2	Sporting ball with enhanced visual acuity Sporting balls with enhanced visual acuity, casings for sporting balls with enhanced visual acuity, and methods for enhancing visual acuity of a soccer ball are described. In embodiments, the sporting ball has an exterior with a substantially spherical surface including a first pole opposing a second pole and an equator circumferentially intermediate the first pole and the second pole. Additionally, in embodiments a first exterior region of a first color may include a first hub section oriented at the first pole generally opposite a second hub section oriented at the second pole on the substantially spherical surface. The first hub section may have one or more first hub spokes extending spherically outwardly therefrom toward the equator, and the second hub section may have one or more second hub spokes extending spherically outwardly therefrom toward the equator. Further, in embodiments, the sporting ball may have a second exterior region of a second color.
US08303441B1	Customized racquet stringing system A racquet stringing system for use with a stringing machine configured for stringing a racquet having a string bed of racquet string formed of a plurality of main string segments and a plurality of cross string segments. The stringing system includes a control unit and at least one racquet string algorithm operably coupled to the control unit. The control unit is coupled to the racquet stringing machine and includes a processing unit. The racquet stringing algorithm is configured to enable the control unit to produce at least three different string tension signals for tensioning the main string segments and/or cross string segments of the racquet on the stringing machine based upon one or more racquet head profiles and/or one or more player characteristics.
US08303439B2	Baseball training device and method A baseball training system to teach proper swing technique comprising a first tee adapted to support a baseball and a second tee adapted to support a baseball, a tee support configured to hold the first tee and a second tee vertically and separated from each other by a horizontal distance, d, a rod, and a belt configured to be worn around a user's stomach and to hold the rod in an approximate horizontal position across the front of the user's stomach.
US08303437B2	Multilayer core golf ball having hardness gradient within and between each core layer The present invention is directed to an improved multi-layered core golf ball wherein each core layer comprises its own specific hardness gradient (positive, negative or a combination) in addition to an overall specific hardness gradient from one core layer to the next.
US08303434B1	Putter type golf club A putter golf club that resists twisting by increasing the rotational inertia of the golf club to the maximum degree possible by distributing mass away from the center of mass of the putter, and thereby expands the sweet spot of the putter. Rotational inertia is maximized via use of a heel control wing and a toe control wing extending rearwardly and outwardly from a striking face of the putter as well as a tail rod extending perpendicularly from striking face. Further increase of rotational inertia is accomplished via s symmetrical recesses incorporated into heel and toe control wing.
US08303433B2	Golf club head with moveable insert The present invention is directed toward a golf club head with an adjustable insert. The insert is moveable in a face to back direction, and may be locked into place by one or more locking mechanisms. The insert may be adjustable so that the overall distance from the face to the back approaches the distance from the heel to the toe.
US08303428B2	Short game training device for use with golf club A short game training device 10 for use with a golf club comprises an two-axis linear accelerometer 12, a fastener 50 for removably attaching the accelerometer to the golf club head H so that the X and Y axes of the accelerometer 12 are disposed approximately parallel with the club face and oriented at approximately a forty-five degree angle with respect to a substantially vertical plane V containing the aim line A established when addressing the golf ball G with the club face aligned perpendicularly to the aim line A, a detectable alarm 18, and a microprocessor 14 for calculating differences in forces measured by the X and Y axes during a timed interval subsequent to positioning the club and for activating the alarm 18 when the differences exceed a selected threshold.
US08303427B1	Golf putting practice aid assembly A golf putting practice aid assembly for indicating a club face direction of a putter includes a golf putter that has a front club face and a rear club face. A holding member that has a front side, a back side, a top side, a bottom side and a pair of lateral sides each extending from the top side to the bottom side. The front side has a primary laser aperture extending therethrough. The back side has a secondary laser aperture extending therethrough. A mounting member is attached to the rear face. The mounting member is attached to the bottom side adjacent to the front side. The mounting member is used to elevate the holding member above the club face. A laser light emitter is removably inserted into the secondary laser aperture. The laser light emitter is emitting laser light directed forwardly out of the primary laser aperture.
US08303421B1	Device and method for an electronic tag game A device combining a gun and target for facilitating a game of tag using infrared light communications between a two or more players is provided. The device includes two infrared transmitters and two infrared receivers and a shaped housing facilitating handling of the device by a user. The housing includes a grip portion with a finger-operable trigger, a barrel portion and a user-interface including a display and a keypad for programming the device and controlling various game and device functions. A first infrared transmitter transmits a directional infrared signal to another game participant and a first infrared receiver receives an acknowledgment signal therefrom in response to the transmitted directional signal. A second infrared transmitter and second infrared receiver facilitate omni-directional two-way communications between two or more devices before, during, and after a game of infrared electronic tag allowing functions such as game setup, player identification and gameplay analysis. An accessory device for single player video game play using the gun as a controller is also provided.
US08303419B2	Gaming apparatus with cooling of certain components A system includes a gaming machine, one or more heat generating components within the gaming machine, and a thermoelectric cooler apparatus located within the gaming machine to draw heat from the one or more heat generating components.
US08303415B2	Finding friends for multiuser online games The present disclosure relates to games and applications in general and in particular to computer-implemented online games, such as online role-playing games, playable by more than one person from more than one location. The game engine can search a player's social network to find friends to play with. These social networks can be constructed implicitly by analyzing a player's game play information and other information.
US08303412B2	Game apparatus and game program The game apparatus obtains angular velocity data and acceleration data from an input device equipped with at least an angular velocity sensor and an acceleration sensor, and determines whether or not a ball has been thrown in accordance with the angular velocity data. When it is determined that ball-throwing is fulfilled, the game apparatus calculates the intensity of swinging the input device and a curve amount. The game apparatus applies a force and a curve to a ball in accordance with the calculated intensity of swinging and the curve amount, and performs a process of causing the ball to move and curve in a predetermined direction.
US08303411B2	Methods and systems for enabling depth and direction detection when interfacing with a computer program Detecting direction pointing direction when interfacing with a computer program is described. Two or more stereo images presented in front of two or more corresponding image capture devices can be captured. Each image capture device having a capture location in a coordinate space. The image capture devices can be synchronized with a strobe signal that is visible to each image capture device. When a person is captured in the image, first and second body parts of the person in the image can be identified and assigned first and second locations in the coordinate space. A relative position that includes a dimension of depth can be identified in coordinate space between the first location and the second location when viewed from the capture location.
US08303410B2	Navigation system having preference region adjustment mechanism and method of operation thereof A method of operation of a navigation system includes: receiving a game search preference; locating a compliant opponent location conformant to the game search preference; identifying a first preference region encompassing the compliant opponent location; locating a noncompliant opponent location violating the game search preference; and adjusting the first preference region to exclude the noncompliant opponent location for displaying on a device.
US08303403B2	Multi-game context for episodic gaming This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods for managing multi-game contexts. An apparatus comprises a wagering game unit operable to present a wagering game upon which monetary value can be wagered; and a game context management unit operable to determine a list of installed wagering games on a wagering game machine and to determine one or more relevant rules, wherein a relevant rule is a one that is related to at least one of the installed wagering games, the game context management unit further operable to process each relevant rule to calculate a group of available games; and to present the available games on a primary display.
US08303400B2	Gaming machine having a function of the number of free games according to the result of a game in which a player selects a choice from among multiple choices A controller is provided which includes: a function whereby, in a case that the game mode has been switched to the free game mode, a mini game is executed; a function whereby, each time the mini game is executed, selection data is received from a first input device, and determination is made based upon the received selection data as to whether accumulated points are to be updated; a function whereby, in a case that determination has been made that the accumulated points are to be updated, the points that correspond to the received selection data are added to the accumulated points, thereby updating the accumulated points; and a function whereby, after the mini game has been executed a predetermined number of times, the number of extra free games, which are extra games provided in addition to the free game, is determined according to the updated accumulated points.
US08303398B2	Dynamic power management in a gaming machine A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a value input device for receiving a wager and a processor for executing gameplay on the gaming machine. The processor has a plurality of power consumption levels. A power regulator is operative to alter the power consumption level of the processor amongst the plurality of power consumption levels. In an embodiment, the power regulator comprises application software stored on a memory device in communication with the processor.
US08303397B2	Gaming machine that forms a winning pattern utilizing a reduced cell A gaming machine includes a lottery region defined such that cell columns are arranged to be parallel with each other. Symbols in each symbol column are moved along the cell column at a predetermined game opportunity and are stopped in one cell unit. A determination is performed as to whether a combination of symbols stopped in a determination target cell group forms a prize winning pattern. Reduced cells are defined by equally dividing a cell in a cell column when a predetermined reduction condition is satisfied, reduces symbols corresponding to the reduced cells, recognizes that at least one normal cell and the reduced cells are included in the target cell group, selects the reduced cells included in the target cell group, and determines that a combination of a symbol stopped in the selected reduced cell and the normal cell included in the target cell group forms the prize winning pattern.
US08303392B2	Auxiliary pot shot poker video poker game and poker table surface An auxiliary pot shot video poker game and a poker table surface comprise a variety of unique and independent betting positions such as No Pair. A player betting on No Pair may place their bet or wager that the end outcome of poker game play will be that their hand will represent no pair, a poor outcome. Other positions of the auxiliary game may comprise one pair of 2's through 10's, one pair of Jack's through Aces, two pair, three of a kind, a straight, a full house and so on with generally increasing pay-offs as the likelihood of receiving the predicted outcome poker hand decreases. However, because these bets are independent the payoffs may be much larger than a pay-off for a standard video poker or poker table game. As a poker game continues and cards are dealt, a player of the auxiliary game may receive compensation for bets on predicted outcomes with automatically calculated pay-offs depending on the wagers places. In a five card draw game, the cards the player receives after selecting cards to be held determines the outcome of the hand and the associated pay off. The auxiliary game may be adapted for play with many types of poker games including but not limited to five card, six card and seven card stud, five card draw and wild card play.
US08303391B2	Wagering game with bonus feature that performs secondary analysis to determine award A method of playing a wagering game on a gaming terminal. The gaming terminal displays a plurality of indicia during the wagering game, which are then selected via player inputs. The selected indicia are revealed and arranged into groups corresponding to winning combinations. The arrangement is made so as to maximize at least one of the plurality of predefined winning combinations.
US08303390B2	Methods and devices for multi-state card games with card replacement Players in a multi-state card game, such as blackjack or baccarat, are presented with opportunities to exchange their cards for new cards when the card game is in one or more particular states. These opportunities may include offers to redeal the player's hand of cards or redeal the player's opponent's hand of cards. Additionally, when the player is dealt a new card to be added to the player's hand, the player may be offered options to discard the new card, replace the new card with another new card, or to redeal the player's hand and/or the opponent's hand. In this way, the player may be able to improve his or her position in the card game. At the same time, the game provider may charge the player for acceptance of these offers, thus improving the profit margin of the game provider.
US08303389B2	Arrangement for electronically carrying out board role-play and card games An assembly for electronically performing card games through data transmission between a game console and RFID elements, for reading out and/or changing game status or game course representing data and data characterizing player features. A game pad is provided with defined game fields for receiving data carriers whose information can be read out. An antenna coil device is embedded into the game pad, allowing the readout of game fields. At least one RFID-element is provided with autonomous power supply and a transmitter/receiver unit for data transfer to the console, and with optical and/or acoustic display elements. The RFID-element inductively enters into a data exchange connection with a coupling coil section of the antenna coil device so that the game card data carriers of the respective game field group are readable and possibly changeable, wherein furthermore a signaling element signalizes the reading of the game card data carriers.
US08303379B2	Systems for profiling sheet products Techniques for manufacturing sheet product of varying surface profile and products thus manufactured are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the disclosed invention provides a method for profiling a surface of a sheet product having a first profile on first surface. In one embodiment, the method includes creating a profiling template or contoured support surface. A profiled surface may be formed by arranging the profiling template and the sheet product such that the profiling template is located between the sheet product and a support surface, conforming the arrangement of the sheet product and the profiling template to the support surface such that conformance causes the sheet product to have a second surface profile on the first surface, and processing the sheet product to form a third surface profile on the first surface.
US08303377B2	Heat-resistant roll, production method thereof, and method of producing sheet glass using heat-resistant roll Provide is a heat-resistant roll with improved effectively characteristics, a production method thereof, and a method of producing sheet glass using the heat-resistant roll. A method of producing a heat-resistant roll equipped with a roll portion containing 5% by weight or more of clay includes: a grinding step (S101) of grinding a roll surface of the roll portion; and a surface treatment step (S102) of performing surface treatment of smoothening the ground roll surface in a wet state.
US08303376B2	Device and method for positioning and blocking steady rests for rolling mill cylinders in grinding machines and grinding machines employing the same A device and method for positioning and blocking steady rests for rolling milly cylinders in grinding machines and grinding machines employing the same. A positioning and blocking device for steady rests includes a substantially flat carriage including a translation mechanism and a blocking mechanism, wherein the blocking mechanism is magnetic.
US08303373B2	Slurry supplying apparatus and method of polishing semiconductor wafer utilizing same A diluted slurry supplying apparatus utilized in a polishing apparatus for finishing a semiconductor wafer with a slurry containing colloidal silica and water-soluble polymer is provided. The polishing method comprises: a slurry supplier capable of supplying the slurry containing the colloidal silica and the water-soluble polymer; a diluent supplier capable of supplying a diluent containing an aggregation preventing agent to dilute the slurry; a mixer capable of receiving the slurry and the diluent having been supplied from the slurry supplier and the diluent supplier, respectively, the mixer forming a diluted slurry with a pH value of at least 9; and an ultrasonic vibrator capable of applying an ultrasonic vibration to the diluted slurry staying in the mixer or being fed out from the mixer. Here, the diluent supplying apparatus can change a dilution proportion of the diluted slurry.
US08303361B2	Floatation device for a pregnant woman A floatation device for a pregnant woman is formed from a panels of an air impermeable material defining an inflatable chamber having an abdomen cavity passing there through to allow a pregnant woman rest on the floatation device while lying in a prone position. The unique torso cavity shape and cover encasing the chamber functionally combine to provide the woman an improved level of comfort when using the device. Internal structural support features, handles, and appropriate device dimensions can further combine to increase the level of comfort provided to the user.
US08303360B2	Outboard motor control apparatus In an apparatus for controlling operation of an outboard motor mounted on a boat and having a torque converter equipped with a lockup clutch, it is configured to have a clutch controller that controls the lockup clutch to ON when a speed ratio of the torque converter is equal to or greater than a reference value, the clutch controller being configured to determine whether a throttle valve is at about a fully-opened position and to control the lockup clutch to ON when the speed ratio becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value set smaller than the reference value before the speed ratio reaches the reference value, and the throttle valve is discriminated to be at about the fully-opened position. With this, it becomes possible to reliably make a lockup clutch ON when the acceleration is completed, so that the boat speed can reach the maximum speed.
US08303351B2	Distribution terminal for wire-type fusible link and fuse connection structure using distribution terminal A distribution terminal for a wire-type fusible link is provided. The distribution terminal includes: an electrically-conductive metal plate having a fixing hole formed therethrough so as to be fastened to a battery terminal bolt; and a plurality of press-clamping barrels formed on the metal plate and provided corresponding respectively to a plurality of wire-type fusible links, each of the press-clamping barrels having a press-fastening leg for being press-clamped to a fusible conductor of the corresponding wire-type fusible link.
US08303340B2	Fluid resistant connector and system An elastomer moisture resistant connector for at least one conductor disposed at least partially within a jacket of elastomer material. The connector has a first elastomer portion, which has a first end and a second end. The first end of the first elastomer portion is adapted to be compressed against a support. The connector also has a second elastomer portion that is integrally molded with the first elastomer portion and extends from the second end of the first elastomer portion, and is configured to enclose at least a portion of the jacket. The connector also has a third elastomer portion that is integrally molded with the first elastomer portion, protrudes from the second end of the first elastomer portion, and is adapted to be compressed by an enclosure.
US08303335B2	Connecting module with optical indication A connecting module with optical indication for being disposed on an electronic device is disclosed. The connecting module includes multiple first connectors disposed adjacently, and each first connector includes a base, a switch and an optical indicator. The base has an accommodating space, and the switch is disposed at a side wall of the accommodating space. When a second connector is connected to the first connector, a plug of the second connector is inserted into the accommodating space and triggers the switch so as to enable the optical indicator for indicating a connection status of the first connector.
US08303334B2	Embedded coupler device and method of use thereof The metallic coupler circuit may form a sensing circuit with a status output component and configured to sense physical parameters of the RF electrical signal flowing through the connector or presence of moisture in the connector.
US08303331B2	Power receptacle, power plug and power connector assembly with improved heat dissipation path A power connector assembly includes mateable power receptacle and power plug. The power receptacle includes a first insulative housing defining a first heat dissipation path extending through opposite first mating and mounting surfaces, and a receptacle power contact exposed to the first heat dissipation path. The power plug includes a second insulative housing defining a second heat dissipation path extending through a second mounting surface of the second insulative housing, and a plug power contact for abutting against the receptacle power contact. The first and the second heat dissipation paths are in communication with each other and are exposed to an exterior so that heat generated by the receptacle power contact and the plug power contact can be dissipated therethrough.
US08303328B2	Connection assembly The present invention provides a device for connecting together first and second complementary connector elements, the device comprising first and second parts that are movable in rotation relative to each other, wherein the device comprises a spring having a first end connected to the first part and a second end connected to the second part; the spring, the first part, and the second part being such that turning the first part in a first direction of rotation, or turning the second part in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation increases the inside diameter of the spring; and the spring, the first part, and the second part being such that turning the first part in the second direction of rotation or turning the second part in the first direction of rotation decreases the inside diameter of the spring.
US08303326B1	Cable connector assembly with locking members with spring-actuated plungers A cable connector assembly includes a matable connector and a cable connector intended to mate with the matably connector. The matable connector includes a pair of guiding boats at opposite ends thereof and each guiding boat defines a guiding groove and a locking slot in the guiding groove. The cable connector includes a case, a connector body with a mating port exposing to a front edge of the case and cables running through a rear edge of the case and a pair of locking members located at the case. The connector body defines a pair of guiding posts intended to be communicated in the guiding grooves of the matably connector. Each guiding post defines a first receiving groove therein. Each locking members includes a rear end retained in the case and a front end with a locking end extending forward and received in the first receiving groove.
US08303321B1	Card connector anti-misinserting a micro SD card A card connector (100) used for receiving an inserted card (5), defining a card receiving space and a card insertion/ejection direction, includes an insulative housing (2) having a holding portion (2323), a number of contacts (3) retained in the insulative housing, a slider (41) having a lock retention pocket (413) releasably engaged with the holding portion of the insulative housing, and a spring (42) compressed between the insulative housing and the slider for urging the slider along a card ejection direction. The slider is moveable relative to the insulative housing in response to a separation of the holding portion from the lock retention pocket.
US08303319B2	Electrical card connector with improved contacts An electrical connector includes an insulative housing having an inserting slot, and a bottom wall under the inserting slot. The bottom wall defines a supporting surface extending along a front-to-back direction, a horizontal guiding surface located in front of the supporting surface, and a plurality of depressions recessed from the supporting surface and arranged in one row along a transverse direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction. A plurality of first contacts each has a planar first contact portion retained in the depression. A plurality of second contacts each has an arc-shaped second contact portion extending upwardly beyond the supporting surface and protruding into the inserting slot. The second contact portions are located behind the first contact portions.
US08303318B2	Variable grounding plug design for continental europe An electrical plug for charging a vehicle is provided. The electrical plug has variable grounding and includes a plug body and a collar configured to selectively adjust between a first and second position along the plug body to selectively expose a face portion of the electrical plug. The electrical plug further includes a first electrical prong and a second electrical prong extending from the face portion, the first and second electrical prong enable current transmission. The electrical plug further includes a plurality of grounding mechanisms compatible with a plurality of receptacles respectively, each of the plurality of grounding mechanisms provide a connection to ground.
US08303317B1	Connector assembly A connector assembly includes a socket connector, and a plug connector including a plug housing and plug terminals disposed in the plug housing and each having a contact portion projected sideward out of the plug housing. The socket connector includes a socket housing defining an insertion space, plug terminals disposed in the socket housing and contact pads embedded in two opposite inner sidewalls of the insertion space to connect with the plug terminals and exposed in the insertion space. Two end edges of the inner sidewalls of the insertion space are designed with two arc-shaped guiding surfaces. A bottom of each contact pad is bent and embedded in the inner sidewall to realize a smooth connection of the contact pad and the guiding surface so as to guide the contact portions to be inserted into the insertion space along the guiding surfaces and electrically contact with the contact pads.
US08303315B2	Electrical connector and electronic assembly having a lead arrangement A lead arrangement suitable for an electrical connector includes a lead lane. The lead lane includes a pair of first differential signal leads, a pair of second differential signal leads, and a ground lead positioned between the two pairs of first and second differential signal leads. Each of the first and second differential signal leads has a surface mounting segment for being soldered onto a surface pad of a circuit board. The ground lead has a via passing segment for being soldered into a through via of the circuit board.
US08303303B2	Device for determining position An arrangement for determining position and fixation of an element relative to a part in or on a bone or a model of a bone. An expansion spacer extends through a sleeve. The spacer includes a first flange engages a first end of the sleeve and a second flange engages a second end of the sleeve when the spacer is expanded to vertically fix the spacer relative to the sleeve. An expansion screw extends through the spacer and includes an outer conical expansion surface configured to cooperate with an inner conical expansion surface on the spacer to radially expand the spacer causing the outer surface on the spacer to engage the inner surface of the sleeve, thereby determining the position of the sleeve relative to the part and fixing the sleeve.
US08303302B2	Systems and methods for orthodontic devices Embodiments presented herein provide apparatus and methods for forming and coupling an attachment device onto one or more teeth. A system comprises a template including a shell having a cavity defining a shape that is operable to receive one or more teeth. The template comprises an aperture at one or more predetermined locations. The aperture defines an aperture perimeter. The system further comprises one or more attachment molds. Each attachment mold comprises a mold bore therethrough. The attachment mold further includes a mold perimeter surface that defines a predetermined shape, wherein each of the aperture perimeters being operable to receive and cooperate with the mold perimeter surface of one of the attachment molds. Each mold bore being operable for providing a mold for forming an attachment device coupled to a tooth of a desired shape and orientation from curable material that may be disposed within the mold bore.
US08303296B2	Polymer tube expansion apparatus to maximize fracture toughness Methods of and systems for fabricating a polymeric stent with improved fracture toughness including radial expansion of a polymer tube along its entire length at the same time and fabricating a stent from the expanded tube are disclosed herein.
US08303292B2	Injection mold An injection mold is disclosed. The injection mold includes a female die, a male die and an ejection device die slidably passing through the male die for ejecting molded product out of the mold. The female die includes a female die body and a female die core received therein. The male die includes a male die body and a male die core slidably received therein. The female die core and the male die core configured for cooperatively defining a molding cavity for forming a product. The ejection device includes a first ejection rod and a second ejection rod slidably connected to the first ejection rod. A first distal end of the first ejection rod is connected to the male die core. When molding product, an end of the second ejection rod distal from the first ejection rod is configured to be fixed relative to the male die.
US08303290B2	Method and installation for the production of containers A method of producing a container from a thermoplastic blank, including a step in which the blank is heated using at least one beam of coherent electromagnetic radiation, and a step in which the container is formed from the blank thus heated. The invention also relates to an installation which is used to produce containers and which includes a unit for heating the blanks in order to form containers from the blanks thus heated. The inventive installation defines a path along which the blanks travel inside the heating unit. In addition, the heating unit includes at least one coherent electromagnetic radiation source which is directed toward a zone that is located on the aforementioned path.
US08303287B2	Spunbonding apparatus A spunbonding apparatus includes at least one nozzle, a coagulating tank, a deformation region, a slit passage, and a drawing flow pump. The nozzle extrudes at least one spinning solution. The coagulating tank contains coagulating liquid to coagulate the spinning solution into at least one fiber. The deformation region is located between the coagulating tank and the nozzle. The slit passage is connected to the coagulating tank and allows the fiber to pass therethrough. The drawing flow pump provides a drawing flow to the slit passage.
US08303286B2	Mold for vulcanizing a tire, a method of vulcanizing a green tire blank, and a tire obtained by said method A mold includes at least one axial member carrying at least one sidewall molding surface for molding a sidewall of a tire, radial segments each carrying at least one surface for molding a tread of the tire and locking surfaces for connecting the axial member with the radial segments. First radial and axial locking surfaces which are displaceable and carried by the axial member cooperate with second radial and axial locking surfaces. The sidewall molding surface is integral with a fixed portion of the axial member. The first radial and axial locking surfaces are integral with at least one locking member mounted in the axial member and are movable relative to the fixed portion.
US08303283B2	Power steering oil pump A power steering oil pump may include a pump housing, a rotor that is equipped with a plurality of vanes and coupled to the pump housing to rotate therein, a cam ring inserted between the rotor and the pump housing to form a pumping space between the cam ring and the rotor, a rotor shaft that passes through the rotor and is fitted therein to transmit rotational force to the rotor, and a bush that has at least a first oil groove on an inner circumference thereof and supports the rotor shaft to a pump cover coupled to the pump housing while covering a portion of the rotor shaft which passes through the rotor, wherein at least a second oil groove is formed on an end portion of the vanes contacting with an inner circumference of the cam ring.
US08303282B2	Gear pump for a power steering system The invention relates to a gear pump, especially for a power steering system, having a housing, a first cover and a second cover, the first cover being integrated into the housing.
US08303280B2	Scroll type compressor comprising an Oldham ring having a reinforced pawls and a mirror plate having a concave recess for a movable scroll In a scroll type compressor including a fixed scroll having a mirror plate and a lap provided to the mirror plate, a movable scroll having a mirror plate and a lap provided to the mirror plate and engaged with the fixed scroll, and an Oldham's ring disposed on the back side of the movable scroll for constraining rotation of the movable scroll on the axis thereof, the Oldham's ring has a pair of fixing locking pawls extending from the back side of the movable scroll and fitted to the fixed scroll, each of the fixing locking pawls is provided with a reinforcing portion at the base portion thereof, and the mirror plate of the movable scroll is cut out in a concave shape at the edge portion thereof in conformity with a movement range of the reinforcing portion to form a concaved escape portion at the edge portion of the mirror plate.
US08303279B2	Injection tubes for injection of fluid into a scroll compressor A scroll compressor is provided with injection tubes which extend through an upper shell and into a fixed scroll member. The injection tubes are fixed relative to the fixed scroll member, and may be press-fit or otherwise secured. This arrangement simplifies the provision of injection ports into a scroll compressor.
US08303271B2	Electric compressor integral with drive circuit An electric compressor integral with a drive circuit incorporates a compression mechanism section, a motor for driving the compression mechanism section, and a motor drive circuit. A refrigerant gas chamber having a refrigerant gas expansion space, into which refrigerant gas is introduced, is formed between a drive circuit installation section and a motor installation section, by a first partition wall provided on the drive circuit side and a second partition wall provided on the motor side, the side opposite the drive circuit side. The refrigerant gas chamber is interrupted by the first partition wall against the drive circuit installation section and is communicated with the motor installation section by a through hole that is provided in the second partition wall and through which the refrigerant gas can pass. Heat generating components, particularly in the drive circuit, can be easily and effectively cooled, and also on the motor installation side, cooling of the motor and lubrication of a bearing section can be easily and excellently performed.
US08303268B2	Rotary pump with a fixed shaft A rotary pump (1) with a multipart pump housing (4), comprising a suction connector (6) and a pressure connector (7), a pump impeller (5) mounted on a fixed shaft (3), the pump rotor (5) being designed as a permanent magnetic rotor cooperating with an electromagnetic stator. The task of the invention in a rotary pump is to achieve excellent efficiency in a compact design. The rotary pump is also supposed to guarantee high lifetime and improved heat removal. This task is solved according to the invention in that the shaft (3) is firmly connected to a first pump housing (2), referred to as pump head, which includes the suction connector (6) or is connected to it, the shaft (3) forming an axis of symmetry to an inside wall area of pump head (2).
US08303264B2	Device for adjusting the flow rate of a mobile oil-injected screw-type compressor A device for adjusting the flow rate of a screw- type compressor supplying compressed gas, having a control valve to supply a control pressure (Pn) which is in proportion to the gas pressure (Pw) as of a gas pressure (A); an electronic speed controller which sets a lower rotational speed (N) as the control pressure (Pr1) rises; an inlet valve controlled by the control pressure (Pr1) with a valve element which can freely move inside a housing and where a non-return valve is actuated by a spring provided in a line between the inlet valve and the control valve.
US08303256B2	Blade pitch driving apparatus for wind driven generator A blade pitch driving apparatus of a wind-driven generator and a driving method therefor are adapted to receive an external electrical power and impel a blade toward a corresponding pitch angle according to a pitch command. The apparatus includes an UPS, a permanent magnet synchronous motor drive (PMSM drive), an AC pitch motor (ACPM) and a hub controller. The hub controller normally switches the external power to the PMSM drive, receives the pitch command and control the ACPM to impel the blade toward the corresponding pitch angle. When the PMSM drive fails or the external electrical power is interrupted, the hub controller switches the electrical power of the UPS to the ACPM and controls the blade being impelled toward a feathered position.
US08303249B2	Wind turbine and method for optimizing energy production therein A method for optimizing energy production in a wind turbine includes pitching a plurality of rotor blades to a full operational angle, and utilizing an active flow control device in accordance with a generator speed and a rotor blade pitch setting to facilitate maintaining a predetermined generator rated power level.
US08303246B2	Connecting radial arms to a circular ferrule by imbricating attached parts Assembly of the connection of an arm to a ferrule is done by imbricating a side wing protruding from the end of the arm and keys bolted to the ferrule. The assembly may be supplemented with positioning pins.
US08303244B2	Engine-mounted fan shroud and seal The invention concerns an engine-mounted fan shroud for use in a vehicle that has a shroud body supported by a vehicle engine, including an outer ring made of a first material having a first stiffness, and a bodyside seal extending from and being integral with the outer ring, with the bodyside seal being made of a second material having a second stiffness that is less than the first stiffness. The bodyside seal fits into and seals around a seal opening in a body-mounted shroud that is mounted to radiator support structure.
US08303241B2	Turbine yaw control A KHP system turbine for the production of energy in an underwater environment including a yaw stop arrangement for use in flowing steams where the flow direction of water therein is changeable, including bi-directional and multi-directional current flows, so that a rotatably mounted turbine remains in an optimal position within such changing flow conditions. The KHP turbine includes a rotational portion and one or two passive yaw stop assemblies that will control turbine yaw and keep the turbine oriented to capture energy from changeable underwater current flows.
US08303240B2	Single towing vehicle for both car and cart The present invention relates to a towing device which utilizes a towing base, wheels, and a plurality of movable tracks, a tongue hitch attachment, and a vehicle locator swivel plate. The invention can be supplied with hydraulic surge brakes or electric brakes, as well as brake and turn lights. Tie down straps are used for securing the vehicle to the dolly. The invention features an adjustable car locator swivel plate. This allows the adjustment of the weight distribution to “fine tune” the load. The tongue weight can be adjusted to comply with the RV hitch's requirements. Using the loading ramps supplied with the invention, the automobile and the golf cart can be ready for transport quickly and easily.
US08303239B2	Percussive shovel for robotic applications A percussive digging tool attachment for a small robotic platform employs a percussor module for applying percussive impulses of relatively low impact at relatively high frequency to an attached digging tool to dig into or break up soil and rocks. By using low-impact, high-frequency percussive forces, it reduces the reaction loads on the small robotic platform while providing increased capability.
US08303238B2	Kinematic device for supporting and programmably moving a terminal element in a machine or an instrument The invention concerns a kinematic device for supporting and programmably moving a terminal element. The platform (11) bearing the terminal element (12) is linked by four swivel joints (9) and (10) with two legs each consisting of two support rods (7) or (8) forming deformable parallelograms mounted each on slides (3) or (4) mobile in the x direction. The pivot plate (29) articulated on the platform (11) about the hinge pin (30) is controlled by the control rods (27), controlling pivoting (14) and lateral displacement (18) connected respectively by the swivel joints (26, 13 and 17) to the slides (3, 12 and 26). It consists in a parallel kinematics with four degrees of freedom, namely three translational and one rotational whereof the angle can be greater than 120°.
US08303234B2	Transfer device A transfer device includes a carrying-in area (A1) into which a carriage is carried. A positioning mechanism includes left and right rocking arms (60) that engage with and disengage from the carriage to lift the carriage while holding it from both left and right sides and position it at a predetermined height position in the carrying-in area. A transfer mechanism (110) transfers an object from between the positioned carriage and a transfer area. With this construction, the rocking arms lift the carriage from both the left and right sides and from the lower side and position the carriage away from a floor surface. The positioning of the carriage is performed during a rocking operation of the rocking arms, whereby the carriage can be easily and highly accurately positioned without being affected by the flatness of the floor surface even if the carriage has dimensional assembly errors.
US08303233B2	Storage and retrieval system The storage and retrieval system includes a frame having at least two columns adjacent to one another. A track is disposed in each column, each track being generally parallel to one another. A plurality of storage units reside and move within the tracks. An actuator coupled to the frame displaces the storage units in the columns and a pair of conveyors move the storage units between columns to permit sequential clockwise or counterclockwise movement of the plurality of storage units within the frame.
US08303231B2	Apparatus and method for semiconductor wafer transfer An apparatus for semiconductor wafer transfer comprises a first region for placement of a pod, a second region for placement of a cassette, an unloading mechanism, and a transferring mechanism for transferring wafers in the unloaded pod to the cassette horizontally. In an embodiment, the pod is unloaded by lifting the housing of the pod, and preferably the apparatus for movement of semiconductor wafers further comprises a carrying mechanism for moving the cassette toward the pod, so that the cassette can be closer to the pod for smoothing wafer transfer.
US08303221B2	Device for and method of securing items in a cargo bed An assembly of a number of perforated sheets with fasteners and braces to temporarily and adjustably provide variable partitions and means for securing items within the cargo bed of a truck or trailer, uses a set of flat rectangular sheets that are perforated by an array of regularly spaced holes to accept connectors and bolts to secure braces or fixtures to the sheets in a variety of configurations including at least a base sheet sized to fit horizontally on the cargo bed and/or vertical partition sheets with sockets along the long edges, spaced the same as the sheet holes and secured to the base sheet by pegs and braces and fixtures such as rings, adjustable length bars or hooks are usefully attachable to the sheets by bolts or by pegs inserted into the holes.
US08303218B2	Earthquake resistant earth retention system using geocells A retaining wall comprises a plurality of layers made from geocells. The retaining wall has a capping layer at the top of the wall, wherein the ratio of the length of the capping layer to the height of the retaining wall is at least 0.8. The retaining wall also has at least one stacking layer and may further comprise a reinforcing layer made of geogrids or, preferably, geocells. The reinforcing geocells have a height that is less than the height of the capping layer geocell.
US08303217B2	Systems for the subterranean support of underground conduits The present invention relates to a support system for supporting a conduit. In one exemplary embodiment, the system includes support beams extending across an excavated opening. For example, a pair of beams may be positioned to span the excavated opening with the opposing ends of the beams supported on the ground above the excavated opening. Support rods may be positioned to extend through and/or from the beams and into the excavated opening. In one exemplary embodiment, the support rods include a J-hook configured for receipt within an opening in sections of curved sheet pile positioned beneath a conduit. By using a plurality of rods, the individual sections of curved sheet pile may be connected to the beams to provide a support structure for the curved sheet pile and, correspondingly, the conduit extending above the curved sheet pile and below the beam.
US08303216B2	Laying device A laying device simultaneous lays at least two substantially parallel and axially spaced apart groups of flexible media lines in at least one flat layer in the soil, wherein each group of flexible media lines has at least one flexible media line. The laying device has a cutting device for generating at least one slot in the ground. The cutting device has one or more substantially vertical blades and a substantially horizontal blade connected to a lower end of the one or more vertical blades, or the cutting device, viewed in the cutting direction, has a round, semi-circular, oval, polygonal or Y-shaped configuration. At least two devices for dispensing the groups of media lines are arranged on the side of the laying device that is facing away from the cutting direction.
US08303209B2	Breakaway signpost adapter A sectional I-beam post for use along a roadside in which the post has a first elongate lower section securable via a first slip type coupling to a base anchored in the ground. Slip movement of such coupling is in a direction across the length of the post. The first coupling includes L-shaped brackets with one leg thereof attached to the post by bolts so as to be detachable therefrom and notches in the outer end of the other leg which projects outwardly from the post A second elongate upper post section has the lower end thereof connected to the upper end of the first post section by a second slip type coupling. Slip movement of the second coupling is in a direction lengthwise of the post. The second coupling includes an end plate bolted to at least one post section including at least one notch that providing a slip connection with the other post section. A third coupling includes end plates bolted to opposing post sections having a slip plate thereinbetween, each one of the end plates having notches that provide a slip connection between the opposing post sections.
US08303206B2	Ink composition for writing tool and writing tool The writing tool 100 having an ink composition for a writing tool 12 in an ink holding tube 14, the ink composition for a writing tool 12 containing a metal powder, a gelling agent and spherical resin fine particles, wherein the viscosity (V1) at a shear rate of 1000 s−1 is no greater than 45 mPa·s and the viscosity (V2) at a shear rate of 0.01 s−1 is at least 100 Pa·s.
US08303205B2	Leakproof makeup applicator A leakproof makeup applicator includes a main body, a rod, a collar and a bottle. The main body defines a receiving space therein. A power supply, a motor and a connector are disposed in the receiving space. The power supply electrically connects to the motor, and the connector is driven by the motor to be rotatable with respect to the main body. The rod connects to the connector concentrically and has a sealing sleeve disposed thereon. The bottle defines a liquid chamber and an opening formed at one end thereof. The opening has a plastic ring disposed on its inner periphery, in which the plastic ring defines a through hole. The rod inserts into the liquid chamber via the through hole. The sealing sleeve seals the through hole as the bottle and the collar are threadedly combined with each other.
US08303203B2	Soap bar or substance application bar The substance application bar includes an application portion having an exterior surface and an interior surface and configured for applying a substance to a receiving surface and at least one blocking extension extending adjacent the interior surface of the application portion to define a retaining recess therebetween. The blocking extension and the interior surface are associated to cooperatively substantially block movement of an object received in the retaining recess in a direction generally along the interior surface against the blocking extension. The substance application bar may also include at least one bar-preserving extension associated with the interior surface to maintain a portion of the recess open to the atmosphere. This facilitates air flow through and drying of the recess for resisting deterioration of the bar. An assembly of application bars in stacked association also is included.
US08303202B1	Writing utensil kit and method of use A writing utensil kit comprising a plurality of writing utensils including an associated tip having at least one notch formed therein and adapted to mechanically engage a writing surface and produce a stylized design when manipulated thereupon by a user. A method of using the writing utensil wherein a user selects a writing utensil from the kit; orients the writing utensil such that the writing utensil is in mechanical engagement and fluid communication with a writing surface; and manipulates the writing utensil such that a stylized design is produced thereupon.
US08303201B2	Card cleaning mechanism, card cleaning method and card printing apparatus A card cleaning mechanism has a cleaning roller that cleans a surface of a card by contacting the conveyed card, and a roller-shaped cleaner that cleans a surface of the cleaning roller by contacting the cleaning roller. The cleaning roller is configured to move between a retreated position separated from a card conveyance path, and an operating position contacting a surface of the card being conveyed and the roller-shaped cleaner by advancing into the card conveyance path. Accordingly, the card cleaning mechanism can securely remove dust and dirt adhering to the card printing surface and does not reduce card printing quality.
US08303198B2	Label paper indexing control method and label printer A label paper indexing control method for a label printer is provided that in one embodiment includes conveying label paper having labels affixed with a specific gap there between to a continuous liner through a path passed a printing position of a print head, detecting a reference position of the label paper at a detection position upstream from the print head, determining the position of a downstream label end of a label on the path as a first distance from the detection position based on when the reference position is detected, updating the first distance each time the label paper is conveyed, executing a power shutdown operation that writes the first distance to memory and turns the power off when a command instructing turning the power off is asserted, and reading the first distance from memory when the power turns on without the label paper having been replaced.
US08303193B2	Retention bodies for fiber optic cable assemblies Retention bodies for securing a fiber optic cable therewith for optical connectorization are disclosed. The fiber optic cable is inserted into a passage of the retention body and secured to the same. In one embodiment, the retention body includes a buckling chamber for accommodating longitudinal movement of an optical fiber of a fiber optic cable, such as due to retraction of a ferrule. The buckling chamber may also facilitate alignment and/or centering of the optical fiber when inserted through the passage of the retention body for further insertion into a ferrule of a fiber optic connector sub-assembly or the like.
US08303191B2	Multi-part axial cage for a large-diameter roller bearing A multi-part axial cage for a large diameter roller bearing, which has a metal strip connected to plastic cage windows. The metal strip is configured as a washer-ring-type flat cage and each cage window has a sealing element on the edge lying opposite the guiding edge. The element covering an axial gap is formed between the races of the roller bearing. The sealing elements of the individual cage windows overlap around the circumference.
US08303188B2	Bearing apparatus An outer ring is provided with a key groove radially extending from an inner diameter to an outer diameter on an end surface thereof. A key member includes an annular body, an inwardly projecting part which is provided on an inner periphery of the annular body and adapted to be inserted into the key groove of the outer ring, and an outwardly projecting part which is provided on an outer periphery of the annular body and adapted to be inserted into a key groove of an axle box.
US08303184B1	Motor pump bearing A bearing that is used in a motor pump in which a liquid is, not only pumped by means of an impeller driven by the pump, but also is used to lubricate components of the motor pump including the motor pump shaft. The bearing is for supporting the shaft at at least one location of the shaft. The bearing is constructed of a bronze material having added thereto a small amount of graphite, preferably around 2.5%.
US08303183B2	Slide assembly A slide assembly may be associated with a foldable cable management arm. The slide assembly includes inner and outer rails. The inner rail is slidable in the outer rail. The inner rail includes a ball bearing carrier disposed close to an end of the inner rail. The ball bearing carrier includes upper and lower ball receiving channels. The inner rail may be directly provided with the upper and the lower ball receiving channels and the ball bearings. Each of the upper and the lower ball receiving channels includes an open section positioned in use facing the outer rail. A plurality of ball bearings are contained in both the upper and the lower ball receiving channels and roll along the open sections of the upper and the lower ball receiving channels to support the outer rail.
US08303180B2	Temperature recorder A temperature recorder in the form of a tubular cover and with an inside piston, in which an altered position of the piston is carried out by a mechanical movement released from a bimetal washer, which, when making a sudden change, changes its form from convex to concave when a determined temperature level is reached. Two line-formed screen patterns, a picture formed by colored lines on the inner surface of the tubular cover, shows a certain pattern in the original position, and a different pattern is shown when an inside piston has been moved vertically inside the outer tubular cover. Friction between the outside of the piston and the inner surface of the tubular cover forms a braking means. A reset button can by means of a magnet or a spring repulse or press back the piston which is in the top of the tubular cover and has a magnet and the piston will be pressed back within the tubular cover to its original position and the first patterns will be shown clearly again by the line-formed screen pattern. The bimetal washer will assume its original form and is prepared to start again when the temperature is increased or decreased.
US08303176B2	Cryogenic fiber optic temperature sensor and method of manufacturing the same This invention teaches the fiber optic sensors temperature sensors for cryogenic temperature range with improved sensitivity and resolution, and method of making said sensors. In more detail, the present invention is related to enhancement of temperature sensitivity of fiber optic temperature sensors at cryogenic temperatures by utilizing nanomaterials with a thermal expansion coefficient that is smaller than the thermal expansion coefficient of the optical fiber but larger in absolute value than the thermal expansion coefficient of the optical fiber at least over a range of temperatures.
US08303167B2	Escapement mechanism An escapement mechanism adapted for transmitting mechanical energy pulses from a driving source to an oscillating regulator of a timepiece via a blade spring (12) operating in a buckling manner about a curvature point, wherein the blade spring (12) can build up the energy from the driving source between two pulses and transmit the same to the oscillating regulator upon each pulse via first (18) and second (26) levers. In order to optimize the adjustment of the tension of the blade spring (12), the latter is mounted on a frame (50) capable of symmetric deformation relative to a first axis (AA) extending through the rotation axes of the regulator, the levers (18, 26) and through the curvature point, and relative to a second axis (BB) perpendicular to the first one and extending through the ends of the blade spring (12).
US08303166B2	Food flipping and turning spatula A cooking apparatus includes a spatula assembly and a cooking container comprising an upper access opening and an inner, cooking surface having a spherical surface portion. The spatula assembly includes a spatula driver and a curved spatula pivotally mounted to the cooking container for moving along the cooking surface and about a pivot axis between first and second positions. The pivot axis passes through the center point of the spherical surface portion. The spatula assembly may be constructed so that at least one of the first and second positions is above the pivot axis. The curved spatula may also include a spatula body having an outer surface and a barrier member extending radially inwardly from the outer surface, the outer surface contacting the cooking surface of the cooking container.
US08303163B2	In-line mixing apparatus for iodine extraction An in-line mixing apparatus is especially useful for iodine extraction from brine. Three fluids (brine, an oxidant such as sodium hypochlorite, and an acid such as HCl) are mixed in the apparatus. The apparatus includes an inner tube and an outer tube. Openings are present in the sidewall of the inner tube to connect the interior volume of the inner tube with the annular volume between the inner tube and the outer tube. Fluid is passed into the inner tube and flows through the openings into the annular volume, causing immediate and vigorous mixing and chemical reaction to obtain elemental iodine.
US08303159B2	Efficient wet starch preparation system for gypsum board production The present invention provides a wet starch preparation system for gypsum wallboard comprising a loss-in-weight starch feeder, a venturi mixer, a vacuum pick-up unit for supplying the dry starch from the feeder at an adjustable rate to the venturi mixer, a first water pump for supplying water at an adjustable rate to the venturi mixer to form a starch pre-dispersion of from about 2% to about 10% by weight starch and a second water pump for supplying gauging water to the starch pre-dispersion, the system equipped with appropriate system controls. The present system provides more efficient use of starch such that the amount of pregelatinized starch is at least about 10% less than a system in which the starch is not pre-dispersed in water prior to the board mixer. The system can be used to make gypsum-containing products including gypsum wallboard having increased board strength and reduced board weight.
US08303158B2	LED light with special effects An LED light device with special effects utilizes persistence of vision theory to cause an LED(s) or LED array to change faster than the human eye response time of 1/16 to 1/24 second to display a special message, time, drawing, light patterns, or color changes. In addition, the light device may be provided with a sealed-unit arranged to receive a variety of eye-catching shades.
US08303157B2	Display apparatus and assembling method thereof A display including a back cover, a front frame, a display panel, a light guide plate, at least one metal bracket and a light emitting element is provided. The front frame is secured to the back cover to form an accommodating space. The display panel and the light guide plate are disposed in the accommodating space. The light guide plate, which has at least one light incident surface and a light exit surface, is configured between the back cover and the display panel. The light exit surface faces toward the display panel. The metal bracket is disposed at side of the accommodating space. The metal bracket has a first part and a second part connected together. The first part is secured to at least the back cover or the front frame. The light emitting element is between the second part and the light incident surface.
US08303153B2	Planar light source device A planar light source device (10) of the present invention, includes: a plurality of light guides (21) being provided such that longer sides thereof are arranged in parallel with each other with a gap therebetween; a plurality of light sources each of which causes light to be directed from at least one of opposite end surfaces of the light guide (21) in the longitudinal direction of the light guide (21); a diffusing plate (15) being provided on a light emission side of the light guide (21) to extract light guided inside the light guide (21); and supports (31) for supporting the gap (22) between the light guides (21) at predetermined intervals. The supports (31) are made from a light-transmissive and light-scattering material. This makes it possible to provide a planar light source device that enables reduction in the occurrence of luminance unevenness caused by the support which supports the light guides.
US08303146B2	Side turn signal lamp A side turn signal lamp includes a light guide member having a light guide lens and a plurality of LEDs. The light guide lens includes a front surface and a light entry end face. The light guide lens includes a front surface and a light entry end face. The front surface is configured to correspond to a laterally extending opening in an outer side wall of a side mirror housing so as to guide the light through the opening. The light guide lens is configured to have a width that corresponds to the opening having a shape of a slit in a front view and such that the light entry end face extends in a front-rear direction of the side turn signal lamp. The LEDs are arranged in the front-rear direction to directly face the light entry end face.
US08303145B2	Marine lighting apparatus and method A marine lighting device mounts in-line with a tubular member of a marine vessel structure such as a T-top, tower or hand rail. An LED light bar having an array of LEDs supportably mounted to a circuit board is sealably enclosed in a tubular lens which, in turn is disposed within a tubular housing, a central portion of which is provided with an opening through which illumination from the LEDs is emitted after passing through the lens. A sleeve coupling is used to mount at least one end of the housing to a free end of the tubular member. In lieu of using a sleeve coupling at both ends one end of the housing may be flared to receive one of the free ends of the tubular member. A lighted T-top incorporating at least one such marine lighting device and a lighted marine handrail are also disclosed.
US08303144B2	Motorcycle A motorcycle is easily recognized by other vehicles or pedestrians and is hardly damaged during a maximum bank, by devising the disposition of lighting fixtures. An area surrounded by a vertical line passing on each of both side surfaces of a front wheel, a horizontal line passing through a protrusion of a step serving as a first grounding portion, and a straight line for connecting the first grounding portion with an intersection between the vertical line and the ground, is set. Lighting fixtures are provided in the area, as seen from the front side. The lighting fixtures are mounted to lower ends of front forks that support a shaft of the front wheel. The lighting fixture are mounted to lower rear ends of swing arms that support a shaft of the rear wheel. A lamp of each of the lighting fixtures is composed of an assembly of a plurality of light-emitting diodes.
US08303141B2	Total internal reflection lens with integrated lamp cover A total internal reflection (TIR) lens has an integrated lamp cover adapted to a lamp of a desired form factor (e.g., PAR-38). The size and shape of the TIR lens can be adapted to optimize the light output of the lamp with little regard to the desired form factor. The integrated lamp cover can extend the front surface of the TIR lens in a direction transverse from the optical axis.
US08303139B1	Illuminator device having multiple reflective surfaces An illuminator device for efficiently increasing a projected light intensity. The illuminator device includes a hood for retaining a light source, a first reflector proximally supported by the hood, a second reflector spaced apart from the first reflector and distally supported by the hood, the second reflector aligned with the first reflector, and a third reflector laterally projecting from the hood, the third reflector aligned with the second reflector. The second reflector is adapted to reflect light rays from the light source back to the first reflector, wherein the light rays travel back and forth from the second to the first reflector at least once before being reflected to the third reflector to be directed away from the luminaire. A transparent cover may be supported between the first and second reflectors for containing reflected light rays. A hanging bracket may also be used for hanging the luminaire.
US08303138B1	LED lamp holder A LED lamp holder includes a heat sink made of aluminum or copper by stretching molding and defining opposing recessed top end and hollow bottom end, one or a number of LED chips mounted in the recessed top end of the heat sink and adapted for emitting light, and a light transmissive lampshade fastened to the recessed top end of the heat sink by a hook joint or screw joint, or by means of adhesive bonding. The heat sink can be configured to provide a hollow block in the recessed top end thereof for holding multiple LED chips on multiple peripheral walls thereof.
US08303135B2	Video conference lighting fixture A lighting fixture for use in video conferencing and general illumination includes a housing forming an interior cavity. The housing has an opening in a bottom portion thereof. The lighting fixture also includes at least one light holder for holding at least one light source positioned within the interior cavity of the housing, at least one diffuser plate positioned over the opening of the housing, and a plurality of louvers adjacent to the diffuser plate over the opening of the housing. Each of the plurality of louvers is positioned at an angle such that light produced by the light source is directed to a specific area.
US08303133B2	Light emitting diode, backlight module, and light tube A light emitting diode includes: a base with a concave portion; a light emitting chip disposed in the concave portion; an encapsulating layer filled in the concave portion; and an optical adjusting element disposed on the light emitting chip. Herein, the light emitting diode has a batwing distribution in a horizontal view angle, and the light emitting diode has a Lambertian distribution in a vertical view angle thereof.
US08303129B1	Wrist-mounted illumination device A dual-ended illumination device that is fastened to a user's wrist is herein disclosed, comprising a small cylindrical flashlight having a first end with at least three (3) white light-emitting diodes (LED's) and a second end having at least one (1) red LED. A four position switch located at a midpoint on a housing provides for OFF-WHITE-RED-BOTH positions. The flashlight attaches to one's wrist by use of a nylon strap secured with a fastening means. It is positioned on either the inside or outside of the wrist to suit a desired illumination need. An inside position would be used when reading a book, or performing physical tasks. The outside position would be used when riding or bike or walking, with perhaps all lamps illuminated to serve as a warning light to others. The device is viewed as being especially valuable in areas where it is impossible to hold a flashlight or have others hold one while performing work with both hands.
US08303127B2	Display apparatus and method for manufacturing an optical compound layer A display apparatus and a method for manufacturing an optical compound layer are provided. The display apparatus comprises a light source and an optical compound layer, wherein the light source is adapted to emit a light beam, and the light beam has a polarization direction. The optical compound layer is disposed on the light source correspondingly to receive the light beam. The optical compound layer comprises a thin film and a plurality of dopants doped therein. One of the thin film and the dopants has a specific orientation which is substantially the same as the polarization direction of the light beam and the refractive indexes of the thin film and the dopants are substantially the same as well.
US08303126B2	Cell phone stand The present invention is a cell phone stand to secure a cell phone or a camera with video recording capability that includes a plurality of support legs with a plurality of front support legs, a plurality of side support legs and a plurality of back support legs, a cell phone base plate or a camera base plate with a raised perimeter to secure the cell phone or camera that is supported by the support legs. There is also a plurality of rotator cuffs disposed around the base plate to rotate the front support legs and the back support legs under the base plate, a built-in light and one or more batteries housed in a battery casing to provide electric power to the built-in light.
US08303122B2	Glazing panel A glazing panel includes a sheet of glass and a series of spatially separated optical elements disposed on a major face of glass. Each element has an upwardly-facing reflective surface, which extends out of the plane of the glass. A region of the material, having an optical transmission coefficient, which varies across its width, is disposed below the surface. Light incident on the upwardly facing reflective side surfaces is reflected upwardly into the area on the other side of the glazing panel. Light entering the area through the region is attenuated and diffused. The elements may be printed onto the glass, or onto a film, that is applied to the glass. Alternatively, the elements may include profiled formations which are adhered to the glass.
US08303118B2	Video projector A video projector includes a first discharge port from which a cooling current is sent out of a duct to an optical component. A cooling fan generates the cooling current which flows through the duct. The first discharge port includes first and second wall surfaces opposed to each other in an optical axis direction in which the light is transmitted through the optical component, third and fourth wall surfaces opposed to each other in a lateral direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, a discharge port inlet into which the cooling current from the cooling fan is drawn, and a discharge port outlet from which the cooling current is sent toward the optical component. A gap between the first and second wall surfaces and a gap between the third and fourth wall surfaces become narrower from the discharge port inlet to the discharge port outlet.
US08303117B2	Projection optical system and projection-type display apparatus using the same A projection optical system can achieve compactness and improve a state where polarized rays are separated by a polarized light separation section, without a separate optical system which makes the whole system telecentric, by using a reflective light valve. The projection optical system includes, in order, the reflective light valve, a projection lens and the polarized light separation section. The reflective light valve modulates incident illumination light in response to an input image signal and reflects and emits the modulated light. The projection lens transmits the illumination light incident to the reflective light valve and the modulated light emitted from the reflective light valve and is formed to be telecentric on the reduction side. The polarized light separation section separates the optical path of the illumination light incident to the projection lens from the optical path of the modulated light emitted from the projection lens.
US08303116B2	Molded ophthalmic lens An ophthalmic is injection molded and/or, compression molded to provide a single use lens. The ophthalmic lens has a larger clear aperture than known lenses of the same type to improve the optical quality of the lens.
US08303109B2	Eyewear device and method of making the same An eyewear device can include a frame including an eyewire and a ledge, the eyewire at least partially encircling a lens and the at least one lens resting on the ledge, and a plurality of chamber walls in the ledge between the at least one lens and the frame, wherein the plurality of chamber walls are configured to allow air to circulate between opposite sides of the lens to reduce fogging. A method of producing an eyewear device can include providing a frame comprising an eyewire and a ledge, the eyewire at least partially encircling a lens and the at least one lens resting on the ledge, and providing a plurality of grooves in the ledge between the at least one lens and the frame, wherein the plurality of grooves are configured to allow air to circulate between opposite sides of the lens to reduce fogging.
US08303108B2	Wall mountable printer having hidden print engine A printer unit is provided comprising a print engine for printing on print media, a print media supply for supplying print media to the print engine and a body arranged to house the print engine and to be mountable to a substantially vertical surface so as to suspend the printer unit. The print engine and print media supply are contained in the body so as to be substantially hidden. Such a wall mountable printer is capable of blending into the design of a home or a work space within office environment whilst providing high-speed, e.g., more than 30 pages per minute, and high-quality, e.g., images of about 1200 dots per inch or more, printing capabilities and ease of use.
US08303107B2	Printing method including web media moving apparatus A method of printing includes providing a printhead and providing a roller positioned downstream from the printhead. The printhead is used to selectively moisten at least a portion of the web of print media as the web of print media is guided through the printing system. The print media is caused to contact and wrap around a portion of the roller as the print media moves past the roller. The roller, having an axis of rotation, includes a pattern of recesses and ridges positioned along the axis of rotation of the roller. A second section of the roller is located between a first section of the roller and a third section of the roller as viewed along the axis of rotation. The roller includes a profile as viewed along the axis of rotation in which the diameter of the ridges located in the first section of the roller and the diameter of ridges located in the third section of the roller are greater than the diameter of the ridges located in the second section of the roller.
US08303105B2	Medium feeding apparatus and image recording apparatus A medium feeding apparatus including: a feeding mechanism including a feeding member and configured to feed the recording medium; an adsorbing unit including first and second electrodes facing the feeding member and configured to adsorb the recording medium to the feeding member; first and second surface layer members respectively having higher volume resistivities than the first and second electrodes and respectively stacked on the first and second electrodes; and first and second low resistance members respectively having lower volume resistivities than the first and second surface layer members and respectively fixed to the first and second surface layer members at positions between the respective first and second surface layer members and the feeding member, wherein the first low resistance member and the second low resistance member are distant from each other.
US08303104B2	Inkjet recording apparatus and image forming apparatus An inkjet recording apparatus to print onto a surface of a recording medium includes an endless rotation conveyance member with a plurality of through-holes; a suction unit to suction the recording medium on the surface of the endless rotation conveyance member; an ink discharge head including ink discharge nozzles; a blank discharge ink receiver to receive ink through the through-holes; a control unit to make the ink discharge nozzles discharge ink at a predetermined timing; and a fixed plate along an inner surface of the endless rotation conveyance member, the fixed plate including an opening formed in a position corresponding to the ink discharge nozzles and a through-hole. The blank discharge ink receiver is disposed corresponding to the opening of the fixed plate and in close contact with the fixed plate so that an inside space of the blank discharge receiver becomes a substantially closed space.
US08303102B2	Beveled edge doctor blade for drum maintenance A drum maintenance system for use in an imaging device includes a reservoir having a supply of release agent. An applicator is configured to receive release agent from the reservoir and to apply the release agent to an imaging surface of an imaging device. A metering blade is positioned to meter the release agent on the imaging surface applied by the applicator. The metering blade is arranged in doctor mode with respect to the imaging surface and includes a tip positioned adjacent the imaging surface. The tip has a square portion positioned proximate the imaging surface and a beveled portion opposite the imaging surface.
US08303100B2	Method and apparatus for printing objects, in particular plastic parts A method for imprinting objects, including providing a printing machine configured to deliver at least one object to be imprinted to a printing apparatus using a retaining apparatus or an inscription carrier. A data processing system is provided and includes at least one print pattern stored in at least one database. The data processing system is connected to the printing machine and configured to control the printing machine. A liquid is applied so as to generate the at least one print pattern on a surface of the at least one object using the printing apparatus. The at least one object is then exposed to a radiation so as to dry and cure the liquid and then the retaining apparatus or the inscription carrier is conveyed to an output station. The retaining apparatus and inscription carrier are stackable in the output station.
US08303099B2	Recording ink, ink cartridge, ink record, inkjet recording apparatus, and inkjet recording method The object of the invention to provide a recording ink with excellent discharge stability and storage stability, which rapidly penetrates into a recording medium and forms a coating, and which will never generate smearing upon high-speed printing or double-sided printing, and which excels in marker resistance, and which enables high quality image recording with less bleeding, and the ink cartridge, the ink record, the inkjet recording apparatus, and the inkjet recording method using the recording ink. The recording ink containing at least water, a colorant, a resin fine-particle, a water-soluble organic solvent and a penetrant, in which the penetrant is a diol compound whose carbon number is 7 to 11 and the resin fine-particle is a silicone modified acrylic resin not containing a hydrolyzable silyl group.
US08303096B2	Liquid supplying apparatus and image forming apparatus Disclosed is a liquid supplying apparatus including an ink cartridge, a sub-tank, nozzles, and an ink cartridge installation part. The ink cartridge has a first ink container and a second ink container. The first ink container has a holding member that has its position lowered. The second ink container has an operating member, a biasing unit, and a locking unit. The locking unit engages the operating member until the remaining amount of the ink is below a prescribed value and the holding member engages the locking unit. The locking unit releases engagement of the operating member when the remaining amount of ink is below the prescribed value and the holding member engages the locking unit. The operating member protrudes from the ink cartridge installation part and is opened to the position allowing the operation on the ink cartridge when the engagement with the locking unit is released.
US08303089B2	Printer ink cartridge type connector Provided is an electrical connector for a print ink cartridge. The electrical connector includes a housing including a thin protrusion having a rectangle shape on one side portion thereof, a plurality of pin grooves spaced apart predetermined intervals from each in one side lower portion of the protrusion, a plurality of format ribs spaced apart predetermined intervals from each other in the other side of the protrusion, and coupling bosses having a wedge shape separately protruding on both sides of each of the ribs, a connection terminal serving as a torsion spring, the connecting terminal including a pin connector inserted into each of the pin grooves of the housing and fixed in a straight line orientation, a wound coupling insert fitted onto each of the coupling bosses to give elasticity thereto, a parallel extending from the coupling insert and along each of the ribs, a bend bent at a front end of the parallel, and a socket connector bent in a state where the socket connector is connected to the bend, the socket connector being connected to an external socket, and a cover integrally fixed to the housing by a plurality of coupling hooks disposed on the housing, the cover including pine connector grooves pressing the pin connector of the coupling terminal in a downward direction in a side surface of the cover.
US08303088B2	Method of three dimensionally locating printhead on printer A method of locating a printhead on a printer is provided in which a printhead is provided which has at least one integrated circuit having a plurality of ejection nozzles, the printhead is mounted to the printer by bringing each of a slot defined with respect to the x-coordinate of the printhead into cooperation with a mesa feature of the printer, an angled surface defined with respect to the x- and y-coordinates of the printhead into cooperation with a protrusion across the slot of the printer, and a flat surface defined with respect to the z-coordinate of the printhead into cooperation with protrusion located within the slot of the printer, and the location of the nozzles with respect to the x-, y- and z-coordinates is determined from the cooperation.
US08303083B2	Liquid ejection head, image forming apparatus employing the liquid ejection head, and method of manufacturing the liquid ejection head A liquid ejection head includes a nozzle formation member having a liquid repellent layer disposed on a droplet ejection face of a nozzle substrate in which one or more nozzle orifices is formed to eject droplets. The liquid repellent layer includes a first sub-layer and a second sub-layer. The first sub-layer contains a higher proportion of low-molecular-weight molecules than the second sub-layer. The second sub-layer contains a higher proportion of high-molecular-weight molecules than the first sub-layer. Both the first sub-layer and the second sub-layer are exposed on a surface of the nozzle formation member.
US08303081B2	Printer backbone with integrated carriage rod A backbone for a printer is formed from a single piece of material. The single piece of material includes an integrated carriage rod. When a carriage assembly is mounted on the integrated carriage rod, the carriage assembly is enabled to slide across the integrated carriage rod into position for printing.
US08303074B2	Printer with uniform illumination for media identification An inkjet printer includes (a) a media support defining a surface; (b) an inkjet printhead oriented to eject ink toward a print region proximate the defined surface; (c) a carriage that is movable along a carriage scan direction; (d) a monitor for tracking the position of the carriage; (e) a light source directed toward the defined surface; (f) a light sensing device mounted on the movable carriage; and (g) an energy supply that provides a time-varying energy as a function of the position of the light sensing device relative to the light source in order to provide substantially uniform illumination from the light source toward a field of view of the light sensing device.
US08303073B2	Liquid discharge apparatus, connection inspecting method of the same and method for producing the same A connection inspecting method is provided to inspect the electrical connection between bumps and lands of a printer provided with an ink-jet head, FPC having the lands electrically connected to the bumps formed for the ink-jet head, and a driver IC. The connection inspecting method includes supplying a connection inspecting signal from the driver IC to the ink-jet head; detecting whether or not the ink liquid droplets are discharged from a certain nozzle; and judging whether or not the connection between the bump and the land corresponding to the certain nozzle is the normal connection. The connection inspecting signal is set so that ink liquid droplets are discharged from nozzles only when the connection between the bumps and the lands is the normal connection.
US08303072B2	Liquid supply apparatus and image forming apparatus A liquid supply apparatus includes: a plurality of heat exchange devices which are respectively provided in a plurality of supply paths for supplying liquids to a plurality of liquid ejection heads respectively, are supplied with a liquid medium adjusted to a predetermined temperature from a liquid temperature adjusting device, and conduct heat exchange between the liquids flowing in the plurality of supply paths and the liquid medium supplied from the liquid temperature adjusting device; a plurality of flow rate adjusting devices which are respectively provided correspondingly to the plurality of heat exchange devices and adjust a flow rate of the liquid medium supplied to each of the plurality of heat exchange devices from the liquid temperature adjusting device; and a controller which controls each of the plurality of flow rate adjusting devices to individually change the flow rate of the liquid medium supplied from the liquid temperature adjusting device to the plurality of heat exchange devices.
US08303071B2	System and method for controlling registration in a continuous feed tandem printer A method enables a printing system to register images printed by two printers accurately. The method includes operating at least one marking station in a first printer with reference to a low frequency component and a high frequency of a velocity measurement for a web in the first printer, printing fiducial marks on the web with a marking station in the first printer, detecting the fiducial marks with a fiducial mark sensor in a second printer, generating a velocity measurement for the web as the web moves along a web path in the second printer that corresponds with the detected fiducial marks, and operating at least one marking station in the second printer with reference to a low frequency component and a high frequency component of the velocity measurement of the web moving along a web path in the second printer.
US08303070B2	Ink jet printing apparatus and ink jet printing method When completing an image in a predetermined area by an odd or even number of bidirectional printing scans, this invention makes it possible to suppress lines of image defects and density variations and thereby print a high-quality image at high speed. In completing an image by an odd number of bidirectional printing scans, the print data for small ink droplets and large ink droplets are thinned using the first and second thinning pattern. The first and second thinning pattern thin the print data for small ink droplets and large ink droplets so that a difference between the total print ratio of all forward printing scans of the odd number of scans and the total print ratio of all backward printing scans of the odd number of scans when the first thinning pattern is used differs from that when the second thinning pattern is used.
US08303068B2	Inkjet printer, inkjet printer controller and method for controlling the inkjet printer An inkjet printer includes a first printer head configured to eject ink to a first printing area on a surface of a print medium to form first ink dots in the first printing area, and a second printer head configured to eject ink to a second printing area on the surface of the print medium to form second ink dots in the second printing area. A detector is configured to detect first and second printing states in the first and second printing areas, respectively. A comparing unit is configured to compare the first and second printing states. An ejection controller is configured to control ejection from the first and second printer heads. A printing state compensator is configured to compensate ejection control performed by the ejection controller according to a comparison result output by the comparing unit so that the first and second printing states are substantially equal.
US08303066B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head having a nozzle; a pressure-changing unit for changing pressure of liquid in the nozzle in such a manner that the liquid is ejected from the nozzle; a first level-data setting unit for setting a selected first level data from a plurality of first level data, based on an ejecting data for a first kind of liquid; a second level-data setting unit for setting a selected second level data from a plurality of second level data, based on an ejecting data for a second kind of liquid; a driving-signal generator for generating a driving signal; and a driving-pulse generator for generating a driving pulse based on the selected first or second level data and the driving signal. The plurality of first level data and the plurality of second level data are different from each other.
US08303065B2	Load driving circuit, liquid ejection device, and printing apparatus A load driving circuit includes first storage elements charged by a power supply and a series storage element group constituting unit that switches the connection state between the first storage elements to constitute a series storage element group in which the first storage elements are connected in series. A second storage element charging unit charges a second storage element using the series storage element group. Switching is performed between first and second connection states to apply voltage to the load. In the first connection state, the charged second storage element and the series storage element group are connected to the load while the second storage element and the series storage element group are connected in series. In the second connection state, the series storage element group is connected to the load while the series connection between the second storage element and the series storage element group is broken.
US08303064B2	Capacitive load driving circuit, liquid ejection device, and printing apparatus A capacitive load driving circuit that drives a capacitive load, includes: a power supply unit that generates different voltages; a plurality of charge storage elements that are charged with the different voltages generated by the power supply unit; and a load driving section that connects a charge storage element arbitrarily selected from the plurality of charge storage elements to the capacitive load to drive the capacitive load, and connects, when at least two of the charge storage elements are selected, the at least two charge storage elements to the capacitive load in a state where the at least two charge storage elements are connected in series.
US08303058B2	Refrigerator with TV and radio function A refrigerator is provided that allows a user to watch a TV broadcast program or listen to a radio broadcast. The refrigerator includes a main controller that selects a TV function or a radio function according to a user's request, a radio tuner that receives voice data included in a frequency band of a radio set when the radio function is selected by the main controller, a TV driving circuit that receives a TV broadcast program when the TV function is selected by the main controller and outputs image data and voice data included in the TV broadcast program, a TV screen that displays the image data, and a speaker that outputs the voice data included in the TV broadcast program or the voice data included in the frequency band.
US08303053B2	Shelf extending and lifting system A basket apparatus includes a basket positioned in a cabinet, a motor to drive the basket from a rearward lowered position in the cabinet to a forward directed raised position outside of the cabinet and a driver connecting the basket to the motor. In one embodiment, the driver has an extendable drive portion to allow manual movement of the basket from the rearward lowered position to a forward lowered position and a rigid drive portion to transmit force from the motor to the basket to drive the basket between the rearward lowered position and the forward directed raised position so that the basket may be pulled by a user from a rearward lowered position to a forward lowered portion and the driver enables the motor to drive the basket to the forward directed raised position outside of the cabinet.
US08303049B2	Method for operating a vehicle brake system A method for operating a vehicle brake system having both frictional and regenerative braking capabilities. According to one embodiment, the method monitors wheel slip at a number of vehicle wheels, evaluates individual wheel slip at a single wheel as well as collective wheel slip involving multiple wheels, compares the wheel slips to one or more speed-based thresholds that are based on vehicle speed, and uses the comparisons to help distinguish between those situations that warrant disengagement of regenerative braking operations and those that do not.
US08303044B2	Dumping vehicle A dumping vehicle with a dump bed for holding and dumping material is disclosed. Embodiments include a coupler for coupling the dump bed with a tractor and a linkage connecting the dump bed and coupler, the linkage maintaining the orientation of the coupler steady during dumping. Embodiments include a linkage, dump bed and coupler forming a quadrilateral that deforms during dumping. The linkage can include two arms of different lengths, each pivotally connected to the dump bed and the coupler. In alternate embodiments, the dump bed and a rear support connect at a physical pivot location and the dump bed rotates about a location that is different from the physical pivot location and can rotate about a location that moves. The hinge assembly can include two hinge arms of different lengths that move the dump bed sill rearward and upward as the forward end of the dump bed is raised.
US08303039B2	Seat assembly having a movable head restraint An adjustable head restraint assembly is provided with a support rod adapted to be mounted proximate to a vehicle seat back. A primary frame is supported on the support rod. A secondary frame is mounted to the primary frame for translation in a fore and aft direction. A locking arm is pivotally connected to one of the frames for engagement with a series of notches formed in the other. A biasing member cooperates with a locking arm for biasing the locking arm into a locked position. An actuator pivots the locking arm out of engagement from the series of notches for unlocking the locking arm and permitting adjustment of the adjustable head restraint in the fore and aft direction. The primary frame translates along the support rod with a locking arm for engagement with notches in the support rod for movement by the actuator for adjustment in an upright direction.
US08303038B2	Adjustable vehicle head restraint assembly A vehicle head restraint assembly may be provided with a support rod adapted to be mounted to a seat back of a vehicle seat. A rear housing may be mounted to the support rod. A front housing may be pivotally connected to the support rod. A locking arm may be mounted to one of the support rod and the front housing. A release mechanism may be mounted to one of the front housing and the rear housing and operably engaged with the locking arm. Actuation of the release mechanism may disengage the locking arm to pivot the front housing forward relative to the support rod.
US08303036B2	Aircraft seat An aircraft seat having a movable squab and backrest, and a fixed seat chassis is presented. A mechanism for moving the squab and backrest has a linear runner mounted on the seat chassis and includes a linear drive for extending (and retracting) the assembly between a retracted position and an extended position. A first cam track allows adjustment the height of the back edge of the seat squab, the first cam track being generally parallel to the linear runner through the majority of its length and having a rearmost substantially vertical portion. A first cam follower mechanism interconnects a back edge of the seat squab, the first cam track and the linear drive, for motion of the seal squab. A second cam track is provided for adjusting the inclination of the backrest and a second follower is connected to the seatback.
US08303033B2	Infant support structure with supported seat An infant support structure includes a frame member defining a central area, a seat disposed in the central area and coupled to the frame member, and a leg member pivotally coupled to the frame member and movable between a deployed position extending outwardly from the frame member and a folded position adjacent the frame member. A support member has a first end movably coupled to the frame member and an opposite second end pivotally and slidably coupled to the leg member. The second end is slidable along the leg member as the leg member is moved between the deployed position and the folded position.
US08303029B2	Utility vehicle A utility vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, a cabin frame coupled to an upper portion of the vehicle body frame, a cover coupled to the vehicle body frame so as to cover an instrument panel in front of a driver seat, and a hood. The hood is configured to cover a space between a pair of right and left front wheels from above in front of the cover and is pivotable around a front end portion thereof so as to open and close. A rear end portion of the hood is fitted to a front end portion of the cover and a rear end of the hood is located in front of a front end of the cabin frame, in a state where the hood is in a closed position.
US08303021B2	Door edge protection device A door edge protection device for a motor vehicle door which comprises a door edge protection member guided movably with respect to the door at at least two points lying one behind the other in a longitudinal direction of the door. The door edge protection member is driven via an eccentric lever mounted rotatably in the door.
US08303016B2	Flexible arm stowage retainer for vehicle A stowage retainer is provided for retaining an object, such as a portable electronic device, in a vehicle. The retainer includes a body having at least a bottom wall and side walls. The retainer also includes one or more flexible retention arms extending from the body for retaining a device in the retainer. The flexible retention arms each comprise a flexible inner wire and a soft outer covering material. The flexible retention arms are bendable to reform into a desired configuration to retain a device in the retainer.
US08303012B2	Pick-up style utility vehicle with expandable cargo bed A pick-up style utility vehicle has a front seat, a rear seat, and a cargo bed in this order from a front of the vehicle. The cargo bed has at least left and right stationary side panels and expandable side panels that extend forward from the front ends of the stationary side panels. The cargo bed is changeable between an expanded state in which the cargo bed is expanded forward into a rear riding space in front of the cargo bed and a non-expanded state not occupying the rear riding space. The expandable side panels are rotatable about rotational shafts forward and rearward in a vehicle width direction so as to be shiftable between a position in the expanded state and a position in the non-expanded state.
US08303011B2	Patient transport vehicle The present invention provides an emergency medical transportation vehicle comprising a two or three-wheeled motorcycle having a structural frame that encompasses a platform horizontally disposed along the wheel-base, where the platform has a front flat surface, and two rear surfaces extending from the front flat surface on either side of the rear wheel. The rear surfaces have sides extending vertically therefrom. The motorcycle carries the load of driver and patient, provides a safe, stable patient transportation, where passenger and rider are in one plane with the rider below and in complete view of the driver. The vehicle has a movable seat for the driver and chambers for placement of emergency medical equipment and supplies.
US08303010B2	Vehicle interior trim panel A vehicle interior trim panel is provided with a main trim body and a tab. The main trim body releasably covers at least a portion of a pillar of a vehicle, and includes a pillar facing surface, a passenger compartment facing surface, a top end and a bottom end. The tab extends from the bottom end of the main trim body to a free end and is received in a vehicle component. The tab includes a first face corresponding to the pillar facing surface of the main trim body, a second face corresponding to the passenger compartment facing surface of the main trim body, a peripheral edge surrounding the first and second faces of the tab, and a retention member formed on the peripheral edge of the tab. The retention member retains the tab to the vehicle component while the main trim body is released from the pillar.
US08303006B2	Apparatus for gripping and lifting construction castings An apparatus for gripping and lifting objects such as construction castings has a T-shaped frame comprising elongate horizontal and vertical frame members. The vertical frame member is slidably received in one end of a hollow sleeve member which is connected to its upper end to a loop or hook. A pair of articulated pivot arms are each connected at one end to the hollow sleeve member and at the other end to the horizontal frame member, with a joint being provided between the ends of each pivot arm. Carried at the ends of the horizontal frame member are a plurality of contact members which are adapted to contact and grip the sidewall of a construction casting. In use, the apparatus is placed over a construction casting with the horizontal frame member resting on the upper surface and with the contact elements in position facing the side wall of the casting. The apparatus is then lifted, for example by a backhoe or loader, which causes the sleeve member to slide upwardly along the vertical frame member. This causes the pivot arms to lift, and brings about an inward and upward pivoting movement of the contact elements, causing them to engage and grip the side wall of the casting. The gripping force increases with the weight of the casting.
US08303000B2	Quick release connector A quick release connector has a body, a sealing valve and an outer sleeve. The body is hollow, is manufactured as a single piece and has a connecting end, a holding end, an air inlet chamber, a mounting recess, an air outlet chamber, multiple ball holes, multiple releasing holes, a returning spring and multiple balls. The sealing valve is movably mounted in the body. The sealing valve selectively abuts a sealing ring of the body and has an external surface, a closed end, an open end, at lease one air inlet and a pressing ring. The outer sleeve is slidably mounted around the body and has a mounting end, a pushing end, an internal surface, a spring recess, an abutting recess, a holding recess and a pressing spring.
US08302993B2	Support device for walking machines A support device for use in a walking machine including a frame-like base connected to a chassis, sheath tubes fixed on the frame-like base, extensible arms provided in the sheath tubes, support parts provided on outward ends of the extensible arms and extensible perpendicularly, wherein, the sheath tubes are arranged in double X-form, one pair of sheathe tubes arranged diagonally are parallel and at same height, another pair of the sheath tubes that are arranged diagonally and are also parallel and at a same height are at a different height from the pair of the sheath tubes.
US08302989B2	Airbag and airbag system An airbag having an inflator therein and an airbag system equipped with the airbag are provided, the inflator having a harness taken to the outside through a harness through opening, and the airbag having high inflation durability. An airbag has an inflator therein. Three stud bolts project from an inflator holder attached to the inflator. The bottom of the airbag has three bolt insertion holes through which the stud bolts are passed. A harness through opening is provided between adjacent bolt insertion holes, the harness through opening being for taking a harness for passing electric current to the initiator of the inflator out of the airbag. The harness through opening is shaped like a slit, which extends in the direction substantially orthogonal to the line connecting the bolt insertion holes.
US08302987B2	Adjustable towing apparatus for vehicles A hitch apparatus includes a housing configured to be attached to a vehicle, a tow bar movably disposed within the housing, a hitch member assembly, and a fastener configured to removably secure the hitch member assembly to the height adjustment member at any of a plurality of selected elevations. The tow bar is movable relative to the housing between retracted and extended positions, and is pivotable relative to the housing when in an extended position. As such, a hitch member at the distal end of the tow bar has horizontal and vertical adjustment capabilities.
US08302984B2	Side stand attaching structure for motorcycle, motorcycle and method for attaching levelable side stand to motorcycle A side stand attaching structure for a motorcycle includes a stand attaching part of a body of the motorcycle, a stand bracket, and a connector. The stand bracket rotatably connects a base end part of a levelable side stand to the stand attaching part. The side stand is provided on one side at a lower part of the body. The connector connects the stand bracket to the stand attaching part. The connector is inclined to extend upward as the connector extends outwardly in a width direction of the motorcycle.
US08302982B2	Bicycle, sensor, and method A bicycle, provided with wheels rotatable about axles, which axles are detachably coupled, in a manner secured against rotation, to a frame (3) of a bicycle (1), wherein the detachable coupling of at least one of the axles (5) is provided with a sensor (S). The invention further provides a method for determining at least one bicycle use parameter, for instance a pedal force, torque and/or chain force generated by or under the influence of a cyclist, wherein the bicycle is provided with a sensor for producing a measuring signal, which measuring signal is processed for the purpose of determining the bicycle use parameter.
US08302980B2	Eccentric steering axis strut top mount An eccentric steering axis strut top mount providing a reduced spindle length. An axes eccentricity is provided by laterally shifting the steering axis with respect to the strut rod axis in a direction toward a vertical ray passing through the wheel center. The axes eccentricity results in an upper point of the kingpin axis being laterally shifted toward the vertical ray with the consequence of the spindle length being shortened.
US08302974B2	Adaptable mobility aid device for level and inclined walkways and for stairs An adaptable mobility aid device is disclosed that has length-adjustable front and rear legs, a handle, and a knee support platform coupled to the legs and the handle, the legs being adjustable within a range of lengths suitable to straddle steps for ascending and descending stairways, as well as to function on the level, or on a ramp. The lengths of the legs can be adjusted in tandem via single-hand operability of an adjustment mechanism. The knee support platform provides support for an impaired lower leg of a user, not requiring the leg to contact the stairs, and also not requiring the leg to be held mid-air in a hopping motion. The handle enables one-handed use of the adaptable mobility aid device. In some embodiments, spring loaded pins or a pull bar to activate the pins, enable the single-hand operability of the adjustment mechanism.
US08302969B2	Inverse chess This invention describes a game of inverse chess, with a pre-identified start position, and end position and arbitered moves chosen amongst a set of possible moves, played between two opponents on a chess board. This differs from normal chess in that it is played backwards in time where the objective is to reconstruct the pre-identified start position, from the pre-identified end position. While the pieces used in the game are essentially the same as that of regular chess, the moves they make are reversed. Since the state-space of this game is much larger in the potential moves, an arbiter is used to validate possible moves that one player might choose to make. Using either a regular or modified chess board, the pieces on the board move backwards. Three such moves are described in the I-castle, spawn and I-check moves. A variant of the game is the two-knight game wherein two knights play each other and the piece reaching the pre-identified start position, win.
US08302968B2	Method and apparatus for playing a game A method of playing a multiplayer game comprises steps of providing a plurality of blocks and providing a plurality of viewable images. Each of the images represents a configuration of at least two of the plurality of blocks oriented in a particular manner with respect to each other. The method also comprises designating at least one game player of a first team to serve as an instructor of the first team. The instructor of the first team views the configuration of a first one of the images and then provides instructions regarding how to assemble the configuration shown in the first one of the images while at least one other of the game players of the first team attempts to construct at least part of the configuration out of the blocks using the instructions.
US08302967B2	Puzzle assembly with adjustable the degree of difficulty A puzzle assembly which can be adjust the degree of difficulty is disclosed. The disclosed puzzle assembly comprises a rotation shaft, a plurality of rotation plate members having slide grooves on the outer circumference and inserted into the rotation shaft, a plurality of puzzle pieces engaged with the slide grooves movably, wherein at least two of the rotation plate members are coupled together and rotate simultaneously.
US08302966B1	Prize dispensing amusement game A game is disclosed that is played with coins to deliver a prize to a player. A coin delivery mechanism is adapted to deliver the coins proximate at least one coin platform via a sloped playing field having a plurality of apertures vertically aligned with each coin platform. A plurality of prize platforms each support a prize and are each mechanically coupled with one of the coin platforms to dispense the prize thereon when the weight of the plurality of coins retained by the coin platform reaches a critical weight. A prize chute is situated below each prize platform and delivers the prize to the player when the prize falls from the prize platform. A profit chute is situated below each coin platform and the playing field and is adapted to deliver the coins not retained by the coin platform into a coin storage receptacle.
US08302963B2	Image forming apparatus capable of printing on both sides of sheet An image forming apparatus with a double-face printing function is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a sheet feeding path including a regular feeding path and a return-feeding path and capable of accommodating a plurality of recording sheets, a sheet-ejection controller to eject the recording sheet out of the sheet feeding path through a sheet outlet. The sheet-ejection controller controls a recording sheet closer to the sheet outlet in the direction of sheet-conveyance along the sheet feeding path to be ejected prior to a recording sheet further from the sheet outlet when cancellation of the print job is entered during a double-face printing operation, in which the images are formed on one side of N pieces of recording sheets continuously and the other side of M pieces of recording sheets thereafter, whilst M is smaller than or equal to N.
US08302959B2	Remaining sheet volume detecting apparatus and image forming apparatus A remaining sheet volume detecting apparatus includes a loading unit that loads a sheet; a moving unit that moves the loading unit to a feed position of the loaded sheet; a feeding unit that feeds the sheet from the loading unit; a sheet thickness detecting unit that detects a thickness of the sheet; a load thickness detecting unit that detects that thickness of the loaded sheet within the loading unit, gradually decreasing; and a remaining sheet volume calculating unit that calculates a remaining volume within the loading unit based on the certain load thickness detected by the load thickness detecting unit and the sheet thickness detected by the sheet thickness detecting unit, each time a sheet is fed by the feeding unit after the load thickness detecting unit detects that the thickness of the loaded sheet within the loading unit has reached the certain load thickness.
US08302958B2	Sheet feeding device with grooved elastic pad and image processing apparatus using the same A sheet feeding device, for transporting a sheet into a transporting path in an image processing apparatus, includes an elastic pad and a feeding roller for feeding the sheet. The elastic pad is bent and disposed opposite the feeding roller and applies an acting force to the feeding roller to separate the sheet from a stack of sheets by cooperating with the feeding roller. The elastic pad has a first side and an opposite second side. The second side is formed with a groove. The elastic pad is bent at an angle at the groove.
US08302957B2	Motor inside pick-up roller A pick-up assembly moves a sheet of recording medium from a stack of recording media. The pick-up assembly includes a pick arm having a first end and a second end. Notably, a pivotal mounting is located proximate the first end of the pick arm; and a pick-up roller is mounted proximate the second end of the pick arm. Lastly, a motor and a transmission are located inside the pick-up roller.
US08302956B2	Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus with separation claw and intermittent drive A sheet feeding apparatus, in which a drive motor rotates a pickup roller, and a drive transmission portion provided between the drive motor and the pickup roller transmits a drive from the drive motor to the pickup roller. During sheet feeding, one of the drive motor and the drive transmission portion causes the pickup roller to perform an intermittent drive of iterating the drive and a stop, so that a sheet is gradually deflected between the pickup roller and separation claws.
US08302955B2	Rotating vacuum fingers for removal of printing media from an impression drum A printing and peeling arrangement comprises an impression drum for supporting a print medium during application of a printing image thereto, and one or more rotating vacuum fingers for applying vacuum via suction caps to the print medium to peel the print medium from the impression drum after printing. The vacuum finger is mounted for radial motion towards the impression drum and thereby avoids impact damage onto the print medium from the edges of the suction caps that results from a purely rotational approach to the drum.
US08302950B2	Printing system and folding module A printing system includes a media storage module, a printing station for processing a portion of the receiving media, a receiving station for receiving the processed media, and a base member for supporting the printing system on a support surface. A receiving device is configured to receive a folding module for folding the processed receiving media. The receiving device is positioned substantially in a volume extending from the area defined by the cumulative normal projection of the media storage module and the printing station on the support surface, the volume extending perpendicular to the support surface in the direction of the printing station. A guiding device is configured to guide the processed media to one of the receiving station and the folding module. A method of modifying the printing system includes removing a media storage module to create a vacancy and inserting a folding module into the vacancy.
US08302949B2	Apparatus and method for producing book blocks An apparatus for producing book blocks includes a station to dispense a sheet web that moves in longitudinal direction and can be imprinted. A printing station has two cylinders that rotate with a circumferential speed corresponding to the movement speed of the web and function to support in a contacting manner the web with their circumferential surfaces over a specified angle. Contactless printing heads are assigned to each cylinder, arranged at a distance to the circumferential surface of the associated cylinder, and positioned side by side and at least essentially transverse to the circumferential and rotational direction of the associated cylinder. The printing head faces are oriented substantially tangential to the associated cylinder and the center lines of the printing heads are oriented to project substantially radially to the circumferential surface of the associated cylinder. The web is guided so that when it rests on one cylinder, one side of the web is imprinted and when it rests on the other cylinder, the other side of the web is imprinted. A desired web tension is created in the printing station. A cutting station is arranged downstream of the printing station to cut the printed web in longitudinal and transverse directions to form sheets having a predetermined height and width. An overlapping station arranges the cut sheets into an overlapping formation. A station collects the sheets to produce stacks that form book blocks.
US08302947B2	Clamping apparatus A clamp rod (6) inserted into a guide hole (5) of a housing (4) has: a clamping member (10); an inner piston (12); and a tapered pressure receiving surface (13), which are provided in this order in an axial direction from a left end to a right end. An output portion (26) for locking and releasing is provided on an inner periphery of a right end portion of one outer piston (23) inserted between the inner piston (12) and the guide hole (5). A collet (33) inserted between the pressure receiving surface (13) and the guide hole (5) is formed of four divided members (34) arranged circumferentially at substantially regular intervals. An input portion (36) driven by the output portion (26) and a pressing surface (40) which makes a wedge-engagement with the pressure receiving surface (13) from a right side are respectively provided in an outer periphery portion and on an inner periphery portion of each divided member (34). A lock chamber (42) and a release chamber (47), where pressurized fluid is supplied and discharged, are provided on respective outer sides of both ends of the outer piston (23).
US08302946B2	Vibration proofing apparatus In a vibration proofing apparatus, two second pressure receiving liquid chambers are arranged between an outer tube and a mounting attachment, and are configured to communicate with an auxiliary liquid chamber through two second orifices when an auxiliary vibration along an auxiliary amplitude direction orthogonal to an axial direction is input to the mounting attachment, a rubber elastic body is elastically deformed along an auxiliary amplitude direction, and expands and contracts an internal volume of the second pressure receiving liquid chambers. At this time, since a resonance phenomenon is generated in the liquid circulating between the second pressure receiving liquid chambers and the auxiliary liquid chamber through the second orifices in synchronization with the input auxiliary vibration, a low-frequency vibration input along the auxiliary amplitude direction due to a pressure change, and a viscous resistance generated together with the resonance phenomenon of the liquid is effectively absorbed.
US08302945B2	Cover assembly for a vehicle air spring A cover assembly for an air spring for vehicles includes a cover (1) and a buffer (2) in the cover (1). The cover (1) is made from plastic and has reinforcing ribs (3) on the inside. The stop buffer (2) has slots on the side thereof facing the cover (1) in a manner corresponding to the reinforcing ribs (3) of the cover (1). The ribs (3) of the cover (1) are inserted into the slots (8). Damage to the buffer (2) by impact of the ribs (3) on the buffer (2) is thus avoided.
US08302936B2	Anti-fouling device having a capstan with a non-driven sloped body A cable puller assembly includes a housing assembly, a motor assembly and an anti-fouling device. The motor assembly is secured to the housing assembly and has an output shaft extending outwardly therefrom. The output shaft is rotated about an axis of rotation by the motor assembly. The anti-fouling device has a capstan and a body. The output shaft is operatively associated with the capstan in order to rotate the capstan about the axis of rotation. The body is positioned around an end portion of the capstan proximate to the housing assembly. The body defines a sloped surface that biases incoming rope that wraps around the sloped surface down onto the capstan.
US08302934B1	Vehicle stop device A vehicle stop device includes a plurality of wheels, a generally flat base carried by the plurality of wheels, a lift system carried by the base and a generally flat deck carried by the lift system.
US08302930B2	Device for the controlled operation of a switching element, in particular of a valve and actuator for use in automotive engineering An actuator having a linearly movable push rod for use in automotive engineering, which may be for operating a switching element of a valve, in particular a container control valve of a commercial vehicle, having a housing having an expandable material working element and an electrical heater for heating the expandable material working element. Furthermore, a device is provided for the controlled operation of a switching element of a valve, in particular a container control valve of a commercial vehicle, which includes an actuator of the aforementioned kind.
US08302921B2	Surgical appliance post clamp for surgical tables A clamp for securing a surgical appliance post to a rail mounted on the side of a surgical table which clamp may be placed over and on the rail at any desired location by providing the clamp body with a passageway transverse the body of the clamp and parallel to the rail, the passageway having a lip on one edge of a width about the dimension of the rail for engaging the backside of the rail, and the passageway having a width greater than the rail on the opposite edge. A clamping device such as a screw or cam is mounted on the outermost portion of the clamp and is arranged to engage and secure the post as well as bind the clamp body to the rail. Additionally, the clamping arrangement of one of the preferred embodiments provides a means by which an appliance post may be gripped at any chosen angle rather than limited to a fixed orientation.
US08302919B1	Adjustable bracket assembly A bracket assembly for adjustably and releasably affixing bracket elements to an elongated support member includes a cylindrical base, a cylindrical core, and a cylindrical cap having an orthogonal arm. The bracket assembly provides adjustable bracket positioning along the elongated support member and 360 degrees about the elongated support member diameter. The orthogonal arm provides additional 360 degree adjustable positioning for any element attached to the arm outward end. Abutting bracket assemblies on an elongated support member provide a range of orthogonal arm positions 180 degrees or less, one to the other.
US08302918B2	Fastening bracket of deck cross member The present invention provides a fastening bracket for fastening right and left ends of a deck cross member to respective fitting parts of a vehicle body frame. The fastening bracket includes a body plate to which one of the ends of the deck cross member is connected, a surface contact plate to which a fastening nut corresponding to a bolt to be inserted into corresponding one of the fitting parts of the vehicle body frame is fixed, the surface contact plate being provided in the body plate, a connection plate that is a part for connecting the body plate and the surface contact plate, the connection plate having a width in a direction perpendicular to a connecting direction of the body plate and the surface contact plate equal to or smaller than the surface contact plate, and a demarcating slit for demarcating the body plate and the surface contact plate.
US08302917B2	Bracket The present disclosure relates to a bracket, particularly to a universal style bracket for mounting a speaker to a television or monitor panel.
US08302916B2	Bag support with cinching mechanism A bag support is provided for supporting the upper portion of a bag. The bag support includes first and second side rails generally parallel to each other. A first bag retainer is positioned between the first and second rails for receiving a first portion of an upper end of a first bag thereon. The first bag retainer pivotable between a first position and a second retaining position for supporting the first bag in an open configuration.
US08302911B2	Aircraft structure A heated leading edge component for an aircraft and a method of manufacture thereof. The leading edge component includes an outer skin, a supporting rib for the outer skin, and a cavity located substantially in-between the outer skin and the rib for receiving a heater. The rib is attached to the outer skin on either side of the cavity.
US08302905B2	Aircraft landing gear comprising an operation strut device and aircraft provided therewith An aircraft landing gear including a leg, a bracket which defines the axis of rotation of the leg on the operating plane defined by the leg extension and retraction positions and a leg operating device consisting of at least one strut whose first end is provided with a first means for connecting to the landing gear element and second end is provided with a second means for connecting to the element of the gear-receiving landing gear casing for which the at least one strut expands outside of the operating plane of the gear leg.
US08302903B2	Aircraft attitude control configuration Control surfaces in an aircraft attitude control configuration provide attitude control for an aircraft at hover or low air speed conditions. The aircraft attitude control configuration includes thrusters mounted to an aircraft, a first control surface kinematically coupled to the aircraft downstream of a first thruster to enable a first vector force to be generated by a portion of thrusted air from the first thruster on the first control surface, and a second control surface kinematically coupled to the aircraft of a second thruster. The control surfaces are displaced symmetrically a longitudinal axis of the aircraft. The control surfaces are independently and differentially movable with respect to each other to enable generation of a second vector force by a portion of thrusted air from the second thruster on the second control surface.
US08302895B2	Cord reel A reel with a rotatable spool. The reel includes a motor coupled to a drive shaft and configured to rotate the drive shaft in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. A drive assembly is disposed on the drive shaft and rotation of the drive shaft in the first direction moves the drive assembly along the drive shaft and into engagement with the spool. Rotation of the drive shaft in the second direction moves the drive assembly along the drive shaft and out of engagement with the spool. When the drive assembly is engaged with the spool, the drive assembly rotates the spool in a windup direction. When the drive assembly is out of engagement with the spool, the spool may be rotated manually in an unwind direction without encountering resistance from the motor.
US08302894B2	External cover for a spool of thread to prevent thread from freely coming off as the spool is being used The invention is a restrainer for a spool (10) of thread to prevent the thread (13) from being freely drawn off of the spool (10). It comprises a resilient element (12) that extends around the circumference of the outer surface (14) of the spool (10) so that the thread (13) being drawn from the spool (10) must pass between the outer surface of the spool (10) at the inner surface of the resilient element (12) there by impeding the free removal of the thread (13). The invention prevents excessive thread being jerked from the spool.
US08302893B2	Conical-shaped impact mill An impact mill including a base portion on which is disposed a rotor rotatably mounted in a bearing housing, the rotor having an upwardly aligned cylindrical surface portion coaxial with the rotational axis. The impact mill is provided with a mill casing within which is located a conical track assembly which surrounds the rotor to form a conical grinding path. The mill casing is provided with a downwardly aligned cylindrical collar which may be axially adjusted to set a grinding gap between the rotor and the mill casing. The rotor is provided with a plurality of impact knives complementary with a plurality of impact knives disposed on the inside top surface of the mill casing. The conical track assembly can be a series of assembled conical sections or one unit with varied number of serrations in either a vertical or sloped configuration. This flexibility allows for greater compatibility with the feedstock being milled.
US08302888B2	Fuel injector The invention relates to a fuel injector, in particular a common rail injector, for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector has a multi-part injection valve element, which is adjustable between a closing position and an opening position and includes a first part and at least one second part that is adjustable relative to the first part. The first and second parts are coupled to one another via a hydraulic coupler volume. According to the invention, it is provided that the first part is guided in the second part, or the second part is guided in the first part, and that the coupler volume communicates with an injector volume via at least one throttle arrangement. The throttle arrangement is embodied such that the volumetric through flow increases only disproportionately little with an increasing pressure difference between the coupler volume and the injector volume.
US08302885B2	Sprayer with an improved spraying structure A sprayer with an improved spraying structure comprises a body, a nozzle, a knob, and a nozzle sleeve. The body has a passage and a valve. At the end of the passage is an air outlet. A mounting part with an insertion hole is provided around the body. The assembly of the nozzle, the knob, and the nozzle sleeve is inserted in the mounting part. The paint bottle with paint is connected to the knob.
US08302884B1	Apparatus and method of effective fluid injection and vaporization for chemical vapor deposition application A cross-flow injector is used to introduce fluids into a chemical vapor deposition process chamber separately and simultaneously for efficiently atomizing and vaporizing the fluids. The cross-flow injector consists of a three port cavity having an inlet nozzle, a throat region, and an exit nozzle. The injector cavity is defined by the tapering of the inlet and exit nozzles to the smaller diameter of the throat region. The tapering allows for pressure differentials at the inlet, throat, and exit regions, and assures the inlet pressure being much greater than the exit region. The throat region consists of additional apertures for injecting dopants and precursors within the fluid flow. The pressure differential at the throat region atomizes and vaporizes the injected dopant and precursor fluids. In a second embodiment, the injector cavity consists of two ports, having an inlet nozzle and a throat region. The inlet nozzle is tapered to meet the smaller diameter of the throat region, and the throat region extends to and becomes the exit nozzle portion so that the exit nozzle portion maintains the same diameter as the throat region.
US08302883B2	Thermal protection for a heated fuel injector A thermal fuse integrated into an electrical circuit powering a heater element having a positive temperature coefficient includes at least one terminal in electrical connection with the heater element thereby connecting the heater element to a power source, and a solder jacket that mechanically retains the electrical connection between the terminal and heater element, wherein a biasing load is applied to the terminal when retained by the solder jacket, and wherein the terminal breaks connection with the heater element under the force of the bias when the solder jacket melts should the heater element overheat. By selecting the solder material forming the solder jacket according to its melt temperature, a temperature specific overheat protection for a heated fuel injector can be provided. Since the injector's metering circuit is separate from the thermal fuse circuit, the fuel injector remains operational even after the heater circuit is opened.
US08302879B2	Rail expansion device Rail expansion device having stock and tongue rails which can be displaced longitudinally with respect to one another and bear against one another transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the rails under the application of force, wherein a holder releasably holds the tongue rail at a distance from the region thereof which bears against the stock rail, and wherein the tongue rail in the holder is non-positively and positively connected to a standard rail passing into it or to a section thereof or to a section of the holder having a profile which merges with that of the standard rail.
US08302872B2	Advanced dynamic credit cards A credit card is provided that may include a credit card number, where at least a portion of the credit card number changes periodically. A magnetic emulator and/or magnetic stripe encoder may be provided to communicate at least a portion of the information needed to complete a credit card transaction to a credit card reader. For example, a magnetic emulator may be provided about a magnetic stripe so that the magnetic emulator communicates the information that changes and the magnetic stripe communicates the information that does not change. In doing so, the amount of power used by a credit card may be reduced with respect to a credit card that communicates, for example, all of the information with a magnetic emulator.
US08302871B2	Method for conducting a transaction between a magnetic stripe reader and an electronic card A method for communicating with a magnetic stripe reader in which an electronic apparatus is activated from an off state to a reduced power mode, a magnetic stripe reader is detected, then the apparatus is activated from the reduced power mode to a full power mode and it broadcasts a signal that contains a transaction specific data packet that is read by the magnetic read head. The signal is a time varying and spatial varying magnetic field that is interpreted by the magnetic read head as originating from a standard magnetic stripe and it is generated by a magnetic stripe broadcaster comprised of a track 1 flex encoder that transmits data that is read by a track 1 read head of the magnetic read head and a track 2 magnetic flex encoder that transmits data that is read by a track 2 read head of the magnetic read head.
US08302869B2	RFID tag and RFID tag manufacturing method A first pad has first and second sub-pads that are connected to each other by a connection section extending in a manner overlapping with a mounted circuit chip and that are connected to two terminals formed at two positions on a diagonal of a lower surface of the circuit chip, respectively. The second pad has third and fourth sub-pads that are connected to each other via a route bypassing the mounted circuit chip and that are connected to two terminals formed at two positions on the other diagonal of the lower surface of the circuit chip, respectively.
US08302867B2	Symbol reading device, symbol reading method and program recording medium to control focus based on size of captured symbol Disclosed is a symbol reading device including: an imaging section to capture a symbol and generate an image; a detecting section to detect a size of the symbol; a judging section to judge large or small by comparing the size of the symbol to a pre-set value; a focus movement controlling section to move a focus position of the imaging section to a predetermined position of a farther side when the size of the symbol is smaller than the pre-set value as a result of the judgment, and to move a focus position of the imaging section to a predetermined position of a closer side when the size of the symbol is larger than the pre-set value as a result of the judgment; and an analyzing section to analyze symbol data corresponding to the symbol at a focus position moved by the focus movement controlling section.
US08302866B2	Optical reader using distance map decoding A method for decoding an encoded candidate character of a symbology is provided that includes the steps of providing a plurality of valid barcode characters of a symbology having n elements, generating a seed codeword comprising n elements, computing a seed distance value from the seed codeword to each character in the symbology, generating a distance map comprising each character in the symbology and the associated computed seed distance value, and arranging the plurality of seed distance values into a plurality of bins. Each bin contains a subset of the characters in the symbology. The method includes the steps of selecting a candidate barcode character for decoding, computing a candidate distance value from the candidate barcode character to the seed codeword, identifying the bin containing the candidate distance value, and comparing the candidate barcode character with the valid barcode characters in the bin having the candidate distance value.
US08302860B2	Read head device with narrow card reading slot A read head is positioned in a housing and configured to be coupled to a mobile device. The read head has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a financial transaction card. The slot is utilized to complete a financial transaction between a buyer and seller. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe and produces a signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. The read head device includes an output jack adapted to be inserted at least one of the audio jack or microphone input port of a mobile appliance for providing a signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe to the mobile device. The slot is configured to maintain contact between the read head and the magnetic stripe of the financial transaction card during a swipe and decoding of the signal is performed in the mobile device. The decoding includes determining pulses in the signal and converting at least some of the pulses to characters.
US08302855B2	Banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records An automated banking machine operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The automated banking machine includes a card reader operative to read card data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. The automated banking machine also includes a display and a printer to produce records of financial transactions carried out with the machine. The card reader is operative to read and return card information read from the user card responsive. The automated banking machine may also include a check acceptor that is usable to determine a probability associated with the check being fraudulent.
US08302854B1	Automated banking machine system and monitoring method An automated banking machine is part of a banking system that can operate to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records, including user cards. The machine is in operative connection with a system operable to capture images related to activity that is conducted at or adjacent to the machine. The machine is positioned at a banking facility having a vault and an entrance. A plurality of cameras are positioned at the facility. Captured images can be analyzed at a remote monitoring center. The monitoring center can operate to assure that employees or customers of the banking facility can safely enter and/or exit the banking facility.
US08302850B2	Method with which a terminal can retrieve information associated to an EPC-code from an EPC network A method is disclosed with which a terminal (3) can retrieve information associated to an EPC code from an EPC network (4, 5, 6, 7). The EPC code is virtual, is generated independently of RFID tags and is stored permanently and is not—or not permanently—associated to an RFID tag. A terminal (3) sends a message with the EPC code over a telecommunication network (4) to an object name server (6), the server (6) replies with the address of the desired PML page and the terminal (3) access the content of said PML page. The invention also relates to a corresponding device.
US08302849B2	Display device, display method, and program A display device includes a display unit, a contactless communication unit provided such that at least a part thereof overlaps with the display unit or is provided near the display unit and carries out contactless communication with plural kinds of IC cards, a storage that stores announcement data relating to the kinds of the respective IC cards, a controller that selects the kinds of IC cards, and an operation component for further selection of the kind of one IC card from the kinds of IC cards selected by the controller. The announcement data stored in the storage are displayed on the display unit before readout of the kinds of IC cards by the contactless communication unit. The kinds of IC cards with which contactless communication is possible are selected by the controller, and the kind of one IC card is further selected by the operation component.
US08302847B2	RFID parking tag and method of monitoring vehicle parking A system for monitoring the parking status of vehicles incorporating a plurality of wireless identification tags, each tag having a unique tag identifier and having association with a selected vehicle. The system also includes a portable scanner to be used by a parking monitor, the portable scanner having a processor executing instructions thereon, a tag scanner capable of reading a wireless identification tag of a selected vehicle located in relatively close proximity over a wireless link, and a communication device capable of communicating over a wireless wide area network to transmit information about vehicle parking status. A server, having a database with fields for each of the selected vehicles, communicates with the portable scanner over the wireless wide area network to log data related to vehicle parking status. A software program may also be used to facilitate communication between the scanner and the vehicle owner and/or between the scanner and a tow service.
US08302842B2	Method of creating a honeycomb core using a serpentine welding path A honeycomb core is created from a stack of metal sheets that are welded together using a serpentine weld path. Each sheet in the stack is welded to the sheet underneath. All the odd-numbered sheets, excluding the bottom sheet, are welded using a first serpentine welding pattern that includes a plurality of long welds and a plurality of short welds. All the even-numbered sheets are welded using a second serpentine welding pattern that includes a plurality of long welds and a plurality of short welds, such that the long welds of the second serpentine welding pattern are shifted from the long welds of the first serpentine welding pattern. When a sufficient number of sheets have been welded, the stack is trimmed to remove the short welds. The stack is expanded by pulling the sheets one from another to form the honeycomb core.
US08302841B2	Wire payout measurement and calibration techniques for a wire bonding machine A method of calibrating a wire payout related to predetermined looping motions used during formation of a wire loop is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) determining a first wire payout length related to predetermined wire looping motions used in the formation of a first of the wire loop, the predetermined looping motions being performed on a first wire bonding system; (b) determining a second wire payout length related to the predetermined wire looping motions used in the formation of a second of the wire loop; and (c) adjusting at least one wire bonding process variable, and repeating step (b) with the at least one adjusted wire bonding process variable such that the second wire payout length determined in the repeated step (b) is closer to the first wire payout length than the second wire payout length determined in the initial step (b).
US08302840B2	Closed loop wire bonding methods and bonding force calibration A method of applying bonding energy to form a bond between a portion of a wire and a contact of a bonding location using a wire bonding machine is provided. The method includes: (1) moving a bonding tool towards the contact; (2) detecting when a portion of the contact (100a) is pressed against a device supporting surface (112) of the wire bonding machine; and (3) applying bonding energy to the portion of the contact such that a bond is formed between the contact and the portion of wire.
US08302839B2	Device for assembling components having metal bonding pads A device for assembling components having metal bonding pads includes plates that can move relative to each other, bearing metal components respectively and leaving between them a flat chamber surrounding the components when the latter are in contact with each other. The flat chambers can be saturated with deoxidizing gaseous fluid.
US08302835B2	Point flow soldering apparatus To prevent clogging in a jet nozzle without using any inert gas and to allow reliability to be improved by filling a through hole of a printed circuit board with the molten solder.By flowing the molten solder 4 in the solder bath 2 from inside of the inner cylinder 15 to a nozzle cap 19, the inside of the nozzle cap 19 is filled with the molten solder 4, and the molten solder 4 filling the inside of the nozzle cap 19 is flown downward from between an inner cylinder 15 and an outer cylinder 16 without substantially flowing it to outside from an insert hole 19a. This enables the molten solder 4 to be prevented from oxidizing because the molten solder 4 is not exposed to the outside air. For this reason, it is possible to prevent clogging in the jet nozzle 3 without filling a part of nozzle outlet with any inert gas as in the conventional soldering apparatus. Further, since the soldering is performed with a lead 31 of electronic component 30 being inserted into the insert hole 19a, it is possible to fill the through hole of the printed circuit board P with the molten solder 4, so that the reliability can be improved.
US08302834B2	Friction stir welding using a superabrasive tool A probe for friction stir welding MMCs, ferrous alloys, non-ferrous alloys, and superalloys, as well as non-ferrous alloys, the probe including a shank, a shoulder, and a pin disposed through the shoulder and into the shank, wherein the pin and the shoulder at least include a coating comprised of a superabrasive material, the pin and shoulder being designed to reduce stress risers, disposing a collar around a portion of the shoulder and the shank to thereby prevent movement of the shoulder relative to the shank, and incorporating thermal management by providing a thermal flow barrier between the shoulder and the shank, and between the collar and the tool.
US08302831B2	Flanged fuel cell and locating structure for combustion tool A fuel cell is provided and is constructed and arranged for use with a combustion tool including a cylinder head frame. The fuel cell includes an outer shell having a closed lower end and an open upper end, and a closure crimped over the upper end and defining an opening for accommodating a reciprocating valve stem. An adapter frictionally engages the closure and includes a flange configured for suspending the fuel cell in the fuel cell chamber.
US08302829B2	Bicycle carrier for vehicle Disclosed herein is a bicycle carrier for a vehicle, which is housed in the rear bumper of the vehicle to be concealed and when necessary is drawn out from the rear bumper to carry a bicycle. The bicycle carrier includes a front frame positioned in a rear bumper of the vehicle and secured to a rear end of a vehicle body. A central frame perpendicularly passes through the front frame. A rear frame is secured to a rear end of the central frame. A folding unit couples each of opposite ends of the front frame with each of opposite ends of the rear frame and is folded to vary a distance between the front frame and the rear frame. A bicycle wheel support is provided on the folding unit. A bicycle body support is provided on the central frame.
US08302822B2	Pressure regulators for beverage dispensers Pressure regulators for beverage dispensers of the type using a high pressure gas cartridge such a CO2 cartridge. The regulators provide a simple, low cost, easily assembled and reliable regulator of particularly small size, facilitated in part by the fact that the invention allows the use of a diaphragm of a particularly small size without necessitating the use of expensive and bulky diaphragm clamps, such as threaded clamps, yet is able to provide a more than adequate seal at both the inner and outer portions of the diaphragm.
US08302815B2	Device for complete emptying of a tube A device for the complete emptying of a tube including a tube body with a tube head and a tube opening located in the head, with the device including a base body with a slot-shaped tube receptacle as well as a shaft rotatable in the base body with a holder for the crimped end of a tube, the shaft being rotatable in the base body to roll up the tube body on the shaft and the tube contents being expressible by pulling the tube body through the slot-shaped tube receptacle. In order to be able to empty any residue contained in the tube head, the design provides for a lever to be articulated on the base body, with which the tube head can be pressed against the base body for a complete emptying of the tube.
US08302814B2	Retractable sealant dispensing apparatus for squeeze tube A dispensing apparatus provides for the dispensing of product from a collapsible tube. The apparatus includes a body for supporting the tube. The body has a forward end for accommodating a dispensing end of the tube and rearward end for accommodating a closed end of the tube. An elongate actuatable plunger is supported by the body. The plunger includes an elongate rod and a base attached to the rod. Actuating means is provided for effecting movement of the plunger in a first direction along the body for engagement with the collapsible tube wall thereby deforming the tube wall and dispensing the contents of the tube from the dispensing end. The actuating means also provides for retractable movement of the plunger in the second direction opposite the first direction. The base is positioned on the rod for dispensing engagement with the tube upon movement of the plunger in the first direction and movable out of dispensing engagement with the tube upon in a second direction.
US08302812B2	Dispenser with discrete dispense cycles A dispenser includes a pump that, upon actuation, progresses through a discrete dispense cycle to dispense a discrete dose of product. The dispenser further includes an actuating mechanism serving to actuate the pump, and a dispenser controller that controls operation of the actuation mechanism. The discrete dose is less than a desired dose. When the dispenser controller receives a single dispense request, the dispenser controller causes the actuating mechanism to actuate the pump through multiple discrete dispense cycles so as to dispense multiple discrete doses to achieve a dispensing of the desired dose.
US08302810B2	Vehicle tissue dispenser supported within a cup holder A tissue dispenser for use with a cup holder having a body including a lower portion dimensioned for being received within an inner wall associated with the cup holder. An opening is provided in the body for withdrawing successive tissues. A waste storage compartment is configured within the body separate from the opening for storing used tissues.
US08302804B2	Inventions relating to drinking vessels A lid (18) for a drinking container (14) includes an engagement means (26) for removably securing the lid (18) to the drinking container (14). The lid (18) is formed as a one piece unit and has a deformable spout (20) with a liquid outlet (46). The one piece lid is further provided with an air inlet (22) for the ingress of air into the container (14). Defamation of the spout (20) effects opening of the liquid outlet (46) and the air inlet (22). The spout (20) may be disposed in a forward position on the lid (18). The container wall may lean in the forwards direction when the container is seated on its base (16) on a level surface.
US08302801B2	Telescoping egg container A telescoping egg container is disclosed comprising a plurality of slidable egg holder units that can nest one within another, such that the telescoping egg container can be extended or collapsed to accommodate various numbers of eggs to be stored.
US08302800B2	Protective device for a pressure cooker and pressure cooker with a protective device A protective device attached to a pressure release valve of a lid of a pressure cooker, including a dome-shaped mesh casing body, a ring-shaped reinforcing frame fixed to the upper edge of the mesh casing body, a bridge plate provided on the reinforcing frame with both ends thereof fixed to the reinforcing frame so that the bridge plate diametrically crosses the ring-shaped reinforcing frame keeping distance from the bottom of the mesh casing body, and an attachment member of substantially a hollow cylinder provided at the center of the bridge plate.
US08302797B2	Storage tank floating roof sump with emergency overflow A floating roof and emergency overflow drainage system for water accumulated on the floating roof covering liquid in a storage tank, including: a. a water collection sump formed as a downward extending recess in the top surface of the roof, b. a first drainage duct having an inlet within the water collection sump, an outlet for draining water below the sump, and an intermediate portion, c. a second drainage duct having an inlet above the top surface of the roof, an intermediate portion, and an outlet in fluid communication with the intermediate portion of the first duct in the sump, and d. an emergency overflow duct including: (1) an inlet in fluid communication with the second duct, and (2) a distal portion extending downwardly and terminating in an outlet below the sump and in the stored liquid.
US08302793B2	Closure with support arrangement A closure for a container having a support device for fillers, in particular a tablet tube, the support device providing an elastically deformable support element that is capable of being brought from a first position, in which the support element is undeformed, into a second position in which the support element is deformed. The support element has a contact area that, in the second position, transmits a supporting force to the fillers; in the second position the support element is situated closer to the container mid-axis than is the case in the first position.
US08302790B2	Railway coupler knuckle Railway coupler knuckle apparatus are described herein. An example railway coupler knuckle includes a tail portion, a hub portion and a transition portion joining the tail portion and the hub portion. The hub portion includes a generally cylindrical pivot pin passage having a longitudinal axis. The railway coupler knuckle has a cavity formed inside the tail portion and at least a portion of the transition portion and a first wall extends between surfaces of the cavity adjacent the transition portion.
US08302783B1	Product dispensing display A dispensing display assembly is provided which can deter the theft of goods without prohibitively restricting the access to goods. The display is made from corrugated paper or a thin walled plastic.
US08302776B2	Pack of oral care items A pack of oral care items that allows for simultaneous opening and easy access to the items contained in the pack. The pack of oral care items includes two or more flexible packages. The flexible packages may be arranged in parallel. One flexible package may be an inner package that is located substantially within another flexible package that forms an outer package. The inner package may include an integral burst pouch configured to release a liquid into an interior space of the outer package while keeping the interior space of the inner package dry. Each flexible package includes a frangible region located at or adjacent a top portion and at least one oral care item is disposed within an interior space of each flexible package. At least one fastening means joins the flexible packages together into a substantially unitary pack so the frangible regions are juxtaposed and the top portions of the packages are aligned to allow for opening simultaneously by applying a force to the frangible regions to open the flexible packages. Upon opening of the top portions of the flexible packages, the central portions of the flexible packages are configured for axial movement simultaneously toward the bottom portions to expose at least the tops of the oral care items so they can be readily grasped by a user.
US08302775B2	Rapid deployment first aid kit and system for refilling A first aid system organized with pockets containing first aid and emergency preparedness supplies and equipment and a system for refilling. Each pocket in the kit contains supplies and equipment useful in providing initial care for a particular illness or injury and is quickly identified through textual labels and transparent elements. The pockets are connected into a strip of pockets which is folded to fit within a case. The strip of pockets is easily deployed from the case facilitating rapid and accurate identification, selection, and acquisition of items appropriate for initial care of a particular illness or injury by comprehensive visual presentation of the organizational scheme and the supplies and pieces of equipment themselves.
US08302772B2	Secure hanging structure of tool case A secure hanging structure is provided for a tool case and includes a cap like cover board member, of which a cover inside surface forms projecting retention pawls at locations corresponding to recesses defined in an open rim of a package case and positioning tabs that protects the case against deformation and thus disengagement caused by depression, whereby the cover board member is positionable to close the enclosure opening rim of the case and realize the function of secure retaining engagement for suspension and hanging. At the connection of the positioning plate of one side to the cover board member, an open slot is defined and a fixing framing bar is provided above the slot opening, whereby after cutting of the framing bar, the positioning plate is allowed to move for opening the cover board member.
US08302769B2	Multi-function case for portable digital media device A protective case or mounting device for a portable digital media device includes a first and a second snap fit cavity adapted to receive and selectively retain a first and a second protrusion element, respectively, associated with any of various accessory mounting or position retention elements. Connection between respective protrusions and snap fit cavities is made by depressible insertion. A portable digital media device may thus be removably engaged to various positioning elements without requiring the device to be removed from a protective case.
US08302768B2	Ammunition preservation packaging and storage system The present invention provides a unique method of manufacturing an inexpensive, hermetically sealed ammunition container by the use of a conventional canning operation where the ammunition is inserted into cans that have been enamel coated inside and out and placed between resilient cushioning plugs and put into a vacuum chamber. Optionally, all of the air, atmosphere/oxygen and atmospheric moisture that may be present in the can is removed and replaced with an inert gas before the can is sealed. This packaging system fulfills the need for a method of storing ammunition over an extended period of time, and provides a convenient, air tight and compact package for ammunition and related components.
US08302764B2	Spiral conveyor system and methods A double-helix spiral conveyor, a method for conveying articles up and down a spiral conveyor, and a method for constructing a drive drum for a spiral conveyor. The double-helix spiral conveyor conveys articles on the conveyor up the inner side of a spiral drum by engaging the outer edge of the belt and down the outer side of the drum by engaging the inner edge of the belt. A slew drive at the bottom of the drum drives the conveyor.
US08302763B2	Apparatus and method for buffering products An apparatus for buffering products comprises at least three buffer conveyors arranged in series, which can be driven independently of each other, a first buffer conveyor which can be connected to supply device for supplying products and a last buffer conveyor which can be connected to discharge device for discharging the products, wherein the buffer conveyors are so arranged that each of the products follows the same conveying path and that at least one of the buffer conveyors comprises a spiral path.
US08302762B2	Deflecting device for flat products The invention relates to a device for transporting flat products having at least one feeder feeding the flat products in a first transport direction, and having at least two conveying units for forwarding the flat products in a second transport direction. The conveying units are configured symmetrically and in each case have a plurality of guiding elements which can be set against the flat sides of the products. It is possible for the flat products to be received between in each case two adjacent guiding-element pairs and to be gripped by them and, as a result, to be transported upright in the second transport direction. During the movement in the second transport direction, the guiding elements are moved gradually out of holding engagement with the flat products.
US08302756B2	Clutch actuation device for a manual transmission of a vehicle and corresponding control method A clutch actuation device, particularly for a manual transmission of a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, includes a clutch actuation setting device that can be placed in various settings, based on which a corresponding actuation of the clutch takes place. The clutch actuation setting device is suitable for generating electrical signals as a function of the setting, based on which the clutch is correspondingly actuated. A method controls/regulates such a clutch actuation device, particularly for a manual transmission of a vehicle.
US08302754B2	Tapered coupling structure and rotating machine A tapered coupling structure allows a tapered shaft to be coupled to and decoupled from a hub without the use of an 0-ring. The tapered shaft is provided with a taper part on the side that is coupled to the hub, and the hub is provided with a high-rigidity part having a thickness in the radial direction larger than that of other regions and having a high rigidity in the radial direction. An oil groove formed in the outer peripheral surface of the taper part to feed oil to the coupling surfaces of the taper part and the hub is provided in a region corresponding to the high-rigidity part in the axial direction.
US08302750B2	Multi-pole conductor line The invention relates to a multi-pole conductor line comprising a plurality of insulating profiles disposed one after another in the longitudinal direction, each having a regular arrangement of a plurality of chambers extending in the longitudinal direction. At least one group of chambers is present that are closed in cross section, and at least one group of chambers that are open to one side and are suitable for mounting one busbar each. Connecting links made of insulating material are provided for connecting the front sides of the insulating profiles. Said links each have as components at least one plug element that can be plugged into a closed chamber of the insulating profile at the front side of an insulating profile, and at least one stop element limiting the plug depth of a plug element into an insulation profile, and preferably at least one catch element by which a form-fit engagement between the connecting link and an insulating profile can be produced.
US08302745B2	Backing plate and method of making A backing plate comprises a front side configured to engage a friction material, a rear side opposite the front side, a first edge, a second edge generally opposing the first edge, and at least one channel disposed between the front side and the rear side and extending from the first edge toward the second edge. The rear side is configured to engage a caliper assembly. The backing plate is configured to achieve a resonant frequency that attenuates vibration.
US08302742B2	Self-setting automatic slack adjuster with increased durability An improved self-adjusting automatic slack adjuster for reducing slack in the brake of a vehicle, in which a one-way clutch assembly is arranged in the housing of the automatic slack adjuster housing such that a thin-wall region of the housing associated with the gear drive of the one-way clutch assembly is located outside of a load path through which brake applications forces are conveyed from a brake actuator to a brake cam shaft upon which the automatic slack adjuster is located. The new positioning of the one-way clutch assembly drive results in unexpectedly lower stress levels in the automatic slack adjuster, resulting a more durable slack adjuster and permitting surprisingly large increases in slack adjuster capacity rating.
US08302741B2	Disk brake caliper with parking brake A disk brake caliper with an integrated parking brake comprising a housing, a piston, an adjust screw, a ramp nut, a ramp nut return, a ramp shaft and a fix cage. The ramp nut has a body and a head at one end of the body. The fix cage is secured to the inner wall of the housing, which has a hollow structure and through which the body of the ramp nut passes. One of the fix cage and the head of the ramp nut is provided with a locking lug and the other of the fix cage and the head of the ramp nut is provided with a locking notch for mating with the locking lug to prevent the ramp nut from rotating relative to the housing.
US08302740B2	Integrated support for elevator machine, sheaves and terminations A single support device (30) is adapted to support and secure a machine (34) at least one sheave (38) and a plurality of termination members (44, 46). The single support device (30) is conveniently installed within a hoistway (26) or within a machine room (90). The machine (34) and sheave (38) may be premounted to the support device (30) and the entire assembly can be lowered into position by crane (300).
US08302738B2	Power train handler A power train handler having a first inverted T-shaped stand and a second inverted T-shaped stand the height of each of which is preferably independently adjustable. A T-shaped support is slidably attached to the upper end of each inverted T-shaped stand. Either an inverted U-shaped tip plate is rotationally balanced on a T-shaped support or a slotted bar having rotationally mounted arms is attached to the T-shaped support. Preferably, wheels are attached to the bottom of the inverted T-shaped stands; and, preferably, the inverted T-shaped stands are releasably, slidably, and lockably connected to each other.
US08302735B2	Self-erecting suspension platform system A self-erecting suspension platform system having a work platform suspended between a sinistral modular mast and a dextral modular mast by a hoisting system. The modular masts are composed of at least two mast units stacked vertically and attached to one another. Each mast unit has a multifunction rail including a plurality of safety engagement devices and a stabilizer guide device, and a unit interconnection device. The work platform has at least two mast stabilizers that cooperate with the stabilizer guide devices to prevent undesired swaying of the suspended work platform. The work platform has a plurality of platform mast engagers cooperating with at least one of the mast safety engagement devices to releasably lock the platform to the modular masts. The hoisting system includes multiple carriages, hoists, and mast cables. Each carriage engages the associated mast so that the carriage may be conveniently slid up and down the mast.
US08302730B2	System and method for generating and controlling conducted acoustic waves for geophysical exploration An improved system and method for generating and controlling conducted acoustic waves for geophysical exploration are provided. A plurality of overpressure waves are generated by at least one overpressure wave generator comprising at least one detonation tube having an open end that may be directed away from, parallel to, or towards a target media. Recoil forces of the at least one overpressure wave generator, produced shear forces, or the forces of the plurality of overpressure waves are coupled to the target media to generate conducted acoustic waves. The timing of the generation of the plurality of overpressure waves can be in accordance with a timing code and can be used to steer the conducted acoustic waves to a location of interest in the target media.
US08302725B2	Antitheft apparatus for equipment with prime mover In an apparatus for preventing theft of equipment (electric wheelchair) having a prime mover (electric motor), a prime mover controller, and an authenticator that acquires ID information from an electronic key when the key is brought close thereto by an operator, determines whether the acquired ID information corresponds with authentication ID information, and permits the controller to start the prime mover when the acquired ID information is determined to correspond with authentication ID information, the controller stores operating history of the equipment, and the authenticator acquires the history from the controller when the key is brought close thereto and transmits the acquired history to the key when the key is brought close thereto, thereby making it easy to acquire the operating history of the equipment.
US08302720B2	Energy storage system for a hybrid vehicle An energy storage system for a hybrid vehicle, including an internal combustion engine having an output shaft and a transmission operably coupled to the output shaft, includes a reservoir containing working fluid, a first reversible pump/motor in fluid communication with the reservoir and selectively drivably coupled to the output shaft of the engine, a second reversible pump/motor in fluid communication with the reservoir and selectively drivably coupled to an output shaft of the transmission, and an accumulator containing working fluid and gas. The accumulator is in selective fluid communication with at least one of the first and second reversible pump/motors to deliver pressurized working fluid to the one of the first and second reversible pump/motors when operating as a motor, and to receive pressurized working fluid discharged by the one of the first and second reversible pump/motors when operating as a pump.
US08302719B2	Vehicle having power stocking mechanism and vehicle system containing the same A vehicle including an energy stocking mechanism having an elastic member connected to the driving wheel of the vehicle so that power of the driving wheel is stocked as elastic force in the elastic member and the stocked elastic force is output as power to the driving wheel, and an output limiter that holds the energy stocking mechanism when the elastic force is stocked in the elastic member and releases the holding of the energy stocking mechanism to output the elastic force when the vehicle starts running. A power stocking source for stocking elastic force into the energy stocking mechanism is installed in the vehicle or a station at which the vehicle stops, and connected to the energy stocking mechanism so that power from the power stocking source is applied to the energy stocking mechanism and stocked as the elastic force in the energy stocking mechanism.
US08302718B2	Engine room cover and method for mounting thereof An engine room cover and a method for mounting thereof in which the engine room cover can be mounted and removed easily. The engine room cover includes a first cover body and a second cover body. The first cover body is installed in an engine room formed in a vehicle body and fixed to the vehicle body with a fastening member. The second cover body is removably attached to the first cover body and covers a maintained member installed in the engine room. The first cover body has a mounting hole bored in a direction of board thickness and an elastic bush fitted along an opening lip of the mounting hole. The second cover body has a boss portion inserted into the elastic bush.
US08302713B2	Method for operating a hybrid vehicle A method is for operating a vehicle having a hybrid drive, in which the hybrid drive has an internal combustion engine and at least one electric motor as drive units, and the units cooperate with one another. To achieve a negative drivetrain setpoint torque, the negative drivetrain setpoint torque is applied by the electric motor, and the internal combustion engine is operated to the greatest extent possible outside its overrun mode.
US08302712B2	Vehicle with fuel cell module A fuel cell module for a vehicle, which accommodates a stacked-cell body which is provided with electric output terminals for taking electric power from stacked power generating cells in a metallic casing which has an insulation layer on its inner surface, is disposed in a vehicle front room such that the stacked direction of the power generating cells is a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and the electric output terminals face the front of the vehicle. An insulating cover made of insulating rubber which is thicker than an insulation layer of a cover is disposed on the exterior surface of the electric output terminals to prevent short circuiting of the electric output terminals.
US08302711B2	Suspension systems for a vehicle A utility vehicle is disclosed. The utility vehicle may include storage areas under the dash. The utility vehicle may include suspension systems for utility vehicles having shocks with both a fluidic stiffness adjustment and a mechanical stiffness adjustment. The utility vehicle may include an electrical power steering.
US08302706B1	Apparatus and method for installing ground anchoring systems An apparatus and method for forming a borehole in an earthen formation includes a side cutting device comprised of a laterally extendable side cutting element that can be actuated from a retracted position to an extended position in which the side cutting element is selectively employed to create a larger borehole diameter in a down hole location than the remaining portion of the borehole that is closer to the borehole opening.
US08302696B2	Actuator and tubular actuator An actuator includes a tubular configured to longitudinally expand in response to radial expansion of at least a portion of the tubular.
US08302694B2	Flow control system having an isolation device for preventing gas interference during downhole liquid removal operations A flow control system includes a pump positioned in a wellbore to remove liquid from the wellbore. An isolation device is positioned downhole of the pump and is expandable within the wellbore between a sealed position and an unsealed position. The isolation device in the sealed position substantially reduces gas flow at the pump during removal of the liquid.
US08302688B2	Method of optimizing wellbore perforations using underbalance pulsations A perforating system and method for use in a wellbore. In operation, the perforating system is disposed in the wellbore and used to form perforations in the wellbore. Thereafter, the perforating system is used to perform a sequence of underbalance pulsations in the wellbore, wherein a first underbalance pulsation has a first underbalance signature and a second underbalance pulsation has a second underbalance signature that is different from the first underbalance signature such that perforating tunnel clean up can be optimized based upon wellbore conditions and without causing damage to the perforating tunnels.
US08302687B2	Apparatus for measuring streaming potentials and determining earth formation characteristics Earth formations are characterized by using an array of electrodes which can measure streaming potentials in the formation, and by interpreting the data obtained by the electrodes. The electrodes are placed on a wireline tool, a LWD tool, or in a fixed manner about a completed wellbore. The measured streaming potentials are generated by drilling with an overbearing pressure, slitting the mudcake in a borehole, acid injection, or any of various other manners which causes fluid movement. The data obtained is interpreted to locate fractures, measure formation permeability, estimate formation pressure, monitor drilling fluid loss, detect abnormal pressure, etc. Particularly, a streaming potential voltage transient having a double peak profile signifies the presence of a formation fracture.
US08302683B2	Biogenic fuel gas generation in geologic hydrocarbon deposits A method of increasing biogenic production of a combustible gas from a subterranean geologic formation is described. The method may include extracting formation water from the geologic formation, where the extracted formation water includes at least a first species and a second species of microorganism. The method may also include analyzing the extracted formation water to identify the first species of microorganism that promotes the biogenic production of the combustible gas. An amendment may be introduced to the formation water to promote the growth of the first species of microorganism, and the biological characteristics of the formation water may be altered to decrease a population of the second species in the geologic formation.
US08302679B2	Expandable ramp gripper A gripper for use in a downhole tool is provided. The gripper can include an actuator, an engagement assembly, and an expandable assembly. The engagement assembly can comprise a leaf-spring like elongate continuous beam. The expandable assembly can comprise a linkage including a plurality of links. The linkage can be coupled to the actuator such that the actuator expands the expandable assembly which in turn expands the engagement assembly. In operation, during one stage of expansion radial forces are transmitted to the engagement assembly through both interaction of a rolling mechanism on the engagement assembly with the expandable assembly and pressure of the linkage assembly directly on an inner surface of the engagement assembly.
US08302677B2	Coiled tubing injector with a weight on bit circuit A control circuit for a coiled tubing injector includes a circuit controller (14). One or more counterbalance valves (3) may be responsive to the circuit controller to prevent the tubing string from descending into the wellbore during rate of penetration movement. In one embodiment, a control valve (4) allows fluid to flow through a bypass line around the counterbalance valves when drilling in a weight-on-bit mode. Other hydraulic control circuits allow for the release of fluid pressure to control the injector hydraulic motor. In yet another embodiment, the control circuit regulates power to an electric motor of the injector.
US08302676B2	Drilling, completing and stimulating a hydrocarbon production well In general, an apparatus is provided comprising either a single wall drill string or a concentric drill string for use in drilling, completing and/or stimulating a well in a heavy oil or bitumen reservoir for in situ recovery of heavy oil and bitumen. More particularly, the single wall drill string or the concentric drill string further comprises an electrical cable and heating device for heating the drill string to stimulate the flow of the heavy oil and bitumen in the well after chilling is completed.
US08302674B2	Air conditioning system for car An air conditioning system, which can automatically remove a malodor generated due to condensate water remaining in an evaporator during a predetermined period of time after operation of an air conditioner or turning-off of the air conditioner and control a filtering mode time of a filter to filter an air. The air conditioning system characteristically comprises a shiftable deodorization filter (30 or 40) located on a flow channel of the cool air passageway and operationally moved to a filtering mode position so as to screen the flow channel of the cool air passageway during a predetermined period of time after an air conditioner is turned on or off, whereby the air passing through the cool air passageway C and a malodor contained in the air are filtered.
US08302669B2	Louvre for an air-conduction housing of a vehicle air-conditioning system A louver for an air-conduction housing of a motor vehicle air-conditioning system includes a plurality of regions. The plurality of regions are arranged directly adjacent to one another to facilitate air stratification and are subdivided by partitions which are part of the louver. At least one of the regions is configured as a drum-type louver.
US08302668B1	Hybrid core assembly for a casting process A hybrid core assembly for a casting process includes a ceramic core portion, a first refractory metal core portion and a first plate positioned between the ceramic core portion and the first refractory metal core portion. The ceramic core portion includes a first trough. A portion of the refractory metal core portion is received in the first trough.
US08302667B2	Cast iron semi-finished product excellent in workability and method of production of the same The present invention provides tough cast iron and cast iron semi-finished products excellent in workability without heat treatment requiring massive heat energy and long time and a method of production enabling these to be efficiently produced, that is, cast iron of ingredients of white cast iron where particles of spheroidal graphite or flattened graphite are dispersed, cast iron where the ingredients of the white cast iron satisfy, by wt %, (% C)≦4.3−(% Si)÷3 and C≧1.7% and where the particles of spheroidal graphite are dispersed at a density of 50 particles/mm2 or more, or cast iron where the particles of flattened graphite have a width of 0.4 mm or less and a length of 50 mm or less.
US08302657B2	Casting process for aluminum alloys A casting process for an aluminum alloy containing at least about 0.1% of Mg and/or at least about 0.1% of Li in which a liquid surface of the alloy is put into contact with a dried gas including at least about 2% of oxygen by volume and with a water partial pressure lower than about 150 Pa throughout most of the solidification process is described. The process makes it possible to cast most oxidable aluminum alloys, in particular aluminum alloys containing magnesium and/or lithium, without using additives such as beryllium and/or calcium and without using expensive devices and/or gases, to obtain cast ingots generally free from surface defects and pollution, in complete safety.
US08302654B2	Vertically collapsible weather resistant barrier for opening in a building envelope A vertically collapsible weather resistant barrier for an opening, having a plurality of side frames secured along the height of side walls and/or an intermediate post defining the opening. Each side frame has a longitudinal channel along its length facing inward toward the opening. The channel accommodates sheaves extending from the barrier and by which a ceiling mounted pulley system may house and lower the barrier with the side frame. The barrier comprises a plurality of pantograph structures at opposite ends of a plurality of panels. The arms of the pantograph structure closest to the side walls house a locking mechanism thereon facing the side frame at either end of the arm that engages a latch in and a proximate arm to pull them into tight vertical alignment when substantially fully extended. The locking mechanisms are covered by an expandable bulb seal that bulges outwardly when the locking mechanism is engaged to create a seal between the pantograph and the channel in the side wall.
US08302653B2	Venetian blind system A blind system has a horizontally positioned tilt rail having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of slats suspended from the tilt rail via at least one connecting member. The tilt rail includes a reinforcing member and a tensioning member. The blind system also has a divided slat that is divided lengthwise into a first sub-slat and a second sub-slat and has a longitudinal axis with each of the first and second sub-slats configured to be movable with respect to each other so that when each of the plurality of slats are in an angular position with respect to the corresponding slat longitudinal axis that restricts at least a portion of light passing between the slats, either the first sub-slat or the second sub-slat has an angular position with respect to the divided slat longitudinal axis that is substantially the same as the angular position of each slat depending on a direction of rotation of the plurality of slats.
US08302651B2	Stripping device and stripping method A stripping method for stripping a support plate from a laminate including a substrate and the support plate adhered to the wafer via an adhesive layer, in which the adhesive layer is formed from an adhesive compound soluble in a non-polar solvent or a highly polar solvent; and the stripping method includes the step of supplying the non-polar solvent or the highly polar solvent, so that the non-polar solvent or the highly polar solvent is retained at least on an edge portion of that surface of the laminate which faces the support plate, and on a lateral surface of the laminate.
US08302650B2	Device for gluing the final edge of a log of a band-shaped material The present invention refers to a device (1) for gluing the final edge (4a) of a log of band-shaped material (4), comprising a rolling plane (2) for feeding a log (3) that has at least a through opening (7) for the application of a glue (8) on the log (3) itself. The device comprises a blade (9) provided for the application of the glue (8) on the log (3). The application blade (9) is mobile between a first position, in which it is spaced from the opening (7), and a second position, in which it is disposed close to the through opening (7). The device (1) comprises a pressure container (10) for housing the glue (8) to be fed to the blade (9). The container (10) has a slot (12) facing towards, and close to an application edge (9a) of the blade (9) when the latter is in the first position. The slot (12) defines an expulsion direction of the glue (8), transversal to the handling direction (DM) of the blade (9) so that the glue (8) being expelled deposits on the application edge (9a) according to a predefined quantity.
US08302648B2	Pneumatic tire A pneumatic tire comprising an air permeation preventive layer comprising a film of a thermoplastic resin composition containing a polyvinyl alcohol or ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, to which a protective film of a rubber composition containing an ethylene propylene rubber (EPM) or ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) is, directly or via an adhesive, placed adjacent thereto, as one layer in at least one side thereof, whereby both a further reduction in the air leakage rate of the pneumatic tire and a good durability can be achieved and furthermore a reduction in the weight of the tire can be achieved.
US08302643B2	Pneumatic tire having tread with zoned cap layer A pneumatic tire having a rubber tread of a cap/base construction comprised of an outer rubber tread cap layer containing an outer running surface and an underlying rubber tread base layer, wherein said tread cap layer is comprised of a plurality of circumferential, longitudinal rubber tread cap zones of graduated physical properties, wherein said tread cap zones individually extend from said tread cap running surface radially inward to said tread base layer; wherein said tread cap zones are comprised of two primary tread cap zones and one central tread cap zone; wherein said central tread cap zone is positioned between said primary tread cap zones and spans at least 14 percent of the total running surface of the tread cap layer, wherein said primary tread cap zones are of substantially equal widths and collectively span at least 50 percent of the total running surface of the tread cap layer.
US08302642B1	Invertable handbag and method of use An invertible handbag. The invertible handbag has a handbag compartment defined by four sides, a handbag roof, and a handbag floor; a handbag roof mouth bordered by a handbag roof mouth closure in the handbag root and a handbag floor mouth bordered by a handbag floor mouth closure in the handbag floor. A strap is swivelably attached to strap bridges at opposite ends of the invertible handbag. Method steps are taught wherein the handbag closures may be closed, the invertible handbag inverted, and then the uppermost closure and mouth opened, to permit seeing and removing items which were formerly lost at the bottom of the handbag compartment. Means is disclosed to hold the closures closed. Optional sidebags may be mounted to the handbag sides, each including a sidebag roof mouth closure and a sidebag floor mouth closure.
US08302641B2	Handbag articles A reversible handbag capable of taking a variety of different shapes and configurations having a front side, a back side, and a bottom side, two side seams formed by joining the boundaries of the front side with the boundaries of the back side. The bottoms of the front side and back side are joined to the outer perimeter of the bottom side leaving an open periphery at the top of the handbag. The side seams each have an aperture located near their top edges and the front back sides each have two columns of two or more apertures. The open periphery can be folded inward or outward to create several different configurations of the handbag and the apertures on the side seams and front and back sides are capable of receiving clasps or other fasteners from straps in order to provide handles, carrying straps, and the like for the various configurations.
US08302638B2	Electromechanically operated fuel nozzle An electronically operated fuel nozzle includes a solenoid valve for dispensing fuel, an electronic board for operating the solenoid valve, electric accumulator means for electrically powering the solenoid valve and the electronic board. The solenoid valve includes an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe connected to the fuel-dispensing pipe to dispense a full flow of fuel for refueling, and a secondary channel integrated in the solenoid valve for dispensing a lower quantity of fuel for topping up, the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are opened by an electromagnetic operating device. The secondary channel is opened by another electromagnetic operating device.
US08302634B2	Method of producing a flexible pipe and a flexible pipe The invention relates to a method of producing a flexible pipe comprising a metal carcass and an internal sealing sheath extruded onto the carcass, said 5 method comprising providing a metal carcass; heating an application section of said carcass, preferably using induction heating, to an application section temperature of at least 150° C.; extruding a non-cross-linked polyethylene material comprising a peroxide having an activation temperature above 150° C. onto said application section of said carcass; cross-linking the extruded 10 polyethylene in a cross-linking zone by raising its temperature to at least the activation temperature of said peroxide by exposing the extruded polymer material to electromagnetic waves, with a wavelength of between 0.5 μm to 0.5 m, preferably infrared radiation; and cooling said cross-linked polyethylene material to obtain the internal sealing sheath. 15 In a preferred embodiment the method comprises heating the application section to an application section temperature of between 30 and 5° C. below the activation temperature of the peroxide. 20 Preferred peroxides include butylcumyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide, 2,5-Dimethyl-2,5-di(tert-butylperoxy)hexyne-3,3,3,5,7,7-Pentamethyl-1,2,4-trioxepane, hydroperoxide, 2,5-dimethyl hexane 2,5-di-t-butyl peroxide, bis(t-butylperoxy isopropyl)benzene, t-butyl cumyl peroxide, di-t-butyl peroxide, 2,5-dimethyl hexine-3 2,5-di-t-butyl peroxide and butylhydroperoxide. 25 A foil may be applied onto the metal carcass prior to the step of heating the metal carcass, the polyethylene material being extruded onto said foil. 30
US08302625B1	Validation of working fluid parameter indicator sensitivity in system with centrifugal machines Disclosed herein is an approach that validates the sensitivity of a working fluid parameter indicator in a system using centrifugal machines. In one aspect, a lead centrifugal machine and a lag centrifugal machine supply a working fluid to a distribution conduit. A working fluid parameter indicator measures a process parameter associated with the working fluid supplied to the distribution conduit by the lead centrifugal machine and the lag centrifugal machine. A controller validates the sensitivity of the working fluid parameter indicator to measure the process parameter associated with the working fluid as a function of operation of the lag centrifugal machine relative to the lead centrifugal machine during an operational test performed on the centrifugal machines.
US08302622B2	Unbalanced inlet fuel tube for a fuel pressure regulator A pressure regulator (10) includes a fuel tube (30) having an inlet end (35), an outlet end (180), and a fuel chamber (40). The outlet end defines a valve seat (70). A valve element (80) engages the valve seat in a closed position to prohibit flow of fuel from the inlet end to the outlet end. The valve element moves to an open position when pressurized fuel builds in the fuel chamber. A valve biasing member (90) biases the valve element towards the valve seat in opposition to the pressurized fuel in the fuel chamber. The fuel tube includes pressure differential creating structure (170) at the outlet end thereof to create a pressure differential around the valve element and cause unbalanced fuel flow at the outlet end to promote the valve element to move towards a certain location at the outlet end when the valve element moves to the open position.
US08302621B2	Pressure limiting valve with reduced differential area A pressure limiting valve comprises a valve closing body (7) which comprises a valve closing surface (8) which together with a first valve seat (9) opposing the valve closing surface (8) forms a first seal seat and a valve closing body orifice (11), which is surrounded by a second valve seat (12) which together with a closing head (14) configured on an axially displaceable valve bolt (13) forms a second seal seat and with a spring plate (15) which is connected to the valve bolt (13) and axially displaceable therewith, and a first return spring (10) clamped between the spring plate (15) and the valve closing body (7), which pretensions the valve bolt (13) against the second valve seat (12) configured on the valve closing body (7) and a second return spring (35) which pretensions a valve unit (7, 13, 15, 10) against the first valve seat (9). In the valve bolt (13) a longitudinal bore (53) is provided extending over the entire axial length of the valve bolt (13).
US08302620B2	Water inlet/outlet assembly for faucet A water inlet/outlet assembly for a faucet includes a fore-injection molding dividing unit, a post-injection molding connecting unit and at least one supply pipe. The fore-injection molding dividing unit includes at least one water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe. The water inlet pipe has at least one catch portion, at least one limit opening and at least one retaining slot. The post-injection molding connecting unit coats the water inlet pipe and is combined with the catch portion, the limit opening and the retaining slot to enhance combination strength between the post-injection molding connecting unit and the fore-injection molding dividing unit. The supply pipe has at least one axial breach, at least one mortise and two journals. The post-injection molding connecting unit coats the supply pipe and is combined with the axial breach, the mortise and the journals.
US08302619B2	Float valve apparatus and its cleaning method A foreign object in a discharge path defined and formed in a valve case is effectively removed. In a float valve apparatus T including a valve chamber 2 for receiving gas A and liquid W through an inlet pipe 1, a discharge path 4 communicating with a discharge pipe 3, a valve case 5 defining and forming therein the valve chamber 2 and the discharge path 4, a valve opening 6a for opening the discharge path 4 to the valve chamber 2, opening/closing means for opening/closing the valve opening 6a in association with a movement of a float member 7 floating in an amount of liquid W received in the valve chamber 2 and a foreign object removing member 8 for removing a foreign object in the discharge path 4 in association with an advancing movement of the foreign object removing member toward the valve opening 6a in the discharge path 4, the foreign object removing member 8 being movable to advance/retract in the discharge path 4 in response to an operation from outside the valve case 5, the foreign object removing member 8 is caused to advance in the discharge path 4 to penetrate the valve opening 6a, in response to a threading-in operation of the foreign object removing member 8 to a threaded portion 10a formed in the valve case 5.
US08302618B2	Liquid tank connector A liquid tank connector for preventing leakage of contents in a liquid tank when removing a socket from a plug fixed to the liquid tank is provided. The liquid tank connector which includes a plug to be fixed to a liquid tank where liquid is stored, a socket which is able to be connected and disconnected with respect to the plug, and a sleeve for releasing a connected state between the plug and the socket by a relative movement with respect to the socket, and in which a liquid flow channels and gas flow channels are formed in a liquid deliverable state in which the plug and the socket are connected, and which includes: a cock which forms a gas flow channel in the liquid deliverable state, and the relative movement of the sleeve is controlled by the position of the cock in the liquid deliverable state.
US08302616B2	Umbrella for outdoor furniture and frame therefor The umbrella is constructed with a frame that allows one rib to be manually lifted in order to open the umbrella and allows a manually applied force to be placed on the cover between two adjacent ribs in order to close the umbrella. Mechanical cranks and the like are eliminated. In one embodiment, the upper yoke is movable relative to a fixed lower yoke and the tension in the cover maintains the upper movable yoke in the open condition of the umbrella.
US08302606B2	Methods of treating a sleeping subject Described here are devices for altering the flow of air in a respiratory cavity such as the mouth and nostrils of the nose. These methods and devices may be useful for affecting a physiologic benefit in patients suffering from a variety of medical diseases, particularly those that may benefit from “pursed-lip” breathing and non-invasive ventilation, such as COPD, heart failure, sleep apnea, and other medical disorders. The devices are typically removable devices that may be placed over or in a respiratory cavity to increase resistance to airflow within the respiratory cavity. Resistance to expiration may be selectively increased relative to inspiration. Removable oral and removable nasal devices are described. Oral and nasal devices that filter inhaled airflow of debris and allergens are also provided. A nasal device that increases patency of the nares is also provided.
US08302601B2	Inhaler for preparations in powder form An inhaler for preparations in powder form, includes a first body (2), which is provided with an inhaling channel (3), and a second body (4), which is provided with at least one reservoir (6), which is open toward the outside and is preset to contain at least one dose of preparation in powder form. The first body (2) is associated with the second body (4) and can move with respect to the second body (4) between a first position, at which it closes the reservoir (6), and a second position, at which at least one connection is open between the reservoir (6) and the inhaling channel (3), making the dose of preparation in powder form available for inhaling.
US08302598B2	Breathing gas supply device A breathing gas supply device is provided which can be taken apart for cleaning purposes. The breathing gas supply device has a modular design in the form of a breathing gas module (2) and a blower module (3), which are inserted together into a housing module (4).
US08302595B2	Solar absorber module and solar absorber arrangement A solar absorber module is described. The module has a housing with a longitudinal axis with a first tapered housing section with a first, free end, and a second end with a reduced cross-sectional area compared to the first end, and with a second housing section adjoining the second end of the first housing section with a substantially constant cross-section over its length. The module also has a ceramic solar absorber element accommodated in the first end of the first housing section with a first surface that can be oriented toward the solar radiation with an axis of symmetry, and a second surface lying across from the first surface, wherein the solar absorber element has a large number of substantially straight channels connecting the first surface to the second surface. The solar absorber module is accommodated in the first end of the first housing section such that the axis of symmetry of the first surface is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing.
US08302593B2	Gas burner assembly including inner and outer burners and methods for implementing same A gas burner assembly for a cooking appliance that includes a cooktop surface includes a gas burner assembly having a first gas burner including a first burner body. The first burner configured to be mounted on, and contact, the cooktop surface, and provide a cooking flame. The gas burner assembly also includes a second gas burner including a second burner body. The second burner configured to be mounted on, and contact, the cooktop surface. The second burner also configured to be concentric with the first burner and separated from the first burner by a distance at all points along the burners. The second burner body including at least one air passage defined therethrough that is configured to allow air to flow through the second burner and to the cooking flame.
US08302592B2	Dual ignition safe charcoal starter The improved charcoal starter design has several improvements, one being that it utilizes either; readily combustible materials like wadded up paper or a removable or replaceable common electric heating element to heat charcoal to incandescent and safely deposit hot embers into the grill. The common electric heating element is held in place through a clip fixedly attached to the inside of the charcoal starter housing walls and opposite of the opening for the electric heating element. Yet another improvement to this unique charcoal starter designed is the perforated grate having at least one hinge on one side and at least one notch on the opposite side, a release mechanism consisting of a thermally insulated release handle and a release bar with at least one protrusion such that when the release mechanism is activated by pulling the release handle, the protrusion of the release bar aligns with the notch of the perforated hinged grate and the perforated hinged grate will then rotate about the hinge in a downward direction creating an opening and thus allowing the incandescent embers to be deposited safely into the grill where needed and without danger of hot embers and ash being splashed about and possibly injuring the user.
US08302591B2	Block splitter assembly and method of producing wall blocks The invention provides a block splitter assembly comprising first lower and second upper opposed splitter blade assemblies. The splitter blade assemblies have a splitting blade and two or more first forming blades. One forming blade is disposed to the right of and one forming blade is disposed to the left of the first splitting blade. The forming blades have forming edges. The splitting blade has a splitting edge that is straight, and the splitting blade has a greater maximum vertical dimension than the maximum vertical dimension of the forming blades. The splitting edge of the first splitting blade is opposed to the splitting edge of the second splitting blade.
US08302590B2	Controllable launcher A controllable launcher for propelling a payload through a predictable and repeatable trajectory to a desired height. The launcher has an energy source for propelling a carriage and a piston in substantially opposing directions and a controller for controlling the trajectory of the propelled payload to enable the payload to land gently at a safe impact distance from the edge of a destination structure.
US08302588B2	Toy gun piston with a detachable toothed structure A piston structure for a toy gun includes a piston body and a detachable toothed member. The piston body has a chute which is axially disposed on an outer surface of the piston body. The detachable toothed member is made of a metallic material and moveably disposed in the chute. The detachable toothed includes a plurality of teeth which are equally spaced in a lengthwise direction. The piston structure of the present invention provides a longer service life. In case the teeth of the detachable toothed member suffer a lot of wear and tear, the detachable toothed member can be detached from the chute and replaced with a new one to save the cost and to provide an environmental protection effect.
US08302582B2	Fuel supply device A fuel supply device includes a relief valve, a pressure regulator, and a controller. The controller controls a first pump to send fuel into an engine through a first passage, and controls a second pump to send fuel into a second passage to communicate with the first passage. The relief valve discharges fuel from the second passage when a fuel pressure of the second passage is higher than a relief pressure. The pressure regulator discharges fuel when a fuel pressure of fuel chamber is higher than a regulation pressure higher than the relief pressure in a state that a fuel pressure of backpressure chamber is equal to the relief pressure.
US08302577B2	Internal combustion engine An internal combustion engine with a crankcase upper part and a crankcase lower part, wherein an oil windage tray is provided, which is flanged onto the crankcase upper part from below, projects into the crankcase lower part, forms a wall for an oil mist roller initiated by the rotation of a crankshaft, and includes at least one carpenter's plane-like slot for separating oil droplets. At least two slots are provided in the rotational direction of the crankshaft and thus in the rotational direction of the oil mist roller, wherein a return opening, through which oil mist-free gases or gases with at least a reduced oil mist content flow back, is provided in the wall of the oil windage tray after each slot, as a result of which friction is reduced.
US08302564B2	Aquaculture net with polygonal bottom An aquaculture net for a circular raft and a polygonal bottom, preferably octagonal bottom is provided. The advantages are an increase in volume and an even load distribution.
US08302556B2	Coating and developing apparatus Provided is a coating and developing apparatus composed of an assembly of plural unit blocks. A first unit-block stack and a second unit-block stack are arranged at different positions with respect to front-and-rear direction. Unit blocks for development, each of which comprises plural processing units including a developing unit that performs developing process after exposure and a transfer device that transfers a substrate among the processing units, are arranged at the lowermost level. Unit blocks for application, or coating, each of which comprises plural processing units including a coating unit that performs application process before exposure and a transfer device that transfers a substrate among the processing units, are arranged above the unit blocks for development. Unit blocks for application are arranged in both the first and second unit-block stacks. Unit blocks for application which a wafer goes through are determined depending on the layering positional relationship between an antireflective film and a resist film. An exposed wafer goes only through the unit block for development without going through any one of the unit blocks for application.
US08302555B2	Liquid coating apparatus and method, and image forming apparatus A liquid coating apparatus has: a coating roller which has a coating surface; a liquid holding unit which abuts against the coating surface of the coating roller so as to form a liquid holding space; a medium support member which faces the coating surface in such a manner that the medium support member and the coating roller nip and support the medium; an abutment pressure-varying device which adjusts at least one of a first abutment pressure between the coating surface of the coating roller and the liquid holding unit and a second abutment pressure between the coating surface of the coating roller and the medium; and a control device which controls the abutment pressure-varying device according to a relative position of the medium with respect to the coating roller, wherein the coating roller rotates while the medium is sandwiched by the medium support member and the coating roller in such a manner that the liquid is fed to the coating surface from the liquid holding unit and the liquid is transferred to the medium from the coating surface.
US08302553B2	3D instrument cluster An instrument panel having at least one needle indicator comprising a dial of indicating characters supported by a first faceplate, an indicating needle and a motor for rotating the needle along the dial. The instrument panel includes a second faceplate for supporting other indicating characters, such that the indicating needle is configured to lie between the two faceplates. The faceplates are screen-printed flat before being shaped in relief.
US08302551B2	Foldable cone The foldable cone includes first and second side panels that are tapered in the upward direction, each side panel having an outer surface and an inner surface, a lower edge, an upper edge, and opposing side edges. The cone further includes base panel having a folding seam extending along the central portion thereof in a direction generally parallel to the lower edges of the side panels, wherein the base panel folds along the folding seam. The first and second side panels are secured together at a predetermined location to define concave first and second side panels when the base panel is unfolded.
US08302550B1	Antenna cover and topper device An antenna cover and topper device including a sleeve having a top end and a bottom end having a pair of V-shaped notches therein, a threaded housing disposed within the top end, a gap below the housing, a hollow cylindrical upper bushing below the gap, a lower bushing within a sleeve bottom end, a cavity disposed between the upper and lower bushings, a display member having holes aligned in upper and lower edges thereof, and a bolt removably engaging the holes and the threaded opening to secure the display member to the sleeve. A vehicle antenna engages a lower bushing lower opening, the cavity, and an upper bushing aperture with the antenna top ball secured within the gap. A clamp removably secures the antenna base top section into lower bushing.
US08302549B2	Boat stabilizer, boat motor and related method A boat stabilizer that is attachable to the anti-cavitation plate or other structure of the lower drive unit of a boat motor without permanently modifying the structure of the anti-cavitation plate or other structure is provided. The shape and size of the boat stabilizer causes the stabilizer to effectively harness and control the thrust energy generated by the propeller resulting in improved thrust and fuel efficiency. Due to various features, the drag associated with the boat stabilizer is kept to a minimum. Finally, decals and other decorative elements are integrally embedded into the top surface of the inventive boat stabilizer using in-mold decoration (“IMD”) technology which makes the elements resistant to ultra-violet light, virtually indestructible and highly appealing. A boat motor, a method of attaching a boat stabilizer to a boat motor and a method of molding a boat stabilizer having at least one decorative element integrally embedded in the top surface thereof are also provided.
US08302548B2	Sewing machine The present invention provides a sewing machine that can perform zigzag sewing a cylindrical sewn article.A sewing machine 1 includes an approximately cylindrical guide member 11 that guides a sewn article A, a sewing needle 99 that sews the cylindrical sewn article A, a holding member 71 that holds the sewing needle 99 approximately vertically, a vertical hook 21 provided in the guide member 11 so that the direction of rotation is approximately perpendicular to the axial direction C of the guide member 11 and that catches the upper thread loop of the sewing needle 99, a rotary shaft 22 that rotates the vertical hook 21, and an operating means 50 that moves the holding member 71 and the rotary shaft 22 reciprocatingly at approximately the same time.
US08302545B2	Systems for staged combustion of air and fuel A combustion system for combusting air and fuel includes a primary combustion zone configured to produce combustion gases from the air and the fuel and an intermediate air zone downstream from the primary combustion zone. The intermediate air zone is configured to inject an intermediate air stream into the combustion gases. The combustion system further includes a burnout zone downstream from the intermediate air zone, wherein the burnout zone is configured to inject an overfire air stream into the combustion gases, and at least one hybrid-boosted air injector within at least one of the intermediate air zone and the burnout zone. The at least one hybrid-boosted air injector is configured to substantially simultaneously inject a boosted air stream and a windbox air stream into the combustion gases.
US08302538B2	Method of shipping automobiles, railcar for shipping automobiles, and method of manufacturing railcars A method of shipping automobiles, a railcar for shipping automobiles, and a method of manufacturing railcars for shipping automobiles. The method comprises, among other steps, determining a distribution of vehicle heights for passenger cars sold within a predetermined area and a predetermined time period; assessing weight, bottom clearance, length, width and Cg for the passenger cars; and transporting the passenger cars on a plurality of single-unit tri-level auto rack railcars, each comprising a flat car and a fixed-deck rack built on the flat car. Each of the railcars has (a) three decks which are fixed along their entire lengths and which are capable of transporting in commercial rail service over 90% of passenger cars manufactured in the predetermined area and predetermined time period with a load factor of at least 15 with minimum vertical clearances of between 64 and 66 in. to accommodate the vehicle heights of the passenger cars, while also accommodating at least 3 in. of vertical displacement of the vehicles on their suspension systems on all three decks, and (b) substantially horizontal deck configurations to meet ground clearance requirements for the passenger cars on all 3 decks.
US08302537B2	Self-driven cable transportation system for persons used for the (aerial) observation of the environment A cable transportation system includes a first cable suspended over a ground surface, a vehicle supported above the ground surface by the first cable, wherein the vehicle has one or more grooved wheels for riding along the first cable, a frame supported from above by the one or more grooved wheels, and at least one vehicle guide that extends below the grooved wheels, and a junction bracket that has a ramped section, a mid portion section connected to the ramp section, and a rail portion provided on both the ramped section and the mid portion section, wherein the junction bracket is connected to the first cable so that at least an end portion of the ramped section is parallel to and directly above the first cable and the grooved wheels transition from the first cable onto the rail portion when the vehicle engages the junction bracket.
US08302536B1	Rail system for a powered pallet conveyor A rail system for a powered pallet conveyor, which comprises alternative pathways having an electric cable provided on at least one of n parallel rails defining a travel pathway, wherein n≧2, whereby the rail system includes a switch for switching between m alternative travel pathways, wherein m≧2, and allowing the vehicle to continuously move across the switch after switching. The switch comprises a first actuator for selectively positioning (mn) rigid rail portions bridging the distance between rail ends at (i) n joining points where the n parallel rails of each of the m alternative travel pathways subject to switching converge, and (ii) (mn) continuation points where each alternative pathway subject to switching diverges downstream from the joining points A second actuator selectively positions [m(n−1)] rigid rail portions bridging the distance between rail ends, where each alternative pathway is discontinued downstream from the corresponding continuation points.
US08302535B2	Train yard classification system A system for transferring railroad cars from incoming receiving tracks to classification tracks for building outgoing trains includes a plurality of incoming receiving tracks, a plurality of outgoing classification tracks and one or more transfer tables for moving railroad cars from the incoming receiving tracks to designated outgoing classification tracks. Each transfer table has a plurality of track segments. Incoming railroad cars are received on a plurality of incoming receiving tracks. A first car is uncoupled from a following second car on each of the receiving tracks having cars. The uncoupled first car is moved from the incoming receiving track onto a corresponding track segment on the transfer table. The transfer table is moved to align a selected track segment with an appropriate classification track for the corresponding railroad car. The transfer table is moved and aligned with appropriate classification tracks until each railroad car has been transferred to the appropriate classification track. The steps are repeated until all of the cars have been classified and transferred to classification tracks or held back for later transfer.
US08302529B2	Stamp-type printer The stamp-type printer includes: a stamp-type printer comprising: a receiving section for receiving image data including character information; a transfer member; a print head for printing an image on a portion of the transfer member with ink based on the received image data; and a transport member for transporting the printed portion of the transfer member to a contact transfer position, wherein a stamping operation is performed by causing the printed portion to come in contact with a desired recording medium at the contact transfer position.
US08302525B2	Hydraulic stepless transmission A hydraulic stepless transmission having increased layout freedom and a compact structure with the functions of conventional hydraulic stepless transmission retained and having increased easiness of production. In the hydraulic stepless transmission, the movable swash plate (input side swash plate) of a variable displacement plunger hydraulic pump or motor is tilted by a hydraulic servo mechanism. The hydraulic servo mechanism has a power piston connected to one end of the input side swash plate for tilting the swash plate, a servo spool (13) placed normal to the direction of sliding of the power piston and substantially parallel to the input side swash plate, and a feedback link for connecting the servo spool and the input side swash plate.
US08302523B2	Explosive well tool firing head A firing head embodiment of the invention confines a connected capacitance cartridge, explosive detonator, and wireline connection switch within an independent, cylindrical housing tube that is environmentally capped at both ends by threaded closures for secure transport to a well site.
US08302516B1	Hole punching and reinforcing apparatus and method of use An apparatus for punching at least one hole in a sheet of paper and attaching a reinforcing ring onto the sheet around the hole includes a platform; a hole punch rod mounted to and extending outwardly from the platform positioned to match a desired location for a hole on a sheet, the hole punch rod having a rod cutting end extending away from the platform; a sheet panel having a ring passing hole positioned to register with the longitudinal axis of the punch rod and sized to pass a reinforcing ring; a hole punch plate generally parallel to and spaced forwardly from the sheet panel and having a hole punching port positioned to register with the longitudinal axis of the hole punch rod, the hole punching port being sized to pass the rod cutting end closely enough to cut a hole into a sheet placed between the rod cutting end and the punching port; a sheet panel return spring mechanism.
US08302514B2	Pipe processing device having floating drive roller A device for processing a pipe has a bearing plate slidably mounted on a support plate. A drive roller, engageable with an inner surface of a pipe, is mounted on the bearing plate and rotates about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe. Support rollers, mounted on the support plate, engage and support the pipe against the drive roller. Springs are positioned in contact with the support plate and the bearing plate and bias the drive roller into engagement with the pipe. Variations in pipe wall thickness are compensated for by sliding motion of the bearing plate relatively to the support plate as the drive roller rotates and the pipe and the device move relatively to one another.
US08302513B2	Screw guide A fastener guide includes a shaft having a first end for transferring torque to a fastener and a second end for receiving a torque from an external source, the shaft including a threaded portion and an axial groove extending axially along the threaded portion. The fastener guide also includes a sleeve slidable axially with respect to the shaft, the sleeve having a first end proximate the first end of the shaft and a second end proximate the second end of the shaft, and a depth-adjustment ring having a threaded inner surface for engaging the threaded portion of the sleeve and a detent ring for selectively engaging the axial groove.
US08302512B2	Locking pliers with retractable pivotal movable jaw A locking pliers includes a slide bar mounted in both second handle unit and locking unit and comprising a wavy edge facing bottom of the second handle unit, the wavy edge including a rear slot member and a forward hook; and a movable jaw at a forward end of the second handle unit and comprising two intermediate opposite stop members each having an inclined edge, a channel between the stop members with a forward end of the slide bar movably received therein, and a rear stop bar interconnected two sidewalls of a rear portion of the movable jaw, the inclined edges being stopped by bending members on sidewalls of the second handle unit for retaining the stop members in an inoperative position.
US08302511B1	Leverage tool A tool for use with other tools to increase their leverage. The tool has a handle with a curved extension connected at an end and the handle has a projection pin. The extension has a slot which receives a projection that can slide along the extent of the slot.
US08302509B2	Hydraulic bolt tensioning device and method for tightening large bolts by means of a hydraulic bolt tensioning device A hydraulic bolt tensioning device has a cylinder supported on a machine part that is to be clamped by threaded bolt and nut. An exchangeable bushing has a first end screwed onto a free threaded end of the threaded bolt that projects past the nut. A tensioning piston is seal-tightly guided in the cylinder and supported on a second end of the exchangeable bushing. A pressure medium is supplied into an annular space between cylinder and piston. A control device is provided for setting a nominal pressure of the pressure medium corresponding to a nominal pretension of the threaded bolt. A yield limit detection device detects whether a yield limit of the threaded bolt is reached during tensioning. A controller acts on a pressure relief device for pressure relief of the bolt tensioning device when reaching, or shortly after reaching, the yield limit of the threaded bolt.
US08302505B2	Sensing mechanism of pedaling assistant system A sensing mechanism of pedaling assistant system, including a crank and a sensing element. The crank includes an elongated first crank member and an elongated second crank member connected therewith. A first axial end of the first crank member is connected with a pedal component of a bicycle. A first axial end of the second crank member is connected with an axle of the bicycle. An end face of a second axial end of the second crank member abuts against an end face of a second axial end of the first crank member. The sensing element is disposed between the second axial end of the first crank member and the second axial end of the second crank member for detecting a force transmitted from the pedal component through the first crank member to the second crank member.
US08302503B2	Steering column for a motor vehicle The invention relates to a steering column for a motor vehicle with a steering spindle pivotably supported by a jacket unit and a securement unit rigidly securable on the motor vehicle and bearing the jacket unit. The securement unit includes a base section, at least one side jaw extending next to the jacket unit, and at least first and second securement plates with bolt openings for the securement of the securement unit on the motor vehicle by means of securement bolts. The first and second securement plates are each inclined with respect to the at least one side jaw by an angle in the range between 15° and 75°, and preferably between 30° and 60°.
US08302497B2	Starter having noise reduction structure The present invention provides a starter, including a motor generating torque; a shaft rotating by the torque; a clutch fitting an outer periphery of the shaft; a pinion gear receiving the torque; a pinion control means configured to allow the pinion gear integrally with the clutch to be pushed out; a motor control means for controlling current supplied to the motor; and an inner tube that is arranged to be extended from the inner and in the direction opposite to the motor, supports the pinion gear so as to inhibit rotation thereof with respect to the periphery of the inner tube, and supports the pinion gear to be slidable; wherein a gear-side face and a tube-side face are formed in the pinion gear and the inner tube, respectively, in which the faces are facing each other, and a cushioning member is disposed between the gear-side face and the tube-side face.
US08302493B2	Testing system for flip type electronic device A testing system is used to testing a flip type electronic device having a main body, and a cover. The testing system includes a fixing structure, a flipping structure, a sensing device, a rotating mechanism, and a control device. The fixing structure positions the main body. The fixing structure flips the cover until a rotation degree of the cover and the main body reaches a threshold degree. The sensing device senses is pressed by the cover when the cover automatically rotates relative to the main body and generates electrical pressure signals according to the mount of pressure. The control device controls the rotating mechanism to drive the flipping structure to rotate and judges whether the flipping performance of the electronic device is normal according to the electrical pressure signals.
US08302483B2	Robust design of high pressure sensor device In a pressure sensing element made of piezoresistors formed into a silicon substrate, thermally-induced stresses on the piezoresistors and thermally-induced voltage offsets can be reduced by thinning the substrate prior to forming the resistors and then forming the resistors into the thinned-out recess. Forming a circular or disk-shaped recess in the substrate and then forming the resistors therein is believed to cause thermally-induced stresses to be evenly distributed and/or cancelled out on all four piezoresistors of a Wheatstone bridge circuit.
US08302480B2	Enhanced ultra-high resolution acoustic microscope An optical-acoustic transducer structure includes at least one metal or semiconducting film in which a part of a pump light pulse is absorbed to generate a sound pulse; and at least one dielectric film. The thicknesses and optical properties of the at least one metal or semiconducting film and the at least one dielectric film are selected so that a returning sound pulse results in a measurable change in the optical reflectivity and/or some other optical characteristic of the transducer structure. The transducer structure includes a resonant cavity, and an output surface that is shaped so as to provide no significant focusing of generated sound waves when the sound waves are launched towards a surface of the sample.
US08302477B2	Balanced mechanical resonator for powder handling device A system incorporating a balanced mechanical resonator and a method for vibration of a sample composed of granular material to generate motion of a powder sample inside the sample holder for obtaining improved analysis statistics, without imparting vibration to the sample holder support.
US08302476B2	Angular velocity measuring device Disclosed herein is an angular velocity measuring device including: first and second oscillators elastically supported on a substrate; an elastic connecting beam elastically connecting the first and the second oscillator; and an oscillating means for oscillating the first and the second oscillator for differential oscillation, wherein a viscous force generating means for suppressing in-phase oscillation of the first and the second oscillator is incorporated into the elastic connecting beam.
US08302473B2	Electro-optic liquid level sensing system for aircraft beverage brewing The electro-optic liquid level sensing system detects a level of liquid in a container having an upper opening, such as for a server container of a beverage maker for a transport system, such as for aircraft, trains, trucks, buses and the like. A support housing mates with the upper opening of the container, and a primary liquid level sensor is mounted in the support housing for non-intrusively measuring the liquid level. A secondary liquid level sensor may be mounted in the support housing to sense a predetermined liquid level to prevent accidental overflows. Protective lenses may be placed in front of the primary liquid level sensor.
US08302460B2	Mass loading monitor The present invention provides a mass loading monitor for measuring in real time the particulate, i.e., powder, dust and the like, content of air inside an industrial or commercial processing facility and providing a warning signal indicating the existence of a potentially explosive atmosphere in the facility. In a first embodiment, the mass loading monitor comprises two parallel cylinders, one of which is charged with clean, ambient air and the other of which is charged with air from within the facility containing dust, powder or other particulate matter. A piston resides within each cylinder and the pistons are commonly accelerated for a short distance during which time the pressure at each piston face is measured. The time integrals of the pressures from each of the piston faces are evaluated over the period: from rest to the time of discharge from the open end of the cylinders. The ratio of these integrals defines the difference in the densities within the cylinders. In a second embodiment, a single piston and cylinder assembly is first calibrated with clean air and subsequently filled with particulate laden air and the time integrals of the pressures on the piston face are similarly evaluated.
US08302459B2	Thermal conductivity sensor The measurement sensitivity is improved by suppressing the surrounding temperature influence as much as possible, while realizing scale reduction, and by enlarging the detection signal, while reducing the production errors in enclosing a reference gas. Provided is a thermal conductivity sensor that detects thermal conductivity of a sample gas by using a Wheatstone Bridge circuit constructed in such a manner that measurement resistors that are brought into contact with the sample gas are disposed on a first side, and reference resistors that are brought into contact with a reference gas are disposed on a second side, and comparing the potential difference between connection points of the reference resistors and the measurement resistors. The measurement resistors disposed on the first side are assembled in one measurement space, and the reference resistors disposed on the second side are assembled in one reference space.
US08302458B2	Portable analytical system for detecting organic chemicals in water A portable analytical system for detecting organic chemicals in water comprising a miniature preconcentrator and a SAW detector, the latter being characterized by a nanoporous carbon coating that provides improved response compared to prior art polymer coatings, particularly when detecting low concentrations of trihalomethane chemicals, such as chloroform and bromoform.
US08302456B2	Active damping of high speed scanning probe microscope components A technique for actively damping internal vibrations in a scanning probe microscope is disclosed. The excitation of various mechanical movements, including resonances, in the mechanical assembly of an SPM can adversely effect its performance, especially for high speed applications. An actuator is used to compensate for the movements. The actuator may operate in only the z direction, or may operate in other directions. The actuator(s) may be located at positions of antinodes.
US08302453B2	Apparatus and method for attaching edging to a sheet An apparatus for attaching edging to a sheet has two stationary guides at each end, an upper hollow guide (8), a pair of lower guides (5), with a fixed base (4) between the lower guides. A hollow profile (1) is vertically movable, having a binding rail (2) on the underside thereof. The upper guide (8) is placed inside the profile, forming upper and lower spaces (7, 9) between the profile and the upper guide. Upper and lower flexible elements (10, 11) are provided in each space. In use, one element is filled while the other element is emptied, such that when an edging and a sheet is placed between the fixed base (4) and the binding rail, the lower element is filled to force the profile and thus the binding rail down to attach the edging. Then the upper element is filled to release the sheet with the attached edging.
US08302451B2	Can manufacturing device and can manufacturing method A can manufacturing device in which a tool supporting base has: a plurality of working tool units that support a plurality of working tools; a supporting member that supports a plurality of working tool units; and a linear driving mechanism that reciprocates the working tool units with respect to the supporting member in the axial direction of a workpiece. The linear driving mechanism has: a guide section that is fixed on the supporting member with a base plate therebetween; a slide rail that is fixed on the working tool unit and slides along the guide section; an electromagnetic coil provided on the base plate; a magnet plate that is provided on the working tool unit and generates, between the electromagnetic coil and itself, a thrust force for the guide section; and a supply pipe that is provided at the electromagnetic coil and supplies coolant to the inside of the electromagnetic coil.
US08302442B2	Method of incrementally forming a workpiece A method of incrementally forming a workpiece. The method includes determining a desired workpiece geometry, generating a tool path in which a feature is formed outwardly from a point that is disposed a maximum distance from a reference position, and incrementally forming the workpiece.
US08302440B2	Thickness control apparatus of reversing rolling mill A thickness control apparatus of a reversing rolling mill has an entry thickness gauge that measures the thickness of the material to be rolled, and entry material speed detector that detects the speed of the material to be rolled. Measured thickness measured by the entry thickness gauge is tracked on the basis of the speed of the material to be rolled detected by the entry material speed detector. A mill delivery thickness calculator calculates thickness on the delivery side of the reversing rolling mill on the basis of the thickness on the entry side and the roll gap detected.
US08302439B1	Lock pin rotational position setting key and method of use A pin setting key for setting rotational orientations of pins of a lock. The key includes a bow portion and a blade portion for inserting into a keyway. The blade portion has a longitudinal axis and a bow end and a tip end, with a plurality of bitting positions located between the bow and tip ends. Each of the bitting positions corresponds to one of the pins of the plug such that insertion of the blade portion into the keyway aligns the bitting position with one of the pins. Each bitting position includes at least one bitting surface configured to rotate a pin when the contact surface of the pin contacts the bitting surface. Each bitting surface is offset from a central location of the respective bitting position. Each bitting surface has an axis extending generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the blade.
US08302438B2	Driving device for an electric lock latch A driving device for an electric lock latch, comprises a housing, a motor having a power output shaft connected to a drive shaft with an external thread on a part thereof, an unequal diameter coil spring having a cylindrical spiral in the middle thereof screwing with the drive shaft, and a first and second conical spiral on both end thereof not screwing with the drive shaft, and a lock latch secured to the second conical spiral. The drive shaft is driven and rotated by a motor to pass the rotation power to the cylindrical spiral, and a rotary motion of the drive shaft is converted into a linear motion of the unequal diameter coil spring for moving the lock latch to change the locked and unlocked state of the lock device. Accordingly, the lock structure and the installation thereof may be simplified and the power-saving effect is achieved.
US08302432B2	Circulation and drain system in a washing machine and a method thereof A washing machine having an improved structure in circulation and drain of washing water are disclosed. The washing machine includes a main body, a water tub which is disposed in the main body, a drain line in which washing water drained from the water tub flows, a circulation line in which washing water returning to the water tub flows, a discharge line in which washing water discharged out of the main body flows, a pump which flows the washing water such that the washing water drained from the water tub returns to the water tub or is discharged out of the main body, a flow path switching device having a single reciprocating member which opens and closes the circulation line or the discharge line, and an operating unit which operates the flow path switching device.
US08302430B2	Process and installation for granulating slag In a process for granulating slag, from a blast furnace or a smelting reduction plant, in which a granule/water mixture formed during the granulation is fed to a granulation tank and then to a dewatering installation, in which the slag granules are dewatered. H2S-containing vapors and gases formed during the granulation are at least partially condensed by injection of water in a condensation space which is flow-connected to the granulation tank. H2S-containing residual gases are discharged from the compensation space below the water injection point, H2S is burnt.
US08302429B2	Method and apparatus for bending a glass sheet The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for bending a glass sheet, and has an object of achieving high forming accuracy of a glass sheet along a perpendicular direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of the glass sheet, in particular, to obtain high forming accuracy both along the conveying direction and the perpendicular direction.An apparatus 10 for bending a glass sheet for bending a heated glass sheet G while the glass sheet G is conveyed in a conveying direction X by a roller conveyer 18, 20 comprising a plurality of conveying rollers; the apparatus 10 comprising a plurality of straight rollers that are arranged upper and lower positions across a conveying surface for the glass sheet G and not curved on the conveying surface, and a plurality of curving rollers 36 arranged upper and lower positions across the conveying surface for the glass sheet G on adjacently downstream side of the straight rollers 34 and curvable along a perpendicular direction Y in the conveying surface so as to bend the glass sheet G along the perpendicular direction Y.
US08302428B2	Extruded glass structures and methods for manufacturing the same Methods for preparing glass structures include extruding a glass precursor, the glass precursor having a composition in the range of 55%-75% SiO2, 5%-10% Na2O, 20%-35% B2O3 and 0%-5% Al2O3, and heat treating and leaching the glass precursor to yield a glass article comprising at least about 90% SiO2 by weight. Glass articles can be used to manufacture a variety of geometrically complex structures.
US08302425B2	Regenerative adsorption system with a spray nozzle for producing adsorbate vapor and condensing desorbed vapor The invention discloses a regenerative adsorption system (50). The system includes at least two reactors (60, 70) capable of operating in an adsorption mode and a desorption mode and two liquid atomization units (62, 72) respectively in fluid communication with the reactors (60, 70). The liquid atomization units (62, 72) being capable of atomizing liquid to form adsorbate vapor or to condense desorbed vapor. In operation, the reactor in the adsorption mode adsorbs the adsorbate vapor and the reactor in the desorption mode produces desorbed vapor that is condensed by the atomised liquid.
US08302422B2	Refrigerator with treated water system The present disclosure provides a refrigerator having a cabinet including at least one access area having an open face and a grill door for selectively closing the open face of the access area. The refrigerator can also include a water using accessory provided on the cabinet. The grill door can be selectively retained to the cabinet wherein a manifold is fixed relative to the grill door and fluidly couples the water using accessory to a water supply. A water treatment cartridge can be removably coupled to a casing such that when the cartridge is coupled to the manifold, the cartridge treats the water from the water supply for use by the water using accessory. The manifold can be located on the grill door such that the mounting of the cartridge to the manifold moves the cartridge from within the access area to outside of the access area as the grill door moves from a closed position to an opened position, respectively.
US08302411B2	Positive shutoff device for a connection point of a refrigeration system A positive shutoff device is provided for a connection point of a refrigeration system. The connection point includes a manually-actuatable valve that permits charging and testing of the system. The device includes a first fitting engagable with the connection point and having a raised actuator that actuates the manually-actuatable valve when the first fitting engages the connection point, and a shutoff valve having a first end coupled to the first fitting and a second end coupled to a second fitting, the shutoff valve is operable in a closed position to prevent flow therethrough and an open position to permit flow therethrough, so that the refrigeration system may be charged or tested by connecting equipment to the second fitting and opening the shutoff valve, and the connection point may be positively shut off to prevent leakage of refrigerant through the connection point by closing the shutoff valve.
US08302410B2	Inertance tube and surge volume for pulse tube refrigerator An inertance tube and a surge volume for a pulse tube refrigerator system may be integrally coupled together, such as by the inertance tube being at least in part a channel in a wall of the surge volume. The surge volume may have a helical channel in an outer wall that forms part of the inertance tube. The surge volume tank may be surrounded by a cover that closes off the channel to form the inertance tube as an integral part of the surge volume. The inertance tube may have a non-circular cross section shape, such as a square shape or non-square rectangular shape. The channel may be tapered, perhaps changing aspect ratio. Alternatively, the inertance tube may be a separate tube having a non-circular shape, which may be wrapped around at least part of the surge volume.
US08302406B2	Fuel delivery and control system including a positive displacement actuation pump with a variable pressure regulator supplementing a fixed displacement main fuel pump A fuel delivery and control system is provided including a dual pump fluid circuit configuration comprising a fixed positive displacement pump sized to supply the main engine burn flow ranging from above windmill through cruise, a positive displacement actuation pump including a variable pressure regulator, wherein the actuation pump is sized to supply fluid to engine actuators, valves and other hydraulically operated engine components and a pump flow sharing system interconnecting the two pumps. The combined flow from the two pumps is sufficient to meet the engine flow demand for windmill relight and maximum flow conditions. During cruise or normal operating conditions, the pumps operate in completely isolated flow circuits, minimizing recirculation and therefore heat input into the fuel supply system.
US08302402B2	Air induction system with recirculation loop An air induction system for a power system is provided having a compressor operable to compress air directed into an engine. In addition, the air induction system has a throttle valve disposed between the compressor and the engine, the throttle valve being configured to selectively restrict the flow of compressed air into the engine. The air induction system also has a recirculation valve disposed between the compressor and the throttle valve, the recirculation valve being configured to selectively divert a portion of the flow of compressed air. Furthermore, the air induction system has a controller configured to actuate the recirculation valve in response to a pressure differential between air upstream of the throttle valve and air downstream of the throttle valve.
US08302397B2	Mode transition systems and methods for a sequential turbocharger A system for a sequential turbocharger includes a mode selection module, a feed-forward selection module, and a control loop module. The mode selection module generates a control mode signal based on an engine speed signal, an engine torque signal, and an engine mode signal. The control mode signal indicates one of an open-loop control mode and a closed-loop control mode. The feed-forward selection module determines a feed-forward value based on the control mode signal, the engine speed signal, and the engine torque signal. The control loop module determines a loop control value at least one of based on the feed-forward value, a variable geometry turbine (VGT) control signal, and an error signal; and based on a bypass valve (BPV) control signal and the error signal when the control mode signal transitions from the open-loop control mode to the closed-loop control mode.
US08302395B2	Hydraulic system A hydraulic system for actuating a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission having a variably adjustable transmission ratio, of a vehicle, including at least one hydraulic energy source and having a torque sensor that is supplied with working medium by a pump flow of the hydraulic energy source. A disconnection valve is connected between the hydraulic energy source and the torque sensor, which makes it possible to connect or disconnect an additional pump flow of the hydraulic energy source, depending on need.
US08302393B2	Exhaust system of an internal combustion engine An exhaust system of an internal combustion engine and provided with: at least one first high acoustic attenuation path having a first inlet opening; at least one second low acoustic attenuation path having a second inlet opening; and at least one control valve, which is arranged at the second inlet opening of the second path to control the flow of the exhaust gases along the second path.
US08302390B2	Turbo control valve utilizing a permanent magnet A valve for controlling a wastegate actuator of a turbocharger. The valve includes a bobbin having a coil for generating a magnetic field and a stator having a top portion and an internal channel. The valve also includes a housing having a compressor port, a wastegate actuator port and an atmospheric port. The housing also includes a pair of walls for enabling movement of a permanent magnet between a first position wherein a magnetic attraction is formed between the top portion and the magnet to seal the internal channel to enable substantially equal boost pressure levels in the compressor and the wastegate actuator ports. The magnet is also movable to a second position wherein a magnetic field is generated by the coil for repelling the magnet to unseal the internal channel to enable a portion of the boost pressure level to be vented to atmosphere.
US08302389B2	Urea SCR diesel aftertreatment system A device and method for catalytic reduction of NOx in gaseous products of a combustion process before entry into the atmosphere. The gaseous and particulate products of a combustion process flow radially through a radial flow particulate filter element (24) that is effective to trap particulate matter, and are then directed axially through a collector (26). An injector (30) introduces a reductant into an axial end of the collector for entrainment with axial flow through the collector in a direction away from the injector. Flow leaving the collector is directed through an SCR catalyst (40) where catalytic reduction of NOx occurs.
US08302388B2	Exhaust gas treating method and apparatus After adjusting an exhaust gas temperature at an exit of a heat recovery unit (11) of an exhaust gas treating apparatus to not more than a dew point temperature of sulfur trioxide (SO3), a heavy metal adsorbent is supplied from a heavy metal adsorbent supply unit (16) disposed in an exhaust gas at an entrance of a precipitator (4) or an intermediate position within the precipitator (4), and the exhaust gas containing the heavy metal adsorbent is supplied into the precipitator (4). Preferably at this stage, the heavy metal adsorbent is supplied into the exhaust gas at the entrance of the precipitator (4) 0.1 seconds after the exhaust gas temperature at the exit of the heat recovery unit (11) has been adjusted to not more than the dew point temperature of SO3. Further preferably, in order to prevent acid corrosion of equipment, the heavy metal adsorbent is supplied after spraying an alkali into the exhaust gas at the entrance or exit of the heat recovery unit (11) and adjusting the exhaust gas temperature at the exit of the heat recovery unit to not more than the dew point temperature of SO3. Accordingly, even when coal with a high sulfur content is used as fuel, heavy metals in the exhaust gas can be removed effectively.
US08302386B2	Exhaust gas cleaning system for diesel engine Each time a starting process for a diesel engine 2 is conducted and before the diesel engine 2 is started, any differences of the pressures P1 and P2 detected by first and second pressure sensors 21 and 22, respectively, with respect to a predetermined reference pressure value Pref, are computed and stored as first and second correction values ΔP1 and ΔP2, and then a differential pressure P12 across a particulate filter in the diesel engine 2 is computed using the pressure detection results of the first and second pressure sensors 21, 22 and the first and second correction values ΔP1, ΔP2. Thus, use of simply constructed and highly durable sensors during the detection of the differential pressure existing across the filter allows accurate measurement of this differential pressure.
US08302380B2	Desulfation systems and methods for lean NOx trap (LNT) A desulfation control system includes a desulfation control module and a spark control module. The desulfation control module initiates a desulfation process in an emission reduction device by increasing temperature of the emission reduction device. The spark control module retards a spark timing to increase the temperature of the emission reduction device in response to the desulfation control module initiating the desulfation process.
US08302379B2	Passive ammonia-selective catalytic reduction for NOx control in internal combustion engines Engine exhaust gas feedstream NOx emissions aftertreatment includes a catalytic device and first and second ammonia selective catalytic reduction devices. The first and second ammonia-selective catalytic reduction devices each includes a base metal. Engine operation can be modulated to generate an engine-out exhaust gas feedstream that converts to ammonia. The ammonia is stored on the first and second ammonia selective catalytic reduction devices and used to reduce NOx emissions in the exhaust gas feedstream.
US08302377B2	Ground-based simple cycle pulse detonation combustor based hybrid engine for power generation An engine contains a compressor stage, a compressor plenum, an inlet valving stage, a PDC stage, a PDC exit nozzle stage, a transition stage, a high pressure turbine stage, a turbine plenum, and a low pressure turbine stage. The PDC stage contains at least one pulse detonation combustor and each of the compressor plenum, PDC exit nozzle stage and turbine plenum contain a volume used to reduce and/or widen pressure peaks generated by the operation of the PDC stage.
US08302374B2	Cut resistant yarn, a process for producing the yarn and products containing the yarn Cut resistant yarns are provided which include filaments and/or staple fibers, the filaments and/or staple fibers containing a hard component to improve cut resistance of the yarn. The hard component is preferably a plurality of hard fibers having an average diameter of at most 25 microns. The yarns are made by melting or dissolving a polymer while mixing the polymer and the plurality of hard fibers followed by spinning the yarn from the mixture.
US08302373B2	Method of assembling filaments and bundle of filaments obtained by the method Disclosed are a method of folding multiple filaments and a bundle of filament produced by the same. More particularly, the method of folding multiple filaments includes release-winding the filaments under a uniform release-winding tension, folding the released filaments in non-twisted states and winding the folded filaments to produce a bundle of filament, so as to effectively prevent some of the filaments in the bundle of filament from hanging down or becoming loose due to different tensions when the bundle of filament is release-wound for post processing. The bundle of filament includes a plurality of filaments folded together in non-twisted states and has a standard deviation in weight of the filaments per unit length of the bundle of filament ranging from 0.0001 to 0.01.
US08302371B2	Horse blanket allowing freer movement of a horse in use A horse blanket allowing freer movement of a horse in use, comprising a generally rectangular piece of material with a front edge, a rear edge and two side edges. The blanket is split, from each side edge to the center line thereof, into a front section and a rear section, the front and rear sections being connected together at the center line of the blanket to define a flexible joint therebetween, about which the blanket articulates. The flexible joint extends to a position to each side of the center line. The flexible joint is positioned, in use, at a location to the rear of the horse's withers where the pommel of a saddle would be properly positioned. The articulation of the blanket about the flexible joint facilitates up and down movements, side to side movements, as well as twisting movements of the front section relative to the rear section in response to movements of the horse.
US08302364B2	Weatherproofing backer for window and door installation A weatherproofing backer for installing windows and doors is described as having a foam layer and an adhesive layer. The adhesive is pressure-activated and is self-sealing about attaching hardware. The foam is self-setting and, in use, molds to the flange of the window unit. When installed, the foam layer is compressed between the inner window frame and rough opening and between the window flange and the wall surface adjacent the rough opening. The weatherproofing backer is designed to extend beyond the flange of the window unit and thereby receive the weatherproofing membrane thereover. The weatherproofing backer, then acts as a sealed bridge between the membrane and the window unit precluding entry of air and water. Both the foam and the adhesive have fire retardants in the formulation thereof. A tape form with a self-skinned foam layer and a sheet form, with polymeric covering web are provided.
US08302362B2	Modular decking system and an improved tread and bearer locating system therefor A tread and bearer member locating system for a modular decking system, the modular decking system including decking in the form of a plurality of treads, and the decking being carried by one or more bearer members. The treads are elongate and have a longitudinal axis, a topside, an underside and a lateral width. The tread and bearer member locating system includes treads and bearer members, wherein the underside of at least one tread includes, at or near each end thereof, a bearer member receiving area, at least one of the bearer member receiving areas being bound longitudinally between a pair of spaced apart, downwardly extending locating projections, and laterally between opposed coupling members capable of, in use, coupling with correspondingly shaped coupling members in adjacent treads.
US08302361B2	Panel, especially floor panel A panel, in particular floor panel (1, 2), with a core of wood material or a wood material/plastic mixture (17), a top side (18) and a bottom side (19), which panel has on at least two opposite lateral edges (I, II) a profiling corresponding to one another such that two identically embodied panels (1, 2) can be connected and locked to one another by an essentially vertical joining motion in the horizontal (H) and vertical (V) directions, wherein the locking in the vertical direction (V) can be brought about by at least one tongue element (3) movable in the horizontal direction (H), which element snaps into place during the joining motion behind a locking edge (4) extending essentially in the horizontal direction (H), is characterized in that the tongue element (3) is formed in one piece out of the core (17).
US08302356B2	Support pedestal having an anchoring washer for securing elevated surface tiles A support pedestal that is adapted to support surface tiles to form an elevated building surface. The support pedestal can include a base member that is adapted to be placed upon a fixed surface and a support plate that is disposed over the base member for supporting a surface tile. An anchoring washer is fastened to the support plate and anchors adjacent surface tiles to the support pedestal. The anchoring washers can be rotated to selectively disengage from at least one of the adjacent surface tiles. By rotating an anchoring washer in each corner of a surface tile to disengage the anchoring washers, the surface tile can be easily and rapidly removed from the building surface without necessitating the removal of adjacent surface tiles.
US08302355B2	Simulated log siding Simulated log siding is formed of an engineered cementitious composite. Single or dual flanges on each log piece is used to apply siding units to a surface. Some siding members are molded into a three dimensional configuration to appear as a structural wood log. Individual end pieces and molded tail clusters when used with the siding provide the appearance of the characteristic stacked or staggered corners of a log structure.
US08302349B2	Rescue passage window for passenger train The present invention provides a rescue passage window for a passenger train, comprising an aluminum alloy outer frame, a hollow tempered glass, a movable sash, a fixed sash, a locking device, a rotating device and a sealing device, the aluminum alloy outer frame is a carrier to connect the structures of any other parts, the hollow tempered glass is inlaid on the aluminum alloy outer frame by the sealing device to form the fixed sash and the movable sash, the movable sash is suspended on the cross beam of the aluminum alloy outer frame by the rotating device to realize its connection with the aluminum alloy outer frame, reliable locking between the movable sash and the aluminum alloy outer frame is realized by the locking device, connection and sealing between the movable sash and the aluminum alloy outer frame is realized by the sealing device. The movable sash of the window of the present invention adopts the turnover structure, and the passing size after the movable sash is turned over can reach 970×600 mm, so that the rescue passage window can fully realize the function of smooth passing of stretchers for the wounded.
US08302347B2	Preformed decorative wrapper and methods of use thereof A preformed decorative wrapper for covering a flower pot has an open upper end, an open lower end, and a sidewall extending therebetween. At least a portion of the preformed decorative wrapper extends beyond an upper end of the pot and at least a portion of a lower end of the flower pot extends through the open lower end of the preformed decorative wrapper.
US08302345B2	Method of using a versatile pest station with interchangeable inserts One aspect of the present invention provides a method of interchanging inserts in a pest station. A lock mechanism interlocking a lid to a base of a pest station is unlocked and the lid is opened. A first insert including an entrance mechanism is removed from a cavity of the pest station and a second insert including at least one of a bait, an attractant, and a snap trap is placed within the cavity of the pest station. The lid is closed and the locking mechanism is secured to interlock the lid to the base.
US08302343B2	Fish strike indicator A fish strike signal that can selectively be placed in a storage position, a ready position or a deployed position. The signal has a main body with a storage ledge, a retainer and a pocket. A trigger is provided having a notch for engaging a segment of fishing line and having a kick-out post for deploying a signal. The kick-out post can be held with a pocket in the ready position. Rotation of the trigger caused by a strike forces the post from the pocket and causes the wire of the signal to clear a retainer on the side of the main body. A tension assembly is provided for adjusting the amount of force that is required to rotate the trigger. The post and a ledge holds the signal in place and the tensioner can be used to lock the signal in the storage position.
US08302338B2	In-store marketing sign A marketing sign is constructed of a sheet material. The sheet material includes a free portion, a base portion and a connecting portion that couples the base portion to the free portion. The base portion includes an engaging piece and a support piece. The engaging piece is coupled to the support piece at a base bend line and configured to engage with a portion of a product display structure having a price holder. The connecting portion is defined between a first connecting bend line spaced apart from a second connecting bend line by a first distance. The first connecting bend line is adjacent the support piece of the base portion and the second connecting bend line is adjacent the free portion. The first distance substantially corresponds with a top edge thickness of the price holder.
US08302334B2	Ironing appliance comprising a boiling compartment in which the steam produced can freely escape to an ironing instrument Steam wrinkle-removing appliance comprising a steam-producing boiling chamber (60) incorporated into a water tank (110), said boiling chamber (60) being in direct communication with the water tank (110) while being supplied with water by gravity via at least one supply line (70) extending from the tank (110), said boiling chamber (60) comprising a heating unit (4) and a steam outlet (62) through which the steam can freely flow toward a wrinkle-removing element (3) such as a steam brush, the tank (110) comprising a filling inlet (121A) in the upper part of the tank (110), characterized in that said steam outlet (62) is in direct communication with a hose (2) connected to the steaming element (3) so that the steam produced by the boiling chamber (60) is not diffused into the tank (110).
US08302329B2	Footwear with counter-supplementing strap A heel cup formed from a flexible material is located under the heel region of an upper portion of an article of footwear. Lateral and medial counters extend upward from the heel cup on the lateral and medial sides, with the medial counter having a height less than that of the lateral counter, and with a rear edge of the heel cup being lower than the lateral and medial counters. A rear strap extends upward around the lateral counter and around the Achilles tendon of the wearer, and is secured to a location on the upper that is forward of the wearer's ankle. During cutting movements in which the article is worn on the outside foot, tilting of the wearer foot and ankle toward the medial side pulls the strap and causes the lateral counter to conform to and support the wearer heel.
US08302324B1	Oscillating hair dryer A hair dryer includes a housing, a fan unit, a heating element, a motor and a handle. The housing is the body of the hair dryer and has an inlet end and an outlet end. The motor rotates the housing relative to the handle in an oscillating manner. The fan unit is mounted in the housing so that air from vents at the inlet end pass through the fan unit to be blown out through the outlet end of the housing. As such, the housing moves without requiring any movement of the user's hand, wrist, or arm. The handle also has a controller for activating operation, adjusting speed, and setting temperature.
US08302321B2	Apparatus and method of measuring workpieces A method and apparatus for measuring a surface using a surface sensing device mounted on a scanning head on a member of a coordinate positioning apparatus. The coordinate positioning apparatus may be operated to produce relative movement between the scanning head and the surface profile and the scanning head includes a drive for producing rotational movement of the surface sensing probe about one or more axis. The coordinate positioning apparatus is driven to provide relative movement between the member and the surface profile in a circular path and the scanning head is driven to move the surface sensing device about said one or more axes, such that the surface sensing device maintains a nominally constant lead angle. The motion of the coordinate positioning apparatus and scanning head is synchronous.
US08302317B2	Scraper structure The invention relates to a scraper structure, which is generally comprised of a long handle for handgrip and a scraping section in its front. Basically, the scraping section of the scraper is comprised of a jaw plate, a blade, a fastener and a fastening button. The front end of the scraping section extends downward or forward to form a blade slot and has a jaw base at the bottom to connect to the blade slot. The jaw plate has identical shape to the clamp jaw in the front of the jaw base. The fastener and the fastening button are combined to provide tightening and enable the clamp jaw in the front of the jaw plate to exert great pressure onto the blade and achieve quick blade replacement and assembly. Further, the fastening button can exert more force by the front hand in grasping the handle and achieve powerful scraping.
US08302316B2	Battery-operated razor Battery operated appliances are provided. Some appliances include a housing defining a chamber having an interior wall, electronics within the chamber, a battery cover, and a closing system including (a) a first electrically conductive member secured to the battery cover, and (b) a second electrically conductive member secured to the interior wall of the housing and configured to engage the first electrically conductive member and thereby mechanically secure the battery cover to the housing while also establishing electrical contact between the first and second electrically conductive members.
US08302310B2	Method of making a sand screen on a base pipe A rod-based well screen is formed in place on a perforated pipe base by wrapping wire around the pipe base and a plurality of rods located around the outside of the pipe. The wire is welded sequentially to each individual rod as it is wrapped around the pipe. The welding and ground electrodes engage the wire and the rods respectively. The rod engaging ground electrode is positioned a short distance ahead of the wire being wrapped around the rods and the pipe base. The ground electrode includes a plurality of contacts. Each contact is mounted to pivot toward and away from a rod. Springs urge each contact toward a rod to hold the rod against the outside surface of the pipe base and to maintain good electrical contact between the contact and the rod. Each contact has a groove to guide the rod into position for welding to the wire.
US08302300B2	Method for manufacturing multilayer printed circuit board with plated through holes A method for manufacturing multilayer printed circuit board includes steps below. A first copper clad laminate includes a central portion and a peripheral portion is provided. A group of concentric copper annular collars is formed by etching the peripheral portion. A second copper clad laminate and an adhesive layer is laminated on to the first copper clad laminate in a manner that the adhesive is sandwiched between the first copper clad laminate and the second copper clad laminate to form a multilayer substrate. A detection hole is formed run through the multilayer substrate. An offset distance is determined and plated through holes in the central portion of the multilayer substrate is formed based on the offset distance.
US08302296B2	Friction weld coaxial connector and interconnection method A coaxial connector for interconnection with a coaxial cable with a solid outer conductor by friction welding is provided with a monolithic connector body with a bore. A sidewall of the bore is provided with an inward annular projection angled toward a cable end of the bore. A sidewall of the inward annular projection and the sidewall of the bore form an annular friction groove open to a cable end of the bore. The annular friction groove is dimensioned with a taper at a connector end of the friction groove less than a thickness of a leading end of the outer conductor. The taper provides an annular material chamber between the leading end of the outer conductor, when seated in the friction groove, and the connector end of the friction groove.
US08302292B2	System and apparatus for improving truss fabrication automation A truss assembly system may include a truss assembly station. The truss assembly station may be configured to enable assembly of a truss from truss members via an automatic sequential placement of the truss members based at least in part upon a planned location of pre-plated truss members within an assembled truss. The pre-plated truss members may be truss members including at least one connector plate installed thereon prior to placement at the truss assembly station.
US08302289B2	Apparatus for preparing an antenna for use with a wireless communication device An apparatus for manufacturing wireless communication devices for use in tracking or identifying other items uses cutting techniques that allow the size of an antenna for the wireless communication device to vary. Further, the chip for the wireless communication device is nested so as to be flush with the surface of the substrate of the wireless communication device. Rollers cut the tabs that form the antenna elements. In a first embodiment, a plurality of rollers are used, each one effecting a different cut whose position may be phased so as to shorten or lengthen the antenna element. In a second embodiment, the rollers are independently positionable to shorten or lengthen the antenna element.
US08302287B2	Method of manufacturing a multilayer inductor A multilayer inductor includes a bottom magnetic layer having an external conductive pattern formed on a bottom surface thereof for connection to a substrate such as a printed circuit board. The bottom external conductive pattern includes signal/power contacts and first and second inductor electrodes. A top magnetic layer includes a top external conductive pattern having signal/power contacts and inductor electrode contacts. An inductor conductive pattern formed on the top surfaces of intermediate magnetic layers disposed between the top and bottom magnetic layers are electrically coupled to each other by means of through holes to form a spiral inductor element.
US08302285B2	Method of making a sensing unit In a sensing unit according to the present invention, a spring portion having a support portion and a movable portion is conductive. A signal of a sensor portion provided on the movable portion of the spring portion is transmitted via the spring portion. Hence, the sensing unit according to the present invention has a simple constitution with a small number of components, and a wire does not necessarily have to be provided for each sensor portion. As a result, a reduction in manufacturing cost, simplification of the manufacturing process, and so on are achieved.
US08302283B2	Method and apparatus for connecting a hose to a fitting An application for a clamp tool that has stop edges and ear edges. In one embodiment, stop edges close against each other while the ear edges, being cut deeper than the stop edges, do not touch each other and provide a space between which an ear of a clamp is position and closed by the clamp tool without cutting or nicking unnecessarily into the ear of the clamp. In some embodiments, the width of the stop edges is made to provide an alignment tool for proper alignment of the clamp on a hose over features of a fitting.
US08302282B2	System and/or assembly for installing fastening devices and method of installing fastening devices using the system or assembly Placing device for placing a fastener. The device includes a housing, a mounting surface for a fastener and comprising an opening, a drive mandrel comprising a rotation axis and a portion which passes through the opening and that is structured and arranged to engage the fastener, and a fork-shaped receptacle arranged at least one of in an area of the mounting surface, adjacent the mounting surface, and associated with the mounting surface.
US08302279B1	Doorframe removing method and apparatus A doorframe removing apparatus includes an end wall. A pair of legs each has a first end a second end. The first ends are attached to the end wall. The legs are orientated substantially parallel to each other. An end wall coupler is attached to the first side of the end wall. A frame coupler is removably attached to a doorframe attached to a perimeter edge of a door orifice in a wall. An urging member is removably attached to and extends between the end wall coupler and the frame coupler. The urging member is configured to urge the frame coupler toward the end wall coupler. The second ends of the legs are positioned on opposite sides of the doorframe and supported against the perimeter edge. The urging member is actuated to pull the doorframe away from the perimeter edge of the door orifice.
US08302277B2	Module and manufacturing method thereof A method of manufacturing a module is provided that can alleviate a decrease in cutting yield. This method includes: a step of mounting, on a wiring board having a plurality of mounting regions enclosed by cutting lines on its upper surface, an electronic component in each of the mounting regions; a step of cutting the wiring board along the cutting lines; a step of forming a sealing resin layer so as to seal the electronic component to cover at least part of upper and side surfaces of the cut wiring board; and a step of cutting the sealing resin layer along cut portions (cutting lines) of the cut wiring board.
US08302274B1	Blade removal assistance tool system A blade pipe has an exterior end and an interior end with a tube for receiving a lawnmower blade. A locking nut, threadedly received in the tube, retains the blade within the tube. A wrench pipe has an exterior end and an interior end with a recess adapted to receive a wrench. A threaded pivot pin extends radially from the wrench pipe adjacent to the recess. A slide has a blade end and a wrench end, an aperture adjacent to the blade end, and a pivot bolt extending through the aperture and threadedly received in the tube. The slide has a slot slidably receiving the pivot pin.
US08302270B2	Method of manufacturing capacitor-embedded PCB A method of manufacturing a capacitor-embedded printed circuit board that includes fabricating a capacitor substrate having at least one inner electrode formed on one side of a dielectric layer; aligning a semi-cured insulation layer with one side of a core layer, and aligning the capacitor substrate with the semi-cured insulation layer such that the inner electrode faces the semi-cured insulation layer; and collectively stacking the core layer, the semi-cured insulation layer, and the capacitor substrate.
US08302269B2	Fastening device A fastening device includes a first female component and a second male component, each component adapted for attachment to a back panel, wing or strap of a garment or the like, the first component includes a plastic first plate having an inner side and an outer side. The second component includes a second plastic plate having an inner side and an outer side adapted to at least partially overlie the outer side of the first plate in use. The first plate is formed with a plurality of connecting recesses and the inner side of the second plate is formed with at least one connecting protrusion adapted to be releasably received and retained selectively in any one of the connecting recesses. The second plate is formed with a resilient nose inclined downwardly in the direction from its outer side towards its inner side and is deflected upwardly when the components are coupled together to bear resiliently against the outer side of the first plate.
US08302268B2	Method for producing a hermetic plastic zipper and a hermetic plastic zipper A method of continuously manufacturing a hermetic plastic zipper wherein the plastic zipper has a readily peelable plastic layer prolonging in a lengthwise direction of the plastic zipper, the readily peelable plastic layer is welded using ultrasonic wave so that the peeling intensity of the welded portion is within a certain range, the method is characterized in that while the engaging portions are brought into a engaged state, the portion of the plastic zipper where the readily peelable plastic layer exists is inserted between an ultrasonic horn and an anvil, and the readily peelable layer is welded by using ultrasonic wave under a condition wherein the distance L between the ultrasonic horn and the anvil is uniformly held at an distance of H≧L≧0.85H wherein H stands for a maximum thickness of the plastic zipper under the engaged state.
US08302266B2	Resilient rotation buckle A resilient rotation buckle includes a decoration plate and the belt coupling structure having an end coupled to a belt. The decoration plate and the belt coupling structure form a rotation shaft and a rotation assembly that cooperate each other. The rotation assembly includes a receptacle compartment having a wall forming a through hole for receiving the rotation shaft therethrough, springs, and retention blocks. An accommodation channel is defined in the receptacle compartment in a direction normal to the through hole. When the rotation shaft is inserted, the retention blocks are in contact engagement with an outer circumference of the rotation shaft. The springs have first ends in biasing engagement with the retention blocks and second ends supported by walls of the accommodation channel. The rotation shaft and the rotation assembly allow for relative rotation therebetween for switching between a locked position and a released position.
US08302265B1	Wire gripper for supporting an electrical box or suspended load A wire gripper for positively locking a wire in place between an overhead support and a suspended load such that it can support the suspended load and maintain tension on the wire. The wire gripper includes an elongated body with a through bore and a threaded bore intersecting the through bore. Two open channels extend through the body parallel with and on either side of the threaded bore. A threaded fastener extends into the threaded bore. A U-shaped clip member with two legs is carried by the threaded fastener. By passing one or more wires through the through bore and tightening the fastener, six points of contact can be brought to bear against the inserted wires and thereby lock the wires with respect to the wire gripper.
US08302260B2	Hinge assembly A hinge assembly has a pintle, a stationary leaf, a rotating leaf, a rotating pressing disk, a stationary pressing disk, a biasing assembly and a fastener. The rotating pressing disk is mounted rotatably around the pintle, is attached non-rotatably to the rotating leaf and has a track face, an inner track and an outer track. The stationary pressing disk is mounted securely around the pintle and has a protrusion face, an inner protrusion and an outer protrusion. The inner and outer protrusions respectively contact slidably with the inner and outer track on the rotating pressing disk. With the arrangement of the inner and outer tracks on the rotating pressing disk and the inner and outer protrusions on the stationary pressing disk, the resistance provided by the hinge assembly is variable.
US08302254B2	Dirt-collecting device for a floor-cleaning machine, and floor-cleaning machine having such a dirt-collecting device The invention relates to a dirt-collecting device for a floor-cleaning machine, for picking up a liquid from a floor surface which is to be cleaned, having a carrier and at least one wiping member for wiping the floor surface, the carrier and the at least one wiping member bounding a suction channel which opens out into a suction mouth and of which the free cross-sectional area, through which a suction stream can pass, decreases, at least in one channel portion, in a direction away from the suction mouth. In order to produce such a dirt-collecting device in a more cost-effective manner, it is proposed according to the invention that the suction channel has disposed in it at least one channel-narrowing member, which is produced separately from the carrier. The invention also relates to a floor-cleaning machine having such a dirt-collecting device.
US08302252B2	Dust separating apparatus of vacuum cleaner A dust separator for a vacuum cleaner including a body having a pair of spaced apart ends, a first air inlet formed in the body and being configured to receive an air flow containing dust, and a dust outlet formed inwardly of the spaced apart ends and apart from the first air inlet to discharge dust separated in the body, is provided. In addition, a cross-sectional area of the body at the dust outlet is greater than a cross-sectional area of the body at the first air inlet.
US08302251B2	Handheld vacuum unit retention features A vacuum cleaner having a base with an inlet facing a surface, a handle connected to the base, an air passage connecting the base inlet to the handle, and a removable handheld unit. The handheld has an inlet nozzle, a dirt separator, a vacuum fan to generate a working airflow into the inlet nozzle and through the dirt separator, and a housing joining the handheld, the dirt separator and the vacuum fan. The vacuum has a docking latch with a first latch position in which the latch holds the handheld in an operating position on the handle, and a second position in which the latch permits removal of the handheld from the operating position. The vacuum also has a safety catch with a catch member on the handle and a second member on the handheld. The catch members resiliently hold the handheld unit on the handle in a partially-removed position.
US08302250B2	Cleaning appliance A hand-held cleaning appliance includes a suction conduit having a longitudinal axis, an airflow generator generating an airflow along the suction conduit, a separating apparatus arranged in communication with the suction conduit for separating dirt and dust from the airflow, a power source supplying power to the airflow generator and an elongate handle disposed between the airflow generator and the power source. The elongate handle is dimensioned and arranged to be gripped by a user's hand and the elongate handle lies transverse to the longitudinal axis of the suction conduit. By providing a hand-held vacuum cleaner with such an arrangement, the hand-held vacuum cleaner is easier and more comfortable to manipulate in use.
US08302249B1	Vacuum cleaning system and method of use A vacuum cleaning system which has particular application to the oil-field industry. The system includes a vacuum unit for suctioning material from a surface to recycle, reclaim or cleanup said material. The system also includes a collection and discharge unit operable to automatically discharge, into an open atmosphere, an amount of the suctioned material collected while suctioning continues by the vacuum unit. The automatic discharging cycle of the collection and discharge unit allows drilling fluid to be rapidly vacuumed up and discharged to minimize settlement of debris in the collected material.
US08302240B2	Selectively adjustable steering mechanism for use on a floor cleaning machine A floor cleaning machine is provided that includes a chassis that supports at least one cleaning element. The chassis is supported by a plurality of wheels, one which is steerable via a steering wheel that is interconnected to a housing also associated with the chassis. The chassis provided includes a plurality of movable housing members, one of which is associated with the steering wheel. To access the internal components of the floor cleaning machine, the front housing is rotated or moved away from the other housings wherein the steering wheel does not require disconnection to allow this movement.
US08302236B2	Boarding bridge with air conditioner facility A mobile boarding bridge (101) is equipped with climate control facilities. The mobile boarding bridge is furnished with multiple collapsible tunnels (110, 120). A heating/cooling device (160) comprising a climate controller (161) generates hot or cold air and is furnished on the outside of the first tunnel (110) of said tunnels. A connection pipe (163) that connects to ducts (164) within the tunnel is attached to said climate controller (161). A duct (164) connected to said connection pipe (163) directs air that has been heated/cooled by the heating-cooling device (160) to the interior of the first tunnel (110). An aspirator comprises an air intake (171) which intakes air from the interior of the tunnel and an intake pipe (172) which leads air taken in at said air intake (171) to the interior of the climate controller (161).
US08302234B2	Article of footwear with a sole structure having fluid-filled support elements An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure incorporates a support element that includes a fluid-filled chamber, a first insert, and a second insert. The chamber defines a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a sidewall extending between the first surface and the second surface. The first insert is secured to the first surface and at least partially recessed into the polymer material of the chamber, and the second insert is secured to the second surface. In addition, the chamber may be pressurized to deform the first insert or the second insert.
US08302232B2	Washing machine and method of controlling a washing machine The present invention relates to a washing machine and a method of controlling the washing machine. According to a washing machine and a method of controlling the washing machine in accordance with the present invention, a drum operates at a first speed so that part of the laundry tumbles within the drum and another part of the laundry adheres within the drum. The drum operates at a second speed lower than the first speed so that an amount of the tumbling laundry is more increased than at the first speed. Accordingly, at the time of a dehydration cycle, stability of the washing machine and laundry balancing can be ensured.
US08302228B2	Lower extremity surgical positioning device The present inventive subject matter is the method of use as well as a device or fixture for positioning and manipulating a patient's lower extremity for surgical and diagnostic procedures where alignment is critical and minute adjustments may be required. Once firmly attached to the operating table, the device prevents the patient's extremity from moving after the physician has selected the precise position for the elected procedure. This is achieved by a combination of a fracture reduction plate, posts, shimming blocks and an articulating and rotating frame or cradle with an adjustable and lockable rack and gear configuration and pivot joints attached to a foot assembly which acts as a leg and foot splint. The cradle is attached to the patient via a series of adjustable straps preventing the extremity from moving independently of the cradle.
US08302222B2	Patient transfer mattresses A patient transfer mattress is disclosed which includes a plurality of pods connecting the upper and lower sheets of the mattress. The pods may include a first aperture in a side wall thereof and a second aperture in an end thereof, said first and second apertures allowing air to flow from within a main cavity of the mattress and out to form a cushion of air beneath the mattress. One or more of the pods may also include a perforated disc positioned between the opposite ends thereby dividing the pod into upper and lower portions. The perforated disc controls air flow between the upper and lower portions to buffer local changes in air pressure caused by pump pressure, patient body weight or saturation.
US08302218B2	Reconfigurable tub assembly The present invention relates to a tub for bathing infants or children. The tub includes a receptacle for containing water and for receiving an infant. The tub also includes a selectively removable insert or positioning member that can be used to change the bathing area inside of the tub. When the positioning member is locked to the tub, the positioning member defines two separate infant seating positions within the tub. The positioning member is removable from the tub to allow the entire receptacle to be used.
US08302216B2	Ambidextrous glove An ambidextrous glove that includes a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region and little finger region all aligned along a common axis. The index finger region is rotated through ninety degrees relative to the orientations of all of the middle, ring and little finger regions to provide for easier insertion of a hand into the glove. A textured pattern is provided on the surfaces of the glove used to grip objects. The pattern is one of a raised fan shape and raised diamond shape.
US08302213B2	Helmets and vests Disclosed is an assembly which can include a hardened outer shell and an inner surface comprising a polymeric gel. The polymeric gel is enclosed within an envelope having opposed layers and is attached to the outer hardened surface cover. The hardened outer surface cover may be comprised of most any material known within the art. The sporting or shooting vest comprises a garment including gel-filled pockets or envelopes whereby impact can be absorbed and dissipated. Additionally, the outer layer of the shooting vest may be comprised of a Kevlar material wherein the vest would become a ballistic vest.
US08307459B2	Botnet early detection using hybrid hidden markov model algorithm A botnet detection system is provided. A bursty feature extractor receives an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) packet value from a detection object network, and determines a bursty feature accordingly. A Hybrid Hidden Markov Model (HHMM) parameter estimator determines probability parameters for a Hybrid Hidden Markov Model according to the bursty feature. A traffic profile generator establishes a probability sequential model for the Hybrid Hidden Markov Model according to the probability parameters and pre-defined network traffic categories. A dubious state detector determines a traffic state corresponding to a network relaying the IRC packet in response to reception of a new IRC packet, determines whether the IRC packet flow of the object network is dubious by applying the bursty feature to the probability sequential model for the Hybrid Hidden Markov Model, and generates a warning signal when the IRC packet flow is regarded as having a dubious traffic state.
US08307457B2	Method and terminal for receiving rights object for content on behalf of memory card Disclosed is a method of receiving by a terminal a rights object (RO) from a rights issuer (RI) on behalf of a memory card, the method including, receiving, by the terminal, a trigger message for RO acquisition from the rights issuing server, comparing, by the terminal, trust anchor and ID of the memory card in a list included in the trigger message with a trust anchor and ID of the memory card within a context of the terminal, transmitting, by the terminal, a RO request message to the rights issuing server if the trust anchor and the ID of the memory card within the context are consistent with those within the list according to the comparison result, and receiving, by the terminal, a RO response message including a protected RO from the rights issuing server.
US08307455B2	Decryption-key distribution method and authentication apparatus A decryption key for decrypting data from an access node is distributed to an access terminal intending to receive the data. An authentication unit receives a message for terminal authentication including a terminal identifier from the terminal and authenticates the terminal. The authentication unit refers to a content registration table having stored in advance the content type of a content which the terminal can receive, in association with the terminal identifier, according to the received terminal identifier to obtain a corresponding content type. The authentication unit refers to a decryption data base having stored in advance a decryption key and its valid period in association with a content type, according to the obtained content type to obtain a corresponding decryption key and valid period. The authentication unit sends an authentication result and the decryption key and valid period to the terminal or to a packet control unit.
US08307454B2	Computer-readable recording medium recording remote control program, portable terminal device and gateway device A computer-readable recording medium which records a remote control program for allowing data on a network protected by a gateway device to be transferred to an external device by external remote-control operations; a portable terminal device; and a gateway device. The terminal device transmits to the gateway device an access ticket issue request. The gateway device generates key information and transmits to the terminal device an access ticket including the key information. The terminal device transfers to a data acquisition device a data acquisition instruction including the acquired access ticket. The acquisition device transmits to the gateway device a data request including the key information. When the key information added to the access ticket and the key information included in the data request are the same, the gateway device transfers the data request to a data server device. The server device transfers the data to the acquisition device.
US08307447B2	Method and apparatus for making system constraint of a specified permission in the digital rights management A method and a terminal device for making multi-system constraint of a specified permission in a digital rights. A rights object related to content object is obtained by an executing device. The specific permission descriptions of the rights object include system constraint descriptions of a plurality of systems of the same type. The executing device obtains a corresponding system information in the device according to the system constraint descriptions and compares the system information in the device with the system information in the system constraint descriptions, so as to judge whether there is any system permitted in system constraint descriptions. If yes, it determines to permit executing the specific permission for the content object; otherwise, it determines not to permit executing said specific permission for the content object.
US08307446B2	Data using apparatus In a data using apparatus, first data use history information is generated in accordance with every use of data. The first data use history information represents a starting time and an ending time of every use of data. The first data use history information is sent toward an external apparatus. Second data use history information is received from the external apparatus. Calculation is made as to first data use terms between the starting times and the ending times represented by the first data use history information. Calculation is made as to second data use terms between starting times and ending times represented by the second data use history information. Multiple apparatus use notice information is generated when at least one of the calculated first data use terms and at least one of the calculated second data use terms overlap each other.
US08307444B1	Methods and apparatus for determining network risk based upon incomplete network configuration data A method for a computer system includes receiving configuration data from a network device in a network, determining a topology for a portion of the network from the configuration data, wherein the topology indicates a server location and a threat server at a threat server location in the network, determining a vulnerability including vulnerability attributes for the first server location, and when configuration data for the first server location is incomplete, the method includes determining a security exposure of the first server location with respect to the threat server in response to the configuration data, the topology, and to the configuration data associated the host server location, determining a vulnerability certainty for the first server location with respect the vulnerability in response to the configuration data associated the host server location, and outputting a visual representation of the security exposure and the vulnerability certainty on a display.
US08307443B2	Securing anti-virus software with virtualization The subject disclosure relates to systems and methods that secure anti-virus software through virtualization. Anti-virus systems can be maintained separate from user applications and operating system through virtualization. The user applications and operating system run in a guest virtual machine while anti-virus systems are isolated in a secure virtual machine. The virtual machines are partially interdependent such that the anti-virus systems can monitor user applications and operating systems while the anti-virus systems remain free from possible malicious attack originating from a user environment. Further, the anti-virus system is secured against zero-day attacks so that detection and recovery may occur post zero-day.
US08307438B2	System, method, and computer program product for conditionally performing a scan on data based on an associated data structure A system, method, and computer program product are provided for conditionally performing a scan of data based nit an associated data structure. In use, at least one aspect is identified for each of a first plurality of scanners utilized to perform a scan on data at a first network device. Additionally, at least one data structure is associated with the data, where the at least one data structure reflects the at least one aspect of each of the first plurality of scanners. Furthermore, a subsequent scan on the data is conditionally performed utilizing, each of a second plurality of scanners at a second network device, based on the at least one data structure.
US08307437B2	Classification of software on networked systems A method and system for the classification of software in networked systems, includes: determining a software received by a sensor is attempting to execute on a computer system of the sensor; classifying the software as authorized or unauthorized to execute, and gathering information on the software by the sensor if the software is classified as unauthorized to execute. The sensor sends the information on the software to one or more actuators, which determine whether or not to act on one or more targets based on the information. If so, then the actuator sends a directive to the target(s). The target(s) updates its responses according to the directive. The classification of the software is definitive and is not based on heuristics or rules or policies and without any need to rely on any a priori information about the software.
US08307434B2	Method and system for discrete stateful behavioral analysis A method for analyzing a computing system includes the steps of at a first moment in time, scanning the resources of the computing system for indications of malware, at a second moment in time scanning the resources of the computing system for indications of malware and determining the system executable objects loaded on the computing system, determining malware system changes, identifying a relationship between the malware system changes and the system executable objects loaded on the computing system, and identifying as suspected malware the system executable objects loaded on the computing system which have a relationship with the malware system changes. The malware system changes include differences between the results of scanning the resources of the computing system for indications of malware at the second and first moment of time.
US08307432B1	Generic shellcode detection Detecting buffer-overflow exploits scans generically for shellcode without using virus signatures and maintains close to a zero false-positive rate. Shellcode is detected generically without determining specifically which buffer-overflow exploit is being used. Protection is offered against unknown buffer-overflow exploits. A file is scanned to determine if a vulnerable buffer in that file includes suspect code that has characteristics of shellcode. Next, it is determined if the suspect code contains a routine to find the imagebase of Kernel32.dll using any of the techniques of PEB, TOS or SEH (process environment block, top of stack or structured exception handling). It is next determined if the suspect code contains a routine to search for APIs in the export table of kernel32.dll. Techniques for analyzing the suspect code include static analysis and executing the code in an emulator. A high sensitivity setting determines that shellcode is present when any of the techniques of PEB, TOS or SEH are found.
US08307428B1	System, method and computer program product for scanning portions of data A scanning system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, portions of data are scanned. Further, access to a scanned portion of the data is allowed during scanning of another portion of the data.
US08307427B1	System for tracking data shared with external entities System and method for keeping inventories of sensitive data that has been shared with external entities. The system and method may be used particularly for identifying a source of an unauthorized release of sensitive data.
US08307424B2	Password authentication apparatus and password authentication method A password authentication apparatus and a password authentication method for preventing the leakage of password information from user's password input operations includes a memory device for storing a correct answer symbol and selection information for selecting at least one input symbol for each digit of a password; a display for displaying combinations of input symbol candidates based on user operation; a processor for selecting, for each digit of the password, one or more input symbols from the combinations of input symbol candidates displayed by the display based on the selection information corresponding to the digit to determine whether the correct answer symbol corresponding to the digit is included in the selected one or more input symbols; and an authentication board for authenticating that the password is entered correctly when the processor determines that correct answer symbols for all the digits of the password are included.
US08307421B2	End-to-end authentication of session initiation protocol messages using certificates End-to-end authentication capability based on public-key certificates is combined with the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to allow a SIP node that receives a SIP request message to authenticate the sender of request. The SIP request message is sent with a digital signature generated with a private key of the sender and may include a certificate of the sender. The SIP request message my also be encrypted with a public key of the recipient. After receiving the SIP request, the receiving SIP node obtains a certificate of the sender and authenticates the sender based on the digital signature. The digital signature may be included in an Authorization header of the SIP request, or in a multipart message body constructed according to the S/MIME standard.
US08307420B2	Security gateway system, method and program for same A non-secure network gateway 11 and a secure network gateway 12 are individually realized as virtual machines constructed on a physical hardware unit of a real machine, and are connected, by standard protocol communication portions 20 and 25, to a non-secure network 1 and a secure network 2 using a standard protocol the standardized specifications of which have been published. Data exchange between nonstandard protocol communication portions 22 and 23 of the sub-gateways 11 and 12 is performed using a nonstandard protocol the specifications of which have not been published, and data exchange between the nonstandard side and the standard side is performed only in the application layer. Protocol conversion portions 21 and 24 refers to relay permission settings tables 30 and 31 to confirm relay permission for communication data, and perform protocol conversion only when relaying is permitted. Even in the event that illicit communication data from one network has penetrated into a gateway, penetration of the communication data into the other network can be prevented.
US08307419B2	System and method for regulating communications to or from an application The flow of information to or from an application on a host machine is regulated by a trusted agent operating in conjunction with at least one security element, such as a firewall or a policy server. When a communication to or from the application is detected by the trusted agent, the trusted agent gathers information about the attempted communication, and formulates and sends a message based upon the gathered information to at least one security element. The security element makes a decision to permit or block at least part of the attempted communication based upon the message received from the trusted agent.
US08307413B2	Personal token and a method for controlled authentication The invention relates to a personal token (10) for authentication in a network comprising a piece of software for initiating an SSL connection by generating a message authenticating said token to a remote server (30) characterized in that the piece of software controls the processing of the message so as to use of a data (12) which is prestored in the token (10) and which is specifically associated with the remote server (30) so that the message can be interpreted only by the specific remote server (30).
US08307405B2	Methods, hardware products, and computer program products for implementing zero-trust policy in storage reports A zero-trust policy is implemented in storage reports to provide a preventative measure against potential attack vectors. Introspection of a guest memory having a guest memory layout is performed. An operating system (OS) memory map is accepted. The guest memory layout is compared with the OS memory map. When the guest memory layout matches the OS memory map, the OS memory map is used to obtain one or more interested memory segments, and data processing is performed.
US08307403B2	Triggerless interactive television Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that relate to providing interactive television by synchronizing content to live and/or recorded television shows. Content is synchronized without the use of in-band triggers. A broadcast stream is received, and search/action pairs are received from a transmission path, such as from the Internet or user. When the search criteria are found in the broadcast stream, the associated action is performed and the content is synchronized with the show. An application programming interface is used to facilitate synchronization, and includes a set search method, a search function template method, and a clear search method. The set search method initiates searching of the broadcast stream and registers one or more callback methods for performing the associated action when the match is found. The search function template serves as the template for registering the callback methods. The clear search method clears the system resources from the search.
US08307402B2	Method and apparatus for merging voice and data features with internet protocol television A method and apparatus that enable the use of a multi-service endpoint device to integrate features and functions of voice and/or data services with IPTV service through a TV console are disclosed. For example, the method connects a multi-service endpoint device (MSED) to a plurality of networks, where at least one of the plurality of networks provides a voice service, and where at least one of the plurality of networks provides an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service. The method then integrates the voice service with the IPTV service using the MSED.
US08307401B1	Managing compressed and uncompressed video streams over an asymmetric network A method for operating conflicting source devices communicating over the same self-configurable asymmetric link, comprising: transmitting uncompressed video from a first source device to a first sink device over a first direction of a self-configurable asymmetric link; receiving a request to transmit uncompressed video from a second source device to a second sink device over the opposite direction of the self-configurable asymmetric link; locating an accessible rendering device able to receive compressed video from the second source device and to transmit uncompressed video to the second sink device without flipping the direction of the self-configurable asymmetric link; and transmitting compressed video from the second source device to the rendering device, whereby the rendering device renders and transmits the video to the second sink device.
US08307397B2	Video apparatus and method for controlling the same A video apparatus and a method for controlling the same are disclosed, by which a channel selection via an external device is enabled in a manner of controlling the video apparatus by unifying to manage all channel information selectable by the external device in controlling the external device provided with a tuner enabling the channel selection of a specific broadcasting. In a video apparatus receiving a first broadcasting, the present invention includes the steps of storing first broadcasting channel information of the first broadcasting in a combined channel memory within the video apparatus, reading second broadcasting channel information of a second broadcasting from an external device receiving the second broadcasting, and storing the read second broadcasting channel information of the second broadcasting in the combined channel memory.
US08307396B2	Systems and methods for producing processed media content A method for producing processed media content includes receiving media content at a network computing device. The media content is obtained from a media source at a scheduled time via a public network based on a user recording request received from a user device associated with a user. The method includes processing the media content to generate processed media content at the network computing device based on user settings associated with the user recording request. The method also includes storing the processed media content at a memory device identified in the user recording request.
US08307395B2	Publishing key frames of a video content item being viewed by a first user to one or more second users Systems and methods for obtaining key frames of video content items being viewed by first users and publishing the key frames of the video content items to second users are provided. In general, either prior to playback of a video content item by a first user or during playback of the video content item by the first user, key frame information providing, referencing, or identifying key frames of the video content item is obtained. Each key frame is representative of a segment of the video content item. The key frame information for the video content item is then published such that each key frame is presented to one or more second users while the first user views the corresponding segment of the video content item.
US08307389B2	Information processing apparatus, information processing method, computer program, and information sharing system An information processing apparatus that can communicate with plural content viewing apparatuses includes a group registering unit that registers users of the content viewing apparatuses in groups, a sharing-level setting unit that sets sharing level information representing an information sharing level among users belonging to an identical group, a viewing-information receiving unit that receives viewing information of the users, a user-viewing-content managing unit that manages a user viewing content database, a discriminating unit that discriminates, when a viewing information request of another user is received, the other users belonging to a group identical with a group to which the user of the content viewing apparatus at the request source belongs, an information extracting unit that extracts viewing information of the discriminated other users from the user viewing content database, and a viewing-information transmitting unit that transmits the viewing information to the content viewing apparatus at the request source.
US08307386B2	Optical disc with thicker supporting section and thinner recording section An optical disc of a thicker supporting section and a thinner recording section is characterized by: a reinforcement section of a predetermined width which overlaps a supporting section and a recording section. With the reinforcement section, the structure of the optical disc is strengthened, and the resonant frequency of the optical disc is raised, so that the vibration of the optical disc is suppressed and the disc is suitable for high speed (16× up) reading/writing. The optical disc comprises: a circular opening disposed in the center of the optical disc; an annular recording section; an annular supporting section disposed between the annular recording section and the circular opening, wherein the annular supporting section is thicker than the annular recording section; and an annular reinforcement section which is disposed on one of the two sides of the optical disc and overlaps the annular supporting section and the annular recording section.
US08307384B2	Slot-in optical disk drive with lifting ejection device A slot-in optical disk drive with lifting ejection device is disclosed. A sliding device which has a first guiding slot and a second guiding slot is driven by a transmission unit. A sliding bolt protruded from a traverse is inserted into the first guiding slot, and the traverse connects with the sliding device. A lifting ejection device has a column vertically set in a housing and a sleeve which covers the column. A guiding pin protruded from the sleeve is inserted into the second guiding slot and is driven by the sliding device to disengage an optical disk.

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