| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08398720B2 |
Craniofacial implant
A composite surgical implant that is made of a planar sheet of a thermoplastic resin that includes a top surface (400), a bottom surface (410), and a surgical grade metal mesh (405) contained therein. The implant may be bent by hand, wherein upon the displacement of the implant, the implant will generally maintain the shape to which it has been displaced. |
| US08398715B2 |
High performance knee prostheses with converging anterior and posterior portions
Knee prostheses featuring components that more faithfully replicate the structure and function of the human knee joint in order to provide, among other benefits: greater flexion of the knee in a more natural way by promoting or at least accommodating internal tibial rotation in a controlled way, replication of the natural screw home mechanism, and controlled articulation of the tibia and femur respective to each other in a more natural way. In a preferred embodiment, such prostheses include an insert component disposed between a femoral component and a tibial component, the insert component preferably featuring among other things a reversely contoured posterolateral bearing surface that helps impart internal rotation to the tibia as the knee flexes. Other surfaces can also be specially shaped to achieve similar results, preferably using iterative automated techniques that allow testing and iterative design taking into account a manageable set of major forces acting on the knee during normal functioning, together with information that is known about natural knee joint kinetics and kinematics. |
| US08398713B2 |
Expandable fusion device and method of installation thereof
The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a central ramp, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the central ramp capable of being moved in a first direction to move the first and second endplates outwardly and into an expanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed down an endoscopic tube. |
| US08398712B2 |
Intervertebral prosthetic disc with shock absorption
A prosthetic disc for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes upper and lower plates and a core having upper and lower curved surfaces disposed between the plates. At least one of the plates and/or the core includes a resilient material for absorbing shock or other forces applied by vertebrae. Optionally, resilient support members may be disposed within the resilient material to connect two portions of a plate or the core. Such support members may be springs, cylinders, wires or other resilient structures. The resilient material is held within the core or plate(s) via a surrounding retaining structure, such as a membrane. The resilient material disposed in one or more components of the prosthetic disc provides for shock absorption. |
| US08398709B2 |
Accommodating intraocular lens (AIOL) capsules
Accommodating intraocular lens (AIOL) capsules having a continuously variable Diopter strength between a first Diopter strength in a non-compressed state and a second Diopter strength different than its first Diopter strength in a compressed state. The AIOL capsules include an anterior capsule plate, a posterior capsule plate, and a capsule ring for bounding a hermetic cavity filled with a capsule filling. The anterior capsule plate is intended to anteriorly bulge along the human eye's visual axis on application of an axial compression force against the posterior capsule plate from a posterior direction. |
| US08398708B2 |
Retaining mechanisms for prosthetic valves
Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems used to deliver a prosthetic heart valve to a deficient valve. In one embodiment, for instance, a support member is positioned to at least partially surround the native leaflets of a valve. A locking member is used to couple both ends of the support member, forming a support band. An expandable prosthetic heart valve is delivered into the native heart valve and expanded while the expandable prosthetic valve is at least partially within the support band, thereby causing one or more of the native leaflets of the native heart valve to be frictionally secured between the support band and the expanded prosthetic heart valve. |
| US08398703B2 |
Devices and methods for magnetic tissue support
Devices and methods are disclosed for providing tissue support within the body. A metallic component and a magnetic component are used and allowed to interact through the body of the tissue such that the attractive forces between these components provides the external support needed by that tissue to properly function within its position. Such a technique is described with respect to the particular example of correction of aneurysms. |
| US08398702B2 |
Molybdenum endoprostheses
An endoprosthesis can have a member that includes molybdenum and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, rhenium, yttrium, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, tungsten, tantalum, iridium, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, chromium, and combinations thereof. The member can have a microstructure characterized by: (a) a molybdenum-rich base region comprising at least 50 weight percent molybdenum, (b) a surface region comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, rhenium, yttrium, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, tungsten, tantalum, iridium, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, chromium, and combinations thereof, and (c) an inter-diffusion region in which the concentration of molybdenum decreases in the thickness direction from the molybdenum-rich base region to the surface region of the member. |
| US08398700B2 |
Intravascular flow modifier and reinforcement device and deployment system for same
A stent includes a cylindrical frame consisting of a series of helical winds containing a pattern of alternating zigzag bends. The frame may be made of resilient wire or from a piece of laser cut hypo tubing by placing the stent over a notched portion of a pusher catheter member, and retained on the pusher catheter member by a release wire threaded through the pusher catheter member and over the stent. The stent may also be deployed by placing the stent over a pusher catheter member having opposing notched portions, and retaining the stent and pusher catheter member in a delivery catheter, which can be withdrawn when stent reaches the site to be treated to release the stent. |
| US08398698B2 |
Bifurcated stent delivery system
The present invention is drawn to a system and/or device for deploying a stent at a bifurcation. In one embodiment, the system and/or device for deploying a stent at a bifurcation may include a dual balloon catheter may include an elongate catheter body. Some dual balloon catheters may have a first proximal balloon and a second balloon bonded to at least a portion of the elongate catheter body. In some cases, a guide wire port may be positioned between the first and second balloons. |
| US08398696B2 |
Microcatheter introducer sheath
The present invention includes an introducer sheath. The sheath may comprise a first proximal elongated section having a first outer diameter and a first inner diameter, and a main body elongated section having a second inner diameter and a second outer diameter, wherein the second outer diameter is larger than the first outer diameter. The sheath may further include a distal section having an outer wall that tapers from the second outer diameter of the main body elongated section to a smaller distal outer diameter. |
| US08398686B2 |
Method and apparatus for minimally invasive subcutaneous treatment of long bone fractures
The instant invention is a novel method and construct for temporary or definitive minimally invasive treatment of broken long bones such as a femur or humerus. The method includes the steps of tunneling an elongated plate subcutaneously in the subcutaneous fat layer parallel to the fractured long bone; and attaching the ends of the elongated plate to the fractured long bone. The elongated plate remains disposed in the subcutaneous fat layer and away from, but parallel to the long bone once attached to the long bone. |
| US08398685B2 |
Transbuccal plate holding cannula
The present invention relates to a transbuccal plate holding cannula used in osteofixation procedures. The transbuccal plate holding cannula of the present invention can be releasably secured to a bone plate such that tools and fasteners may be passed through the plate holding cannula in order to secure the bone plate to a bone. |
| US08398683B2 |
Rod coupling assembly and methods for bone fixation
A coupling device for securing an elongate member to the spine is provided. The coupling device comprises a compressible inner member that secures an anchor member therein when the inner member is axially shifted within an outer member. Structures are provided to prevent disassembly of the anchor and coupling device prior to locking of the elongate member. |
| US08398682B2 |
Polyaxial bone screw assembly
A polyaxial bone screw assembly includes a threaded shank body having an upper head portion with a mating segment and a first partial spherical surface, a retainer structure being mateable with the mating segment of the upper head portion, the retainer structure having a second partial spherical surface such that when mated, the first and second partial spherical surfaces form a spherical ball member, a receiver defining an open channel and having a base with a seating surface partially defining a cavity, the open channel communicating with the cavity, the cavity communicating with an exterior of the base through an opening sized and shaped to receive the shank upper head portion therethrough, and a bushing sized and shaped to fit within open channel and cavity, the bushing having a lower rounded surface engageable with a top surface of the spherical ball member formed by the shank and retainer structure. |
| US08398672B2 |
Method for anchoring a medical device
A method and an apparatus for anchoring a medical implant device within a blood vessel or other body passageway are described herein. An anchor delivery system houses one or more expandable anchors connected to the medical implant device. The anchors remain housed in a non-expanded configuration until the medical implant device has been placed in a desired position within the body, and then the anchors are propelled through a body wall where each anchor expands outwardly from an anchor shaft. In one configuration, each anchor is formed as a compressible closed loop which extends outwardly from an anchor shaft and loops back to cross over and extend beyond the anchor shaft. To propel the anchors, a drive shaft is connected to a triggering unit which, when activated, causes the drive shaft to drive the anchor shafts in a direction such that the anchors are propelled through the body wall. |
| US08398666B2 |
Penetrating tip for trocar assembly
A tissue penetrating instrument of the type used in the medical field and which may or may not be embodied in the form of an obturator associated with a trocar assembly, wherein the instrument includes an elongated shaft having a penetrating tip mounted on one end thereof. The penetrating tip includes a base secured to the one end of the shaft and a distal extremity spaced longitudinally outward from the base and formed into an apex which may be defined by a point or other configuration specifically structured to facilitate penetration or puncturing of bodily tissue. The apex may be substantially aligned with a linear extension of the central longitudinal axis of the shaft or alternatively, may be spaced laterally outward or off-set from the central longitudinal axis of the shaft. The penetrating tip further includes an exterior surface extending continuously between the apex and the base and configured to facilitate puncturing of the tissue and an enlargement of an access opening formed in the tissue, in a manner which facilitates separation of the tissue and minimizes cutting, severing or otherwise damaging the contiguous bodily tissue surrounding the access opening. |
| US08398663B2 |
Valvulotome device and method
Valvulotome devices and methods are provided. Valvulotome devices include one or more valvulotome arms that have a u-shaped curved body with opposing arms and a base portion that extends between the arms. The valvulotome arm defines a notch open at one end on one of the arms and extending into the base portion of the u-shaped curved body. The notch defines an angled surface that provides a cutting edge. Methods of making valvulotome devices are also described. |
| US08398660B2 |
Suturing instrument
The suturing instrument includes an elongate member having an articulating distal portion biased offset from the elongate member, and a sheath slideably disposed about the elongate member. The user positions the sheath in contact with the articulating distal portion to actuate the distal portion relative to the elongate member. The articulating distal portion is pivotally coupled to the elongate member for improved maneuverability within the body of a patient during surgical procedures. |
| US08398659B2 |
Method of intracorporeally suturing tissue
A method of intracorporeally suturing a patient includes engaging tissue with a suturing head retaining a needle, forming an opening in the tissue with the needle, and pushing the needle into a through-bore formed in a capsule that is attached to a leading end of a suture and pulling the capsule and the leading end of a suture through the opening. The method additionally includes securing a clasp attached to a trailing end of the suture to an implantable support, and pulling on the suture and implanting the support inside the patient. |
| US08398651B2 |
Viscoelastic applicator for IOL insertion apparatus
A system for preparing an intraocular lens (IOL) injector for receipt of an IOL. A manifold mates with an injector cartridge and easily distributes a lubricating agent to a load chamber of the cartridge. The IOL is then transferred into the load chamber. The cartridge may be rotatably coupled to the handpiece, and then converted from a preparation and load position to a delivery position. The manifold may remain external to the load chamber or fit within the load chamber and include a handle that remains outside. One or more internal channels in the manifold lead from one or more inlet ports to surfaces in the load chamber than contact the IOL. |
| US08398649B2 |
Articulating transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion inserter device and associated method of use
The present invention provides an articulating TLIF inserter device operable for placing, positioning, and inserting a spinal implant into an intervertebral space with minimum tissue disruption and maximum inline impaction forces, including: an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axis; an ergonomic handle disposed at the proximal end of the elongate shaft; an articulating joint mechanism disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft; and an inserter piece coupled to the articulating joint mechanism, wherein the inserter piece is operable for selectively retaining the spinal implant, and wherein the articulating joint mechanism is operable for selectively actuating the inserter piece between one or more substantially off-axis configurations and a substantially on-axis configuration with respect to the elongate shaft. The articulating TLIF inserter device also includes a release mechanism disposed one of at and near the ergonomic handle, wherein the release mechanism is coupled to and operable for selectively actuating the articulating joint mechanism. |
| US08398639B2 |
Minimally invasive surgical driver
A surgical driver including an open frame and a plurality of drive shafts rotatably routed in said open frame. |
| US08398636B2 |
Hip fracture device with barrel and end cap for load control
A hip fracture device providing distance limited dynamization, load controlled dynamization and combinations of both dynamization methods by varying components. The hip fracture device includes a plate having a head portion and a shaft portion. A barrel projects from the head portion of the plate and a screw is inserted in the barrel. A friction pin is slidably connected with the screw, and an end cap is fixed to the head portion of the plate. The friction pin is fixedly connected with the end cap. The screw slides over the friction pin and toward the end cap when a load is applied on the fracture device. The load required for further sliding of the screw over the friction pin increases incrementally as the screw slides towards the end cap. |
| US08398633B2 |
Jaw roll joint
A surgical instrument includes a handle, and an elongated shaft extending from the handle. An end effector extending from the elongated shaft is in communication with a source of electrosurgical energy and defines an end effector axis. A roll joint couples the end effector to the elongated shaft and includes a first tubular structure extending distally from the elongated shaft and a second tubular structure rotatably coupled to the first tubular structure. The second tubular structure supports the end effector such that the end effector is rotatable about the end effector axis. A cable wrap volume may be disposed within one of the first and second tubular structures, and a conductor for supplying the end effector with electrosurgical energy is coiled about the end effector axis within the cable wrap volume such that rotation of the end effector about the end effector axis in a first direction unwinds the conductor. |
| US08398629B2 |
Low-profile, expanding single needle ablation probe
Tissue ablation probes, systems, and methods are provided for treating tissue (e.g., a tumor). The probe comprises an inner probe shaft, and an outer probe shaft disposed around the inner probe shaft. The outer probe shaft has a distal portion fixably mounted to the inner probe shaft, and a proximal portion rotatably mounted to the inner probe shaft. The probe further comprises a coiled ablation electrode disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The electrode is configured for unwinding when the proximal portion rotates about the inner probe shaft in one direction, thereby placing the electrode in a radially expanded geometry, and configured for winding when the proximal portion rotates about the inner probe shaft in another opposite direction, thereby placing the electrode in a radially collapsed geometry. |
| US08398627B2 |
Electrosurgical generator and system
An electrosurgical system has an electrosurgical generator with a multiple-phase RF output stage coupled to a multiple-electrode electrosurgical instrument. The instrument has three treatment electrodes each of which is coupled to a respective generator output driven from, for instance, a three-phase output transformer. Continuous RF output voltage waveforms are simultaneously delivered to respective generator outputs at the operating frequency, each waveform being phase-displaced with respect to the other waveforms. The magnitude of the RF output voltage waveform delivered to at least one of the generator outputs is sufficient to cause tissue vaporisation at the respective treatment electrodes when the system is used for tissue treatment. Also disclosed is an electrosurgical generator in combination with an instrument having both bipolar coagulation electrodes and a remote return pad, the generator including means for varying the RF voltage outputs to vary the relative preponderance of bipolar and monopolar coagulation. |
| US08398626B2 |
Electrosurgical system employing multiple electrodes
A system for heat ablation of tissue, the system comprising a radiofrequency source configured to supply RF energy to at least two electrodes for treating tissue, at least one return electrode configured to return the RF energy to the radiofrequency source, a controller configured to sequentially apply the RF energy to each of the at least two electrodes for a pre-determinable period of time and circuitry configured to switch the RF energy to an internal load. The RF energy is applied simultaneously to the internal load and at least one of the at least two electrodes. The controller is configured to apply the RF energy to the next electrode in the sequence when the amount of time the applied RF energy is off is greater than a predetermined minimum off time. |
| US08398622B2 |
Portable optical ablation system
The present invention includes an apparatus and method of surgical ablative material removal “in-vivo” or from an outside surface with a short optical pulse that is amplified and compressed using either an optically-pumped-amplifier and air-path between gratings compressor combination or a SOA and chirped fiber compressor combination, wherein the generating, amplifying and compressing are done within a portable system. |
| US08398621B2 |
Device for treating the skin
A device for treating the skin, for instance for removing body hair. The device includes a working head, which includes an irradiating device for irradiating the skin surface to be treated, preferably by means of light; a contact surface surrounding the irradiating device for supporting the working head on the skin surface; and a safety device for controlling the irradiation and/or for providing a safety signal. The safety device includes a recording device for recording the support of the working head on the skin surface. The contact surface defines a bell-like pressure and/or sound chamber and the recording device encompasses an impermeability sensor device for determining the over-pressure and/or sound impermeability of the pressure and/or sound chamber. |
| US08398617B2 |
Tools and methods for programming an implantable valve
Integrated tools for noninvasively reading and adjusting an implantable, magnetically adjustable valve, and methods of use are disclosed. The tools include magnetic or electronic reading of the valve, and magnetic or electromagnetic adjustment of the valve. In use, the tools are positioned above or in contact with the patient's skin, in proximity to the valve. |
| US08398616B2 |
Safety layer for integrated insulin delivery system
An integrated diabetes management (IDM) system includes a safety layer which, in one configuration has two components, one located between a glucose sensor and a controller and a second component located between a controller and a pump, to monitor various aspects of signals and modify those signals for compatibility and safety purposes. In one application, the safety layer receives output control signals from a controller and modifies those control signals as a function of an actual amount of insulin delivered to the user. The safety layer allows for an increased level of safety in the IDM system and permits development of separate hardware and software upgrades with the safety layer assuring that compatibility between components will continue. |
| US08398615B2 |
Packaging for a medical article and a catheter in such a packaging
The invention provides a packaging for a medical article e.g. for a urinary catheter. The medical article is stored in a compartment and can be accessed by detaching a first element from a second element thereby forming an opening into the compartment. The first element comprises a suction cup or another fastening element by which the packaging is attachable to a surface. Due to the structure of the packaging, it can be supported in an orientation in which the opening is remote from the surface, and risk of contamination of the medical article can therefore be reduced during removal of the article from the packaging. |
| US08398603B2 |
Leak sensor
The present invention relates to a method and dressing for detecting detachment of the dressing, which is applied to a surface of an at least partly electrically conductive object. The dressing comprises an adhesive for attaching the dressing to the electrically conductive object and at least two electrodes arranged in a distance from the electrically conductive object. A voltage is applied to the first and second electrode establishing an electrical circuit comprising a first capacitor between the first electrode and the electrically conductive object and a second capacitor between the second electrode and the electrically conductive object. Changes of the capacitance between at least one of the first and the second electrode and the electrically conductive object are detected, and an alarm is activated when the changes of the capacitance reach a predetermined value. This advantageously provides a method whereby a leak can be detected quickly. Furthermore, this advantageously provides a leak sensor with no direct physical or mechanical contact between the electrically conductive object, e.g. the skin, and the electrodes. This provides for a dressing comprising a leak sensor without compromising the comfort of the user. |
| US08398601B2 |
Puncturable membrane for safety syringe
A safety syringe may define a variable fluid chamber and detached needle assembly. The variable fluid chamber may be hermetically sealed off from the environment or ambient air until the needle assembly is attached to a syringe body of the safety syringe. A proximal end of the variable fluid chamber is sealed off from the environment via a seal between a piston and syringe body. The distal end of the variable fluid chamber may be sealed off from the environment via a barrier covering the distal end of the syringe body. The barrier may be punctured to allow fluid to through therethrough at or about the same time when the needle assembly is attached to the distal end portion of the syringe body. |
| US08398600B2 |
Prefilled syringe
Provided is a prefilled syringe comprising, as a resin constituting at least a barrel and a joint, a polyester resin that contains a diol unit having a cyclic acetal skeleton in an amount of from 1 to 30% by mol based on diol units and a dicarboxylic acid unit having a naphthalene skeleton in an amount of 70% by mol or more based on dicarboxylic acid units, and satisfies the following parameters: (i) a glass transition temperature of 110° C. or more measured with a differential scanning calorimeter, (ii) a moisture permeation coefficient of 1 g·mm/m2/day or less, and (iii) an oxygen permeation coefficient of 10 cc·mm/m2/day/atm or less. |
| US08398592B2 |
Medication data transfer system and method for patient infusions
A system and method are provided to associate a medication name with an infusion pump and to communicate that association to a patient data management system (“PDMS”) for display and monitoring. In the case where the infusion pump does not contain a library of selectable medical fluid names that includes the name of the medical fluid to be infused, a separate computer will display a list of medical fluid names for the infusion pump and the operator may select the name of the medical fluid for that infusion pump. The computer will then continually associate that medical fluid name with that infusion pump and communicate the association to the PDMS. In the case where the infusion pump is capable of accepting an upload of new medical fluid names, the computer will upload an abbreviated list of fluid names so as not to overburden the computer with the transfer of large amounts of data. |
| US08398582B2 |
Fluid pressure sensing chamber
A pressure sensing chamber having a tubing extension with a reduced diameter portion extending through the chamber. The tubing contains a plurality of ports so as to allow the purging of air from the chamber, but the ports are sized so that bubbles entering the tubing cannot easily flow into the chamber. The reduced diameter portion creates a pressure differential between the holes. This differential pressure creates flow through the chamber under high liquid flow and turbulent liquid flow events. |
| US08398578B1 |
Capsule friendly tips for phacoemulsification and for irrigation/aspiration
A surgical tool whose shaft terminates into a tip having a smooth, rounded edge and that has pores on its top or side, but none one the underside of its base. There may be a flattened base indicative of the shape of a bubble, basket, funnel, circular disc, oblong shape, Maltese cross or mulberry. The pores may be directed backward. A spring spiral may be provided within the shaft to exert a spring bias. The globe may be in the form of a sleeve fitted over a conventional phacoemulsification tip and needs to be positioned to keep the phacoemulsification tip from contacting the sleeve during operation. Alternatively, the globe may be part of a tip itself. |
| US08398576B2 |
Removal of contrast agents from blood
The invention provides a system and a method for removal of contrast from blood. In one aspect, the invention provides a catheter for removal of contrast from the veins that drain the cerebral circulation. In a second aspect, the invention provides a method for removing contrast from blood by contacting the blood with a sorbent. |
| US08398568B2 |
Methods and instruments for assessing bone fracture risk
Methods and instruments for assessing bone, for example fracture risk, in a subject in which a test probe is inserted through the skin of the subject so that the test probe contacts the subject's bone and the resistance of the test bone to microscopic fracture by the test probe is determined. Macroscopic bone fracture risk is assessed by measuring the resistance of the bone to microscopic fractures caused by the test probe. The microscopic fractures are so small that they pose negligible health risks. The instrument may also be useful in characterizing other materials, especially if it is necessary to penetrate a layer to get to the material to be characterized. |
| US08398562B2 |
Ear canal pressurization device
An ear canal pressurization device optimized for aural acoustic immittance testing is disclosed. Changes in volume of a first flexible chamber, due to motor movement, produce changes in ear canal pressure based on Boyle's law. A vent may be opened to allow ear canal pressure to gently equalize to ambient air pressure or to generate ear canal pressure sweeps free of pressure baseline offset. The vent may be closed to set a static ear canal pressure or to generate ear canal pressure sweeps with an incidental baseline offset. The vent may be controlled to generate ear canal pressure sweeps with an intended baseline offset. The device produces ear canal pressure proportional to drive voltage, so any desired pressure versus time function can be generated by applying a coil driving voltage with the appropriate amplitude versus time function. |
| US08398556B2 |
Systems and methods for non-invasive continuous blood pressure determination
According to some embodiments, systems and methods are provided for non-invasive continuous blood pressure determination. In some embodiments, a PPG signal is received and locations of pulses within the PPG signal are identified. An area within a particular pulse is measured. The area may be of just the upstroke, downstroke or the entire pulse. The area may be measured relative to a time-domain axis or a baseline of the pulse. The pulse may be split into multiple sections and the area of each section may be measured. The area of one portion of the pulse may correspond to systolic blood pressure while the area of another portion may correspond to diastolic blood pressure. Empirical data may be used to determine blood pressure from the measured area by applying calibration data measured by a suitable device. |
| US08398555B2 |
System and method for detecting ventilatory instability
Embodiments described herein may include systems and methods for detecting events that may be associated with sleep apnea. Some embodiments are directed to a system and/or method for automated detection of reduction in airflow events using polysomnograph signals, wherein the reduction in airflow events may relate to sleep apnea. The PSG signals may be limited to four signals, including data from an airflow channel, a blood oxygen saturation channel, a chest movement channel, and an abdomen movement channel. Using information from these channels, some embodiments may automatically identify reduction in airflow events. |
| US08398550B2 |
Techniques to evaluate mechanical properties of a biologic material
A system includes an acoustic radiation force source that is structured to generate an acoustic radiation force at one or more frequencies. A shear wave transmission device is embedded in a mass including a biologic material. The shear wave transmission device is responsive to the acoustic radiation force source to transmit shear waves through the biologic material. A Doppler ultrasonic device detects the shear waves and generates data representative of the shear waves. A processing device determines one or more mechanical properties of the biologic material from the data. |
| US08398548B2 |
Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and ultrasound diagnostic method
In an ultrasound diagnosis, the inventor has found a characteristic that coincidence of RF data after matching addition or amplitude image data at the small opening are different between those of an isolated point (minute structure), a continuous surface, and a speckle. On the basis of the characteristic, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and method which can distinguish and extract the isolated point, the continuous surface, and the speckle and determine a tissue property are provided. |
| US08398543B2 |
Capsule endoscope activation system
A capsule endoscope that includes a capsule-shaped casing and a detecting unit that is provided inside the casing to detect a magnetic field orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the casing, the endoscope being activated when the detecting unit detects a magnetic field of a threshold or more; a capsule container that houses the endoscope; a route portion in which a route is formed on which the container moves on a planar face; an activation magnetic field generating unit that is arranged at an interval along the route, and includes magnets for generating magnetic fields in a direction vertical to a direction in which the container moves on the route, the magnets being arranged such that respective magnetization directions are different; and a response unit that has a magnetization direction orthogonal respectively to a center axis direction of the longitudinal direction and a direction of the detected magnetic field. |
| US08398533B2 |
Paper folding apparatus and postprocessing apparatus using the same
A paper folding apparatus includes a ruling unit that rules a line on each of sheets, a pushing unit that pushes the sheets on which the lines are ruled by the ruling unit, and a pair of folding rollers that comes into contact under pressure with the sheets pushed by the pushing unit and discharges the sheets. The ruling unit includes a plurality of pressing blades for ruling a line on each of the sheets, a swinging unit that swings the pressing blades from a pressing position where the pressing blade presses the sheets to a retracted position where the pressing blades are retracted from the sheets, and a moving unit that moves the pressing blades and the swinging unit along the sheets. |
| US08398531B2 |
Apparatus for global corporal mobilization and use thereof
An apparatus for overall bodily mobilization of a human subject may include a frame for resting fixed on the ground, a platform for supporting the subject that can be moved relative to the frame, and motorized operating means for operating the platform relative to the frame. The operating means may be configured to both (1) throw the platform offcenter relative to a fixed axis substantially vertical and (2) rotate the platform about the fixed axis when the platform is offcenter. The platform may be provided with movable peripheral bearing means on corresponding supporting means that are secured to the frame. The bearing means may enable the platform to rest on the frame while tilting it in an adjustable manner relative to the horizontal in a plane passing through the fixed axis and a central zone of the platform when the operating means throw the platform offcenter relative to this axis. |
| US08398530B1 |
Exercise device
An exercise device has a bar with attached two arms which press by their free ends with sharp elements against and dig into the ground on the left and right sides of person's body when person is laying on his back and together with rope block and rope with stirrups create support and leverage to lift person's legs and in some cases almost whole body above the ground in the air. Positioning the free ends of the arms in different places along a person's body gives possibility to redistribute tension between person's arms, legs and stomach muscles and creates different intensity of exercises. The numerous stretching and straining exercises can be accomplished by interaction between exercise device and person's legs and hands using body weight. The exercise device has freedom of movement and its arms' ends are not permanently connected to the ground or to anything else. The mobility of the device gives possibility to exercise while laying in bed for partially paralyzed persons to rehabilitate their condition without assistance. A few versions of this device can have capabilities of quick adjustment and to fold the device to a compact size. |
| US08398528B2 |
Spinal correction device
A spinal correction device that corrects the spinal column of a user comprising a lower limb exercising part that swings the lumber region to impart a symmetrical motion to positions symmetrical with respect to the spinal column of a user facing forward with his or her trunk erect, a pair of gripping parts provided in a position in front of the lower limb exercising part and gripped by both hands of the user, and a control unit that relatively moves the gripping parts with respect to the lower limb exercising part between the position in front of the lower limb exercising part and a lateral position, with the lower limb exercising part in a driven state. |
| US08398527B2 |
Method for controlling a dual-clutch transmission
A method of controlling a dual-clutch transmission in a motor vehicle, including two partial drivetrains, each having a plurality of gears, which each can be connected to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine by a friction clutch, the method having the following steps: the first friction clutch transmits a torque to the first partial drivetrain assigned to it; the second friction clutch transmits at most a negligible torque to the second partial drivetrain; and the two partial drivetrains have a common differential, where when there are changes in torque and the amount of torque to be transmitted is low, and there is downshifting into a gear with a high transmission ratio in the first partial drivetrain, downshifting occurs into a gear with a low transmission ratio in the second partial drivetrain, and preliminary torque is applied to the differential by this gear. |
| US08398526B2 |
Vehicle launch using a transmission clutch
A method for controlling a transmission input clutch during a vehicle launch includes determining a desired clutch torque, a desired engine torque, a desired vehicle acceleration and a desired engine speed, determining a change in clutch torque and a change in engine torque with reference to the first and second errors and current operating conditions, applying to the clutch an updated clutch torque capacity whose magnitude is the sum of the desired clutch torque and the change in engine torque, and producing an updated engine torque whose magnitude is the sum of the desired engine torque and the change in engine torque. |
| US08398525B2 |
Planetary gear reduction system
A planetary gear reduction system has a sun gear, a plurality of planet gears, a ring gear, and a planet carrier. The planet carrier has a first plate supporting one ends of planet shafts supporting the planet gears, a second plate supporting the other ends of the planet shafts, and a cylindrical drum connecting the first and second plates. The first plate has first portions supporting the one ends of the planet shafts; second portions connecting the first plate to the drum, the first and second portions being provided alternately in a circumferential direction; first cutouts each defined between the neighboring first and second portions, the first cutouts each extending radially inwardly from a circumferential edge thereof to a position adjacent a circle passing centers of the planet shafts; and second cutouts each defined radially inward of the second portion and between the neighboring two first portions, the second cutouts each extending radially inwardly from a first region outside the circle and a second region inside the circle. |
| US08398523B2 |
Drivetrain for an all-wheel-drive vehicle, and method for controlling the same
A drivetrain for an all-wheel-drive vehicle which has a first driven axle and a second driven axle. A drive unit is connected to a multi-stage transmission which has a multiplicity of gear stages for generating different transmission ratios. A transmission output shaft of the multi-stage transmission is connected to the first driven axle. The drive unit is also connected to an activating arrangement, the output element of which is connected to the second driven axle. Thus drive power can be supplied to the first axle permanently via the multi-stage transmission and drive power can be supplied to the second axle on demand via the activating arrangement.The activating arrangement has a first activating friction clutch and a second activating friction clutch which are designed to supply drive power to the second axle via a first and a second transmission ratio stage, respectively. The first transmission ratio stage is assigned to at least one lower gear stage of the multi-stage transmission. The second transmission ratio stage is assigned to at least one higher gear stage of the multi-stage transmission. |
| US08398522B2 |
Multi-stage gearbox
A multi-stage transmission comprising planetary gearsets (P1, P2, P3, P4), shafts, and shift elements. Gearsets (P1, P2) form a front -mounted gear gearset and gearsets (P3, P4) form a main gearset. The carriers of gearsets (P1, P2) are coupled via shaft (4) which couples a main gearset element. The ring gear of gearset (P1) couples the sun gear of gearset (P2) via shaft (8) that couples drive shaft (1) via clutch (18). The sun gear of gearset (P1) couples housing (G) by shaft (3) via brake (03), and shaft (1) via clutch (13). The ring gear of gearset (P2) couples housing (G) by shaft (5) via brake (05). Shaft (7) couples main gearset element, and, via brake (07), housing (G). Shaft (6) couples another main gearset element and, via clutch (16), shaft (1). The output shaft couples a further main gearset element. |
| US08398521B2 |
Mechanical torque converter
The invention discloses a mechanical torque converter (100) having a casing (6), an input shaft (2) entering casing (6) and rotatable within the casing (6). An output shaft (5) exits casing (6) and is rotatable within casing (6). A gearbox (1) is located within casing (6) and coupled to input shaft (2). An escapement device (3) is within casing (6) and coupled to gearbox (1) to brake gearbox (1) under low speed and a clutch (4) co-operates with output shaft (5) and gearbox (1). |
| US08398520B1 |
Drive axle assembly and disengagement system
A drive axle assembly that may include an input shaft, an output shaft, a lock collar, and a pinion. The actuator unit may move the lock collar between a first position in which the torque is transmitted from the input shaft to the pinion and a second position in which torque is not transmitted to the pinion. |
| US08398512B2 |
Toothed belt pulley
The invention describes a belt pulley (1) for a wet belt application, with a pulley body (2) comprising toothing (5) incorporating teeth (6) on an end face (4) for a toothed belt, and a tooth gap (7) with a tooth gap base (12) is disposed between every two teeth (6), and optionally with at least one flange (3), which is disposed—in the axial direction—on the side of the pulley body (2) and extends beyond the toothing (5) in the radial direction. Grooves (9) are provided in the region of the tooth gap base (12) and/or on an inner surface (8) of the flange (3) facing the toothing (5) for feeding away a lubricant. |
| US08398509B2 |
Basketball backboard and rim mounting system
Certain embodiments of the present system deal with a basketball goal assembly which adjustably supports a backboard assembly and a rim assembly to enable players to play the game of basketball. In certain preferred aspects, the rim assembly is connected directly to the support arrangement so that force applied to the rim assembly is transmitted directly to the support assembly and is not transferred to the backboard assembly. |
| US08398508B2 |
Method for predicting a golfer's ball striking performance
A method for a predicting golfer's performance is disclosed herein. The method inputs the pre-impact swing properties of a golfer obtained from a CMOS imaging system, a plurality of mass properties of a first golf club, and a plurality of mass properties of a first golf ball into a rigid body code. Ball launch parameters are generated from the rigid body. The ball launch parameters, a plurality of atmospheric conditions and lift and drag properties of the golf ball are inputted into a trajectory code. This trajectory code is used to predict the performance of a golf ball if struck by the golfer with the golf club under the atmospheric conditions. The method can then predict the performance of the golf ball if struck by the golfer with a different golf club. The method and system of the present invention predict the performance of the golf ball without the golfer actually striking the golf ball. |
| US08398505B2 |
Golf club assembly and golf club with aerodynamic features
A golf club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, and a skirt extending between the crown and the sole and between the toe and the heel. The club head includes a drag-reducing structure that may include one or both of a continuous groove extending from a front portion to a rear edge of the toe, and along an entire length of the skirt, and a substantially V-shaped recess formed in the sole and having a vertex positioned proximate the ball striking face and the heel and away from the skirt and the toe, and a pair of legs extending to a point proximate the toe and away from the ball striking face, and curving toward the skirt and away from the ball striking face. |
| US08398500B1 |
Golf game system
The present invention features a golf game system 100 comprising a mat 210 for placing on a ground surface; a post 110 disposed at a first position on the mat, wherein the post 110 functioning as a target, wherein disposed on a first end of the pole 110 is a scoreboard system 220; and a first camera 310 extending from the first end of the pole 110 in a first direction, and a second camera 320 extending from the first end of the pole 110 in a second direction, wherein the cameras function to localize the ball and calculate its position. |
| US08398499B2 |
Rotary game table
A rotary game table includes a combination game table, two side support members, and at least one cross member. The combination game table includes one type of game on one side and another type of game on the other side. The at least one cross member is terminated on each end by a single side support member. The combination game table is pivotally retained by one side support member on each end thereof. A locking device is used to pivotally constrain rotation of the combination game table. At least one table cross member is used to internally brace the combination game table with at least one air passage formed therethrough. In another embodiment, a substantially U-shaped side member is attached to one cross member and one end of the two side support members. In another embodiment, a collapsible support is used to increase rigidity of the side support members. |
| US08398498B2 |
Suspension swing device
A suspension swing device includes a supporting beam (3) of a supporting bracket (1), a suspended joint (4) fixed on the supporting beam (3) via bearings, a suspended swing stems (41), a gear motor (5), a torque output plate (55), a swing pushing member (54), a swing direction monitor (6) and a microcomputer controller (7). The suspended swing stem (41) is mechanically connected with the suspended joint (4). The gear motor (5) is mechanically connected with the supporting beam (3). The torque output plate (55) and the swing pushing member (54) are connected to the output shaft of the gear motor (5). The microcomputer controller (7) is connected with the swing direction monitor (6) and the gear motor (5). The on-off operation of the gear motor (5) is controlled by the microcomputer controller (7). |
| US08398496B2 |
Ball coupling device with hinged connection for two sliding shafts
The invention relates to a device for coupling an inner shaft and an outer shaft sliding in the direction of a common axis thereof, with balls provided between the two shafts. The balls are arranged in axial grooves of the inner shaft and in axial grooves of the outer shaft. Each row of balls is maintained by a double elastic member that bears in the groove of the inner shaft and urges the balls along two rolling tracks so that they come into contact with the groove of the outer shaft, wherein each of the two rolling tracks is hinged through a pivot surface and a bearing surface of the corresponding shaft, and the difference between the radii defines two bearing areas defining a hinge axis parallel to the common axis. |
| US08398495B2 |
Coupling device for rotationally coupling drive shaft and driven shaft
A coupling device comprises a drive portion formed on a drive shaft and having a drive wall surface extending in the direction of a rotation axis; a driven portion formed on a driven shaft and having a driven wall surface extending in the direction of the rotation axis; a convex curved portion formed on one of the drive wall surface and the driven wall surface and extending along the rotation axis at a position spaced from the rotation axis as viewed in the direction of the rotation axis; and a concave curved portion having a smaller curvature than that of the convex curved portion and formed on the other of the drive wall surface and the driven wall surface to contact the convex curved portion and extending along the rotation axis at a position spaced from the rotation axis as viewed in the direction of the rotation axis. |
| US08398487B2 |
Game device, method of controlling game device, program, and information storage medium
Provided is a game device which allows a reduction in processing load relating to the control of player characters belonging to one team, in a case where any one of player characters belonging to another team is in possession of a moving object. A selecting section (52a) selects one or more player characters from among player characters belonging to the team which is not in possession of a moving object. A player character control section (52) controls such that the player character selected by the selecting section (52a) approaches the moving object. In a case where the moving object or the player character in possession of the moving object is located within a restriction region, a restricting section (56) imposes a restriction on the control to be executed by the player character control section (52). A restriction region control section (54a) changes the size of the restriction region based on game situation information. |
| US08398486B2 |
Creating a tunnel between virtual universes
Embodiments of this invention create a mechanism for visual and other communication between two or more separate/distinct 3-dimensional virtual universes (VUs) akin to a “wormhole” or “tunnel”. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention allow a mechanism for a player to walk through such a tunnel, logging out from a first VU and logging into a second VU. Embodiments of the present invention utilize streaming video abilities in both virtual universes and the capability to capture output in a useable format and convert to a d streaming video standard. |
| US08398481B2 |
Secondary game
In various embodiments, a secondary player may bet on the resolution of an event within the game of a primary player. |
| US08398478B2 |
Gaming machine capable of awarding payout based on the number of games played and playing method thereof
The gaming machine: counts the number of base games having been run; causes shifting to a second state which is more advantageous for a player than the base game, when a first predetermined number of base games is counted without shifting to the first state which is more advantageous for the player than the base game; runs a skill-requiring game after the second state, which game outputs a result according to an operation from outside, and increases or decreases a second predetermined number according to a result of the skill-requiring game; runs the base game after the skill-requiring game; and causes shifting to a third state which is more advantageous for the player than the base game, when the increased or decreased second predetermined number of base games having run are counted after the skill-requiring game. |
| US08398476B1 |
Electronic game, such as a computer game involving removing pegs
Peggle is a game that balances skill and luck. The Peggle board is made up of different types of pegs, some of which the player must clear. The player begins a turn by aiming a ball at the pegs. When the player releases the ball, the ball travels through the pegs, contacting some and eventually falling to the bottom of the board. The ball may bounce off many pegs, and those pegs that the ball contacts are removed. A score is calculated based on the number and types of pegs hit during a turn. |
| US08398460B2 |
Apparatus and method for dispensing abrasive particulate material into a stream of gas
Apparatus for dispensing abrasive particulate material into a stream of gas, the apparatus comprising: a. a pressurized hopper for receiving particulate abrasive material; and b. a pressurized conveyor coupled to the hopper comprising a housing having an inlet for receiving particulate material from the hopper, an outlet for delivery of particulate material from the housing, and a screw located within the housing for transporting particulate material from the inlet to the outlet. Also provided is a method of dispensing particulate abrasive using said apparatus and a pipe cleaning system including said apparatus. |
| US08398459B2 |
Polishing method, polishing device, glass substrate for magnetic recording medium, and magnetic recording medium
There are disclosed a polishing method and a polishing device in which cleaning of a glass substrate surface can be achieved to a high level. A glass substrate (MD substrate 1) in the shape of a circular disc having a circular hole in a center portion is polished with an abrasive liquid 50 containing free abrasive grains being supplied, and an inner peripheral end surface of the glass substrate is polished using the abrasive liquid containing the free abrasive grains by rotating a rotary brush 4 or a polishing pad in contact with the inner peripheral end surface. |
| US08398455B2 |
Method of and apparatus for grinding cams of a camshaft
The invention relates to a method and a device for grinding cams of a camshaft (7) in a clamp with two grinding spindles (10, 11), wherein the cams or cam pairs are each arranged in a mirror image relative to the workpiece rotation axis (16), wherein the camshaft (7) is tensioned and rotated about the longitudinal axis thereof. In the device for carrying out the method, the camshaft (7) can be inserted into the workpiece receiver (6) from the side lying opposite the at least one back stay (15) by means of the loading device. |
| US08398453B2 |
Tubular seamless knitted brassiere and method of making same
A seamless knitted brassiere includes a body encircling portion and at least one shoulder strap knit therein. The shoulder strap has a length and a first welt along the length. The shoulder strap also has a second welt along the length and adjacent the first double welt. The shoulder strap also has a novel run guard adjacent either of the two welts. |
| US08398451B2 |
Tactile input interaction
Interactive devices for detecting, characterizing, and acting upon tactile inputs are disclosed. An example embodiment may include a doll configured to produce audible outputs, visible outputs, and/or movement based at least in part upon its characterization of a tactile input. For example, the doll may characterize a tactile input as a slap, a tickle, a rub, a pinch, etc., and the doll may cry, smile, giggle, or move based upon its characterization of the tactile input. |
| US08398448B2 |
Assembling lighting elements onto a substrate
The present application relates to assembling a lighting element (20) onto a substrate (28). To enable exact positioning of the lighting element (20) and further optical components (30), there is provided aligning the lighting element (20) with a support element (22) within one mounting plane P using an auxiliary carrier (24), surface mounting the lighting element (20) together with the support element (22) onto a substrate (28) within one step e.g. by reflow soldering, and mounting a further component (30) onto the support element (22) such that no mechanical stress is applied to the lighting element (20). |
| US08398434B2 |
Connector assembly
A connector assembly includes contact modules each having a dielectric frame and contacts held by the dielectric frame. The contacts are arranged along a contact plane within the frame. The dielectric frame includes frame members connected by connecting segments. The frame has windows between the frame members located between adjacent contacts. Holders support corresponding contact modules. The holders are electrically grounded. The holders each have a support wall and tabs that extend outward from the support wall. The contact modules are coupled to the holders such that the tabs are received in the windows to provide shielding within the contact modules. The holders are coupled together such that the contact modules are stacked together with the tabs of at least some of the holders that extend into the contact module held by the adjacent holder and across the contact plane defined by the contact module of the adjacent holder. |
| US08398433B1 |
Connector structure
A connector structure includes an enclosure; a plurality of ground units arranged in the enclosure and respectively including a carrier plate and a plurality of ground terminals electrically connected to one another and associated with the carrier plate; a plurality of signal units arranged in the enclosure side by side to locate between any two adjacent ones of the ground units, and the signal units respectively including a carrier plate and a plurality of signal terminals associated with the carrier plate; and a ground connecting member connected to the carrier plates of the ground units and the signal units. With these arrangements, the connector has simple structure and can be easily assembled for use, and the ground units are connected to the ground connecting member to thereby effectively prevent electromagnetic interference during signal transmission and ensure increased transmission rate. |
| US08398432B1 |
Grounding structures for header and receptacle assemblies
A receptacle assembly includes a contact module having a conductive holder has a first side and an opposite second side. The conductive holder has a chamber between the first and second sides. A frame assembly is received in the chamber of the conductive holder. The frame assembly includes a plurality of contacts and a dielectric frame supporting the contacts. The contacts extend from the conductive holder for electrical termination. A ground lead frame is received in the chamber between the frame assembly and the conductive holder. The ground leadframe has grounding members that extend from the conductive holder for electrical termination to header shields of the header assembly. |
| US08398431B1 |
Receptacle assembly
A receptacle assembly includes a front housing configured for mating with a header assembly and a contact module coupled to the front housing. The contact module includes a conductive holder having a first side wall and an opposite second side wall and a front coupled to the front housing. The conductive holder holds a frame assembly having a plurality of contacts and a dielectric frame supporting the contacts. The dielectric frame is received in the conductive holder and the contacts extend from the conductive holder for electrical termination. A ground shield is coupled to the first side wall. The ground shield is electrically connected to the conductive holder. The ground shield has grounding beams extending therefrom that extend forward of the front of the conductive holder for electrical connection to an interior surface of a corresponding header shield of the header assembly. The ground shield has grounding fingers extending therefrom forward of the front of the conductive holder for electrical connection to an interior surface of the corresponding header shield of the header assembly. |
| US08398429B2 |
Cable assembly for a connector system
A connector system includes a chassis that has a framework of panels that defines a plurality of cells extending between first ends and second ends. A clip is coupled to the framework within a corresponding cell. A cable assembly is received in a corresponding cell. The cable assembly includes a first header connector coupled to the framework at the first end of the corresponding cell using the clip and a second header connector is coupled to the framework at the second end of the corresponding cell using the clip. The first header connector has a housing that holds a plurality of contacts. The housing of the first header connector has a first mating interface. The second header connector has a housing that holds a plurality of contacts. The housing of the second header connector has a second mating interface that faces in an opposite direction from the first mating interface. A cable bundle has a plurality of cables that extends between the first and second header connectors. The cables are connected between corresponding contacts of the first header connector and the contacts of the second header connector. |
| US08398427B2 |
USB plug cable assembly
A cable assembly (100), comprises: a plurality of first contacts (2), an insulative housing (1) molding outside the first contacts (2), a plurality of second contacts (3) received in the housing (1), a flat cable (4) connecting with the first contacts (2) and the second contacts (3), and the cable (4) comprising a plurality of inner conductors (40) arranged on upper and lower row, the upper row of the inner conductors (40) soldered to the second contacts (3) and the lower row of the inner conductors (40) soldered to the first contacts (2), a metallic shell (5) shielding outside the insulative housing (1). |
| US08398426B2 |
Lighting connector devices and uses thereof
A multi-way connector connects a plurality of lighting apparatuses together, wherein connector comprises a plurality of lighting connectors, each lighting connector comprising an upper housing having plural connector pins, and one or more interlocking grooves; and a lower housing which has a plurality of connector pin guide holes, and one or more interlocking tongue portions, the lower housing being connectable with the upper housing to form each lighting connector by coupling at least one of the interlocking grooves with at least one of the interlocking tongue portions, and by coupling at least one of the plural connector pins with at least one of the connector pin guide holes; a multi-way connecting portion configured to permit power and/or signals to pass between and among the plurality of lighting connectors; and plural flexible connectors electrically connecting each lower housing with the multi-way connecting portion. |
| US08398425B2 |
Board-to-board connector having sloped guide surfaces with a common edge
A board-to-board connector comprising a first connector and a second connector is disclosed. The first connector has a first housing mounted on first terminals. The second connector is configured to be engaged, by fitting, with the first connector. The second connector has a second housing mounted on second terminals, which are configured to make contact with the first terminals. At least a part of an entrance end portion a concave guide portion is provided with a sloped guide surface formed therein. Due to the insertion of a second fitting guide portion into a concave guide portion, in such a manner that portions of the second fitting guide portion are brought into abutting contact with the sloped guide surface, the first and second terminals are spaced apart from each other in a state where fitting faces of the first and second housings are even with each other. |
| US08398418B2 |
Electronic connector having a clamping member urging a flow cell toward an electrical circuitry with an electrically conductive membrane disposed in between
A leak resistant electrical connector configured as a fluidic barrier between a fluidics device, which may comprise a chemFET sensor, and other electrical circuitry wherein the fluidics device further comprises one or more electrical contacts conductively coupled to one or more electrical contacts associated with the electrical circuitry through the connector. |
| US08398417B2 |
Electrical connector having a shell member with a holding portion and a release portion connected by a connecting portion
An electrical connector comprising a housing provided on one of opposite end portions thereof with an opening through which a flat circuit device is inserted into the housing, a plurality of conductive contacts arranged on the housing for contacting with connecting terminals on the flat circuit device in the housing, and a shell member mounted on the housing and provided therein with a holding portion operative to hold the flat circuit device in the housing. A releasing portion extends from the shell member toward the outside thereof, and a connecting portion extends from the releasing portion in a direction perpendicular to a conductive contact arrangement and the holding portion extends from the connecting portion, so that a folded-back protrusion is constituted in a body in the shell member with the releasing, connecting and holding portions. |
| US08398416B2 |
Socket connector having detecting switch
A socket connector comprises a housing, a shield covering the housing and a detecting switch mounted in the housing. The housing includes a base and a pinboard having a first board surface and a second board surface. An eSATA terminal set having seven terminals side by side is mounted on the first board surface. An USB terminal set having nine terminals is mounted on the second board surface and five terminals are connected to the five middle terminals of the eSATA terminal set to form a shared terminal structure. The shield has a shared inserting room which includes a first inserting room for connecting an eSATA plug connector and a second inserting room for connecting an USB plug connector, the second inserting room having a nonoverlapping space relative to the first inserting room. The detecting switch includes a first detecting terminal that extends into the nonoverlapping space. |
| US08398413B2 |
Carbon fiber electrical contacts formed of composite material including plural carbon fiber elements bonded together in low-resistance synthetic resin
An electrical contact device, configured for electrical signals to be transmitted therethrough and for movable contact with an electrically conductive track, includes a composite carbon fiber material including plural carbon fiber elements aligned in substantially the same direction. At least a portion of the plural carbon fiber elements is bonded together in a semi-conductive (low-resistance) synthetic resin compound. |
| US08398411B2 |
Socket assembly incorporated with rotationally mounted pressing member
A socket assembly, comprising a socket, a package received in the socket, a pressing member arranged upon the package and downwardly pressing the package and two heat pipes attached to the pressing member. The pressing member is formed with four arch grooves along a peripheral thereof, and the arch grooves allow linking members to pass therethrough and rotatablely retain the pressing member on a printed circuit board. Therefore, the pressing member can rotate in a certain range, by sliding the arch groove with respect to the linking member, to provide a flexible arrangement for heat pipes. |
| US08398410B2 |
Socket connector having carbon nanotube contacts for signal transmission and metallic contacts for power transmission
A socket connector includes a housing having a base and a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from the base. The base and the sidewalls define a receiving cavity for receiving an electronic package. A plurality of carbon nanotube contacts for signal transmission and a plurality of metallic contacts for power transmission are mounted within the housing respectively. |
| US08398409B2 |
Apparatus for producing a connection
An apparatus for producing a connection between an electric or electronic appliance and a cable is described and which includes magnetic elements which produce both a holding force, and at the same time, provide approximate guidance, and exact centering so as to reliably avoid electric shorts and insure correct contact-making, between the electric or electronic appliance and the cable. |
| US08398407B2 |
Learning method and system in a window environment
One embodiment is on a computer-implemented learning method and system in a window environment at a display that can help get the attention of a user. In another embodiment, a computer-aided-educational method and system consider a student's concentration level when teaching the student. The system monitors automatically more than once the student's concentration-sensitive behavior while the student is working on the study materials. Through monitoring the student's volitional or involuntary behavior, the system provides an indication on the student's concentration level. Based on the indication, the system could react accordingly. Reactions include, for example, providing rewards, punishments, and stimulation; or changing the study materials. The system can also react by asking the student a question to stimulate the student or to assess the student's understanding level. Based on the student's response, the system may change to more appropriate study materials, or presentation style. |
| US08398406B2 |
Systems and methods for auditing auditable instruments
Methods and associated systems for automated auditing of agreements. Questions relevant to qualitative and quantitative measures of an agreement relative to selected criteria are retrieved from an audit template along with associated answer options. The questions and answer options are presented to a user and user input received to provide answers to the questions. An audit score is generated to measure a degree of compliance of the agreement with the selected criteria. Scores may be presented for individual questions, or may be aggregated for groups or categories of questions. Scores may be compared to desired threshold values and suggestions to improve the score may be provided. Summary presentations of questions and answers or categories of questions and answers may be presented to monitor compliance over a number of such audits. |
| US08398403B2 |
Tooth root canal anchorage assembly
The tooth root channel anchorage assembly comprises a core member to be fixed within the tooth root channel and a post to be inserted into the core member having a thoroughgoing bore. The core member comprises a crown part and an anchorage part to be fixed within the root canal, the surface of the anchorage part having a substantially hyperbolic form. Preferably the crown part of the core member as well as a part of the surface of the post have also a substantially hyperbolic form. The hyperbolic form allows a better anchoring and distributing of the load, thus reducing the danger of breaking of the post and root canal, still allowing the access to the root canal before the post is inserted. |
| US08398401B2 |
Method for manufacturing dental implant and dental implant
A dental implant is provided that is capable of reliably preventing elution of metal when the dental implant is applied within an oral cavity and capable of reliably preventing the occurrence of mismatching (bumpy occlusion or the like) when the dental implant is fixed in place. The dental implant includes an abutment comprising a titanium member composed of a body made from titanium or titanium alloy and having a recess, and a ceramic member composed of oxide-based ceramic and having a protrusion fitted within the recess. In a pre-sintered state, the recess has a first surface shape providing a clearance between the recess and the protrusion inserted therein. In a post-sintered state, the recess has a second surface shape corresponding to a surface shape of the protrusion so that the protrusion is in close contact with and fitted to the recess. |
| US08398396B2 |
Surgical drill templates and methods of manufacturing the same
The present invention concerns a drill template, comprising: a base body made by casting or rapid prototyping; at least one reinforced portion made by casting or rapid prototyping; and at least one guiding hole within the at least one reinforced portion made by drilling or milling. furthermore, the present invention concerns a method of manufacturing a drill template, comprising the steps of: forming a base body by casting or rapid prototyping; forming at least one reinforced portion by casting or rapid prototyping; and forming at least one guiding hole within the at least one reinforced portion by drilling or milling. |
| US08398390B2 |
Die for forming honeycomb structure
A die for forming the honeycomb structure includes: a plate-like die main body including an introducing portion provided on the side of one surface thereof and having a plurality of back holes and a forming portion provided on the side of the other surface thereof and having slits; and a back plate detachably attached to the surface of the introducing portion and having a plurality of through holes connected to the back holes of the introducing portion. Through hole opening portions of the through holes formed in the back plate in the one surface of the die main body have such an enlarging shape as to enlarge toward the one surface of the die main body. The die for forming the honeycomb structure can decrease the resistance of a forming material during extrusion. |
| US08398383B2 |
Foil shield for a vacuum pump with a high-speed rotor
A foil shield for covering at least one opening of a suction flange of a vacuum pump includes at least one member formed of a material having a relative permeability μr greater than 1,000. |
| US08398381B1 |
Low friction, high flow pump
One embodiment of the pump system includes a cover housing and a main body affixed to one another for operation. A drive and idler gear may be mounted within a gear chamber in the main body for rotation there about, and inlet fluid may be provided on both the axial and radial surfaces of the drive and idler gear. The cover housing may be outfitted with one pressure relief channel or with two pressure relief channels of different geometric sizes and with different actuation pressures. The drive and/or idler gear may have dimples fashioned on an axial surface thereof, and lubricant troughs may be fashioned at various locations in the main body and/or the cover housing to reduce wear within the pump. |
| US08398378B2 |
Tangential drive module assembly and method of assembly for airflow induction
A fan module assembly includes at least one a rotatable fan (38) having blades (39) with tips of blades being joined by an annular fan band (42). An electrically conductive squirrel cage (46) is associated with the fan band to rotate therewith. Flux receiving structure (48) is associated with the fan band. A shroud (40) has a shaft (54) with the fan being associated with the shaft so as to rotate about the shaft and with respect to the shroud. Control structure (52) is mounted stationary with respect to the shroud generally adjacent to a portion of the fan band. The control structure is constructed and arranged to generate a changing magnetic field, generally at the radius of the fan band, which interacts with the flux receiving structure and the squirrel cage to cause the fan to be driven by tangential force. |
| US08398375B2 |
Impeller
To provide a can manufacturing pump impeller in which a stress of a base portion of a blade is prevented from increasing while improving the strength of a joint portion of a hub and a boss. In order to reinforce a joint portion of a hub and a boss, a plate is jointed to the inside of an impeller. In order not to overlap a base portion of a blade and the plate with each other on the hub, an opening portion is provided in the plate around the base portion of the blade on the hub. As a shape of the opening portion, a semicircular shape, a semielliptical shape, a rectangular shape, or a trapezoidal shape can be selected. Further, as a plate shape, a flat plate structure, a shell structure, or a curved structure can be selected. |
| US08398373B2 |
Wind turbine blade pitch-control system, and wind turbine rotor and wind turbine generator provided with the same
A pitch-control system according to the present invention includes a cylinder support portion provided on a rotor hub, a support point thereof being located away from a front end face (unsupported end) of the rotor hub on the opposite side of the rotor hub; a decentered coupling point provided at a decentered location on a root-side end face of the wind turbine blade; and a cylinder that is installed so as to pass through the unsupported end of the rotor hub, a coupling portion that is provided on a portion that protrudes to the outer side from the unsupported end being coupled in a freely rotatable manner to the support point via a spherical joint, and a coupling portion that is on the inner side of the unsupported end being coupled in a freely rotatable manner to the decentered coupling point via a spherical joint. |
| US08398365B2 |
Modular fan units with sound attenuation layers for an air handling system
A modular fan array is provided that is configured for use in an air-handling system and configured to deliver air to a ventilation system for at least a portion of a building. The modular fan array comprises a plurality of modular units configured to be stacked adjacent to one another in at least one row or column to form an array. The modular units each include at least an interior surface, a front end and a back end that define a chamber. The modular fan array includes motors and fans positioned in the chambers of the modular units. The fans are located proximate to the front ends of the corresponding chambers. The fans direct air to discharge from the back ends of the chambers. Sound attenuation layers extend along at least a portion of the interior surface of the chambers. The sound attenuation layers are positioned between at least some of the adjacent chambers. |
| US08398364B1 |
Turbine stator vane with endwall cooling
A turbine stator vane with an airfoil extending from an endwall, a vortex flow retaining chamber formed within the endwall and wrapping around a leading edge region and opening onto a surface of the endwall in front of the leading edge region of the airfoil. A vortex flow tube is formed within the endwall and extends from one side to the opposite side of the endwall and passes through the vortex flow retaining chamber. Cooling air supply holes open into the vortex flow tube to produce a vortex flow in a direction opposite to a vortex flow of the hot secondary gas that flows into the vortex flow retaining chamber. A row of exit cooling holes are connected to the vortex flow tube and open onto the endwall surface to discharge the hot secondary flow that flows into the chamber and is mixed with the cooling air supplied through the supply holes. |
| US08398362B2 |
Turbomolecular pump
A turbomolecular pump includes a plurality of alternatively axially arranged one behind another, rotor and stator discs (8,9) provided with blades (10), with the blades (10) located in vicinity of the high vacuum side having a blade angle (α) that is steeper than blade angle (α) of the blades (10) located in vicinity of the vacuum side, and with the blade angle (α) of the blades (10) located in the vicinity of the vacuum side (3) amounting to less than 8°. |
| US08398355B2 |
Linearly distributed semiconductor workpiece processing tool
A substrate processing apparatus includes a transport chamber capable of holding an isolated atmosphere therein and communicably connected to a charging station for loading and unloading a substrate into the apparatus, a transport system inside the transport chamber for transporting the substrate and an array of processing chamber modules distributed alongside the transport chamber and communicably connected to the transport chamber to allow the substrate to be transferred therebetween. |
| US08398349B2 |
Locking system and method of using same
The present invention is a system and method for fastening a second object to a first object that resists unfastening, for example due to vibration or disturbance, until unlocked. The locking system essentially comprises: a girder having one end anchored to the first object, and another end having an externally threaded terminus also defining an internally counter-threaded axial bore; a cap having an essentially planar outer face, an internally threaded transplanar bore for rotational engagement with the terminus of the girder, and a pair of domed arches on opposite sides of the transplanar bore extending from the circumference of the transplanar bore toward the periphery of the cap; and a counter-threaded bolt having a diameter smaller than the transplanar bore, a length sufficient to rotationally engage the axial bore of the girder while inserted through the transplanar bore, and a head having a pin-aperture; a pin inserted through the pin-aperture cooperating with the domed arches to prevent substantial rotation of the cap engaged with the girder terminus and the bolt engaged with the girder axial bore. The system also includes a tightening tool for tightening the cap. |
| US08398342B2 |
Workpiece vibration reduction
Techniques and apparatuses to provide vibration reduction of a workpiece when performing machining operations are disclosed. In various embodiments, a machine tool includes a shank having at least one end configured for engagement with a machine operable to rotate the shank. A cutting portion has a diameter defined by features used to remove material from a workpiece. The cutting portion is coupled to the shank. A vibration reduction dampener may be located between the shank and the workpiece. |
| US08398334B1 |
Self-positioning subsea oil spill containment system
A containment system for retaining spills in a body of water. The containment system remains in a submerged position for continuous monitoring and is deployed at the surface when activated for containment purposes. System aspects include a vertically retractable barrier configured to encircle at-risk infrastructure; a ballast system coupled to the barrier, the ballast system adapted to both submerge to a target depth upon receiving submerging signals and surface upon receiving surfacing signals; and a deployment control system in operative communication with the ballast system, the deployment control system configured to send submerging signals to employ the ballast system to submerge to a standby depth for extended periods of nominal operating conditions, and send surfacing signals to employ the ballast system to surface upon spill conditions; and may also include a self-propulsion system for containment system position management and an access gate for emergency vessel passage. |
| US08398327B2 |
Shaft-hub connection with toothing
A method for producing a shaft-hub connection, in particular between a helically toothed pinion (2) and a hub (6), a partial section (3) of the helically toothed running toothing (4) of the pinion is used, during the connection to the hub, as a type of chip-removing cutting tool, by virtue of the partial section cutting with the profiles of its teeth into the hub in an axially aligned fashion. |
| US08398326B2 |
Fluid dispensing oral care implement
A fluid dispensing oral care implement with fluid delivery system. The implement includes a storage member containing a fluid. A channel formed of one or more wicking or capillary members extends through at least a portion of the oral care implement to deliver fluid(s) through one or more fluid outlets via capillary action. In one embodiment, the fluid outlet is comprised of a wicking or capillary material and is disposed in the head of the implement. In some embodiments, the implement may include a valve and a specially configured storage cap. A variety of fluids can be administered for therapeutic, hygienic, and/or other benefits, such as fresh breath, tooth whitening, tooth sensitivity, plaque and/or tartar control, or producing sensations of heat, cool, or tingling. |
| US08398324B2 |
Vial for delivering contents onto a substrate
Dispenser for dispensing a substance onto a substrate, such as a tooth treatment compound onto teeth, includes a vial including a pair of thin members forming a cavity therebetween in which the substance is arranged and a conduit defining an internal dispensing channel communicating with the cavity, an applicator tip arranged in connection with the conduit and including projections adapted to contact the substrate, and a cap including a cavity. The cap removably attaches to the vial and when attached, covers the applicator tip and seals the internal channel. When the cap is detached from the vial and the thin members are squeezed toward one another, the substance in the cavity is urged out of the cavity into and through the internal channel in the conduit and onto the projections to enable it to be brought into contact with the substrate. |
| US08398323B2 |
Dental appliance
The dental appliance includes a pouch for an index finger with a dentifrice carrying pad. The pouch covers the index finger to at least a midsection region. The dentifrice pad is atop the user's finger pad surface. The pouch has an elongated tail which extends proximally to at least beyond the thumb of the user. The tail has one or many thumb holes, located at a proximal region, and the user, upon insertion of his or her finger in the pouch, pulls the tail and insert his or her thumb in the thumb hole. Therefore, the thumb hole is adapted to encircle the thumb of the user when the pouch is mounted on the user's index finger. The tail may be elastic. The dentifrice pad (with dry powder) sometimes includes bumps or ridges. Alternatively, the tail may be long to wrap around the wrist of the user. |
| US08398320B2 |
Non-transitory storage medium for rinsing or developing sequence
A non-transitory storage medium stores software for performing a rinsing process on a substrate, after a developing process is performed on a light-exposed pattern disposed thereon. The sequence includes throwing off a developing solution from the substrate after development; supplying a water-based cleaning liquid onto the substrate; supplying a surfactant-containing rinsing liquid onto the substrate to replace liquid remaining on the substrate with the surfactant-containing rinsing liquid; and rotating the substrate to expand and throw off the surfactant-containing rinsing liquid on the substrate. |
| US08398319B2 |
Developing apparatus, developing method, and storage medium
A developing apparatus including a substrate holder that holds a substrate horizontally; means for atomizing a surface treatment liquid used to improve wettability of the substrate with a developer; a first spray nozzle that sprays the atomized surface treatment liquid onto the substrate; and a developer supply nozzle that supplies a developer onto the substrate to which the substrate treatment liquid has been sprayed. The surface tension of the atomized surface treatment liquid with respect to the substrate is lower than the surface tension of the surface treatment liquid with respect to the substrate. The atomization suppresses the fact that the surface treatment liquid gathers on a certain portion of the surface of the substrate. The surface treatment liquid can be easily supplied onto the entire surface of the substrate, and improve wettability of the substrate with the developer. |
| US08398317B2 |
Method of controlling imaging apparatus and imaging apparatus using the same
A method of controlling an imaging apparatus and an imaging apparatus using the same are provided, wherein the method controls the imaging apparatus including an image sensor that performs an electronic shutter function by calculating a moving characteristic of a mechanical shutter based on an amount of electric charge accumulated in a first area and an amount of electric charge accumulated in a second area, and controlling the electronic shutter function of the image sensor based on the calculated moving characteristic of the mechanical shutter. Accordingly, the performance of the imaging apparatus using a focal plane shutter can be improved. |
| US08398315B2 |
Quick-release apparatus
An assembly for selectively lockable attachment between photographic accessories. |
| US08398314B2 |
Optical universal serial bus (USB)
Embodiments of the invention are directed to an optical USB (OUSB) to enhance the data rate of USB by adding super-high data rate (e.g. 10 Gbps) optical communication on top of its current specification so that backward compatibility is achievable. Mechanical tolerances may be achieved by using embedded lenses to expand a beam emerging from the connector prior to entering its mating connector and using an identical lens in the mating connector to collimate the beam back onto a fiber. |
| US08398313B2 |
Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus
A liquid ejecting head is provided. The liquid injecting head includes two reservoirs. The reservoirs include expansion chambers arranged in parallel in a direction in which pressure chambers are arranged. Each reservoir includes multiple expansion chambers formed so that an inner wall surface of one of the reservoirs protrudes toward the other reservoir. Each expansion chamber having a liquid introduction opening. Constriction portions are formed so that the inner wall surface of one reservoir protrudes at locations that oppose the expansion chambers of the other reservoir. The constriction portions narrow the flow channel width in the direction intersecting with the direction in which the pressure chambers are arranged. The liquid introduction openings provided in the expansion chambers disposed on either side of the constriction portion are formed in locations that are at different distances from the constriction portion and have different cross-sectional areas. |
| US08398310B2 |
Self aligning bearing and seal assembly
A self aligning bearing and seal assembly including a bearing housing operable to mount to a surface, a bearing unit seated within the bearing housing and having an outer race, an inner race, and at least one ball intermediate the outer and inner race. The self aligning bearing and seal assembly also includes a pivot assembly having a shaft sleeve operable for receiving and maintaining a rotatable shaft and being disposed in the bearing housing and in operational contact with the inner race of the bearing unit. The pivot assembly allows for a degree of angular misalignment between the surface and the shaft greater than three degrees. |
| US08398308B2 |
Disk drive device provided with fluid dynamic bearing unit
A bearing unit for a disk drive device is formed by a sleeve concave portion and a shaft concave portion, and is provided with a capillary seal portion in which the gap between the sleeve concave portion and the shaft concave portion is increased in diameter toward the hub side of the sleeve. Assuming that: the outer circumferential diameter at the tilt starting end on the base member side of the shaft concave portion is D0; the inner circumferential diameter at the tilt starting end on the hub side of the sleeve concave portion is D1; the facing outer circumferential diameter of the shaft concave portion, which faces, in the radial direction, the inner circumference at the tilt starting end of the sleeve concave portion, is D2; and the diameter of the most concave inner circumference of the sleeve concave portion is D3, D2 is smaller than D0, D3 is larger than D1, and the difference between D3 and D0 is larger than that between D0 and D2. |
| US08398305B2 |
Thermometer having an exchangeable measurement insert, and method for replacing the latter
The disclosure relates to a thermometer having an exchangeable measurement insert for measuring process temperatures of liquid or gaseous media in vessels of process installations, and to a method for replacing the measurement insert. On the basis of a thermometer in which the measurement insert is accommodated, such that it can be changed, in a protective tube which is closed at one end and has a process flange, the closed end of the protective tube being immersed, as far as the process flange, in a container in which the medium whose temperature is to be determined is situated, and the open end of the protective tube being guided at least indirectly to a connection housing in which at least connection terminals for connecting the measurement insert to a remote measured value processing system are arranged, provision is made for the transition from the open end of the protective tube to the connection housing to have a clearance fit with a cylindrical fitting surface between the measurement insert and a fitting sleeve which at least partially surrounds the latter. |
| US08398300B2 |
Wearable article
A watch (100, 200, 300) is disclosed as including a case and a rotation module (106, 206, 306) with a longitudinal axis (L-L, N-N, P-P), in which the rotation module (106, 206, 306) is contained within the case and freely rotatable relative to the case about the longitudinal axis (L-L, N-N, P-P), the rotation module (106, 206, 306) including a number of movement parts (134, 234, 334), and, upon rotation of the rotation module (106, 206, 306) relative to the case, the movement parts (134, 234, 334) are each movable relative to the rotation module (106, 206, 306) and to-and-fro along a respective path (Lm1-Lm1, Lm2-Lm2, Lm3-Lm3, Lm4-Lm4, Nm1-Nm1, Nm2-Nm2, Nm3-Nm3, Nm4-Nm4, Pm1-Pm1, Pm2-Pm2, Pm3-Pm3, Pm4-Pm4). |
| US08398296B2 |
Magnetically coupled system for mixing
The invention provides a mixing system comprising a magnetically coupled drive system and a foil for cultivating algae, or cyanobacteria, in an open or enclosed vessel. The invention provides effective mixing, low energy usage, low capital expenditure, and ease of drive system component maintenance while maintaining the integrity of a sealed mixing vessel. |
| US08398293B2 |
Apparatus having sweeping impeller for mixing viscous material
An apparatus for mixing viscous material includes a chamber having a cylindrical sidewall and a bottom and receiving viscous material to be mixed; a cylindrical draft tube fixed at an inside center of the chamber to be spaced from the bottom and the sidewall and forming a space between the draft tube and the sidewall to allow passage of the viscous material, and including a heat medium passage therein; a carrying impeller installed in the draft tube and driven by a motor to transfer the viscous material above or below the draft tube and suck the viscous material in the space into the draft tube; and a sweeping impeller installed in the space and rotated in a circumferential direction by a motor to apply a pressure to the viscous material so that the viscous material in the space is not adhered to the draft tube and the sidewall. |
| US08398288B1 |
LED display frame structure
An LED display frame structure includes a light guide plate and a heat dissipation frame. The heat dissipation frame is mounted around the periphery of the light guide plate. At least one side of the light guide plate is provided with an LED strip and a 7-like heat dissipation plate. The back of the LED strip is provided with a two-sided adhesive strip to be attached to a groove of the 7-like heat dissipation plate. The 7-like heat dissipation plate has a cover plate next to the groove. The cover plate is attached to an adhesive strip of the light guide plate. The present invention can be assembled conveniently and quickly. |
| US08398286B2 |
Backlight module for liquid crystal display
A backlight module for a liquid crystal display according to the present invention is provided. The backlight module includes a light guide plate, a light source, a first reflection sheet and a second reflection sheet. The light guide plate has an upper surface, a lower surface, and opposing first and second side surfaces. The light source is disposed on the first side surface of the light guide plate and comprises a plurality of point light sources. The first reflection sheet is disposed on the light source and the upper surface of the light guide plate to reflect light beams emitting from the light source to the light guide plate. The first reflection sheet includes a plurality of first portions, a plurality of second portions and a plurality of protrusion portions, wherein the first portions are positioned corresponding to the light source and arranged alternately with the second portions. The protrusion portions extend from the second portions toward the second side surface of the light guide plate. The second reflection sheet is disposed under the lower surface of the light guide plate. |
| US08398285B2 |
Lighting device
The present invention describes a lighting device. The lighting device includes a first light guiding pillar, at least one first point-form light source, a second light guiding pillar and at least one second point-form light source. The first point-form light source is disposed near at least one end of the first light guiding pillar. The first and the second light guiding pillars are parallel with each other and integrally formed in one piece. The second point-form light source is disposed near at least one end of the second light guiding pillar. The first and the second light guiding pillars are integrated into a connection body having two opposite surfaces respectively forming two straight grooves on an intersection of the first and the second light guiding pillars, wherein two bottoms of the straight grooves are spaced by a predetermined distance. |
| US08398284B1 |
Sequential automotive lamp apparatus and methods of making and using the same
The present invention relates to a sequential automotive lamp apparatus. Specifically, the present invention relates to one or more apparatuses that illuminate one or more directional light sources sequentially to create a sweeping illumination. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus that illuminates two or more directional light sources sequentially within a single lamp housing. The apparatuses may be implemented in automobile lamp housings to show, preferably, a turn signal, although any other illuminated signal may be displayed by the apparatuses of the present invention, including parking lights, hazard lights, and/or brake lights. |
| US08398283B2 |
Automotive signal light employing multi-focal length light pipes
An automotive signal light is taught which employs multi-focal length light pipes to collect, collimate and direct, as needed, light emitted from one or more semiconductor light sources. Each multi-focal length light pipe includes at least one light transmission structure, each of which has a light receiving port to receive light emitted from a semiconductor light source spaced from the light receiving port by an air gap. The light transmission structure includes at least two superimposed parabolic reflecting surfaces, each having a common focal point at the light receiving port but having different focal lengths, and the superimposed parabolic reflectors operate to receive, collimate, spread and transmit the light from the semiconductor light source to a light emitting surface of the light pipe which is located adjacent to a lens of the signal light. The aesthetic arrangement of the light pipes is not particularly limited and a wide range of signal light functionalities can be provided. |
| US08398280B2 |
Lighting system
A lighting system includes a first lighting apparatus, an annular second lighting apparatus, and an annular stay. The first lighting apparatus includes a light source covered with a housing. The annular second lighting apparatus is disposed around the housing and includes a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed annularly so as to be radially spaced apart from an outer periphery of the first lighting apparatus. The annular stay is supported by the housing to support the second lighting apparatus. |
| US08398278B2 |
Lighting devices, particularly with light-emitting diodes, able to generate an adaptative light beam
A lighting device comprising a support for optical modules able to make a rotation movement, comprising a first optical module able to generate a light beam exhibiting a cutoff of the dipped beam type; a second optical module able to generate a light beam exhibiting a substantially L-shaped cutoff; the first optical module and the second optical module of the first lighting device being disposed on the optical module support able to make a rotation movement. |
| US08398277B2 |
Vehicle lighting system
An illumination controller comprise at least one sensor configured to sense position and motion of an operator of a banking vehicle, an illumination adjustment actuator, and a controller configured to determine angular velocity and/or linear acceleration, and banking angle of the vehicle from the sensed position and motion signals. The controller controls the illumination adjustment actuator to direct the illumination in anticipation of and during a turn. |
| US08398276B2 |
Wall mounted aisle, step and corridor light system
A wall light system including a single piece wall mount extrusion having a vertical rear mounting surface and a horizontally extending light shield. The interior of the vertical rear mounting surface has first and second projections extending therefrom defining a first slot, while the interior of the light shield has a downwardly extending vertical projection and a horizontal projection formed thereon, which together define a second slot. A lampholder has lower and upper tongues positioned to snap fit into the first and second slots, respectively, and mounts a circuit board which carries one or more LEDs. |
| US08398274B2 |
Light redirecting films including intersecting optical elements with flat and curved surfaces
Light redirecting film including a thin optically transparent substrate having a pattern of individual optical elements of well-defined shape on at least one surface that are quite small relative to the length and width of the surface. At least some of the optical elements have at least one flat surface and at least one curved surface, and intersecting each other over an intersection volume of the intersecting optical elements. |
| US08398270B2 |
Ornament with display hidden when inactive
An ornament of the present invention includes a display that is hidden behind a panel. An ornament body includes at least one panel which includes a two-way mirror and a display in the interior of the body. The ornament includes a light disposed in the ornament body which, when active, reveals the display which is otherwise hidden behind the two-way mirror. The light may be activated by a sensor that recognizes physical motion, and may also include a speaker to play music and a moving display element driven by a motor. |
| US08398265B2 |
High-power LED lamp
A high-power LED lamp set is provided in the present invention. The high-power LED lamp set comprises: a power converting module; a power supply casing (2) for housing the power converting module; a light source casing (4), connected with the power supply casing; electrode rods (1), arranged at a rear end of the power supply casing (2) and connected with the power converting module; and LED lamps (7), mounted on a bottom surface of the light source casing (4); the light source casing (4) is provided with a lens board (5) at its opening end, wherein the lens board (5) is perforated with through holes at the positions corresponding to the LED lamps, and a high transmittance lens (8) is embedded in each of the through holes. |
| US08398264B2 |
Lighting device
A lighting device with at least one first-element that emits visible light at a wavelength and irradiance sufficient to inactivate one or more pathogenic bacterial species, and at least one second element that emits light of one or more longer wave-lengths to that of the first-element. The at least one second element has a higher illuminance than that of the at least one inactivating element or component. |
| US08398256B2 |
Magnetic accessory mounts
Apparatus for mounting accessories to guns. Some embodiments provide gun mounts each including a body and a magnet to magnetically couple the mount to the gun. The bodies are shaped and dimensioned to mechanically retain the accessories (which can be flash lights). The magnets are mechanically coupled to the bodies (and can be an integral portion thereof) and cause magnetic fields. Given the shapes and dimensions of the bodies, the positions of the magnets relative to the bodies and relative to the barrels of the guns when the bodies abut the barrels, the magnetic field strengths are within a range sufficient to releasably and magnetically couple the magnets and the barrels. In some embodiments the magnetic field strengths are sufficient to limit the ranges of motion of the mounts relative to the guns during the shock created by firing the gun. |
| US08398253B2 |
Data cable powered light fixture
A light fixture can be affixed within a wall and powered using the same cable along which data signals are transmitted. The LED lights in the light fixture are sufficiently bright to be used for illumination and are powered by a voltage derived from power delivered via the data cable. The light fixture may be used in conjunction with a building automation system. The light provided by the LED lights may be modified based on control signals received via the data cable. Modifications may include changes to the perceived brightness and/or color of the light. |
| US08398248B2 |
Projector that operates in a brightness priority mode and in a contrast priority mode
A projector includes: an illuminating device including a light source device, a first lens array that comprises first regions located at four corners in the first lens array when viewed along a system optical axis and second regions located between the two first regions, and a second lens array; a light modulating device; a projection optical system; a light control device; and a mode selection device. The light control device blocks part of the plural partial light beams by causing first and second light shields to integrally operate, when the brightness priority mode is selected. The light control device always blocks part of the partial light beams with the first light shields and blocks part of the partial light beams by causing the second light shields to operate independently from the first light shields. |
| US08398244B2 |
Projector
A projector includes: a light source that emits light; a first lens array that divides the light emitted from the light source into a plurality of partial light beams; a second lens array that focuses the plurality of partial light beams emitted from the first lens array; condenser lenses that superimpose the plurality of partial light beams emitted from the second lens array on target illumination regions; and liquid crystal panels that modulate the light beams passing through the condenser lenses according to image information, wherein each of the condenser lenses is a single lens that achieves telecentric illumination when superimposing the partial light beams, and only the condenser lenses are arranged as lenses between the second lens array and the liquid crystal panels. |
| US08398242B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus that displays an image on a retina of a user, the display apparatus comprising: an image output unit (100) which includes a light source (101, 110), a wavefront shape change unit (102, 109), and a scan unit (103, 108) and is configured to output display light for displaying the image; and a deflection unit (104, 107) configured to deflect, toward an eye of the user, the display light outputted by the image output unit (100). The deflection unit (104, 107) has a deflection characteristic of suppressing image distortion caused by a change in relative position of the deflection unit (104, 107) with respect to a pupil of the user. |
| US08398241B2 |
Half-wave plate, optical pickup device, polarization conversion element, and projection display device
A half-wave plate includes a single crystal plate made of an inorganic material having a birefringent property and rotatory power, wherein a polarization plane of linearly polarized light entering from an entrance surface of the crystal plate is rotated and then output from an exit surface of the crystal plate. |
| US08398239B2 |
Wearable eye tracking system
An eye tracking system includes a transparent lens, at least one light source, and a plurality of light detectors. The transparent lens is adapted for disposal adjacent an eye. The at least one light source is disposed within the transparent lens and is configured to emit light toward the eye. The at least one light source is transparent to visible light. The plurality of light detectors is disposed within the transparent lens and is configured to receive light that is emitted from the at least one light source and is reflected off of the eye. Each of the light detectors is transparent to visible light and is configured, upon receipt of light that is reflected off of the eye, to supply an output signal. |
| US08398238B1 |
Imaging-based guidance system for ophthalmic docking using a location-orientation analysis
An imaging-guided docking system can separate the tilt and location of an imaged ophthalmic target and present them in an intuitive manner for an ophthalmic surgeon. The docking system can include an ophthalmic imaging system to image a portion of an eye of a patient, an image processor to determine a location and an orientation of the imaged portion of the eye, and a guidance system, coupled to the ophthalmic imaging system, to guide an ophthalmic docking based on the determined location and orientation. In some implementations, the imaging system images an internal eye-structure to determine its orientation and a video-imaging system video-images a frontal eye-structure to determine a location of the frontal eye-structure. The determined orientation and location can be displayed for the surgeon. The alignment of ophthalmic procedures can also be assisted with this imaging capability, e.g. the placement and centration of IOLs into the lens capsule. |
| US08398234B2 |
Electro-thermal antifog optical devices
Devices including a coating layer formed of a transparent, conductive coating composition described. The coating layer may function as an active antifog coating for the prevention of water vapor condensation as droplets on a surface. The coating includes a conductive polymer and functionalized carbon nanostructures and may be crosslinked with a transition metal crosslinking agent. The composition may be coated on a surface used in a visualization application such as a face shield, glasses, safety glasses, goggles, oculars, etc., to prevent fogging on the surface. |
| US08398232B2 |
Consumable product accommodating device, liquid ejection device, and method for controlling consumable product accommodating device
A consumable product accommodating device includes an accommodating body, a cushioning member, a weight detecting unit and a control unit. The accommodating body accommodates a consumable product whose weight decreases due to being fed to a consumption side, and is consumed with the accommodating body being configured and arranged to move between a first position and a second position. The cushioning member applies a cushioning force to the accommodating body when the accommodating body moves between the first position and the second position with the cushioning force resisting a movement of the accommodating body. The weight detecting unit is configured and arranged to detect the weight of the consumable product accommodated in the accommodating body. A control unit is configured to control magnitude of the cushioning force applied by the cushioning member according to the detected weight of the consumable product. |
| US08398230B2 |
Drying apparatus, recording apparatus, and drying method
A drying apparatus includes a fluid supply mechanism configured to supply a fluid as a heat medium for controlling a target to a desired temperature. The fluid supply mechanism supplies the fluid to a space region disposed on one surface side of the target, to increase the pressure in the target from the one surface side. |
| US08398224B2 |
Heat activated printing process
Reactive inks and methods of generating an image on a substrate using both reactive and heat activated inks are presented. An image is printed on a substrate, without reacting the reagents in the ink. Subsequently, the reagents are reacted to fix the image to a substrate, with substantial permanency and fastness. Sublimation or similar heat activated dyes are printed are also printed on the substrate. The sublimation or similar heat activated dyes are activated, and have an affinity for polymer that is applied to the substrate. |
| US08398223B2 |
Inkjet printing process
A process for printing an image includes printing a substrate with an aqueous inkjet ink and drying the printed image with a near-infrared drying system, wherein the inkjet ink is a yellow or magenta inkjet ink and comprises a yellow or magenta colorant and a distinct near-infrared absorbing compound. Inkjet ink sets for use with an inkjet printing system employing a near-infrared drying system in the process include at least a black ink and a yellow ink, wherein the yellow ink comprises a yellow colorant and dispersed nanoparticulate colloidal silica at a concentration of from 0.1 to about 10 wt %, and the black ink comprises a black colorant and dispersed nanoparticulate colloidal silica at a concentration of from 0 wt. % to at most ½ of the wt. % of the dispersed nanoparticulate colloidal silica in the yellow ink. Various embodiments provide a process for inkjet printing and drying inks with improved absorption in the near-IR region of the spectrum for improved drying performance of aqueous, hypsochromic inks, and an inkjet ink set with improved balanced near-IR drying of black and yellow inkjet inks. |
| US08398220B2 |
Liquid container and image forming apparatus
A disclosed liquid container containing liquid to be supplied to a liquid discharge head includes a container main body defining a liquid containing section and including an opening section formed in one surface of the container main body, the opening section including an opening; and a film-like flexible member sealing the opening section of the container main body. Further, the film-like flexible member is joined with a joint section formed on the opening section of the container main body in a state where the film-like flexible member is bent, and a concave-convex structure is formed in the circumferential direction of the joint section. |
| US08398217B2 |
Inkjet printing device
Drop-on-demand inkjet printing device (10) comprising a through-flow print head (20) having nozzles (22) and a fluid circulation system comprising a main reservoir (30), a supply buffer tank (38), a return manifold (64), wherein the main reservoir (30) is connected to the supply buffer tank (38) wherein the supply buffer tank (38) is in fluid communication with the nozzles (22) print head (20) the nozzles (22) being in fluid communication with the return manifold (38) wherein the return manifold (64) is connected to the main reservoir (30) and both are arranged in height with respect to the nozzles (22), wherein the supply buffer tank (38) is provided with a lockable conduit (56) connecting the supply buffer tank (38) to the main reservoir (30). |
| US08398215B2 |
Liquid ejecting head with a common liquid chamber
An intermediate liquid chamber is formed between an ink conducting path to which ink is supplied from an ink supply source such as an ink cartridge and a common liquid chamber to which ink to be provided to a plurality of pressure chambers is supplied. The intermediate liquid chamber communicates with both the ink conducting path and the common liquid chamber. The intermediate liquid chamber includes a conducting opening which communicates with the ink conducting path and a discharge opening which is opened to the common liquid chamber. The discharge opening is formed from one edge portion to the other edge portion of the common liquid chamber along a pressure chamber arrangement direction. |
| US08398213B2 |
Liquid ejecting head unit
A liquid ejecting head unit includes a flow path unit including a flow path communicating with a plurality of nozzles, a head case in which a common liquid flow path for supplying liquid to the flow path of the flow path unit is formed and to which the flow path unit is bonded, a flow path member which is bonded to the head case at the side opposite to the side to which the flow path unit is bonded and includes an upstream-side flow path for supplying liquid to the common liquid flow path, a heater which is mounted on a side face of the head case and is capable of generating heat, and a metal plate a portion of which is bonded to the heater and other portions of which are opposed to a portion of the flow path member. |
| US08398212B2 |
Ink jet head and method of manufacturing the same
An ink jet head includes a Si substrate with a surface having a {100} orientation; a passage holding ink on the Si substrate; an ink discharge port which is communicatively connected to the passage and through which ink is ejected; and a supply port which extends through the Si substrate, which is communicatively connected to the passage, and which supplies ink to the passage. The supply port has walls having two {111} planes facing each other. |
| US08398211B2 |
Liquid-ejecting recording head having an element that generates energy and method of producing the same
A method of producing a recording head including a substrate provided with an element that generates energy utilized for ejecting a liquid, a wiring member that is connected to the substrate, and a supporting member that supports the substrate and the wiring member includes applying a sealant to a region existing between a side surface of the substrate and the supporting member through a communicating path that connects the region to an outer peripheral area of the supporting member. |
| US08398204B2 |
Liquid jetting apparatus and head cartridge
A liquid jetting apparatus includes a first liquid jetting head which has a plurality of first nozzles, a head holder to which a first liquid jetting head is fixed, a liquid cartridge which is detachably mounted on the head holder, and which supplies the first liquid jetting head with a liquid which is to be jetted from the first nozzles, and a head cartridge which has a second liquid jetting head having a plurality of second nozzles, and a liquid tank which supplies the second liquid jetting head with a liquid which is to be jetted from the second nozzles. The second liquid jetting head and the liquid tank are integrated to form the head cartridge, and the head cartridge is detachably mounted on the head holder. |
| US08398202B2 |
Inkjet printer with maintenance station having non-contact film
An inkjet printer has a carrier frame supporting an ink supply manifold; a pagewidth printhead with an ink ejection surface; an encapsulant defining a film guide and a maintenance station. The maintenance station includes: a chassis; a plurality of rollers mounted on the chassis; a film wound in a loop around the rollers; and a drive motor operatively connected to one of the rollers such that actuation of the drive motor rotates the film around said rollers. The chassis is moveable between a printing position in which the film is remote from the printhead and a cleaning position in which the film engages the film guide so that a cavity is defined by the film, the encapsulant and the ink ejection surface. |
| US08398200B2 |
Recording apparatus
A recording apparatus includes a supporting member on which a plurality of suction holes for sucking a recording medium are formed on a supporting face for supporting the recording medium, a transportation device which transports the recording medium along the supporting face, a recording head which ejects fluid on the recording medium supported by the supporting face so as to perform printing, and a control device which makes the recording head execute the printing when a front end of the recording medium in the transportation direction reaches to a position at which the front end of the recording medium covers the suction holes formed at downstream-most positions in the transportation direction on the supporting face. |
| US08398199B2 |
White inkjet ink improved for dispersion stability
An inkjet printing method includes the steps of a) providing a white inkjet ink and at least one color inkjet ink to an inkjet printer; and b) jetting the white inkjet ink at a higher temperature than the color inkjet ink onto an ink-receiver. The difference in jetting temperature between the white inkjet ink and the color inkjet ink is at least 5° C. Inkjet ink sets and inkjet printers are also disclosed. |
| US08398198B2 |
Image recording apparatus
An image recording apparatus including: a head having openings; a sheet-moving mechanism; a drive-data storage portion storing drive data; a converting section which converts the drive data such that an image position adjustment is changed; a first extracting section which extracts at least one opening whose number of ejections during the recording on at least one sheet of a first number based on unconverted drive data is smaller than a second number; a second extracting section which extracts at least one opening whose number of ejections during the recording on at least one sheet of a third number based on converted drive data is smaller than a fourth number; and a controller which controls the ejection such that a preliminary ejection from at least one opening extracted by the first and second extracting sections is performed upon recordings based on the unconverted drive data and the converted drive data. |
| US08398197B2 |
Inkjet recording apparatus and inkjet recording method
An inkjet recording apparatus includes: a treatment liquid deposition device which deposits on a recording medium a treatment liquid having a function to aggregate inks or increase viscosity of inks; an ink deposition device which includes a plurality of ink heads for ejecting the inks of at least two types in such a manner that the inks are deposited on the recording medium on which the treatment liquid has been deposited; and a heating-pressuring device which fixes the inks that have been deposited on the recording medium, wherein the ink deposition device ejects the inks from the plurality of ink heads in such a manner that following Relationships (A) and (B) are satisfied where Mx represents in-plane average deposition volume of one of the inks that is priorly deposited on the recording medium, My represents in-plane average deposition volume of another one of the inks that is subsequently deposited on the recording medium, and N represents number of the types of the inks (1≦x |
| US08398194B2 |
Power amplifier and liquid jet printing apparatus
A power amplifier includes: a modulator pulse-modulating a drive waveform signal serving as a reference of a drive signal applied to an actuator and outputting a plurality of modulated signals; a digital power amplifier having a plurality of digital power amplifier stages each including a pair of push-pull switching elements, amplifying the power of the plurality of modulated signals, and outputting multi-value amplified digital signals; and a low pass filter smoothing the amplified digital signals and outputting the drive signal, wherein the modulator includes a control section switching one of a state where the same modulated signal is connected to two or more of the digital power amplifier stages and a state where different modulated signals are connected to different digital power amplifier stages to the other. |
| US08398193B2 |
Inkjet recording apparatus
[Problem to be Solved] To provide an inkjet recording apparatus capable of adjusting a gap with high accuracy and easily.[Solution] The present invention provides an inkjet recording apparatus 100 including line heads 20 to 23 capable of recording on a recording medium 1, a head box 11 that houses the line heads 20 to 23, and gap adjustment cams 30 to 32 that abut on a lower surface of a bottom 11b in the head box 11, in which the head box 11 is slightly movable in an up-and-down direction by rotating the gap adjustment cams 30 to 32. |
| US08398191B2 |
Continuous inkjet printer aquous ink composition
A continuous ink jet printer aqueous ink composition including pigment particles dispersed with a dispersant or self dispersing pigment particles without the need for a dispersant, and a polymer additive distinct from any dispersant used to disperse the pigment particles, wherein the polymer additive comprises a styrene-acrylic copolymer that does not substantially displace any dispersant used to disperse the pigment, present in an amount effective to stabilize the ink composition against shear induced agglomeration caused by pumping the ink composition through a continuous ink jet printing fluid system. A method of continuous ink jet printing includes A) providing a main fluid supply of a continuous inkjet printer with an aqueous ink composition of the invention; B) pumping the ink composition from the main fluid supply to a print head and ejecting a continuous stream of the ink composition from the print head which continuous stream is broken into spaced droplets; and C) in response to electrical signals received from a control mechanism, controlling the spaced droplets to select between printing droplets for marking a substrate and nonprinting droplets that are collected and returned to the main fluid supply. |
| US08398190B2 |
Fluid ejection device and fluid stirring method for the same, and fluid storage device and fluid stirring method for the same
A fluid storage device for storing a fluid, and a fluid ejection head for ejecting the fluid fed from the fluid storage device are provided. The fluid storage device is provided with a storage tank, and a spherical body formed of a magnetic material and provided inside the storage tank. Also provided are three or more attraction devices for attracting the spherical body; and a switching device for switching between attraction and non-attraction by the attraction devices according to a movement path selected from a plurality of movement paths based on a predetermined selection condition, and moving the spherical body inside the storage tank in the selected movement path. |
| US08398187B2 |
Refrigerator comprising an extractably guided receptacle for chilled goods
The invention relates to a refrigerator. A refrigerator includes a heat-insulated housing having an interior space in which a pair of chilled-goods containers are disposed adjacent to one another at a spacing from the floor. Each chilled-goods container is mounted on extending elements that guide chilled-goods container into and out of the interior space. A longitudinal beam extends between the chilled-goods containers and each of the extractable elements is supported on sidewalls of the housing via at least one crossbeam. |
| US08398186B2 |
Refrigerator
The refrigerator includes the following parts. A heat-insulating main body has openings in a front side. A divider divides inside of the heat-insulating main body into side by side so as to form a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment having a width smaller than a width of the first storage compartment. The first door turns to open and close at the first storage compartment, and has a vertical axis that extends in an anterior portion of a side wall of the heat-insulating main body. The second door turns to open and close at the second storage compartment, and has a vertical axis that extends in an anterior portion of a side wall of the heat-insulating main body. A concavity part is vertically provided at a front side of an free end of the first door. |
| US08398182B2 |
Lightweight wear ring
A segmented wear ring 40 for a tracked vehicle 10 road wheel 22 that cooperates with a track guide 32. The segmented wear ring 40 has at least two wear ring segments 42, and each of the wear ring segments 42 have a wear surface 50. The wear ring segments 42 are attached to a tracked vehicle wheel 22 such that the wear surfaces of each of the wear ring segments 42 form a substantially uninterrupted wear surface 50 designed to cooperate with a track guide 32. |
| US08398178B2 |
Vehicle wheel disk
The technology provides vehicle wheel disks where a spoke portion can have a spoke bottom wall and a spoke side portion. The spoke side portion can include a spoke side wall rising from the spoke bottom wall in an axial direction of the wheel and a spoke reinforcing wall connected from an axially end portion of the spoke side wall and curved from the axial direction of the wheel toward a circumferential direction of the wheel and extending in the circumferential direction of the wheel. A pair of spoke side portions can be located on opposite sides of the vent window in the circumferential direction of the wheel have radially inner end portions which are connected to each other via a connecting wall. The connecting wall can be flat or substantially flat in the circumferential direction of the wheel. |
| US08398165B2 |
Powered rocker recliner linkage mechanism
A rocker-recliner-style seating unit (rocker recliner) that includes a linkage mechanism adapted to move the rocker recliner between closed, extended, and reclined positions is provided. The rocker recliner is powered by a linear actuator that facilitates automated adjustment of the linkage mechanism. This adjustment of the linear actuator is sequenced into a first phase and a second phase. A stroke of the linear actuator in the first phase acts to adjust the linkage mechanism between the closed and extended positions by extending or retracting ottoman(s) attached to a footrest assembly. A stroke in the second phase acts to adjust the linkage mechanism between the extended and reclined positions by translating a seat-mounting plate forward or rearward at a consistent inclination angle while, concurrently, tilting a back-mounting link. Accordingly, the phase sequencing ensures that the linkage mechanism commences adjustment within the second phase only once the first-phase adjustment is substantially complete. |
| US08398164B2 |
Seat flap for a vehicle seat
A fold and tumble vehicle seat assembly includes a seat cushion having an underside that forms a floor surface when the seat cushion is rotated to a stowed position, and a seat flap attached to the seat cushion for bridging a gap formed between the seat cushion and an adjacent vehicle floor surface when the seat cushion is in the stowed position. The seat flap has an outer sleeve formed of a first material and an insert received in the sleeve formed of a second material. |
| US08398163B2 |
Roof apparatus
A roof apparatus includes a guide rail extending in a front-rear direction of a vehicle, a drive shoe, a functional bracket, a front link member relatively rotatably connected at a front portion of the functional bracket and including a connecting portion, an engagement portion and a supporting portion, and a lifting mechanism connected at a rear portion of the functional bracket, wherein the guide rail includes a first guide portion guiding the supporting portion in response to an opening and closing operation of a movable panel and being closely located upwardly and downwardly of the supporting portion while the movable panel is in a fully-closed state, and the drive shoe includes a second guide portion guiding the engagement portion in response to the opening and closing operation of the movable panel and being closely located upwardly and downwardly of the engagement portion during the fully-closed state of the movable panel. |
| US08398162B2 |
Roof apparatus for vehicle
A roof apparatus for a vehicle, which includes a driving shoe provided along a guide rail, a support member, a pair of first wall portions, a second wall portion provided being arranged between the first wall portions, the second wall portion including a movable member, the movable panel being tilted-up from a closed state by pushing one of guide grooves provided at the driving shoe and the movable member by the other one of the guide grooves and the movable member to move the support member upwardly relative to the driving shoe in response to a movement of the driving shoe in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and a pair of restriction portions provided at the first wall portions and contacting end surfaces of the movable member in the vehicle width direction during the tilted-up state of the movable panel with pressure. |
| US08398153B1 |
Impact deflector for vehicle frame
An impact receiving structure in a motor vehicle includes a vehicle frame having left and right frame rails extending longitudinally and cross frame rails extending transversely between the left and right frame rails. A vehicle body is mounted on the vehicle frame and has a transverse bulkhead and left and right A-pillars connected to the bulkhead. Left and right upper rails extend longitudinally above the front wheels and outboard of the left and right frame rails and are connected respectively to the left and right frame rails by left and right braces. Left and right deflector devices are mounted on the left and right frame rails forwardly of the front wheels and extend outwardly from the left and right frame rails to receive an impact force and transmit the impact force into the frame that would otherwise transmit through the left and right upper rail structures. |
| US08398151B2 |
Dumper body
Dumper body (1) comprising a front bottom part (2) and a rear bottom part (14), the front bottom part (2) and the rear bottom part (14) being connected to each other at a bottom angle less than 180°, the rear bottom part (14) ending in an opening (16) and accordingly leaning in relation to the front bottom part (2), as well as that a front end portion (21) in addition is connected to the front edge of the front bottom part (2) in order to limit the loading space of the dumper body in the forward direction, an intermediate part (19) being placed internally in the dumper body (1) between and on top of the front bottom part (2) and the rear bottom part (14) at a deviating bottom angle in relation to both the front bottom part (2) and the rear bottom part (14) in such a way that a hollow space (H2) is formed between the front bottom part (2), the rear bottom part (14) and the intermediate part (19). |
| US08398148B2 |
Method and system for disengaging a drive rod in a door after an impact to the door
A method and system for disengaging a drive rod in a door after an impact to the door. An automobile having a door with a door handle, a drive rod, a latching system, a striker, and a drive rod striking member. The drive rod striking member can be positioned adjacent the drive rod. Upon impact to the door, the drive rod is disengaged from the door handle and/or the latching system through inertia, through the drive rod striking member impacting the drive rod, or through any other disengagement mechanisms. The drive rod striking member prevents the drive rod from re-engaging with the latching system. The disengagement of the drive rod prevents the drive rod from controlling the latching system to disengage from the striker, either through deformation of the door, or through actuations by the door handle. |
| US08398144B2 |
Longitudinal adjustment device
The invention relates to a longitudinal adjustment device of a motor vehicle seat, comprising a stationary bottom rail connectable to a motor vehicle and a seat rail connectable to the vehicle seat and longitudinally displaceably supported on the bottom rail between a front and a rear end position. In order to provide a longitudinal adjustment device which protects the seat rail against a crash-induced displacement with respect to the bottom rail in the area of its rear end position, it is provided that the detachment lock in effective connection with the bottom rail and the seat rail in the area of their rear end position is formed in such a manner that it blocks a crash-induced separation of the seat rail from the bottom rail. |
| US08398138B2 |
Body part for a motor vehicle
A body part of a front frame of a motor vehicle has a structural component of plastic arranged in a frame part. The structural component is connected with a cage nut through material connection. Via the cage nut a front axle is screwed to the body part. A carrying part for holding the cage nut is welded to the frame part for this purpose and connected to the structural component via over molding. |
| US08398134B1 |
Universal carabiner holder
A universal safety and rescue carabiner holder is disclosed for securing a carabiner with its gate in the open position while extending the user's reach several feet in any direction, which is also capable of supporting a long and heavy segment of attached safety rope. The carabiner holder is mounted to the end of an extension pole and includes an axial stem, gripping means supported by the axial stem for releasably capturing the spine of the carabiner and for holding the carabiner's gate arm in an open position, and supporting means supported by the axial stem opposite the gripping means for restraining the base of the carabiner. An axial gap defined by the gripping means and the supporting means is variable to accommodate a broad selection of carabiners have a wide variety of sizes, shapes and gate arm configurations. |
| US08398128B2 |
Vehicle door latch system
A vehicle door latch system configured to temporarily prevent door latch mechanisms from unlatching during a predetermined event is provided. The vehicle door latch system includes a forkbolt pivotally mounted to a housing portion of the vehicle door latch. The forkbolt is capable of moving between a latching position and an unlatching position. The door latch system also includes a block out mechanism configured for movement between a blocking position and an unblocking position. The block out mechanism is configured to prevent the forkbolt from moving from the latching position to the unlatching position when the block out mechanism is in the blocking position. A biasing member biases the block out mechanism into the unblocking position. The door latch system also includes an activation mechanism for moving the block out mechanism to the blocking position when the activation mechanism is activated for a predetermined time period to overcome the biasing member and after the predetermined time period, the block out mechanism moves to the unblocking position by the biasing member. |
| US08398127B2 |
Opening and closing device for lids
The present invention relates to an opening and closing device of push-push type for lids, with particular reference to the lids of fuel tanks in cars and motorcycles, which uses a mechanism comprising a heart-shaped cam (6) and a roto-translating pin (3), in which the cam (6) is positioned in detached and parallel position with respect to the roto-translating pin (3) and in which the heart-shaped cam (6) and the pin (3) are connected by means of a rocker (8). |
| US08398126B2 |
Multipoint lock mechanism
A multipoint lock for sliding doors. The multipoint lock mounted to a sliding door generally includes an active locking device having an active latch, and two passive locking devices, each having a passive latch. The latches are independently depth adjustable relative to an edge of the sliding door. The active locking device further includes sets of fastener apertures for receiving and securing a handle assembly thereto in at least two different positions. A lever having an actuator pin of the handling assembly can be positioned at various locations on the handle assembly such that fastener apertures of the handle assembly align with a different set of handle apertures of the active locking device depending on the position of the lever, Actuation of the active locking device by movement of the lever shifts the active latch and the passive latches simultaneously between locked and unlocked positions. |
| US08398123B1 |
Duct coupling system
A duct coupling system has a first duct with and end having a threads thereon, a second duct having an end with threads thereon, and a coupler having a first end threadedly engaged with the threads of the first duct and a second end threadedly engaged with the threads of the second duct. The ducts and the coupler are each integrally formed of a polymeric material. A plurality of tendons extend through the interior passageways of the ducts of the coupler. |
| US08398111B2 |
Pushchair frame
An improved pushchair frame (10) of a type that can be collapsed for ease of transport or storage etc. The frame comprising a push/pull handle (12), a front wheel frame (14) on which at least one front wheel (16) is rotatably mounted and a rear wheel frame (18) on which at least one rear wheel (20) is rotatably mounted. The frame comprising a seat mounting yoke (22) to which the front and rear wheel frames are coupled, at least one of the front and rear wheel frames being pivotably coupled to the yoke, the frames having an operating position in which they are spaced from one another and a stowed position in which they are generally adjacent one another. The seat mounting yoke is rotatable, relative to at least one of the front and rear wheel frames, between an operating position and a stowed position in which the yoke is located generally adjacent one of the front and rear wheel frames. A retaining means maintains the yoke and the front and rear wheel frames in their operating position. When the retaining means are released, the yoke and the front and rear wheel frames may be moved to their stowed positions, thereby folding the pushchair frame. |
| US08398108B2 |
Transfer chair
A transfer chair and a method of using the same. The transfer chair includes a base frame, a seat frame, and a seat having a front edge and a back edge and that is supported by the seat frame. A vertical lift mechanism couples the base frame to the seat frame and is configured to translate the seat from a first height to a second height. A seatback extends upwardly from the back edge of the seat in a first configuration and extends downwardly from the back edge of the seat in a second configuration. When the seatback is in the second configuration, a patient may slide over the back edge of the seat. A transition mechanism moves the seatback between the first and second configurations. |
| US08398106B2 |
Master device for a closed hydraulic system of handlebar-steered vehicles
A master device for a closed hydraulic system of handlebar-steered vehicles includes a basic body and a pressure chamber in which, in the event of actuation of the master device in order to actuate a slave device, hydraulic fluid is placed under pressure. The master device includes a hydraulic line connecting element having a connecting piece for connecting a hydraulic line and a thread section for screwing into the basic body. An air bleed opening bleeds the hydraulic system. The hydraulic line connecting element and the basic body form a valve that closes the connection between the pressure chamber and the air bleed opening when the hydraulic line connecting element is fully screwed in to the basic body. |
| US08398104B2 |
Bicycle seat adjustable device
A bicycle seat adjustable device includes an outer tube with an inner tube movably inserted therein and a piston is connected to the inner tube. A valve control device includes an outer path tube in the inner tube, and a lower end of the outer path tube is connected to the piston and a top end of the outer path tube extends toward the inner tube. A movable piston is movably mounted to the outer path tube. An outer oil room and an inner air room are defined between the inner tube and the outer path tube. A valve unit is connected to the inner path tube to form an inner oil room and a path which communicates with the outer oil room and the inner oil room, and controlled by the valve unit. The inner tube and the inner path tube increases the travel distance of the hydraulic oil. |
| US08398102B2 |
Suspension arm for a motor vehicle wheel suspension and method for manufacturing same
A swing arm for a suspension of a vehicle comprises a substantially transversely outer arm portion having a free end for mounting of a support for supporting a wheel of the vehicle and a substantially transversely inner arm portion with a first branch and second branch. The first branch is substantially aligned with the outer arm portion and has a free end for mounting of a first connector for connection to a body of the vehicle, and the second branch extends along an arched path towards a rear part of the vehicle and has a free end for mounting of a second connector for connection to the vehicle body. A single-sheet metal piece includes a main portion having an open section and at least one secondary portion arranged in an edge zone of the swing arm, having a closed section, and formed by at least one strip of the metal piece folded onto the main portion and firmly secured with a free edge of the strip to the main portion. A method for manufacturing the swing arm comprises steps of obtaining the main portion by stamping of the metal piece, folding the strip of the metal piece so as to obtain the secondary portion, and firmly securing the free edge of the strip to the main portion. |
| US08398097B2 |
Hinged beam retainer
A retainer extends across first and second overlapping hinged beams to retain the hinged beams against pivotal movement. |
| US08398094B1 |
Skibob and method for riding a chairlift
Skibobs are disclosed having features for conveying the skibob with rider on a moving chairlift while the rider remains mounted on the seat of the skibob. The frame and suspension are configured for elevating the underside of the skibob seat above the level of the chairlift bench during loading, so that the chairlift bench, while moving forward from behind the rider, can pick up the skibob, rider and all, and carry the mounted rider up the ski slope without falling. As the undercarriage of the skibob is lifted off the snow, the rider is deposited on the chairlift bench so that the seat of the skibob is secured in place by the weight of the rider on the seat. During offloading, the skibob is nonetheless readily disengaged from the chairlift bench with an active boost from the suspension and optional spring-loaded seat as the undercarriage contacts the offloading platform, permitting the rider to ski away from the chairlift without dismounting the skibob, thus improving ease of use for riders with limits in physical capacity. These and other features of the invention are a benefit to disabled persons in gaining access to the ski slopes. |
| US08398092B2 |
Active roll control system for vehicle
A roll control system improves stability in turning by actively controlling roll stiffness in accordance with traveling conditions of a vehicle. The active roll control system for a vehicle suspension includes a stabilizer bar of which the middle straight portion is fixed to a sub-frame by a mount bush and both ends are connected with a lower control arm by a stabilizer link to suppress roll of the vehicle body, in which a roll control mechanism is disposed between a lower end connecting portion of the stabilizer link and the lower control arm to increase roll stiffness by increasing a lever ratio of the stabilizer bar, if needed. |
| US08398090B2 |
Spring loaded seal assembly for turbines
A spring loaded seal assembly is disclosed for sealing a gap between adjacent turbine components. The seal assembly may generally include a turbine seal and a spring member. The turbine seal may extend between the adjacent turbine components and may be configured to seal the gap defined between the turbine components. The spring member may be configured to engage the turbine seal so as to maintain the seal in sealing engagement with the adjacent turbine components. |
| US08398086B2 |
Sealing element and sealing method including fusing the element
A sealer (5) for sealing a sealed portion (3) is a sheet member formed into a shape that matches a three-dimensional shape of the sealed portion (3). The sealed portion (3) is sealed by placing the sealer (5) over the sealed portion (3) and heating the sealer (5). |
| US08398085B2 |
Card trade system and methods thereof
A Bingo card trade feature is disclosed. This feature can offer players the option to trade one set of Bingo cards for another set of different Bingo cards. This exchange can cost nothing or an additional preset cost. These trades can be established through the entity hosting the game. The traded cards can be available for further trades for the same Bingo game based on the business rule set by the entity. The players can be able to trade cards up until a specified time before the start of the actual game. The players can also be able to trade a card as many times as they wish depending on their budget. In one specific example, a “Bonanza Trade” can offer the player the ability to take a daubed Bonanza card that was purchased, add a dollar and get two new Bonanza cards in exchange. |
| US08398083B2 |
Card game
A card game is disclosed in which participants arrange six poker cards into three hands, including a one-card hand, a two-card hand, and a three-card hand. Wagers are placed on each of the participant's hands. The participants compete their hands against at least one other participant's hands to determine who has the highest ranked hands. For each hand, the participant having the highest ranked hand is determined to be the winner. Payoffs are made to the winners. |
| US08398081B1 |
Combination dice and board game and associated method
A combination dice and board game includes a substantially square-shaped arena. Such an arena includes a planar base member and a plurality of vertical walls monolithically formed with such a base member. The game further includes a mechanism for scoring points. Such a point scoring mechanism is employed within an interior area of the arena and includes a plurality of pretty dice. The point scoring mechanism further includes a plurality of fancy dice coextensively shaped with the plurality of pretty dice, a third plurality of traditional dice, and a dice cup. The game apparatus further includes a mechanism for calculating the points, a mechanism for recording the points, and a mechanism for determining how to score the points. Such a score determining mechanism includes a manual of rules. Such a manual describes steps necessary to score points during operating conditions. |
| US08398075B2 |
Auto document feeder and a document reader with the auto document feeder
An auto document feeder includes a lead path, a first reverse path, a second reverse path, and a both surfaces eject path. The lead path guides a document from a left side to a right side of a read position. The first reverse path and the second reverse path are connected to the lead path, and reverse the document to guide the document from the right side to the left side of the read position. A both surfaces eject path is connected to the first reverse path and the second reverse path and guides the document whose image information of a second surface has been read so as to eject further to the right side than the read position. Further, the lead path includes a lead curve path which protrudes to the left side and is arranged more to the left side than the read position. A shared curve path shared by the lead path and the both surfaces eject path includes a portion between the read position and a portion in which the lead curve path protrudes the most. |
| US08398073B2 |
Automatic document feeder
An automatic document feeder includes a sheet pick-up module and a floating shock-absorbing structure. The floating shock-absorbing structure is arranged at a feeding entrance. The sheet pick-up module includes a sheet pick-up roller and a sheet separation roller. When the sheet pick-up module is rotated to a sheet feeding position, the sheet pick-up roller is contacted with the floating shock-absorbing structure to feed the sheet into the internal portion of the automatic document feeder. By the floating shock-absorbing structure, the possibility of causing excessive shock and noise when the sheet pick-up arm strikes the feeding entrance will be minimized or eliminated. |
| US08398071B2 |
Air sheet feeding device and image forming system having image forming apparatus to which the air sheet feeding device is connected
A sheet feeding device includes: a leading edge contacting section having a leading edge contacting surface with which a leading edge side in a sheet conveyance direction of sheets stored in a sheet storage section, comes in contact; a blowing section having an air outlet which blows air to float the sheets from a side surface perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the sheets stored; a sucking and conveying section provided at an upward position over the sheet storing section, which sucks the sheet floated by the air from the blowing section, and conveys the sheet over an upper end of the leading edge contacting section; and a rise prevention member provided on a side of the sucking and conveying section, which comes in contact with the sheet floated by the air from the blowing section and prevents a contacting portion of the floated sheet from being risen. |
| US08398069B2 |
Paper feeder with first and second paper loaders
A paper feeder, a control method thereof, and an image forming apparatus having the same are provided. The paper feeder includes a moving member to push paper loaded on one paper loader to another empty paper loader. With regard to operation of the moving member, the stop time of the moving member may be variable based on a paper size input by a user, which enables a stop position of the moving member to be automatically adjusted based on the paper size, resulting in enhanced user convenience. |
| US08398067B2 |
Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus
A sheet processing apparatus includes pairs of rollers being sheet conveying units that convey recording sheets that are sheet media, a binding tray in which a plurality of recording sheets conveyed by the pairs of rollers are stacked and the recording sheets are retained as a paper bundle, and a stapler being a binding unit that performs a binding process on the paper bundle retained in the binding tray. Target positions on the paper bundle are adjusted by moving both of two jogger fences in an R direction to move the paper bundle in the sheet width direction so as to displace the paper bundle with respect to the stapler. |
| US08398057B2 |
Stringing block for aerial electric conductor
A stringing block for aerial electric conductor or other aerial cable, intended for hanging to electric line structures, insulators etc., suitable for both manual and helicopter pilot line or conductor stringing, is disclosed. The block comprises one or more ring-shaped sheaves, each one running over one or two small wheels, installed on a small size frame and rotating around their axes. The block is light enough for to prevent conductor/pilot line escaping the shave groove and friction on the shave flange. |
| US08398053B2 |
Double piston trunnion mounted ball valves and methods of use
Disclosed are a method and a ball valve structure which provide for an improved seal in a trunnion mounted, double piston ball valve, which is especially useful in applications requiring a seal against high pressures, such as in the oil, gas and chemical process industries. Higher pressures on an inlet side of the valve are used, while the valve moves toward and is maintained in a valve closed position, to create movement of a ball element of the valve so as to bias the ball element against both piston seat elements (or rings) used to create the seals. This movement of the ball element thereby effectively uses such upstream pressure to create and enhance a seal between the ball element and both piston seat elements while in the valve closed position. |
| US08398050B2 |
Hold open configuration for safety valve and method
An actuator and counterbalance system including a nonmobile carrier; a mobile carrier, mobile relative to the non mobile carrier; and a counterbalance system in operable communication with the mobile carrier and configured to counterbalance less than 100 percent of a return force of a tool actuated by the actuator and method. |
| US08398048B2 |
Structure for mounting an object on a vertical surface and method of making same
A picture hanger has a base portion having a hole for an elongated fastener (nail or screw). The base portion carries a member enclosing a front face or the entire base portion. The member has a through hole aligned with and on one or both sides of the fastener hole. The elongated fastener is held in place in the holes so that the fastener need not be manually held during driving thereof into a picture frame or wall. The member is injection molded on the base portion, and consists essentially of nylon-6,6 having a Shore A hardness in the range of 80-90. |
| US08398046B2 |
Clamp device for portable porous pavement system
A clamping device for a portable porous pavement system includes a first bracket and a second bracket. The first bracket includes a U-shaped section extending between first and second wings; a first slot defined by the first wing; and a second slot defined by the second wing. The second bracket includes a C-shaped member having first and second arms with a base member joining the first and second arms; a first twistable section defined by the first arm; and a second twistable section defined by the second arm. The first arm is sized to fit through the first slot of the first wing such that the first twistable section and the base member are on opposite sides of the first wing; and the second arm is sized to fit through the second slot of the second wing such that the second twistable section and the base member being on opposite sides of the second wing. |
| US08398036B2 |
Post holder
A post holder for holding a safety post on a horizontal structure of a building is provided. The post holder has an elongate post reception portion an elongate central support portion, protruding from the post reception portion and perpendicular to the post reception portion, and first and second elongate side support portions protruding from the post reception portion laterally of the central support portion and in opposite directions. The central support portion comprises a fastening seat, which is arranged to receive a fastening member for fastening of the post holder to a base. Each one of said support portions comprises a support protrusion, which constitutes a fraction of the support portion at a bottom side thereof and protrudes at a bottom side thereof, thereby forming a lower most support surface of the support portion. The lower most support surfaces of the support portions are triangularly positioned. |
| US08398035B2 |
Modular clamping system
Disclosed are modular clamping systems and methods for use. A modular clamping system may be configured to mount a variety of accessories to a portion of tubing. The modular clamping system may utilize multiple strap clamp portions having different clamping diameters in order to mount an accessory to tubing of various diameters. |
| US08398029B2 |
On-board device for measuring the mass and the position of the center of gravity of an aircraft
The present invention relates to an on-board device for measuring the mass and the position of the center of gravity of an aircraft having a plurality of landing gears (T1, T2), each landing gear (T1, T2) being provided with at least one contact member (2) having a deformable element (3) that is deformable under the action of the weight of the aircraft when the aircraft is standing on a surface, and is remarkable in that the formable element (3) is provided with a bar (4) having an eddy current sensor (6) at its free end. |
| US08398027B2 |
Method and apparatus for reinforcing composite structures
A computer implemented method and apparatus for creating a structural joint for an aircraft. A first composite component and a second composite component are co-joined to form the structural joint for the aircraft. A hole through the first composite component and the second composite component is created. A composite shear pin is placed through the hole. A composite collar is bonded to the composite shear pin with an adhesive. |
| US08398024B2 |
Wing cover panel assembly and wing cover panel for an aircraft wing and a method of forming thereof
A wing cover panel assembly, wing cover and method of forming thereof are disclosed in which an attachment surface of the wing cover panel is provided with a locating channel into which a wing structural element such as a stringer or spar is captured so as to fix the wing structural element to the wing cover panel. |
| US08398022B2 |
Wide body aircraft architecture
A large-capacity airplane principally includes a fuselage which has no region of constant width between the front and the rear and a wing fixed to the fuselage. As a preference, the engines are fixed at the rear under a horizontal tail held above the fuselage by vertical stabilizers and maintenance wells are formed in the fuselage in vertical alignment with each engine to allow the engines to be fitted and removed. The width of the fuselage is determined, on the one hand, so that the airplane landing gear is fixed to the fuselage and in the up position is included within the interior volume of the fuselage and, on the other hand, so that the rear engines are above the fuselage in order to make use of the beneficial effects of this position. |
| US08398015B2 |
Aircraft that can fly horizontally and vertically
An aircraft that has a set of wings which spin about respective axes that are laterally spaced apart in a horizontal plane of the aircraft, parallel to each other, and positioned adjacent respective frame portions, each of said frame portions defining a continuous surface, having a semi-circular cross-section means being provided to drive the sets of wings so that, as they spin, each wing of said sets of wings moves sequentially upwards inside its respective frame portion, and downwards outside its respective frame portion so as to provide lift to the aircraft. |
| US08398014B2 |
Solid roll provided with at least one adapter and adapter for a solid roll
A solid roll (1) of flexible web-shaped material, such as paper or nonwoven material, being provided with at least one adapter (6). The adapter (6) includes first attachment element (7) for attachment to the solid roll (1) and second attachment element (8) for attachment to a dispenser. The first attachment element (7) comprises at least one elongated attachment member (9), which is adapted to be arranged extending in or near the center line (5) of the solid roll (1). Furthermore, the at least one elongated attachment member (9) is arranged to fixate the adapter (6) to the flexible web-shaped material of the solid roll (1) through frictional engagement. |
| US08398010B2 |
Polyester monofilament package
A polyester monofilament package is formed by reeling a polyester monofilament comprising polyethylene terephthalate and satisfies all of the following requirements (a) to (d): (a) the coefficient of dynamic friction between yarns of the polyester monofilament being 0.13 μd or less; (b) the package end being in a tapered shape with a taper angle (0) of 75° or less; (c) the variation gradient in unreeling tension (AT) being 0.02 cN/dtex-m or less; and (d) in a part of a reeling thickness of 1 mm in the inner layer of the package, the variation in contraction stress of the polyester monofilament being 3.0 cN/dtex or less. |
| US08398005B2 |
Electrostatic atomizing device
The electrostatic atomizing device includes a discharge electrode, an opposed electrode, and a voltage application device. The voltage application device is configured to apply a voltage between the discharge electrode and the opposed electrode so as to atomizing a liquid supplied to the discharge electrode. The electrostatic atomizing device further includes a reduced water provision device configured to supply reduced water as the above liquid to the discharge electrode. |
| US08398000B2 |
Connection element for running rails and running-rail system
The invention relates to a connection element for running rails of a suspended track for receiving the running rails (2, 2′) and a securing device for securing the running rails (2, 2′) against being pulled out of the cavity (H, H′) and a running rail system having multiple running rails (2, 2′), which can be connected by connection elements (1; 11). The invention solves the problem of allowing simple and rapid tool-free mounting with a simultaneous secure connection of running rails of the running rail system in that the securing device of the connection element has at least one spring-elastic first connection claw (8; 12; 15), which projects diagonally in an insertion direction (E) of a first running rail (2) into the cavity (H) in the relaxed state, and/or by a running rail system having connection elements (1; 11) implemented in this way. |
| US08397998B1 |
Data storage device, apparatus and method for using same
A data storage device for use as a portable card, magnetically encodeable card, magnetic credit card or the like is shown. The data storage device includes a substrate having at least one surface. A high density, magnetically coercive material layer is disposed on or is deposited on the substrate for storing magnetic signals. The magnetically coercive material may have an axis of magnetization that is oriented in a predetermined direction relative to the at least one surface of the substrate. A layer of non-magnetically material is disposed on the substrate for defining an exchange break layer. A relatively hard, abradeable protective coating is formed on said magnetic material layer and is selected to have a thickness between a maximum thickness which would materially attenuate magnetic signals passing between the magnetic material layer and a transducer and a minimum thickness enabling said protective coating to be abraded by usage in an ambient natural atmosphere operating environment for removing therefrom a known quantity of the protective coating. The protective coating may comprise one, two or more layers of materials. |
| US08397994B2 |
Wireless tag
A wireless tag includes: a wireless communication circuit that includes first and second terminals coupled to a loop antenna and performs wireless communication using the loop antenna; a first conductor that forms a first curved surface and includes a third terminal disposed at a first end of the first curved surface and coupled to the first terminal, and includes a first area including a second end of the first curved surface; and a second conductor that forms a second curved surface, includes a fourth terminal disposed at a third end of the second curved surface and coupled to the second terminal, and includes a second area including a fourth end of the second curved surface, the second area being parallel to the first area and overlapping with the first area, the first and second curved surfaces forming the loop antenna. |
| US08397993B2 |
Printing control method and printing control apparatus for line light source detection
A printing control method for line light source detection, for controlling at least one printing parameter of a printing apparatus. The printing control method includes: utilizing a line light source to scan a barcode to derive a barcode profile corresponding to the barcode; deriving a grading information corresponding to the barcode according to the barcode profile and a threshold, and deriving a modified barcode profile according to the grading information and the barcode profile; and adjusting the at least one printing parameter of the printing apparatus according to the modified barcode profile. |
| US08397992B2 |
Optical reader having image sensor for reading decodable indicia
An optical reader for reading decodable indicia is provided. In one embodiment, the optical reader can include an image sensor. In one aspect, the optical reader can be configured to read bar codes such as 1D bar codes. Particular methods and apparatus for reading decodable indicia are described. |
| US08397991B2 |
Protective device and method for preventing skimming on a card reader
A protective device (26, 28) is proposed that contains a protective generator (26) and an inductor (28) to generate an electromagnetic protective field (29) that is suitable for compromising the function of the spying device (SM), wherein the protective device (26, 28) generates an electromagnetic protective field (29) with a protective signal that simulates the type of signal that occurs when magnetic stripe cards are read. Through the protective field a special protective signal is induced in the potentially present skimming module to imitate the reading of the magnetic stripe card. The skimming card reader reads a pseudo magnetic stripe card, or is at least confused when spying on the genuine magnetic stripe card. In particular, the protective signal can contain pseudo data that are mixed with the actual card data at demodulation or suppress said data completely (capture effect) so that the third party ultimately obtains unusable data. |
| US08397988B1 |
Method and system for securing a transaction using a card generator, a RFID generator, and a challenge response protocol
A system for securing a transaction comprises an authentication unit capable of processing an input and generating a dynamic card transaction code/virtual card code which is valid for a single transaction upon authentication; and a RFID generator capable of generating at least a dynamic RFID key for a predefined limited time period by using the dynamic card transaction code for the single transaction. The authentication of the input is performed locally with the authentication unit through an encrypted and unique RFID communication between the authentication unit and a third party by using a challenge response protocol. The authentication unit is capable of working alone and as a plug-in with at least any one of a personal digital assistant (PDA), a hand-held remote control, a cellular telephone, a fax machine, and a printer is used for securing the transaction. |
| US08397985B2 |
Systems and methods for providing access to wireless gaming devices
Systems and methods for controlling access to wireless gaming devices and networks are provided. For example, access is controlled through one or more levels of security checks, such as a hard security check instead of or in addition to a soft security check. In a hard security check, the user employs an apparatus such as a card or other physical token that can be used to access the wireless gaming device. Such an apparatus may communicate information that identifies the user to the device or may simply be used to produce a signal without which the device is locked to users. |
| US08397973B1 |
Wide handle for true multi-fire surgical stapler
A surgical apparatus may include at least one feeder belt; a plurality of staples frangibly affixed to each feeder belt, where each staple includes two ends, a first end frangibly connected to a corresponding feeder belt and a second, free end; and a handle within which at least part of at least one feeder belt is received, where that feeder belt extends along a path within that handle that is at least partially nonlinear. A method for operating a surgical apparatus, including providing a surgical stapler including an end effector, a shaft, a handle and at least one feeder belt, where staples are frangibly affixed to each feeder belt; deploying a plurality of staples from the end effector; and advancing at least one feeder belt along a nonlinear path after deploying the staples, whereby fresh staples are moved into the end effector into position for deployment. |
| US08397971B2 |
Sterilizable surgical instrument
A surgical instrument including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion can be sterilized separately from the first portion. The first portion can comprise an anvil, a staple cartridge channel and/or staple cartridge, and a movable cutting member. The second portion can comprise electronic components configured to control the surgical instrument and/or record data collected during the use of the surgical instrument. The first portion can be sterilized using a gamma radiation sterilization process while the second portion can be sterilized using a different sterilization process, such as steam, ethylene oxide, ozone, and/or hydrogen peroxide sterilization processes, for example. As a result, the first and second portions can be sterilized separately and delivered in two separate containers. The second portion can be stored within a sealed bag and can include an electrical terminal which can penetrate the bag and communicate with the first portion. |
| US08397969B2 |
Apparatus for installing explosively driven fasteners and fasteners for use therewith
An improved tool for installing an explosively driven fastener as well as an improved explosively driven fastener for use therewith are disclosed. The fastener includes a nail having a head with an explosive load attached thereto in a plastic cap that includes a buffer. The tool has a plurality of concentric cylinders and springs including a muzzle for receiving the fastener head and explosive load. A spring actuated firing pin ignites the load causing it to explode and drive the nail out of the tool. The explosion also automatically resets the tool. The tool and the fastener provide many advantages over existing explosively driven fasteners and the tools used to install them. |
| US08397967B2 |
Process for determining usage data for a portable hand-activated apparatus and the device for implementing the process
An apparatus and method for determining usage data includes driving a drive piston, damping the drive piston, and determining usage data indicating if the drive piston is being over-powered or under-powered. |
| US08397965B2 |
Backpack with incorporated gun scabbard
A backpack and a method of forming a backpack with an integral gun scabbard has been devised whereby the user has a convenient place for the storage and carriage of a rifle, shotgun, or other long gun type of firearm, and simultaneously can store and carry a variety of other sundry cargo while moving about. The backpack is devised in such a way as to permit easy and rapid access to and retrieval of said firearm from the storage. It is equipped with dual padded shoulder straps. In an ideal embodiment, a waist belt is included to facilitate the stabilization of the scabbard when the firearm is being withdrawn, as well as to contribute to the load bearing functions of the backpack. |
| US08397963B2 |
Automobile caddy
The auto caddy of the present invention may include a main housing having one or more receptacles for holding drinks or other items, and may include one or more attachment members having one or more sets of openings through which a vehicle headrest seat post may extend on installation with two points of contact, which may increase the stability of the auto caddy, especially during sudden movement of a vehicle. The auto caddy may include optional components for subdividing receptacles, one or more hooks from which a tray may be suspended, a strap for securing the tray, and slots for suspending a trash receptacle such as a plastic grocery bag. The auto caddy may also include offset sides for manufacturing cost efficiency, in which case offset washers (which may be hook-shaped) may be used at installation to maximize vertical and horizontal alignment and stability of the auto caddy. |
| US08397955B2 |
Liquid material discharge device with debubbling mechanism
A liquid material discharge device which can remove bubbles in a liquid material supplied to the device, can ensure a stable discharge amount of the liquid material, and can reduce the weight of a plunger section. The liquid material discharge device comprises a liquid material supply section for supplying the liquid material to be discharged, a measuring section having a measuring hole and a plunger sliding on an inner wall surface of the measuring hole to suck the liquid material into the measuring hole and to discharge the liquid material, a discharge section having a discharge port for discharging the liquid material, a valve section for changing over communication between the liquid material supply section and the measuring section and communication between the measuring section and the discharge section, and a debubbling mechanism provided in a flow path running from the liquid material supply section to the measuring section. The debubbling mechanism includes a first flow path (4) communicating with the liquid material supply section side, a second flow path (5) communicating with the measuring section side, and a body (3) for making the first flow path and the second flow path communicate with each other, the body having a greater width than the first flow path. A discharge port (6) of the first flow path is located above a suction port (7) of the second flow path. |
| US08397954B2 |
Device for metering bulk material
A device for metering bulk material includes a drive unit as well as a metering unit encompassing a metering module, a receptacle, and a stirring apparatus. A gear can be provided between the metering module and a wheel. The metering module is provided with an outlet. A quick coupling element is disposed on an axis in order for the metering unit to be designed as a replaceable unit. The metering unit can be swiveled about the axis when the quick coupling element is engaged such that the wheel can be non-positively contacted with driving means. A plate is used as a cover. |
| US08397951B2 |
Device for containing fluid substances under airtight conditions and for dispensing them
A device for containing fluid substances under airtight conditions and dispensing them, comprising a rigid container (5) in which a bag (9) made of thermoplastic material is inserted having a flange (3, 3A) and a hole for housing the body of a (P), the body of the pump (P) being pressed to form a seal on said flange (3, 3A) of the bag (9) by a first ring cap (N), a second ring cap (G) being screwed onto the container neck (6) and secured to the bag (9), the first ring cap (N) being locked to the second ring cap (G), engagement means (13, 14) being provided between said first and second ring cap to make said first and second ring cap torsionally rigid with each other such that a rotation imposed on the first ring cap (N) of the pump results in a corresponding rotation of the second ring cap (G), hence facilitating extraction of the bag from the container consequent on the removal of the pump (P) from the container (5). |
| US08397948B2 |
Dispensing device for edible goods and/or novelties
A dispensing device may include a main body including a wall having a dispensing mouth defined in the wall; a storage portion, wherein the storage portion is retained by the main body; and a conveyance path providing communication between the storage portion and the dispensing mouth. In addition, the dispensing device may include a conveyor disposed in the conveyance path; a drive motor mechanically coupled to the conveyor; and a sensor, wherein the sensor is directly or indirectly electrically coupled to the drive motor and the sensor is in optical communication with the environment proximate to the dispensing mouth. |
| US08397945B2 |
Dispensing container
A container adapted for dispensing a product is provided. The container includes an outer casing body for receiving a dispensing tray. The dispensing tray has an internal storage compartment for storage of a plurality of units of a product to be dispensed, and includes a cover portion defining at least one dispensing aperture through which a stored unit of product is accessible when the outer casing body is in a dispensing position. A sealing member is engaged with one of the outer casing body and the dispensing tray, and is configured to interact with the other of the outer casing body and the dispensing tray to form a seal about an outer peripheral portion of the dispensing tray when the outer casing body is in a closed and locked position. The container includes a locking mechanism that releasably locks the outer casing body in the closed and locked position. |
| US08397942B2 |
Storage container
An improved flexible storage container [1000] is sized and shaped to hold and store a specific item, such as a handbag. It employs a front wall [1100], a rear wall [1130], and side walls [1150] which are made of a breathable material. Moisture is allowed to pass in or out of the container to keep moisture equilibrium. Pockets [1113, 1153] inside of the walls [1100, 1130] may be used to hold front and side supports [1115, 1155] to make the storage container [1000] more rigid. A hypoallergenic barrier [1200] which acts as a liner inside of container [1000] employs material having a tight weave with pores 10 microns or smaller to keep out dust, dust mites or other allergenic materials. The storage container [1000] is capable of storing items for long periods of time with little or no change to the item. It also minimizes allergic reactions to those using the items after storage. |
| US08397939B2 |
Composite compressed gas tank
A composite compressed gas tank has an outer shell and a liner. The liner is made of a light metal, in particular, aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The gas tank has an in-feed and discharge port, in which is inserted a closing element having at least one channel. The closing element is connected directly or indirectly to the liner by a welded joint, and a steel material connecting line is connected to the channel or channels. A transition element has a first end segment made of a light metal, in particular aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and is welded either to the liner or to the closing element if made of a light metal. The other end segment of the transition element is made of a steel material and is welded either to the closing element, or to the connecting line if made of a steel material. |
| US08397937B2 |
Article carrier with a dividing arrangement
In order to provide an article carrier with a dividing arrangement (9) which is flexible in terms of height, rests on the base (8) of the article carrier and has profiled side walls (70, 71) with undercut grooves (76) running parallel to the base (8), and has at least one partition wall (70, 71; 80) for inserting between the side walls (70, 71) and right-angled corner connectors (20) which can be latched into the grooves (76), it is proposed that the side walls (70, 71) have an undercut projection on their top side or their bottom side, and a latching profile for latching with the projection on their bottom side or top side. |
| US08397933B2 |
Medical waste receptable
A lid covering an interior of a medical waste receptacle base. The lid includes an intermediate waste repository connected to the cover. The repository is moveable between a holding position adapted for holding waste segregated from the receptacle base interior, and a dumping position adapted for biasing waste by gravity into the receptacle base interior. |
| US08397932B2 |
Plastic container having pearl-like appearance and process for producing the same
This invention provides a plastic container characterized in that an expanded layer comprising expanded cells having a flat shape with an average major axis of not more than 400 μm and an average aspect ratio (L/t) of not less than 6 as viewed in cross section of the container wall along the maximum stretch direction, which are oriented in the stretch direction and are distributed so as to be superimposed on top of each other in the thickness-wise direction, is formed within the container wall. In this container, expanded cells having a flat shape are distributed so as to orient in a given direction and, thus, has light shielding properties and has a pearl-like appearance, that is, has a very high commercial value. Further, since any colorant is not contained, the suitability for recycling is excellent. |
| US08397929B2 |
Integral buffering apparatus for automatically controlling flow rate of fluid and flat rack container including the integral buffering apparatus
The present invention relates to a flat rack container, and more particularly, to an integral buffering apparatus disposed between end walls and a base and for automatically controlling a flow rate of oil that flows in a cylinder housing through channels formed in a slider when the end walls are folded, to control a falling speed of the end walls, thereby absorbing an impact of the end walls, preventing damage of the end walls and the base, and ensuring safety of workers. The integral buffering apparatus includes a cylinder housing including a space for accommodating oil; a slider disposed in the space to be movable in a length direction of the cylinder housing and to divide the space into a first space and a second space; first oil channels and a second oil channel for connecting the first space and the second space to each other. |
| US08397928B2 |
Wood barrel, production method thereof and machine for implementing same
A barrel made of wood, in particular oak wood, for containing a liquid, such as wine, the barrel comprising a hollow body closed by two barrel heads, each barrel head comprising an assembly of substantially rectangular wooden battens assembled parallel to one another via facing lateral faces, the barrel being characterized in that the adjacent lateral faces (101, 201) of two assembled-together battens (100, 200) are in intimate leaktight contact, with fibers of the wood of each of said battens being tangled together and held in a matrix of fused intercellular materials. |
| US08397927B2 |
Break-open valve for a container
The break-open valve (1) for a container (21) comprises a break-away element (4) which can be twisted off by turning an activator (3). The valve (1) can be used for hermetically sealing a container (21) until its first opening and also for making it tamper-evident. The activator (3) is rotatably affixed to the valve head (2). The activator (3) comprises an inserted disk (16) with at least one opening (10) and a socket (5) which engages the break-away element (4). The activator (3) further comprises a membrane (17) which protects the contents within the activator (3) from contaminants entering through spout (18). The valve (1) has the advantage that it is cost efficient in its production, that it is easy to use and that it is suitable for dispensing sterile contents in more than one dose. |
| US08397918B2 |
Multiple flat disc type pump and hydrocyclone
A separator for separating a first component and a second component from within a mixed fluid includes a plurality of discs, a separator chamber, and a disc rotator. The discs are spaced apart along a disc axis The separator chamber encircles the plurality of discs. The disc rotator rotates the plurality of discs about the disc axis relative to the separator chamber. The separator chamber includes a chamber inlet that receives the mixed fluid, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The disc rotator rotates the plurality of discs about the disc axis so that the mixed fluid is spun around the separator chamber about the disc axis to separate the heavier second component from the first component. The first component is directed out of the separator through the first outlet and the second component is directed out of separator through the second outlet. |
| US08397917B2 |
Semiconductor wafer container
A wafer-retaining unit has a plurality of vertically superimposed single-wafer retaining sections, each having a wafer-retaining frame abutting against only a lower end edge portion of the outer periphery of a semiconductor wafer, a wafer-securing frame disposed vertically movably relative to the wafer-retaining frame to abut against only an upper end edge portion of the outer periphery of the semiconductor wafer, and wafer lift members that lift the semiconductor wafer to a position where it is upwardly separate from the wafer-retaining frame and keeps the semiconductor wafer in this position. Consequently, a plurality of semiconductor wafers can be accommodated efficiently and safely without increasing the space between each pair of mutually adjacent semiconductor wafers. At the same time, the semiconductor wafers can be loaded and unloaded satisfactorily. |
| US08397915B2 |
Rigid case with integrated pet waste bag dispenser, storage system and accessories storage
A pet waste disposal system incorporates a rear molding having an interior volume for a rear compartment and includes a bag roll containment chamber moiety adjacent an aperture in a bottom wall. A center molding has an extrusion received in a circumferential lip of the rear molding in a closed position and provides a center wall. The center molding also includes a bag roll containment chamber mating moiety extending from the center wall for engagement of the bag roll containment chamber moiety of the rear molding in the closed position. The extrusion houses a second interior volume for a portion of a forward compartment. A front molding has a sealing surface to engage a front sealing surface on the center molding. The front molding is closely received against the center molding in a closed position opposite the rear molding. A first closure element releasably secures the rear molding and center molding in the closed position and a second closure element releasably secures the center molding and front molding in the closed position. |
| US08397914B1 |
Heat shrunk, manually openable flexible film package
The present disclosure is concerned with heat shrunk sealed packages of flexible transparent thermoplastic film that easily opened by peeling. It involves lowering the peel strength of the heat seal between the two films used to form the package by providing one of them with a frangible layer by contaminating a layer with an incompatible polymer and providing a set of graspable tabs, one on each of the films, with which to initiate peeling of the heat seal. The tabs are heat set so that they do not shrink with the rest of the package. In a preferred embodiment, the package is provided with a second heat seal just inside the perimeter of the first and a stress concentrator, which may be a chevron, at the juncture of heat set tabs which lie with one atop the other with the first heat seal. |
| US08397913B2 |
Shipping package with end retainer and method therefor
A shipping package includes a can body having an interior volume and at least one closable end, an end closure closably engaging the closable end of the can body having a recessed portion adapted to fit within a portion of the can body adjacent the closable end, and a disposable reinforcing member corresponding to at least a portion of the recessed portion of the end closure secured adjacent to an exterior surface of the recessed portion. |
| US08397912B1 |
Rotary toolbox
A rotary toolbox includes a box body defining a first opening and a second opening, a hollow shaft mounted in the box body in communication with the first opening and having a third opening on the periphery, a locking member having a first protruding rod inserted through the third opening, a compression spring stopped against the locking member, a tool tray having a through hole pivotally coupled to the hollow shaft and a first locating groove disposed in the through hole and providing a carrier portion, a spiral spring connected between the box body and the tool tray. After pressing the locking member to move the first protruding rod out of the locating groove, the spiral spring will bias the tool tray to carry the carrier portion to the second opening for allowing the user to store tool parts or to pick up storage tool parts. |
| US08397911B1 |
Asymmetrical locking tube
A protective tubing assembly having male and female connectors integrally formed along its exterior surface and an asymmetrical cross-section with additional wall thickness in the non-connector cross section regions is provided by the present invention. Cooperating, substantially flat exterior bearing surfaces may also be formed along the exterior surface of the tubing. The tubing can be wound into coiled alignment with the male and female connectors securing adjacent coils together, and the additional wall thickness regions in the asymmetrical cross-sectional reducing unwanted twisting of the tubing that would otherwise lead to individual coils rising from their original, substantially planar coiled alignment. An extrusion manufacturing process with special inner and outer dies is also provided. |
| US08397902B1 |
Apparatus for conveying bulk materials
A belt conveyor system is provided. Belt conveyor system comprises a belt conveyor comprising a first end and a second end. Belt conveyor system also comprises a first hopper located at the first end for loading bulk material onto the belt conveyor. Belt conveyor system also comprises a dispersion assembly on the second end, the dispersion assembly projects and radially disperses the bulk material onto a pile. Also provided is a belt conveyor apparatus for projecting bulk material onto a pile having a smooth profile. The belt conveyor apparatus comprises a dispersion assembly located at an unload end of a conveyor, the dispersion assembly comprises a dispersion roller and a structure for positioning the dispersion roller relative to the conveyor. |
| US08397901B2 |
Extendable boom brake apparatus and system
An extendable boom conveyor system and method. The extendable boom system includes first and second boom elements, an operator control, and a controller. The first boom element includes a brake mechanism, which includes a pin configured to be positioned in an engaged position and a disengaged position. The second boom element includes a feature configured to engage the pin in the engaged position and prevent motion of the first boom element relative to the second boom element in at least a first direction. The controller is configured to receive an operator signal from the operator control and activate the brake mechanism responsive to the operator signal. |
| US08397886B2 |
Torque transmission device
A torque transmission device (10), comprising a pump shell (12), a turbine shell (14) that is drivable by the pump shell, and a torsion vibration damper (11). The torsion vibration damper includes a damper input component (18) and a damper output component (20), wherein a vibration absorber (24) is configured on the damper output component. |
| US08397885B2 |
Magneto-rheological fluid brake
A magneto-rheological fluid brake includes a housing, a non-magnetically permeable separating ring, a plurality of magnetically permeable blocks, a plurality of magnetically permeable bars, an axle, an upper magnetically permeable block, a lower magnetically permeable block, and a magneto-rheological fluid. The magneto-rheological fluid is surrounded by a plurality of coils and a plurality of pole coils for increasing the area of magnetic permeability of the magneto-rheological fluid subjected to an applied magnetic field. Accordingly, the magneto-rheological fluid brake demonstrates an enhanced braking force and is free from a complete failure of the braking force. |
| US08397884B2 |
Compact combined cylinder comprising a manual release device
A brake cylinder for pneumatically actuated vehicle brakes, especially for commercial vehicles, includes a housing. The housing is divided into two chambers by a piston, one of the chambers being used as a pressure chamber for actuating an operating brake section, and a cylinder spring of a spring-loaded brake section being arranged in the other chamber on the opposite side of the piston. The cylinder spring acts on another spring-loaded piston in the chamber, which can be blocked in relation to the first piston by a pneumatically actuated locking mechanism. The other spring-loaded piston is released from the first piston by a releasing action of the blocking mechanism, and is connected to a piston rod for actuating the vehicle brake. Following release of the blocking mechanism, the cylinder spring acts between the two pistons and moves them in relation to each other during a parking braking operation. The brake cylinder includes a manually actuatable release device, in addition to the pneumatically actuable blocking mechanism, for manually releasing the spring-loaded brake section without impairing the function of the operating brake section. |
| US08397883B2 |
Brake with field responsive material
A controllable brake includes a housing and a rotor supported on a shaft. The rotor is housed within a chamber containing a field controllable material which is acted upon by a magnetic field generator to impede movement of the rotor. The shaft is supported by bearings. The controllable brake housing defines a second housing chamber adapted to enclose means for monitoring and/or controlling the brake and in this way, an integrated, compact controllable brake is provided. |
| US08397882B2 |
System and method for externally fastening cables or lines to a brake cylinder
A fastening device for externally fastening cables or lines to housings, especially to the housing of brake cylinders, includes a fastening pin that can be locked in a breather of the housing. A connecting channel is configured in the fastening pin via which channel, in the locked state, the interior of the housing communicates with the atmosphere. |
| US08397878B2 |
Electrically actuated storm brake for crane and method for actuating the brake
A storm brake for a truck assembly supporting a large industrial device, wherein the truck assembly includes a truck chassis having a mount to support the device and a wheel engaging a raceway along which the truck assembly and device are to travel, the storm brake including: a storm brake shoe pivotably mounted to the truck chassis, wherein the storm brake shoe has a first pivot position in which the brake does not engage the raceway and a second pivot position in which the brake engages the raceway, wherein the storm brake shoe pivots in a direction generally aligned with a direction movement of the truck assembly along the raceway; an actuator having an extendable linkage coupled to the storm brake shoe and at an opposite end to a fixed mounting on the truck chassis, wherein extension of the linkage pivots the storm brake from the first position to the second position, and the fixed mounting provides a slidable engagement between the opposite end of the actuator and the truck chassis. |
| US08397877B2 |
Wheel braking mechanism
A wheel braking mechanism 10 comprising a brake shaft 14, a brake drum 16, an engagement pedal 18 and a disengagement pedal 20. The brake shaft 14 has a plurality of first splines 22 provided around the brake shaft 14. A first alignment member 24 is provided at the end of each first spline 22 and has first and second oppositely directed chamfered alignment surface 24a, 24b. The brake drum 16 defines a brake socket around which are provided a plurality of second splines 28, which define a plurality of spline recesses 30. A second alignment member 31 is provided at the opposing end of each second spline 28. Movement of the brake shaft 14 towards the brake drum 16 causes the first alignment members 24 to travel down the respective alignment surfaces of the second alignment members 31, thereby aligning the first splines with the respective adjacent spline recess 30. |
| US08397868B1 |
Signal mast with folding stand
A railway signal mast assembly including a signal mast and one or more signal light support arms for supporting a railway signal light on the mast includes a collapsible worker support cage attached to the signal mast proximate each set of signal light support arms to allow a worker to access the signal light mounted thereon for purposes of installation and maintenance. Each worker support cage includes a worker support platform and at least one side rail each pivotally attached to the signal mast and pivotal between stowed and use positions. |
| US08397865B2 |
System and method for noise suppression
Systems and methods for noise suppression are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an acoustic structure has a core that includes a plurality of cells. Each of the plurality of cells includes one or more engaging structures for positioning a septum relative to the cell. The acoustic structure further includes a plurality of septums positioned relative to the plurality of cells. |
| US08397860B2 |
Speaker enclosure
A loudspeaker enclosure accommodates at least one speaker. Sound waves emanating from the rear of the speaker exit through a port in the enclosure. The interior of the enclosure contains at least one partition to lengthen the acoustic path from the rear of the speaker to the port and to cause alternating expansion and contraction of the sound waves emanating from the rear of the speaker. The partitions are arranged in relation to the speaker(s) so as to reduce sound wave reflections that would create non-linearities in the frequency response. |
| US08397858B2 |
Hydro-mechanical steering unit with integrated emergency steering capability
A steering system includes a steer-by-wire (SBW) valve, a main steering pump, a steering actuator, and a steering control unit (SCU). The SCU is in fluid communication with the actuator via a pair of fluid conduits, and includes upper and lower portions. The upper portion contains a first solenoid valve and a cross-over check valve assembly. The lower portion contains a fluid control valve. An ECU generates a steering input signal in response to steering wheel rotation, and transmits the signal to the SBW valve. The SCU controls the first solenoid valve to deliver fluid from the lower portion to the actuator via the cross-over valve assembly in an emergency steering mode, and also controls the first solenoid valve to prevent flow into the actuator and allow recirculation of fluid within the lower portion in a torque feel mode. |
| US08397853B2 |
Method of arranging an electric accumulating system close to a platform of a vehicle and hybrid propulsion vehicle
A method for arranging an accumulating device in proximity of a floor of a vehicle forming a bottom wall of a passenger compartment of the vehicle itself; the accumulating device has a heating base wall which is free from heat insulation, and a non-heating base wall which is parallel and opposite to the heating base wall and is provided with a heat-insulating material layer; and the method provides for the steps of arranging the accumulating device in a seating obtained in proximity of the floor; and implementing the accumulating device with a symmetry allowing the reversal of the accumulating device itself within the seating obtained in proximity of the floor in such a way that the heating base wall may be equally either facing upwards and then towards the passenger compartment or facing downwards and then towards the external environment. |
| US08397848B2 |
Hydraulic-electric regenerative energy storage system for plug-in hybrid motor vehicles
A hydraulic energy storage system (comprising a hydraulic pump/motor, a high pressure hydraulic accumulator, a low pressure hydraulic accumulator/reservoir, and interconnecting hydraulic lines) is incorporated into a EV, HEV, or PHEV to provide hydraulic regenerative braking and propulsive assistance for the vehicle. Implementation of the low cost and long-lasting hydraulic energy storage system in the vehicle, together with the electric energy storage system (comprising a motor/generator and battery pack) of the vehicle, allows significantly reduced demands and higher operating efficiencies for the battery pack, thereby facilitating a more cost-effective, efficient and/or durable overall energy storage system for the vehicle. |
| US08397842B2 |
Robotic system and method of use
A method of using a robotic vehicle system is described. The method can include delivering a force through a robotic vehicle system powertrain in the robotic vehicle system. The force delivery can include generating a force with a force generation component in the robotic vehicle system. The force delivery can also include delivering the force through a first shaft to a first receiver and delivering the force from the first receiver to a second receiver. The first shaft can interface with the first receiver. |
| US08397834B2 |
Oscillating tool with vibration damping system
An oscillating tool comprises a housing that accommodates a motor which for driving a tool is coupled with a drive shaft via an oscillation drive, for driving it about its longitudinal axis rotatingly oscillatingly. For reducing vibrations, there is provided an inertial mass that is movably held on the housing via at least one spring element. |
| US08397833B2 |
Construction apparatus with extendable mast and method for operating such a construction apparatus
A construction apparatus having an extendable mast with an upper mast element longitudinally displaceable relative to a lower mast element. A linear drive displaces the mast elements relative to each other, and has an upper drive part linearly actuable relative to a lower drive part of the linear drive, and a locking device for locking the two mast elements in an extended mast position. The upper drive part is fixable to the upper mast element, the lower drive part of the linear drive is displaceable longitudinally of the lower mast element and a securing device is provided on the lower mast element, with which the lower drive part is releasably securable to the lower mast element for displacement of the upper mast element. A method for operating a construction apparatus with an extendable mast can be carried out with a construction apparatus in accordance with the invention. |
| US08397830B2 |
Electric stapler and method adapted for electric stapler to adjust staple leg length
To adjust a length of each leg of a staple projected to a back side of sheets of paper 5 to be bound according to a thickness thereof. In an electric stapler containing a head portion 2 including a forming plate 12 that forms a straight staple 9a so as to be U-shaped and a driver plate 13 that ejects the formed staple, a cartridge including staple sheets stacked with multiple layers, and a stapler main body which supplies the staple sheet below the forming plate 12 and which contains a driving portion that drives the forming plate 12 and the driver plate 13 in the head portion 2, plural head portions 2 are provided in which the forming plate 12 and the driver plate 13 inside have width lengths different from each other, wherein each head portion 2 is attachable to and detachable from the stapler main body. |
| US08397823B2 |
Tubular actuator, system and method
A tubular actuating system includes, a tubular, a plurality of same plugs runnable within the tubular, and an alterable actuator disposed at the tubular. The actuator is alterable in response to passage of a first of the plurality of same plugs run into contact therewith. A second of the plurality of same plugs is seatingly engagable with the alterable actuator run thereagainst when in an altered condition such that pressure built up against the second of the plurality of same plugs causes actuational movement of the alterable actuator. A flapper seat is movably disposed at the alterable actuator between at least a first position defined by the alterable actuator in an unaltered position and a second position defined by the alterable actuator in an altered position. |
| US08397819B2 |
Systems and methods for operating a plurality of wells through a single bore
Systems and methods usable to operate on a plurality of wells through a single main bore are disclosed herein. One or more chamber junctions are provided in fluid communication with one or more conduits within the single main bore. Each chamber junction includes a first orifice communicating with the surface through the main bore, and one or more additional orifices in fluid communication with individual wells of the plurality of wells. Through the chamber junctions, each of the wells can be individually or simultaneously accessed. A bore selection tool having an upper opening and at least one lower opening can be inserted into the chamber junction such that the one or more lower openings align with orifices in the chamber junction, enabling selected individual or multiple wells to be accessed through the bore selection tool while other wells are isolated from the chamber junction. |
| US08397815B2 |
Method of using wired drillpipe for oilfield fishing operations
A method and apparatus for fishing a wellbore with wired drill pipe are provided. Embodiments of the invention advantageously identify objects for removal and signal proper attachment therewith. In an embodiment, a method of fishing with wired drill pipe comprising attaching a fishing apparatus to the end of a wired drill pipe string, extending the wired drill pipe string into a wellbore, monitoring signals received through the wired drill pipe string from one or more sensors coupled to the fishing apparatus, and determining proper coupling of the fishing apparatus with one or more objects intended for removal based on the signals received from the sensors is provided. |
| US08397811B2 |
Gas boost pump and crossover in inverted shroud
An above-motor mixed flow booster pump combined with a fluid crossover that directs up into the inside of an inverted shroud to allow enhanced gas separation. A gas and liquid separator is used to enhance separation. The system provides gas handling capability for high flow or low flow gas well dewatering applications, including vertical wells, horizontal wells, slant wells. The boost pump allows the moving of a mixed flow upwards to the top of an inverted shroud in wells lacking the required pressure. |
| US08397806B2 |
Method for pre-treatment of subterranean sites adjacent to water injection wells
A method to improve the effectiveness of MEOR or bioremediation processes. In this method toxic chemicals accumulated in subterranean sites adjacent to the water injection wells are either dispersed or removed prior to introduction of microbial inocula for enhanced microbial oil recovery or bioremediation of these sites. |
| US08397803B2 |
Packing element system with profiled surface
A downhole retrievable dual directional isolation tool, comprising a mandrel, a compressor ring concentric with the mandrel, and a packing element concentric with the mandrel and having an outer surface defining a plurality of grooves. A downhole retrievable dual directional isolation tool, comprising a mandrel, a packing element concentric with the mandrel, a compressor ring concentric with the mandrel and having a first side wall proximate to a second side wall of the packing element, and a stop ring concentric with the mandrel having a third side wall proximate to a fourth side wall of the packing element, wherein the first side wall of the compressor ring or the third side wall of the stop ring have a circumferential land, whereby in a set state of the tool a contact area between the circumferential land and the second side wall of the packing element or the fourth side wall of the packing element achieves higher contact pressure. |
| US08397802B2 |
Swellable packer slip mechanism
A packer having a swellable element is configured for axial expansion of the swellable element. The axial expansion causes the slip mechanism to deploy and engage a sidewall of a tubular or casing. The axial expansion may directly cause activation of the slip mechanism, or may trigger a triggering mechanism to activate a spring-loaded slip mechanism. The swellable element may be the same element used for sealing the packer to the sidewall, or may be a sleeve dedicated for deployment of the slip mechanism. |
| US08397800B2 |
Perforating string with longitudinal shock de-coupler
A shock de-coupler for use with a perforating string can include perforating string connectors at opposite ends of the de-coupler, a longitudinal axis extending between the connectors, and a biasing device which resists displacement of one connector relative to the other connector in both opposite directions along the longitudinal axis, whereby the first connector is biased toward a predetermined position relative to the second connector. A perforating string can include a shock de-coupler interconnected longitudinally between components of the perforating string, with the shock de-coupler variably resisting displacement of one component away from a predetermined position relative to the other component in each longitudinal direction, and in which a compliance of the shock de-coupler substantially decreases in response to displacement of the first component a predetermined distance away from the predetermined position relative to the second component. |
| US08397798B2 |
Evaporators including a capillary wick and a plurality of vapor grooves and two-phase heat transfer systems including such evaporators
A two-phase heat transfer system includes an evaporator, a condenser, a vapor line, and a liquid return line. The evaporator includes a liquid inlet, a vapor outlet, and a capillary wick having a first surface adjacent the liquid inlet and a second surface adjacent the vapor outlet. The condenser includes a vapor inlet and a liquid outlet. The vapor line provides fluid communication between the vapor outlet and the vapor inlet. The liquid return line provides fluid communication between the liquid outlet and the liquid inlet. The wick is substantially free of back-conduction of energy from the second surface to the first surface due to an increase in a conduction path from the second surface to the first surface and due to suppression of nucleation of a working fluid from the second surface to the first surface to promote liquid superheat tolerance in the wick. |
| US08397797B2 |
Low thermal strain multi-cooler
A heat exchanger with multi-flow capabilities includes a pair of intermediate tanks located between a pair of header tanks. An open gap is provided between the two intermediate tanks. A first plurality of tubes extend between the header tanks. A second plurality of tubes extend between one of the header tanks and one of the intermediate tanks. A third plurality of tubes extend between the other header tank and the other intermediate tank. In a two flow system, the two intermediate tanks are in fluid communication through a flexible jumper tube. In a three flow system the two intermediate tanks are isolated from each other. The open gap between the intermediate tanks allows for the uneven heat expansion between the various fluid flows. |
| US08397791B2 |
Zirconium oxide dental implant with internal thread and polygonal tapering section, and the mold for molding the same
A mold for molding a green body for manufacturing a zirconium oxide dental implant includes a first molding part and a second molding part. The first and second molding parts each has a first imprinting inner surface and two none-thread inner surfaces for forming the external of the green body with two external thread sections and two none-thread sections. The mold may also include a driving mechanism, a polygonal conical slider and a screw thread forming rod. The polygonal conical slider can be driven for axially sliding into the mold cavity without rotation. The screw thread forming rod is coaxially and slidably penetrated the polygonal conical slider and driven by the driving mechanism for screwing into the mold cavity and unscrewing out of the mold cavity thereby forming the inner of the green body with an internal thread and a polygonal tapering section. |
| US08397790B2 |
Method of lost-wax manufacture of an annular bladed turbomachine assembly, metal mould and wax model for implementing such a method
A method of manufacture of a wax model of an annular bladed turbomachine stator assembly includes in succession the positioning, in a mold, of a core intended to form the impression of a cavity of a blade of the assembly, the injection of a wax in the mold, and the removal of the wax model fitted with the core from the mold. The core is manufactured in metal and is positioned such that its radially internal end is housed in the portion of the mold defining the blade including the cavity, away from the radially internal end of this portion of the mold. |
| US08397787B1 |
Door release mechanism
A door mechanism includes a bracket and a door shaft, rotationally mounted to the bracket, to operate a door. The door mechanism includes a gear assembly having a ring gear, set of planetary gears, sun gear, and drive sprocket. The ring gear fixed to the door shaft. The door mechanism includes a holding brake to counter the closing bias of the door. The door release has an engaged position in which rotation of the door shaft in the second direction is impeded by a first brake; and a disengaged position in which rotation of the door shaft in the second direction is unimpeded by the first brake. The door mechanism includes a link and a second brake. The link is configured to melt in response to a predetermined temperature. The second brake is configured to provide resistance in response to component rotation exceeding a predetermined speed. |
| US08397786B2 |
Method and apparatus of removing weft of cord fabric for topping sheet
The invention can firmly and easily remove a finely divided weft piece without leaving the weft piece by constituting a method and an apparatus of removing weft from a cord fabric for a topping sheet in a calender line for topping rubber on a number of pieces of aligned cords by a calender roll. In the midst of transferring a cord fabric transferred to a calender apparatus, weft is finely divided by passing the cord fabric through weft dividing means, thereafter, a plurality of blades arranged movably in a width direction on an upper face side of the cord fabric are reciprocally moved in the width direction over an entire width thereof to be brought into contact with the cord fabric, and the divided weft piece is wiped off to remove by respectively striking respective cords of the cord fabric by the respective blades. |
| US08397784B2 |
Correction tape dispenser with variable clutch mechanism
A clutch mechanism for a tape dispenser, for example, includes first and second coaxially disposed rotating disks, a pressure wheel, and a friction element. The first rotating disk defines at least one protrusion. The pressure wheel is disposed between the first and second rotating disks and is operably engaged by the at least one protrusion carried by the first rotating disk. The protrusion is movable between first and second rotational positions relative to the pressure wheel. The friction element is disposed between the pressure wheel and the second rotating disk such that the friction element generates a first frictional force between the pressure wheel and the second rotating disk when the protrusion is in the first rotational position and a second frictional force between the pressure wheel and the second rotating disk when the protrusion is in the second rotational position. |
| US08397783B2 |
Press method and press tool
In a press method, a housing is placed on a carrying table, and a panel is placed on a movable platform, and then a first driving unit is used for driving the movable platform to extended from an opening of a housing into the housing, such that the panel is fixed to a position corresponding to the window without touching an internal surface of the housing, and finally a press machine is used for driving the housing and the movable platform to engage with each other, such that the panel is combined with the interior of the housing for sealing the window. Therefore, the panel can be combined into a cramped space of the housing to overcome the defective issue of the prior art. In addition, a press tool adopting the press method is provided. |
| US08397782B2 |
Mailing machine fluid level indicator
An illustrative mailing machine is provided including a moistening fluid level indicator. The mailing machine includes a mail piece transport including a mail piece flap opening and moistening assembly, a moistening fluid container operatively connected to the moistening assembly for providing moistening fluid to the moistening assembly, and a fluid level indicator arm operatively connected to the moistening fluid container, wherein the fluid level indicator arm has an indicator surface adjacent to an indicator window for indicating the presence of the moistening fluid level container and for indicating an amount of moistening fluid in the container. |
| US08397780B2 |
Automatic machine for applying a spacer profile on a glass sheet, and method therefor
An automatic machine and an automatic method for the application of a spacer profile, preferably made of expanded synthetic material, on a glass sheet in order to compose the insulating glazing unit, after extrusion of a thermoplastic sealant on a portion of each one of its faces designed for mating. The process for extrusion of the sealant on the profile is independent of the process for applying the profile on the glass sheet, so that therefore each one of the two processes can be performed by using its optimum parameters. |
| US08397767B2 |
Reinforcing bar binding machine
A reinforcing bar binding machine is provided with a pair of feed gears for feeding a wire from a wire reel mounted on a binding machine body; an electric motor for driving the feed gears; a partition plate provided between the feed gears and the electric motor to partition the feed gears and the electric motor; and first and second discharge portions for discharging wire shavings. The partition plate is surrounded by a wall except for portions of the partition plate being adjacent to the first and second discharge portions. The first and second discharge portions are disposed so that the partition plate positions between the first and second discharge portions. |
| US08397765B2 |
High temperature resistant insulation for pipe
A polymeric composition for insulating fluid and/or gas transport conduits, such as off-shore oil and gas pipelines operating at temperatures of 130° C. or higher in water depths above 1,000 meters. The outer surface of the conduit is provided with at least one layer of solid or foam insulation comprising a high temperature resistant thermoplastic having low thermal conductivity, high thermal softening point, high compressive strength and high compressive creep resistance. The high temperature resistant thermoplastic is selected from one or more members of the group comprising: polycarbonate; polyphenylene oxide; polyphenylene oxide blended with polypropylene, polystyrene or polyamide; polycarbonate blended with polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, acrylonitrile styrene acrylate, or polyetherimide; polyamides, including polyamide 12 and 612 and elastomers thereof; polymethylpentene and blends thereof; cyclic olefin copolymers and blends thereof; and, partially crosslinked thermoplastic elastomers, also known as thermoplastic vulcanizates or dynamically vulcanized elastomers. |
| US08397764B2 |
Safety cap for couplings and fittings
A system for protecting the end fittings of a fluid transport hose includes first and second protective caps for respectively engaging with first and second end fittings of the hose. Both the first and second protective caps include a disk that is oriented perpendicular to the hose axis when the cap is engaged with the respective end fitting. Importantly, the disk has a diameter DD that is greater than the diameter DH of the hose so the disk will extend radially outward from the hose to thereby protect the end fitting. |
| US08397761B2 |
Vortex brake for a liquid drainage system
A vortex brake (4) for a liquid drainage system has a vortex chamber (5), an inlet section (6) and an outlet (12), wherein liquid can flow into the inlet section (6), through this into the vortex chamber (5), through this and out through the outlet (12). The vortex chamber (5) has a side wall (9), following a conical face, and a base wall (11). The conical face has a cone axis (10), and the outlet (12) is located at an apex of the conical face. The inlet section (6) has side walls (14) and a bottom wall (15) that extend mutually in parallel in a direction of flow (16) in the inlet section (6), and a ceiling. Said ceiling having a converging ceiling portion, which extends between a first and a second end of the ceiling portion, and which, in said direction of flow, extends converging towards the bottom wall (15). |
| US08397760B2 |
Electromagnetic flow regulator, system, and methods for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid
Disclosed embodiments include electromagnetic flow regulators for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, nuclear fission reactors, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant, and methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant in a nuclear fission reactor. |
| US08397759B2 |
Electromagnetic spool valve
The electromagnetic spool valve of the present invention includes a movable linear solenoid section, first and second spools that are coaxially provided in inner space of a valve body so as to switch a state of communication and discommunication among plural ports of the electromagnetic spool valve, a first spring member provided between the first and second spools, and a second spring member provided between a cap member and the second spool. The spring load of the second spring member is set to be greater than the spring load of the first spring member. |
| US08397756B2 |
Fluid conduit couplers with depressible latch mechanism
A fluid conduit coupling assembly has a depressible latch mechanism that secures a first fluid conduit to a second fluid conduit via a first coupler and a second coupler. The first coupler connects to the first fluid conduit and the second coupler connects to the second fluid conduit. The depressible latch mechanism is formed by a pair of cantilevered buttons disposed in symmetrically opposed positions on one of the couplers. The cantilevered buttons have engagement lips that extend distally with catches that extend radially outward to engage a ridge formed on an interior wall of the opposing coupler. Fluid ports within the couplers interface when the couplers connect to provide fluid flow between the first and second conduits. Valves may be disposed in each of the couplers to arrest fluid flow when the couplers are detached and automatically open to allow fluid to flow when the couplers are connected. |
| US08397754B2 |
Coupling element with a shutter valve, and a coupling incorporating such an element
The invention concerns the female or male member (3) of a connection (1) that can be connected with a corresponding male or female connection member (5) and includes a pusher (33) and a stop valve (35) capable of sliding axially relative to the pusher (33) for coupling to the member (3). The member (3) further includes at least one seal (34) mounted on a first part (35) selected from the pusher and the valve and capable of sealing interaction with a first portion (331) of the second part (33) selected from the pusher and the valve in an uncoupled configuration of the member (3). In the coupled configuration of the member (3), a second portion (333) of the second part (33), defining a seal (34) protection portion (333), is radially provided between the seal (34) and a main fluid flow line (V) in the member (3). The portions (331, 333) have different radial dimensions so that the radial thickness available for the seal (34) in the coupled configuration is higher than the radial configuration available for the seal (34) in the uncoupled configuration. The portions (331, 333) are connected to each other by connection tabs (338) having a constant cross-section. |
| US08397752B2 |
Process for fabricating integral plastic faucet member and finished product thereof
A process for fabricating an integral plastic faucet member and a finished product thereof are provided. The process mainly includes two injection steps. A first plastic injection is used to mold a first part at a middle connecting part of a faucet member. The first part is then placed into a mold for a second plastic injection so as to mold a second part at two sides of the faucet member. The second part is properly wrapped around and bonded to the first part. Meanwhile, desired holes are reserved to serve as water inlets, water outlets, and valve seats. Through such a two-injection process, the conventional complicated and time-consuming copper casting process is simplified, which improves the production efficiency and product quality, lows the cost and defective ratio. Meanwhile, the product weight is also reduced, which greatly reduces the transportation cost. |
| US08397738B2 |
Modular system for concealment and shelter
An easy to use, universal, simple, lightweight, compact, portable and modular system of concealment and shelter. An operator can configure a number of concealment blinds or shelters using brackets, supports, segmented shafts, covers, curtains, and skirts, and more complex modules. The segmented shafts have both the ability to make an attachment to retain a particular configuration while being able to break down the shafts for transportation or storage. The brackets and supports can be used to secure a configuration to a tree, the ground, or a hand held device. More advanced modules include cover caps including domes, cylindrical arches, and pyramids. A configuration can include a removable floor. Guyline modules allow for sliding panels to be positioned over openings in a configuration. The system can be configured for placement on a hillside or over rough terrain and obstacles. Multiple modules can be carried by separate members of a group and combined together to form a more complex structure to meet the needs of the group. |
| US08397737B2 |
Linearly adjustable device
A linearly adjustable device comprising a main body including at least two body sections each having a longitudinal axis, and a linear actuator. The sections are operatively connected together for linear movement relative to one another in the axial direction. The linear actuator is operatively mounted to the main body for causing the relative axial movement between the body section. The linear actuator includes a drive and a power transmission mechanism operatively connected to the drive. The transmission mechanism includes an elongated threaded member operatively connected to one of the body sections and a cooperating threaded member operatively connected to another of the body sections such that relative rotation between the elongated threaded member and the cooperating threaded member causes relative movement of the body sections. |
| US08397734B2 |
Method and system for coloring and cutting hair
A palette assembly of one or more vertically arranged substantially flat palettes with a central aperture for cutting and/or coloring hair. Layers of hair are spread across the surface of the palette for cutting and/or coloring in a desired pattern, whereby hair color can be applied onto strands of hair in a desired specific pattern, or the hair may be cut according to a desired specific pattern, each of which can be easily replicated. Markings on the surface of the palette indicate the location of a cut or a particular shade of color, to create a particular hairstyle or color. |
| US08397732B2 |
Implantation of low-profile implantable medical device
In general, the invention is directed to techniques for implantation of a low-profile implantable medical device (IMD) in the body of a patient. In an exemplary embodiment, the low-profile IMD is implanted under the scalp. When the treatment or monitoring site is in or on the head of the patient, the low-profile IMD can be implanted under the scalp proximate to the treatment or monitoring site. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a method that includes making an incision in the scalp of a head of a patient to create a scalp flap, exposing a skull beneath the scalp flap, creating a pocket between the scalp and the skull, and placing at least a portion of a low-profile IMD in the pocket. The low-profile IMD may include a plurality of modules, covered in part by a flexible overmold. |
| US08397731B1 |
Adjustable, radio-translucent chest, neck, and head support arm attachment for C-arm tables for radioscopy-guided procedures
A fluoroscopy chair convertible between a chair configuration for use during fluoroscopic procedures to a support table configuration. The fluoroscopy chair has a seat, a support column supporting the seat, a radiotranslucent chest support retained to an anterior side of the seat, and a back support retained to the posterior side of the seat. The back support is reconfigurable between a first configuration that forms an upstanding surface and a second configuration cooperating with the seat to form a support table. The chest support, which can have multiple, differently contoured support surfaces, can be adjusted vertically and rotated relative to the patient. A support arm attachment for use during fluoroscopic procedures in relation to a support table with a support platform with a base portion, a mechanism for selectively retaining the base portion relative to the platform of the support table, a support arm retained by the base portion, and a chest and neck support retained by the support arm. |
| US08397727B2 |
Mask vent
A vent arrangement is provided to a mask or associated conduit to discharge exhaled gas from the mask to atmosphere. The vent arrangement is structured to diffuse the exhaust vent flow to produce less air jetting, thereby increasing the comfort of the patient and their bed partner. For example, the vent arrangement may include one or more grill components and/or media constructed and arranged to diffuse vent flow. |
| US08397721B2 |
System and method of administering a pharmaceutical gas to a patient
Methods and systems for delivering a total quantity of pharmaceutical gas to a patient. The methods and systems provide one of a low amount and high amount of pharmaceutical gas to a patient. The selection of the high amount or low amount may be determined by comparing the amount per unit of time of pharmaceutical gas delivered to the patient over the past number of breaths to the required quantity of pharmaceutical gas per unit of time. Upon completion of delivering the total quantity of pharmaceutical gas to the patient, the system can terminate, continue, activate and alarm, etc. |
| US08397719B2 |
Pressure support system with upstream humidifier
A pressure support system (10) comprises a humidifier (20) adapted to increase the amount of water vapor entrained in a supply of breathing gas, and a positive air pressure device (30) fluidly coupled downstream of the humidifier. The positive air pressure device is structured to generate a positive pressure flow of breathing gas from the supply of breathing gas received from the outlet of the humidifier. |
| US08397718B2 |
Inhaler comprising a base having at least one sealed cavity containing medicament
An inhaler which comprises a base having at least one sealed cavity containing medicament and a foil portion comprising two sides, one side being attached to the base for sealing the medicament within the cavity. A separating element is attached to the other side of the foil portion for separating the foil portion from the cavity, the separating element having a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the separating element is movable to an intermediate tilted position in which said first end is moved-away from the cavity. The separating element is further movable from the intermediate tilted position to a removed position in which also said second end is moved-away from the cavity so that the foil portion is removed from the cavity which is thereby uncovered so that medicament contained therein is enabled to become entrained in a fluid flow. |
| US08397715B2 |
Chemical and biological protection mask
A chemical and biological protection mask that combines a filter cartridge with a miniaturized high-intensity shortwave UV disinfecting system in a compact easy-to-wear and fully portable form factor. The gas mask comprises a mask portion for covering at least the nose and mouth of a user, a one way exhalation valve mounted on the mask portion, a coupling to an inhalation opening into the mask portion, a filter canister, and a novel UV-illumination tube attachable between the inhalation valve coupling and filter canister. The UV-illumination tube further comprises an aluminum tube, a plastic insert positioned inside the aluminum tube, and a plurality of circuit boards seated within the insert. The circuit boards each have a plurality of UV LED lights axially mounted thereon to irradiate and disinfect air passing through the UV-illumination tube. The UV LED lights preferably emit light within a range of from 240 nm˜280 nm wavelength, and are powered by a battery connected to a voltage regulator. A current chopping circuit is connected between said voltage regulator and said UV LED lights for providing pulsed current thereto. An optional solar cell is disclosed for powering the UV LED lights directly or for recharging the battery, and the solar cell may be mounted atop a visor attached to said mask. |
| US08397710B2 |
Solar receiver panels
A boiler for a solar receiver includes a plurality of boiler panels arranged side by side with each other so that the panels form a boiler wall section. Piping fluidly connects the plurality of boiler panels together to route a working fluid through the boiler wall section from an inlet of the boiler wall section to an outlet of the boiler wall section. The piping and boiler panels are configured and adapted to route the working fluid through each of the boiler panels in a common direction. |
| US08397706B2 |
Paintball marker with ability to discharge different sized projectiles
A paintball marker for firing a projectile includes a main body. The main body includes a breech and a feed port connected and a feed tube connected thereto. The main body is originally configured for launching a projectile having a first size. The invention includes a conversion kit to enable a marker to launch projectiles that are smaller than what can be originally launched. A breech insert is positioned within the breech, a feed insert is positioned within the feed port and a replacement barrel, with a smaller diameter bore, are provided to reduce the size of the all conduits within the marker for launching a projectile having a second size that smaller than the first size. The feed insert directly engages the breech adapter to prevent the movement of the breech adapter. Also, connection of the barrel secures the breech insert in place. |
| US08397704B1 |
Air gun assembly
An assembly for an air gun that has a gas spring includes a sleeve contacting the gas spring. The sleeve may damp vibrations in the air gun when the gun is fired. |
| US08397698B2 |
Composite fuel pump cartridge and fuel tank assembly
A fuel tank assembly comprising a fuel tank having a plurality of walls spaced apart by a floor, a flange having a top portion and a bottom portion, and extending downward from one of the plurality of walls, is provided. The fuel tank assembly further includes a housing, a crimp ring and a lip, wherein the crimp ring is fitted over the lip for engaging the flange and the housing. A fuel pump is housed within the housing, wherein the housing is arranged to fixedly position at least one inlet connected to the fuel pump at or in close proximity to the floor of the fuel tank. A fuel reservoir extends away from the floor having at least one passage formed therein, the fuel reservoir being positioned within the fuel tank so as to create an accumulated area of the fuel tank surrounding the at least one inlet, wherein fuel enters the accumulated area through the at least one passage for receipt by the at least one inlet. |
| US08397690B2 |
Lubrication system and method configured for supplying pressurized oil to an engine
A lubrication system includes a rotary pump, an eductor, and a solenoid valve and is configured to provide pressurized oil to an engine. The rotary pump is configured to generate oil flow. A supplemental supply line selectively provides pressurized oil into the eductor. The solenoid valve is movable between a first position and a second position. The solenoid valve supplies a fluid signal that allows pressurized oil to flow from the supplemental supply line and into the eductor when the solenoid valve is in the first position to increase the volume of oil flowing from a sump of the engine into the rotary pump. When the solenoid valve does not supply a fluid signal, pressurized oil is prevented from entering the eductor and the volume of oil flowing from the sump and through the eductor to the rotary pump is not increased. |
| US08397689B2 |
Fuel pump tappet/roller follower lubrication
A cylinder head including a dam defining a reservoir surrounding the periphery of the fuel pump tappet/roller follower mounting hole is provided. The cylinder head includes a tappet/roller follower mounted in the tappet/roller follower mounting hole and in communication with a cam and a fuel pump. The fuel pump is located on the high side of the head and oil drainage occurs in a direction away from the mounting hole. The dam and reservoir are configured to retain lubricant in the mounting hole and the sliding interface between the mounting hole and the tappet/roller follower. The dam and reservoir are configured to retain a minimum level of oil in the mounting hole when the head is in vehicle position. A method is provided for retaining lubrication in the tappet/roller follower hole by forming a dam defining a reservoir in the head and passively providing lubricant to the tappet/roller follower hole. |
| US08397687B2 |
Axially compact camshaft phaser
A camshaft phaser is provided for varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft in an internal combustion engine. The camshaft phaser includes a stator having a plurality of lobes. A rotor is disposed within the stator and includes a plurality of vanes interspersed with the stator lobes to define alternating advance and retard chambers. A bushing adaptor of the camshaft phaser is disposable axially within a pocket of the camshaft and is disposed axially within the rotor. The bushing adaptor defines at least in part a supply passage for communicating pressurized oil from the internal combustion engine to a control valve, an advance passage for selectively communicating pressurized oil from the control valve to the advance chambers, and a retard passage for selectively communicating pressurized oil from the control valve to the retard chambers. |
| US08397683B2 |
Variable compression ratio device for internal combustion engine
A variable compression ratio device for an internal combustion engine comprises a control shaft (7) that varies a compression ratio of the internal combustion engine in accordance with a rotational displacement, and a linear actuator (13, 16, 17, 18). A connecting link (12) connects a first point (14) offset from a rotation axis (7a) of the control shaft (7) to an actuator rod (13) of the linear actuator (13, 16, 17, 18). Thus, a bending load acting on the actuator rod (13) is reduced, and controllability of the compression ratio is improved. |
| US08397682B2 |
Multiple cylinder engine cooling apparatus
A multiple cylinder engine cooling apparatus includes a bottom wall of a cylinder head, a lower end of a spark plug inserting cylindrical wall, a lower end of an inlet port, an exhaust port, and a water jacket. A plurality of combustion chamber forming recesses are formed in the cylinder head to line up in a longitudinal direction parallel to an axial direction of a crank shaft. The spark plug inserting cylindrical wall extends from each recess upward in a direction opposite to a combustion chamber. The inlet port extends from each recess laterally in one direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The exhaust port extends from each recess laterally in the other direction. The water jacket is formed in the cylinder head to cool the bottom wall of the cylinder head, the lower end of the spark plug inserting cylindrical wall, the lower end of the inlet port, and the exhaust port. The water jacket includes a first water jacket portion and a second water jacket portion. Cooling water flows in the first water jacket portion in the lateral direction for each cylinder. The second water jacket portion is connected to the first water jacket portion through a narrow channel and guides the cooling water from an interior of the first water jacket portion upward along the exhaust port. |
| US08397681B2 |
Expansion tank for vehicle cooling system
An expansion tank (10) for a vehicle cooling system (18) of an engine using a liquid coolant (16) includes a tank body (12) defining a first volume (V1) containing coolant (16), wherein the coolant defines a variable coolant elevation level (CEL) within the tank body. The tank body (12) also defines an upper volume (20) containing air. A bladder (14) is disposed in the tank body (12) and defines a second volume (V2) containing air. The bladder (14) includes a flexible membrane (36) actuated by an actuator (46). When the engine is stopped or is below a predetermined temperature, the flexible membrane (36) is moveable to a first position (FP) which lowers the coolant elevation level (CEL), and when the engine is started or reaches a predetermined temperature, the flexible membrane (36) is moveable to a second position (SP) which raises the coolant elevation level. A communicating line (38) is in fluid communication between the upper volume (20) and the second volume (V2) to fluidly communicate air therebetween. |
| US08397678B2 |
Small animal habitat
A small animal habitat includes a base, a wall extension, and a roof that define an interior space. In the interior space, an animal entertainment device is positioned distal from the base and a platform is spaced from the base providing access to the entertainment device. A climbing structure permits access to the platform. A first animal traversable path from the base to the animal entertainment device includes a first substantially vertical climb and a first substantially horizontal traverse on the platform. A second animal traversable path from the base to the port includes the first substantially vertical climb, a second substantially horizontal traverse on the platform, and a second substantially vertical climb to a port in the roof. |
| US08397669B2 |
Method and arrangement for animal management
A method for management of animals in an area (11) including a plurality of grazing paddocks (12a-f), in which the animals graze, and a milking area (13), in which the animals are milked, wherein the milking area is accessible from each of the grazing paddocks and each of the grazing paddocks is accessible from the milking area via a sorting gate arrangement (17a, 17c). According to the method, each of a plurality of animals which have grazed in the grazing paddocks is identified (21) and milked (22) in the milking area. A nutritional need and/or a milk production capacity of each of the animals which have been identified and milked is/are established (23). Finally, each of the animals is automatically guided (24) by the sorting gate arrangement, subsequent to the milking of the animal, to enter a selected one of the grazing paddocks depending on the nutritional need and/or the milk production capacity of the animal. |
| US08397663B2 |
Liquid body discharge device and method for discharging liquid body
A liquid body discharge device includes: a plurality of nozzles for discharging a liquid body to a liquid body discharged region of a substrate; and a plurality of heads including the plurality of nozzles. In the device, the liquid body is discharged to the liquid body discharged region of the substrate by moving one of the substrate and the plurality of heads. Further, an alignment direction of the plurality of nozzles provided to at least one of the plurality of heads is different from an alignment direction of the plurality of nozzles provided to a rest of the plurality of heads. Furthermore, the at least one of the heads moves in a moving path A and the rest of the plurality of heads moves in a moving path B that is a different moving path from the moving path A. |
| US08397656B1 |
Method of steering a craft
A method of towing a craft having a fore rudder and rear rudder using a towing vehicle with the fore rudder and rear rudder initially oriented parallel to the length of the craft such that the craft follows directly behind the towing vehicle. The fore rudder is rotated to a position less than 90 degrees off parallel to the length of the craft. The rear rudder is rotated in an opposite direction to the fore rudder and to a position less than 90 degrees off parallel to the length of the craft, causing the craft to move off to the side of the track of the towing vehicle while the craft maintains movement substantially parallel to the towing vehicle, producing an of offset tow. |
| US08397651B2 |
Configurable table and methods of use
A configurable table assembly comprises two table-base sub-assemblies shaped to removably connect together and two table-surface sub-assemblies, each supported by one of the two table-base sub-assemblies. Each table-surface sub-assembly has first and second surface portions, the second surface portion being operable to rest upon the first surface portion and selectively unfold therefrom. The table-base and the table-surface sub-assemblies, together, have a single-table configuration and a double-table configuration. In the single-table configuration, the table-base and the table-surface sub-assemblies are separably mated together to form an integrated table base and an integrated table surface. In the double-table configuration, the table-base sub-assemblies are separated from one another to form two separate tables, each supporting thereon a respective one of the table-surface sub-assemblies. Each of the table-surface sub-assemblies has the second surface portion unfolded away from the first surface portion and onto a portion of one of the table-base sub-assemblies. |
| US08397645B2 |
Storage and retrieval machine
Storage and retrieval machine with a mast (10), at least one chassis (1, 1′) for supporting the mast (10), at least one rail (4, 4′), on which the at least one chassis (1, 1′) can be moved back and forth, as well as at least one lift carriage (1″) vertically shiftable on the mast (10), wherein the mast (10) is formed of at least two supports (11, 11′) that are spaced from each other in the moving direction of the at least one chassis (1, 1′) and are connected to each other via at least one transversal bar (12, 12′) to obtain a mast profile, wherein the attachment of the at least one transversal bar (12, 12′) to the supports is resistant to bending. |
| US08397642B2 |
Method for the installation of railway tracks on ballast, without an auxiliary track
A method for installing railway tracks onto ballast beds avoiding the need for installing any type of auxiliary track. The method comprises successive stages to be carried out after having located the sleepers onto the ballast bed, consisting of fixing and laying of a pair of rails from a mini train, for the transport of the rails with the fastening and traction of same up to their complete unloading, the operation being guided by means of a discharge wagon; supporting the rails on rollers for the longitudinal movement thereof; cutting, squaring and fixing the adjacent ends to the consecutive rails; raising the rail with the help of a crane, and removing the rollers; partial fastening of the track and placement of the rollers for the next cycle, and removing the tractor from the mini train, and the final fastening of the rails. |
| US08397641B1 |
Non-newtonian projectile
A projectile is provided comprising a body with a channel that contains a non-Newtonian fluid. In various embodiments a plunger is located in the channel, wherein the plunger transmits a force to the non-Newtonian fluid upon interacting with a target, causing the non-Newtonian fluid to exert a pressure in the channel, and wherein the viscosity of the non-Newtonian fluid changes upon interacting with the target. By way of non-limiting example, the non-Newtonian fluid of embodiments of the present invention can comprise a shear-thickening fluid that increases its viscosity with at least the rate of shear upon interacting with the target. |
| US08397640B2 |
Dynamic switching system for use in in-line explosive trains
The presently disclosed technique pertains to in-line explosive trains, and, more particularly, to a dynamic switch for use in an in-line explosive train. In a first aspect, the presently disclosed technique includes a method for use in arming an in-line explosive train comprising: arming two S&A circuits independently of one another; transitioning each arming circuit to a dynamic control start state to initiate a pair of state machines, each state machine associate with a respective one of the S&A circuits; transitioning through the states of the state machine to turn a switch on and off. In a second aspect, the presently disclosed technique includes a dynamic safety switch for use in an in-line explosive train comprising: a pair of S&A circuits; a pair of state machines entering a predetermined cycle upon indication to arm from both the S&A circuits and cooperatively transitioning through the cycle; and a switch controlled by the cooperative transition of the state machines. |
| US08397631B2 |
Bowl and basket assembly and salad spinner incorporating such an assembly
A bowl and basket assembly kit is disclosed as including an upper basket part (202), a middle basket part (204) and a lower basket part (206) linked with one another and engageable with one another in a way to form a perforated basket (200), an upper bowl part (102), a middle bowl part (104) and a lower bowl part (106) releasably engageable with one another to form a bowl (100) for receiving the perforated basket (200), and an upper locking ring (110) and a lower locking ring (112) which are swivellable about a longitudinal axis (L-L) of the bowl (100), wherein when the upper bowl part (102), middle bowl part (104) and lower bowl part (106) are engaged with one another, each of the locking rings (110, 112) is swivellable between a respective first position in which relative movement between the bowl parts (102, 104, 106) is allowed and a respective second position in which relative movement between the bowl parts (102, 104, 106) is prevented. A salad spinner (10) formed of such an assembly kit is also disclosed. |
| US08397630B2 |
Food cooker
A food cooker is provided that is configured to cook and infuse skewered food, the food cooker having perforated spines adjustably positionable on a sealable chamber that support the skewered food.The food cooker includes a bottom container, a cover connectable with the bottom container, a spine securable at adjustable positions along the cover, a spine, a securing mechanism. The spine has a hollow interior and perforations along an exterior surface. The securing mechanism seals the bottom container and cover to form a sealed inner chamber. |
| US08397629B2 |
Assembly for beverage preparing machine containing a boiler
The invention relates to an assembly for a machine for preparing beverages by infusion of a liquid, that includes a holder (10), a boiler (20) for heating the liquid for producing beverages, assembling element (21 a,21 b, 25) provided so as to selectively allow the connection and removable disconnection of the boiler on the holder (10), a first fluid communication element connected to the boiler (20) and a second fluid communication element connected to a fluid inlet circuit and/or a fluid outlet circuit, the first and second fluid communication element being adapted to interact in order to provide fluid communication between the boiler and a fluid inlet circuit and/or fluid outlet circuit, characterized in that it is adapted so that the connection and the disconnection between the boiler (20) and the holder (10) respectively enables and disables the interaction between the first and second fluid communication element. |
| US08397628B2 |
Dripless brew basket
A dripless brew basket including a brew basket, having an opening provided through its bottom wall, a vacuum breaker sleeve fixedly mounted thereto, the upper part of the vacuum breaker sleeve having apertures or ports provided therethrough, to allow the brewed beverage to flow into the sleeve and be dispensed from the brew basket, during application. A vacuum breaker cap mounts on to the upper end of the sleeve, to act as a fluid levelers for the brewed beverage provided within the basket, during a brewing operation, and once the brewed beverage has been dispensed through the breaker sleeve, it reaches the bottom level of the sleeve ports, thereby preventing an further discharge of fluid from the brew basket, including the elimination of any drippage, in providing for the dripless brew basket of this invention. |
| US08397625B2 |
Time since brew indicator for beverage maker
Various embodiments are directed to a beverage maker. The beverage maker may comprise a brew system, at least one sensor, a display and a control circuit. The brew system may comprise a heater, a reservoir and a container for receiving a brewed beverage. The at least one sensor may be positioned to sense an end of a brew cycle. The control circuit may be configured to receive a signal from the at least one sensor indicative of the end of the brew cycle. Upon detecting the end of the brew cycle, the control circuit may be configured to initiate a timer and cause a current value of the timer to be shown on the display. |
| US08397624B2 |
Hydraulic actuator and joint driving unit employing the same
There are provided a swash member and a first and second rotational members which are held on a base member through a universal joint mechanism and can rock about two axes out of three orthogonal axes including a center of the mechanism, a pump mechanism for transferring a low-pressure non-compressible fluid in a low-pressure pipe portion to a high-pressure pipe portion filled with a high-pressure non-compressible fluid being pressurized by a pressure accumulation mechanism, a control valve device which controls connection between both the pipe portions and a plurality of rocking-torque generation mechanisms which couple the base member and the swash member to each other and are driven by the fluids for generating a rocking torque to the swash member, and rocking-angle adjustment unit for changing a relative angle between the two rotational members. |
| US08397623B2 |
Rifle and kit for constructing same
A rifle includes an upper receiver body, a lower receiver body detachably attached to the upper receiver body, a stock and a bolt carrier group. The upper receiver body has a bolt carrier receiving bore exposed at a stock engaging portion thereof. The stock includes a recoil spring receiving bore therein exposed at a mounting portion thereof. The mounting portion of the stock is engaged with the stock engaging portion of the lower receiver body in a manner whereby the recoil spring receiving bore is accessible from the bolt carrier receiving bore. A centerline axis of the recoil spring receiving bore is skewed with respect to a centerline axis of the bolt carrier receiving bore. The bolt carrier group has a bolt carrying structure slideably disposed within the bolt carrier receiving bore, a recoil spring engaging structure slideably disposed within the recoil spring receiving bore and a linkage member structure pivotably engaged between the bolt carrying structure and the recoil spring engaging structure. |
| US08397621B2 |
Remotely controlled firearm mount
A firearm mount including a base that supports a movable cradle within which is positioned a firearm. Remotely controlled motors turn the cradle about horizontal and vertical axes. Remote operation of the motors is enhanced by a video camera secured to the firearm and connected to a transmitter that broadcasts an electronic video signal to the user stationed away from the mount. The trigger of the firearm in the cradle is moved to fire by a remotely controlled solenoid. |
| US08397610B2 |
Device for separating a strand of plastic material with a support which supports a notching device and a cutting device
Device (1) for separating a strand (3) of plastic material, which can be moved along a conveying passage (2), into longitudinal portions (3a), having at least one notching device (5) which on all sides of the passage (2) comprises in each case a notching tool (8a to 8d) which can be moved by means of a tool drive (18) in a tool guide (17) between an initial notching position and a notching position, wherein the cutting device (4) comprises two cutting wire holders (24) which are disposed in mutually opposite-lying boundary regions of the passage (2) and which can be moved transversely with respect to the passage (2) by means of a cutting drive (26) in a cutting guide (25), and wherein the notching device (5) with its notching tools (8a to 8d) are disposed its passage (2) the support module (9) which is moveable forwards and backwards [sic]. In order to simplify the devices themselves and also the assembly thereof, the cutting device (4) is disposed with its cutting wire holders (24), its cutting guide (25) and its cutting drive (26) on the support module (9). |
| US08397608B1 |
Glow plug removal tool
A hand tool for removing a glow plug from a combustion engine includes two interconnected arms each being movable with respect to one another and each having a working end and an opposing handle portion. The hand tool may further include an extension body that has a generally tubular configuration. The extension body may have a first body portion and a second body portion wherein the first body portion extends from one of the interconnected arms and wherein the second body portion extends from the other of the interconnected arms and wherein each of the first body portion and the second body portion includes an interior surface that is threaded. |
| US08397607B2 |
Angle adjustable handle for a hand tool
An angle adjustable handle includes a first shank and a second shank coupled with each other by means of a plug extending in a swivel axis from the first shank and a socket fastened to the second shank. The socket has two body halves tightened to each other and having two socket ends that cooperatively define a socket cavity for accommodating the plug so as to permit the socket to be swivelable about the swivel axis between normal and angle-adjusted positions. A spring-loaded latch is disposed in the first shank and movable to engage or disengage from the socket to permit or prevent movement of the socket. |
| US08397604B2 |
Method of manufacturing a cutting member of a shaver
A method of manufacturing a cutting member (6) of a shaver (1) includes the steps of providing a plate-shaped carrier (10), cutting at least one cutting element (9a, 9b) free from the carrier except for a residual connection between a base (15, 23) of the cutting element and the carrier, and bending the cutting element relative to the carrier. The steps of cutting free and bending are performed simultaneously using a tool (11) having a combined punching and bending effect. By using such a tool, the action of cutting free is obtained by a tearing process which does not lead to a free space and a loss of material between the cutting element (9a, 9b) and the carrier (10). As a result, the strength of the carrier is not reduced by such a free space or loss of material. |
| US08397602B2 |
Compressed hub damper
A torsional vibration damper includes front and rear hub members with an inertia mass between the two hub members. Annular elastomeric rings are positioned between the front and rear hub members and the inertia mass holding the inertia mass. Fasteners extend through the front hub member, the inertia mass, and fixed to the rear hub member. A clearance between the fastener and the inertia mass allows relative motion to absorb torsional vibration. |
| US08397601B2 |
Bicycle component operating device
A bicycle component operating device is basically provided with a base member, an operating pawl, a positioning ratchet member, a positioning pawl, a release member and a control member. The operating pawl rotates the positioning ratchet member in a winding direction in response to a winding operation of the operating pawl. The positioning pawl prevents rotation of the positioning ratchet member in the release direction when the positioning pawl is in a holding position. The positioning pawl releases the positioning ratchet member for rotation in the release direction when the positioning pawl is moved from the holding position to a releasing position by the release member in response to the releasing operation of the operating pawl. The control member prevents the operating pawl from rotating the positioning ratchet member during the releasing operation of the operating pawl while the control member is disposed in the first position. |
| US08397599B2 |
Shift pad for a shift element in a gear shift device, and shift element comprising such a shift pad
A shift pad for a gear shift element is described, comprising: a pad section that is configured to engage a circular groove of a gear shift sleeve; a locking section for securing the shift pad to the gear shift element; and a locking element that is connected to the locking section in a fixed manner and is adapted to be subjected to plastic deformation for securing the shift pad to the gear shift element. Further, a gear shift element for a gear shift device comprising the above shift pad is described. Detaching of the shift pad from the shift element during the transportation or the assembly process is prevented by this design. |
| US08397598B2 |
Motor-vehicle gearbox
The gearbox comprises an engagement sleeve movable between a neutral position and one engagement position for engagement of one given gear, and a shift fork operatively connected to the engagement sleeve for controlling the movement thereof between the neutral position and the engagement position. The shift fork is slidably mounted on a stationary support rod, which is provided with a pair of bushes defining a first axial abutment surface for stopping the movement of the shift fork in the direction from the neutral position to the engagement position and a second axial abutment surface for stopping the movement of the shift fork in the direction from the engagement position to the neutral position. The neutral position of the shift fork is axially spaced from the second axial abutment surface. |
| US08397597B2 |
Rack bar and method for production thereof
A rack bar and a method for production thereof. The rack bar is composed of a steel pipe (10) and an embedded metal core (14) placed therein. The steel pipe has rack teeth formed thereon by forging. The embedded metal core (14) is made of a metal softer than the steel pipe (10) and has its surface wave-shaped such that the bottom (20) is wide and the top (22) is narrow. |
| US08397595B2 |
Drive unit for a motor vehicle
A drive unit comprises a clutch arrangement and a transmission which is connected to the clutch arrangement by way of a shaft arrangement. A fluid supply device is arranged radially inside the clutch arrangement and around the shaft arrangement, in order to supply the clutch arrangement with fluid. The shaft arrangement extends into the transmission. The transmission comprises a plurality of transmission components along the shaft arrangement. The components are supplied with fluid for at least one of lubrication and cooling purposes. A radial inlet duct leads from the fluid supply device into the interior of the shaft arrangement. An axial duct extends inside the shaft arrangement. At least one radial outlet duct inside the transmission leads from the axial duct to the transmission components, in order to supply these with fluid. |
| US08397594B2 |
Feed drive mechanism and connecting assembly thereof
A feed drive mechanism and a connecting assembly thereof are described. The connecting assembly includes a main body and an outer sleeve. The main body has a connecting plate and an inner sleeve connected to a side surface of the connecting plate. Two opposite side surfaces of the connecting plate are respectively fixed on a screw nut seat and a lead screw nut of the feed drive mechanism, and a channel surrounds an outer side surface of the inner sleeve. The outer sleeve is sleeved on the outer side surface of the inner sleeve, enables the channel to be formed into a sealed space, and has an inlet and an outlet respectively communicating with the channel, thereby injecting a cooling medium into the channel. |
| US08397593B2 |
Quick-set pipette with damped plunger
A volume adjustable pipette, comprising a plunger mounted for movement in a housing to and from a stop to aspirate a fluid into and dispense the fluid from a tip extending from the housing. The movement of the plunger is damped to reduce sudden plunger movements. An axially moveable volume setting member in the housing defines the stop and a volume setting for the pipette and is axially moveable by a user turnable volume setting member. Turning of the volume adjusting member also controls a coarse volume setting means and a fine volume setting means, the course volume setting means being responsive to a relatively small turning of the volume adjusting member for moving the volume setting member a relatively large axial distance and the fine volume setting means being responsive to a relatively large turning of the volume adjusting member for moving the volume setting member a relatively small axial distance. |
| US08397589B2 |
Systems and methods for measuring bearing endplay
A system for use in measuring an end play of a wheel hub assembly includes a cap attachable to a shaft of a wheel hub assembly. A frame has a cavity receiving a measurement probe extending outwardly from the cavity. The probe contacts the cap and is configured to measure movement of the cap to determine endplay of the bearing assembly on the shaft. The frame includes a plurality of legs extending from the frame to a hub mounted on the shaft and coupled to the bearing to support the frame relative to the hub. The handle is connected to the frame and extends substantially perpendicularly relative to an axis of the shaft and extends to opposite sides of the axis. The frame, the plurality of legs and the handle are sufficiently rigid to allow a user to apply a force to the handle to move the hub in an axial direction relative to the shaft until cessation of movement of the hub relative to the shaft. |
| US08397584B2 |
Fabricating method and testing method of semiconductor device and mechanical integrity testing apparatus
A fabricating method and a testing method of a semiconductor device and a mechanical integrity testing apparatus are provided. An object includes a wafer, an insulating layer, and a plurality of conductive posts is provided. A surface of the wafer has a plurality of first blind holes outside chip regions and a plurality of second blind holes inside the chip regions. The insulating layer is between the conductive posts and the walls of the first blind holes and between the conductive posts and the walls of the second blind holes. A mechanical integrity test is performed to test a binding strength between the insulating layer, the conductive posts, and the walls of the first blind holes. The conductive posts in the chip regions are electrically connected to an element after the conductive posts in the first blind holes are qualified in the mechanical integrity test. |
| US08397575B2 |
Oblique flaw detection using ultrasonic transducers
Ultrasonic transducers and methods for detecting oblique flaws in cylindrically-shaped objects using pulse-echo testing are provided. By mounting one or more transducers on a rotary tester for testing manufactured objects such as tubes and bars, offsetting each transducer horizontally from its position if it were to emit a beam that is perpendicular to the object's outer surface, and actuating the transducer so as to emit an angled beam, oblique surface flaws and internal flaws may be reliably detected without reducing inspection speed, significantly adding to transducer cross-talk, or requiring significant additional hardware or processing. |
| US08397570B2 |
Multi-axial linear and rotational displacement sensor
A MEMS multiaxial inertial sensor of angular and linear displacements, velocities, or accelerations has four comb drive capacitive sensing elements integrated on a planar substrate, each sensing element having an output responsive to displacement along a Z axis, and responsive to a displacement along X or Y axes. The sensing elements are located at different parts of the substrate on both sides of the X axis and the Y axis, the outputs being suitable for subsequently deriving linear and angular displacements about any of the X, Y or Z axes. Linear or angular movement is determined from combinations of the sensor signals. |
| US08397569B2 |
Inertial force sensor
An inertial force sensor which reduces the deterioration of an angular speed detection accuracy and improves the diagnosis accuracy of fault diagnosis is provided.The inertial force sensor includes an oscillator having a driving electrode, a monitor electrode, and a detecting electrode; a driving circuit which applies a driving signal to the driving electrode to oscillate the oscillator; a detecting circuit which detects an angular speed according to a detecting signal outputted from the detecting electrode due to an inertial force; an oscillation control circuit which controls an energization amount of the driving signal according to a monitor signal outputted from the monitor electrode; and a fault diagnosing circuit which inputs a pseudo angular speed signal to the detecting circuit for fault diagnosis, wherein a filter switching circuit which switches a characteristic of a filter circuit included in the detecting circuit in fault diagnosis mode to shorten a delay time is provided. |
| US08397564B2 |
Device and process for determining the flow regime and/or the direction of a fluid flow
A device for determining the flow regime and/or the direction of a fluid flow close to an element exposed to the flow, such as a sail, includes at least one dog-vane (1). The device further includes at least one flexible strip (2), one region (5) of the strip being fastened to the element (7) exposed to the flow and another region (15) of the strip being free relative to the element, so as to enable the strip and the free region extending substantially parallel to the element to flex, the dog-vane being fixed via one of its ends to the free region of the flexible strip. The device includes conversion element (3, 3′, 3A, 3B, 3′A, 3′B, 3C, 3D, 3′C, 3′D) for converting the deformations undergone by the strip into an electrical signal, relative to a reference position, and processing element (4) for processing the electrical signals. |
| US08397562B2 |
Apparatus for measuring bending on a drill bit operating in a well
An apparatus for measuring the bending on a drill bit operating down hole in a well may comprise at least three pockets circumferentially spaced equidistantly around the drill collar of the drill string to which the drill bit is attached. Four strain gauges are equidistantly circumferentially spaced around each of the pockets so as to form first and second sets of strain gauges. The strain gauges in the first set are connected into one Wheatstone bridge while the gauges in the second set are connected in a second bridge. Each of the strain gauges that are oriented similarly within each of the pockets are connected in series within a single leg of a bridge so that the output voltage of the bridge is unaffected by bending in the drill string. The output of first bridge is used to determine the bending on the drill bit. Further, an apparatus for measuring the bending, weight, and torque on a drill bit operating down hole in a well may comprise at least three pockets circumferentially spaced equidistantly around the drill collar of the drill string to which the drill bit is attached with twelve strain gauges that are equidistantly circumferentially spaced around each of the pockets so as to form first and second sets of strain gauges. The arrangement of the twelve strain gauges allow for a bending on bit measurement that cancels out the affects of the weight on bit and torque on bit. |
| US08397560B2 |
Sand level monitoring system
A system for monitoring a sand reservoir includes: (a) a sand reservoir carried on an off-highway vehicle; and (b) at least one sand level indicator carried by the sand reservoir which provides a visual display external to the sand reservoir indicative of the quantity of sand within the sand reservoir. |
| US08397559B2 |
Method for indirect tire pressure monitoring and tire pressure monitoring system
A system and method for indirect tire pressure monitoring. A pressure loss variable (X, f, c) is determined based on an analysis of an oscillation behavior of a tire of a motor vehicle for the detection of a pressure loss in the tire of a wheel. A variable (α, α/v) representing an increase (α) of a wheel torque slip curve, or depending on an increase (α) of a wheel torque slip curve (α/v), is determined from the oscillation behavior of the tire, and the variable (α, α/v) and the pressure loss variable (X, f, c) are used for detecting the pressure loss. |
| US08397557B2 |
Diagnostic method and apparatus for thermal regenerator after-treatment device
A method and apparatus for identifying a component failure within a thermal regenerator operates as follows. The burner control unit monitors at least one of a fuel pump characteristic for a fuel pump and an ignition system characteristic for an ignition system. The fuel pump is used to supply fuel to a fuel-fired burner and the ignition system is used to ignite fuel supplied to the fuel-fired burner. The fuel pump characteristic is communicated to the burner control unit which compares the fuel pump characteristic to a predetermined fuel pump criteria. The ignition system characteristic is communicated to the burner control unit which compares the ignition system characteristic to a predetermined ignition system criteria. The burner control unit identifies a fuel pump failure when the fuel pump characteristic does not meet the fuel pump criteria, and identifies an ignition system failure when the ignition system characteristic does not meet the ignition system criteria. |
| US08397552B2 |
Large leak diagnostic tool for a sealed fuel system in a vehicle
A vehicle includes a sealed fuel system and a controller. The fuel system includes a fuel tank, a fuel cap, a control orifice, and an absolute pressure sensor. The controller associates a threshold large leak in the fuel system with a fuel cap sealing error. The controller detects completion of a prior refueling event, compares measurements from the pressure sensor to a reference vacuum across the control orifice to determine the presence of the threshold large leak, and sets a diagnostic code corresponding to the large leak only upon completion of the prior refueling event. A method for detecting the large leak includes detecting completion of the refueling event, comparing vacuum measurements from the absolute pressure sensor to a reference vacuum across the orifice to determine the presence of the large leak, and setting a diagnostic code corresponding to the large leak only upon completion of the prior refueling event. |
| US08397550B2 |
Method for determining the ignitability of a fuel
A method for determining the ignitability of a fuel, in particular a self-igniting fuel, based on the ignition delay of the fuel during the combustion in a test engine. According to the invention, the ignition delay is determined from the combustion curve and/or the heat curve. |
| US08397548B1 |
Reversible mortise lock for a storm door
A reversible mortise lock for a storm door has a body, a latchbolt and an operational set. The body has two sidewalls, an actuator and a lock body plate. The latchbolt is connected to the actuator between the sidewalls and the lock body plate and has a connecting rod, a bolt head and a first spring. The connecting rod is connected to the actuator. The bolt head is mounted on the connecting rod and extends to the lock body plate. The first spring is mounted around the connecting rod. The operating set is movably connected to the body and the latchbolt and has an engaging panel and a second spring. The engaging panel is movably mounted between the sidewalls, is mounted around and selectively engages the connecting rod and has multiple pushing levers, a through hole and an engaging protrusion. The second spring is mounted on the engaging panel. |
| US08397547B2 |
Unlocking device for concealing keyhole of lock and key therefor
An unlocking device includes a casing mounted to a side of a lock. A movable body is movably received in the casing along a first axis and has an opening. The lock has a keyhole in an extent of the opening. A key receiving seat is movable along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis between a first position received in the movable body and a second position at least partially outside of the movable body. A linking rod is extended into the movable seat. A key can be placed into a key receiving hole of the key receiving seat in the second position and then moved into the movable body to engage with the linking rod when the key receiving seat moves to the first position. The key is movable into the keyhole by moving the linking rod along the first axis and is rotatable for a locking or unlocking operation. |
| US08397545B1 |
Restraint device
A restraint device having a tubular body with a handle at one end and a telescopic extension rod at the other end which allows the overall length of the body to be selectively adjusted. A cuff is attached to a tether at the end of the rod in a non-deployed position. The tether can be released so a law enforcement officer can loosely control a detainee. Electrical circuitry in the body is connected to electrodes on the lower end of the handle and on the cuff so a disabling charge can be delivered. The device is also useful to civilians as a protective device when jogging, walking, bicycling or the like. |
| US08397542B2 |
Pile knitted fabric and sewn product employing pile knitted fabric
Disclosed is a pile knitted fabric containing a ground structure and a pile fiber napped from the ground structure. The pile knitted fabric includes a pile fiber that is knitted into a stitch of the ground structure and napped therefrom; and a stitch composed only of the ground structure, wherein a pile length of the pile knitted fabric is 6 to 25 mm, a continuous length of a pile fiber portion where the pile fiber is knitted into the stitch of the ground structure and napped therefrom is 10 mm or more, a width of a line of a stitch pattern composed only of the ground structure is 1 to 6 mm, a continuous length of the line of the stitch pattern composed only of the ground structure is 10 mm or more, a ratio of the width of the line of the stitch pattern composed only of the ground structure to the pile length is 0.09 to 0.30, and when a weft direction of the pile knitted fabric is placed horizontally, an acute angle formed between the weft direction of the pile knitted fabric and the line of the stitch pattern composed only of the ground structure is 20° to 90°. |
| US08397536B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling thickness of a flowing ribbon of molten glass
In the formation of sheet material from molten glass, a cooling tube is positioned in the forming area for directing a flow of cooling gas on discrete portions of the molten glass proximate a draw line or root to control local thickness variations in the sheet and thereby provide a uniform glass sheet thickness across the width of the sheet. The cooling tube is disposed in a pivot member configured to rotate about at least one axis, thereby causing an end of the cooling tube to direct the cooling gas over a wide range of angular positions across a portion of the width of the molten glass flowing over and from a forming body. |
| US08397532B2 |
Direct-cooled ice-making assembly and refrigeration appliance incorporating same
A direct-cooled ice making assembly for a refrigeration appliance is disclosed. A refrigeration system includes a refrigerant circuit having an ice maker cooling portion for cooling an ice maker mold body. A cooling plate houses the ice maker cooling portion which creates ice within compartments of the mold body by cooling the mold body via the cooling plate. The ice maker is configured to be removably attached to the cooling plate so as to be replaceable without removing the ice maker cooling portion of the refrigerant circuit within the cooling plate or the cooling plate. Related refrigeration appliances are also disclosed. |
| US08397524B2 |
Refrigerator and service system of parts for the same
Provided is a refrigerator. A refrigerator according to an embodiment includes a main body configured with a plurality of parts, a door coupled to the main body, an RF reader provided in the main body to read out information recorded in each RF tag attached to the parts, a display part provided on the door to display replacement information or abnormal states of the parts, and a controller for controlling the operation of the display part. |
| US08397523B2 |
Electrolytic water generating device, air filtering system, air conditioning and filtering apparatus, and air conditioning and filtering system
An air filtering apparatus for filtering air includes a chamber having an air flow passage through which air flows, the chamber being connected through an air supply duct to a plurality of air blow-out ports opened to a large space, an air filtering portion that is disposed in the chamber and has a plurality of gas-liquid contact members for bringing air into contact with electrolytic water to filter the air, a water tank that is connected through a water feeding pump to a supply pipe for supplying the electrolytic water to each of the gas-liquid contact members of the air filtering portion, an electrolytic unit for generating the electrolytic water, and a mechanism for leading to the electrolytic unit a part of electrolytic water in the water tank which is sucked by the water feeding pump and supplied to the plurality of gas-liquid contact members through the supply pipe, electrolyzing the part of the electrolytic water in the electrolytic unit to further generate electrolytic water and returning the generated electrolytic water into the water tank. |
| US08397520B2 |
Phase shift devices for pulse tube coolers
Various embodiments are directed to pulse tube coolers and components thereof. A pulse tube cooler may comprise a compressor, a regenerator, a pulse tube and a reservoir. A network of phase control devices may be placed in a fluid path between a hot end of the pulse tube and the reservoir. The network of phase control devices may have at least one flow resistance device and at least one inertance device. |
| US08397519B2 |
Bottle stand with active cooling
A bottle display stand with an active cooling function. The display stand includes a housing having an opening into which a beverage bottle may be inserted. A reservoir for containing a cooling medium is disposed inside the hollow housing. A pump, in fluid communication with the reservoir, recirculates the cooling medium from the reservoir through a fluid passageway and out of a spray jet. The spray jet is aimed at an upper region of the bottle, preferably the shoulder. Cooling medium travels down the body of the bottle substantially in a thin film that does not obscure the bottle or its label and creates a waterfall- or fountain-type effect that is extremely aesthetically pleasing without splashing, dripping, or a similar mess. Simultaneously, the thin film of cooling medium chills the beverage and keeps it cold. A cooling unit may optionally remove heat from the cooling medium. |
| US08397518B1 |
Apparel with integral heating and cooling device
A device for heating or cooling a body of a user is provided. The device includes a thermoelectric module, a heat sink thermally coupled to the thermoelectric module, a wetting material in thermal communication with the heat sink, and a controller for cycling the thermoelectric module in accordance with a duty cycle. Additionally, a method of heating or cooling a portion of a body of a user is provided. The method includes cycling electrical power to a thermoelectric module at a duty cycle, transferring heat from the thermoelectric module to a heat sink, and evaporating a liquid from a wetting material disposed on the heat sink. The evaporated liquid enters the surrounding atmosphere. |
| US08397516B2 |
Apparatus and method for removing heat from a gas turbine
An apparatus for removing heat from a turbine includes a stator having a cavity and a first plenum and a second plenum inside the cavity. The second plenum is connected to the first plenum and surrounds the first plenum inside the cavity. A refrigerant flows through the first plenum and the second plenum to remove heat from the stator. A method for cooling a turbine includes forming a cavity in a component to be cooled, installing a first plenum inside the cavity, and installing a second plenum inside the cavity. The method further includes connecting the second plenum to the first plenum, surrounding the first plenum with the second plenum inside the cavity, and flowing a refrigerant through the first plenum and the second plenum to cool the component. |
| US08397514B2 |
System and method for flow control in gas turbine engine
A system includes a gas turbine combustor, which includes a combustion liner disposed about a combustion region, a flow sleeve disposed about the combustion liner, an air passage between the combustion liner and the flow sleeve, a fuel injector disposed downstream of the combustion liner and the flow sleeve, a liner mount extending between the combustion liner and the flow sleeve, and a crossfire tube extending between the combustion liner and the flow sleeve. The fuel injector, the liner mount, and the crossfire tube are aligned with one another in a flow enhancing arrangement along a common axis in an axial direction relative to an axis of the gas turbine combustor. The flow enhancing arrangement reduces an air flow disturbance caused by the fuel injector, the liner mount, and the crossfire tube. |
| US08397510B2 |
Combustor for gas turbine
A combustor for a gas turbine capable of performing stable combustion even by using high temperature air, comprising a first burner (5) jetting fuel and air into a combustion chamber (2) and a second burner (8) causing the circulating jet of the fuel and air installed at a position corresponding to the tip part of a flame caused by the first burner (5). |
| US08397504B2 |
Method and apparatus to recover and convert waste heat to mechanical energy
A method and system for waste heat recovery for conversion to mechanical energy. Exhaust is received from an engine into a first heat exchanger where heat from the exhaust is transferred to a refrigerant. The exhaust is then transferred to a regenerator module in order to produce electricity which is provided to a power box. The hot refrigerant from the first heat exchanger is transferred to a kinetic energy recovery system to produce electricity which is also transferred to said power box. The power box provides electricity to a traction motor and the traction motor turns an axle. The refrigerant is then transferred to a refrigerant cooling unit and then to a second heat exchanger wherein ambient air from the regenerator module is cooled. The refrigerant and cooled ambient air can be then transferred to an engine cooling jacket to cool the engine. |
| US08397503B2 |
Turbocharged engine for vehicle
Two turbochargers are arranged vertically near a one side of a crank-shaft direction at a one-side face of an engine body so that the large-size turbocharger is located above the small-sized turbocharger, and an exhaust-gas purification device is arranged an open space made on the other side of the crank-shaft direction so that its exhaust inlet is located above and its outlet is located below. Accordingly, the turbochargers and the exhaust-gas purification device can be arranged compactly and the layout of some devices around the engine can be facilitated. |
| US08397499B2 |
Methods and systems for turbocharger control
Methods are provided for controlling a turbocharged engine having a throttle and a turbocharger. One example method comprises, moving the throttle during boosted conditions, separating out effects on the throttle inlet pressure into a first portion corresponding to disturbances caused by the movement of the throttle, and a second, remaining, portion. The method further comprises adjusting the turbocharger based on the second portion and not the first portion. |
| US08397498B2 |
Heat removal systems and methods for thermodynamic engines
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for removing heat from closed-cycle thermodynamic engines that generate electrical energy through a reciprocating piston operated by thermal expansion. The present invention includes a heat exchange mechanism for a closed-cycle thermodynamic engine that exchanges hot working fluid and cold fluid at different points in a heat cycle thereby increasing efficiency of the closed-cycle thermodynamic engine. The heat exchange mechanism allows the engine to remove heat faster from the working fluid and therefore lowers the low temperature of the thermodynamic cycle resulting in better efficiency. The heat exchange mechanism also allows the engine to operate at a faster cycle frequency. |
| US08397494B2 |
Exhaust device of internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine wherein an exhaust pipe is connected to an exhaust outlet opening of an integral exhaust manifold-type cylinder head and a sensor having a sensing part liable to be damaged by deposition of moisture is arranged at an exhaust inlet part of the exhaust pipe. Exhaust ports of a cylinder positioned at the center are formed so that the sensing part of the sensor is not contained in the extended tubular shaped surfaces of the openings of the exhaust ports of the cylinder positioned at the center to the exhaust merging portion. |
| US08397489B2 |
Engine idling duration control
Systems and methods are described for controlling an engine in a vehicle. One example method includes, after a threshold duration of engine idling, continuing engine idle operation when an exhaust NOx sensor indicates a NOx level below a NOx threshold, and stopping engine idle and shutting down the engine when the exhaust NOx sensor indicates the NOx level is above the NOx threshold. In this way, when the exhaust emissions are below the NOx threshold, it is possible to prolong engine idling operation using the exhaust NOx sensor. |
| US08397488B2 |
Method for cleaning internal combustion engine exhaust gases
Described is a method for cleaning the exhaust gases of internal combustion engines, which method is suitable for reducing harmful gases and particle emissions. Here, the exhaust gas to be cleaned is conducted, under operating conditions, with a discontinuous profile of the air ratio λ across a wall-flow filter substrate which comprises a catalytically active coating containing one storage material. The storage material is suitable for temporarily storing one or more exhaust-gas components under certain operating conditions and releasing said exhaust-gas components again in a targeted fashion in the event of a suitable change in the operating conditions. The coating is configured such that the component has a gradient of the storage material concentration and/or of the total coating amount, with the highest concentration of the storage material in the longitudinal direction of the component being present on the inflow side. At least 60% by weight of the storage material in relation to its total amount is present in the walls between inflow and outflow ducts, and at least 50% by weight of the storage material in relation to its total amount is present in a first, inflow-side zone in the wall-flow filter substrate. |
| US08397484B2 |
Inlet system for an EGR system
An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a system that may recirculate a portion of the exhaust of at least one turbomachine where it may be mixed with the inlet air and re-enter the turbomachine without affecting reliability and availability of the unit. An embodiment of the present invention provides an inlet system for an exhaust gas recirculation system. This inlet system may take a variety of forms and may optimize the direction that the portion of the recirculated exhaust stream flows within the inlet system. |
| US08397481B2 |
Steerable multi-linked device having a modular link assembly
A steerable multi-linked device. The device includes a first multi-linked mechanism and a second multi-linked mechanism. At least one of the first and second multi-linked mechanisms is steerable and includes a modular link assembly at an end thereof. The modular link assembly includes a base, and a tip removably connected to the base. |
| US08397474B2 |
Methods of making slide-zippered reclosable packages on horizontal form-fill-seal machines
Methods of making slide-zippered reclosable packages are provided. In one embodiment, a pair of opposing film extensions are provided on each package between which a zipper and slider are attached. In another embodiment, sliders are inserted on to zippered packages output from a form-fill-seal machine or the like. In yet another embodiment, during package formation a reclosable zipper is sealed to each package and then a slider is inserted on to the zipper. In yet another embodiment, during package formation a reclosable zipper is sealed to each package and a slider is inserted on to each zipper, either before or after zipper sealing. |
| US08397473B2 |
Apparatus for closing biological material containers
An apparatus for automatically closing test tubes containing biological material mounted to an automatic test tube conveyor is described, comprising a cap recruiting device (11) adapted to feed a curved channelizer (12) adapted to tip a cap (5) from a configuration with the opening upwards at the inlet of the channelizer (12) to a configuration with the opening downwards at the outlet of the channelizer (12) at a loading surface (13). A horizontal pusher (22) moves the cap (5) from said loading surface (13) to a housing (23) in a channel (14) in which a stem (24) vertically slides and is adapted to move the cap (5) upwards in a test tube closing device (9) comprising a movable head (26) adapted to grip the cap (5) pushed by the stem (24) and to close the open test tube blocked at a working point of the conveyor. |
| US08397471B2 |
Tool for straightening wooden planks
A tool for straightening flooring material laid over floor joists having a thickness includes a square “U” shaped wedge having a pair of spaced apart legs running in parallel. The legs are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the floor joist. A wedge body has a planar bottom side and an upper side tapering with respect to the bottom planar side from a head end downwardly to the distal ends of the legs. A planar chisel plate shaped to conform with the shape of the bottom planar side of the wedge body includes a pair of legs spaced apart a distance slightly smaller than the thickness of the floor joist. The chisel plate includes a chisel edge on each of the distal ends of the legs and further includes a chisel edge along the inside spaced apart edges of the legs of the chisel plate. |
| US08397467B2 |
Methods and apparatus for concrete panel connections
Methods and apparatus for coupling adjacent concrete panels increase the tolerance for setting. Connections members are placed in at least one of the adjacent concrete panels. In one embodiment a first connection member is placed in a first panel and a second connection member is placed in a second panel. A plate is placed over the first and second connection member. Fasteners are inserted through the plate and into each connection member to secure the adjacent panels together. In a second embodiment a rotatable connection member is placed in a first panel. The rotatable connection member includes a first rod rotatably coupled to a second rod. The second panel is placed on the first panel. The connection member is rotated from its first position to its second position and is secured to the second panel. The connection members may be cast in the panels during production. |
| US08397459B2 |
Fiberglass siding
A fiberglass siding piece may be formed. The fiberglass siding piece includes an upper seating portion of the fiberglass siding piece. The upper seating portion includes an angled siding seat. The fiberglass siding piece further includes a main portion of the fiberglass siding piece, and a lower seating portion of the fiberglass siding piece. The lower seating portion includes an angled siding seat. The angled siding seat of the upper seating portion is configured to receive the angled siding seat of the lower seating portion of an adjacent fiberglass siding piece. The upper seating portion may include slots configured to accept fasteners to fasten the fiberglass siding piece to a building. |
| US08397457B2 |
Method for attaching a reinforcement or facing on an existing structural component and structural component with attached reinforcement or facing
In a method for connecting a reinforcement or facing of hydraulic-setting material of cement mortar mixture or concrete mixture on a structural component, a multi-layer reinforcement mat is attached to a structural component. A smoothing cement of hydraulic-setting material is filled into outer fabric layers of the reinforcement mat. The smoothing cement is allowed to set to form a substitute formwork. Into the space between the substitute formwork and the structural component a flowable cement mortar mixture or concrete mixture is filled in. |
| US08397454B2 |
Building wall for resisting lateral forces
This invention relates to an improved wall for resisting lateral forces imposed on a building that incorporates the wall. Specifically, this invention relates to a wall in a light-frame building having within it a sub-component specifically designed to resist lateral forces imposed on the building such as those caused by an earthquake or by wind loading. The wall is formed with a bottom plate that rests on the underlying structural component of the building. A plurality of vertically-disposed studs connect to the bottom plate, and a top plate is supported by and connects to the vertically-disposed studs. A shear-resisting assembly connects to the top plate and the underlying structural component. The shear-resisting assembly has top and bottom struts and first and second chords and a planar shear resisting element connected thereto. |
| US08397448B2 |
Photovoltaic panel clamp
A photovoltaic panel clamp includes an upper and lower section. The interface between the assembled clamp halves and the module edge is filled by a flexible gasket material, such as EPDM rubber. The gasket preferably has small, finger like protrusions that allow for easy insertion onto the module edge while being reversed makes it more difficult to remove them from the module once installed. The clamp includes mounting posts or an integral axle to engage a bracket. The clamp also may include a locking tongue to secure the clamp to a bracket. |
| US08397445B2 |
Joint connection in which a beam end or column base of a structure, or a peripheral members rigidly joined to the beam end or column base, are joined to another structure via supporting means
A joint connection (20) in which a beam end and a column base of a structure (10), or a peripheral member rigidly joined thereto, are joined to another structure (13) capable of receiving a bending moment through supporting means 22. A deformation due to a very small geometric movement within a resilient range is generated in the supporting means (22) by a reaction force generated at a joint portion with the other structure 13 due to an external force exerted on a beam or a column. This structure is capable of generating a bending moment Mr in a reverse direction to a bending moment Mc generated in the column base or the beam end. |
| US08397441B2 |
System for modular building construction
Construction systems for erecting building structures comprise a plurality of prefabricated interconnectable modular building units, each unit comprising a frame shaped as a rectangular parallelopiped and comprised of framing members and a plurality of nodes, each node situated at a corner of said frame for selective interconnection with other units, the framing members comprising eight edge rails, at least one edge rail in one unit being interconnected by beam stitching with a respective edge rail in at least one other unit, the nodes and the exterior dimensions of the frame conforming to ISO shipping standards such that each unit is transportable using the ISO intermodal transportation system, and such that when the units are aggregated horizontally and vertically and adjacent units are interconnected, a building structure comprising at least one habitable space is formed. The modular units are assembled in a factory remote from the job site, and are there constructed to a semi-finished state, including installation of one or more of interior fit-out systems and finishes, exterior envelope systems, plumbing systems, electrical systems, environmental systems, and fire protection systems, following which the semi-finished modular units are transported from the factory to the job site, where they are craned into place and secured to form the structure being erected, a plurality of adjacent pairs of semi-finished modular units also being “stitched” together, and the semi-finished modular units are thereafter constructed to a finished state. |
| US08397440B1 |
Pool or spa shade device
A pool shade device featuring two motor housings disposed on opposite sides of the pool, wherein each motor housing comprises a motor and a set of gears; a plurality of arcs covered with a cover component for shade, each arc having a first end operatively connected to a first motor and a second end operatively connected to a second motor, wherein the cover component can move between an extended position wherein the cover component is fanned over the pool or the spa and a storage position wherein the cover component is collapsed atop an edge of the pool or spa; wherein when the motors are activated, the motors cause the arcs to move between the extended position and the storage position. |
| US08397436B2 |
Self cleaning shield
A gutter shield device comprising a first body portion and a second body portion laterally bordering an intermediate body portion that includes a perforated plane out of which arises upward protruding elements that contact the undersurface of a micro-mesh or screen filter comprised of eighty or more threads per inch. The gutter shield includes on the bottom of it's perforated plane at least one downwardly extending element to interdict and redirect downward any forward flowing water present on the underside of the perforated plane. |
| US08397434B2 |
Greenhouse insulation system
An insulation system for installation between a floor and a roof of a greenhouse includes an insulation module with insulating panels shiftable between an open position and a closed position for controlling air flow and heat flow in the greenhouse. |
| US08397427B2 |
Wasp, hornet, and yellowjacket spray repellant and nest pesticide
Methods for killing insects and a nest are disclosed. The methods may be used to disrupt a colony of nest-dwelling insects. The insects may include wasps, hornets, and yellowjackets. |
| US08397426B2 |
Mousetrap
Disclosed is a mousetrap having an enclosure with a rotatable top part having a downwardly extending strike plate within the enclosure, and a bottom part having an upwardly extending catch plate within the enclosure, an aperture in each of the top part and the bottom part which are in substantial alignment when the mousetrap is set, and a trigger mechanism, wherein the mousetrap is set to incapacitate or kill the mouse by the manual rotation of the top part relative to the bottom part when a mouse activates the trigger mechanism causing the top part to rotate relative to the bottom part and thereby incapacitating or killing the mouse between the strike plate and the catch plate. |
| US08397415B2 |
Multi-caliber bolt-action rifle and components
A multi-caliber firearm has a breech sleeve connecting a barrel to a receiver and a stock. The stock includes a forward V-block and a rearward V-block. Each of the V-blocks defines a V-cut along a top portion and a through hole substantially aligned with the cross-sectional center of the V-block. The forward V-block extends through a cutout portion of the receiver and into the breech sleeve. The breech sleeve is fastened to the stock through the through hole in the forward V-block to provide a rigid connection between the stock and the breech sleeve. The receiver is fastened to the stock through the through hole in the rearward V-block to provide a rigid connection between the receiver and the stock. |
| US08397411B2 |
Magnet-based mounting systems for frames
A magnet-based frame mounting system comprises a frame plate that is magnetically attractive and a wall plate that is magnetically attractive. The frame plate has a first surface that mechanically mounts within a rear surface of a frame. Correspondingly, the wall plate has a first surface that mechanically mounts directly to a wall. When the frame plate is mounted to a corresponding frame, the wall plate is mounted to a corresponding wall, and the frame plate is magnetically coupled to the frame plate, the frame plate is concealed by the frame, the wall plate is concealed by the frame and the frame is repositionable in any direction parallel to the wall plate, without repositioning the wall plate, such that the frame stays at a set location based upon the magnetic coupling between the frame plate and the wall plate. |
| US08397406B2 |
System and method for using color to indicate a state of a home appliance, such as an iron
A system and method for using color to indicate a state of a home appliance, such as an iron. The iron has a sole plate and a water tank in fluid communication with the sole plate, a heater for heating the sole plate, a sensor for sensing a temperature of the sole plate, a user interface for setting a desired temperature for the sole plate, and a controller in communication with user interface and the sensor for controlling the heater. An illumination device under the control of the controller is provided to illuminate the water tank, particularly the interior thereof, in a color that is representative of a state of the iron, such as a power condition of the iron and/or a temperature of the sole plate. |
| US08397403B2 |
Resilient support
The invention discloses a resilient support having a slit in the heel part. |
| US08397401B1 |
Vehicle dryer with butterfly inlet valve
A vehicle dryer includes an energy-conserving rotatable inlet butterfly valve to selectively admit or block air to a fan encased in a blower housing. The valve includes a plate mounted on a shaft that extends across the inlet portion of the blower housing. The plate is rotated by its shaft to either an opened position for admitting air into a blower housing, or a closed position for blocking air from entering into the blower housing. A crank arm is coupled to the valve shaft, and a pneumatic cylinder includes a piston rod for turning the crank arm through a ninety-degree angle, thereby rotating the valve plate between its opened and closed positions. |
| US08397399B2 |
Adjustable media width sensor for a mailing machine
An illustrative mailing machine is provided including at least one adjustable optical media width sensor that may be reconfigured for differing postal rating requirements. The media width sensor subassembly has a narrow linear sensor window that is positioned perpendicular to the path of travel of the mail piece. The media width sensor subassembly includes a sensor carriage mount and width measurement scale for facilitating the accurate placement of the adjustable, but secure when placed, sensor carriage. The sensor carriage slidably engages a mount and is spring biased into a locking mechanism in the underside of the media width sensor locating scale. |
| US08397395B2 |
Optical sensor with collision protection for a measurement machine
The invention relates to an optical sensor with collision protection for a measurement machine, in particular for a coordinate measurement machine. The optical sensor comprises a sensor-side coupling part for mechanically and optically connecting to the measurement machine, and a sensor element. According to the invention, the sensor comprises a sensor protective coupling as collision protection, said protective coupling comprising a coupling part on the measurement machine side and a coupling part on the sensor element side, wherein a fiber optic cable is routed between the coupling parts of the sensor protective coupling and wherein a fiber optic cable protection element surrounds the fiber optic cable, wherein the ends of the fiber optic cable protection element are fastened to the associated coupling part of the sensor protective coupling. |
| US08397394B2 |
Method and device for the initial measurement of a workpiece, and the processing of a workpiece
A method for workpiece levelling includes mounting the workpiece in a machine tool, measuring the position of the workpiece in the mounting and determining a translatory offset xv, yv, zv and a rotatory offset λv, βv, φv of the factual workpiece mounting compared to the ideal mounting from the measurement results and from a workpiece data forming an initial data set related to the ideal mounting, wherein for obtaining another initial data set a plurality of surface points of the mounted workpiece are measured in their position xn, yn, zn in space, the data of one of the initial data sets are varied a plurality of times in accordance with plural translatory and rotatory displacements for obtaining a plurality of varied data sets, from the varied data sets and their base data set the one data set is determined that represents a surface with a lowest deviation measure compared to a surface represented by the other of the initial data sets, and the translatory offset xv, yv, zv and the rotatory offset λv, βv, φv is determined from the translatory and rotatory displacement of the determined data set. |
| US08397382B2 |
Method of repairing a wind turbine blade
A method of repairing a wind turbine blade while mounted on a tower without removing the blade from the tower is provided. The method may begin by positioning the wind turbine blade in a substantially vertical orientation. Next, a blade reinforcement structure is secured to the blade to reduce stress on a portion of the blade. The blade is repaired by removing a damaged portion of the blade, and installing a repair portion to the blade where the damaged portion was removed. The method may conclude by removing the blade reinforcement structure from the blade. |
| US08397379B2 |
Method for fabricating ceramic substrate
A method for fabricating a ceramic substrate includes: preparing a ceramic substrate; disposing a metal mask having a plurality of holes at an upper side of the ceramic substrate; and injecting a polyimide resin into the holes of the metal mask to form a polyimide thin film on the ceramic substrate. A thin film is formed on a ceramic substrate in a simpler manner, so the fabrication cost can be reduced and a fixed time can be shortened, thus increasing the efficiency of a product. |
| US08397377B2 |
Apparatus for making an antenna for wire transponders of electrically conductive material
An apparatus for making an antenna for wire transponders of electrically conductive material, comprising at least one depositing device for depositing said wire on a substrate placed on a support element, said at least one depositing device and said substrate being movable with respect to each other; said support element being movable along directions parallel to at least two axis of a Cartesian reference system. A method for making an antenna comprising providing a substrate intended to receive said antenna, providing a lamina or wire of electrically conductive material wound on at least one reel, unwinding said lamina, or said wire from said at least one reel, pressing said lamina, or wire, on a surface of said substrate by means of at least one pressing element, fixing said lamina, or wire, to said substrate, separating, by means of at least one cutting device a stretch of lamina, or wire, fixed to said substrate from the remaining lamina, or wire, wound on said at least one reel, said substrate being movable with respect to an assembly comprised of said at least one reel, said at least one pressing and said at least one cutting device, along at least one direction substantially parallel to an axis of a Cartesian reference system. |
| US08397375B2 |
Modular transfer system for workpieces
A modular transfer system for workpieces. Workpiece carriers are positioned in a manufacturing module with the same CNC (x-y) axis systems and the same servo drives the workpiece carrier and transfers such between modules. A separate conveyor belt is thus not required for the transfer. |
| US08397373B2 |
Method for manufacturing a multilayer polymeric actuator
A method for manufacturing a multilayer polymeric actuator includes the following steps: arranging a rotating winding core; winding a dielectric film of polymeric material around the winding core; during winding, applying a conductive material on the dielectric film exposed face, in which the application occurs intermittently according to a pre-established sequence, and according to a first and a second geometrical application pattern mutually alternated at each winding turn, so as to form a roll; radially cutting the roll at the ends of a circumferentially localized zone; and connecting a conductive material layers having the first geometrical application pattern one to the other and the conductive material layers having the second geometrical application pattern one to the other. |
| US08397370B2 |
Methods for designing an antenna using an oversized antenna flex
This is directed to an antenna for use in an electronic device. The antenna can be constructed from a flex and printed trace, such that the flex is originally defined to be as large or nearly as large as possible to fit within portion of the electronic device dedicated to the antenna. This can allow the antenna trace to vary as the antenna is tuned without requiring a new flex having a different shape. In addition, this can allow the antenna design to be decoupled from the mechanical considerations related to mounting the antenna within the electronic device. |
| US08397367B2 |
Mower suspension system and method
In some embodiments, the present invention provides a mower including a frame having a front portion and a rear portion, at least one front wheel coupled to the front portion of the frame, and two drive wheels on substantially opposite sides of the rear portion of the frame. Each drive wheel is coupled to the frame by a first link pivotably coupled at one end to the front portion of the frame and at an opposite end to the drive wheel, and a second link pivotably coupled at one end to the rear portion of the frame and at an opposite end to the drive wheel. The mower also includes at least one spring positioned to bias the drive wheels in a downward direction. Each of the drive wheels are movable upward and downward relative to the frame. |
| US08397365B2 |
Rack disassembly tool
A rack disassembly tool includes a substantially planar U-shaped collar having a pair of legs extending from a base. A pair of hook members depend downwardly from the distal ends of the pair of legs. A pair of resilient bumpers, or other resilient pads, are mounted in a corresponding pair of elbows formed at junctions between the pair of legs and the pair of hook members. |
| US08397364B2 |
Locking pin for coupling components
First and second components can be releasably coupled together with a locking pin having a sacrificial o-ring. The first and second components have respective first and second openings that are aligned with each other and receive the locking pin. The second opening has a square edge located adjacent to a recess in the first opening. The o-ring has an outside diameter greater than the diameter of the square edge and an inside diameter less than the diameter of the square edge when assembled. The locking pin is inside of the first and second openings, with the o-ring inside of the recess. To release the components, the locking pin is moved out of the first opening to shear the o-ring against the square edge. |
| US08397362B2 |
Device for setting a fastener element
The invention relates to a device for setting a fastener element (55) having an inner pin (56) slidable relative to an outer body (57) and comprising a locking arrangement (32, 33; 38, 39) comprising a bolt (19) provided for acting on the inner pin (56) and secured in a retracted position against axial displacement into an advanced position after relatively spacing a handle body (52) and an actuating organ (8, 46). When the actuating organ (8, 46) is actuated by a displacement opposite the retraction direction, an unlatching organ (40, 41) acts on the locking arrangement (32, 33; 38, 39) and releases the bolt (19) for displacing into the advanced position. Very simple handling of the manually actuated device is thus ensured. |
| US08397360B2 |
Method for manufacturing a monolithic oscillator with bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonators
A method of adjustment on manufacturing of a monolithic oscillator including circuit elements and a BAW resonator, this method including the steps of: a) forming the circuit elements and the resonator and electrically connecting them; b) covering the resonator with a frequency adjustment layer; c) measuring the output frequency of the oscillator; d) modifying the thickness of the frequency adjustment layer to modify the output frequency of the oscillator. |
| US08397356B2 |
Triple bar, high efficiency mechanical sealer
A clamp with a bottom clamp bar that has a planar upper surface is provided. The clamp may also include a top clamp bar connected to the bottom clamp bar, and a pressure distribution bar between the top clamp bar and the bottom clamp bar. The pressure distribution bar may have a planar lower surface in facing relation to the upper surface of the bottom clamp bar. An object is capable of being disposed in a clamping region between the upper surface and the lower surface. The width of the planar lower surface may be less than the width of the upper surface within the clamping region. Also, the pressure distribution bar may be capable of being urged away from the top clamp bar and towards the bottom clamp bar. |
| US08397355B2 |
Fastening member comprising shaped tab
A fastening member used for, e.g., a disposable absorbent article is disclosed. The fastening member extends in a longitudinal direction and in a lateral direction and has a lateral centerline. The fastening member comprises a base panel and a shaped tab extending laterally from the base panel. The shaped tab has a longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline, a distal portion and a proximal portion. The shaped tab has a contour edge comprising a shaped upper edge and a shaped lower edge. The shaped upper edge and the shaped lower edge are symmetric with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the shaped tab when relatively shifted in the longitudinal direction and are asymmetric with respect to the lateral centerline of the fastening member. |
| US08397354B2 |
Elastic attachment strap
An elastic attachment strap that has its ends connected together using Velcro-type hook and loop fasteners, where the fasteners are cut into multiple sections that are spaced along the elastic strap, said strips being placed at angles rather than straight across the width of the elastic strap. |
| US08397351B2 |
Slide for life-line
A slide displaced along a life-line. The slide includes a body provided with a guide duct through which a cable passes. The slide further includes a handle that is capable of interacting with an attached connecting mechanism. The handle is articulated relative to the body such that the handle has a freedom of rotary movement of axis in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the guide duct and different from a direction of traction of the connecting mechanism of the handle. |
| US08397350B2 |
Fastening method and apparatus
A fastening device includes a tube defining a first axis, a tube first end, a tube second end, and a through hole, the through hole defining a first opening and a second opening, a second axis of the through hole being substantially perpendicular to the first axis of the tube, the tube second end of the tube securing rigidly to an attaching device. The fastening device also includes a cord inserted through the through hole, the cord defining a cord first end and a cord second end, the cord first end disposed on a side of the through hole corresponding to the first opening, the cord second end disposed on a side of the through hole corresponding to the second opening. The cord first end is looped over the tube first end of the tube. |
| US08397347B2 |
Turning device, and folding type portable terminal equipped with the same
An attempt is made to miniaturize and reduce a thickness of a folding type portable terminal.There are provided a turning shaft member 51 having a shaft section 58; a friction member 54; an urging member 55; and a bearing member 52 including an accommodation section 63 for accommodating the friction member 54 and the urging member 55 and an insertion hole 62 which is in mutual communication with the accommodation section 63 and which retains the shaft section 58 in a turnable manner. The urging member 55 urges the friction member 54 when predetermined deflection is imparted to the urging member 55. The urged friction member 54 contacts an outer periphery of the shaft section 58 and also urges the outer periphery of the shaft section 58. The shaft section 58 of the turning shaft member 51 is configured so as to turn while generating sliding friction against the friction member 54 and the bearing member 52. |
| US08397342B2 |
Debris removal system for power tool
A debris removal attachment for use with a hand-held power tool. The attachment includes an extension shaft, a first impeller coupled to the extension shaft, and a housing provided adjacent the first impeller. The rotation of the first impeller is configured to generate a pressure differential sufficient to draw debris into the housing. |
| US08397340B2 |
Wiper blade to clean windshields, in particular of automobiles
A wiper blade to clean windshields, in particular of automobiles. The wiper blade (10) has an elongated belt-shaped, flexible spring support element (12), with a separate first component designed as an elastic rubber wiper strip (14) that can be pressed against the windshield (20) located at the bottom belt surface (13) of the support element and with a separate second component located at the other upper belt surface (11) of the support element (12) that is designed as a wind deflection strip (24) that extends at least along a longitudinal section of the wiper blade (10). A particularly low-disruption wiper blade results if the two components (14, 24) are connected together at their sides facing one another. |
| US08397339B2 |
Reference member cleaning device, and reference member cleaning method
According to one embodiment, a reference member cleaning device used in an optical detection unit causes a driving module to convey a reference member and to rotate a wipe-off member. The reference member cleaning device of the optical detection unit transmits the power of the driving module to both the wipe-off member and the reference member, in such a manner that the rotating direction of the wipe-off member and the conveying direction of the reference member are reversed at the position where the wipe-off member and the reference member come into contact with each other. |
| US08397336B2 |
Hairbrush
A hairbrush in which air blown from a hair dryer to the rear face side of the hairbrush is smoothly guided to through-holes in the hairbrush to send the air to the front face side. In the hairbrush (1), divergent projections (4a-4g) are formed on a rear face (2a) of a base section (2) and through-holes (8a-8f) are respectively formed in depressions (3a-3f) located between the projections. A cushion member (5) of a brush section (9) is fixed to the front face (2e) side of the base section (2) of the hairbrush (1), and bristles (6) are embedded in the cushion member (5) through which holes (5a) are formed. Air blown from the hair dryer to the rear face (2a) side of the hair brush (1) is guided by the projections (4a-4g) to the depressions (3a-3f) located between the projections and enters the through-holes (8a-8f). The air passed through the through-holes (8a-8f) passes through the holes (5a) in the cushion member (5) and sent to the front face side of the hairbrush (1). |
| US08397329B2 |
Articulated loading ramp
A loading ramp for a vehicle that includes at least three articulated sections. The ramp is assembled to and stored on a floor of the vehicle. The ramp is extended from the vehicle with at least one section being retained on the floor. The sections outboard of the vehicle are retained in alignment at a ramp angle with the first section being pivoted relative to the last floor retained section to the ramp angle. A power extension and retraction device may be provided that drives the loading ramp reciprocally relative to the vehicle. Side edge guards are provided on the sides of the loading ramp and may be folded over when the loading ramp is stored. |
| US08397325B2 |
Air cell cushion
This air cell cushion has a pair of side air cells extending upwardly from the upper surface side of the base member at both end sides in the lateral direction of the base member. The side air cells have a larger front-rear direction size than in the lateral direction thereof. Also, each side air cell is configured to inflate outward in the lateral direction. By this, in a case in which the side air cells face the armrests of the wheel chair, when the side air cells are inflated outward in the lateral direction, the outer side surfaces of the side air cells abut against or become adjacent to the armrests. |
| US08397320B2 |
Patient lifting device
The patient lifting device includes a transverse beam that supports a movable lift assembly to move a patient relative to at least one of a bed or chair. The transverse beam spans between a pair of support structures and allows the lift assembly to move horizontally along the transverse beam to move the patient horizontally relative to the bed or chair. At one of the transverse beam ends, the lift assembly contacts a charging station. The charging station charges a battery, that is carried by the lift assembly, to power the lift assembly. The lift assembly is powered to move a patient vertically upward and downward. A power source is electrically coupled to the charging station to provide electrical power to charge the battery of the lift assembly through the charging station. |
| US08397316B2 |
Article of protective clothing
An article of protective clothing includes a strip of multilayered flexible material adapted to be wrapped entirely around a wearer's neck to form a collar therearound. The multilayered flexible material comprises an interior layer of cut-resistant fabric disposed within a cover of wicking fabric. The strip includes a layer of memory foam attached to a medial portion thereof and an adjustable fastener disposed coextensively over opposite short edges thereof to adjust a diametric size of the collar. |
| US08397315B2 |
Shoulder pad cover
A garment including a compression fabric is provided to serve as a shoulder pad covering. The garment includes a torso portion having a front portion connected to a back portion. The torso portion defines a torso opening, a neck opening, a left arm passage, and a right arm passage. A left shoulder portion is connected to the torso portion adjacent to the left arm passage. The left shoulder portion includes a left shoulder cap pocket. A right shoulder portion is connected to the torso portion adjacent to the right arm passage. The right shoulder portion includes a right shoulder cap pocket. A left epaulette passage is positioned between the neck opening and the left shoulder portion. A right epaulette passage is positioned between the neck opening and the right shoulder portion. |
| US08397314B2 |
Lower torso garment system
An article of clothing includes a front portion, a rear portion oppositely positioned from the front portion, a waistband encircling a top of each of the front portion and the rear portion, a right leg panel and a left leg panel extending downward from the waistband in the rear portion, a rear right band extending downward from the waistband and flanking a lateral edge of the right leg panel, a rear left band extending downward from the waistband and flanking a lateral edge of the left leg panel, a material void region in the rear portion forming a gap between the rear right band and the rear left band, and a sacrum guide that runs horizontally between the rear right band and the rear left band. |
| US08397312B1 |
Supplemental body armor component
A body armor component mounts to the waist of a wearer by attachment to a belt to protect the lower back of the wearer. The component has a flexible fabric carrier with a front sheet which faces the wearer, and two rear sheets sewn to the front sheet to define two pockets opening towards each other and joined by a connecting segment. A flexible soft ballistic armor element has a first wing connected by a center segment to a second wing, the ballistic armor element being concave and opening toward the wearer, and the first wing being received within the flexible carrier first pocket and the second wing being received within the carrier second pocket. A covering flap is pivotable on the fabric carrier to cover the gap between the pockets. A belt loop is defined by an accessory segment fixed to the covering flap. |
| US08402559B2 |
IP based security applications using location, port and/or device identifier information
Methods and apparatus for determining, in a reliable manner, a port, physical location and/or device identifier, such as a MAC address, associated with a device using an IP address and for using such information, e.g., to support one or more security applications is described. Supported security applications include restricting access to services based on the location of a device seeking access to a service, determining the location of stolen devices, and verifying the location of the source of a message or other IP signal, e.g., to determine if a prisoner is contacting a monitoring service from a predetermined location. |
| US08402556B2 |
Methods, systems, and apparatus for fragmented file sharing
Systems, methods, software, and apparatus are described for facilitating the distribution and management of fragmented content. In one embodiment, a packager packages content into fragments and generates a manifest including policies and metadata associated with the content. A downloader obtains the manifest, and uses it to obtain the content from one or more uploaders. For example, a downloader might forward a search request to one or more trackers, which, in turn, are operable to locate one or more uploaders that can meet the request, subject to any relevant policy limitations. The uploaders forward fragments to the downloader, subject to any relevant policy. The downloader assembles the content from the fragments. The operations and interactions of the entities can be subject to policy limitations associated with the fragments, the content as a whole, or the like. |
| US08402554B2 |
Launching a cached web application based on authentication status
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for receiving a request to retrieve electronic resources that correspond to a first network address. The resources are retrieved from a cache. The retrieved resources are responsive to the request, correspond to the first network address, and are configured to activate a first web application. Activation of the first web application requires that the computing device be authenticated. Instructions that are in the retrieved resources and are for activating the first web application are executed. The execution includes determining that the computing device is not authenticated to activate the first web application, and requesting to retrieve electronic resources that correspond to a second network address and that are configured to activate a second web application. Activation of the second web application does not require that the computing device be currently authenticated. |
| US08402553B2 |
Updating an operating system of a computer system
The present invention provides a processor-implemented method and system of updating an operating system of a computer system, where the operating system is subject to a system lockdown that does not allow changes to a list of approved executables of the operating system and that does not allow changes to a base system configuration of the operating system. In an exemplary embodiment, the method and system include, (1) identifying at least one trusted updater process in the operating system and (2) allowing the trusted updater process to make at least one change to the list of approved executables. In an exemplary embodiment, the method and system include, (1) identifying at least one trusted updater process in the operating system and (2) allowing the trusted updater process to make at least one change to the base system configuration. |
| US08402549B2 |
Application software protecting method and stream transmitting/receiving system
A protection method of application software is executed by initiating the first program transmitted from a server via a network on a client, and the method divides an execution result of the application software executed on the client into a plurality of pieces of intermediate data in accordance with distribution arrangement information reported by the server, distributes and arranges the plurality of pieces of intermediate data in the server and the client, transmits to the server notice information including a data length and arranged location information of each piece of the distributed and arranged plurality of pieces of intermediate data, rearranges the distributed and arranged plurality of pieces of intermediate data in the original order of the execution result of the application software on the basis of the notice information, generates in the server a second program for generating the execution result, and transmits the second program to the client. |
| US08402536B2 |
Signature based authentication of the configuration of a configurable logic component
A configurable logic component is shown with a signature generator, responsive to a commanded configuration information signal from a processor, for providing a signed commanded configuration information signal, and with a memory device, responsive to the signed commanded configuration information signal from the signature generator, for storing the signed commanded configuration information signal in the configurable logic component for use by the processor in checking a current configuration of the configurable logic component against a trusted signed configuration file to ensure the current configuration matches the commanded configuration and allowing use of the configurable logic component in case of a match. |
| US08402535B2 |
Providing greater access to one or more items in response to determining device transfer
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: determining that a computing device associated with a first user and that was in possession of a second user has been transferred from the second user to the first user; and providing at least greater access via the computing device to one or more items in response to determining that the computing device has been transferred from the second user to the first user. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure. |
| US08402533B2 |
Input to locked computing device
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes receiving at a computing device that is in a locked state, one or more user inputs to unlock the device and to execute at least one command that is different from a command for unlocking the device. The method further includes executing in response to the user inputs to unlock the device an unlocking operation by the device to convert the device from a locked state to an unlocked state. The method further includes executing the at least one command in response to receiving the user inputs to execute the at least one command. The at least one command executes so that results of executing the at least one command are first displayed on the device to a user automatically after the device changes from the locked state to the unlocked state. |
| US08402530B2 |
Dynamic load redistribution among distributed servers
Authentication requests are redistributed among a plurality of authentication servers and to centrally managing authentication affinities among distributed servers using a secure channels affinity service. A computer system instantiates a secure channel management service configured to manage secure channel connections. The secure channel management service receives state inputs from currently deployed authentication servers. The authentication servers may be configured to queue authentication requests for transmission to authentication servers. The computer system determines that, based on the received state input, at least one of the secure channels is to be remapped to a different authentication server. The computer system also remaps the determined secure channels to distribute future authentication requests among the authentication servers. In some cases, the current state of an authentication proxy server is embedded in communications transmitted by the authentication server, such that the secure channel connections are managed using the embedded state information. |
| US08402526B2 |
System integrating an identity selector and user-portable device and method of use in a user-centric identity management system
A combination includes a user-portable computing device, and an identity selector adapted for interoperable use with the user device. The user computing device includes a security token service that issues security tokens in reference to a portfolio of user identities stored as information cards on the user device. The issuance of security tokens employs user attribute information that is stored onboard the user device. The identity selector exports the information cards from the user device and determines which user identity satisfies a security policy promulgated by a relying party as part of an authentication process within the context of an online interaction. The identity selector generates a token request based on one of the eligible user identities, and forwards the token request to the user device to invoke the token issuance operation. The identity selector presents the issued security token to the relying party to comply with the security policy. |
| US08402523B2 |
System and method for associating message addresses with certificates
A system and method for associating message addresses with certificates, in which one or more secondary message addresses are identified and associated with a user-selected certificate that does not contain any e-mail addresses. In certain situations, a message may be encrypted using a certificate that does not contain an e-mail address that matches the e-mail address of the individual to which the message is to be sent, so long as the address to which the message is to be sent matches any of the message addresses associated with the certificate. The message addresses are saved in a data structure that resides in a secure data store on a computing device, such as a mobile device. |
| US08402522B1 |
System and method for managing services and jobs running under production IDs without exposing passwords for the production IDs to humans
Systems and methods for managing access to a computer account of a computer system that is not associated with a human user. The system comprises a password repository for storing a password for the computer account. The password is preferably encrypted with at least two secrets. The system also comprises a first data storage device for storing the first secret and a second data storage device for storing the second secret. The system additionally comprises a computer device in communication with the password repository and the first and second data storage devices for managing access to the computer account. The computer device is programmed to, in response to a request to perform an action under the computer account: (i) retrieve the first secret from the first data storage device; (ii) retrieve the second secret from the second data storage device; and (iii) decrypt the password with the first second secrets. |
| US08402517B2 |
Content distribution and evaluation providing reviewer status
A content distribution system may be provided for reviewing content such as video games, music, movies, or the like that may be shared by the system. The content distribution system may receive a credential from a user and authenticate the user based on the credential to permit access to the system. The content distribution system may also receive content generated by the user if the user may be authenticated. The content distribution system may provide the received content to a content evaluation entity, for example. The content distribution system may receive a review for the content from the content review entity and then may determine whether the content passes a review process based on the review, for example. The content distribution system may provide additional access to the content if the content passes the review process. |
| US08402516B2 |
Apparatus and method for establishing a peer-to-peer communication session with a host device
An apparatus and method of establishing a peer-to-peer communication session between a host device and a client device. Routing information of the host device is received from a server via a wide area network, routing information of the client device is provided to the server, and authentication information is provided to the host device via the wide area network. Peer-to-peer communication is transmitted to the client device via the wide area network if the client device is authenticated for peer-to-peer communication by the host device. |
| US08402511B2 |
LDAPI communication across OS instances
Methods and apparatus for connecting a client on a first operating system to a server on a second operating system using LDAPI communication includes establishing privacy between the first and second operating systems, identifying the client to the server, identifying the server to the client to establish a trust by the client of the server, and sending LDAPI messages between the client and the server. |
| US08402507B2 |
Distributing policies to protect against voice spam and denial-of-service
In one embodiment, a network device generates a protection policy responsive to identifying undesired voice data traffic. The network device then distributes the generated protection policy along a call path used for transferring the undesired voice data traffic. The proxy may distribute the protection policy by inserting the protection policy in a call response or other message that traces the call path back to a calling endpoint. |
| US08402505B2 |
Displaying enhanced content information on a remote control unit
A remote control unit for a video receiver may be utilized to display information about enhanced content available in conjunction with a video broadcast. The information displayed on the remote control unit display may provide information about available enhanced content, advertising, or even the status of connected devices, such as telephones, computer systems, digital video disk players, and video cassette recorders. By transmitting the data from the video receiver to the remote control unit, the information is available to the user without interrupting the display on the user's video receiver. |
| US08402504B2 |
Method and apparatus for interactive programming using captioning
A method and system for the creation of interactive programming using captions. A caption and program information extractor monitors a broadcast media signal having captions and program information encoded in the broadcast media signal. The captions and program information are extracted and stored in a content database. A moderator accesses the content database to retrieve captions and for a program specified by the program information. The moderator uses the services of a moderator server to generate interactive programming from the captions and the moderator's own comments. The interactive programming is transmitted to a plurality of viewers who interact with the interactive programming by entering viewer comments. The viewer comments are received by the moderator along with additional captions and new interactive programming is generated using the viewer comments, additional captions, and additional moderator commentary. |
| US08402503B2 |
Interactive program manager and methods for presenting program content
An interactive program manager comprises a receiver, a controller and an analyzer. The receiver presents audio and visual content for display. The controller directs the receiver to select a first channel and to forward a second channel different from the first channel. The analyzer monitors a program guide and at least the second channel for content of interest in accordance with a user profile. The controller also directs the receiver in response to an operator input. |
| US08402501B2 |
Method and apparatus for programming a remote control using broadcast data
A set top box 22 includes a communication module 102 receiving a remote control configuration database having a remote control associated therewith. The set top box 22 further includes a display control module 116 forming a screen display in response to the remote control configuration database. An interface 110 forms selections in response to the screen display and a display control module displays programming instructions for the remote control. |
| US08402494B1 |
Switching content
Displaying video on a video display device is disclosed. A first video stream from a first video streaming source is displayed on the display device. A second video stream from a second video streaming source is processed on the display device without displaying the second video stream. Displaying the first video stream is ceased and instead the second video stream is displayed. Supporting operations on a video stream is also disclosed. At least one video chunk is received at a first granularity. A determination is made that an operation is to be performed at a different granularity. At least one video chunk is requested at the different granularity. |
| US08402493B2 |
Community generated content channels
A method and system are disclosed for providing community defined and/or controlled channels where content for a channel may be continuously streamed to users based on input from users that participate in the channel. Channel definitions and content for different community channels may be stored in a community channel store within an on-demand media server capable of streaming content to subscribing users. One or more channels may be defined in the community channel store by a server administrator. Certain users may also have the ability to create channels within the community channel store. Each channel may be related to a topic, theme, type of content or anything of interest to a particular community of users. Content is added to each channel, which content is streamed to users continuously in a predetermined channel lineup. Ideally, there will be one or more channels that are tailored to a given community of users' viewing wishes, so that a user in that community may simply access a community channel and receive content that they are interested in without having to actively select the content they receive. |
| US08402487B2 |
Program selection support device
When searching for programs similar to a program designated by a viewer, a program selection support device not only searches for similar programs based on program-related information such as program contents, but also determines an algorithm used for similarity judgment based on viewer-related information, such as a program viewing history of a viewer, personal information of the viewer, evaluations by other viewers, and information added by a program producer, or based on a category of the designated program, and searches for similar programs using the determined algorithm. The program selection support device displays the programs found as a result of the search. |
| US08402486B2 |
System and method of ad delivery
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network device having a controller programmed to store a subscriber selectable preference for advertisements used for selecting advertisements to send to a set top box (STB) and receive a signal from a broadcast stream indicating the location for insertion of an advertisement based on the subscriber selectable preference. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08402483B2 |
Television broadcasting receiving apparatus
Disclosed is a television broadcasting receiving apparatus which carries out a parental control based on rating information in a video/audio data included in a television broadcasting wave including a receiving unit to receive the television broadcasting wave, an auto preset unit to orderly tune channels in which a video/audio data of a program is viewable by scanning the television broadcasting wave, a rating table obtaining unit to obtain a rating table included in the television broadcasting wave when the channels in which the video/audio data of the program is viewable are orderly tuned by the auto preset unit, and a rating table storage unit to store the rating table obtained by the rating table obtaining unit. |
| US08402482B2 |
Distributing content
Activity involving content distributed in a first content distribution channel, such as viewership of a content item, is used to determine how related content, such as another content item, should be distributed in a second content distribution channel. The determination can be made based on a model of the relationship between activity in the first content distribution channel and activity in the second content distribution channel. Distribution information regarding how the related content is to be distributed can be created or modified based on the determination, and the related content can be distributed according to the distribution information for the related content. |
| US08402481B1 |
Virtual application execution system and method
A virtual execution environment for software applications and other code objects. In one implementation, the present invention allows for virtual execution of applications by transparently capturing the rendered output of natively executed applications, and delivering the output to other processes on the same platform or to remote devices in a platform agnostic manner. |
| US08402476B2 |
Registering an event
A computer-implemented method for registering an event includes detecting occurrence of at least one event to be registered in a sequence. The sequence is to have entries for occurred events, each of the entries being a number indicating at least one of the occurred events and being associated with an aggregation number reflecting a number of times the entry has been aggregated within the sequence. The method includes identifying a new entry for extending the sequence, the new entry comprising a first number corresponding to the detected at least one event. The method includes revising the sequence by adding the numbers of at least two entries whose respective aggregation numbers satisfy a criterion for aggregation. The method includes storing the revised sequence. |
| US08402475B2 |
SCA-based system and method of connecting components to each other
A software communication architecture (SCA)-based system includes a plurality of components and a relay component connected to the plurality of components. Since data among the components are transmitted through the relay component, it is possible to reduce the complexity of connection caused by an increase in the number of components and to prevent a file size from increasing. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the parsing time of a domain profile and to reduce mode exchange time so that it is possible to rapidly perform connection setups in an embedded environment and to effectively perform communication. |
| US08402471B2 |
Methods and apparatus to benchmark a computer system based on executing instructions using different numbers of threads
Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to benchmark hardware and software are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes initiating a first thread to execute a set of instructions on a processor, initiating a second thread to execute the set of instructions on the processor, determining a first duration for the execution of the first thread, determining a second duration for the execution of the second thread, and determining a thread fairness value for the computer system based on the first duration and the second duration. |
| US08402469B2 |
Allocating resources for parallel execution of query plans
Computing resources can be assigned to sub-plans within a query plan to effect parallel execution of the query plan. For example, computing resources in a grid can be represented by nodes, and a shortest path technique can be applied to allocate machines to the sub-plans. Computing resources can be provisionally allocated as the query plan is divided into query plan segments containing one or more sub-plans. Based on provisional allocations to the segments, the computing resources can then be allocated to the sub-plans within respective segments. Multiprocessor computing resources can be supported. The techniques can account for data locality. Both pipelined and partitioned parallelism can be addressed. Described techniques can be particularly suited for efficient execution of bushy query plans in a grid environment. Parallel processing will reduce the overall response time of the query. |
| US08402468B2 |
Capacity planning based on resource utilization as a function of workload
Capacity planning based on resource utilization as a function of workload is disclosed. The workload may include different types of requests such as login requests, requests to visit web pages, requests to purchase an item on an online shopping site, etc. In one embodiment, data is determined for each of a plurality of workloads. The data includes characteristics of a workload and resource utilization due at least in part processing that workload. Based on the data, utilization of each of the resources as a function of workload characteristics is estimated. Further, based on the estimated resource utilization, workload characteristics that are expected to cause each respective resource to reach a certain level are predicted. That level could be 100 percent utilization, but could be another level. Capacity planning is performed based on the workload characteristics that are expected to cause each respective resource to reach a certain level. |
| US08402467B2 |
System and method for providing fault resilient processing in an implantable medical device
A system and method for providing fault resilient processing in an implantable medical device is provided. A processor and memory store are provided in an implantable medical device. Separate times on the processor are scheduled to a plurality of processes. Separate memory spaces in the memory store are managed by exclusively associating one such separate memory space with each of the processes. Data is selectively validated prior to exchange from one of the processes to another of the processes during execution in the separate processor times. |
| US08402465B2 |
System tool placement in a multiprocessor computer
A multiprocessor computer system comprises a plurality of nodes and an application placement module operable to place an application on a selected group of the compute nodes. The application placement module includes a system tool helper operable to manage operation of a system tool on the selected group of the compute nodes, the system tool operable to monitor execution of the application. Managing system tool operation comprises at least one of distributing, executing, and ending the system tool on one or more compute nodes. |
| US08402463B2 |
Hardware threads processor core utilization
A determination of processor core utilization by a plurality of hardware threads over a time interval is made through a division of a length of the time interval by a total count of the plurality of hardware threads. |
| US08402462B2 |
Detection and management of dynamic migration of virtual environments
A mechanism is provided to detect that a dynamic migration of a virtual environment is in progress or has been executed during a hardware or software scan without requiring instrumentation of applications running within the virtual machine. The mechanism relies on a particular sequencing and usage of application programming interfaces and commands that scanning technology provides, associated with the modularity of the scans and on the external virtual machine enabler component running on the host. The mechanism may detect a dynamic migration and take proper actions based on the system configuration. The actions may include discarding the output of the scan executed across a dynamic migration and repeat the scan. The actions may also include notifying the initialization subsystem of the non-migration-safe application to execute a script or program to address migration safety issues. One particular program or script may be an agent ID regeneration program or script. |
| US08402461B2 |
Switching between direct mode and indirect mode for virtual machine I/O requests
A first virtual machine is implemented on one or more computing devices to generate input/output (I/O) requests to a hardware device. A second virtual machine is also implemented on the computing devices. A mechanism is to switch between a direct mode and an indirect mode without switching between a first context and a second context of the hardware device. In the direct mode, the I/O requests generated by the first virtual machine are to be sent to the hardware device without being redirected to the second virtual machine. In the indirect mode, the I/O requests generated by the first virtual machine are to be redirected to the second virtual machine for processing. The second virtual machine is to, after processing the I/O requests redirected to the second virtual machine, send the I/O requests to the hardware device. |
| US08402457B2 |
Content distribution method and content distribution package
A content distribution method distributes a package containing a content from a content distribution apparatus to a terminal of a content distribution destination and causes the terminal to expand and display the content contained in the distributed package by using expansion software provided in the terminal. Update data of the expansion software is inserted in the package in addition to the content. When the terminal cannot expand the content by using the expansion software provided in it, the terminal updates the expansion software provided in it by using the update data contained in the distributed package and expands the content by using the updated expansion software. |
| US08402455B2 |
Methods and systems for distributing firmware through an over-the-air network
Systems and methods for over-the-air firmware distribution to battery-powered devices are disclosed. Such over-the-air distribution is accomplished, for example, using a non-battery-powered device as a buffer, for example, to reduce or eliminate the delay time of the over-the-air network. The firmware can be sent to and stored on a nearby, non-battery-powered device and then sent from there to the battery-powered endpoint device. The distribution of firmware to battery-powered devices may be implemented in an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system, a mesh network, a multi-channel radio network, or any other environment in which firmware distribution is desirable. |
| US08402451B1 |
Dual mode evaluation for programs containing recursive computations
A dual evaluation mode method for use with computer software that includes the acts of determining, for certain functions and expressions within input computer code, whether each function and expression may have any recursive dependencies, generating eager evaluation mode executable code for one or more elements of the input computer code based on the act of determining and providing both eager evaluation mode executable code and non-eager evaluation mode executable code to runtime software that supports both eager and non-eager evaluation modes. |
| US08402446B2 |
Associating probes with test cases
A probe (hereinafter also referred to as a breakpoint) can be added into source code of an application program. The probe can be exported to a file or any other form of storage. The probe is then associated with a unique test case for the application program thereby creating a direct mapping between the application program and the test case for the application program. In one embodiment, the probe can be added to at least one of a function or module of the application program. |
| US08402445B2 |
Program translation method and notifying instruction inserting method
The present invention comprises: a converting step for converting a source program into a machine language program; an inserting step for inserting notifying instructions for notifying that the source program has been executed in the machine language program; and a program generating step for generating the executable program from the machine language program in which the notifying instructions are inserted. Further, in the inserting step, the notifying instructions are placed at the entry points of each basic block that constitutes the machine language program and the notifying instructions to which the same conditions as those of the conditional instruction groups are granted are placed at the entry points of conditional instruction groups provided in the machine language program. In the program generating step, identification information for identifying the notifying instructions is granted to each of the notifying instructions. According to this, the present invention enables analysis of the executed range in the program that includes the conditional instructions as well. |
| US08402443B2 |
Method and system for automated analysis of the performance of remote method invocations in multi-tier applications using bytecode instrumentation
A method and system monitor and diagnose the performance of remote method invocations using bytecode instrumentation in distributed multi-tier applications. The method and system use automated instrumentation of client application bytecode and server application bytecode with sensors to measure performance of remote method invocations and operations performed during remote method invocations. Performance information is captured for each remote method invocation separately, allowing performance diagnosis of multithreaded execution of remote method invocations, so that throughput and response time information are accurate even when other threads perform remote method invocations concurrently. The captured performance metrics include throughput and response time of remote method invocation, object serialization, and transport. The performance metrics are captured per remote method invocation. Performance metrics may be sent to a processing unit for storage, analysis, and correlation. |
| US08402442B1 |
Common debugger method and system
Disclosed are approaches for operating a plurality of debugger tools. A common debugger receives first-type commands for processing. Each first-type command references one of the debugger tools. Each debugger tool provides control over a respective set of one or more components of the electronic system and recognizes a respective set of tool-specific commands. Each input first-type command is translated into a respective tool-specific command that is compatible with the one of the debugger tools specified in the first-type command. Each respective tool-specific command from the common debugger is provided to the one of the debugger tools specified in the input first-type command from which the respective tool-specific command was translated. Each translated tool-specific command is performed by the targeted debugger tool. |
| US08402437B2 |
System and method for updating initialization parameters for application software from within a software development environment
A computer implemented method for updating initialization parameters for application software from within a software development environment. The method involves changing a value of at least one initialization parameter contained in a configuration file of a developer computer system. The method also involves starting application software deployed on an application server in response to the value change. Thereafter, the configuration file including the changed value of the initialization parameter is communicated from the developer computer system to the application server. Once the configuration file is received at the application server, the application software is initialized using the configuration file. |
| US08402436B2 |
Cooperative unwrapping across intervening wrappers
A method of accessing layers in a multi-layer software architecture including a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The method includes: at the third layer, publishing an interface; and at the first layer, before execution of a first function, registering a callback routine with the third layer using the interface. |
| US08402435B1 |
Systems and methods for organizing source code
Methods for organization of compiled and uncompiled source code are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes separating source code into a plurality of subroutines. The method also includes determining a relationship between a first subroutine and a second subroutine of the plurality of subroutines. The method further includes creating a first signature of the first subroutine. The method also includes creating a second signature of the second subroutine. The method further includes storing the first signature and the second signature so as to preserve the relationship between the first subroutine and the second subroutine. |
| US08402430B2 |
System and method for integrating object-oriented model profiles and object-oriented programming languages
A method includes receiving a modeling template, the modeling template comprising a plurality of modeling constructs and profile constructs, each profile construct generated from a modeling profile and comprising an extension of one of the modeling constructs. The method further includes parsing the modeling template into the plurality of modeling constructs and profile constructs. One or more object-oriented constructs are defined based, at least in part, on the parsed modeling constructs and profile constructs. Source code is automatically generated in an object-oriented programming language based, at least in part, on the defined object-oriented constructs. The object-oriented programming language comprises an object-oriented programming language with embedded inferencing. |
| US08402426B2 |
Architectural design for make to stock application software
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing a make to stock process. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service interface operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include an Accounting process component; a Production process component; a Site Logistics process component; a Confirmation and Inventory process component; a Customer Requirement Processing process component; a Demand Forecast Processing process component; a Supply and Demand Matching process component; a Production Trigger and Response process component; an In-house Requirement Processing process component; a Sales Scheduling Agreement Processing process component; and a Demand Planning process component. |
| US08402422B2 |
Wiring design device, method and recording medium
A wiring design device to conduct wiring design on a printed wiring board that includes a plurality of conductive layers, the wiring design device including: noise contaminating part extracting means for extracting a part in a condition where noise contaminates a signal, the part being on a wiring-designed line, based on a route of the line and a physical condition around the route; route modification processing means for modifying the route of the line by moving the extracted part on the line in the condition where noise contaminates the signal to a position that avoids the condition where noise contaminates the signal; and line length adjusting means for conducting a line length adjustment on the line to compensate for a variation of the line length of the line when the variation of the line length of the line occurs due to modifying the route of the line. |
| US08402420B2 |
Designing an optimal wiring topology for electromigration avoidance
A method for designing an optimal wiring topology for electromigration avoidance is disclosed. The wiring topology includes multiple sources, multiple sinks and multiple wires. The method includes the following steps: A feasible wire, a wire of the shortest length connecting each pair of source and sink, is calculated, and the capacity of each feasible wire is decided. An initial feasible topology is found. A flow network is created based on the initial topology. Negative cycles are iteratively checked and removed until no more negative cycles. |
| US08402416B1 |
Method and apparatus for composing and decomposing low-skew networks
A logic device includes a low-skew network that feeds a subset of elements on the logic device. The low-skew network includes a selector that can select from a plurality of signal sources which includes a first signal source and a second signal source, wherein the second signal source can reach at least one element outside of the subset. |
| US08402413B2 |
Wiring design apparatus and method
A wiring design apparatus for designing a plurality of wiring lines of a printed circuit board including a plurality of connection posts arranged in a matrix, includes a processor, the processor providing an orthogonal grid including a plurality of rows and columns running over and between the connection posts, providing a plurality of diagonal paths each connecting at least one of the rows with at least one of the columns each running between each of adjacent pairs of the connection posts, and determining a route for each of the wiring lines by exclusively allocating to each of the wiring lines a selected part of the rows, the columns and the paths so that the selected part connects both ends of each of the wiring lines. |
| US08402410B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing configuration memory of reconfigurable hardware
Provided is a method of managing a configuration memory of reconfigurable hardware which can reconfigure hardware according to hardware configuration information. The method includes: determining at least one slot capable of currently storing the hardware configuration information on the basis of the states of a plurality of slots of the configuration memory; and storing hardware configuration information, which is stored in an external memory, in the determined at least one slot capable of currently storing the hardware configuration information. Accordingly, memory utilization can be improved even in dynamic environment such as data dependent control flow or multi-tasking. |
| US08402409B1 |
Method and apparatus for supporting run-time reconfiguration in a programmable logic integrated circuit
Method and apparatus for generating an implementation of a program language circuit description for a programmable logic device (PLD) is described. In one example, the program language circuit description is analyzed to identify constructs indicative of dynamic function re-assignment. A hardware description of the program language circuit description is generated. The hardware description includes a plurality of implementations responsive to the identified constructs. Physical implementation data is generated from the hardware description. The physical implementation includes a plurality of partial configurations for the PLD based on the respective plurality of implementations in the hardware description. |
| US08402407B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit pattern verification method, photomask manufacturing method, semiconductor integrated circuit device manufacturing method, and program for implementing semiconductor integrated circuit pattern verification method
A semiconductor integrated circuit pattern verification method includes executing simulation to obtain a simulation pattern to be formed on a substrate on the basis of a semiconductor integrated circuit design pattern, comparing the simulation pattern and the design pattern that is required on the substrate to detect a first difference value, extracting error candidates at which the first difference value is not less than a first predetermined value, comparing pattern shapes at the error candidates to detect a second difference value, combining, into one group, patterns whose second difference values are not more than a second predetermined value, and extracting a predetermined number of patterns from each group and verifying error candidates of the extracted patterns. |
| US08402405B1 |
System and method for correcting gate-level simulation accuracy when unknowns exist
This invention provides a system and method for correcting gate-level simulation commences by identifying unknown values (Xs) that are falsely generated during the simulation of a given trace for a design netlist. Then, a sub-circuit of the design netlist is determined for each false X that has inputs of real Xs and an output of a false X. Finally, simulation correction code is generated based on the sub-circuit to eliminate false Xs in simulation of the design netlist. The original design netlist can then be resimulated with the simulation repair code to eliminate false Xs. This allows gate-level simulation to produce correct results. |
| US08402400B1 |
Method and apparatus for implementing a processor interface block with an electronic design automation tool
An electric design automation (EDA) tool for generating a design of a system on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) includes a library that includes a processor interface block selectable by a designer to represent a component in the design that is accessible to a processor. The EDA tool also includes a processor interface circuitry generation unit to automatically generate circuitry in the design to support the processor interface block without input from the designer. |
| US08402399B2 |
Method and system for computing fourier series coefficients for mask layouts using FFT
A method and system for computing Fourier coefficients for a Fourier representation of a mask transmission function for a lithography mask. The method includes: sampling a polygon of a mask pattern of the lithography mask to obtain an indicator function which defines the polygon, performing a Fourier Transform on the indicator function to obtain preliminary Fourier coefficients, and scaling the Fourier coefficients for the Fourier representation of the mask transmission function, where at least one of the steps is carried out using a computer device. |
| US08402395B2 |
System and method for providing a dynamic user interface for a dense three-dimensional scene with a plurality of compasses
A system and method for providing a dynamic user interface for a dense three-dimensional scene with a plurality of compasses is presented. Clusters of semantically scored documents are placed in a three-dimensional scene and arranged as a cluster spine. Each cluster spine is projected into a two-dimensional display. A compass and another compass are provided via a heads-up display generator to logically frame at least one of the cluster spines within the two-dimensional display. A label is generated to identify each concept in one or more cluster spines appearing with the compass and the another compass, respectively. Slots are defined in the two-dimensional display and positioned circumferentially around the compass and the another compass. Each label is assigned to the slot outside of the compass or the another compass for the cluster spine having a closest angularity to the respective slot. |
| US08402389B2 |
Methods and apparatus for displaying contents using icon images
A content display method includes the steps of acquiring an icon image corresponding to a data content set composed of a plurality of data contents, generating a plurality of specific icons which are different from each other and correspond to the data contents, on the basis of the icon image and a predetermined generation rule, and displaying the specific icons on a display. |
| US08402388B2 |
Setting up a communication procedure between instances and a protocol tester using the method
A method of setting up a communication procedure between instances, one of which is a protocol tester that uses the method, includes the steps of selecting the instances, selecting a protocol layer for the communication procedure, selecting abstract communication interfaces for the protocol layer; selecting communication data and automatically setting up the communication procedure on the basis of the results of the selecting steps. Any of the selecting steps may be performed graphically, and parameters selected are assigned description files that are used in the setting up step. |
| US08402386B2 |
Method and apparatus for two-dimensional scrolling in a graphical display window
A method and system for two-dimensional scrolling in a graphical display window (102) in a user interface are provided. A first scroll bar (110, 120) associated with a display window (102) is enabled to move data displayed in the window (102) relative to a first direction in the direction of the first scroll bar (110, 120). Responsive to user selection of a slide button (114, 124) in the first scroll bar (110, 120) with a pointer device and responsive to movement of the pointer device in a second direction, data displayed in the window (102) is moved relative to the second direction. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. A second scroll bar (120, 110) in the second direction may also be provided, wherein movement of the pointer device in the second direction with selection of the first scroll bar (110, 120) is represented by the position of a slide button (124, 114) in the second scroll bar (120, 110). |
| US08402381B2 |
Automatically arranging widgets of a model within a canvas using iterative region based widget relative adjustments
A widget adjustment event can be detected for a widget that is part of a model that is presented on a canvas of a user interface. On-canvas objects proximate to the widget can be adjusted. The on-canvas objects can include other widgets. The adjustments can be performed relative to a layout position of the widget after the widget adjustment event has occurred. Additional on-canvas objects further from the widget can the adjusted on-canvas objects can then be adjusted as necessary due to new positions of the adjusted on-canvas objects. |
| US08402378B2 |
Reactive avatars
Avatars are used to graphically represent users in a communications session, and the avatars are capable of being animated. An indication of an animation of one of the avatars is received. Another avatar that represents another of the users is animated in response to, and based on, the animation of the avatar in the same communications session. |