| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08591368B2 |
Drive system for a wind turbine
A drive system has a gear unit with planetary gear stage with a planetary gear carrier. A first shaft associated with the gear unit has a coupling flange connectable to the shaft of a working machine or a rotor and is supported by the planetary gear carrier. The gear unit and a motor/generator unit connected to a second shaft of the gear unit are enclosed by a gearbox. The motor/generator unit additionally includes a rotor connected to a hollow rotor shaft with a rotation lock. An electrically isolating, detachable flange connection is disposed between the rotor shaft and the second shaft, with the gear-side end of the detachable flange connection connected to a hollow gear shaft. A gearbox stub which concentrically encloses a gear-side end section of the gear shaft is disposed between gear unit and motor or generator unit and forms a bearing seat for the second shaft. |
| US08591365B2 |
Transmission hydraulic control system having an accumulator
A hydraulic control system for actuating at least one torque transmitting device in a transmission includes a sump, a pump in communication with the sump, and an accumulator. A first control device and a second control device control the communication of hydraulic fluid between the pump, the accumulator, and the torque transmitting device. |
| US08591363B2 |
Transmission and traction motor module using the same
Provided is a transmission of an e-bike motor, the transmission including a plurality of planetary gears meshed with a sun gear transmitting a power of a rotation shaft of a motor, a ring gear including a gear member meshed with an inner circumferential surface of the planetary gears and a clutch member formed at the other end of the gear member to shift a direction of power in response to backward and forward rotations, where the gear member and the clutch member are individual parts, and a connection unit connecting the gear member and the clutch member lest the gear member and the clutch member idle relative to an axial direction, wherein the plurality of planetary gears and the gear member of ring gear are provided in helical gears. |
| US08591361B2 |
Vehicle drive device
A vehicle drive device includes an input coupled to an internal combustion engine; an output coupled to wheels; first and second rotary electric machines; a differential including at least three rotary elements; a control; and an engagement device. The control determines, when engine stop conditions are established while the engagement device is drivably connected, the engine is operating, and the output member is rotating, whether rotation of the first electric machine when stop conditions are established is opposite to rotation of the first electric machine when rotation of the engine stops; executes torque control where the first electric machine outputs torque to reduce the rotational speed of the engine when the stop establishing rotational direction is opposite to the subject rotational direction; and issues a command to release the drivable connection when the rotational speed of the first electric machine falls within a rotational speed range that includes zero. |
| US08591360B2 |
Vehicle power transmission device and control system for power transmission
A power transmission apparatus for a vehicle which includes a first and a second planetary gear set to transmit power to a driven wheel. A ring gear of the first planetary gear set is coupled to the driven wheel. A carrier of the first planetary gear set is coupled to a ring gear of the second planetary gear set. A carrier and a sun gear of the second planetary gear set are so linked as to have signs of power which are opposite each other. A sign of speed of the ring gear of the second planetary gear set is reversed under the condition that the a sign of speed of a motor-generator is fixed, thereby reversing the sign of speed of the carrier of the first planetary gear set, which eliminate the circulation of power between the sun gear and the carrier of the first planetary gear set. |
| US08591358B2 |
Belt tensioner
The aim of the invention is to improve a belt tensioner for a belt drive of an internal combustion engine, having a central bearing device which serves to define a pivot axis for the belt tensioning arm, and having a bearing sleeve which is connected to the tensioning arm, wherein the bearing device extends through the bearing sleeve and the bearing sleeve is mounted in a friction-damping manner by means of a plain bearing arrangement, so as to be pivotable about the bearing device, with said improvement being such that a good function of the belt tensioner is maintained despite a simplification of the design and a reduction in differently designed parts. Said problem is solved by means of a generic belt tensioner for a belt drive of an internal combustion engine, in which the plain bearing arrangement has at least two opposite sliding faces which have the same material. |
| US08591356B2 |
Baseball strike zone detection radar
Systems and methods are provided for facilitating baseball strike zone detection. In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a method includes transmitting radar pulses by a phased-array of transmitting antennas in a radar beam pattern, detecting reflected radar pulses of the transmitted radar pulses at multiple receiving antennas, calculating multiple positions of a projectile based on detecting the reflected radar pulses, determining whether an incursion through a three-dimensional strike zone characterized by batter-specific settings has occurred based on the multiple positions, and providing an indication of the incursion determination for presentation to a user. |
| US08591352B2 |
Golf club head
A golf club head comprises: a hollow structure having an insertion-opening in the outer surface of the golf club head; a quick-release lid of the insertion-opening; a tubular part disposed in a hollow of the hollow structure and having a bottomed hole with which the insertion-opening communicates; and a gravity point adjuster. The gravity point adjuster comprises: a heavy-weight member having a specific gravity and a length L2; a light-weight member having a specific gravity less than that of the heavy-weight member and a length L1 more than the length L2; and an elastic member having a specific gravity less than that of the heavy-weight member, and an elastic modulus lower than those of the heavy-weight member and light-weight member. The heavy-weight member, light-weight member and elastic member are inserted in the bottomed hole by the use of the insertion-opening so that their relative positions relative to the bottomed hole can be changed easily by the golfer himself or herself. |
| US08591351B2 |
Hollow golf club head having crown stress reducing feature
A hollow golf club head incorporating a stress reducing feature including a crown located stress reducing feature. The location and size of the crown stress reducing feature, and their relationship to one another and other club head engineering variables, play a significant role in selectively increasing deflection of the face. |
| US08591346B2 |
Gravity slide ride
A rotating hub ride configured to position passenger vehicles at different vehicle radii relative to the hub's axis of rotation. The ride includes curved support arms extending outward from the hub, with a first end coupled to the hub at a lower height than a second end of the arm. A vehicle is attached, via a mounting assembly, to each curved support arm to slide radially inward and outward on the arm in response to forces applied to the vehicle due to rotation of the hub, e.g., at two or more hub rotation rates. The arm or track defines a travel path for radial movement of the vehicle. When hub rotation is halted, the vehicle slides inward on the track to a load position corresponding to a minimum vehicle radius. At increasing hub speeds, the vehicle slides outward to position the vehicle in any of a number of vehicle radii. |
| US08591341B2 |
User to user game referrals
A method is disclosed in a gaming and media system for quickly and easily creating and sending mail communications including pre-populated, or preformed, messages. Upon receipt of a communication, a recipient may also quickly and easily download a game discussed in the message. |
| US08591333B2 |
Game controller with receptor duplicating control functions
A video game controller for a video game and a receptor assembly may include a controller core unit including a housing formed with a top, bottom and opposite sides, at least the top having a plurality of control buttons thereon; and a base portion provided with a first connector; a receptor having a shape substantially similar to a component appearing in the video game. The receptor may be a gun-shaped sub-unit with a barrel portion and a gripper portion with an open slot adapted to receive the core unit. |
| US08591332B1 |
Video game video editor
A video editor for a video game is discussed. The video editor manipulates information of video game play to provide videos of game play and in some embodiments scoring of videos. |
| US08591329B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for constructing interactive video games by use of video clip
The invention provides a method for processing a frame-recording based video clip without the need of modifying the video clip and/or directly inserting any form of signals into the video clip. The method comprises the steps of: browsing the video clip frame by frame by a video editing software; importing a grid layer into the video editing software such that the grid layer is browsed synchronously with each frame of the video clip; analyzing movement of a character and/or an object in the video clip by the grid layer; generating a series of game data to record the movement; storing the series of game data in a game unit after the generation of the game data; and connecting a game input to the game unit to activate the game, wherein the game unit receives input data from the game input when the video clip is played and synchronously compares the input data with the game data to determine whether they matches with each other. The invention also provides an apparatus for constructing an interactive video game by use of a frame-recording based video clip. |
| US08591328B2 |
Mechanical-based control of video reels in a game machine
In some example embodiments, a method includes executing a wagering game that generates instructions for control of a number of mechanical reels. The method also includes converting the instructions for controlling the number of mechanical reels into identifiers of video sequences stored in machine-readable media. The video sequences comprising a display representative of a stop result of the mechanical reels. The method includes retrieving the video sequences from the machine-readable media. The method includes displaying the video sequences on displays for video reels of a wagering game machine. |
| US08591315B2 |
Environmental effects for near win events
An establishment can coordinate devices (e.g., lights, speakers, displays) to enhance a game playing environment based on events detected in a network of wagering game machines. A system can be implemented that determines an environmental effect based on an event of a wagering game (e.g., a near win event), regardless of the particular wagering game developer/manufacturer. The system can determine the environmental effect to be created for an event at the wagering game machine, at a server, etc. A request for the environmental effect is then supplied to the process and/or machine that causes the devices to create the environmental effect. |
| US08591314B2 |
Gaming system and method providing a server that determines a reel set for an initial game play and reel sets for subsequent game plays
A user playing a user device wagers a wager amount on a play of a game. A server determines a first reel set for the current play, an outcome for the current play, and a second reel set for the next play of that game on which the user wagers that same wager amount. The server communicates first reel set data, second reel set data, and outcome data to the user device. The user device spins and stops the first reel set in accordance with the determined outcome. When the user wagers that same wager amount on another play of that game, the user device displays that play of that game using the second reel set, and the server determines a third reel set for the next play of that game on which the user wagers that same wager amount and communicates third reel set data to the user device. |
| US08591310B2 |
Gaming device with wild activation symbols and wild termination symbols
A gaming device having a wild activation symbol is displayed on a set of reels or set of cards within a display device. The processor causes other symbols or cards to become wild within the display device when the wild termination symbol is displayed. When the wild activation symbol is displayed, the present invention may also provide a wild termination symbol on the set of reels or the set of cards within a display device. The processor may then stop symbols or cards from becoming wild based on the position of the wild termination symbol. |
| US08591302B2 |
Systems and methods for communication
The present invention relates to a method for using a toy for communicating with a client terminal. The method comprises encoding at least one interacting information as at least one flickering control instruction and using a toy element having a light emitting unit for emitting light according to the at least one flickering control instruction, thereby transmitting the interacting information to a client terminal. The client terminal is configured for capturing the emitted light using an image capturing device and decoding the at least one interacting information therefrom. |
| US08591300B2 |
Thermal management cabinet for electronic equipment
A thermal management cabinet for electronic equipment such as servers, having an opening in the top and bottom of the cabinet. The cabinet extends between a raised access floor of a building carrying cooled air and a drop ceiling for venting heated air. The bottom opening of the cabinet is alignable with an opening in the access floor such that cool air can pass into the cabinet and can flow through the electronic component storage area to the top opening, which is alignable with an opening in the drop ceiling. The cabinet interior is separated into temperature zones comprising at least a cold zone supplied with air from the access floor and a hot zone for venting through the top opening. At least one baffle creates the temperature zones such that air is directed to flow from the cold zone through the electronic component storage area to the hot zone. |
| US08591299B2 |
Windshield de-icing duct system
An air duct system may employ an HVAC case having an exit air duct and a return air duct, a windshield with an interior surface, an approximately vertical duct, and a horizontal duct. Ducts mount to the windshield and each define an interior passageway with the interior surface of the windshield and a second, return air, passageway. The interior passageway may receive air from the exit air duct and the second passageway may return air to the return air duct. End chambers of each duct reverse air direction 180 degrees. Air of each interior passageway may warm an adjacent area of the windshield that forms part of each interior passageway and a windshield wiper. The first air duct interior passageway may warm a windshield area coincident with a maximum non-park wiper position and the second air duct interior passageway may warm a windshield area coincident with a wiper park position. |
| US08591298B1 |
Poultry wing deboning apparatus and method
An apparatus and method for deboning a poultry wing including multiple stations. The poultry wing is cut and then placed with bones extending through a plate for engagement by a subsequent rotary disboner. The mechanism includes a convey or with the plates secured thereto and motor and controls for moving the conveyor and plates and rotary deboner. |
| US08591292B2 |
Ceiling grinder
A ceiling grinder comprising a drive unit, a grinding wheel, which can be set in rotation by means of the drive unit, a grinding head housing, which receives the grinding wheel and has an opening allowing the grinding wheel access to the surface to be ground and a holding element for holding the grinder. The ceiling grinder also has means for producing a negative pressure within the grinding head housing, by which the ceiling grinder is held on the surface to be ground, wherein the means for producing the negative pressure comprise lamellar elements, which rotate about the axis of the grinding wheel during the grinding operation of the ceiling grinder and thereby cause within the grinding head housing an air flow that induces a static negative pressure. |
| US08591291B2 |
Apparatus and grinding block for the treatment of an edge or a cutting edge
A grinding apparatus includes at least two oppositely arranged series of surfaces in slanting relative orientation and alternately overlapping each other, forming this way a groove into which an edge or cutting edge is insertable for polishing by the surfaces. The surfaces of each series of surfaces are arranged in a common plane forming a side in a respective block, the blocks arranged in a holder by which each block is spring biased towards the opposite block, the blocks operated in reciprocating movement transversely to the longitudinal direction of the edge/cutting edge while the surfaces contact opposite sides of the edge/cutting edge under spring action. A grinding block utilized in the grinding apparatus includes a series of individual surfaces arranged in a common plane forming one side of a block divided into sections, which are separated through intermediate recesses into which corresponding sections of an oppositely positioned block intermesh in a toothed engagement while forming a groove between the surfaces. |
| US08591290B2 |
Cutting head and cutting nozzle for a liquid/abrasive jet cutting arrangement
A nozzle for a high pressure cutting arrangement is disclosed. The cutting arrangement comprises a liquid stream and a slurry stream, the slurry comprising abrasive particles suspended in a fluid, with both fluids being supplied into the nozzle under pressure. The nozzle has a combining chamber, having an entry region arranged to receive the liquid stream and the slurry stream, such that the pressure in the entry region is determined by the pressure in the liquid stream. The pressure in the entry region acts on the pressure in the slurry stream to regulate the pressure in the slurry stream. |
| US08591289B2 |
Multi-spindle chemical mechanical planarization tool
An apparatus for chemical mechanical planarization includes a spindle assembly structure and at least one substrate carrier, which make a linear lateral movement relative to each other while abrasive surfaces of a plurality of cylindrical spindles in the spindle assembly structure contact, and rotate against, at least one substrate mounted on the at least one substrate carrier. The direction of the linear lateral movement is within the plane that tangentially contacts the plurality of cylindrical spindles, and can be orthogonal to the axes of rotation of the plurality of cylindrical spindles. |
| US08591288B2 |
Method and device for mechanically processing diamond
Method and device for processing a surface (5) of a diamond (1) with a mechanical part (3) which is moved in relation to the surface (5) of the diamond (1), whereby unbound diamond grains (2) are provided in between the mechanical part (3) and the surface (5) of the diamond (1), whereby the mechanical part (3) subjects the diamond grains (2) to a rolling motion over the surface (5) of the diamond (1), such that the diamond grains (2) move in relation to the mechanical part (3) and the surface (5) of the diamond (1), whereby the mechanical part (3) makes a mechanical contact with the surface (5) of the diamond (1) via the diamond grains (2), whereby this mechanical contact represents a contact length (8) over which the diamond grains (2) roll on the surface (5) of the diamond (1), mainly according to the direction of the relative motion of the mechanical part (3) in relation to the surface (5) of the diamond (1) and, whereby the diamond grains (2), with the support of the mechanical part (3), press themselves in the surface (5) of the diamond (1) while rolling, as a result of which microscopic fissures (6) are created in the latter surface (5) which then gradually crumbles off. |
| US08591285B2 |
Ultrasonic trimming apparatus
An ultrasonic trimming apparatus is composed of an articulated robot, a cutting apparatus, and a grindstone. The cutting apparatus is composed of an ultrasonic oscillator supported by the end portion of the robot, a cutter blade which is supported by the ultrasonic oscillator, and a workpiece securing portion which secures a workpiece. The grindstone is disposed within the movable range of the cutter blade driven by the robot and is placed in a position at which the cutter blade can pressure contact the cutter blade. The cutter blade is ultrasonically vibrated by the ultrasonic oscillator and is ground while being pressed against the grindstone by means of the articulated robot. The ultrasonic trimming apparatus efficiently cuts a sheet material composed of soft material such as plastic, fabric, or rubber, a composite material, or a material containing glass fiber even when the material has a three-dimensional shape. |
| US08591284B2 |
Toy with housing having movable components
The present invention relates to a toy or toy playset that includes a housing with a movable door and a movable platform. In one embodiment, the door is placed proximate to an opening in the housing and can be moved between a lowered position and a raised position. In one embodiment, the platform is movably mounted to the housing and is movable about an axis. The door and the platform are configured to be moved at the same time. In one implementation, the platform can be moved as the door moves from its lowered position to its raised position. |
| US08591281B2 |
Climbing vibration-driven robot
An apparatus includes a housing, a rotational motor situated within the housing, a vibrating mechanism, and a plurality of appendages each having an appendage base proximal to the housing and an appendage tip distal from the housing. One or more of the appendages are adapted to cause the apparatus to move across a surface in a forward direction generally defined by a longitudinal offset between the appendage base and the appendage tip, and the appendages include two or more appendages disposed such that the appendage tips of the two or more appendages are adapted to contact opposing surfaces to produce a net force in a direction generally defined by a longitudinal offset between the appendage base and the appendage tip of the two or more appendages as the vibrating mechanism causes the apparatus to vibrate. The net force can allow the apparatus to climb when the opposing surfaces are inclined. |
| US08591280B2 |
Organic light emitting display apparatus and method of manufacturing organic light emitting display apparatus
An organic light emitting display (OLED) apparatus and a method of manufacturing the same, the OLED apparatus including: a substrate; an active layer formed on the substrate; a gate electrode insulated from the active layer; source and drain electrodes insulated from the gate electrode and electrically connected to the active layer; a pixel defining layer formed on the source and drain electrodes, having an aperture to expose one of the source and drain electrodes; an intermediate layer formed in the aperture and comprising an organic light emitting layer; and a facing electrode which is formed on the intermediate layer. One of the source and drain electrodes has an extension that operates as a pixel electrode. The aperture exposes the extended portion. The intermediate layer is formed on the extended portion. |
| US08591274B2 |
Inflatable stand up paddleboard
An inflatable stand up paddleboard having a top surface for supporting a user and a bottom surface for residing on water. The inflatable stand up paddleboard being characterized as having a front end and back end and a longitudinal axis passing between the front and back ends. The inflatable stand up paddleboard is configured to receive at least one beam for stiffening the inflatable stand up paddleboard positioned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. |
| US08591269B2 |
Shielding terminal clamp
A shielding terminal clamp having a first limb, a second limb and a yoke having a base part, with an elastic element disposed between the first limb and second such that a pressure force is exerted on a pressure piece movably supported between first and second guide pieces of the first and second limbs, respectively, first and second ends of the elastic element being respectively disposed on the base part and the pressure piece such that the pressure force acts in the direction of an open end of the yoke opposite the base part, with a closing device, which is displaceable disposed on the yoke such that a movement in a direction extending orthogonally to the pressure force, with which the closing device and the yoke move toward one another, causes a shielding bus clamping of between the open end of the yoke and the closing device. |
| US08591263B2 |
Connector for connecting cable and terminal of same
A low profile flat printed circuit connector has a plurality of terminals supported along a support bar. The terminals are spaced apart from each other and extend lengthwise in a connector housing. The terminals have body portions that engage the support bar and body portions that extend forwardly thereof. Contact portions are joined to the body portions and extend rearwardly and terminate in free ends so that they form a series of cantilevered contacts. |
| US08591262B2 |
Substrate inductive devices and methods
Methods and apparatus for providing a low-cost and high-precision inductive device. In one embodiment, the inductive device comprises a substrate based inductive device which utilizes inserted conductive pins in combination with plated substrates which replace windings disposed around a magnetically permeable core. In some variations this is accomplished without a header disposed between adjacent substrates while alternative variations utilize a header. In another embodiment, the substrate inductive devices are incorporated into integrated connector modules. Methods of manufacturing and utilizing the aforementioned substrate based inductive devices and integrated connector modules are also disclosed. |
| US08591254B1 |
Compression connector for cables
A connector for cables has a plurality of components including a first connector structure, a second connector structure, and a conductive pin. The components cooperate to engage an end of a cable. |
| US08591253B1 |
Cable compression connectors
Cable compression connectors have a plurality of components including a first connector structure, a second connector structure, and a conductive pin. The components cooperate to engage an end of a cable. |
| US08591247B2 |
Electrical connector assembly with improved latch mechanism
A plug connector comprises a plug housing (11) having a front base portion (112) extending along a mating direction and a rear linking portion (114), a contact (12) received in the base portion, a cover (13) assembled to the linking portion, and a cable (14) electrically connected with the contact. The base portion defines a front face (1120), a pair of protrusions (1121) on an upper and a lower sides thereof, and a pair of receiving slots (1123), each protrusion defining a receiving channel (1122) extending along a transverse direction, each receiving slot extending from the front surface along the mating direction to a corresponding receiving channel. |
| US08591242B2 |
Floating battery contact module for a power tool
A battery contact module for use in a power tool including a housing (12) and a battery (30) insertable into the housing. The battery contact module (28) includes a contact block (32) movably connected to the housing (12) and a pair of opposing terminals (34) attached to the contact block (32) and configured to contact the battery (30). Thus, the contact block (32) moves relative to the housing (12) to maintain constant electrical contact pressure between each of the terminals (34) and the battery (30). The contact block (32) including locating posts (52) that loosely engage receptacle (22) on the housing (12) to allow for movement or float of the contact module in the housing. |
| US08591236B2 |
Interactive medical training system and method
A method for training a user in a medical procedure utilizes an interactive computer system with a virtual representation of at least one organ and at least one instrument. The representation of surface area parts of the virtual organ to be treated are covered with a graphical identification marker. The computer system includes a table stored in memory comprising situations arising within the medical procedure predefined through positions of the instrument(s), positions of the organ(s), the logical sequence of steps to be executed within the medical procedure, different aspect values for the graphical identification markers and assessment values for the situation. Upon interaction of the user with the organ and the instrument, graphical identification markers change their aspect according to the stored value in the table for the predefined situation and the corresponding assessment value is stored in a history log table within the computer system. |
| US08591235B1 |
Handwriting glove apparatus
Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise a glove apparatus for teaching handwriting skills. The glove apparatus has a glove with a holder for a writing implement permanently attached to the glove. This holder grips the outer surface of a writing implement. The outer surface of the holder is attached to the glove at the thumb, pointer and middle fingers such that when the glove is put on the hand, the hand is in the proper position to learn handwriting skills. Finally a writing implement can be placed into the holder for writing and can be taken out of the holder when needed. |
| US08591230B2 |
Interproximal non-surgical caries treatment device and method
The device includes a shim component constructed for use in the non-surgical treatment of interproximal carious dental lesions. A plunger may be provided for driving substances through a tube-like channel or bore in the shim component, or an electromagnetic energy-transmissive material may fill the channel, in either case for delivering to the site of the lesion a medium that is effective for directly or indirectly killing, or biologically damaging, the carious bacteria. |
| US08591227B2 |
Mouthpiece that adjusts to user arch sizes and seals from oxygen exposure
A mouthpiece that adjusts manually to accommodate a broad range of different size sets of upper and lower teeth in the mouth and yet seals the treatment area from oxygen exposure. The mouthpiece includes light emitting diodes and heat generating resistors all arranged in an array. A series of parallel texture bands are provides to guide and direct the light from the LEDs to diffuse generally evenly onto teeth to be treated. The seal arises from an inner surface of the mouthpiece titling inwardly so that a seal bead seals in the vicinity of the gum above the teeth to be treated. |
| US08591211B2 |
Glass repairer
A glass repairer of the present invention includes a support base for fixation, a fluid-receiving tube, a pressing rod, and a rubber head for injecting repairing fluid. The fluid-receiving tube is disposed on the support base. The rubber head is fixed to an end of the pressing rod and is able to squeeze the repairing fluid in the fluid-receiving tube outward. Thereby, replenishing repairing fluid and cleaning become easier. Also, the present invention is able to be utilized repeatedly. |
| US08591209B2 |
Pump for a vehicle brake system having a valve
The invention relates to a pump having a valve through which a fluid can optionally flow. The valve is embodied by a cavity for displaceably guiding a spherical blocking body, and a valve seat that is spatially adapted to the spherical shape of the blocking body. A free space protruding radially outwards from the spherical body is located downstream, directly behind the valve seat, for temporarily receiving the fluid which flows through the valve seat. |
| US08591207B2 |
Pump with side inlet valve for improved functioning in an inverted container
A pump for use in an inverted dispenser is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the liquid pump includes a fluid chamber that has a top portion when in the inverted position and at least one side wall located below the top portion. A liquid intake port extends through the at least one side wall and allows fluid to flow into the fluid chamber. The pump also includes a check valve to prevent fluid from flowing out of the fluid chamber through the fluid intake port that is located in the at least one side wall. Actuation of the liquid pump in a first direction causes fluid to enter the fluid chamber through the fluid intake port and actuation of the liquid pump in a second direction causes liquid to exit the fluid chamber trough the fluid chamber outlet and out of a dispensing outlet. In one embodiment, the check valve is an elastomeric valve. The elastomeric valve may include a top portion to seal of an inlet opening in the top of an existing pump to convert the pump into a pump having an inlet opening below the top of the pump. In another embodiment, the fluid piston in the liquid pump is the check valve that seals off the intake opening from the fluid chamber when the fluid piston is moved past the inlet opening. |
| US08591204B2 |
Turbo-molecular pump
A turbo-molecular pump includes a base 3; a rotor 4 rotatably supported thereon; a stator 400 disposed around the rotor 4; and a tubular casing 2 configured to accommodate the stator 400. The stator 400 includes multiple stages of stator blades 43 and spacers 48 alternately stacked one upon another on a flange surface 31 of the base 3. At least one of the spacers 48 is provided with a circular ring part 483 continuously formed thereof covering the outer circumferential surface of other spacers 48 inside the casing 2. |
| US08591200B2 |
Hydraulically controlled reciprocating pump system
A system for pressurizing a working fluid includes a cylinder having an outlet through which the working fluid is exhausted at a discharge pressure, a plunger translatably disposed within the cylinder, and a hydraulic system. The plunger has a first piston coupled thereto, a second piston disposed opposite the first piston, wherein the second piston is driven to reciprocate, and a variable-volume chamber disposed between the first and second pistons. The hydraulic system is operable to adjust the volume of hydraulic fluid within the variable-volume chamber, whereby the discharge pressure is maintained substantially at a predetermined level. |
| US08591194B2 |
Steam turbine rotor blade assembly
The present invention is a steam turbine rotor blade assembly including: an airfoil; a shroud provided at a tip of the airfoil; a blade root (dovetail) projecting toward a radially internal circumferential side of a turbine rotor and fitted to a root attachment provided on an outer circumferential portion of the turbine rotor; a platform provided between the airfoil and the blade root; a pin provided between the blade root and the root attachment; a bore formed between respective surfaces of the shrouds facing each other and included in the respective adjacent rotor blades; and a bar-like member provided in the bore. |
| US08591193B2 |
Airfoil shape for a compressor blade
An article of manufacture having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in TABLE 1. X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches. The profile sections at the Z distances are joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape. |
| US08591187B2 |
System and method for detecting loads transmitted through a blade root of a wind turbine rotor blade
In one aspect, a system for detecting loads transmitted through a blade root of a rotor blade of a wind turbine is disclosed. The system may include a root attachment assembly configured to couple the blade root to a hub of the wind turbine. The root attachment assembly may include a barrel nut mounted within a portion of the blade root and a root bolt extending from the barrel nut. In addition, the system may include a sensor associated with the root attachment assembly. The sensor may be configured to detect loads transmitted through at least one of the barrel nut and the root bolt. |
| US08591185B2 |
Low pressure exhaust gas diffuser for a steam turbine
A diffuser is provided for an exhaust steam housing adjacent a last stage row of buckets fixed to a rotor in a steam turbine, each bucket in the last stage row of buckets having a platform portion and an airfoil portion. The diffuser includes an annular inner diffuser ring and an outer annular diffuser ring defining a flow path for steam exiting the last stage row of buckets in a substantially axial direction at a diffuser inlet and turning substantially ninety degrees to a diffuser outlet. A first portion of the inner annular ring extends in a downstream direction beyond the last stage row of buckets substantially parallel to a center axis of the rotor, the first portion having a length dimension in the downstream direction from a radial center line of the last stage row of buckets in a range of between 0.40 and about 0.70 of a center line radial length from the platform portion to a radially outer tip of any bucket in the last stage row of buckets. |
| US08591183B2 |
Extended length cutoff blower
A blower assembly including a blower housing having a side wall with a first portion extending from the initial cutoff through an angle of at least 45° or more, the first portion having a radius which is substantially constant or which increases at a relatively small rate. The side wall additionally includes a second portion, extending from the end of the first portion to the outlet, which forms a continuous curve with the first portion and has an increasing radius which is increasing at a larger rate and has a rate of increase that is also increasing with housing angle. The shape of the side wall allows a reduction in the overall size of the blower housing for a given size of impeller. |
| US08591182B2 |
Device for suspending guide blades
A device (10) for suspending gas channel elements, in particular for suspending guide blades or guide blade segments or gas channel segments, on a housing of a gas turbines is provided. The device comprises first plate-shaped elements (11, 12, 13, 14) and second plate-shaped elements (15, 16, 17), whereby the first plate-shaped elements (11, 12, 13, 14) and the second plate-shaped elements (15, 16, 17) are connected together by web-like elements (18) which extend in an essentially perpendicular manner in relation to the first and second elements and form a meandering or crenelated profile. |
| US08591180B2 |
Steam turbine nozzle assembly having flush apertures
A steam turbine nozzle assembly having a flush aperture is disclosed. In one embodiment, the steam turbine nozzle assembly includes a diaphragm assembly comprising: an inner diaphragm ring segment; an outer diaphragm ring segment; a static nozzle blade positioned between the inner diaphragm ring segment and the outer diaphragm ring segment; and a first cavity between the static nozzle blade and one of the inner diaphragm ring segment or the outer diaphragm ring segment; wherein the one of the inner diaphragm ring segment or the outer diaphragm ring segment includes a first aperture fluidly connected with the first cavity. |
| US08591178B2 |
Very low head packaged small hydro station
The water-turbine and the intake- and exit-tubes are located in a house, which is supported on stilts from the bed of the headpond. In operation, water is siphoned upwards out of the headpond through the open underside of the house. A trashrack is located in the intake-tube, above the water level of the headpond, whereby the trashrack is in air when the turbine is not running. The trashrack is horizontal. |
| US08591177B2 |
Structure of radial turbine scroll
In a radial turbine scroll, an operating gas is led to flow in the radial direction from a spiral scroll formed in a turbine casing into turbine moving blades of a turbine rotor, which is positioned on the inner side of the scroll, so as to act on the turbine moving blades, and then led to flow outside in an axial direction, thereby rotatively driving the turbine rotor, wherein the scroll 4 has a partition plate 20 a length of a certain range on a line of a tongue portion formed on the inner periphery of a gas inlet portion or has a reduced height between scroll side walls at an outlet portion of a tongue portion 21 formed on the inner periphery of a gas inlet portion of the scroll. |
| US08591174B1 |
Wind aeolipile
Described herein is essentially a high-efficiency, hybrid fluid-aeolipile. In operation, this hybrid device is placed in the stream of a moving fluid, preferably air. Energy is extracted from the fluid stream by directing a portion of the stream through and, optionally, around the device. As the fluid-flow moves through the device, it is directed into nozzles. These nozzles, which are free to pivot in a cyclical manner, employ the established phenomenon of “nozzle-effect” to accelerate the velocity of the air-flow passing through them, which is ultimately ejected from each nozzle tip, producing thrust. This thrust, amplified by nozzle-effect, drives the nozzles to pivot around a shared axis. The wind energy, thereby converted into cyclical motion, that may be used to perform useful work, is converted with greater efficiency, than is possible in conventional blade-type wind turbines. |
| US08591171B1 |
Open-flow vertical wind generator
The generator (10) includes an essentially cylindrical stator assembly (12) defining a central turbine void (14) in which a wind turbine (16) rotates to power an electrical generator (18). The wind turbine (16) includes vanes (48) having a width (52) less than 25 percent of a diameter (58) of the turbine (16). The turbine (16) defines an open void (60) between the vanes (48) for unrestricted passage of air through the wind turbine (16). Non-planar stators (34A-34H) extend between a base and an upper truss (20, 26) to strengthen the stator assembly (12) and to direct air exiting directional ducts (36A-36H) to move in a first rotational direction (42) within the turbine void (14). A plurality of geodesic truss segments (96A-96H) form the base and upper trusses (20, 26) to produce a strong, light-weight wind generator (10) that is easily assembled on-site. |
| US08591170B1 |
Directed force turbine device
A directed force turbine device utilizing forces of wind or water current flow featuring a wheel-style rotor assembly having side panels connected via a plurality of curved vanes, the rotor assembly rotates on bearings about a fixed axle shaft, the curved vanes harness the incoming current flow, which drives rotation of the rotor assembly, the vanes surround the fixed axle shaft and form an inner cavity; a stator assembly disposed in the inner cavity of the rotor assembly, the stator assembly does not rotate with the rotor assembly, the stator assembly comprises flow directors wherein entering current flow is directed in between the flow directors which functions to apply a positive force against forward moving vanes of the rotor assembly; a funnel assembly and external flow director for controlling intake of the current flow; and an exhaust port. |
| US08591169B2 |
Rotor for generating electrical power from a flow medium
A power generation system that generates power in low flow situations is disclosed. The system includes a set of vanes, wherein each vane is mounted on a corresponding mast, so as to selectively transmit energy from the flow medium to a rotor shaft or to freely deflect in the direction of flow, depending on whether the flow impinges on the vanes in an energy-producing or a non-energy-producing direction. This is achieved by mounting each vane on its mast, so that it deflects in the flow direction when the vane is subjected to non-energy-producing flow energy, and also coupling each vane to the mast of an adjacent vane, so that the vane exerts a pull force on the mast of the adjacent vane, when the vane is capturing energy-producing flow energy. |
| US08591168B2 |
Subsurface wave power generation systems and methods
A subsurface wave power generation system includes a seabed mounting plate adapted for securing to a seabed, a wing having generally opposed first and second wing surfaces extending between a first and second wing ends, the second wing end being pivotably mounted to the seabed mounting plate such that pivoting motion about a pivot axis generally parallel to the mounting plate is imparted to the wing by subsurface wave action acting on the first and second wing surfaces, and a drive arm pivotably connected to the wing to convert the pivoting motion into reciprocal motion. An electrical generator can be driven by the drive arm through a slip linkage. The slip linkage includes a first stage that converts the reciprocal motion of the drive arm into rotational motion and a second stage that selectively engages the a drive shaft of the generator drive to impart the rotational motion thereto. |
| US08591162B2 |
Personnel transfer system
A transfer device for transferring people and/or personal equipment from a first location to a second location, the transfer device being coupled to a lifting device and comprising an outer structure in the form of a cage connected to a base and defining an inner space. Seating elements are disposed on the device's base, arranged radially around its center. The device also comprises shock absorbing means situated on the sides of the outer structure facing each of the seating elements to protect passengers from frontal impacts. |
| US08591155B2 |
Transport system for heavy-duty equipment
A green transport system includes a bogie system having forwardly disposed and rearwardly disposed bogies in which the rearwardy disposed bogie includes a front bogie and a rear bogie interconnected to the front bogie by a telescopic beam assembly for selective incremental retractable extension so that the bogies are disposed in a plurality of transport modes for load bearing exceptionally high tonnage heavy-duty tracked equipment, particularly crushers without disassembly of the crusher; the exceptionally high tonnage crusher being transported as a single unit, with resultant fuel and energy conservation and greenhouse gas emission reduction, and the elimination of a pre-crushing operation. |
| US08591153B2 |
Pneumatic drilling device
The pneumatic drilling device includes: a ram provided inside a cylindrical body so that the ram can move forward and backward therein; a spindle air motor provided inside the ram; a feed air cylinder mechanism for moving the ram forward and backward; and an air supply port for supplying compressed air to the feed air cylinder mechanism and the spindle air motor through an airflow path. The airflow path includes: a first flow path for driving the spindle air motor; and a second flow path communicating with the feed air cylinder mechanism for moving the ram forward and backward. The first flow path and the second flow path are separately and independently provided in parallel. |
| US08591150B2 |
RDX plant indicator system
A method of detecting RDX in soil includes the steps of: planting a plurality of prickly sida plants in a defined area; remotely monitoring the pigmentation of the prickly sida plants using hyperspectral imaging; and identifying one or more areas within the defined area that are contaminated by RDX based on the monitored pigmentation of the prickly sida plants. |
| US08591148B2 |
Multi-rate flow control system for a detention pond
A flow control system includes a movable riser with multiple flow rate restrictors within a stationary riser that is interfaced to a drainage system. The movable riser is buoyed by float(s) attached to the movable riser. As the fluid level around the flow control system changes, the movable riser tracks the changes, thereby raising and lowering the flow rate restrictors. Since the flow rate restrictors have differing areas in the horizontal plane, an interstitial opening between the outer edge of each flow rate restrictor and the inner perimeter of the stationary riser differs. The flow rate is constant and proportional to the depth of the fluid over the interstitial opening with the least area. The flow rate remains constant until that flow rate restrictor creating the smallest interstitial opening lifts above the upper edge of the stationary riser at which time, the next flow rate restrictor determines the flow rate. |
| US08591144B1 |
Mixer and placer paving systems
A system for delivering a paving material to a point including a frame, one or more aggregate bins coupled to the frame at a front position relative to a forward direction of travel of the system. The aggregate bins configured to hold an aggregate material. |
| US08591142B2 |
Apparatus for shaping pavement
An apparatus for shaping pavement, the apparatus comprising a pavement-shaping member for receiving a flow of shapeless pavement material and generating a flow of shaped pavement material and a paving machine mount, mechanically coupled to the pavement-shaping member, for coupling the pavement-shaping member to a paving machine, the pavement-shaping member comprising a detachable forming shoe for producing the shaped pavement material. |
| US08591141B2 |
Mobile paving machine
The invention concerns a mobile paving machine for the installation of ground covering material, with a smoothing board for stripping off the ground covering material, the smoothing board being adjustable in height and the paving machine having a probing unit with a probing foot, which probes the ground level and acts on the position of the smoothing board so that the ground covering material is flush with the ground level, wherein and the probing unit has a probing foot held by a probe support, which is articulated to a support joint, and wherein a sensor or switch unit is provided, held by a switch support, and the switch support is articulated to the probe support and interacts with the sensor or switch unit on the probe support. |
| US08591139B2 |
Plural-component, composite-material highway dowel bar structure and fabrication methodology
A plural-component, composite-material highway dowel bar and an associated fabrication methodology. The dowel bar includes an elongate, solid-cylindrical, high-shear-strength core bar, preferably steel, and an elongate, fiber-reinforced plastic-resin jacket, including an elongate, pultrusion-formed, tubular sleeve, and sleeve-received, opposite-end, end-well sleeve end plugs, fully surrounding and protectively covering the core bar. |
| US08591135B2 |
File binder and document organizer
Disclosed herein is an organizer comprising a unique structural configuration to house and store both non-perforated documents and perforated documents. The organizer comprises a ring binder that is associated with an expandable compartment that is arranged peripheral to the ring binder. |
| US08591133B2 |
Automatic switch for a power circuit usable in a bottle
An automatic switch for a power circuit of a bottle container is provided. The bottle container includes a bottle body, a cover and an electronic unit for allowing an accommodating unit to be assembled between the bottle body and the cover. A liquid is received in the bottle body. A ball is disposed in a mouth at a front end of the cover, and the ball is capable of opening/closing the mouth by means of an elastic body. The elastic body has a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion. The first conductive portion is brought into electrical contact with a positive electrode (or negative electrode) of a power source of the electronic unit. The second conductive portion is located above the negative electrode (or positive electrode) of the power source of the electronic unit by a distance when the elastic body is not pressed. |
| US08591131B2 |
Hand-held dry-erase board system
A hand-held dry-erase board system for efficiently storing a writing instrument in the handle of a portable dry-erase board. The hand-held dry-erase board system includes a frame including a writable surface, a handle, wherein the handle includes an upper end and a lower end and wherein the upper end of the handle is attached to the frame and a clip, wherein the clip is attached to the handle and wherein the clip secures a marker. |
| US08591130B2 |
Leak resistant applicator pod and method
An applicator apparatus having a sealed container pod which may be opened through an actuating tab. In certain embodiments the terminal end of the open package covered by an applicator surface that may be adherently affixed to the container pod. In certain embodiments, actuating tab passes through a void defined by a suitably shaped applicator surface. Certain embodiments describe a rupturable seal permitting mixing of contents within the container pod before distribution to applicator surface. A method for applying material to a desired surface, and method of applying a therapeutic substance to a desired tissue is disclosed. |
| US08591128B2 |
Extendable mechanism
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention there is provided an apparatus comprising a first assembly and a second assembly, said first assembly being connected to said second assembly by and extendable mechanism, said extendable mechanism being configured to extend an input area when the first assembly is moved with respect to the second assembly from a first position to a second position. |
| US08591126B2 |
Optical signal measurement device
A device connects to a male network connector of a network conduit, and connects to a female network connector of the network conduit. The female network connector is capable of communicating with the male network connector. The device also measures outputs of the male network connector and the female network connector. |
| US08591118B2 |
Bearing device for driving wheel
A driving-wheel bearing device includes an outer race having double-row outer raceway surfaces formed on an inner periphery thereof, a hub wheel and an inner race having a wheel attachment flange at one end thereof and double-row inner raceway surfaces on an outer periphery thereof, and double-row rolling elements interposed between the outer raceway surfaces of the outer race and the inner raceway surfaces of the hub wheel and the inner race, the hub wheel having a shaft hole into which a stem section extending from an outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint is spline-fitted by being press-fitted, in which a plate having a molybdenum coating layer or a fluorine-resin coating layer formed thereon and having a plate thickness ranging from 0.5 mm to 2 mm is interposed between opposite surfaces of a shoulder portion of the outer joint member and an crimped portion of the hub wheel. |
| US08591115B2 |
Rolling bearing device
A rolling bearing device includes: an outer ring that has outer ring raceway grooves formed on an inner peripheral surface of the outer ring and a counter bore portion that is provided on an outer side of the outer ring raceway grooves in an axial direction; an inner ring member that has inner ring raceway grooves formed on an outer peripheral surface of the inner ring member; and a plurality of rolling elements that are interposed between the outer ring raceway grooves and the inner ring raceway grooves so as to freely roll and that are in contact with the inner ring raceway grooves of the inner ring member and the outer ring raceway grooves of the outer ring at a predetermined contact angle. A lubricant reservoir portion that stores lubricant is formed at a portion in the outer ring raceway grooves adjacent to the counter bore portion. |
| US08591114B2 |
Spindle
A spindle is provided, comprising a spindle body having a first end, a second end, and a channel extending from the first end to the second end; a first end cover and a second end cover, the first and second end covers being releasably securable to the first and second ends, respectively, for defining a sealed space within the channel; the channel being configured for receiving at least one ball bearing assembly, a shaft, and a fluid; such that the at least one ball bearing assembly, a portion of the shaft, and the fluid are contained within the sealed space when the first and second end covers are secured to the first and second ends. |
| US08591106B2 |
Radiographic image capture system, portable radiographic image capture device, image capture table
An inflow port is provided to a casing of an electronic cassette in order to pass air from outside through the inside of electronic cassette. Air is flowed to the inflow port when the electric cassette is housed in a housing section of a prone image capture table. Efficient cooling can accordingly be achieved with a simply configured portable radiographic image capture device. |
| US08591105B2 |
Optical guide with temperature sensing matrix
The invention relates to an optical element for guiding and forming a laser beam, and to a method for recording beam parameters, particularly in a laser system, comprising a carrier substrate (40) and a coating (39), which is applied to at least one side of the carrier substrate (40), and comprising at least one temperature sensor (38). The temperature sensor (38) is comprised of a number of pixels arranged in a matrix, and each respective pixel has at least one temperature-sensitive element (39). The at least one temperature-sensitive element (39) of the pixel is constructed inside the carrier substrate (40) made of silicon. |
| US08591102B2 |
Measuring device for a heat exchanger
A measuring device for a heat exchanger includes a pressure pipe arrangement that is spaced using webs and that has a heating side and an isolation side and that is implemented with at least one heat flow sensor. A heat flow sensor is arranged on the heating side in such a way that at least two temperatures T1 and T2 and the temperature difference thereof can be detected there, and additionally at least one temperature sensor for measuring a temperature T3 is arranged on the isolation side and at a distance to the heat flow sensor. |
| US08591098B2 |
Apparatus and method for material blending
A material blender and method for blending a plurality of ingredient materials to make a single heterogeneous material. The material blender may comprise a blending apparatus, a control system, and a pneumatic delivery system. The pneumatic delivery system may comprise a plurality of conduits each provided with a pneumatic flow therethrough to pneumatically convey one of the ingredient materials to the blending apparatus. The delivery system may also comprise one or more valves configured to independently vary the pneumatic flow through one of the conduits. The control system may be configured to provide signals to the valves, commanding the valves to oscillate between varying degrees of openness based on a desired percentage or ratio of each of the ingredient materials to be output to the blending apparatus. The control system may calculate signals to send to the valves based on stored calibration information. |
| US08591095B2 |
Reclaim function for semiconductor processing system
Systems for controlling fluids in semiconductor processing systems are disclosed. The disclosed systems comprise a chemical blender, a reclaim tank, a dispense system, two chemical monitors, a controller, and a reclamation line in fluid communication with an outlet of the process station and coupled to the reclaim tank. The reclaim tank mixes solution from the chemical blender and the reclamation line. One of the two chemical monitors the mixed solution downstream from the dispense system. The controller is configured to flow the mixed solution to the process station upon determination by the first chemical monitor that at least one chemical compound in the mixed solution is at a predetermined concentration. The second chemical monitor monitors the reclaimed portion of the mixed solution to determine whether the at least one chemical compound is at a predetermined concentration before being reintroduced into the reclaim tank. |
| US08591089B2 |
Portable computer illumination
Described is an illumination structure suitable for a keyboard light of a portable computer. An example illumination structure includes a transparent acrylic board, a light source, and a light guide. The acrylic board may have a front surface and a rear surface, each of which is flat. The light source is provided at a tilt angle q at which an optical axis is almost at a critical angle with respect to the rear surface of the acrylic board. The light guide is located between the light source and the rear surface. Further, light rays radiated from the light source are refracted by the light guide and the optically-transparent panel, and travel towards the front surface, so as to illuminate the surface. |
| US08591087B2 |
Optical fiber illumination systems and methods
An illumination system generating light having at least one wavelength within 200 nm to 2000 nm range. The system includes a light source and at least one light diffusing optical fiber with a plurality of nano-sized structures (e.g., voids). The optical fiber is coupled to the light source. The light diffusing optical fiber has a core and a cladding. The plurality of nano-sized structures is situated either within said core or at a core-cladding boundary. The optical fiber also includes an outer surface. The optical fiber is configured to scatter guided light via the nano-sized structures away from the core and through the outer surface, to form a light-source fiber portion having a length that emits substantially uniform radiation over its length, said fiber having a scattering-induced attenuation greater than 50 dB/km for the wavelength(s) within 200 nm to 2000 nm range. |
| US08591085B2 |
Optical fiber light source apparatus
An optical fiber light source apparatus, includes a casing, a discharge lamp accommodated inside the casing, a concave reflection mirror, which holds the discharge lamp, and an optical fiber, which receives light from the reflection mirror. The concave reflection mirror, to which the discharge lamp is fixed, is held by a holding member, which has an approximately rectangular flange portion in a front face thereof and a regulating concave portion formed in a side of the flange portion. A guide is provided on the casing in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis, so that the flange portion of the holding member is slidably engaged with the guide. A pressing member, which is pressed with a bias force toward the regulating concave portion of the flange and engages with the regulating concave portion, is provided on the guide, thereby securing the concave reflection mirror. |
| US08591080B2 |
Lamp
A lamp including a case assembly, a lamp bottom and a fixing elastomer is provided. The case assembly has a first opening, and the lamp bottom inserts into the first opening to assemble with the case assembly. The lamp bottom has a first surface, a second opening and multiple first positioning structures. The second opening passes through the first surface, and the first positioning structures are located on the first surface. The fixing elastomer is disposed in the case assembly and has a second surface and a pair of second positioning structures suitable for locking with two of the first positioning structures. |
| US08591079B2 |
LED ceiling lamp
An LED ceiling lamp includes a primary illumination unit and at least one subsidiary illumination unit. The primary illumination includes a base and a connecting member to fix the base to a ceiling. Each of the at least one subsidiary illumination unit is fixed to the base and faces the ceiling. Each of the at least one subsidiary illumination unit comprises a circuit board with an LED unit, a lens and a reflector. The lens covers the circuit board. The circuit board and the lens are received in the reflector. The lens is configured for dividing the light beams from the LED units into several light groups. An aphotic area is formed between each two adjacent light groups. The reflector is configured for reflecting the several light groups on the ceiling. |
| US08591075B2 |
Optical member and illumination apparatus using same
An optical member for refracting light emitted from a light source and projecting the light from a light projecting surface thereof includes a plurality of concave or convex portions formed on the light projecting surface. The concave or convex portions are concentrically arranged on a plurality of circles having a common center point. The concave or convex portions on the circles adjoining to each other are arranged in different phase positions with respect to radial lines extending from the center point. |
| US08591074B1 |
Secondary optical lens
A secondary optical lens is invented for use in LED wall wash lights. The secondary optical lens includes a concave body that has an outer surface that extends from a base plane to a top plane, the so-called outer surface is comprised with a diamond-texture flake reflection pattern. Furthermore, the secondary optical lens includes a light incidence surface extending upward from the base plane of the concave body, the so-called light incidence surface includes a cylindrical plane of incidence and an aspheric plane of incidence on top of the cylindrical plane of incidence. And there is a light emitting surface at the top plane of the concave body having a sinusoidal waveform stripe-texture. |
| US08591072B2 |
Illumination apparatus confining light by total internal reflection and methods of forming the same
In various embodiments, an illumination apparatus includes an air gap between a sub-assembly and a waveguide attached thereto at a plurality of discrete attachment points, as well as a bare-die light-emitting diode encapsulated by the waveguide. |
| US08591070B2 |
Lighting device having a socket and bulb fitting
A lighting device (1) comprising at least one light source (5), at least one base (7) thermally and electrically operationally connected to the light source (5), and at least one bulb fitting (10, 27) provided for receiving the base (7). The base (7) has at least one first heat transfer surface (15) and the bulb fitting (10, 27) has at least one second heat transfer surface (17) in contact with the first heat transfer surface (15) either directly or by way of a foil (16). At least one device (14, 26, 32, 39) is provided for exerting a predefined press force between the first heat transfer surface (15) and the second heat transfer surface (17). |
| US08591063B2 |
LED light source device
The present invention is intended to thermally isolate an LED and a control part from each other to make it difficult to thermally influence each other, and also to optimize fin shapes suitable for allowable temperatures of the both respectively, and is provided with: a first housing that contains an LED board; a second housing that contains an LED control part; a connecting member that connects the first housing and the second housing to each other; a fan mechanism that is provided between the first housing and the second housing; heat dissipation fins that are provided around the fan mechanism in the first housing; and an air path of which one end opening is formed at a position facing to an air inlet side of the fan mechanism in the second housing, and the other opening is formed on a surface different from an opposed surface of the second housing. |
| US08591062B2 |
LED lamp
A lamp has an optically transmissive enclosure and a base. A tower extends from the base into the enclosure and supports an LED assembly in the enclosure. The LED assembly comprises a plurality of LEDs operable to emit light when energized through an electrical path from the base. The tower and the LED assembly are arranged such that the plurality of LEDs are disposed about the periphery of the tower in a band and face outwardly toward the enclosure to create a source of the light that appears as a glowing filament. The tower forms part of a heat sink that transmits heat from the LED assembly to the ambient environment. The LED assembly has a three-dimensional shape. An electrical interconnect connects a conductor to the heat sink where the conductor is in the electrical path between the LED assembly and the base. |
| US08591061B2 |
LED lighting apparatus including reflector
The lighting apparatus includes a body including a recess which is defined by an inner wall; a reflector which is disposed within the recess of the body and faces the inner wall of the body, and includes a reflective surface reflecting light to the outside of the recess of the body; and a light source which is disposed within the recess of the body and emits light toward the reflective surface of the reflector. |
| US08591058B2 |
Systems and methods for providing a junction box in a solid-state light apparatus
In one embodiment, the solid-state lighting apparatus includes a solid-state light source. The solid-state light source may include a first side and a second side opposite the first side, with the first side including at least one solid-state lighting element. The solid-state lighting apparatus may also include a junction box. The junction box may be positioned at least partially above the solid-state light source, proximate the second side of the solid-state light source. The solid-state lighting apparatus may further include a heat sink. The heat sink may be coupled to the junction box and thermally coupled to the solid-state light source. |
| US08591056B2 |
Illuminated hoof pick
An illuminated tool for cleaning hooves of hooved animals includes a prong having a tip adapted to engage and clean an animal's hoof and an illumination source configured to direct a light beam in the general direction of the tip of the prong. |
| US08591053B2 |
Light source support of lighting module
A light source support on a first printed circuit for a lighting and/or signalling module, comprising a first housing intended to accommodate the first printed circuit and presenting an opening for the light source; means of positioning and fixation of the support; and means of positioning of a flexible printed circuit, intended to position the flexible printed circuit in relation to the first printed circuit, so as to link them electrically. |
| US08591050B2 |
Electronic device
Disclosed herein is an electronic device including a case having an inner surface and an outer surface thereof; a recess portion recessed at the inner surface of the case toward the outer surface thereof such that a thickness of the case is thinner than that of its surrounding; a light source integrated into the case and disposed to face the recess portion; a circuit board connected to the light source to control power supply for the light source; and an icon generating portion disposed between the recess portion and the light source, and having a transparent pattern corresponding to an icon such that the light of the light source is passed therethrough while forming the icon to be seen at the outer surface of the case. |
| US08591049B2 |
Photographic devices
A photographic system includes a first light grid including a plurality of cells, and a first alignment feature disposed on the first light grid. The system further includes a bezel including a retainer for retaining at least the first light grid, and an alignment feature for aligning at least the first light grid within the light grid retainer, wherein the first alignment feature of the first light grid aligns with the alignment feature of the bezel. |
| US08591045B2 |
Pavement markings, reflective elements, and methods of making microspheres
Presently described are retroreflective articles, such as pavement markings, that comprise transparent microspheres partially embedded in a binder (e.g., polymeric). Also described are microspheres (e.g., glass-ceramic), methods of making microspheres, as well as compositions of glass materials and compositions of glass-ceramic materials. The microspheres generally comprise lanthanide series oxide(s), titanium oxide (TiO2), and optionally zirconium oxide (ZrO2). |
| US08591044B2 |
Pavement markings, reflective elements, and methods of making microspheres
Presently described are retroreflective articles, such as pavement markings, that comprise transparent microspheres partially embedded in a binder (e.g., polymeric). Also described are microspheres (e.g., glass-ceramic), methods of making microspheres, spheres, as well as compositions of glass materials and compositions of glass-ceramic materials. The microspheres generally comprise lanthanide series oxide(s), titanium oxide (TiO2), and optionally zirconium oxide (ZrO2). |
| US08591043B2 |
Light modulation device and projector
A light modulation device includes: a reflective light modulation element which modulates an incident light; a holding section which holds the reflective light modulation element; and a light blocking plate disposed on an incident side which incidents the incident light to the reflective light modulation element, and fixed to the holding section, wherein a thermal conductivity of the light blocking plate is equal to or higher than a thermal conductivity of the holding section. |
| US08591040B2 |
Projection device for architectural and entertainment lighting
A projection device embodiment comprises a light source system, a gate with a cross sectional gate area, and projection optics. The light source system includes a solid-state light source configured to provide light, and light source optics. The light source optics are configured to distribute light from the solid-state light source across the gate area of the gate. The gate is configured to be used to produce an object to be imaged by the projection device. The projection optics is configured to project an image of the object. |
| US08591037B2 |
Projector with a turbo fan rotatable about a vertical axis
A projector includes: an external housing; and an exhaust fan configured to suck an air within the external housing and discharges the sucked air to the outside, the external housing has a top and bottom surface crossing a vertical axis, an air discharge port through that the air discharged from the exhaust fan is discharged to the outside, and a side surface that connects the top surface and the bottom surface, the exhaust fan constituted by a turbo fan that has an impeller rotatable around a predetermined rotation axis, and the rotation axis extends along the vertical axis. |
| US08591032B2 |
Opthalmic apparatuses, systems and methods
Ophthalmic apparatuses, systems and methods are disclosed. One embodiment is an ophthalmic scanning apparatus including a laser operable to emit a laser beam, a scanning mirror operable to scan the laser beam over at least a +/−15 degree scan, and a lens system operable to receive the laser beam from the scanning mirror and direct the laser beam to a spot on an image plane. The spot has a root mean square radius of less than about 3.8 microns over the +/−15 degree scan. Further embodiments include methods of modeling and determining corrective prescriptions for patient's eyes. Additional embodiments are described herein. |
| US08591029B2 |
Imaging device and imaging method
An imaging device includes an illuminating unit configured to illuminate a measurement object with light from a light source; an aberration correcting unit configured to correct aberration of the measurement object occurring in light returning from the measurement object, the returning light being provided by light illuminating the measurement object through an area differing from a center axis of the illuminating unit; and an image obtaining unit configured to obtain an image of the measurement object on the basis of light returning from the measurement object, the returning light being provided by light that is provided after the aberration is corrected by the aberration correcting unit and that illuminates the measurement object through the center axis of the illuminating unit. |
| US08591026B2 |
Optical article coated with an antireflection or reflective coating comprising an electrically conductive film based on tin oxide, and production method
This invention relates to an optical article having antistatic and antireflection or reflective properties, comprising a substrate having at least one main surface coated with an antireflection or reflective coating, said coating comprising at least one electrically conductive layer comprising at least 30% tin oxide (SnO2) by weight relative to the total weight of the electrically conductive layer, said electrically conductive layer having been deposited by ion-assisted deposition, and said substrate having a water uptake rate equal to or greater than 0.6% by weight relative to the total weight of said substrate, the water uptake rate being measured after predrying said substrate and then storing it for 800 hours in a chamber at 50° C. under 100% relative humidity and at atmospheric pressure. |
| US08591020B2 |
Aqueous ink jet ink comprising a crosslinking pigment dispersion based on diblock polymeric dispersants
The present disclosure provides an aqueous ink jet ink comprising an ink vehicle and an aqueous dispersion, wherein the aqueous dispersion comprises a solid particle and a polymeric dispersant that has been crosslinked, wherein the polymeric dispersant is a block copolymer comprising an A block and a B block, wherein the A block is a segment having a block size of about 5 to about 18 units, and comprises at least 50% by weight of a monomer, having the following structure: CH2═CRC(O)O(CHR1CH2O)nR2; wherein R and R1 are H, or methyl; R2 is alkyl of 1-4 carbon atoms or phenyl; and n is about 1 about 20; and the B block is a segment comprising an ionic monomer and at least one hydrophobic monomer; and wherein the dispersant comprises a crosslinkable moiety; wherein the crosslinkable moiety is crosslinked with a crosslinking agent selected from the group consisting of epoxide, carbodiimide, oxazoline, isocyanate, and silane; and wherein the aqueous dispersion has a pH of at least about 8.0. The disclosure further pertains to a printer comprising the aqueous ink jet ink of this disclosure that provides images with the requisite optical density and chroma needed for emerging ink jet applications. |
| US08591014B2 |
Fluidic interface
An embodiment of this disclosure relates to a fluidic interface for a fluid cartridge comprising a single cast comprising a fluidic needle. |
| US08591009B2 |
Piezoelectric film, ink jet head, angular velocity sensor and piezoelectric generating element
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a BNT-BT piezoelectric film having a higher crystalline orientation, a higher piezoelectric constant, and a higher ferroelectric property. The present invention is directed to a piezoelectric film comprising a first electrode having only a (110) orientation; a (NaxBi0.5)TiO0.5x+2.75—BaTiO layer having only a (110) orientation, a (Bi,Na)TiO3—BaTiO3 layer having only a (110) orientation, and a second electrode, wherein a value of x is not less than 0.29 and not more than 0.40, and the first electrode, the (NaxBi0.5)TiO0.5x+2.75—BaTiO3 layer, the (Bi,Na)TiO3—BaTiO3 layer, and the second electrode are laminated in this order. |
| US08590989B2 |
Soft close mechanism in a drawer slide assembly
A linear bearing drawer slide assembly comprised of a spring damper mechanism attached to a fixed member slidingly engaged with a middle member slidingly engaged with a drawer member. The spring damper mechanism is comprised of a base connected to a guide track which includes a longitudinal channel and a pair of opposing catches. A carriage slidingly engages the guide track. A pivotal latch pivots on a column of the carriage and further includes a pair of posts that extend through the carriage to engage the pair of catches in the guide track. The base and the carriage secure a pair of springs providing a balanced closing force against a damper which reduces unwanted wear and prolongs the useable life of the drawer slide assembly. |
| US08590985B2 |
Method to degrade braking modes
A system, apparatus and method of controlling a braking system of a vehicle having a plurality of rotating wheels and a plurality of brakes, each brake corresponding to one of the plurality of wheels, is provided. In controlling the brakes, an operational status of the braking system is determined. Based on the determined operational status, different feedback regulation schemes are selectively implemented to control the brake force applied by the brakes. |
| US08590983B2 |
Automotive construction machine
In an automotive construction machine, in particular road milling machine (1), recycler (100), or stabilizer, with a machine frame (4) carried by a chassis (2) with preferably vertically arranged lateral outer walls (5), a milling drum (6) mounted in the machine frame (4) for working a ground surface or traffic surface (8), and with an operator's platform (10) with an operating and indicating panel (12) and a seat (14) for a machine driver, it is provided that the operator's platform (10) is moveable on the machine frame (4) transversely to the direction of travel, that the seat (14) for the machine driver is integrated into the operator's platform (10), which is moveable outwards beyond the lateral outer walls (5) of the machine frame (4), that the machine frame (4) is provided with a guide (18) for the operator's platform (10) acting transversely to the direction of travel, and that the guide (18) projects laterally either not at all or just slightly beyond the outer walls (5). |
| US08590979B2 |
Seatback device
A seatback device configured to elastically support a planar elastic body between left and right side frames. The seatback device includes left and right first springs and left and right second springs. The left and right first springs have axes respectively, extending in the width direction of the vehicle. The upper parts of the left and right sides of the planar elastic body body are connected to the left and right side frames through the left and right first springs. The left and right second springs have axes, respectively, extending in the front-and-rear direction of the vehicle body. The lower parts on the left and right sides of the planar elastic body are connected to the left and right side frames through the left and right second springs. |
| US08590978B2 |
Ultra-thin seat carrier
A seating assembly having a seat and a seat back. A frame assembly is disposed in each of the seat and the seat back. A carrier assembly is operably coupled with the seat and the seat back. The carrier assembly includes a plurality of elongate support tabs proximate the seat. A plurality of apertures and at least one groove are proximate the seat back. A cushion extends over the seat and the seat back. |
| US08590975B2 |
Furniture construction
Furniture is constructed from a plurality of vertically oriented slats whose upper edges form at least one functional surface and that have tabs formed along their side edges and accommodating notches formed within their bottom edges. Tabs fit within notches allowing slats to connect perpendicularly and hold each other upright in spaced relation without a superstructure or any continuously extending support components. |
| US08590972B2 |
Seat recliner and seat having the same
A seat recliner comprises an inner toothed plate (2) having an inner ring gear (21), an outer toothed plate (3) having an outer ring gear, an eccentric wheel (4) and a wedge-shaped block (6). A shaft shoulder (22) is provided in the center of the inner toothed plate (2), and an axis central hole (32) is provided in the center of the outer toothed plate (3). The outer ring gear engages with the inner ring gear (21), and a radially eccentric area is formed between the shaft shoulder (22) and the axis central hole (32). The eccentric wheel (4) is disposed in the radially eccentric area, and appears entirely in the shape of an eccentric ring, and a planetary gear transmission mechanism with small difference between the number of teeth is constituted by the eccentric wheel (4), the inner toothed plate (2) and the outer toothed plate (3). The eccentric wheel (4) in the large-diameter segment of the radially eccentric area forms a clearance fit with the shaft shoulder (22) and the axis central hole (32). The wedge-shaped block (6) is disposed in the radially eccentric area, and clearances between the eccentric wheel (4) and the axis central hole (32) of the outer toothed plate (3) and between the engaged teeth are eliminated by the wedge-shaped block (6) and the eccentric wheel (4) under a circumferential force exerted by an elastomer (7). The seat recliner has extremely high and stable strength performance. A seat having the seat recliner is also provided. |
| US08590971B2 |
Seat adjusting apparatus for vehicle
A seat adjusting apparatus for a vehicle includes a supporting member pivotally supported at a base member by a first bearing, a pinion gear driven by a driving device, a sector gear engageable with the pinion gear and a restriction mechanism formed at the sector gear for restricting a relative rotation between the pinion gear and the sector gear. The restriction mechanism includes a contact portion coming in contact with the pinion gear so that a component force of a reaction force, which works in a direction in which the first bearing is separated from the second bearing, acting on the pinion gear is reduced. A thickness of a first tooth root of a tooth included in the teeth formed at the sector gear is larger than a thickness of a second tooth root of the other teeth formed at the sector gear. |
| US08590969B2 |
Dynamic furniture
Dynamic furniture having platforms in dynamic attachment to an actuator assembly that in turn is in dynamic attachment to a base. Use of motional platforms supported by a motional actuator assembly permits an article of the furniture to conform to the many and varied body positions a user wants, and allows a user to more easily change body positions while remaining within the furniture, and in medical scenarios may obviate most needs to transfer a patient from one article of furniture to another. |
| US08590968B2 |
Nursing chair
A nursing chair may be sold as a kit comprising a first side panel, a second side panel, a front panel between said first and second side panel, a front fabric cover, a back fabric cover, a first side armrest, a second side armrest, a seat between the first and second side panel, a back rest between the first and second side panels and a rocker assembly for supporting said chair and imparting a rocking motion to the chair. Suitable fastening means are included in the kit. The chair may be sold assembled. |
| US08590964B2 |
Reclining seating unit with tiltable headrest
A reclining seating unit includes: a base configured to rest on an underlying surface; a seat; a backrest; a reclining mechanism attached to the base, seat and backrest, the reclining mechanism configured to move the seating unit between an upright position and a fully reclined position; a headrest that is positioned above the backrest; and a headrest mechanism attached to the headrest and to the reclining mechanism. The headrest mechanism is configured to move the headrest from a retracted position to an extended position. In the retracted position the headrest is generally parallel with the backrest and in the extended position the headrest defines an angle with the backrest in which the front surface of headrest is rotated to partially face the front surface of the backrest. |
| US08590963B2 |
Wind deflector arrangement
A wind deflector arrangement for a roof opening, which can be closed and opened up by way of a cover, in a roof panel of a vehicle. The wind deflector can have a frame which is designed to at least partially surround the roof opening, a wind deflector hoop which is coupled to the frame such that the wind deflector hoop is rotatable relative to the frame and the roof panel about a first axis of rotation, a support element which is coupled to the wind deflector hoop and to the frame such that the support element can rotate about a second axis of rotation during a first segment of the movement of the wind deflector hoop relative to the frame and can rotate about a third axis of rotation, which differs from the second axis of rotation, during a further segment of the movement. |
| US08590960B2 |
Flush glass assembly for vehicle
Provided is a flush glass assembly for a vehicle. The flush glass assembly is constructed so that, when a moving glass is opened, a direction of the force which a user applies to a handle is the same horizontal direction as that in which the moving glass slides to open. |
| US08590954B2 |
Suction gripper assembly
A suction gripper arrangement includes several suction gripper arms arranged in a row, which, at their lower ends, each have a suction gripper head with an abutment surface for abutting an article to be sucked onto the suction gripper head. The abutment surfaces of the suction gripper heads of the suction gripper arms neighboring each other are arranged in different planes. Moreover, the invention relates to a suction gripper arrangement in which at least one of the suction gripper arms is connected to an actuator via a lever, wherein both between the lever and the suction gripper arm, and also between the lever and the actuator, respectively, a pivot joint is formed, and wherein the lever is composed of at least to lever parts. |
| US08590950B2 |
Vehicle bumper assembly with a removably coupled tie-down receiver
A bumper assembly for a vehicle to which a towing hook member can be removably coupled includes a bumper beam having a cavity defined at least partially by a first wall and a second wall. The first and second walls are separated at a distance. Also, the bumper assembly includes a receiver having a receiver opening operable to removably couple to and removably receive the towing hook member. The receiver opening is exposed from the bumper beam, and the receiver also has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is removably coupled to the first wall of the bumper beam, and the second portion is removably coupled to the second wall of the bumper beam. |
| US08590946B2 |
Decklid latch with electromechanically actuated snowload lever
A latch including a ratchet moveable between a latched position and a released position, with the ratchet being biased to the released position. A pawl being moveable between a ratchet-engaged position in which the pawl checks the movement of the ratchet and a ratchet-disengaged position, with the pawl being biased to the ratchet-engaged position. An electromechanical actuator having an output member for moving the pawl to the ratchet-disengaged position with the actuator output member moving between a start position and an end position and vice versa. A snowload lever being moveable between a pawl-disengaged position and a pawl-engaged position, wherein, in the pawl-engaged position, the snowload lever blocks the actuator output member from returning to the start position. |
| US08590941B2 |
Method for providing prints with fluorescent effects and the print item
The invention describes a method providing prints with fluorescent effects on a document generated by color electrophotographic print processes, employing an electrophotographic printer equipped with five print modules, where four printing stations are equipped with black, yellow, magenta and cyan toners and a fifth station is equipped with substantially clear fluorescent toners to be printed on top of the color toners or directly on a substrate of the print document. In further developments of the present invention, the clear fluorescent toner absorbs light in the UV-A range or comprises metallic pigments or metallic effect pigments added to the clear fluorescent toner. |
| US08590936B2 |
Snowboard stop or stabilization apparatuses and methods
In one embodiment, a snowboard stop device includes a bottom portion having a snowboard-contactable side and a ground-contactable side. The ground-contactable side of the bottom portion has one or more protrusions. The snowboard stop device includes a top portion having a snowboard-contactable side, and a curved edge portion joining the bottom portion of the snowboard stop device to the top portion of the snowboard stop device. The snowboard stop device is clippable on an edge of a snowboard such that the snowboard-contactable side of the bottom portion at least partially contacts a bottom side of the snowboard and the snowboard-contactable side of the top portion at least partially contacts a top side of the snowboard. Friction is caused between the ground and the one or more protrusions on the ground-contactable side of the bottom portion such that the snowboard at least partially stops relative to the ground. |
| US08590933B2 |
Impact absorbing steering apparatus
Construction of an impact absorbing steering wheel apparatus that is capable of obtaining excellent performance at low cost while maintaining the freedom of design is achieved. An energy absorbing member comprises: a base plate section 55, 71; an energy absorbing section 53, 73 that is located in the rear half section of the base plate section, or extends toward the rear from the base plate section and has a bent back section 57, 73 that is bent back in a U shape upward or downward with respect to the base plate section; a rear end installation section 58, 74 that is located on the tip end section of the bent back section; and a front end installation section 54, 76 that is located in front of the base plate section; wherein the tip end section of the bent back section 57, 73 and the rear end installation section 58, 74 are located in a space between a pair of held wall sections 11a and fastened to a tightening rod 27a; the front end installation section 54, 76 is fastened to the front end section of an inner column 14a or the housing 16 of a electric-powered steering apparatus. Near the energy absorbing section 53, 73, there is a guide section that, when the bent back section 57, 73 moves as the rear end installation section 58, 74 moves in the forward direction together with an outer column 13a during a secondary collision, guides the movement of the bent back section 57, 73. |
| US08590930B2 |
Gas generator
A gas generator includes, an igniter having an ignition portion and a conductive pin a collar holding the igniter, a metallic cup-shaped case fixed to the collar and having a fragile portion. The collar includes a metallic portion and a resin part enclosing the ignition portion.An outer diameter of the metallic portion is larger than an outer diameter of the resin part.The cup-shaped case has an annular portion bent inward at an opening thereof.The annular bent portion includes a bent corner, an annular tilted surface, and an annular terminal end. The annular tilted surface includes an outer tilted surface facing toward a side of a peripheral surface of the cup-shaped case and an inner annular tilted surface facing the opposite side.The inner annular tilted surface of the annular bent portion presses against the resin portion. |
| US08590928B2 |
Knee airbag with passive venting for out of position occupant protection
A knee airbag installed in a lower portion of an instrument panel has a deployed condition wherein it extends rearward and upward. The airbag has a left lobe, a right lobe, and a central portion between and joined to the left and right lobes. A vent is formed in the reaction surface of each of the lobes to allow inflation gasses to escape from the airbag when, during a crash event, an occupant force applied forwardly against the lobes is below a threshold level. When the occupant force reaches or exceeds the threshold level, the vents are urged against the instrument panel to substantially block the escape of inflation gasses. The threshold level is selected such that a child-sized occupant standing forward of a desired passenger seating position exerts less than the threshold level. |
| US08590923B2 |
Door hinge structure for passenger airbags
A door hinge structure for passenger airbags, may include an airbag module installed inside a crash pad at a location spaced apart from the crash pad, and an airbag door having a hinge unit provided on an inner surface of the crash pad at a location facing the airbag module, wherein the airbag door may be provided with a reinforcing bracket, the reinforcing bracket being embedded in the airbag door at an area around the hinge unit, on which a stress may be concentrated when an airbag cushion deploys from the airbag module, thus increasing a strength of the airbag door. |
| US08590921B2 |
Band cart storage system and method
A band cart storage system and method having a storage cart that defines a storage area for receiving at least one or a plurality of portable and collapsible band carts and also that is capable of providing a platform that is adjustable for supporting instruments, components or even a person, such as a director or drum major, above the ground. |
| US08590920B2 |
Folding wheel chair and stand-assist seat
A folding wheel chair having a pair of side frames 11 and 12, cross links 13 connecting said side frames each other, and a foldable seat 20 connected to the upper end of the cross links is provided. The seat 20 consists of a front right section 21, a front left section 22, a rear right section 23 and a rear left section 24. The front right and left sections are connected swingably to front edges of said rear right and left sections via a transverse axis X1 at the rear edges, and are connected swingably to the front portions of said cross links respectively via a transverse axis X2, the front right and rear right sections are connected swingably to the right edges of said front left and rear left sections via a longitudinal axis Y1 at the left edges, the rear right and left sections are connected to the cross links via a spring member 30. |
| US08590916B2 |
System and method for automatically connecting a watercraft to a trailer
The present invention relates to systems and methods for automatically connecting a watercraft to a trailer. The invention permits a watercraft to be connected to a submerged trailer so that the watercraft can be withdrawn from a body of water by a single operator. The systems and methods of the invention incorporate a bow target guide which guides the operator of a watercraft to a catch mechanism so that a connection between the trailer and watercraft can be made automatically. The systems of the invention may be provided as a kit for modifying an existing trailer, or they may form an integral component of a trailer. Methods of making and using the present system are within the scope of the invention. |
| US08590913B1 |
Intelligent side step apparatus for vehicle
An intelligent side step apparatus for a vehicle may include a base block that is fixed to a vehicle body panel disposed at a lower end of a vehicle door, a step motor that is fixed to the base block, a driving shaft that is engaged with the step motor and is rotated by power transmitted from the step motor, a plurality of joint steps that are pivotally coupled each other in sequence, and a step operating mechanism that is coupled with the driving shaft and engaged with each of the joint steps, rotates with the driving shaft, and moves in a forward or backward direction according to rotation of the driving shaft, and wherein one of the plurality of joint steps is pivotally connected to the base block. |
| US08590911B2 |
Suspension of a vehicle axle and vehicle
A suspension is provided for a vehicle axle, with a twist-beam axle having two trailing arms interconnected via a cross brace, of which each trailing arm comprises a mounting device for the rotatable fastening of the twist-beam axle to a vehicle body, which includes, but is not limited to a bushing and a connecting element, which is formed on the trailing arm and in which the bushing is received such that the twist-beam axle can be pivoted about the longitudinal axis of the bushing. The bushing is fastened to a holder, which can be connected to the vehicle body, and the bushing with its longitudinal axis is arranged in a horizontal vehicle plane. |
| US08590909B2 |
Wheelie bar for leaf spring equipped cars
A wheelie bar for leaf spring equipped cars includes first and second mounting brackets each having at least one attachment point and one bearing feature. First and second lower side members are pivotally mounted to the mounting brackets. A ground wheel is rotatably mounted to ends of the lower side members. First and second upper side members are pivotally mounted to the mounting brackets and fixedly attached to the lower side members. A vehicle bearing wheel is rotatably mounted to opposite ends of the first and second upper side members. Bearings are provided. A rear support member connects the upper side members and distal ends of the lower side members. At least one elevating facility urges the first and second lower side members upwardly toward an underside of a car. The attachment points have arcuate front ends and are fixedly attached to an axle housing of the car by welding. |
| US08590901B2 |
Foldable sport goals and throwback devices
One embodiment provides a foldable throwback device comprising a front frame, a base frame, and telescoping angle members. The front frame is adapted to secure a bounce-back surface and is foldable into at least three sections without removal of the bounce-back surface. The base frame is coupled to the front frame by hinge brackets that allow the base frame to fold substantially flat onto the front frame without significant disassembly. Each telescoping angle member extends from the base frame to the front frame, and is adjustable to allow angling the front frame relative to the base frame. Each telescoping angle member may include a rotation-limiting mechanism and a safety mechanism that prevents unintentional detachment. |
| US08590898B2 |
Casino table game
A system and method of the inventive concept presents a casino game that is a table based card game that is generally played with a dealer, who deals the cards, and with players whom make the wagers. The game consists of multiple rounds and a player can wager and win on individual rounds or multiple rounds to make a “poker” hand. Additionally, there may be a progressive jackpot offered on the “poker” hands for players to wager upon. |
| US08590895B2 |
Card game machine
A card game machine enables players to play a card game using cards, each of which has a distinctive surface and a non-distinctive surface. The card game apparatus includes a card slide housing, a card stop unit, a card drive unit and a card receive unit. The card slide housing has slides, each of which is inclined such that cards and slide down. The card stop unit is coupled to the card slide housing to temporarily stop cards. The card drive unit causes the stopped cards to start sliding again. The card receive unit is arranged below the card stop unit and has a plurality of card receiving parts corresponding to the respective slides to receive cards. The card receiving parts are movable such that portions of the distinctive surfaces of the cards received in each receiving part are spaced apart from each other in one direction. |
| US08590893B2 |
Wheel game with holes
Outdoor and indoor rolling games, game box stations ramps and methods of play where one or more participants physically rolls wheels towards a ramp which leads to a box, and a target area, such as circular hole or rectangular hole where player(s) accumulate points under selected playing rules. A station box can have a fold down ramp with an optional opening in the back of the box. Another station can have wheels and cooler in a hand truck arrangement. Another version can use a foldable ramp with removable inserts that allows the game to also be used with bean bags. |
| US08590892B2 |
Image recording apparatus
There is provided an image recording apparatus including a transporting path, a recording section, a first and second rollers pinching the recording medium therebetween, a supporting member which rotatably supports the second roller, a holding member which is movable along a transporting direction of the recording medium, a bias applying member which applies a bias on the holding member, in an opposite direction opposite to the transporting direction and a load member which generates a load in the opposite direction, with respect to the recording medium. |
| US08590887B2 |
Automatic teller machine with sheet roller portion with different friction forces
An automatic teller machine (ATM) may include a medium transfer portion to transfer paper mediums from a paper medium storage portion storing the paper mediums, a carrier position adjustment portion rotatably mounted at a rear end of the carrier transfer portion, to which a medium carrier stacking and carrying the paper mediums transferred along the medium transfer portion is rotatably mounted, and a sheet roller portion rotatably mounted between the medium carrier and the carrier position adjustment portion to transfer the paper mediums on the medium transfer portion into the medium carrier by a rotational operation and to align the paper mediums stored in the medium carrier, wherein the sheet roller portion contacts the paper medium such that a greater frictional force is generated at a middle area than an outer area when transferring the paper mediums on the medium transfer portion into the medium carrier or when aligning the paper mediums stored in the medium carrier. |
| US08590884B2 |
Image forming apparatus with timer part
An image forming apparatus comprises an image-forming part; a paper feeding part; a resist part; a rotating body; a detector for detecting the arrival of paper at the resist part; a timer part for measuring a measurement time from when feeding of a second sheet of paper from the paper feeding part is begun to when the detector detects the arrival of the second sheet of paper, and a sheet interval time from when the detector detects the passage of a first sheet of paper immediately preceding the second sheet of paper to when the arrival of the second sheet of paper is detected; and an identifier part for referring to the measurement time, a reference measurement time, the sheet interval time and a reference sheet interval time, and deciding the paper feeding part advancing or delaying the paper feed start timing. |
| US08590883B2 |
Sheet handling apparatus with separating mechanism to separate the separable roller pair
According to one embodiment, a sheet handling apparatus includes a conveying path to convey a sheet, a processing portion to perform a predetermined process on the sheet while conveying the sheet on the conveying path, a separable roller pair that is arranged at a certain distance from the processing portion on an upstream side or a downstream side in conveying direction, the separable roller pair being adapted to hand over the sheet between the conveying path and the processing portion by holding the sheet with a nip and rotating, a separating mechanism to separate the separable roller pair, and a controller that controls the separating mechanism such that the separable roller pair is separated before or after processing is started with the processing portion on a sheet that is conveyed on the conveying path. |
| US08590880B2 |
Sheet folding apparatus and image formation system provided with the apparatus
To provide a folding mechanism for folding a sheet with a simplified structure having no fear of causing a deviation from the fold position, wrinkle and the like, provided are a transport path 33 for transporting a sheet, and folding processing means 48 disposed in the transport path to fold the sheet. Then, the folding processing means is comprised of folding roll pairs (41b, 49, 50) coming into press-contact with one another to rotate in the opposite directions, and folding deflecting members (53, 54) for guiding the fold of the sheet to the nip portions (Np1, Np2) of the folding roll pairs. Then, the folding deflecting members are provided with driven rollers (53a, 54a) in contact press-contact with the roll periphery of one of the folding roll pair, and curved guides (53a, 54a) along the roll periphery of the other one. The driven roller provides the sheet with transport force to guide to the nip portion, and the curved guide brings the sheet along the roll periphery of the other one to guide to the nip portion. |
| US08590878B2 |
Clamp device
A clamping apparatus has a piston inserted into a housing, a lock chamber located above the piston and a release chamber located below the piston. The clamping apparatus also has a diametrically expandable and contractible tapered sleeve attached to an annular plug portion projected upward from the housing and to be received in a tapered hole provided in a work pallet. An output rod is also inserted into a cylindrical hole of the plug portion and connected to the piston. Lock springs having compression coil springs are inserted into a plurality of spring-attachment holes formed in a recessed manner in an upper wall of the lock chamber, where the spring-attachment holes are communicatively connected to an outer surface of the housing by through holes, and pushing members are hermetically inserted into the through holes. The lock springs urge the sleeve through the pushing members with a predetermined force. |
| US08590877B2 |
Corralling utensil with associated cutting board
A corralling utensil with associated cutting board (10). The corralling utensil (40) quickly, easily and accurately gathers and moves food or other items around and off the cutting board (20) to another location, and may be used separately from the cutting board (20) on other surfaces such as tables, counters, butcher blocks and chopping mats. The corralling utensil (40) may be removably stored in, on, or to a designated area of the associated cutting board (20) for convenient storage and use. |
| US08590870B2 |
Retraction ball for a hydrostatic piston machine
A retraction ball and a system made of a retraction ball and an elastic element for a hydrostatic piston machine is provided, having at least one recess for accommodating an elastic element, and at least one structural element being disposed in the recess for locking the elastic element. |
| US08590864B2 |
Semi-tubular vane air swirler
A semi-tubular vane air swirler is provided. In one embodiment the air swirler is a deep drawn sheet metal component having a first and a second set of semi-tubular vanes formed therein. In one embodiment the semi-tubular air vanes include a first and a second portion formed by upsetting the sheet metal in opposing directions to create mirrored vane geometry, thereby doubling the open area of the vane. |
| US08590861B2 |
Gate valve and substrate processing apparatus equipped with the same
A gate valve apparatus is disclosed. The gate valve apparatus is provided with a valve casing that includes a first valve seat and a second valve seat, and in which an opening portion is formed; and a closure element that includes a sealing member that contacts the first valve seat to seal the opening portion. In addition, the gate valve apparatus is provided with a shutoff member that contacts the second valve seat to thereby be deformed, so that a space between the opening portion and a sealing member is shut off by the shutoff member when the closure element closes the opening portion. The shutoff member is deformed and continues to contact the second valve seat under normal and high temperature environments when the closure element closes the opening portion. |
| US08590858B2 |
Anti-gradient cupped seat for pressure regulator
A regulator having a valve body defining a flow-path for a fluid and having a valve seat, an actuator casing coupled to the valve body, a control member disposed within the actuator casing and adapted for displacement relative to the valve body and the valve seat for regulating a flow of the fluid through the flow-path by moving between an open position and a closed position wherein the control member engages the valve seat, and a spring operatively coupled to the control member and biasing the control member toward the open position. The control member includes a surface facing the valve seat that is recessed. The recessed surface may be a counter-bore, or may have a convex shape, conical shape, or other appropriate recessed surface. So configured, the regulator displaced improved stability in high inlet pressure, low output pressure, high flow rate implementations. |
| US08590857B2 |
Structure of support frame featuring fast warping and closing
A structure of support frame featuring fast warping up and closing is mountable to a back surface of an electronic device and includes a cover and at least one bendable mechanism. The cover is mounted to the back surface of the electronic device. The bendable mechanism is mounted to the back surface of the cover and includes at least one deformable plate that is curved and shows a circular arc form. The deformable plate is provided with a depression spot. As such, pressing down the depression spot causes the deformable plate that is of a circular arc form to undergo flattening deformation, making ends of the deformable plate fast warping up in an outward direction. With the warping portions of the deformable plate, a function of supporting or clamping can be realized to hold the electronic device on an object or be worn on a human body. |
| US08590855B2 |
Handlebar mounting device
A novel handlebar mounting device structured to mount to a mirror mount receiver on a handlebar where a mirror mounting stem supporting a mirror normally resides. The novel handlebar mounting device includes a pivot arm having a pivot base and a coupler interface with therebetween a pivot joint having an adjustable rotational stiffness. The pivot joint is formed of an arm and a hub relatively rotatably suspended therefrom, an elastomeric interface between the arm and the hub, and a means for compressing the elastomeric interface between the arm and the hub. A coupler component is formed on the coupler interface. A connector is adapted for securing the pivot base to a mirror mount receiver on a handlebar where a mirror mounting stem supporting a mirror normally resides. |
| US08590846B2 |
Device for laying a cable harness in an aircraft
A device for bridging a cable harness between two aircraft structure elements of an aircraft includes an elongated connecting rod having a plurality of radial snap-in holes and configured to bridge a space between the two aircraft structure elements and affix to at least one of the two aircraft structure elements. The device also includes a cable guiding element having at least one receiving section for receiving the cable harness and at least one attachment section circumferentially surrounding the connecting rod, the attachment section having a resiliently held radially directed locking pin, wherein the locking pin corresponds to one of the plurality of the radial snap-in holes so as to form a clip connection and a positive locking engagement between the at least one attachment section and the connecting rod. |
| US08590844B2 |
Track circuit communications
An overlay track circuit is used to transmit information through a block of railroad tracks. In one embodiment, one of a plurality of codes assigned to a receiver/transmitter pair are used to represent each information segment (which may be one or more bits) of an information signal. In another embodiment, bits of the information signal are transmitted between periodic repetitions of a code associated with the transmitter/receiver pair. The modulation may be performed using a frequency shift key technique. Track circuits may be connected to relay information between adjacent blocks of track. |
| US08590841B1 |
Hoisting systems and methods
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally pertain to hoisting systems and methods for vehicles, such as UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters (“Black Hawks”). An external hoist arm system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is configured to be temporarily mounted to the outside of a vehicle. The hoist arm system is further configured to support a hoist and position the hoist above an external door of the vehicle. A rotatable adjustment member is used to adjust an angular position of the hoist relative to the vehicle. |
| US08590834B1 |
Aircraft control surface actuation system with helical actuation path
An aircraft control surface actuation system including a wing member and an aircraft control surface hingedly connected to the wing member along a pivot axis, wherein the aircraft control surface is configured to axially move along the pivot axis when the aircraft control surface pivots relative to the wing member about the pivot axis. |
| US08590831B2 |
Flying vehicle
An aircraft includes a fuselage and takeoff and landing wings that are extended at takeoff and landing and serve as the main aerodynamic elements producing the lift. The takeoff and landing wings are in a retracted position in cruising flight to attain a minimum possible drag coefficient of the aircraft and, as a result, reduce fuel requirements in the cruising configuration significantly. When retracted, the takeoff and landing wings are integrated compactly into the fuselage surface. The retracted takeoff and landing wings are fixed in position by retracted position locks of the fuselage. A takeoff and landing wing has a turbine blade profile in cross-section. A takeoff and landing wing has longitudinal rows of slots simulating the operation of a slat and a two-slot flap. The slots are closed with shutters on the outer side of the wing. |
| US08590828B2 |
Rotocraft
An aerial vehicle includes independently controlled horizontal thrusters and vertical lifters to provide design and operational simplicity while allowing precision flying with six degrees of freedom and use of mounted devices such as tools, sensors, and instruments. Each horizontal thruster and vertical lifter can be mounted as constant-pitch, fixed-axis rotors while still allowing for precise control of yaw, pitch, roll, horizontal movement, and vertical elevation. Gyroscopes and inclinometers can be used to further enhance flying precision. A controller manages thrust applied the horizontal thrusters and vertical lifters to compensate for forces and torques generated by the use of tools and other devices mounted to the aerial vehicle. |
| US08590827B2 |
Rijke tube cancellation device for helicopters
An acoustic signature reduction system for application typically on an aircraft. The acoustic signature reduction system uses a controller, power supply, and a thermo-acoustic tube such as a Rijke tube or Sondhauss tube to generate a cancellation noise of equal amplitude and inverted to that of noise generated by rotor blades when rotating. Acoustic signature reduction system can use a damping valve to make an intermittent cancellation sound to match the n/rev signature of the rotor blades with respect to a given reference location. The n/rev timing is different depending on the reference location therefore a cone of silence is created. A forced air unit may also be used to modify the phase of the cancellation noise in order to move the cone of silence around the aircraft. |
| US08590826B2 |
Enveloper assembly for winding webs
In a winding assembly for winding web rolls, an enveloper assembly is used to initiate winding of a web stream onto a pre-formed core or to initiate winding of a core-forming substrate into an in-line core. The enveloper assembly comprises a first support arm operatively coupled to a second support arm; a third support arm operatively coupled to the second support arm; and an enveloper roller operatively coupled to the third support arm. The enveloper roller is movable along a cylindrical surface from a first position to a second position. The enveloper assembly accommodates a wide range of core diameters. For winding non-adhesive web streams, a tail tucker can be used in conjunction with the enveloper assembly to initiate winding. In conjunction with apparatus for inserting core-forming substrates or adhesive tabs onto a web, the winding assembly can perform high-volume, streaming production of wound web rolls. |
| US08590820B2 |
Waste disposal unit for biologically hazardous waste
A waste disposal unit for biologically hazardous waste includes a waste reception mechanism for receiving un-shredded waste, a housing having an interior containing a shredder mechanism and a storage volume for receiving shredded waste from the shredder mechanism. The housing is configured to prevent external access to the interior of the housing. In a first configuration of the waste reception mechanism, un-shredded waste may be received and access from the waste reception mechanism to the interior of the housing is closed. In a second configuration of the waste reception mechanism, access from the exterior of the waste disposal unit into the waste reception mechanism is closed and access from the waste reception mechanism into the interior of the housing is open to permit un-shredded waste to pass from the waste reception mechanism to the shredder mechanism. The waste disposal unit is engaged by a detachable shredder drive mechanism. |
| US08590815B2 |
Fuel injector tip with compressive residual stress
Steel rod stock is shaped into a fuel injector tip having a central axis and including a shank extending between a mating end and a nozzle end. An inner surface of the fuel injector tip includes a conical needle valve seat and defines a nozzle chamber and a sac on opposite sides of the needle valve seat. The mating end includes a injector stack surface and an injector body contact surface. After shaping the fuel injector tip, it is a case hardened to a hardness in excess of HRC 55. Next, the nozzle end is shaped, after the case hardening step, to include a plurality of nozzle surfaces that each define one of a plurality of nozzle outlets extending between the sac and the outer surface. The inner surface and the nozzle surfaces are then autofrettaged to induce compressive residual stress at the case hardened needle valve seat, the case hardened sac and at least a portion of the nozzle surfaces closest to the sac. |
| US08590814B2 |
Nozzle for a pressure washer
A nozzle for use with a sprayer, such as a spray gun for a pressure washer or a garden hose system, includes a body, which has an inlet for receiving a pressurized flow of water. The nozzle further includes first and second outlets, and first and second passages. The first and second outlets are formed in an end of the body. The first passage extends between the inlet and the first outlet, and the second passage extends between the inlet and the second outlet. The first and second passages are substantially straight and parallel to one another. During operation of the nozzle, the pressurized flow of water from the inlet is split, passes through the first and second passages, and exits the body from the first and second outlets. |
| US08590813B2 |
Rotary atomizer for particulate paints
A rotary atomizer applies particulate paints with good color matching by reducing paint droplet size deviation and then optimizing the other paint spraying parameters. Paint droplet size parameters are reduced by using a bell cup having reduced flow deviations, including an overflow surface having a generally constant angle between a deflector and an atomizing edge. |
| US08590809B2 |
Liquid spray gun, spray gun platform, and spray head assembly
Liquid spray gun platforms, spray head assemblies and liquid spray guns including one or both of the spray gun platforms and the spray head assemblies are described. |
| US08590806B2 |
Liquid diffuser device
A liquid diffuser device, comprising a support frame (2) with an upper passageway (3) to direct a liquid jet and a lower hollow tubular body (4) with a bottom wall (5), a liquid jet deflecting member (9) having an upper plate (10) fixed to a lower stem (11) which is had within the tubular body (4), means (13) for movably coupling the stem (11) to the bottom wall (5), comprising at least one lower contact surface (14) of the stem (11) and at least one upper contact surface (15) of the bottom wall (5). The movable coupling means (13) comprise an intermediate contact member (16) secured to the lower end portion (12) of the stem (11), and continuously contacting the upper surface (15) of the bottom wall (5) to avoid downward shifting of the stem (11) consequent to wear of the contact surfaces (14, 15). |
| US08590805B2 |
Nozzle for generating microbubbles
A nozzle for generating microbubbles includes a nozzle main body provided with a water introduction port for introducing pressurized hot water from the bottom center of the nozzle main body into the main body. A core cylinder provided with an opening in a circumferential face is inserted into the nozzle main body to form a throttle part between an edge part of the bottom outer circumference of the core cylinder and an edge part of the bottom inner circumference of the nozzle main body. A gripper is provided for pulling the core cylinder in the direction opposite to the inserting direction. Hot water passed through the throttle part is introduced into the inner part of the core cylinder through the opening of the circumferential face of the core cylinder and hot water in which microbubbles are generated is ejected to the outside. |
| US08590801B2 |
Cascading set point burner control system for paint spray booths
A system and method for controlling the temperature and humidity of ambient air entering an air supply unit at conditions falling within an atmospheric window to produce optimal temperature and humidity conditions inside a paint booth. The system includes a humidity control loop and a temperature control loop. The humidity control loop monitors the humidity within the paint booth, and directs the temperature control loop to increase the temperature within the paint booth when humidity therein is above a set value. The temperature and humidity within the paint booth are thus maintained within an optimal window. |
| US08590798B2 |
Secure authentication feature
A security tag comprising at least one overt data carrier (10), and at least one covert data carrier (25), the covert data carrier comprising a ring (25) that is formed around the overt data carrier (10). The covert data carrier (25) is invisible to the unaided eye when lit with visible light, but visible when illuminated with other light, for example UV light. |
| US08590794B2 |
Barcode recognion method and computer product thereof
A barcode recognition method and a computer program product thereof are provided. In the barcode recognition method, at first, a foreground extraction step is performed to obtain a binary image of a barcode image. Thereafter, an alignment step is performed to calculate a center coordinate, corner coordinates, a shift vector, and a rotation angle of the target barcode in accordance with the barcode image, the binary image, the shift vector, and the rotation angle. Thereafter, positions of data space patterns, boundary patterns, and an alignment type of the target barcode are determined in accordance with the center coordinate, the corner coordinates, the shift vector, and the rotation angle of the target barcode. Then, values of the target barcode are determined in accordance with the positions of the data space patterns, the boundary patterns, and the alignment type of the target barcode. |
| US08590793B2 |
Imaging-based barcode readers having curved window
An apparatus operative to decode a barcode on a target object includes a mirror located within the housing at a position generally facing both the curved window and the imaging lens arrangement of the scan engine. The curved window is configured to operate together with the mirror to direct any of the illumination light reflected by the curved window away from the imaging lens arrangement to avoid the detrimental hot spots in the image. |
| US08590788B1 |
Generating customized packaging
Disclosed are various embodiments of generating customized packaging for an item associated with an order. A request to generate customized packaging for an item associated with an order is received. A user interface allowing a user to participate in design of the customized packaging is generated. Customized packaging is then generated based upon the customized packaging selected and/or designed by the user. |
| US08590786B2 |
System and method for using a mobile device to locate a followed item in a retail store
A computing device receives information that is representative of a location of a mobile device and uses the information representative of the location of the mobile device to select one or more maps corresponding to a retail establishment. The computing device also receives information that is representative of a customer and uses the information representative of the customer to place on the one or more selected maps indicia indicative of one or more locations within the retail establishment at which one or more items determined to be of interest to the customer are located. The one or more selected maps with the indicia are then provided to the mobile device for display. |
| US08590785B1 |
Discounts in a mobile device
A buying group discount system includes a universal discount card to provide discounts, rewards and/or offers to consumers participating in a buying group. Consumer purchases are aggregated with transactions of the entire buying group. Rewards and discounts are released to the buying group when the aggregated purchases satisfied criteria specified in a reward policy established by sellers. Furthermore, mechanisms are provided to enable the universal discount card to be positioned to provide contextual flash offers or advertisements. |
| US08590784B1 |
Credit card swipe sleeve and method
An illustrative embodiment of a credit card swipe sleeve includes a pair of sleeve panels, a plurality of panel seams attaching the sleeve panels, a sleeve interior defined by and between the sleeve panels, the sleeve interior generally approximating dimensions of a standard-sized credit card and a flexible sleeve rim carried by the pair of sleeve panels and deployable from an outwardly-expanded open configuration to a closed configuration responsive to inward pressure applied to the sleeve rim. |
| US08590783B2 |
Security device reader and method of validation
A method performed by a device may include exchanging encryption information with a security card, generating validation information based on the exchanged encryption information with the security card and transmitting the validation information to the security card for display. |
| US08590781B1 |
2D barcode on checks to decrease non-conforming image percentages
Systems and methods for processing checks using 2D barcodes are provided. A user submits a digital image of a check that includes a 2D barcode. The 2D barcode has embedded positional information of one or more check features which can be decoded and compared to the check features optically identified on the digital image of the check. From this, a set of rotational and scaling adjustments can be computed by comparing estimated positional information with the positional information of the one or more check features retrieved from the barcode. A more accurate representation of the check is then produced by applying the set of rotational and scaling adjustments to the digital image of the check. Once a more accurate representation of the check has been produced, the check can be electronically processed using a routing transit number found on the check. |
| US08590776B2 |
Physical product sample provided with at least one product sample code
Physical product samples provided with at least one physical product sample code. Physical product sample codes for the purpose of providing a physical product related information. Methods for compiling such a physical product sample code. Methods for providing a physical product sample with such a physical product sample code. Methods for acquiring physical product sample related information, wherein said physical product sample is provided with such a physical product sample code. Systems for compiling a physical product sample code using the method for compiling said sample code. |
| US08590775B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer readable storage medium
An image processing apparatus includes a generating unit and a superimposing unit. The generating unit generates an image carrier representing a machine-readable image pattern by using information to be embedded into a first image. The superimposing unit makes a second image translucent, the second image being an image of the image carrier, and superimposes the second image onto the first image in such a manner that the second image can be mechanically read and the first image can be read by a user. |
| US08590774B1 |
Reusable shipping containers and mailing envelopes
A reusable item shipping container comprises a housing that is configured to retain an item therein and has an opening for inserting or removing the item therefrom. First and second sealing flaps are disposed on the housing adjacent the opening. In a first configuration, the first sealing flap is configured to be folded into the housing or across the opening and the second sealing flap is configured to be folded over the opening to seal the housing. In a second configuration, the first sealing flap is configured to be folded across the opening and to seal the housing after the second folding flap has sealed the opening and the item shipping container has been opened. |
| US08590772B2 |
Packing case with centering tab, set of cutouts and method for creating such a case
This is a packing case (40), a set of cutouts and a method of obtaining a case comprising a bottom that forms a half-case (41) obtained from a first cutout and a lid formed from a second cutout, the underside of the bottom being equipped with recesses (19, 85, 108, 109, 110, 111) and the lid comprising at least two tabs (33, 43, 54, 55, 56, 57, 73, 74, 75, 88) bonded onto its top face, in vertical alignment with the recesses of complementary shape. The lid comprises a central panel (20, 37) equipped on its sides with four lateral panels (21, 22, 23, 24, 77, 79, 81) of which two (21, 23) are equipped with end flaps (27, 28, 29, 30) said tabs each being connected to one of said end flaps. |
| US08590766B2 |
Method and apparatus for inspecting joined object formed by friction stir joining
This invention provides a method for inspecting a joined region and joining strength of a joined object formed by a spot friction stir joining process. In this method, an ultrasonic wave is introduced into the joined object from a backing face 25 opposed to a joining tool plunging face 24 and the ultrasonic wave reflected from the joined object 20 is taken in. In this case, the joining region 21 and the joining strength is estimated by observing a reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave in the vicinity of a position, along a reference direction Z, corresponding to an interface 27 of two joining members, without using the reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave reflected from the joining tool plunging face, thereby inspecting the joined object based on the estimation result. Thus, influence of a concave/convex shape of a joining mark 29 formed in the joining tool plunging face 24 can be avoided, and the use of the ultrasonic wave for estimating the joined region 21 can achieve an inspection of joining quality without destroying the joined object 20. |
| US08590765B2 |
Soldering apparatus
A solder drawing member (402) is detachably attached on the outer side of a jet nozzle (303) that jets molten solder pumped from a solder tank (102) storing the molten solder. The solder drawing member (402) is made of a material having higher wettability to the molten solder than the surface material of the jet nozzle (303). Thus a force of separating the solder from a point to be soldered can be increased by a surface tension of the molten solder flowing on the solder drawing member (402), thereby reducing bridge phenomena and icicle phenomena. |
| US08590764B2 |
Circumferential full thickness resectioning device
An apparatus for performing endoluminal anastomosis of an organ comprises an operative head including an endoscope receiving lumen for slidably receiving a flexible endoscope therein, the operative head including an annular tissue receiving space extending around a circumference of a distal end thereof and a stapling mechanism for firing staples around an entire circumference of the tissue receiving space and a tissue gripping mechanism for drawing into the tissue receiving space a portion of tissue extending around an entire circumference of the organ. |
| US08590755B2 |
Pressure regulated flow valve with gas-piston
A pressure regulated flow valve which compensates for the decreasing internal pressure inside a pressurized product dispensing container using substantially insoluble compressed gas. Where the internal pressure within the pressurized product dispensing container decreases below a certain threshold pressure, the pressure regulated valve provides for an increase in the flow of the product being dispensed from the pressurized container via the pressure regulated flow valve. |
| US08590753B2 |
Post-mix beverage system
A beverage dispensing system comprises a container, an attachment mechanism, and a cartridge. The container may hold a mixing solution or liquid, such as water, to be mixed with the contents of the cartridge. The attachment mechanism is generally located within the container. The attachment mechanism may comprise an engagement assembly, a piercing portion, and a valve assembly. The engagement assembly may generally receive the cartridge within the attachment mechanism. The piercing portion may generally pierce the cartridge, thereby releasing the contents of the cartridge into the container. The valve assembly may generally open upon engagement of the cartridge with the attachment mechanism. The cartridge generally engages with the attachment mechanism to open the cartridge to be dispensed into the container, thereby combining the contents of the cartridge with the liquid within the container to create a drinkable beverage. |
| US08590751B2 |
Utility panel for a dispenser
A utility panel for a dispenser that is mounted to a support structure by a backplate includes opposed lateral legs that extend from a main section to form a receiving channel therebetween. The main section is configured to display any desired physical indicia, such as advertising messages, for viewing by the user of the dispenser, while the lateral sections include retention tabs that are received within guide channels formed between the backplate and the support structure. As the utility panel is attached to the dispenser, the blackplate is received within the receiving channel of the utility panel until the retention tabs are snap-fit into corresponding lock channels provided by the backplate of the dispenser. As such, the utility panel is easily retrofit to a previously-installed dispenser without the use of tools. |
| US08590750B2 |
Fluid delivery device
A fluid delivery device for discharging a fluid having a housing, a piston pump, a biasing mechanism, and a trigger mechanism. The housing has a fluid discharge outlet. The pump has a pump chamber casing for fluid storage, a piston sliding in the pump chamber, a piston plunger, and a delivery channel leading to the housing outlet. The biasing mechanism biases the piston pump casing towards the housing outlet. The trigger mechanism has a catch member and a restraining member movable by a manually actuatable trigger from a cocked to a triggered configuration. The cocked restraining member engages the catch member to prevent movement and fluid discharge. A triggered restraining member disengages from the catch member for movement of the casing towards the housing outlet to discharge fluid from housing outlet. |
| US08590749B2 |
Attachment device for attaching a pump onto a tank neck
A fastener device for fastening a dispenser member on a neck of a reservoir, the device including a fastener ring. The fastener ring having reception mechanism for receiving, in stationary manner, the dispenser member; an annular plate for exerting axial pressure on the neck; and a fastener skirt that extends downwards from the plate, the skirt including a fastener mechanism for fastening around the neck. The ring is made of two different plastics materials, a substantially-hard first material and a flexible second material that is more flexible than the first material. The device also includes a hoop that, in the final assembled position, extends around the skirt of the ring with radial clamping. The flexible second material comes into contact with the hoop. |
| US08590746B2 |
Beverage dispensing system with a head capable of dispensing plural different beverages
A beverage dispensing system includes a base to which a dispensing head is removably attached without additional fasteners. Beverage-forming liquids are supplied through a plurality of separate conduits in the base. Each base conduit has a normally closed valve that normally blocks fluid flow. The dispensing head has at least one passageway that receives liquid from an associated one of the base conduits. A projection associated with each dispensing head passageway opens the associated conduit valve to allow fluid flow from the base to the head. Dispensing valves in the dispensing head regulate the dispensing of the beverage. By selectively opening the dispensing valves, a plurality of beverages are formed from combinations of one or more liquids. A dispensing head includes an inlet opening and an outlet opening at each end of a passage extending through a body, the inlet opening having a smaller cross-sectional area than the outlet opening. |
| US08590745B2 |
Provided in a liquid dispenser
An improvement in a liquids dispensing means comprising a niche for accommodating a container to be filled with liquid, the niche being associated with the outer panel (12) of a cabinet, being lighted from the rear wall thereof (21, 56), a part of the light flux impinging on a window provided with a sheet of translucent material (29) located in the closing means (21, 51) of the niche, the window being in substantial alignment/register with the lighting means (36, 37, 54) provided on the rear wall. |
| US08590743B2 |
Actuator cap for a spray device
An overcap for a dispenser includes a housing mountable on a container. The container includes a tilt-activated valve stem with a discharge end. The discharge end of the valve stem is adapted to be in fluid communication with a discharge orifice of the housing. A drive unit is disposed within the housing, wherein the drive unit includes a solenoid, a bi-metallic actuator, a piezo-linear motor, or an electro-responsive wire, which is adapted to impart transverse motion to the valve stem to open a valve of the container. |
| US08590738B2 |
Paper product dispensing system
A dispensing system that removes individual napkins from a stack of interfolded napkins in a manner that allows the number of napkins dispensed to be easily counted and controlled so that an appropriate number of napkins are dispensed. The counted napkins are collected in an easily manageable form and presented to a user. |
| US08590731B2 |
Travel container having drinking orifice and vent aperture
An insulated container is provided with a lid having a push-button trigger mechanism that operates both a shutter for a drinking orifice and a vent seal for a vent opening. The trigger has an actuation stroke. The vent seal is initially actuated during a first portion of the actuation stroke of the trigger to transition the vent seal from the closed position to the open position, and the shutter is initially actuated during a second portion of the actuation stroke of the trigger to transition the shutter from the closed position to the open position. Further, the shutter remains in the closed position during the initiation of the first portion of the actuation stroke of the trigger. |
| US08590730B2 |
Top mounting can container
Top mounting can container that couples with a can. One or more embodiment enables simultaneous access to both the contents of the can and contents of the container. A half circle cut-out in the lid provides for spill free snacking from an independent vessel. Various configurations enable the inclusion of fresh food, eating and drinking from a straw if desired while standing and walking and access of solid or liquid in the container and can. Coupling elements that couple the top mounting can container to the can, may utilize any type of easily removable or semi-removable technology. Simplifies eating and drinking from one container and can in a theater or stadium having seats for example that provide one beverage holder per seat. Provides one free hand to hold a child's hand for safety while in stadiums and amusement parks. |
| US08590724B2 |
Lock for sterilization container
A lock for locking a sterilization container has box-like bottom part and a container cover that can be removed and placed airtightly and connected on the bottom part by a seal to form a closed sterilization space. The lock has a tensioning lever pivotable into an opened position, and a closing flap rotatable about an axis of rotation, with a positive-locking closed position with the tensioning lever. The tensioning lever is able to be brought via the closing flap, during the rotary motion of the closing flap into an opened rotated position, with the closing flap disengaged from the tensioning lever after a further rotary motion into a fully opened end position. The tensioning lever may be fixed in open, and the closing flap positive-lockingly engages with the tensioning lever during closing and the tensioning lever is able be to moved into a closed tensioned position by the closing flap. |
| US08590722B2 |
Vacuum receptacle lid for easy sealing
A vacuum receptacle lid for easy sealing includes a lid body that closes and opens an inlet portion of a receptacle body provided with a space containing contents, a valve installation hole formed at a part thereof, at least one air vent hole, and a packing installation groove which is opened downwardly in a C shape inside a rim thereof. A check valve providing a combining projection at a bottom surface of a body portion enclosing the air vent hole is inserted into and combined with the valve installation hole and exhausts air of the inside of the receptacle body via the air vent hole blocking inflow of external air by enclosing, opening and closing the air vent hole. A packing is accommodated and installed at the packing installation groove and includes upper, lower, and intermediate contact portions which have a cross-section of a zigzag shape. |
| US08590718B2 |
Coupling unit
A coupling unit for a semi-permanent connection of two wagons of a rail vehicle, which has a first housing and a second housing, which is pivotably and rotatably coupled to the first housing. A bearing outer ring with a hollow spherical inner bearing surface is fastened to the second housing and is guided in sliding fashion on a bearing inner ring with a spherical outer surface. The bearing inner ring is seated with an inner bore on a shaft fastened to the first housing. The shaft has, on a first end, one or two flattened portions and, on a second end, one or two second flattened portions. At least one clamping piece is provided which bears against one of the flattened portions and an opening region in the first housing, thereby preventing the shaft from rotating. |
| US08590717B2 |
Railroad freight car draft gear
A railroad freight car multipiece spring seat assembly including a spring seat, a top plate, and a spring. The spring seat is adapted to operably engage one end of a spring assembly in a railroad freight car draft gear. The top plate is adapted to operably engage with each of a plurality of friction shoes arranged in the railroad freight car draft gear. The spring of the multipiece spring seat assembly is operably disposed between the spring seat and the top plate. |
| US08590712B2 |
Modular filter elements for use in a filter-in-filter cartridge
Disclosed are modular filter-in-filter elements, namely an outer filter element and an inner filter element which may be assembled to form a filter cartridge for use in separation methods and systems. The outer filter element typically functions as a coalescing element and the inner element typically functions as a particulate filter element. The disclosed filter cartridges may be structured for separating water from a hydrocarbon-based liquid fuel as the fuel moves through the cartridge from outside to inside. |
| US08590711B2 |
Method for diagnosing the operation of a water purification installation of the filter medium device type, and a diagnostic tool suitable for said method
The invention relates to a method of diagnosing the operation of a water purification installation of the filter medium device type, the material of the filter medium being made up of particles, the method including the following steps: a characterization step of characterizing at least one physical and/or mechanical parameter of the filter medium device to establish a permeability value Ks (expressed in m/s); a comparison step of comparing said established permeability value Ks with a predetermined range [kmin; kmax] of permeability values representing a satisfactory operating state of the purification installation; and a diagnosis step during which the filter medium device is assigned an operation indicator according to the result of the comparison step. Applications include non-collective sanitation (NCS) systems and stand-alone sanitation systems. |
| US08590701B2 |
Rigid hinged-lid package and relative packing method and machine
A rigid package having a group of articles; an inner package enclosing the group of articles, and having an extraction opening defined by a U-shaped first incision; a reclosable scaling panel for closing the extraction opening of the inner package; a rigid outer container housing the inner package and having an open end; and a rigid collar, which projects partly from the open end of the outer container, is folded about the inner package to at least partly cover a top portion of the inner package, and is fixed to the inner package.The reclosable sealing panel is positioned over the collar, and has an inner surface gummed with non-dry, re-stick adhesive, and which adheres to the collar when the reclosable scaling panel is in a closed position. |
| US08590700B2 |
Sleeved to press-open type storage device with a prestressed to open closure
The present invention discloses a sleeved to press-open type storage device with a prestressed to open closure having the closure and one side of the storage device connectedly attached by a flexible flake type structure, wherein it is characterized in that the relative stable relationship is that when the closure is closed relative to the storage device, the connecting flake type structure is bent to appear a prestressed status to opening direction thereby keeping the closure to remain at a stable opening status after it is pressed to open. |
| US08590698B1 |
Eyewear storage cases and related methods
Eyewear cases and collapsible storage cases for use in storing and polishing or cleaning eyewear or other objects with a scratch sensitive surface are disclosed and described. In some embodiments such a case may include a soft and flexible bag having an opening and an internal space sufficiently sized to receive and store a piece of eyewear or other object, and a soft and flexible cover attached to the bag and providing an enclosure with an opening and cavity sufficiently sized to receive and store the bag when the bag is empty. In practice the bag extends out of the cavity through the cover opening for use in either storing, cleaning, or treating eyewear or other object, and retracts back through the cover opening and substantially into the cavity when not in use for storage. |
| US08590692B2 |
System and method for singulating and separating a plurality of non-oriented items
An aspect of the present invention provides a system for transferring a plurality of non-oriented items. The system includes a feeding area, a conveyor and a rail. The conveyor has a first end, a second end, a conveyor length disposed between the first end and the second end, a conveyor first side, a conveyor second side, a conveyor width disposed between the conveyor first side and the conveyor second side, and a conveyor ledge along the second side. The rail is disposed above the conveyor and from the conveyor ledge at a distance equal to one of the item height, the item width and the item length. A first portion of the plurality of non-oriented items will convey along the conveyor path. A second portion of the plurality of non-oriented items will fall off the conveyor ledge. ledge. |
| US08590689B2 |
Conveyor system
A conveyor system having at least one variable capacity storage for a bottle treatment machine at least two guides running laterally adjacent and at least one transfer guide are provided for a bottle carrier chain of curve-going coupled bottle carriers, with runs of the bottle carrier chain being transferable from one guide to the adjacent guide via the transfer guide are drivable along the guides. Each of the guides comprises at least one continuous tension member drivable by at least one conveyor drive of the conveyor system, and a respective run of the bottle carrier chain is arranged a certain distance along a tension member, guided there by the tension member and by means of automatically releasable and engageable positive fit and / or magnetically engaging couplings in the area of the transfer guide is driven by the tension member. |
| US08590679B2 |
Shock absorber having unidirectional fluid flow
A twin-tube shock absorber comprising an outer tube which houses an inner tube. The inner tube forms an annulus area between the outer tube and the inner tube, and includes a check valve for allowing a fluid to flow unidirectionally from the annulus area to the interior volume of the inner tube. The shock absorber includes a piston which is slidably disposed within the inner tube and divides the interior volume into a rod side chamber and a cap side chamber. The piston includes a check valve allowing the fluid to flow unidirectionally from the cap side chamber to the rod side chamber. A flow regulator is disposed about the inner tube for allowing the unidirectional flow of fluid from the rod side chamber to the annulus area, wherein the flow regulator provides a resistance against the flow of the fluid from the rod side chamber to the annulus area. |
| US08590676B2 |
Fluid pressure shock absorber
A piston (8) of a fluid pressure shock absorber (D, D1) partitions a first fluid chamber (R1) and a second fluid chamber (R2) in a cylinder (5) filled with a fluid. A pipe member (3) inserted into a housing (2, 30) has a connection to one of the first fluid chamber (R1) and the second fluid chamber (R2). The housing (2, 30) and the pipe member (3) form a space (4) there-between that connects the other of the first fluid chamber (R1) and the second fluid chamber (R2) to the pipe member (3). The pipe member (3) and the space (4) form a long fluid path between the first fluid chamber (R1) and the second fluid chamber (R2). The shock absorber (D, D1) thereby generates a damping force proportional to the stroke speed of the piston (8). |
| US08590673B2 |
Manual wheel chocks with automatic positive locking
A wheel restraint includes a wheel chock that is manually movable between a retracted position clear of a wheel of a vehicle at a loading dock and an operative position to block the path of the wheel. In the retracted position, the chock can be manually moved freely along a track that is mounted to a driveway of the dock. When the chock is manually moved from its retracted position to its operative position, a locking feature automatically restricts the movement of the chock relative to the track. When the chock is manually moved back to its retracted position, the locking feature automatically disengages. Although the wheel chock is connected to a track, most of the force exerted by the wheel against the chock is transmitted directly from the chock to the driveway. |
| US08590672B2 |
Management of power from multiple sources in an elevator power system
Power is managed in an elevator system including an elevator hoist motor (12), a primary power supply (20), and an electrical energy storage (EES) system (32). A power demand of the elevator hoist motor is determined, and a state-of-charge (SOC) of the EES system is determined. Power exchanged between the hoist motor, the primary power supply, and the EES system is controlled based on the power demand of the hoist motor and the SOC of the EES system. |
| US08590670B1 |
Sound proof membrane
A sound barrier membrane comprises of a decoupling layer, a barrier layer and a dampening layer. The membrane also provides crack isolation, and acts as a vapor barrier. Numerous materials are disclosed which can be used to create these layers. Methods for assembly of the sound barrier membrane are also disclosed. |
| US08590666B2 |
Array element rigging component, system and method
Disclosed herein is a rigging component and method for connecting an array element in an array. The rigging component includes an elongate housing connectable to an array element; a connection link disposed within, and slidably extendable from, one end of the housing; a conduit extending into the housing from its opposite end, the conduit dimensioned to receive another connection link extending from an adjacent rigging component; and at least one latching device associated with the conduit for releasably retaining the other connection link within the conduit. Further disclosed is a system for connecting an array element in an array. The system comprises at least one rigging component having a connection link extendable to be locked at a single fixed distance and at least one rigging component having a connection link extendable to be locked at one of a plurality of fixed distances. |
| US08590665B2 |
Invertible ear tips for an ear piece
An ear piece for providing audio (e.g., from an electronic device) to the user is provided. The ear piece may include a compliant element operative to be inserted in the user's ear such that the compliant element deforms to retain the ear piece in the user's ear. The compliant element may include a connector portion coupling the compliant element to the ear piece housing, and an outer portion folded over the ear piece housing. To improve the user's comfort, the parting lines and other manufacturing defects may be hidden from view and from touch (e.g., the parting lines are then on the inner surface of the outer portion). |
| US08590664B2 |
Steerable drive mechanism and omnidirectional moving vehicle
A drive mechanism includes a rotatable steering unit, a wheel supported by the steering unit, a drive member rotating about an axis extending along a center axis of the steering unit, an output shaft located at an offset position from the center axis of the steering unit and transmitting rotational force of the drive member to the wheel. The drive member includes a first drive unit driven in a forward rotation direction and a second drive unit driven in a reverse rotation direction and located coaxially with the first drive unit. The output shaft includes a first output unit to which driving force is transmitted from the first drive unit, and a second output unit to which driving force is transmitted from a conversion unit for converting rotation of the second drive unit, is restricted by both the output units, and transmits rotational force obtained from the output units to the wheel. |
| US08590659B2 |
Apparatus for protecting feet
An automobile having pedals in the footwell, including, but not limited to at least one apparatus for protection of the lower extremities of the driver or this automobile. The apparatus includes, but is not limited to a deflector plate and at least one fastening element, which is connected to the deflector plate and which serves for fastening the apparatus in the footwell of the automobile, and the apparatus is disposed in the footwell of the automobile in such a manner between two pedals that a foot resting on one of the pedals cannot get behind the pedals if it slips from the pedal in the event of an accident. |
| US08590655B2 |
Pedal driven apparatus having a motor
A hybrid bicycle is provided which can be manually propelled, but which includes a motor unit for also causing forward propulsion of the bicycle. The bicycle comprises manually operable pedals fixed for rotation with a pedal spindle for receiving a manually provided driving force and a motor having a shaft for receiving a motor provided driving force. A first torque transmission path is provided for transferring the manually provided driving force to a sprocket of the pedal driven apparatus and a second torque transmission path is provided for transferring the motor provided driving force to said sprocket of the pedal driven apparatus. A first one way drive means is also provided. This is provided in the first torque transmission path between the pedal spindle and the sprocket such that when the sprocket is being driven by the motor provided driving force through the second torque transmission path, the pedal spindle is able to freewheel. The second torque transmission path may include a gear mechanism mechanically coupling the motor shaft to the sprocket of the pedal driven apparatus. The gear mechanism has a reduction gear ratio and operates to transfer the motor provided driving force from the motor shaft to the sprocket at said reduction gear ratio. The motor may be arranged concentrically around a pedal spindle of the pedal driven apparatus such that the pedal spindle is freely accommodated through a hollow bore of the motor shaft and such that their axes of rotation are parallel and preferably co-incident. |
| US08590651B2 |
Intake system of vehicle engine installed in engine compartment
In an intake system of an engine of a vehicle, an intake duct includes a horizontal portion having a front end and a rear end in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and located to extend in the front-rare direction of the vehicle to be opposite to a top face of a battery, and a vertical portion extending curvedly from the front end of the horizontal portion and extending downward in a height direction of the vehicle along a front face of the battery. The vertical portion is formed with an air intake at a bottom thereof in the height direction of the vehicle. The air intake is located at a front side of the battery in the front-rear direction of the vehicle to be higher in the height direction of the vehicle than a bottom edge of the front face of the battery. An opening of the air intake is directed downward in the height direction of the vehicle. |
| US08590650B2 |
Cooling package assembly for work vehicles
A cooling package assembly for a work vehicle. A plurality of heat exchangers cooperate with one another to define an interior of a cooling box. Single pass airflow is pushed across the heat exchangers. In one embodiment, the heat exchangers cooperate with one another to define a v-shape. |
| US08590649B2 |
In-wheel motor unit
An in-wheel motor unit is suspended from a vehicle body and outputs torque from an internal motor to a wheel; and has a knuckle, which is suspended from the aforementioned vehicle body; an output shaft, which outputs motor torque to the wheel; a wheel hub, which rotates together with the wheel and is connected to the output shaft such that the output shaft and the wheel hub can rotate together; and a unit casing for the in-wheel motor unit, which houses the motor. The wheel hub is rotatably supported by a first part of the knuckle via a hub bearing, and the unit casing is fixed to a second part of the knuckle via a sleeve. |
| US08590647B2 |
Wheelchair tow device
A wheelchair tow device which includes a frame sub-assembly, at least one front ground engaging wheel, at least one rear ground engaging wheel, a motive source capable of rotating at least one of the at least one front ground engaging wheel and the at least one rear ground engaging wheel, an energy storage device, wherein the energy storage device is in electrical communication with the motive source, and a handle assembly. |
| US08590645B2 |
Impregnated drill bits and methods of manufacturing the same
A drill bit has a matrix bit body with a lower end face for engaging a rock formation, wherein the end face has a plurality of raised impregnated ribs extending from the face of the bit body and separated by a plurality of channels therebetween. At least one of the plurality of ribs has a leading or trailing portion thereof comprising the same the matrix material as the bit body forming a continuous body matrix. |
| US08590641B2 |
Method and system for evaluating groups of threaded connections
A method associated with the selection of tubulars for hydrocarbon production is described. In particular, the method is associated with the evaluation of performance limits of threaded connections. In this method, constituents of an evaluation group of threaded connections are determined via model analysis. Then, physical testing on a first group of threaded connections in the evaluation group is conducted. Modeling analysis on the first group and a second group of threaded connections is performed, wherein the second group are not physically tested. Once modeled, the results from the physical testing and the modeling analysis are compared to assess a characteristic performance factor for the first group. Then, the characteristic performance factor is applied to the second group, and the performance limits are defined based on this characteristic performance factor. |
| US08590640B2 |
Apparatus and method to maintain constant fluid circulation during drilling
An apparatus for maintaining constant circulation of drilling fluid includes a valve section (5) at the top of each section of drill pipes to be connected to or removed from the drill string. The valve section (5) has a top inlet for axial circulation and a side inlet (5b) for radial circulation. Two separate valves (5c, 5d) within the valve section controls flow through the inlets. An external valve control device (4) has a circulation adapter (4b) for connecting drill fluid at operational pressure to the side inlet (5b) and separate activating adapters (4c, 4d) connecting to the couplings for opening or closing the valves (5c, 5d). |
| US08590634B2 |
Subsea drilling
A subsea cutting device for a subsea blow-out preventer or wellhead comprises a tubular body having an axial throughbore, and configured to be fitted to a casing string, the cutting device further comprising a shearing mechanism in the form of a radial cutting system rotatably mounted within a pressure-containing housing, and comprising a plurality of movable cutters arranged around the throughbore and configured for deployment during rotation successively inwards. The cutting device is useful in a subsea shut off device which is latched to a template at surface and run to the sea floor on a casing string which is drilled into place and converted into a riser on a single trip. For the event when emergency disconnection is required, the device may be used to cut the casing and seal in the well. The system then allows a conventional subsea reconnection of the riser. |
| US08590631B2 |
Firefighting in railway vehicles
The invention relates to a railway vehicle comprising a fire-fighting system having a supply container for extinguishing agent, a system of pipes, means for dispensing extinguishing agent, and a pressure-generating means. To improve the reliability of this system, it is proposed that the pressure-generating means be coupled to a compressed-air supply belonging to the railway vehicle, that a quiescent pressure can be generated in the system of pipes with the help of the pressure-generating means, and that a case of fire can be detected by means of a pressure drop in the system of pipes. |
| US08590620B2 |
Oil shale processing
A method of in-situ processing of a subterranean oil shale formation to produce hydrocarbons comprising contacting the oil shale with (i) a carbon monoxide/water mixture or (ii) a carbon monoxide/water/hydrogen mixture together with at least one liquefaction promoter, under pressure and heat to produce hydrocarbons. |
| US08590616B1 |
Caged ball fractionation plug
A caged ball fractionation plug for use in a wellbore with a crown engagement having a tapered nose cone and various load ring, slips, slip backups, lubricating spacers and seals can all be slidably engaged to the mandrel. Upon applying pressure, the slidably engaged components can be compressed against each other and the plug can expand and bite into the casing of the wellbore. The caged ball portion of the plug seats the ball internal to the plug to create two separate fractionation zones in the wellbore. |
| US08590614B2 |
High pressure stimulation pump
A reciprocating apparatus for pumping pressurized fluid. The reciprocating apparatus comprises a plunger disposed within a cylinder, wherein the plunger is hollow and ported for enabling fluid within the cylinder to flow into the plunger. The plunger includes at least one outlet through which fluid within the plunger flows out of the plunger. In operation, the plunger retracts to displace fluid from the hollow body and into a discharge chamber, and the plunger extends towards the discharge chamber to discharge the displaced fluid. As the plunger alternately retracts and extends, fluid within the plunger continuously flows towards the discharge chamber. |
| US08590613B2 |
Overshot with dynamic seal feature
An overshot has an articulated seal that can be set against the fish when the fish is engaged by the tool. The seal can be actuated from swelling due to exposure to well fluid or mechanically or hydraulically from the string that supports it. The use of spears or overshots with the articulated seal feature is contemplated. If a swelling design is used it can respond to water or hydrocarbons that are found at the subterranean location. |
| US08590608B2 |
Method and apparatus for multilateral construction and intervention of a well
A multilateral access system for a multilateral well including a main well bore and at least one lateral well bore includes a tubular workstring having an inner string and an outer string. The outer string includes a diverter body having a cylindrical housing with a lateral window, the diverter body being shaped and dimensioned to direct the inner string the lateral window and into the at least one lateral well bore. The system is used by positioning the tubular workstring within a multilateral bore. The method further includes positioning the diverter body such that the window of the diverter body faces a milled casing window of the lateral well bore and moving the inner string upwardly above the diverter body. Subsequently, the inner string is lowered back though the diverter body, wherein the diverter body exerts a lateral force on a lower end of the inner string urging the lower end of the inner string toward the milled casing window. |
| US08590604B2 |
Double-wall-tube heat exchanger
A double-wall-tube heat exchanger has outer and inner tubes. A clearance between the outer and inner tubes and the interior of the inner tube serve as refrigerant flow paths. Opposite end portions of the inner tube project from opposite ends of the outer tube. The outer tube includes expanded portions formed near the opposite ends. Contracted portions are formed on the outer tube to be located on the outer sides of the expanded portions, and are brazed to the inner tube. Longitudinally extending ridges project radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the outer tube at predetermined circumferential intervals. The ridges on the inner circumferential surfaces of the expanded portions and the contracted portions are crushed. The clearances between the inner tube and portions of the contracted portions of the outer tube where the ridges are not formed are filled with a brazing filler metal. |
| US08590603B2 |
Heat exchanger insulation gap
An aircraft heat exchanger that exchanges heat between fluid, like air, to be warmed and a medium, like a liquid, to be cooled has a first path that encounters the fluid to be warmed and carries the medium at a first temperature. A second path carries the medium at a second temperature adjacent to the first path. An insulation gap is disposed between the first path and the second path so that heat exchange between the first and second path is minimized. |
| US08590602B2 |
Heat exchanger for outdoor enclosures
A heat exchanger having a wet side separate from a dry side for an equipment cabinet is provided. The heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger enclosure having a wet side fan and a dry side fan. The wet side fan draws air in from the external environment and routes the air through a heat exchanger core and out the heat exchanger enclosure. The dry side fan draws air in from within the equipment cabinet and routes the air through the heat exchanger core and out back into the equipment cabinet. The air from the outside acts to cool the heat exchanger core, which in turn acts to cool the air from the dry side as the air is routed through the heat exchanger core. |
| US08590595B2 |
Casting methods and apparatus
One embodiment is a method. The method includes providing a casting apparatus including a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the first chamber is isolated from the second chamber. The method includes charging an alloy composition into a crucible present in the first chamber and melting the alloy composition in the crucible to form a molten alloy composition. The method includes discharging the molten alloy composition into a casting mold present in the second chamber; applying a positive pressure to the first chamber to create a first chamber pressure; and applying a vacuum to the second chamber to create a second chamber pressure, wherein the first chamber pressure is greater than the second chamber pressure. The method further includes casting a filament or a turbine component from the molten alloy composition in the casting mold. An apparatus for casting a filament or a turbine component is also provided. |
| US08590590B2 |
Machine for fitting and removing tires
A machine for fitting and removing a tire (1) from a rim (2) of a wheel (3). The machine comprises a frame (10), a rotating table (11) for attaching the wheel to and for rotating the rim about its axis (Y), and a tool for fitting and/or removing the tire from the rim. The machine also comprises a lever (12) to which a pressure element (13) is attached in order to push the bead (6) of the tire toward a circumferential recess of the rim. The lever (12) is connected to the frame (10) and comprises a first articulation in order to bring a pressure element (13) closer to or further from the axis (Y), and a second articulation in order to bring the pressure element (13) closer to or further from a central plane (PC) perpendicular to the axis (Y) and passing through the center (D) of the rim (2).The first articulation is situated at a location such that the friction force of the tire on the pressure element (13) when the tire is in rotation will result in a centripetal force on the pressure element (13), thus reducing the force to be exerted on the lever (12).The second articulation is situated at a location such that said friction force will result in a force on the pressure element (13) directed toward the central plane (PC), thus also reducing the force to be exerted on the lever (12). |
| US08590587B2 |
Pneumatic tire
A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion, a pair of sidewall portions, a pair of bead portions, a pair of bead cores disposed one in each of the bead portions, and a carcass ply extending between the bead portions through the tread portion and sidewall portions, wherein the carcass ply is composed of windings of at least one carcass cord looped around the two bead cores in a helical manner and/or figure-of-eight manner. |
| US08590579B2 |
Inlet for a tank
The invention relates to an inlet for a tank which is intended for a liquid food product. The inlet is placed in the side wall of the tank and at the upper end of the tank. The inlet is further designed so that the inflowing product is distributed in fan-shape along the inside of the tank. The application also includes a method of supplying liquid food product to a tank. |
| US08590578B2 |
Device to form a leno selvedge
A device for the formation of a leno selvedge includes a frame for installation on the heddle shafts of a loom. The frame has at least one needle pair for two leno threads. The needle pair is mounted in the frame so that it can pivot around the longitudinal axis of the frame, and the device includes a pivot drive for pivoting the needle pair. |
| US08590566B2 |
Coupling device
A coupling device which is provided at a mouth 4a of a container accommodating a flexible container containing liquid and gas and which includes a plug 11 and a fitted member to be fitted in the plug 11, wherein the plug 11 includes a plug cylinder 11a, a liquid passage 16 communicating with the liquid and through which the liquid is let in and out, gas passages 17 communicating with the gas and through which the gas is let in and out, and fluid passages 19 communicating with a space between the container and the flexible container and through which fluid is let in and out. |
| US08590564B2 |
Integrated bulk fluids management system
Modular storage and controlled outflow systems for controlling a flow of water and methods of assembly of modular storage and controlled outflow systems having indirect flow of water through the system. Modular systems for controlling a flow of water having beams extending across the modules to direct the flow of water in an indirect manner or a serpentine or semi-serpentine manner. Modular storage and controlled outflow systems for treatment and filtration of water. |
| US08590560B2 |
Opening/closing device
An opening/closing device includes a gate that receives a flow of a sewage, and can fall toward a downstream side of the flow, a fall prevention unit that prevents the gate from falling by supporting the gate, a support release unit that releases the support for the gate by the fall prevention unit, a first float that is arranged on the upstream side of the gate, and is smaller in specific gravity than the sewage, a surfacing prevention unit that prevents the first float from surfacing, a second float that is arranged on the upstream side of the gate, above the first float, and is smaller in specific gravity than the fluid, and a surfacing-prevention release unit that releases, resulting from surfacing of the second float, the prevention of the surfacing of the first float by the surfacing prevention unit. Further, the support release unit is activated resulting from surfacing of the first float. |
| US08590557B2 |
Dual flap device for the environmentally tight connection of two receptacles
A dual flap device for the environmentally tight connection of two receptacles is provided with two housing halves, which can be releasably connected. Each housing half accommodates a flap, which is pivotable by way of a half shaft. In a connected position of the dual flap device, the housing halves and the flaps rest against each other and are tensioned against one another, respectively. The half shafts of the two flaps unite to form a mutual shaft having a rotational axis. Thus, using a locking device, both flaps can be pivoted between a closed position and an open position by way of the mutual shaft. A first housing half is provided with a locking device, at least on one side, located in axial extension of the respective half shaft, which makes it possible to switch the dual flap device between an unlocked and a locked position. |
| US08590555B2 |
Low pressure measurement devices in high pressure environments
The present invention presents various novel approaches to solving the problems inherent in measuring biological pressures in high pressure systems. Thus, to protect a pressure transducer exposed to fluid flows at higher pressures than its overpressure rating, a novel valve is used that closes a protected leg in which the transducer is located. The various exemplary embodiments of such valves each have a high pressure input, one or more low pressure inputs, and an output. In operation, when a high pressure fluid flow occurs at a high pressure input, such valves automatically close the low pressure inputs. Alternatively, a novel transducer system is presented, which automatically limits the effective pressure sensed by a transducer to a certain maximum. |
| US08590553B2 |
Detent actuators, foldable apparatus including detent actuators, and related methods
Detent actuators may comprise an elongate arm member, a detent button actuating surface, a receiving region, and a mounting structure. The detent button actuating surface may be sized and configured to actuate a detent button. The receiving region may be sized and configured to receive at least one of a finger and a thumb. The mounting structure may be sized and configured to facilitate mounting of the elongate arm to a structure that is selectively slidable relative to a structure comprising the detent button. Additionally, foldable apparatus may comprise a post comprising a detent button, a fitting slidably coupled to the post, and a detent button actuator coupled to the fitting. Methods of operating a detent button may comprise applying a force to a receiving region of a detent button actuator and depressing the detent button with a detent button actuating surface. |
| US08590552B2 |
Ring cane
A walking cane used to transport, display and immobilize objects, such as rings, is disclosed. The primary object is to provide an improved form of walking cane adapted to securely immobilize, transport and present objects, such as rings. The walking cane contains a compartment with an inlay used to immobilize, display and transport said objects, wherein the inlay contains slots designed to allow the objects to remain in an upright manner. |
| US08590551B2 |
Umbrella cover
The cover of the present invention is a holder for a foldable umbrella composed of a sheet of flexible material preferably having an outer and an inner layer and a fastener, preferably a zipper having an open and closed position, affixed to the outer perimeter of the flexible material such that when the zipper is in the closed position the flexible material is configured into an enclosure adapted to hold a foldable umbrella for storage and transportation and when the zipper is in the open position the flexible material is configured into a sheet adapted to be laid flat open on a level surface. |
| US08590550B2 |
Apparatus for cleaning contaminants from substrate
A substrate holder is defined to support a substrate. A rotating mechanism is defined to rotate the substrate holder. An applicator is defined to extend over the substrate holder to dispense a cleaning material onto a surface of the substrate when present on the substrate holder. The applicator is defined to apply a downward force to the cleaning material on the surface of the substrate. In one embodiment the cleaning material is gelatinous. |
| US08590549B2 |
Device for removing dust from pharmaceutical tables or capsules
A device for removing dust from pharmaceutical tablets or capsules, comprising a dust removal column with a first ramp for controlled conveying in a helical shape; the first ramp is composed of a conveying conduit which has walls leak-light wiih respect to the tablets or capsules and which comprises an inlet in the lower part of the column and an outlet in the upper part of the column, this column comprising a chamber which aspirates dust from tablets or capsules and which has walls that are leak-tight with respect to the conveyed tablets or capsules, a passage for aspiration of dust from tablets or capsules is provided, and the whole assembly formed by the conveying conduit and the aspiration chamber is configured such that the column is leak-tight with respect to the dust from the tablets or capsules. |
| US08590547B2 |
Liquid processing apparatus
A liquid processing apparatus processes a lower surface and a side surface of an object to be processed W. The liquid processing apparatus includes: a process-liquid supply mechanism configured to supply a process liquid to the object to be processed; a drain mechanism configured to drain the process liquid having processed the object to be processed W; a rotational cup disposed circumferentially outward the object to be processed W, the rotational cup being configured to guide the process liquid having processed the object to be processed W to the drain mechanism; and a driving part configured to rotate the rotational cup. The rotational cup is provided with a support part that projects circumferentially inward so as to support a circumferential part of the object to be processed W. |
| US08590543B2 |
Hair extension kit
A hair extension kit may be packaged in such a way that patterns may be readily printed onto the hair using a standard printer. The hair extension may be removable from the kit to easily accessorize a girl's or doll's hair. |
| US08590541B2 |
Actuating hookah bowl
A hookah bowl, hookah utilized the hookah bowl, and process for using a hookah is disclosed. The hookah bowl includes two principal members, a bowl shell and an adjustable bowl burner that alters its position within the bowl shell. The bowl burner may adjust its position longitudinally, radially, or both. |
| US08590536B2 |
Lateral support craniocervical orthosis and method
A device and method for preventing and correcting abnormal shaping of an infant's cranium by applying external forces over time with the growth of an infant to achieve normal shaping of the infant's head. The device is a cranial orthosis having a depression with a contact surface in the shape of at least a portion of a normal infantile cranium. The orthosis further provides lateral support surfaces creating points of contact to restrict rotation of the infant's cranium and provide additional external forces for normal shaping of the infant's cranium. Because the present invention is non-conforming to the shape of an abnormal skull, the exerted forces cause accelerated expansion of the skull in less prominent areas coincident with brain and skull growth. |
| US08590535B2 |
Larynx mask having an esophageal passage
A larynx mask (1) includes a cover plate (12) having a peripheral cull (13) adjoining thereon and is provided with a tube insertion connector (11) at the proximal end, while the tip (4) has a special design at the distal end. The cover plate 12 ends in the region of the tip on the cuff, or even before that, and the esophageal passage (18) runs as an open channel (20) over a constricted region (13′) of the cuff (13). Said channel preferably includes a widening (22) and is delimited on both sides by reinforcement means (21), which are preferably formed by reinforcing walls (21′) or additionally as reinforcing ribs (21″). Said design of the lead-through of the esophageal passage results in a considerable reinforcement of the proximal tip of the larynx mask and therefore counteracts possible kinking of the tip (4). |
| US08590532B2 |
Filtration mask
A filtration mask has a collapsible air guide and two filter supports connected at a hinge. The filter supports are movable between a storage position and a deployment position in which the angle between the filter supports being less in the deployment position than in the storage position. In an aspect of this invention, the filter support each have a recess at the hinging edge, and an exhale valve communicating with the air guide is mounted in the recess. In another aspect the exhale valve is connected to the filter supports by a flexible membrane. In a third aspect the air guide is formed by hinged panels. |
| US08590530B2 |
Nasal delivery devices
A nasal delivery device for and method of delivering substance to a nasal cavity of a subject, the delivery device comprising: a container-receiving unit comprising a container chamber for receiving a substance-containing container which contains substance to be delivered to the nasal cavity of the subject, the container chamber including an inlet and an outlet; a nosepiece unit including a nosepiece for fitting to a nasal cavity of the subject and being in fluid communication with the outlet of the container chamber; a mouthpiece unit including a mouthpiece in fluid communication with the inlet of the container chamber and through which the subject in use exhales, such as to entrain substance from the container and deliver the same through the nosepiece; and moisture-mitigation means for mitigating an effect of moisture in an exhaled breath on the entrainment of substance from the container. |
| US08590529B2 |
Actuator for an inhaler
An actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation, comprising: a housing for receiving a canister which comprises a body which includes a base and a head and defines a chamber containing medicament, and a valve stem which extends from the body and from which medicament is in use delivered on actuation of the canister; an outlet through which a user in use inhales; and a nozzle assembly which provides for delivery of medicament through the outlet, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle block which receives the valve stem of the canister and, as a separately-formed component, a nozzle outlet which is fluidly connected to the nozzle block and includes an outlet orifice from which medicament is in use delivered. |
| US08590526B2 |
Gas stove having improved burners incorporated with removable flame heat transfer regulating apparatus concealed by top plates of the stove
A stove of saving the combustible gases and ornamenting a kitchen. The stove includes a multiple burner configuration composed of improved removable burners. Each removable burner has a plurality of gas ports for generating angularly patterned flame directly in contact with the bottom surface of a cooking utensil, combustible gas dispersing means and gas-primary air mixing means for producing a homogeneous mixture of the combustible gases and air to achieve efficient combustion. The gas ports are located to each burner's upper section which is surrounded by a removable heat transfer regulating apparatus, wherein the apparatus focuses heat on the utensil positioned onto the apparatus and above the burner to thereby prevent loss of the heat. A flat top plate of the stove conceals the apparatus, which causes the stove to have a flat top surface, so that the visual effect of the flat top surface of the stove is in harmony with that of the horizontal surface of a counter top where the stove is installed to thereby additionally ornament the kitchen. |
| US08590523B2 |
Machine for truing abrasive wheels
A truing and dressing machine for profiling an abrasive wheel. The truing and dressing machine includes a truing wheel assembly for positioning the truing wheel relative to an abrasive wheel mounted on an abrasive wheel spindle. The truing wheel assembly includes a truing wheel swivel located between a truing wheel spindle housing and a reciprocation slide that is attached to an infeed slide. An infeed slide swivel is located between the infeed slide and a bottom support swivel plate which is rotatably connected to a base plate. Utilization of both an infeed slide swivel and a truing wheel swivel allows for dressing both sides and the face of the abrasive wheel without having to remove, flip, and reinsert the abrasive wheel into the machine. |
| US08590518B2 |
Ignition coil
An ignition coil for an Otto engine for an high-voltage winding has a conductive, laminar component, which is at a specified distance from the high-voltage winding and which is electrically connected to a terminal of the ignition coil. In a method for the capacitive coupling of the high-voltage winding of an ignition coil for diagnostic purposes, a conductive, laminar component of the ignition coil, which is at a specified distance from the high-voltage winding and which is electrically connected to a terminal of the ignition coil, is used as a capacitive coupling element. |
| US08590508B2 |
Method and injection mould for the production of an intake system composed of plastic for internal combustion engines and intake system produced
The invention relates to a method which uses an injection mold for the production of an intake system which is composed of plastic and is intended for internal combustion engines, and which has a plurality of parallel-running intake pipes and which has, arranged in the intake pipes, throttle flaps operated by way of a shared shaft bearing against bearings located in the walls of the intake pipe. A simplified production process is obtained if two mandrels (1, 2) of the injection mold, intended for formation of apertures for the bearings, are inserted respectively from one side of the injection mold in such a way that ends of the mandrels (1, 2) bear against one another in the injection mold, and if the method of production of apertures situated further outwards, with respectively greater diameter than the adjacent inwardly situated apertures is such that each mandrel (1, 2) is of staged shape, and the mandrels (1, 2) are drawn out during demolding at the two sides of the injection mold. |
| US08590507B2 |
Variable valve actuation control systems and methods
A variable valve actuation (VVA) system comprises a spark control module and a phaser control module. The spark control module maintains a spark timing of a cylinder at a maximum braking torque (MBT) spark timing during engine idling. The phaser control module, during the engine idling, adjusts an intake valve timing of the cylinder away from a predetermined intake valve timing. The predetermined intake valve timing corresponds to a maximum air per cylinder (APC) for the cylinder at a current engine speed. The adjustment of the intake valve timing produces an APC that is less than the maximum APC. |
| US08590505B2 |
Method of operating a compression ignition internal combustion engine
A method of operating a combustion ignition engine comprises introducing an amount of a compressibly non-ignitable fuel into the air induction system of a compression ignition engine during the intake stroke of the engine and then injecting an amount of compressibly ignitable fuel (e.g., Diesel fuel) in the cylinder chamber at a crank angle sufficiently advanced during the compression stroke of the compression ignition engine such that the compressibly ignitable fuel and incompressible non-ignitable fuel ignite and combust such that substantially all of the fuel in the cylinder is combusted, where the amount of compressibly non-ignitable fuel introduced into the cylinder has an energy content that is at least about 50% to at most about 99% of the total energy content of the total amount of fuel introduced. |
| US08590504B2 |
Method for controlling an intake system
A method and a system for controlling an intake system for an engine is disclosed. The method includes steps for selecting an intake mode according to the current engine speed and the current cylinder mode. The method may be used for controlling an intake system in conjunction with a multi-displacement engine having one or more cylinders that may be deactivated. |
| US08590502B2 |
Method for the production of a cylinder crankcase having multiple cylinder liners and short cylinder liner with a material strip affixed thereto
A cylinder liner for use in a cylinder crankcase includes a liner body having at least one end face, and a material strip. The material strip is affixed to the liner body and projects axially from the at least one end face of the liner body. |
| US08590500B2 |
System for starting internal combustion engine
In an engine starting system, when a first solenoid is energized at a first timing in response to any one of a turning on of a starter switch and an occurrence of an engine restart request, a solenoid actuator shifts a pinion to a ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. When a second solenoid is energized, a solenoid switch member energizes a motor. A determiner determines a second timing of energization of the second solenoid after the first timing so that a first delay time from the first timing to the second timing when the first timing is responsive to the turning on of the starter switch is different from a second delay time from the first timing to the second timing when the first timing is responsive to the occurrence of the engine restart request. |
| US08590498B2 |
Camshaft adjustment device for an internal combustion engine
A device for variable adjustment of the timing of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, which has a hydraulic phase shifting device, a camshaft and a pressurizing medium distributor. The phase shifting device can come into drive linkage with a crankshaft and is rigidly connected to the camshaft. A phase position of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft can be variably adjusted by the phase shifting device. The interior of the camshaft has a cavity that communicates with one or more camshaft bearings which are separate from a rotating pressurizing medium conveyor. The pressurizing medium distributor is disposed in a receiving area of the camshaft. The camshaft has an opening in the area of the pressurizing medium distributor, which communicates with the interior of the camshaft and the pressurizing medium conveyor. A pressurizing medium path is inside the camshaft, which communicates the opening and hydraulic phase shift device. |
| US08590493B1 |
Systems and devices for separating water and contaminants from fuel
A device is for separating water and contaminants from fuel that is being supplied from an upstream fuel reservoir to a downstream internal combustion engine. The device comprises a housing configured to couple with the upstream fuel reservoir, the housing having an inlet receiving fuel, water and contaminants, and an outlet discharging the fuel; a gravity separator disposed in the housing between the inlet and the outlet, the gravity separator separating the water from the fuel; and a filter disposed in the housing between the inlet and the outlet, the filter filtering the contaminants from the fuel. |
| US08590491B2 |
Device for producing heat by circulating a fluid under pressure through a plurality of tubes, and a thermodynamic system implementing such a device
The present invention provides a secondary heat production device (5) for fitting to a closed circuit thermodynamic system associating main heat production means (1) operating by compressing a fluid and a heat exchanger (2) that are interconnected by a fluid flow channel (3). The device (5) is mainly constituted by a plurality of individual channels (8, 9) interposed between an inlet chamber (11) and an outlet chamber (13), each of the chambers (11, 13) including a respective inlet or outlet pipe (10, 12) on a common axis and presenting respective identical main sections corresponding to the total section of the individual channels (8, 9). |
| US08590486B2 |
Safety valve for an automatic dairy animal milker unit backflusher and teat dip applicator
A safety valve for use in a dairy backflushing and dipping system. The safety valve is situated on or near a milker unit to seal and protect downstream dairy milk lines from teat dip and cleaning fluids that are fed through the safety valve to upstream milker unit components. All of the fluids, including dip, cleansers, water, and air pass through and are controlled by the safety valve. |
| US08590485B2 |
Small form factor plasma source for high density wide ribbon ion beam generation
An ion source, capable of generating high-density wide ribbon ion beam, utilizing inductively coupled plasma production is disclosed. As opposed to conventional ICP sources, the present disclosure describes an ICP source which is not cylindrical. Rather, the source is defined such that its width, which is the dimension along which the beam is extracted, is greater than its height. The depth of the source may be defined to maximize energy transfer from the antenna to the plasma. In a further embodiment, a multicusp magnetic field surrounding the ICP source is used to further increase the current density and improve the uniformity of the extracted ion beam. Ion beam uniformity can also be controlled by means of several independent controls, including gas flow rate, and input RF power. |
| US08590482B2 |
Conveying apparatus for dipping workpieces into a treatment bath
A traveling type dipping apparatus in a painting system of a vehicle body of an automobile, usable as mechanism to rotate and dip the vehicle body having been supported on a conveying traveling body horizontally in a forward facing direction in a treatment liquid while conveying the vehicle body. |
| US08590479B2 |
Preserving seasoning flavour profiles during the manufacturing of food-seasoning sheets
A method and an installation are provided for preserving desired seasoning flavor profiles during the manufacturing of food-seasoning sheets. The method includes the steps of; laying a thin layer of adhesive on a base sheet; removing air from the adhesive prior to the step of laying; reducing free moisture from the adhesive during the step of laying, and depositing food-seasoning ingredients onto the thin layer of adhesive. The installation for manufacturing food-seasoning sheets includes an adhesive dispenser having a reservoir and a delivery slot communicating with the reservoir for dispensing adhesive. The dispenser has a heating element mounted thereto for heating the adhesive. The adhesive is made under a partial vacuum and it is conveyed to the dispenser in a partial vacuum. |
| US08590473B1 |
Safety catch for launch and recovery
One of more safety catches attachable to water vessels for preventing rollback during launch and recovery operations. Each safety catch includes a pivotally attached catch arm for mating with a notched groove in an inclined surface to prevent the rollback. |
| US08590470B2 |
Protective cover kit for a marine propeller
Provided is a protective cover kit for a marine propeller having a protective cover and a shift control warning attachment. The protective cover components have a slit and a central opening with a plurality of reliefs radiating from its circumference capable of accommodating various sized propeller hubs or shafts. Attaching elements are coupled to a slit and the first layer and second layer of the protective cover. The first and second layers are of a shape capable of substantially encasing a marine propeller. Once a force is applied by a user to the release apparatus, the attaching element is released and the protective cover is removed remotely from a distance above the surrounding water of the marine propeller. A shift control warning attachment is installed by a user onto a shift control lever to prevent inadvertent shifting prior to the removal of the propeller cover. |
| US08590468B2 |
Presser device for use with sewing machine and sewing machine
A presser device for a sewing machine is disclosed. The presser device includes a presser bar; a presser foot provided at a lower end of the presser bar; a presser spring elastically biasing the presser foot downward; a presser-foot lifting lever moved between a lifted position and a lowered position for lifting/lowering of the presser foot; a speed restraining element producing resistance capable of slowing down the movement of the lever; and a speed-restraint switch mechanism that slows down the movement of the presser-foot lifting lever by allowing the speed restraining element to produce the resistance when the presser-foot lifting lever is moved from the lifted position to the lowered position, and that does not slow down the movement of the presser-foot lifting lever by not allowing the speed restraining element to produce the resistance when the presser-foot lifting lever is moved from the lowered position to the lifted position. |
| US08590465B2 |
Liquid-cooled grill plate comprising wear plates and stepped grill made of such grill plates
The liquid-cooled grill plate has a carrier and drive design (15), having a separate cooling body (K) that can be placed into said carrier and drive design (15) and permeated by the liquid and having wear plates mounted onto said cooling body (K). The cooling body (K) is a welded design formed by square tube sections (20-26) and profiled sections (27), said design forming continuous elongated recesses (28-30) extending across the entire extension with the exception of the square tube sections (23-26) bridging said recesses (28-30). The carrier design is a ribbed configuration made of planar steel parts that are welded together and the drive unit (15) encloses a hydraulic cylinder-piston unit, which is accommodated in the inside of a square tube (18), said tube being guided displaceably in a tunnel-like breakthrough on said ribbed configuration. Between the wear plates and the cooling body (K) a highly heat-conductive soft silicone film (31) is clamped, which ensures good heat transfer. In this way, it is ensured that during operation the wear plates always remain in the non-critical temperature range in that they are cooled by the cooling body (K) disposed beneath, which heats up to about 50° C. Said grill plate is much easier and inexpensive to produce because the welding work is considerably reduced and less complex as a result of the use of a separate cooling body (K). |
| US08590464B2 |
Pulverized coal concentration adjustment apparatus and pulverized coal combustion boiler
To achieve an improvement in concentration distribution in a vertical direction at an inlet of a pulverized coal distributor and uniformly distribute pulverized coal to respective pulverized coal burners. A pulverized coal distributor and a gas-particle flow adjustment device provided on an upstream side of the pulverized coal distributor and at a bottom in a pulverized coal pipe to adjust pulverized coal to branch pipes in concentration are provided, the gas-particle flow adjustment device comprises a plate-shaped member provided along a substantially overall width of the pulverized coal pipe to have a substantially rectangular shape as viewed in plan view, a front edge of the gas-particle flow adjustment device is mounted pivotally to a bottom surface of the pulverized coal pipe, and an angle formed between an upper surface of the gas-particle flow adjustment device and a bottom surface of the pulverized coal pipe can be automatically adjusted on the basis of signals from flow sensors mounted to the respective branch pipes. |
| US08590463B1 |
Method and apparatus for drying solid fuels
A system for drying solid fuels prior to injection and burning in solid fuel boilers is described. High moisture content solid fuels such as bark, sludge, wet coal, are preferably dried to some degree before they can burn. The present invention incorporates a delivery chute in which combustion gases dry the solid fuel before it reaches the combustion chamber of the boiler. In one embodiment, the combustion gases are drawn through the delivery chute to remove moisture from the incoming fuel and then the gases flow back into the boiler. A second embodiment directly exposes the wet fuel to the combustion in the boiler for a sufficient time to remove a substantial amount of moisture before the fuel is spread onto the solid fuel combustion region. |
| US08590462B1 |
Table with integrated and ground-covering blanket
The table with integrated and ground-covering blanket includes a foldable table from which a cover extends from a bottom, perimeter of a tabletop surface and which covers the surrounding ground. The foldable table includes attaching indicia at the bottom, perimeter that enable attachment of the blanket thereto, as well as to fold and secure shut the table when not in use. The foldable table may include at least one cup holder, and legs that rotate downwardly from underneath. |
| US08590460B2 |
Railway freight car truck
An improved railway car truck is provided that includes two sideframes and a bolster. The bolster has laterally opposite ends, each end extending into and supported within a sideframe opening on a spring group. Each sideframe also has a pedestal opening at each end to receive a bearing adapter assembly. The railway car truck also includes a transom extending into and supported within a sideframe opening. The spring group is supported at each transom end. A lateral damping cylinder is connected between the bolster and the transom. A vertical damping cylinder is connected between the bolster and the sideframe. |
| US08590458B2 |
Chair-lift
A chair-lift has a chair, in turn having a seat, a safety bar rotating about a first axis between an open position and a closed position, and at least one footrest bar supported by the safety bar and mounted to rotate about a second axis to move the footrest bar with respect to the seat, when the safety bar is in the closed position. |
| US08590457B2 |
Lightweight rerailer
A rerailer device for rerailing a railway vehicle onto a track, the device including a body with a ramp adapted to support a wheel of a railway vehicle thereon, a sloped face provided on said body and being configured with a slope that declines in a preferred direction toward the track on which the railway vehicle wheel is to be rerailed, and support means for supporting said sloped surface and railway vehicle wheels thereon, where the support configuration, material or combinations of configurations and materials facilitate lightweight construction. |
| US08590453B2 |
Extending boom for stabilizing projectiles launched from an apparatus
A projectile for launch from an apparatus is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the projectile includes a body; a boom having a first end extendable from the body; and an armature coupled to the first end of the boom, wherein the armature is configured to be moveable along and launchable from the apparatus and the armature is configured to be separable from the first end of the extended boom after launch from the apparatus. |
| US08590452B2 |
Arrangement for supporting shell into weapon barrel, support element and method
The invention relates to an arrangement for supporting a shell (1), such as a mortar shell, into the barrel of a breech-loading weapon, the arrangement comprising a support element (8) to be fastened to the tail of the mortar shell, the element comprising a rim flange (87), means for fastening the support element to the tail of the mortar shell (1), and firing means (9) for firing an actual primer (5) of the mortar shell (1) for firing the mortar shell. The arrangement is characterized in that the means for fastening the support element to the shell tail are arranged in the support element (8) by means of finger-like fastening members (80) settling onto the shell tail tube (3) and arranged to constitute an interference fit between the shell (1) and the support element (8) when the shell (1) is placed in the support element (8). The invention also relates to a support element and a method for supporting a mortar shell (1) into the barrel of a breechloading weapon. |
| US08590445B2 |
Hot beverage maker with cup-actuated dispenser
A hot beverage maker has a stand, fresh water reservoir, a removable tank, and a spring-biased actuator means for dispensing brewed beverages. The tank includes a reservoir portion and the reservoir portion is adapted to hold a brewed liquid so that the tank comprises a fluid bucket when removed from the hot beverage maker. The tank is placed on a platform in a mating relationship so as to engage a warmer plate to keep the contents of the tank warm. The hot beverage maker produces a brewed beverage that is stored in the tank. The dispenser actuator may be engaged by a vessel for holding a hot beverage in order to commence the dispensing of the brewed beverage from the tank. |
| US08590442B2 |
Gasket for high-pressure pump and high-pressure pump comprising said gasket
A high-pressure pump is provided with a high-pressure delivery line, a low-pressure supply line, a pumping element defined by a piston and cylinder, a cylinder head, and a gasket. The gasket is essentially flat and is provided with a sheet extending in a first plane and that has a first hole defining part of the low-pressure supply line, a second hole into which the cylinder head can be inserted, and a third hole defining part of the high-pressure delivery line. A coating of elastic material is provided to extend only around the first and second holes. |
| US08590428B2 |
Multiple-angle scissor blade
A laparoscopic scissors, comprising a pair of blades connected at a pivot, each of the blades having a length, a tip portion, a body portion, an outer surface, an inner surface and a cutting edge is provided. The tip portion may have a first body thickness and the body portion may have a second body thickness different from the first body thickness. During the cutting operation, the blades progressively move over each other to provide a point contact along the cutting edges. In another aspect of the invention, a process of manufacturing the pair of scissors of the invention is disclosed, comprising the steps of forming the blades into a desired shape with wire EDM processes from a pre-hardened block of material, and sharpening the cutting edges of the blades. |
| US08590426B2 |
Multi-axis transmission
An multi-axis transmission includes a frame, a motor, a housing, a first output mechanism, a second output mechanism, and a output control mechanism. The motor is secured to the frame, the motor includes a rotary shaft. The housing is axially slidably attached to the frame. The first output mechanism is secured to the frame. The second output mechanism is rotatably attached to the housing. The output control mechanism is secured to the rotary shaft, the output control mechanism is selected to engage the first output mechanism to output a first movement or to engage the second output mechanism to output a second movement angular with the first moment. |
| US08590422B2 |
Combination of bicycle crank and shaft
A crank has a connection portion with a connection recess defined therein which has an engaging recess, a reception recess and a reception groove. The engaging recess is located at a closed end of the connection recess and the reception recess is located at an opened end of the connection recess. The reception groove is located between the engaging recess and the reception recess. An axle has an engaging portion at an end thereof and the engaging portion is engaged with the engaging recess. A guide surface is defined in an outer periphery of the cylindrical body. A ring-shaped washer is mounted to the cylindrical body and securely fills into the reception groove and the gap between the axle and the reception recess. |
| US08590421B2 |
Bicycle bottom bracket assembly and adapter device for such an assembly
A bicycle bottom bracket assembly has a shaft having a longitudinal axis X-X, a pair of bearings configured to support the shaft in rotation with respect to a housing box of the bottom bracket assembly provided in a bicycle frame, and a pair of adapter devices configured to be cantilevered with opposite free ends of the box to support the bearings outside of said box. At least one of the adapter devices has at least one first stop element and at least one second stop element arranged on opposite sides with respect to at least one bearing, wherein the first and second stop elements cooperate with the at least one bearing to keep the at least one bearing inside a space having a predetermined axial extension. The bearing's movement is thus limited in the axial direction, providing a fixed reference to determine the chain line of the bottom bracket assembly. |
| US08590418B2 |
Adjusting mechanism for handle position of bicycle
An adjusting mechanism for the handle position of a bicycle includes an upper cover (2) and a lower cover (3), which clamp the handle, and a handle vertical pipe (5) fastened on the front fork by a retaining mechanism. One side of the upper cover and one side of the lower cover for clamping the handle are connected with each other, and the other sides can be interlocked by an independent retaining mechanism. The top of the handle vertical pipe is provided with steps (6), and the lower cover is sleeved outside the handle vertical pipe and arranged below the steps at the top of the handle vertical pipe. As the lower cover is sleeved outside the handle vertical pipe and arranged below the steps at the top of the handle vertical pipe, the handle vertical pipe can be tightly fixed on the front fork by the retaining mechanism, furthermore, the handle position can be repeatedly adjusted without influencing rigidity between the front fork and the handle, thus the bicycle becomes more comfortable and has better safety performance. Meanwhile, by loosening the retaining mechanism, the whole handle system can rotate relative to the vertical pipe. When the bicycle is not in use, the handle can be rotated downward to the direction parallel to the body of the bicycle, thereby reducing space occupied by the bicycle. |
| US08590416B2 |
Lower extremity vehicle navigation control system
A lower extremity vehicle navigation control system for driving a vehicle with one or more lower extremities is disclosed. The system may include a steering engagement surface, a brake engagement surface, and an acceleration control engagement surface positioned between a driver's seat and a vehicle floor forming a driver's compartment such that a driver may use his lower extremity to steer the vehicle, to brake and to accelerate. Each of the engagement surfaces may be in relative proximity to each other such that a driver may easily move his lower extremity between contact with each of the engagement surfaces. The system may also include gear shifting arm and a foot activated ignition system, both of which may be operable by one or more lower extremities of a driver of a vehicle. |
| US08590413B2 |
Damping device for a selector shaft and gearshift tower having the damping device
A damping device for a selector shaft, having a damper weight with a damper unit, and having a guide device. The guide device guides the damper weight in a circumferential direction about the pivoting axis of the selector shaft. The damper weight is guided in the circumferential direction so that it is damped by the damper unit. The guide device also guides and/or holds the damper weight rigidly and/or without damping in the radial direction with respect to the pivoting axis. The damper unit is arranged off-center, asymmetrically and/or eccentrically with respect to the pivoting axis, and/or the damper weight and the damper unit form a damping absorber device arranged outside the force transmission path for the shifting and/or selection movement of the selector shaft. |
| US08590412B2 |
Driving apparatus with a vibration limiter for worm gear
A driving apparatus for operating a sunshade, includes a housing, a gear assembly, a drive unit and a vibration limiter. The drive unit 5 includes a motor with an output shaft, a worm gear connected to the output shaft and the gear assembly and having a free end section opposite to the output shaft. The vibration limiter has an embracing member disposed around the free end section to prevent the free end section from shaking. With the vibration limiter, vibration and rattling noises can be eliminated. |
| US08590411B2 |
Automatic manual transmission
An automated manual transmission includes first and second power input shafts, a drive gear part, a clutch arranged to transmit or interrupt the power of the engine to the first or second input shaft, first and second power output shafts to which power is transmitted from the first or second input shaft, driven gearing including a plurality of driven gears on the first and second output shafts, and a synchronizer connecting or disconnecting the first output shaft or the second output shaft and the driven gear to provide multi-stage gear shift steps. The clutch includes first and second clutches installed at the first and second input shafts to transmit or interrupt input engine power. An example of such transmission having 8 forward speeds and one reverse speed is described. |
| US08590396B2 |
Velocimeter and method for measuring the speed of flow of an electrically conducting fluid
This velocimeter for measuring the speed of flow of an electrically conducting fluid comprises: —two sensors (16, 19) disposed in such a way that, in the absence of flow of the electrically conducting fluid (4), the difference between the current strengths measured by the two sensors (16, 19) is non zero, —a processing unit (18) is able to calculate the speed of flow of the fluid in a direction parallel to the first measurement direction (7) on the basis of the difference between the current strengths measured by the two sensors (16, 19). |
| US08590393B2 |
Multi function test method and station for golf club shafts
A test station for testing golf clubs has a clamp on the lower portion holding a shaft extending along a first axis. Sensors along that axis detect shaft vibrations torsion vibrations. Four towers are movably connected to a rail extending along the top portion of the base. Two of the towers have a first vertically adjustable shaft positioner and a device to detect forces exerted on the first shaft positioners. The other two towers also have vertically adjustable shaft positioners. The towers are used to determine stiffness, center of gravity, swing point and other properties. A drawer in the base contains a scale to measure the club length, and a pivoted stop to measure head angle. |
| US08590392B2 |
Compression test systems and methods
A system and method for determining the compressive strength of pellets are presently disclosed. A system includes a moveable feed tray adapted to support a plurality of pellets to be tested, a platen below the moveable feed tray and opposite a ram capable of applying compressive force to a pellet, a drive motor engaging the moveable feed tray, and a compressive force monitoring system including a force sensor. A method includes providing a feed tray and positioning a ram at a first position above a platen, advancing the feed tray to position a pellet at a test position between the ram and the platen, detecting the non-arrival of the pellet at the test position, retracting the ram from the first position, advancing the feed tray and operating the ram to determine the compressive strength of the pellet. Also disclosed is a calibration method for a compression test system. |
| US08590385B2 |
High pressure fiber optic sensor system
The present application provides a fiber optic sensor system. The fiber optic sensor system may include a small diameter bellows, a large diameter bellows, and a fiber optic pressure sensor attached to the small diameter bellows. Contraction of the large diameter bellows under an applied pressure may cause the small diameter bellows to expand such that the fiber optic pressure sensor may measure the applied pressure. |
| US08590382B2 |
Method for evaluating shaped charge perforation test cores using computer tomographic images thereof
A method for determining effects of perforation on a rock formation includes obtaining a sample of the rock formation. A perforation tunnel is created in the sample of the rock formation. The core sample is either subdivided into subsamples and a three dimensional tomographic image is made of each subsample and/or a three dimensional tomographic image is made of the sample of rock formation and the image thereof is segmented into sub images of selected subvolumes of the rock formation sample. At least one physical property of the rock formation is estimated from each tomographic image. |
| US08590381B2 |
Ultrasonic flaw detection method and ultrasonic flaw detection equipment
Equipment of the invention provides ultrasonic flaw detection equipment using a volume focusing flaw detection method, the ultrasonic flaw detection equipment described below. That is, this equipment performs internal flaw detection of a material being tested, the material having a virtually circular cross-sectional shape, and transducers 1 . . . 1 are arranged in an arc along a circle exhibited by the material being tested. Array probes 10 . . . 10 are disposed so as to surround the material being tested. An exciting unit enables flaw detection of the material being tested to be performed by vertical and oblique flaw detection methods. The exciting unit makes ultrasonic waves enter the material being tested from each position on an incident section as a result of a plurality of transducers being vibrated once and makes the ultrasonic waves reach a counter section facing the incident section on the circumference of the circle exhibited by the material being tested, and the exciting unit makes the ultrasonic waves enter the material being tested as a result of the plurality of transducers being vibrated one more time and makes the ultrasonic waves allowed to enter reach one of adjacent sections adjacent to the counter section. |
| US08590380B2 |
Vibration test arrangement
Testing of components for fatigue under vibration conditions is important. Typically an isolation device is utilized in order to isolate a mode of vibration of interest. Isolation is through engaging a node line utilizing isolation elements. By presenting the isolation elements in arms a component can be isolated by engaging the component to one side. The isolation elements are suspended upon springs and allowed to move axially in the direction of the springs as well as laterally through mountings in the arms. The isolation elements are less acceptable to wear and test set up time is reduced by the engaging of component to one side only of the component. |
| US08590376B2 |
Microelectromechanical inertial sensor with atmospheric damping
The present invention relates to an inertial sensor, preferably an acceleration sensor or multi-axis acceleration sensor as a microelectromechanical construction element, said sensor comprising a housing with at least one first gas-filled cavity in which a first detection unit is disposed moveably relative to the housing for detection of an acceleration to be detected, wherein the inertial sensor comprises a damping structure. |
| US08590375B2 |
Self-calibrating capacitive liquid level sensor assembly and method
A method of determining level of a liquid between empty and full conditions within a container includes: providing first and second elongate capacitors, each capacitor being independently capable of measuring the liquid level at least between the empty and full conditions within the container, with the second capacitor being longer than the first capacitor; determining first and second capacitance values for the first and second capacitors, respectively, based on the liquid level height; and dividing the first capacitance value by a difference between the second and first capacitance values to thereby obtain a liquid level value independent of the dielectric constant. |
| US08590373B1 |
Sap flow sensor apparatus
Sap flow sensor apparatus and concomitant methodology for determining the sap flow within plant stems of herbaceous plants and trees using a simplified Stem Heat Balance methodology. Optimum irrigation and utilization of beneficial plant health statistics are enabled using a sap flow sensor apparatus configured with a flexible, sealed sensor layer and multi-layered insulation including an elastic hook-and-loop attachment for enclosing the flexible, sealed sensor layer, soft-foam insulation, a waterproof membrane cloth permeable to water vapor and impermeable to water drops, and an outermost reflective barrier. Based upon the calculations derived from the simplified Stem Heat Balance formula, embodiments afford operational and economic efficiencies due to reduction of the prerequisite electronics to a 1-Channel dT signal. |
| US08590368B2 |
Airflow measuring device
An airflow measuring device has a bypass passage accommodating a thermal-type sensor configured to conduct heat transfer with air. A mainstream of intake air partially flows through the bypass passage and flows out of an outlet, as an after-bypass-passage flow. The mainstream partially flows along the outer surface of the airflow measuring device, without passing through the bypass passage, as an outside-passage flow. The outer surface of the airflow measuring device defines a throttle at the downstream of the outlet. The throttle merges the after-bypass-passage flow with the outside-passage flow and guides the merged flow to the downstream. |
| US08590365B2 |
Pipe system, a gas sensing system for a pipe system, and a method of determining a gas component in a cavity of a pipe
The invention relates to a pipe system comprising a pipe, a gas sensing station and a remote output system. The pipe comprises a pipe gas cavity, such as an annulus, extending lengthwise in part or all of the length of the pipe; the gas sensing station comprises a sensing gas cavity which is in gas communication with the pipe gas cavity: The sensing gas cavity comprises a photoacoustic spectroscope. The pipe system comprises at least one optical feeding fiber for feeding light to the photoacoustic spectroscope and a transmission path for transferring a signal from the photoacoustic spectroscope to the remote output system, the transmission path from the gas sensing station to the remote output system is an optical transmission path.The pipe may for example be a flexible pipe e.g. an umbilical or a pipe for the transportation of crude oil from a well to an off shore or on shore station, for example a ship or a platform.The gas sensing station may be integrated in the pipe, e.g. in an end fitting or it may be an external gas sensing station.According to a high security embodiment of the invention it is desired that all energy transported between the remote output system and the gas sensing station is in the form of optical energy e.g. transported in one or more optical fibers. This embodiment provides a very safe and simultaneously well functioning system, with reduced risk of igniting burnable fluids and simultaneously with a high signal-to-noise quality. |
| US08590363B2 |
Personal breathalyzer having digital circuitry
The present invention relates to a portable, personal breath tester device for testing the blood alcohol content of the user of the device. The breath tester comprises a circuit board, wherein a sensor, a liquid crystal display, and a processing unit are installed on and electrically connected to the circuit board. The processing unit receives a voltage signal from the sensor representing the blood alcohol content of the user and converts the voltage signal to a precise value that is displayed on the liquid crystal display. |
| US08590358B2 |
Apparatus for forming metal container comprising one or more devices that are electronically coordinated to perform operations of local and/or extensive deformation of metal containers
An apparatus (10) for forming a metal container including one or more devices that are electronically coordinated to perform operations of local and/or extensive deformation over metal containers and one or more interface devices (12) wherein the motion among the devices is accomplished in an indirect way through elements adapted to coordinate and synchronize these same devices. |
| US08590353B2 |
Process for producing shaped components from high-strength and ultra high-strength steels
This invention pertains to a process for producing shaped components from high-strength and ultra high-strength steels with tensile strengths >780 MPa, wherein a steel sheet-metal strip is fed to a roll-forming installation and in the roll-forming installation is passed through roll stands and deformed by means of deformation rollers acting on the steel sheet, and wherein to avoid hydrogen embrittlement in plastically deformed regions of the deformed steel sheet-metal strip compressive stresses are introduced by stamping and/or upset-forging and/or overbending and bending-back or by machining the strip edges. |
| US08590352B2 |
Integral inspection gauge for manual crimping tool
A tool for crimping at least two members together and confirming that the crimp is acceptable. The tool includes a pair of opposed clamping jaws. Each of the clamping jaws has a crimping surface that contacts at least one of the members when crimping the members together. The tool also includes a pair of opposed arms that move the crimping surfaces of the opposed clamping jaws toward one another to define a crimping position and away from one another to define a release position. The tool also includes a gauge that defines a first size determining member that allows receipt of the members crimped together and a second size determining member that rejects receipt of the members crimped together. |
| US08590351B2 |
Side-lock device
A pair of left and right slide pins 10 and 20 are disposed at the rear side of the lid 1 movably in the lateral direction. The base member 30 is installed in the installation part formed on the lid 1 from the surface side of the lid 1. The operation handle 50 that drives a pair of slide pins 10 and 20 is mounted on the surface side of the base member 30. Also, the rotor 40 causing a pair of slide pins 10 and 20 to interlock in accordance with drive operation of the operation handle 50 is rotatably installed at the base member 30. The rotor 40 has a pair of drive force transmission engagement parts 43 and 43. A pair of slide pins 10 and 20 have the engaged parts 101 and 201, which are separately engaged with one and the other of the pair of drive force transmission engagement parts 43 and 43, respectively. The rotor 40 is mounted in the base member 30 in a state where the respective drive force transmission parts 43 and 43 are exposed to the rear side of the lid 1. The engaged parts 101 and 201 of the respective slide pins 10 and 20 are engaged with the respective drive force transmission engagement parts 43 and 43 of the rotor 40 from the rear side of the lid 1. |
| US08590348B1 |
Security tag assembly
A security tag assembly structured to restrict unauthorized removal of merchandise from a designated area is presented. The security tag assembly comprises a base and a tag member removably connected to the merchandise being protected or monitored. A locking assembly is disposed within the base and is structured to be biased into a locking orientation relative to a connector pin of the tag member. A release assembly, also disposed within the base, is structured to facilitate the authorized release of the locking assembly upon contact with an externally applied detachment assembly. In particular the release assembly comprises first and second members disposed in a movable interlocked relation with one another, wherein the first member is structured to be rotationally disposed upon contact with the detachment assembly. The second member is structured for disposition into a displacing engagement with the locking assembly upon the rotational movement of the first member. |
| US08590347B2 |
Bearing assembly for washing machine tubs
A bearing assembly is for a washing machine, the washing machine including a tub and a drum rotatable about a central axis. The bearing assembly comprises two bearings spaced axially apart along the central axis, a spacer disposed generally between the two bearings, and a polymeric housing. The housing includes a box-type frame molded to the bearings and to the spacer and configured to provide stiffness to the bearing assembly. |
| US08590346B2 |
Washer/dryer
The present invention relates to a washer/dryer (1), the drum of the washer/dryer (1) is rotated by an electric motor (2), and over heating of the electric motor (2) is controlled by a thermal protector (8) that cuts off the current passing through it when the detected temperature exceeds a predetermined limit value. The thermal protector (8) is energized by the triac (7) that drives the door lock (6) and thereby is prevented from being subjected to high currents. |
| US08590343B2 |
Vacuum insulating glass unit including infrared meltable glass frit, and/or method of making the same
A method of making a vacuum insulating glass (VIG) unit. The method includes providing first and second substantially parallel spaced-apart glass substrates, a glass frit being provided at least partially between the first and second glass substrates for sealing said one or more edge portions to be sealed; and irradiating infrared energy towards the one or more edge portions to be sealed in forming an edge seal. The glass frit has a glass redox (FeO/Fe2O3) that is higher than a glass redox (FeO/Fe2O3) of the first and second substrates. |
| US08590340B2 |
Hydrocarbon gas processing
A process and apparatus for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The stream is cooled and divided into first and second streams. The first stream is further cooled to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to the pressure of a fractionation tower and supplied to the fractionation tower at a first mid-column feed position. The second stream is expanded to the tower pressure and is then supplied to the column at a second mid-column feed position. A distillation vapor stream is withdrawn from the column below the feed point of the first stream and compressed to an intermediate pressure, and is then directed into heat exchange relation with the tower overhead vapor stream to cool the distillation stream and condense substantially all of it, forming a condensed stream. At least a portion of the condensed stream is directed to the fractionation tower at a third mid-column feed position located above the feed point of the first stream. A recycle stream is withdrawn from the tower overhead after it has been warmed and compressed. The compressed recycle stream is cooled sufficiently to substantially condense it, and is then expanded to the pressure of the fractionation tower and supplied to the tower at a top column feed position. The quantities and temperatures of the feeds to the fractionation tower are effective to maintain the overhead temperature of the fractionation tower at a temperature whereby the major portion of the desired components is recovered. |
| US08590330B2 |
Electric transport refrigeration unit with temperature-based diesel operation
A method of operating a transport refrigeration unit that is operable to regulate a temperature of a cargo space. The method includes providing a controller, driving a refrigerant compressor of the transport refrigeration unit with an internal combustion engine to compress a refrigerant defining an engine operating state of the transport refrigeration unit, and driving the refrigerant compressor of the transport refrigeration unit with an electric motor to compress the refrigerant defining a motor operating state of the transport refrigeration unit. The method further includes sensing the temperature of the cargo space, receiving into the controller a signal indicative of the temperature of the cargo space, determining the temperature of the cargo space using the controller, and switching between the engine operating state and the motor operating state in response to a signal generated by the controller based on the temperature of the cargo space. |
| US08590326B2 |
Refrigeration cycle apparatus
A refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 includes a first compressor 101, a second compressor 102 provided in parallel with the first compressor 101, a radiator 103 for cooling a refrigerant compressed by the compressors 101 and 102, an expander 104 for recovering power while expanding the refrigerant cooled by the radiator 103, an evaporator 105 for evaporating the refrigerant expanded by the expander 104, a rotation shaft 123 connecting the first compressor 101 to the expander 104 so that the first compressor 101 uses the power recovered by the expander 104, a controller 112 for executing a control including a step of increasing a flow rate of the refrigerant gradually during a defrosting operation in which frost formed on the evaporator 105 is melted by allowing the refrigerant having a high temperature to flow through the evaporator 105. |
| US08590325B2 |
Protection and diagnostic module for a refrigeration system
A system includes a compressor and a compressor motor functioning in a refrigeration circuit. A sensor produces a signal indicative of one of current and power drawn by the motor and a liquid-line temperature sensor provides a signal indicative of a temperature of liquid circulating within the refrigeration circuit. Processing circuitry processes the current or power signal to determine a condenser temperature of the refrigeration circuit and a subcooling value of the refrigeration circuit from the condenser temperature and the liquid-line temperature signal. |
| US08590324B2 |
Compressor and oil-cooling system
An external heat exchanger is used to transfer heat from a compressor lubricant to an expanded working fluid, thereby cooling the lubricant. The heat exchanger may also be used to sub-cool condensed working fluid with the same flow of expanded working fluid. A horizontal scroll-type compressor includes an intermediate lubricant sump between a main bearing support and a scroll member. A counterweight on the crankshaft can travel through the lubricant in the intermediate sump to splash the lubricant around. A horizontal scroll-type compressor can include multiple machined surfaces that are utilized to precisely center and align components of the compressor. |
| US08590320B2 |
Apparatus and method for cryogranulating a pharmaceutical composition
Cryogranulation systems with improved dispenser assemblies are provided for use in manufacturing frozen pellets of pharmaceutical substances in a fluid medium. Methods of cryogranulating the pharmaceutical substance in the fluid medium are also provided. In particular embodiments, the dispenser assembly is used with suspensions or slurries of pharmaceutical compositions including biodegradable substances, such as proteins, peptides, and nucleic acids. In certain embodiments, the pharmaceutical substance can be adsorbed to any pharmaceutically acceptable carrier particles suitable for making pharmaceutical powders. In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical carrier can be, for example, diketopiperazine-based microparticles. The dispenser assembly improves the physical characteristics of the cryopellets formed and minimizes product loss during processing. |
| US08590318B2 |
Pulse-tube refrigerating machine
A pulse-tube refrigerating machine includes: a compressor that pressurizes a refrigerant gas; a regenerator tube accommodating a regenerator material therein; a pulse-tube having of a hollow cylinder through which the refrigerant gas flows; an intake valve and an exhaust valve provided between the compressor and the regenerator tube. A heat-shielding material is provided to at least a portion of at least one of a first wall forming a portion of the pulse-tube and a second wall contacting a portion of the pulse-tube. |
| US08590317B2 |
Gas turbine engine starting method and control device
A method of starting a gas turbine engine by use of a start sequence is provided. Turbine speed and fuel delivery are coordinated so as to provide a fuel/air mixture at an ignition device allowing a successful ignition. If a successful ignition has not occurred by end of the start sequence the gas turbine engine is purged and the start sequence is repeated after the purging of the gas turbine engine. |
| US08590315B2 |
Extruded fluid manifold for gas turbomachine combustor casing
A turbomachine includes a compressor, a turbine, and a combustor operatively coupled to the compressor and the turbine. The combustor includes a combustor casing having a flange, an outer surface and an inner surface that defines an internal passage. The combustor casing includes an extruded fluid manifold mounted to the outer surface. The extruded fluid manifold includes first and second walls integrally formed with a third, connecting, wall. The first wall includes a first mounting element and the second wall includes a second mounting element. The first mounting element extends axially along the combustor casing away from the first wall and the second mounting element extends axially along the combustor casing away from the second wall and the first mounting element. The extruded fluid manifold is joined to the outer surface of the combustor casing through the first and second mounting elements. |
| US08590313B2 |
Precision counter-swirl combustor
A precision counter-swirl combustor that includes an annular combustor having a forward end, an aft end opposite the forward end, and an interior. The aft end being proximal to a gas turbine. The combustor further includes a fuel inlet and swirler operatively connected to the forward end and at least one air inlet. The air inlet is equipped with a chute that extends into the interior of said combustor. The combustor is secured to a fixed structure proximate the forward end of the combustor. |
| US08590309B2 |
Apparatus and method for separating ice from fuel in a gas turbine engine
According to one aspect of the invention, an ice separating apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes a can having a first end and a tangential inlet proximate the first end of the can to receive a fluid flow within the can, wherein the fluid flow includes fuel and ice. The apparatus also includes a first conduit within the can to receive a separated fuel flow proximate a second end of the can, wherein the fluid flow separates ice from fuel to form the separated fuel flow. |
| US08590306B2 |
Cooling device of turbocharger of engine for vehicle
There are provided first and second water supply passages to supply cooling water from an engine to first and second center housings of first and second turbochargers, and first and second return passages to return the cooling water from the first and second turbochargers to the engine. A cooling-water connection portion of the first water supply is located above the level of a cooling-water connection portion of the second water supply passage. A vapor releasing passage is provided between the second turbocharger and an upper tank provided on the outside of an engine body at a position located above the connection portion of the second return passage of the second turbocharger. Accordingly, the function of vapor releasing from the first and second turbochargers can be improved, thereby increasing the layout flexibility around the engine. |
| US08590304B2 |
Braking circuit master cylinder lip seal
Master cylinder of a hydraulic braking circuit, particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising a piston (2) sliding axially in a body (4) comprising an annular lip seal (51) produced by molding, and comprising an internal, dynamic sealing lip (14) surrounding the piston and connected by a curved surface (36) to a planar rear face (30) comprising radial passages which are defined by blocks formed as projections on the rear face of the seal, these blocks being separated from the curved surface (36). |
| US08590301B2 |
Free-piston stirling machine for extreme temperatures
A free piston Stirling machine including a thermal buffer tube extending from the machine's expansion space and surrounded by its heat rejector and its regenerator, a displacer cylinder extending from the thermal buffer tube to the compression space and surrounded by the heat rejecting heat exchanger, and a displacer that reciprocates within an excursion limit that extends into the regenerator by no more than 20% of the length of the regenerator during normal operation and preferably within excursion limits that are substantially the length of the heat rejector. |
| US08590299B2 |
Device to capture wave energy
A device to capture and store or generate energy from variations in water level of a water body has a housing and an input shaft rotatably mounted to the housing. A drive belt is rotatably connected to the input shaft and a float is attached to that drive belt so that the float reciprocally drives the input shaft as the water levels increase and decrease. An output shaft is also rotatably mounted to the housing while a first one-way clutch is operatively disposed between the input shaft and the output shaft so that the input shaft rotatably drives the output shaft through the clutch in one rotational direction. A reversing gear is rotatably mounted to the housing and rotatably drives a second one-way clutch also operatively coupled to the second shaft to drive the second shaft in the same rotational direction as the first clutch, but during the opposite rotation of the input shaft. |
| US08590297B2 |
Hydraulically-powered compressor
Apparatus and method for processing a process fluid at a remote location, with the apparatus including a pump located at a first location and configured to provide a pressurized working fluid. The apparatus also includes an umbilical coupled to the pump such that the umbilical receives the pressurized working fluid from the pump and transports the pressurized working fluid therefrom. The apparatus further includes a hydraulic turbine disposed at the remote location and coupled to the umbilical such that the hydraulic turbine receives the pressurized working fluid from the umbilical. The apparatus additionally includes one or more shaft energy conversion devices operatively coupled to the hydraulic turbine and disposed at the remote location. |
| US08590292B2 |
Motor vehicle having a system for feeding fluid into another medium, particularly for feeding a reducing agent into the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine
In a system for feeding fluid into an exhaust gas after-treatment system, during operation fluid is fed via a feed line of the dispensing unit from a main container and is partially returned via a return line to the main container. A diaphragm pressure container is provided on the feed line downstream of a pump and a non-return valve toward the dispensing unit. During operation of the pump, the diaphragm pressure container is filled with fluid. The diaphragm pressure container is emptied as soon as the pump stops operating. In this way, the dispensing unit is cooled even after the operation of the system has ended, thereby protecting electronic components of the same from overheating. |
| US08590291B2 |
Control device of reducing agent supply apparatus, reducing agent collection method, and exhaust gas purification apparatus
A control device for a reducing agent supply apparatus for controlling the reducing agent supply apparatus having reducing agent collecting means for collecting a reducing agent inside reducing agent supply paths in an exhaust gas purification apparatus that adds the reducing agent to an exhaust gas upstream side of a reducing catalyst disposed inside an exhaust gas passageway of an internal combustion engine, and reduces and purifies nitrogen oxides contained in exhaust gas using the reducing catalyst, includes: a stop detection portion that detects when the internal combustion engine stops; a reducing agent collecting means control portion that starts collection of the reducing agent inside the reducing agent supply paths when the internal combustion engine stops; and an injection valve control portion that keeps a reducing agent injection valve closed when the reducing agent collecting means starts operating and opens the reducing agent injection valve after a predetermined time period elapses. |
| US08590287B2 |
Device for opening and closing a thrust reverser door of a jet engine
A device for opening and closing a thrust reverser door (3) of a jet engine includes at least one actuator and at least one locking mechanism (10) including at least one first locking element (11) arranged on the thrust reverser door (3) and at least one second locking element (13) arranged on the thrust reverser structure (5). To open the locking mechanism (10) against higher internal pressures in the thrust reverser (1) without increasing a power of the actuator or requiring the operation of the latter, the device includes, in addition to the actuator, at least one unloading mechanism (20) which is coupled to the locking mechanism (10). |
| US08590286B2 |
Gas turbine engine systems involving tip fans
Gas turbine engine systems involving tip fans are provided. In this regard, a representative gas turbine engine system includes: a multi-stage fan having a first rotatable set of blades and a second counter-rotatable set of blades, the first rotatable set of blades defining an inner fan and a tip fan; and an epicyclic differential gear assembly operative to receive a torque input and differentially apply the torque input to the first set of blades and the second set of blades. |
| US08590285B2 |
Three-point fixing arrangement of ignition electrodes of a burner
A burner having two ignition electrodes and a bracket is provided. The bracket is arranged on the outer surface of the burner and the ignition electrodes are held, at in each case three points of their periphery, in a fixed position using the bracket. A gas turbine with the burner is also provided. |
| US08590284B2 |
Cam shield for a rotary reel
A cam shield for a rotary reel of a crop harvesting header disposed adjacent to a tine bar of a rotary reel and mounted for movement along a cam in a generally constant angular relationship thereto for deflecting crop material from a cam region forward of a cutter bar and below the cam during rotation of the reel. |
| US08590281B2 |
Method for hermetically closing an air-tight bag for pellicle
There is provided a method for air-tightly enclosing a pellicle case in a filmy bag which protects the pellicle case against dust without the use of a plurality of bags or without modifying the filmy bag except for folding it like origami and eventually consolidating with an adhesive material: in short the opening of the bag is folded a number of times compactly. |
| US08590276B2 |
Tower element
The invention concerns a tower element for a tower, preferably for a wind power plant, where several tower elements with an outer surface and an inner surface are mounted on top of each other, where the periphery of the tower element is made up of a number of segments provided with inwardly facing flanges at the longitudinal sides, the flanges being connected to corresponding flanges on laterally arranged segments. The individual segments are made with an overlap on the outer surface in the transverse joints and with a butt joint at the inwardly facing flanges. By the invention there is achieved flexibility in production and during transport and mounting. With an overlap on the outer surface between two segments, mechanical joining can be performed between two segments in transverse direction. This mechanical joint between two segments results in a more stable construction and a rigidity substantially corresponding to the rigidity that may be achieved in segments joined by welding. |
| US08590274B2 |
Single-layered web beam for a suspended ceiling
A balanced, single-layered web beam for a grid in a suspended ceiling, wherein opposing flanges at the bottom of the web are cantilevered directly from the bottom of the web. When the flanges are equally loaded, the resultant load on the beam passes through the vertical plane of the web, so the beam does not twist or bend. |
| US08590273B2 |
Method of making multi-ply door core, multi-ply door core, and door manufactured therewith
The present invention concerns a method of forming a multi-ply core component. A mold press is provided having an upper die and a lower die defining a mold cavity. At least one of the upper die and the lower die has a plurality of protrusions. A first wood composite board and a second wood composite board are disposed within the mold cavity. The first and second boards are fused proximate the plurality of protrusions by compressing the boards in the mold cavity through application of heat and pressure. |
| US08590270B2 |
Shingle with interlocking water diverter tabs
A shingle includes a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, an upper end, a lower end, a first side, and a second side. The body has a width defined as the distance between the first and second sides and a length defined by the distance between the upper and lower ends. In a preferred embodiment, the shingle also includes a water diverter tab attached to the first side for channeling water onto the top surface of a lower adjacent shingle, and a recess adjacent to the second side for receiving the water diverter tab of a laterally adjacent shingle in an interlocking manner. An anchor tab attached to the second side secures the lower ends of adjacent, interlocked shingles. |
| US08590269B2 |
Easily replaceable ceramic tile floor
An article for applying to a floor substrate for preparing the floor substrate for laying of ceramic tiles by bonding ceramic tiles to the article. The article comprises a backer board having a lower surface for application to a floor substrate and an upper surface, a sheet, and a releasable adhesive bonding the sheet to the upper surface of the backer board. The sheet covers the entirety of the upper surface of the backer board. After the article is applied to the floor substrate, ceramic tiles are then bonded to the sheet. For replacement of the ceramic floor, the releasable adhesive allows the sheet with the ceramic tiles attached to be easily removable from the backer board. A method for laying ceramic tiles comprising laying at least one sheet on a floor substrate so that it floats on the floor substrate, and bonding a plurality of ceramic tiles to the at least one sheet. |
| US08590266B2 |
Machine and method for installing curved hardwood flooring
The present invention relates to the art of installing hardwood flooring while maintaining the wood grain in the direction of any bends required to conform to a curved structure. More particularly, the invention pertains to a machine and method for installing curved hardwood flooring using three steps. First step is to establish the desired floor boundary and anchor a plurality of pressure units in place at appropriate intervals to accurately represent the desired shape of the curved hardwood floor to be installed. Second step is to make appropriate adjustments to the pressure units and position the hardwood flooring in the machine; Third step is to activate the pressure units to bend the flooring into the desired contour; hold securely; make adjustments, if necessary and nail the hardwood flooring to the sub-floor. Then repeat steps 2 and 3 until the hardwood floor is completed. |
| US08590265B2 |
Precursor for a door
A method comprises a) attaching a first skin to a first surface of an open cell foam to form a precursor for a door, window or panel; and b) attaching a second skin to the precursor in a separate step from step a). A precursor for a door, window, or panel, comprises a skin attached to one face of an open cell foam, but not to an opposing face of the open cell foam. |
| US08590262B1 |
Energy efficient building construction
A cost-effective and energy-efficient system and method for building construction, such as for residential dwellings and the like, uses dual-wall building envelope system having outer walls and corresponding partition walls spaced outwardly from the outer walls. The envelope system provides ample space for insulation to enhance the thermal efficiently of the house or building, while permitting construction at reduced cost using pre-fabrication methods. |
| US08590260B2 |
Stretched cable membrane attachment system
The system and method of securing a single ply membrane to a roof deck or structure described utilizes sections of cable or reinforced membrane material that are completely protected or surrounded by the single ply membrane. A set of perimeter cables or interior cables secure the membrane to a roof decking by stretching the cables or reinforced membrane sections until taut. The cables are secured at their endpoints and additional fasteners may be provided along their lengths. Membrane material is used to weatherproof the fastening of the cables to the roof decking. |
| US08590258B2 |
Buckling-restrained brace
Disclosed is a buckling restrained brace which is a core plate inside a tube, with the plate prevented from buckling by being surrounded by the tube. The core plate is provided with a layer of discrete springs adjacent the core plate, with the interior of the tube otherwise filled with cement. The layer of discrete springs may be cardboard of other material. The layer of discrete springs defines a space between the core plate and the concrete, to allow for expansion of the core plate under compression from the ends. |
| US08590252B2 |
Groutless tile system
Floor, ceiling and wall covering (01) material, consisting of natural stones, i.e. marble, granite, limestone, onyx, travertine and sandstone, cement based tiles, softwood and hardwood, wood fiber HDF, MDF, agglomerated cork, rubber, and composite tile materials, such as stone, quartz or vinyl composition tiles, in format of tile slabs. Which the thickness is between 4 mm and 35 mm in which at the two opposite edges or sides are jointed together and interlocked by mechanical locking means, by connecting or inserting, (A6 to A5) and connecting or pressing downward (A8 to A9) using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) couplings, connecting in the form of a tongue and a groove which will prevent shifting of two interlocked tiles and or slabs into the opposed direction of each section tile or slab, with an integrated backing layer consisting of cork syntactic foam material, The invention relates to a natural stone core tile slab, allowing for an installation without the use of cement, adhesives or grout, provided with such a mechanical locking system jointed to the core (A4) according to the invention. |
| US08590251B2 |
Metal finishing tile, production method and related covering
A tile is provided for covering surfaces in the form of one or more metallic plates. A substratum is to be placed on the surface to be covered. At least one metal plate has folds forming male and female shaped elements to be connected with those of adjacent tiles to form a substantially continuous coverage. |
| US08590250B2 |
Flooring material and a rotational body used therewith
Provided are a flooring material and a rotational body used therewith which are adapted to improve quality reliability in flooring materials by stably providing not only a fastening force in the horizontal direction but also a fastening force in the vertical direction when flooring panels are assembled with each other, thereby facilitating assembly of the flooring panels and strengthening the joining force due to assembly. |
| US08590249B1 |
Clip for coupling and mounting siding courses
A clip for coupling and mounting courses, such clip comprising a longitudinally extending upper support member coterminous with a longitudinally extending lower support member. The clip further comprises a longitudinally extending cavity formed between a front side and a rear side of the lower support member, wherein a top edge of a second course is secured within the cavity. The clip further comprises a longitudinally extending tongue member coterminous with a front side of the upper support member and separated therefrom by a groove. At least a portion of the tongue member fits within a groove of a first course. Additionally, a tongue member of the first course fits within the groove of the clip. |
| US08590248B2 |
Indexing tab for grid runners
A roll formed sheet metal grid runner, and method of its manufacture, for a suspended ceiling grid having indexing tabs stamped from a central web of the runner profile, the tabs being effective to reliably locate ceiling panels and, when the grid runner is nested with other identical runners in a package, avoid marring of visible surfaces. |
| US08590246B2 |
Masonry spacer
In one embodiment, a masonry spacer has (i) an elongated and substantially planar body, and (ii) first and second elongated support members. The planar body has one or more bendable tabs formed therein and defines a first plane of the masonry spacer. The first and second support members each (i) have at least one corresponding channel formed therein, (ii) have one or more openings formed therein, and (iii) extend laterally from a different elongated side of the planar body. Further, the first and second support members define a second plane of the masonry spacer offset from the first plane. An outer edge of each of the first and second elongated support members defines a third plane of the masonry spacer that is intermediate to the first and second planes. |
| US08590245B2 |
Banded liner system for metal buildings
A roof structure of a building that has a pair of rafter beams and a pair of eave struts extending between and connected to the rafter beams includes a plurality of first banding strips. The first banding strips have opposite distal ends extending between and connected to the rafter beams. A plurality of second banding strips has opposite distal ends extending between and connected to the eave struts. A support sheet is supported on the first and second banding strips, and a shock absorbing member is attached between the support sheet and one of the rafter beams or the eave struts. |
| US08590243B2 |
Thermally insulated building brick
A thermally insulated building brick (1) and a method for production thereof, wherein the brick comprises a structural body (2) with at least one cavity (8) and an insulating filling (3) arranged in the cavity. To provide a brick with high insulation value suited for mass production, the insulating filling comprises an insulating material arranged in a leading-in sheath. |
| US08590239B2 |
Construction made of individual components
The invention relates to a construction made of individual components which consist at least partially of wood-concrete composite elements (100) composed by at least one wood component (110) with a wood cross section and a concrete component (101) with a concrete cross section. The wood-concrete composite elements are at least partially prefabricated and then brought together at the factory or later at the construction site. The individual components are connected and/or assembled with the other components by a non-positive and/or positive and/or material connection, partially by transmitting force only via the wood cross section or partially only by transmitting force via the concrete cross section or partially by the wood cross section and the concrete cross section. |
| US08590238B1 |
Artificial brick finish for walls
A simulative brick or other block covering for a wall is provided with grooves cut sufficiently deep into the coating to substantially separate all simulated structured sections from each other with respect to drying and coating on the outside with a waterproof acrylic coloring material. |
| US08590236B2 |
Alignable foam board
A shaped insulating board is disclosed for enabling lining of fiber cement boards and simultaneously enabling attachment of the insulating board on the building studs. Furthermore, the shaped insulating board provides a water drainage panel that allows water to drain downward on both sides of the board. The shaped insulating board also provides aeration between the board and the building surface. |
| US08590233B2 |
Stacking wall panel system and methods of installation and use
A wall panel system and method of installation and use are provided, in which wall panels are suspended from trolleys along a track system. The trolleys include guide devices that interact with diverters coupled to the tracks to allow the trolley to be directed as desired at intersections of the tracks, and to follow a predetermined path along the track system. The wall panel system is configurable to allow the wall panels to be aligned serially, such as for dividing the space within a room, or may be stacked, such as suitable for compact storage. |
| US08590227B2 |
Blast-resistant window
A blast-resistant window assembly is provided. The assembly has a window and first and second brackets. The window is fitted within an opening having at least one wall. The first bracket has a brace located adjacent the window and a stop located adjacent the wall. The second bracket is located adjacent the wall and is configured to receive the stop. During an explosion, force created therefrom causes the window to engage the brace of the first bracket to cause the stop of the same to be received by the second bracket. |
| US08590226B2 |
Internal glass holder
A glass element includes at least two glass slabs arranged in facing relationship with a peripheral spacer frame arranged between each pair of glass slabs, and holders for anchorage at selective points to a supporting structure. The holders, each one of which includes two clamping plates joined together via connectors, are mounted exclusively in apertures formed in the glass element slab that faces the supporting structure, i.e. the inner glass slab. One of the clamping plates of each holder fitting is formed with anchorage attachment points that are accessible from the outside, and the inner clamping plates are placed in abutment against the inner face of the inner glass slab prior to the assembly of the inner glass slab and the next glass slab, in such a manner that their connecting parts extend at most up to the outer mouth of the apertures. The connecting parts of the outer clamping plates, which outer clamping parts are applied to the external face of the inner glass slab in a later step, engage the connecting parts of the inner clamping plates and form the attachment points. Seals are arranged in said apertures in the inner glass slab and the inner clamping plates are attached to the inner face of the inner glass slab. |
| US08590224B2 |
Profiles for fixing rigid plates
The present invention relates to profiles for attaching rigid plates, especially photovoltaic modules, to a roof and to a method and system for attaching photovoltaic modules to a roof structure with the help of profiles. |
| US08590222B2 |
Support arrangement
The invention relates to a support arrangement (1) for mounting solar modules (11, 12) to a roof, an area, or a similar support structure having a support profile (2), which connects at least two solar modules (11, 12) arranged at its two different longitudinal sides, with a receptacle (9) being provided at the support profile (2) at one of its longitudinal sides, in which a free end of at least one first solar module (11) is received. In order to provide a support arrangement (1) which is stable on which the modules (11, 12) can be fastened in an unstressed fashion and which allows in a cost-efficient manner an easy connection to the solar modules (11, 12) and an equivalently easy disassembly of the connection of the solar modules (11, 12) from the support arrangement (1) it is suggested that the support arrangement (1) comprises a separate profile element (7), which can be connected to the support profile (2) in an operating position without any screws and in said position forms with a section of the support profile (2) at its other longitudinal side a receptacle (10) for a free end of at least one second solar module (12). |
| US08590221B1 |
Method for drainage of water around subterranean structures
This invention pertains to the drainage of water around subterranean structures and is a modular system of modular panels connected by double standing seams. The modular panels can be interconnected and drain water away from a foundation and can be connected to each other to extend endlessly the length and width of the modular panels. |
| US08590220B2 |
Metal joint, damping structure, and architectural construction
The invention provides a metal joint connecting a pair of subject members relatively displaceable in one direction, a metal joint connecting a pair of subject members relatively displaceable in one direction, the metal joint comprising: multiple first attachment portions attached to one of the subject members; a second attachment portion attached to an other of the subject members; and multiple plate portions connecting between the first attachment portions and the second attachment portion to each other, wherein an attachment direction of each of the first attachment portions with respect to one subject member and an attachment direction of the second attachment portion with respect to the other subject member are set so that a surfaces of the plate portions follow a direction of the relative displacement. |
| US08590214B2 |
Foldable roof for foldable habitation and method of handling and stacking foldable habitations
The foldable habitation has a foldable roof with a central section which can be folded into a generally flat configuration for transportation and storage, and which can be automatically deployed into a chevron shape upon deploying lateral sections of the roof. A novel method of handling a foldable habitation is also disclosed. |
| US08590210B2 |
Actuation method for an electric window lifter, and actuation unit
An electric window lifter of a vehicle with a vehicle door having a frameless window is actuated according to a novel, low-wear actuation method. An entry signal is acquired that allows a conclusion to be drawn about whether a person has entered through this vehicle door. In this case, the window pane that is associated with the window of this given vehicle door is lowered by a short stroke by way of the window lifter in response to a central exit signal only when the entry signal was first identified. The window lifter or power window assembly includes an associated actuation unit with a query module that is configured for automatically carrying out the method. |
| US08590205B2 |
Exchangeable handle for use with a fishing pole
The disclosure provides for handles configured to selectively engage with an article and methods for using such handles. Some of the handles are configured for use with a fishing pole and include a connector configured to couple to a portion of a fishing pole. The handle may include a multiple layers and can be selectively removed from the article. Methods are also provided for selectively coupling exchangeable handles to articles including fishing poles. |
| US08590204B1 |
Fishing rod with casting mechanism
The fishing rod with casting mechanism enables an angler to cast a lure or the like by cocking or arming the mechanism and pressing the release. The device includes a central stock having a lower brace and upper tubular member spaced apart from the lower brace, with forward and rearward plates connecting the brace and tube. A spinning reel is installed between the lower brace and upper tube. A coil compression spring and a plurality of elastic tensile members in tandem therewith is installed in the upper tubular member. A telescoping rod extends from the forward plate, and a handle extends from the rear plate. The mechanism propels a projectile (lure, sinker, float, etc.) and tackle (hook, lure, etc.) when the compressed spring and extended elastic bands are released. The projectile draws the fishing line from the reel. The projectile and tackle are reeled in conventionally after the cast. |
| US08590201B2 |
Firearm grip
An integrated grip and rail system is provided. Included is a firearm and the firearm grip. The grip is configured to be disposed in front of the magazine well and provide a stable grip point which does not allow a user's thumb or other appendage to be disposed between the grip and magazine well. The grip is configured so as to not interfere with the pivoting relationship between the weapon upper and weapon lower during partial or complete disassembly of the weapon. The rear region may also have a portion extending rearward along at least part of each side of the magazine well to form feed ramps as a part of the magazine well extension. Included is a magazine well extension mechanically coupled to a forearm rail system for mounting to the firearm. |
| US08590199B2 |
Modified bolt assembly with forward assist adaptor for accomodating sub caliber ammunition utilized in an AR-15 type firearm
A sub caliber action device installable within an upper receiver of an AR-15 type firearm which interfaces with an upper receiver mounted forward assist for use with such as .22 caliber ammunition. The device includes a generally elongated receiver plate exhibiting a generally lengthwise extending notched interior established between extending sides, with the notched interior seating a bolt and a forward assist adaptor in reciprocating fashion along the receiver plate between an end-most location and a forward secured chamber adaptor. The adaptor is reconfigurable to inertially and linearly displace a limited distance relative to the bolt support sleeve during full auto firing mode and which influences the bolt against the chamber adaptor during striking of the bolt supported firing pin by the hammer. |
| US08590197B1 |
Firearm conversion assembly and method
The disclosed apparatus and method facilitates modification of a firearm, such as an automatic, semi-automatic, bolt action, or other firearm to be modified to a scissor-style bolt action firearm. In one embodiment the firearm is a semi-automatic firearm prior to modification. In one particular embodiment, the firearm is a rifle sold by the Ruger company under the model name 10/22. |
| US08590195B2 |
Labeling band assembly and method of forming thereof
A labeling band assembly comprising a web of a tag material and an elastic film, where the web of the tag material has a central portion coated with a release agent disposed between a pair of lateral edge portions that are free of the release agent. The elastic film has a first portion at least partially disposed over the release agent and second portions bonded to the lateral edge portions to define connection zones. The labeling band assembly also comprises perforations extending along the web to define a plurality of labeling bands. |
| US08590193B2 |
Label, use of a raised structural feature, injection device, and method for producing a label
A label with a raised structural feature is for an injection device and includes a flexible support layer which, on one face, is provided at least partially with one or more of the raised structural element. The raised structural element is designed in such a way that, when the label is applied to a container of the injection device, the raised structural element is directed away from the container, and the raised structural element is able to establish a form-fit connection with another structural element, for example another structural element of the injection device. The label is formed by a method including steps of providing the flexible support layer and applying at least one raised structural element onto the flexible support layer. |
| US08590191B2 |
Wristband with adhered tags
A wristband assembly comprising a wristband strap, a permanent adhesive supported by a first portion of the strap and adapted to secure the strap into a loop, and a temporary adhesive supported by a second portion of the strap. The wristband assembly can further include a liner positioned over the permanent adhesive, and preferably also over the temporary adhesive. The wristband assembly can also include a perforation between the second portion of the strap and the first portion of the strap to facilitate removal of the second portion. In this way, the second portion can act as a redeemable tag. After the tag has been removed and redeemed, the promoter can stick the tag to a tally sheet to organize the tags into groups of a defined number. The tally sheets can then be counted to determine the number of redeemed tags, without the need to count each tag. |
| US08590188B2 |
Information presenting device
An information presenting device. The device is arranged to be capable of assuming a first flattened configuration, for transport or storage, and of assuming a second extended and hence self-supporting configuration. The device comprises at least two panels joined together along the respective edges of at least two of the panels such that the device, having assumed the second configuration, forms a hollow cylinder, and at least one locking member, arranged between the panels 4, for continuously adjustable locking of the device in the first or second configuration, the locking member comprising a first part and a second part, the first part being slidably connected to the second part and the locking member being self-locking by a friction band coupling formed between contact surfaces of the first part and the second part of the locking member. |
| US08590184B2 |
Display device for transportation vehicle
Disclosed is a displayed device having a top and bottom elongate rail and a display module for displaying alpha numeric information to passengers on a mass transit vehicle. The display modules may be mounted along a top and bottom edge directly to the top and bottom elongate rails. End caps are mounted to the ends of the elongate rail forming a structurally sound frame about the display module. |
| US08590182B2 |
Apparatus and method for pet re-entry reminders
A reminder apparatus and method are employed to by a dwelling occupant to provide a reminder concerning a pet's whereabouts. The apparatus features a carrier member that is adapted to hang from a door knob or handle, and a timer device is supported on the carrier member and operable to indicate expiration of an interval of time from a selected starting point. When the occupant lets the pet outside, they activate the countdown function of the timer and an alarm sounds when the countdown expires, providing a reminder to let the pet back inside the dwelling. Indications of an indoor and outdoor status are provided on opposing sides of the carrier member, so that reversing of the facing direction of the carrier member every time the pet transfers between the indoors and outdoors results in an ongoing accurate indication of whether the animal is inside or out. |
| US08590179B2 |
Shoe with protrusions and securing portions
A shoe sole structure includes a midsole body that extends from the heel region to the forefoot region of a shoe and an outsole that is attached to the midsole body. The outsole includes a plurality of protrusions arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis of the shoe, while extending at least partially between the lateral edge and the medial edge of the shoe. One or more of the half tube structures can include grooves and/or projections to enhance traction on a contact surface. |
| US08590175B2 |
Footwear products, methods for making footwear products, and structures used in making footwear products
Methods for making footwear products include: (a) applying cement to a surface of an upper and/or midsole; (b) cooling the upper and/or midsole so that these parts will move relative to one another despite the cement's presence; and (c) placing the midsole in the upper. Additional methods include: (a) providing an upper having an interior chamber; (b) placing a prelast member including a midsole allowance part into the chamber; (c) removing the prelast member; and (d) placing a midsole in the chamber. The upper and/or midsole may have cement applied thereto and may be cooled before the insertion step, as described above. When sufficiently cooled, the cement will not immediately bind the parts contacting it, but it will allow relative movement of these parts. After the midsole is positioned in the upper, the assembly may be heated to activate the cement and fix the parts together. |
| US08590169B2 |
Military ribbon template
The military ribbon template is a tool for the mounting of military awards on corresponding military award ribbons. The military ribbon template includes a plate having a plurality of horizontal rows of rectangular slots formed therethrough. Each rectangular slot is configured for securely receiving an award ribbon. A first set of indicia is formed on the plate, including first sub-sets of indicia, with each first sub-set of indicia corresponding to one of the rows of slots and including an indicator corresponding to a number of awards to be mounted on the award ribbon. Additionally, a second set of indicia are formed on the plate, above each rectangular slot, and the second set of indicia includes second sub-sets of indicia, respectively indicating the type of award to be mounted on the ribbon, the number of awards, and graduations indicating the proper position of the award to be mounted on the ribbon. |
| US08590168B2 |
Pediatric weight estimate device and method
The present invention is directed towards a device, method of using a device, and a method of making a device for predicting weight and/or the appropriate dose of a medication and/or degree of some other medical intervention in a child. The device includes one or more strips for taking a girth and a length measurement from an individual. The method includes adding or otherwise combining a value given by a girth measurement and a value given by a length measurement together to estimate the weight of the individual. |
| US08590164B2 |
Tablet cutter with slide guide and methods
A pill splitter includes a base, a cover pivotably secured to the base, a cutting blade attached to the cover, and a pill holder arrangement. The pill holder arrangement includes a slideable fixture constructed and arranged to be movable relative to the base and hold the pill. The pill holder arrangement allows a pill to split when the cover is moved in a closed position. |
| US08590159B1 |
Ramp assembly installation method
Exemplary methods are provided for installing a ramp assembly into a vehicle. The vehicle includes a floor, a vehicle well disposed in the floor, and first and second ramp support members. In one embodiment, ramp assembly mounts, such as movable mounting blocks, are utilized for installing the ramp assembly into the vehicle. |
| US08590158B2 |
Methods of making filter apparatus and fabricating a porous ceramic article
Methods of making a filter apparatus includes the step of creating a filter stack by axially spacing the porous ceramic plates from one another with a plurality of compliant spacers. In another example, the method includes the step of firing the first filter stack to sinter bond the first plurality of porous ceramic plates together with a first spacing element. In another example, the plurality of plates comprise a composition including catalyst particles and a binder material and the plates are fired to form porous plates without sintering a substantial amount of the catalyst particles. Methods of fabricating a porous ceramic article also include providing a porous substrate with a first material composition including mullite and infiltrating the pores of the substrate with a second material composition including cordierite. The method further includes the step of firing the first composition and the second composition to form the porous ceramic article. |
| US08590145B2 |
Method of fabricating a circuit structure
Methods of fabricating a circuit structure are provided. The fabrication method includes: forming a chip layer, which includes obtaining at least one chip and disposing a structural material around and physically contacting the side surface(s) of each chip in the chip layer. The structural material has an upper surface substantially coplanar with or parallel to an upper surface of each chip and defines at least a portion of a front surface of the chip layer, and has a lower surface substantially coplanar with or parallel to a lower surface of each chip, which defines at least portion of a back surface of the chip layer. The method further includes forming at least one strengthening structure over the back surface of the chip layer. The strengthening structure is formed to strengthen an interface between the chip(s) and the structural material. |
| US08590142B2 |
Process for producing PTC device
There is provided a polymer PTC device including a polymer PTC element having a lower resistance. The production process of a PTC device which includes a PTC element (102) having a polymer PTC component (110) and metal electrodes (104) placed on both sides thereto; and a lead (106) connected electrically to at least one of the metal electrodes, is characterized in that the polymer PTC component is formed of an electrically conductive polymer composition which comprises a polymer material and conductive fillers dispersed therein, and the connection of the lead to the metal electrode is performed at a temperature which is lower than the melting point of the polymer material. |
| US08590140B2 |
Method for manufacturing alloy resistor
A fabrication method of an alloy resistor includes: providing an alloy sheet having a plurality of openings spacing apart from each other and going through the alloy sheet and a plurality of alloy resistor units located between any two adjacent openings, wherein each of the alloy resistor units has an insulating cover area and a plurality of electrode ends on both sides of the insulating cover area; forming an insulating layer on a surface of the insulating cover area of the alloy resistor units by an electrodeposition coating process; cutting the alloy along a connecting portion, so as to obtain separated alloy resistor units; and forming a conductive adhesion material on the electrode ends of the alloy resistor units. An alloy resistor having an insulating layer with a smooth surface can be obtained by performing an electrodeposition coating process. |
| US08590133B2 |
Shim placement tool
A tool for placing a shim between a housing and a component biased towards the housing is provided. The tool can include a handle and a pair of spaced-apart tongs extending outwardly from the handle. In addition, a shim support surface can be located between the pair of spaced-apart tongs. The spaced-apart tongs and the shim support surface can be dimensioned for a shim to nest between the tongs on the shim support surface. |
| US08590132B2 |
Method for producing a fuel container for motor vehicles and fuel container for motor vehicles
A method for producing a fuel container and a fuel container for motor vehicles. The method comprises the extrusion of web-type preforms, the shaping of the preforms to form shell-shaped intermediate products in a first step, and forming a container in the same molding tool in a second step, at least one tank-filling and/or operational venting device being fastened to the inner wall of at least one intermediate product between the first and second steps by a material and/or form-fitting joint in one work cycle, the wall of the intermediate product being penetrated by a connection fitting during assembly, with a use of at least one conduit section of variable length as a part of a vent line. |
| US08590130B2 |
Cutting elements with re-processed thermally stable polycrystalline diamond cutting layers, bits incorporating the same, and methods of making the same
A method of re-processing used TSP material layers to form cutting elements, bits with such cutting elements mounted on their bodies, and bits having re-processed TSP material layers attached to their bodies, as well as such cutting elements and bits are provided. The method includes providing a used TSP material cutting element having a TSP material layer and substrate, or a bit having a TSP material layer attached to the bit, removing the used TSP material layer from the cutting element or bit, cutting the used TSP material layer to a new shape, if necessary, optionally re-leaching the used TSP layer and re-using the TSP material layer to form a cutting element, or in forming a bit body. The formed cutting element may be mounted on a bit body. |
| US08590129B2 |
Temporary beveled clamping surface casing alignment tool (CAT)
An alignment tool affords a safe and economical way to install surface casing, eliminating the need to align or delay the installation in speedhead or multibowl well drilling applications. The alignment tool includes two split halves that may clamp onto an existing surface casing. A top plate of the alignment tool may overlay the top flat surface edge of the surface casing, eliminating the possibility of the surface casing coupling to strike the flat edge and obstructing passage. The top plate may include a beveled edge to further help align the surface casing into the conductor pipe. |
| US08590125B2 |
Device for cutting and burnishing a surface of a work piece
The subject invention provides for a device coupled to a machine for cutting and burnishing a surface of a work piece and a tool attachment assembly for the device. The device includes a cap movable between an engaged position preventing removal of a first modular insert from a cavity when in a cutting mode and a second modular insert from the cavity when in a burnishing mode and a disengaged position allowing independent removal of the first modular insert from the cavity when in the cutting mode and the second modular insert from the cavity when in the burnishing mode. The tool attachment assembly includes a biasing apparatus engaging a support to apply a first force to the support and a burnishing member with the support being rotatable relative to a modular insert in response to a reaction force. |
| US08590123B2 |
Method for producing electronic component
The disclosure provides a method for producing an electronic component in which the oxidation of Cu constituting an internal conductor part of the component is inhibited or prevented in a firing step, and even when a magnetic body part containing NiO, ZnO, Fe2O3, etc. is reduced in the firing step, the magnetic body part is subsequently oxidized to ensure the original characteristics. In producing the electronic component, an unfired laminated body including parts to serve as the magnetic body part and the internal conductor part after firing is subjected to firing in an atmosphere with an oxygen concentration equal to or lower than the equilibrium oxygen partial pressure of Cu—Cu2O, and the fired laminated body is then subjected to an oxygenic-atmosphere heat treatment in an atmosphere with an oxygen concentration of 0.01% or more in a step of decreasing the temperature. |
| US08590121B1 |
Elastomeric fastener
An elastomeric fastener is configured for securing various articles. The elastomeric fasteners include one or more locking mechanisms. In various embodiments, the elastomeric fasteners are configured to secure an article of clothing, such as a shoe. The elastomeric fasteners may be used in combination to form an image. |
| US08590119B2 |
Fastening system
A mechanical fastening system having an engaging component and a receiving component. The receiving component has a first bond line, a second bond line, a bond zone, and a plurality of consecutive sweep regions. The second bond line is disposed adjacent to the first bond line such that a portion of the second bond line overlaps a portion of the first bond line. The bond zone circumscribes the first bond line and the second bond line. The plurality of consecutive sweep regions are disposed within the bond zone. At least one sweep region includes a portion of both the first bond line and the second bond line, and the remaining sweep regions include at least a portion of the first or the second bond lines. The receiving component has a bond ratio greater than or equal to about 1 and less than or equal to about 20. |
| US08590115B2 |
Securing device
A securing device including a body being coupled to a first portion of a restraint. The body includes a receiving portion which is able to receive therethrough a second portion of the restraint. In one form, the restraint may be a dog leash or similar. |
| US08590107B2 |
Retaining clip for an actuator of a furniture flap
The invention relates to an actuator, including at least one pivotably supported actuating arm for moving a furniture flap. The actuating arm is or can be acted on by a spring device, and a retaining clip is proposed for the empty actuating arm on which no furniture flap is mounted yet. The retaining clip prevents accidental opening or deflecting of the empty actuating arm and for this purpose includes a brake or detent device which can be moved by a shaft (R). A transmission gear is provided by which the pivot speed of the actuating arm can be geared to a higher rotational speed of the shaft (R) at least over a region of the pivot travel of the actuating arm in the open direction. |
| US08590105B1 |
Wall protection system
A wall protection system having a first base with a rod surface and an outer surface, a plurality of rods extending outwardly from the rod surface of the first base, each rod has a first end attached to the rod surface of the first base and a second end, a second base having a rod surface and an outer surface, the rod surface of the second base is adapted to attach to the second ends of the rods. |
| US08590099B2 |
Vacuum cleaner having detachable blower and related locking assembly
A vacuum cleaner includes a dirt tank, a tank cover mounted on the dirt tank, and a blower detachably mounted on the tank cover and including a main body. The blower forms a single handle which is located on a top face of the main body. Thus, the vacuum cleaner can be easily lifted up by one single hand of an operator due to the single handle located on a top face of the main body of the blower. A locking assembly for a vacuum cleaner including a tank cover and a blower detachably engaged with the tank cover is arranged between the tank cover and the blower. The locking assembly includes a latch, a resilient member and a locking shoulder, the resilient member being connected between the blower and the latch, the latch being pivotally mounted at the blower and engageable with the locking shoulder. Therefore, the blower is easily and reliably attached with or detached from the tank cover via the locking assembly which includes the latch and the locking shoulder simply latching with or detaching from each other. |
| US08590098B2 |
Vacuum hose storage system
A vacuum hose storage system includes a housing which is mounted in a storage area of a dwelling or vehicle and connected to a vacuum source. A length of flexible, expandable cleaning hose is mounted in a looped fashion about a plurality of spaced rollers rotatably mounted within the housing. A handle is attached to one end of the hose and is seated in a cradle formed in the housing when the hose is in a fully retracted position within the housing. The cradle is mounted in the housing and receives the open end of the hose when not in use and enables other vacuum tubes in the structure to be operational without shutting off the vacuum to the stored hose. An ON/OFF switch is located in the cradle for controlling the vacuum source and is actuated when the handle is placed in or removed from the cradle. The hose has an internal helical spring which biases the hose toward a retracted position about the spaced rollers within the housing. In an alternate embodiment, the hose is slidably extendable from within a rigid serpentine tubing mounting within the housing. |
| US08590097B2 |
Windshield wiper drive and motor vehicle having a windshield wiper drive
The invention relates to a windshield wiper drive (1), particularly a motor vehicle rear window wiper drive, comprising a housing (2) having an output dome (3) penetrated by a wiper shaft (5) and penetrating a contact disk (15), said dome having an external thread (19) in the region of the free end (18) thereof, onto which a nut (20) is screwed for tightening the contact disk (15), the nut being disposed inside a protective cap (21) penetrated by the wiper shaft (15). The invention provides that the protective cap (21) comprises an elastomer material. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle. |
| US08590095B2 |
Toothbrush with movable head portion
A toothbrush includes a handle, a head and a movable portion affixed to the head. In one embodiment, the head includes an upper surface and a lower surface opposite said upper surface. A recess extends into the upper surface and includes a floor, and a pair of walls extending upwardly from the floor to the upper surface. A central support may be suspended above the floor by a pair of arms that extend from opposite ends of the central support and into notches in the opposing sidewalls of the recess. A portion of the arms may be affixed in the respective notches, and a portion of the arms may be spaced from the walls of the notches to enable the arms to twist within the notches, and this enable movement of the central support. |
| US08590088B2 |
Automatic swimming pool cleaners and associated hoses
Automatic pool cleaners and associated hoses are detailed. Hoses may contract and expand in use and include sections of differing compliancies. Such contractions and expansions may be intensified in more compliant portions and attenuated in less compliant portions. Also discussed are positive locking mechanisms for adjacent hose sections. |
| US08590082B2 |
Mattress core
A mattress core including an array of strings of pocket springs extending in parallel across the mattress core; and a fastener coupling the array of strings of pocket springs together, wherein said array of strings of pocket springs includes single strings of pocket springs and double strings of pocket springs, each double string of said double strings of pocket springs including a superior string of pocket springs and an inferior string of pocket springs. |
| US08590077B2 |
Hands-free emergency all-terrain light-weight litter
A hands-free emergency all terrain light-weight litter, having: a panel having a leg support portion, a body support portion and a head support portion; a pair of parallel longitudinal support straps running along the length of the panel, and extending from opposite ends of the panel; and a plurality of interlocking patient stabilization straps extending from the body support portion of the panel, wherein the interlocking patient stabilization straps are dimensioned to pass over a patient's upper body, and lock together over the front of the patient's upper body. |
| US08590076B2 |
Rapid emergency evacuation frame
An air liftable emergency evacuation frame is for transporting an injured person to an immediate medical aid. The evacuation frame comprises an elongated support structure that includes a support member assembly having a longitudinally extending pair of opposing poles. The support member assembly is configured to interconnect the pair of opposing poles to define a recessed area to place the injured person. A plurality of supporting means attached at a lower portion of the pair of opposing poles is adaptable to hold the elongated support structure when the emergency evacuation frame is placed on a surface with the injured person. At least one hole is employed at an upper portion of at least one of the pair of opposing poles to hold a detachable intravenous stand. The detachable intravenous stand allows a rescuer to hang an intravenous bag for providing a better flow of fluids. |
| US08590073B2 |
Latching motion transfer mechanism
Latching motion transfer arrangements may be used to raise an object up and out of the engagement with the ground or other support surface and to lower the object back onto the ground or other support surface. In one exemplary embodiment, the mechanism is caused to lift and latch by applying force in a first direction, a first time, and is caused to release and lower by applying force in the first direction, a second time. |
| US08590072B2 |
Sanitary fitting with insulated outflow pipe
The sanitary fitting has an outflow pipe and a mounting base. The outflow pipe is arranged galvanically isolated from the mounting base and serves as the electrode of a sensor device. The sensor device detects whether an object, for example a hand, is present in a sensor zone or not and thereupon generates a presence or an absence signal. An electronic control system controls, in accordance with the presence or absence signal, a valve device, which controls a water flow. The electronic control system can also actuate light sources which illuminate the mounting base and the nozzle region. |
| US08590071B1 |
Reciprocating in-floor pool cleaner head
A device for use in a swimming pool structure, the swimming pool structure including a circulation system having a piping assembly and a pump for cyclically communicating water through the piping assembly. The device includes an insert coupled in fluid communication to the piping assembly, a piston carried within the insert for reciprocal movement between a lowered position and a raised position in which the piston is above the insert, a nozzle in the piston is unobstructed, and the piston is in one of a plurality of indexed orientations. The piston rotates to an adjacent indexed orientation in response to reciprocation between the raised and lowered positions in response to the cyclical application of water through the chamber. Upper and lower engagement assemblies prevent rotational movement of the piston with respect to the insert in the raised and lowered positions of the piston. |
| US08590070B2 |
Water-saving toilet bowl without water tank
A water-saving toilet bowl without a water tank, which comprises a flush pipe, a discharging pipe and a flush device. The flush device comprises a control cavity and a control valve that controls a drive motor to open or close the control cavity. A linkage rod links with a motor shaft of the drive motor. A through hole is provided in a partition. A control valve core is linked with the linkage rod via the through hole so that the control valve core is slid so as to open or close the through hole, and thereby the pressure change is controlled. The flush pipe of the toilet bowl is connected to two outlet passages of the flush device. An inlet passage is communicated with the outlet passages through a connection passage, and effluent water enters the flush pipe to flush the toilet bowl. |
| US08590069B2 |
Anti-overflow urinal and method
The present invention provides for an improved urinal for flushing bodily waste materials. This urinal includes a secondary drain that communicates liquid that is backing up during a potential overflow situation into a conventional drainage sewer without any modification to that sewer. |
| US08590066B2 |
Offset outlet flush valve
An offset outlet flush valve has a valve body, the valve body having an inlet comprising an inlet aperture, an overflow tube socket comprising an overflow tube aperture, and an outlet comprising an outlet aperture. The outlet aperture of the valve body, and the wall that defines it, intersects a portion of the inlet aperture and a portion of the overflow tube aperture and the walls that define them. In this way, a water flow continuum is created between the inlet aperture and the outlet aperture and between the overflow tube aperture and the outlet aperture. A number of alternative embodiments of an overflow tube socket and overflow tube are also provided depending upon OEM or after-market application of the offset outlet flush valve. |
| US08590065B2 |
Drain strainer
A stopper assembly for a drain system of a fluid basin includes a stopper head having a seal to sealingly engage the drain system of the fluid basin when the stopper assembly is moved from a drain position to a plug position and a strainer to strain fluid passing through the drain system when the stopper head is in a drain position. The stopper head assembly further includes a stopper body operably coupleable to a control element to move the assembly between the drain position and the plug position. The stopper body may be detachably coupled to the stopper head and/or the strainer to enable selective removal of the stopper head and the strainer from the stopper body when the stopper body is installed for use and coupled to the control element. |
| US08590064B1 |
Helmet suspension system
Provided is a helmet suspension system which is configured to mitigate rapid movements, i.e., acceleration and deceleration, of a user's head. The helmet suspension system connects to a base and a helmet worn by a wearer and allows for slow, safe movements of the helmet relative to the base, but restricts rapid and generally unsafe movements of the helmet relative to the base. |
| US08590063B2 |
Athletic wear with replaceable inserts
An energy absorbing pad having a pouch that contains tubes that may be filled with flexible materials is described. The energy absorbing pad is worn as a part of an athletic wear garment so that it protects the wearer from injury due to impacts in contact sports. |
| US08595861B2 |
Thermal probe
A thermal probe includes a support element, a conductive pattern and a tip. The conductive pattern is disposed at the support element and has plural bending portions. The tip has a base and a pinpoint. The base has a first surface and a second surface which is opposite to the first surface. The pinpoint is disposed at the first surface. The second surface is connected with the conductive pattern. The bending portions are contacted with the first surface. The tip of the thermal probe is replaceable, and the user can choose the optimum combination of the tip, conductive pattern and support element according to their needs. |
| US08595859B1 |
Controlling atomic force microscope using optical imaging
A method for optically controlling an atomic force microscope (AFM) includes acquiring an optical image of a sample using an optical imaging device, identifying a feature of interest on the sample using the optical image, acquiring a high resolution AFM image of the sample using an AFM imaging device, the AFM imaging device comprising a cantilever having a tip, overlaying the AFM image with the optical image at the feature of interest, and positioning the probe tip over the feature of interest using the optical image. |
| US08595857B2 |
Persona-based identity management system
A method, performed by a computer device, may include receiving personal data from a user device associated with personas, where each of the personas corresponds to at least one classification of requesters, associating the received personal data with at least one of the personas, and identifying any of the classifications that correspond to the personas associated with received personal data. The method may further include receiving, from a data requester, a query including a request for the personal data; associating the data requester with a classification; and comparing the classification associated with the data requester to the classifications associated with personal data. The method may further include sending, to the data requester, a message containing the personal data in response to the classification of the data requester corresponding to the classifications of the personal data. |
| US08595853B2 |
DRM system
A method of and system for digital rights management, in which access to a piece of content is granted in accordance with a license owned by a license owner to a client who is a member of a domain. This requires successfully verifying that a membership relation exists between the client and the domain as reflected in a first state variable, and that an association relation exists between the license owner and the domain as reflected in a second state variable. Both relationships are revoked by executing an online protocol between the parties in the relationship after which both remove the corresponding state variable. The domain controller propagates the state administration relating to the domain is propagated to the client so that the client can update its state administration. |
| US08595851B2 |
Message delivery management method and system
System and method for managing distribution of content such as television programs to portable multi-media devices which are capable of using such content and communicating includes a broadcast management system arranged to manage delivery of content from content sources to the devices, an account management system arranged to manage requests for use of the content from the devices and manage communications to and from the devices, and a processing system coupled to the account management system and arranged to analyze requests to use content relative to information about users of the devices in order to determine whether delivery of the content to the users can be offset against a preallocated amount of resource usage. If so, a message is delivered to that user's device and the device presents the message to the user as a condition for use of the content. |
| US08595847B2 |
Systems and methods to control web scraping
Systems and methods to control web scraping through a plurality of web servers using real time access statistics are described. |
| US08595844B2 |
Dynamic risk management
A dynamic risk management system for operating systems that provides monitoring, detection, assessment, and follow-up action to reduce the risk whenever it rises. The system enables an operating system to protect itself automatically in dynamic environments. The risk management system monitors a diverse set of attributes of the system which determines the security state of the system and is indicative of the risk the system is under. Based on a specification of risk levels for the various attributes and for their combinations, the risk management system determines whether one or more actions are required to alleviate the overall risk to the system. |
| US08595843B1 |
Techniques for identifying sources of unauthorized code
Techniques described and suggested herein include systems and methods for identifying potential sources of infections of devices by unauthorized code. In an embodiment, network traffic is logged. A plurality of computing devices that include unauthorized code is identified. The logged traffic is used to identify information sources accessed by the identified affected devices. The identified information sources may be refined. Refinement of the identified information sources may include excluding information sources that have been accessed by uninfected devices. A user interface that allows a user to further refine the identified information sources may be provided. |
| US08595834B2 |
Detecting unauthorized use of computing devices based on behavioral patterns
Techniques for detecting unauthorized use (e.g., malicious attacks) of the computing systems (e.g., computing devices) are disclosed. Unauthorized use can be detected based on patterns of use (e.g., behavioral patterns of use typically associated with a human being) of the computing systems. Acceptable behavioral pattern data can be generated for a computing system by monitoring the use of a support system (e.g., an operating system, a virtual environment) operating on the computing system. For example, a plurality of system support provider components of a support system (e.g., system calls, device drivers) can be monitored in order to generate the acceptable behavioral pattern data in a form which effectively defines an acceptable pattern of use (usage pattern) for the monitored system support provider components, thereby allowing detection of unauthorized use of a computing system by detecting any deviation from the acceptable pattern of use of the monitored system support provider components. |
| US08595832B1 |
Masking mechanism that facilitates safely executing untrusted native code
This disclosure presents a system that uses masking to safely execute native code. This system includes a processing element that executes the native code and a memory which stores code and data for the processing element. The processing element includes a masking mechanism that masks one or more bits of a target address during a control flow transfer to transfer control to a restricted set of aligned byte boundaries in the native code. |
| US08595829B1 |
Systems and methods for automatically blacklisting an internet domain based on the activities of an application
A computer-implemented method for automatically adding an Internet domain to a blacklist based on monitored activities of an application is described. An application running on a client computing device is analyzed to determine whether the application is a malware application. The execution of the application is terminated when the application connects to an Internet domain. The Internet domain is added to a blacklist. A notification is transmitted that indicates the Internet domain is blacklisted. |
| US08595827B2 |
Safety controller and method for controlling an automated installation
A safety controller for controlling an automated installation has a control unit to which a plurality of control input signals are supplied from the sensors of the installation. The control unit produces a plurality of control output signals on the basis of the control input signals in accordance with a user program running in said control unit in an automatic mode. The plurality of control output signals actuate the actuators. The safety controller also has a diagnosis evaluation unit that ascertains which one of a plurality of operating states is present at a defined instant of time and produces an operating state signal which represents the ascertained operating state. A diagnosis selection unit generates a diagnosis report as a function of the operating state signal and as a function of a user access authorization signal and/or a special operating mode signal. The diagnosis report representing the ascertained operating state thus varies depending on specific circumstances, such as a certain user access authorization or a certain operating mode. |
| US08595823B2 |
Securely executing an application on a computer system
A method of and system for securely executing an application on a computer system such that a user of the computer system cannot access or view unauthorized content available on the computer system or accessible using the computer system. To securely execute an such method and system may terminate any unauthorized processes executing (i.e., running) on the computer system application prior to execution of the application, and may configure the application such that unauthorized content cannot be accessed, including configuring the application such that unauthorized processes cannot be initiated (i.e., launched) by the application. Further, such system and method may terminate any unauthorized processes detected during execution of the application, and may disable any functions of the computer system that are capable of accessing unauthorized content, including disabling any functions capable of initiating processes on the computer system. The application being securely executed may be any of a variety of types of applications, for example, a browser application or an application for receiving answers to questions of an examination (i.e., an exam-taking application). Securely executing an application may be used for any of a variety of purposes, including, among other purposes, to assist preventing students from cheating on exams, to assist preventing students from not paying attention in class, to assist preventing employees from wasting time at work, and to assist preventing children from viewing content that their parents deem inappropriate. |
| US08595822B2 |
System and method for cloud based scanning for computer vulnerabilities in a network environment
A method in one embodiment includes establishing a first secure tunnel between a scanner and a configuration manager, and a second secure tunnel between the scanner and a scan controller, where the scanner is located in a public network and the configuration manager and the scan controller are located in a private network, communicating scanner configuration information between the scanner and the configuration manager over the first secure tunnel, and communicating scan information between the scanner and the scan controller over the second secure tunnel. The secure tunnels may be established from within the private network, by forwarding a first origination port and a second origination port to a first destination port and a second destination port, respectively. The first and second origination ports may be located in the public network, and the first and second destination ports may be located in the private network. |
| US08595819B1 |
System and method for distributed multi-processing security gateway
A system and method for a distributed multi-processing security gateway establishes a host side session, selects a proxy network address for a server based on network information, and using the proxy network address to establish a server side session. The proxy network address is selected such that a same processing element is assigned to process data packets from the server side session and the host side session. The network information includes a security gateway network address and a host network address. By assigning processing elements in this manner, higher capable security gateways are provided. |
| US08595818B2 |
Systems and methods for decoy routing and covert channel bonding
Systems, methods, and devices for decoy routing and covert channel bonding are described. The decoy routing system includes a client computing device, a decoy router, and a decoy proxy such that packets addressed to a decoy destination are re-routed by the decoy router to a covert destination via the decoy proxy. The decoy routing method may be applied to a covert channel bonding process, in which a plurality of packet data streams are sent to one or more decoy destinations, re-routed appropriately via one or more decoy routers and/or decoy proxies, and assembled together into a single packet data stream at either a decoy proxy, or a final covert destination. |
| US08595817B2 |
Dynamic authenticated perimeter defense
Techniques for dynamically configuring security mechanisms in a network can construct security perimeters that satisfy security needs at any given time while also efficiently spreading security functions among network elements and systems. In one technique, a network element comprises security function modules. Systems toward which the network element forwards data packets also comprise security function modules. A particular security function module on the network element begins in a state of deactivation. The network element determines whether a corresponding security function module on one of the systems is functioning in a satisfactory manner. If not, then the network element activates the particular security function module. While activated, the particular security function module may perform at least some of the security function operations that the corresponding security function module would have performed if the corresponding security function module was satisfactory. |
| US08595812B2 |
Tokenized data security
Provided are devices, methods, systems, computer readable storage media for tokenizing data. In some examples, credit card numbers are tokenized using a pre-generated token map and absent the use of a networked database that stores a relatively large quantity of credit card numbers in a central location. The token map may be generated by a token map generator such that the token map can be used by a tokenizer to replace a portion of an account number with a token, and by a detokenizer to replace the token with the original portion of the account number. A pre-parser and parser may also be used to locate an account number and/or token in a message received over a network. |
| US08595810B1 |
Method for automatically updating application access security
A method for automatically updating access security on existing applications with multi-factor authentication, intelligent auto-login, single sign-on, proximity logout, pro-active loss prevention and real-time incident notification using a wrapping function. |
| US08595808B2 |
Methods and systems for increasing the security of network-based transactions
A method for enhancing the security of systems and resources involved in conducting network-based transactions on mobile communications devices includes comparing authentication data requested to be captured from a user as part of an authentication transaction against authentication data anticipated by the user to be captured during the authentication transaction. The method also includes authenticating the requested transaction when the user decides that the requested authentication data agrees with the anticipated authentication data, and conducting a network-based transaction from a mobile communications device, if the user is authorized, after successfully authenticating the identity of the user. |
| US08595802B2 |
Application identity design
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing user credentials over a network to a remote computer application. User credentials for the remote computer application are stored in a central repository that is accessible through the network. A request is sent to a service to perform, on behalf of a user, a particular task involving the remote computer application. It is determined whether the service has been granted permission to act on behalf of the user with respect to the remote computer application. When the service has permission to act on behalf of the user, the service is used to retrieve the user's credentials for the remote computer application from the central repository and to supply the retrieved user credentials to the remote computer application. |
| US08595796B2 |
Apparatus and method for authorization for access point name (APN) usage in a specific access
An apparatus and method for receiving a request for authorization and access from a requestor; determining the association of a care-of-address (CoA) in the request with an access technology used by the requestor; administering authorization rules based on the association of the care-of-address (COA) and the access technology; and determining either to allow access or to deny access to the requestor using results from administering the authorization rules. |
| US08595793B2 |
System and method for user login to a multimedia system using a remote control
Embodiments include systems and methods for user login to a multimedia system. In one embodiment, a method of logging in one or more user profiles on a multimedia system includes associating one or more actuation sequences of one or more buttons on a remote control device each with a user profile, each user profile having one or more characteristics for outputting multimedia content, the characteristics affecting multimedia content provided by a multimedia system to personalize the user's multimedia experience, communicating a first signal corresponding to one of the one or more actuation sequences from the remote control device to a multimedia system to identify a first user profile for login, logging in the first user profile as an active user profile on the multimedia system based on the first signal, and controlling multimedia content provided to an output system of the multimedia system based on the active user profile. |
| US08595790B2 |
Devices, systems, and methods for providing increased security when multiplexing one or more services at a customer premises
Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for providing increased security when multiplexing one or more services at customer premises. Such systems and devices may include one or more virtual machines that support a service, a service operating system, protocol functions, and protocol security functions including system, devices, and methods for, analyzing protocol data and generating protocol security data. In addition, the system, devices, and methods provide an administration function for each virtual machine that allows monitoring the protocol security data and provides a protocol alerting mechanism that reports protocol security trigger events. Moreover, the system, devices, and methods have a common layer providing a common operating system and common security functions. The protocol security functions and common security function utilize conventional and fuzzy logic rules to generate protocol security data and common security data. |
| US08595786B2 |
Transmitting/receiving system and method of processing broadcast signal in transmitting/receiving system
A receiving system and a method of processing broadcast signal. The receiving system includes a signal receiving unit, an equalizer, a block decoder, and an RS frame decoder. The signal receiving unit receives and demodulates a broadcast signal. The equalizer channel-equalizes a data group included in the demodulated broadcast signal. The block decoder performs turbo-decoding on mobile service data of the channel-equalized data group. And, the RS frame decoder determines a number of CRC errors of an RS frame including the turbo-decoded mobile service data, generates a reliability map including reliability information corresponding to each data byte of the RS frame. Herein, the reliability information is set-up as a soft value. Also, for each column, when the number of the determined CRC errors is greater than a number of RS parity bytes of the RS frame, the RS frame decoder sets a predetermined number of erasure points in the corresponding data bytes starting from the lowest reliability value for the corresponding column, and performs RS-erasure decoding on the column. |
| US08595781B2 |
Methods for identifying video segments and displaying contextual targeted content on a connected television
Systems and methods for identifying which video segment is being displayed on a screen of a television system. The video segment is identified by deriving data from the television signals, the derived data being indicative of the video segment being displayed on the screen. This feature can be used to extract a viewer's reaction (such as changing the channel) to a specific video segment (such as an advertisement) and reporting the extracted information as metrics. The systems and methods may further provide contextually targeted content to the television system. The contextual targeting is based on not only identification of the video segment being displayed, but also a determination concerning the playing time or offset time of the particular portion of the video segment being currently displayed. |
| US08595777B2 |
System and method for processing audio signals received by a communication device
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to receive a media program signal from a set-top box (STB), monitor ambient sound, and suppress a portion of the ambient sound according to the media program signal. The media program signal can correspond to a media program presentable at least audibly by the STB. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08595776B2 |
Train-mounted content delivery system and method of displaying train content information
A train-mounted content delivery system includes a video information delivery apparatus that performs delivery control for advertisement/guidance image content and a display control apparatus that stores service image content generated based on train information from a train information apparatus, accumulates advertisement/guidance image content delivered from the video information delivery apparatus, and controls, based on a display schedule created by the video information delivery apparatus, display of a service image and an advertisement/guidance image that should be displayed on displays. The video information delivery apparatus includes a service image scheduler that manages the service image content and an advertisement/guidance image scheduler that manages the advertisement/guidance image content. Switching from the service image to the advertisement/guidance image or switching from the advertisement/guidance image to the service image in the displays is executed according to the control by the service image scheduler. |
| US08595773B1 |
Intelligent TV shopping system and method
A method for an intelligent user-interaction control system includes generating a plurality of summary video frames for a certain time of incoming bit-stream of a video program to be shown on a display, and detecting a hold command from a user to stop the video program. The method also includes presenting the plurality of summary video frames to the user on the display after stopping the video program, obtaining a user selection on a selected summary frame from the plurality of the summary video frames, presenting a plurality of objects of interest from the selected summary frame to the user on the display, and determining a user-selected object of interest from the plurality of objects of interest. The method also includes searching the selected object in an online database to obtain searching results corresponding to the selected object, and prompting the user about the searching results. |
| US08595772B2 |
System and method for recalling multiple last television channels viewed
A set-top box device comprising a recall channel stack module and an output module. The recall channel stack module is configured to store a plurality of last channels displayed. The output module is in communication with the recall channel stack module, and is configured to output a last channel menu listing the plurality of last channels displayed based on a last channel request. |
| US08595770B2 |
Aggregated content distribution system and method for operating the same
A method and system for controlling a local content aggregated system includes a switch module receiving external channel signals, user receiving devices and a local headend generating a local channel signal. The local headend communicates the local channel signal to the switch module and communicates local channel program guide data to the user receiving devices. The user receiving devices receive external program guide data corresponding to the external channels. The user receiving device selects either a first external channel signal from the external channel signals or the local channel signal at the program guide to form a selection signal corresponding to a selected channel at a first user receiving device of the user receiving devices. The user receiving device communicates the selection signal to the switch module, which is switched in response thereto. The switch module communicates the selected channel signal to the first user receiving device. |
| US08595767B2 |
Methods and systems for selecting a package of videos
A system is provided that allows a user to select a pay program for purchase from a program guide. The program guide determines whether the selected program is part of a package of pay programs. If the selected program is part of a package, information regarding the package is provided to the user so that the user may decide whether to purchase the package. If the selected program is part of several packages, information for all packages is provided. The system automatically sets reminders for packages containing repetitive programming. The system monitors whether the user has watched any of the programs in such packages. When the user watches a program from the package, the remaining reminders are cancelled. If a user does not watch any programs in a package of any type, purchase of the package is cancelled and the user is provided with the opportunity to reschedule. |
| US08595761B2 |
Streaming video with enhanced overlay positioning
Aspects of the present invention place a second object contained within an overlay atop a first object in a first video stream. Suggested positions at which to place the second object atop the first object are received from a plurality of viewers in a first group of viewers of the first video stream. A consensus position at which to place the second object atop the first object is calculated based on the suggested positions. The second object is placed atop the first object at the consensus position. The first and second objects are transmitted to a second group of viewers of the first video stream after a delay period. |
| US08595758B2 |
Device provisioning
A method and system of provisioning a set-top box (STB) with a STB provisioning system are provided which include storing STB profile information in a provisioning datastore, receiving a customer order at a service provisioning system, notifying a billing system of the customer order, and notifying a conditional access system of the customer order. The method and system further include storing information from the customer order in a provisioning datastore, notifying a video device manager about the STB, and delivering a cable operator configuration message from the video device manager to the STB, the configuration message being based on information from the provisioning datastore, thereby provisioning the STB without essential involvement of the conditional access system. |
| US08595757B2 |
System and method of sharing media content
A method of sharing media content is disclosed. A request is received at a network-connected media recorder to send a recording including media content to one or more users. At least one subscriber in the one or more users is identified, where the at least one subscriber is authorized to display the media content. At least one media device associated with the at least one subscriber is determined. The recording is sent to the at least one media device associated with the authorized subscriber. |
| US08595755B2 |
Ground unit and disk drive having the same
Provided are a ground unit and a disk drive including the ground unit. The ground unit is disposed on a guide frame which is installed on opposite sides of a main chassis for guiding a guide chassis that is connected to a tray. The ground unit electrically connects the main chassis and the guide frame to each other. |
| US08595754B2 |
Data processing system and a method of operating a rendering platform
A method of operating a rendering platform comprises receiving a rendering fragment at a rendering engine, passing an instruction from a rendering fragment to a callback component, and making a procedure call from the callback component to an external application according to the instruction. The method preferably includes registering one or more rendering devices on the rendering engine, and registering the callback component on the rendering engine as a rendering device. |
| US08595753B2 |
Virtual machine interface for hardware reconfigurable and software programmable processors
The present invention provides a virtual machine interface (VMI) and an application programming interface (API) usable in conjunction with a reconfigurable wireless network communication apparatus. The reconfigurable wireless network communication apparatus comprises a plurality of hardware kernels. The apparatus can be reconfigured to support different or modified communication protocols over time. The VMI comprises a library of software objects. By configuring VMI software objects, a programmer selects the communication protocol used by the reconfigurable wireless network communication apparatus. The API of the present invention provides higher level management of the communication protocol used by a reconfigurable wireless network communication apparatus. The API comprises a library of high level software objects that further abstract hardware details of the apparatus. |
| US08595752B1 |
Hybrid application message passing
In general, techniques for passing data from a native component of an application to a web component of the application without reflowing the top-level document are described. In one example, a web component of an application loads a main document that includes at least two separate frames that each causes the web component to issue an application-layer request specifying a uniform resource identifier (URI). One of the frames causes the web component to issue an application-layer request that specifies a special native request URI. A native component of the application monitors application-layer requests issued by the web component of the application and snoops the URIs specified therein. When the native component identifies an application-layer request specifying a special native request URI, the native component stores a reference to the open application-layer request. Subsequently, the native component may pass a message to the web component by responding to the application-layer request. |
| US08595751B2 |
Application platform and method for operating a data processing arrangement having such an application platform
An application platform is disclosed. Also disclosed in a method for operating a data processing arrangement on which the application platform is implemented as well as a plurality of applications which are executable on the application platform by accessing at least one programming interface of the application platform. At the same time, a plurality of operating system processes running in parallel on the application platform are generated as a result of the execution of at least two applications. In at least one embodiment for this purpose, the application platform includes a process connection module. The process connection module generates an inter-process user interface by which the parallel-running operating system processes collectively interact with a user of the data processing arrangement. |
| US08595748B1 |
Systems and methods for transmitting and receiving large objects via digital radio broadcast
Methods and systems for transmitting and receiving large objects via digital radio broadcast involve retrieving an object and an object description; assigning a unique identifier to the object; segmenting the object into a plurality of fragments; generating at least one long message having selected ones of the fragments and a long header including the unique identifier and the object description; generating at least one short message having selected ones of the fragments and a short header including the unique identifier; and communicating the at least the long message or the short message to a digital radio broadcast transmitter. In accordance with certain embodiments, reassembly of the object can begin with either a long message or a short message. |
| US08595742B2 |
Executing a distributed java application on a plurality of compute nodes in accordance with a just-in-time compilation history
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for executing a distributed Java application on a plurality of compute nodes. The Java application includes a plurality of jobs distributed among the plurality of compute nodes. The plurality of compute nodes are connected together for data communications through a data communication network. Each of the plurality of compute nodes has installed upon it a Java Virtual Machine (‘JVM’) capable of supporting at least one job of the Java application. Executing a distributed Java application on a plurality of compute nodes includes: tracking, by an application manager, a just-in-time (‘JIT’) compilation history for the JVMs installed on the plurality of compute nodes; and configuring, by the application manager, the plurality of jobs for execution on the plurality of compute nodes in dependence upon the JIT compilation history for the JVMs installed on the plurality of compute nodes. |
| US08595728B2 |
System for judging an execution status of batch processing, and based on judgement result to send post-update data to terminal device
An execution system executes an update batch according to an update batch execution request from a terminal device and gives a batch execution command to each standby system. Each system stores the content of updated data in its update buffer; and subject to termination of the update batch by each system, the post-update data content is reflected in a database. While the above processing is performed, the execution system and the standby systems accept a reference request from the terminal device; and in a case of “batch not executed” or “batch in execution”, each system searches the database and then returns the pre-update data content to the terminal device; and in a case of “update content being reflected”, each system searches the database or the update buffer and then returns the post-update data content to the terminal device. |
| US08595726B2 |
Apparatus and method for parallel processing
A parallel processing apparatus and method are provided. The parallel processing apparatus includes: a control unit determining whether one or more threads can access one or more control blocks of a first container that exists in a direction in which at least one of the one or more threads perform a task; a container generating unit generating a second container that includes one or more control blocks on the basis of the result of the determination; and a container management unit connecting the one or more control blocks of the first container or the one or more control blocks of the first container and the one or more control blocks of the second container and control blocks in which the one or more threads perform tasks, in a ring shape. |
| US08595724B2 |
Using a score-based template to provide a virtual machine
A software element database stores software element definitions according to a software element hierarchy. A score is assigned to at least one of the software element based at least in part upon the software element's hierarchy level. Further, virtual machine templates are stored in a library. The virtual machine templates include at least one software element associated with a software element from the software element database. A user enters a specification that specifies desired software elements to be included in the virtual machine via a user interface. After the specification is entered, the a score value is calculated for at least one virtual machine template from the library, based on the scores assigned to the software elements. Using the calculated score, the virtual machine template having the highest score value is selected and the selected virtual machine template is delivered as the virtual machine to a hypervisor. |
| US08595723B2 |
Method and apparatus for configuring a hypervisor during a downtime state
In one embodiment, a computer system comprises a host machine comprising a plurality of compute resources, at least one management processor, a hypervisor, at least one persistent state data store location coupled to the host machine, wherein the persistent state data store location stores configuration data for the hypervisor, and a persistent state module coupled to a management processor coupled to the host machine, wherein the persistent state module maps hypervisor configuration data to a persistent state data store. |
| US08595722B2 |
Preprovisioning virtual machines based on request frequency and current network configuration
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a system and technique for preprovisioning virtual machines is disclosed. The system includes a processing system configured to receiving requests for network computing resources and having a virtual machine (VM) manager configured to: analyze the requests and identify each different virtual machine configuration, each VM configuration having a plurality of configuration attributes; determine a request frequency corresponding to each requested VM configuration; determine a configuration of each provisioned VM on the network; responsive to determining the configuration of each provisioned VM, predict a configuration for a preprovisioned VM likely to be requested based on the frequency of the requested VM configurations and the configurations of the provisioned VMs; and create the preprovisioned VM on the network. |
| US08595718B1 |
Method and system for generating a knowledge package
A computer system in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention includes one or more data miners configured to mine software deliverables for metadata, a metadata filter configured to generate a filtered view of metadata associated with a subset of the software deliverables, an inventory generator configured to generate an inventory of the subset, a rules manager configured to generate rules using the filtered view and the inventory, where the rules are based on software relationships within the subset, and a package generator configured to generate a knowledge package based on the rules, where the knowledge package includes guidelines for obtaining the subset and installing the subset. |
| US08595715B2 |
Dynamic software version selection
Dynamic software version selection is performed by associating a binding library with a software component. The binding library comprises a loader component and a binding component, wherein the loader component serves as an intermediary between the software component and the binding component, and the binding component comprises software component-side logic. Dynamic software version selection further comprises logic in the loader component that decides to load a library from the binding component into memory of a processing device, and selecting by the loader component, a desired version of the requested library, where the desired version of the library is selected from at least two versions of the library associated with the binding component of the binding library. Still further, dynamic software version selection comprises loading the desired version of the library into memory of a computer processing system without requiring that the associated software component restart. |
| US08595713B2 |
Radio base station and a method of operating a radio base station
The present invention relates to the operation and maintenance of radio base stations in mobile communication systems. An inventive radio base station, which can be upgraded remotely in a safe way. In one embodiment of the invention, the radio base station comprises a file system comprising different versions of files, so that an old version of a file can be reverted to should problems in the operation of the radio base station occur. In another embodiment of the invention, the radio base station comprises a back-up area in which a copy of the files of the file system are stored. The back-up area is independent of the file system, so that if problems with the files in the file system are detected, the contents of the back-up area can be stored in the file system. |
| US08595709B2 |
Building an application call graph from multiple sources
A system and method for generating a computer program call graph. A profiler may insert probes into a debuggee computer program, the probes generating call trace events. Checkpoints may be performed during execution of the debuggee program, so that a snapshot of the call stack is performed. Call trace events and checkpoint snapshots are logged and serialized. Logged call trace events and checkpoints may be retrieved and used in combination to generate a call graph and a shadow stack. Mechanisms facilitate combining the different sources of debuggee program information and determining whether the call graph and shadow stack are determinate or indeterminate at any time. The mechanisms may provide for improved accuracy of generated call graphs. |
| US08595705B2 |
Instrumented application in a mobile device environment
A method for utilizing an instrumented application in a mobile device environment. The method includes instrumenting an application to generate an instrumented application configured for use in the mobile device environment, obtaining authorization from a governing body for use of the instrumented application in the mobile device environment, and directing the instrumented application to cause a mobile device to operate according to a first setting. The first setting is invoked without requiring further authorization by the governing body. |
| US08595704B2 |
Extensible and unobtrusive script performance monitoring and measurement
A method, system and apparatus for the extensible and unobtrusive performance monitoring and measurement for scripts executing through a script engine. A script performance monitoring and measurement system can include a script engine programmed to execute a provided script and a script processor configured to provide a script to the script engine for execution. Importantly, the system can include a performance monitor disposed between the script processor and the script engine. |
| US08595703B2 |
Context based code analysis
Embodiments provided a formalized set of intermediate analysis contexts that are relevant for analysis checks of target code. Such intermediate analysis context may include, but are not limited to, the development phase of targeted code, the type or state of the targeted code, a source manipulating the targeted code, a purpose for the targeted code, or other development or runtime requirements. Accordingly, embodiments dynamically identify a current analysis context under which targeted code is being developed and can then execute rules based on knowledge of what contexts the rule(s) may apply. More specifically, analysis rules can describe (e.g., via metadata) those context conditions under which a rule can run. Based on such description and the current context, those rules that have been configured to apply to such context conditions can be executed. |
| US08595702B2 |
Simultaneously displaying multiple call stacks in an interactive debugger
Visual representations of multiple call stacks in a parallel programming system include a stack segments graph constructed by coalescing data from multiple stacks. The graph has nodes that represent stack segments and has arcs between adjacent segments. Similar stack frames are represented by the same node. In a stack prefix view of the graph, arcs are directed from a node representing stack frames to a node representing subsequently executed stack frames. In a method-centered view, an arc is shown between a node representing stack frames of a selected method and a node representing adjacent stack frames. The graph can be based on call stacks of all tasks or all threads, or based on call stacks of tasks or threads flagged by a user. Stack frame, thread, and/or task details are also displayed. |
| US08595698B2 |
Computer readable medium for translating protocols
The disclosed subject matter presents a method for translating between protocols using an extended scripting language. In one embodiment ECMA-262 scripting language is extended to enable one with ordinary skill in the art to create scripts which may be used to perform diverse data manipulation including, but not limited to: file input/output, database manipulation, data identification, data translation, XML functionality, SMB functionality, email, etc. Additionally provided for is running the extended scripting language along side a binary to manipulate data such that changes can be implemented without requiring the recoding and/or recompiling of the binary. |
| US08595689B2 |
Executable code in digital image files
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for processing information in images pictured by infrared cameras comprising the steps of receiving radiation from at least one object in an area; extracting radiometric information from the radiation; transforming the radiometric information into at least one digital image file; storing the at least one digital image file and at least one digital function file comprising an executable code characterized by the steps of merging the executable code of the at least one digital function file into or with the at least one digital image file, thereby generating an executable digital image file, wherein the executable code comprises at least one instruction and is written in a programming language independent of system architecture. The invention further relates to a computer program product. |
| US08595687B2 |
Method and system for providing text information in an application framework for a wireless device
Methods and systems for processing text input within a man-machine interface (MMI) application framework are provided and may comprise creating at least one text editor by an active application and generating at least one text edit view by the text editor. Text input, for example, predictive input, multi-tap input and/or numeric input, which may be associated with the text edit view, may be received by the text editor. At least one text editor feature may be associated with at least one text editor and the text editor feature may comprise a maximum string length characteristic and/or a cursor characteristic. The text editor feature may be customized for each text editor view and the text input may be buffered by a buffer within the MMI application framework. |
| US08595685B2 |
Method and system for software developer guidance based on analyzing project events
In systems and methods for providing assistance to software developers, a profile of a software developer is accessed. The profile contains a software development history of the software developer. Event data is developed comprising data related to at least one software code event associated with a software development project and with the software developer. Guidance is selected for use by the software developer in resolving a software development problem, based on an analysis of the event data, data related to the software development project, data related to an environment in which the at least one software code event occurred, and the profile. Feedback regarding progress of the software developer in the development project is also developed from the event data and the profile. The guidance and feedback are presented to the software developer via an interactive console unit. |
| US08595682B2 |
Phase compensation in a differential pair of transmission lines
Phase compensation in a differential pair of transmission lines, including: identifying, by a phase compensation module, a plurality of direction changes in the differential pair of transmission lines; determining, by the phase compensation module for each direction change in the differential pair of transmission lines, a direction change angle; and determining, by the phase compensation module for each direction change in the differential pair of transmission lines, the geometry of one or more phase correction humps to include in one transmission line of the differential pair of transmission lines in dependence upon the direction change angle. |
| US08595678B2 |
Validating interconnections between logic blocks in a circuit description
Disclosed is a program for creating a checking-statement which can be subsequently used to validate interconnections between logic blocks in a circuit design. The checking-statement is created by taking a description of how logic blocks in a circuit design are associated to one another (if at all), and cross referencing the description with rule statements specific to each logic block defining the allowable connections between the specific logic block and other logic blocks. |
| US08595674B2 |
Architectural physical synthesis
The present invention discloses methods and apparatuses to design an integrated circuit. According to one aspect, the present invention circuit design discloses an iterative process of synthesis and placement where each iteration provides incremental changes on the design of the integrated circuit. The incrementally iterative approach of the present invention provides a continuous advancement from synthesis to placement and vice versa, with the incremental improvements on synthesis made with knowledge of current instance placement, and the incremental improvements on placement made with knowledge of current circuit logic. According to another aspect, the present invention circuit design discloses incremental force directed placement transforms utilizing resource layers to address the heterogeneous resource distribution problem, where the force on an instance can be a weighted average of the forces from its resource layers based on the local congestion of those resources. In addition, incremental area removal method can be utilized to address resource utilization problem through a quality metric based on force directed placement transforms, such as a resource demand topological mapping. |
| US08595672B2 |
Method and apparatus for configurable systems
The invention relates to methods and devices to define and control the design of a configurable chip module, instrument or systems, for example, for measurement, control and communication systems or any portion thereof. The module may include one or more chip elements. This can be achieved using, for example, a Graphical User interface (GUI), that transforms selections made by the user to a hardware and/or software configuration for the system in a process transparent to the user. This enables implementation of a plurality of devices and larger subsystems on a chip or chip module without specific semiconductor design knowledge from the user. This transformation process is thus accomplished transparently to the user, who operates the GUI to define the measurement or action which needs to be performed thereby resulting in an automatic combination of hardware and/or software elements available to create a specific configuration. |
| US08595668B1 |
Circuits and methods for efficient clock and data delay configuration for faster timing closure
Systems and methods are provided for designing integrated circuits using configurable delay cell (CDC) circuits that serve to expedite timing closure for an integrated circuit (IC) design by eliminating the need to iteratively repeat various design steps such as placement, signal distribution network synthesis, and routing. CDC circuits include footprint compatible circuits having different delay characteristics, which may be included as part of a standard cell library for designing integrated circuits. A CDC circuit can be used in an IC design to add a desired delay to a given clock path or data path, and then replaced with another footprint compatible CDC circuit to increase or decrease the delay in the given clock or data path to meet one or more timing requirements and achieve timing closure without having to repeat placement, signal distribution network synthesis or routing steps. |
| US08595667B1 |
Via placement and electronic circuit design processing method and electronic circuit design utilizing same
A computer-implemented method for processing an electronic circuit design, a method of placing vias within an electronic circuit, and an electronic circuit produced utilizing such method(s) are disclosed. A method embodiment for processing an electronic circuit design comprises accessing, utilizing a computer, data which represents an electronic circuit design, identifying a via metallization feature associated with at least one interconnect metallization feature of the electronic circuit design utilizing data which represents the electronic circuit design. The described method embodiment further comprises evaluating a spacing design rule check on the via metallization feature of the electronic circuit design utilizing an area occupied by the at least one interconnect metallization feature. |
| US08595665B2 |
Guiding design actions for complex failure modes
A method for guiding design actions for complex failure modes in an integrated circuit (IC) design is provided in the illustrative embodiments. A probability of failure estimate of a circuit according to the IC design is received, the probability being determined using a simulation. A sensitivity of the probability of failure to a variable associated with a component in the circuit is calculated, wherein the sensitivity is determined by an estimation without the simulation. The sensitivity is depicted relative to the component in the IC design such that the sensitivity is associated with the component and a visual relationship between the component and the sensitivity is usable for adjusting a characteristic of the component to reduce the probability of failure of the circuit. |
| US08595662B1 |
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for implementing a physical design of an electronic circuit with automatic snapping
Disclosed are methods and systems for providing a constraint-driven environment for implementing a physical design of an electronic circuit with automatic snapping. In some embodiments, the method identifies or creates an incomplete layout. The method identifies an object and constraints for the object. The method then identifies an approximate position for the object in the layout and automatically snaps the object to a drop location based on the approximate position while complying with relevant constraint(s). The method may further align an object with another object with some spacing in between in some embodiments. The method may also perform automatic layer-to-layer snapping between two sets of objects such as cell instances, each having at least one object on multiple layers. |
| US08595659B2 |
Verification and reachability using an organic approach
A system and method for running multiple image computation approaches in parallel and selecting an optimal one of the image computation approaches for verification use based on efficiency of individual approaches. The method automatically determines an optimal approach with respect to modifications of parameters that can affect efficiency of the verification. |
| US08595650B2 |
Image processing apparatus, display control method therefor, and recording medium
An image processing apparatus has a display. A plurality of icons that correspond to a plurality of function buttons to set the functions installed on an image processing apparatus are displayed in the icon display area on the display, organized in groups by function attribute. When a position in the icon display area is arbitrarily specified by a user, then function buttons that correspond to icons lying at the user specified position, are displayed in the function button display area on the display. |
| US08595647B2 |
System and method for providing dynamic prioritization and importance filtering of computer desktop icons and program menu items
System and method for displaying an item on a display of a computer, wherein the item represents a file installed on the computer, are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises, responsive to a determination that a usage rate of the file exceeds a predetermined minimum rate, displaying the item representative of the file on the computer display; determining whether the usage rate of the file has changed; and responsive to a determination that the usage rate of the file has changed, updating at least one visual attribute of the item representative of the file to indicate the usage rate change. |
| US08595646B2 |
Mobile terminal and method of receiving input in the mobile terminal
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes a touchscreen and a control unit, after first and second points on the touchscreen have been simultaneously touched with a pointer, if the pointer is released from the first point while the second point keeps being touched with the pointer, the control unit controlling the release of the pointer from the first point to be recognized as a first used command, the control unit, after the first and second points on the touchscreen have been simultaneously touched with the pointer, if the pointer is released from the second point while the first point keeps being touched with the pointer, the control unit controlling the release of the pointer from the second point to be recognized as a second user command. Accordingly, although the lease number of icons for executing the diverse functions are displayed on the touchscreen, the present invention facilitates the diverse functions to be selected and executed. |
| US08595645B2 |
Device, method, and graphical user interface for marquee scrolling within a display area
A method, performed at a portable electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface, includes displaying a list of items on the display. The method also includes displaying an item in the list with just a portion of the item visible on the display. The method further includes detecting a first gesture on the touch-sensitive surface at a location that corresponds to the item. The method further includes, in response to detecting the first gesture, marquee scrolling the item in a predefined marquee scrolling direction. |
| US08595640B2 |
Render transform based scrolling and panning for smooth effects
An information display system is described herein that separates rendering of information from receiving that information so that the rendering portion can be quickly displayed to the user and the data can arrive as it is available to provide further detail. The rendering portion creates a hardware surface measured to fill the area to be consumed by the list box or other control. Independently, the information retrieval portion queries information from a server or other source and processes the information as it is received. The system can then perform a transformation on the previously created hardware surface to insert the information in the rendered control without re-laying out the entire control or recreating user interface elements. Moving a surface is a cheaper operation for a CPU and can easily be accelerated using a GPU. |
| US08595637B2 |
Electronic flashcards
A method, computer-readable medium and system for implementing electronic flashcards are disclosed. The method is capable of generating data operable to display a first set of information in a first region of a graphical user interface, in which the data is further operable to cause a display of the first set of information while a second set of information is not displayed. The first and second sets of information are associated with a first electronic flashcard. Data operable to display the second set of information in a second region of the graphical user interface is generated, in which the data is further operable to cause a display of the second set of information responsive to a request to display the second set of information. Data operable to display a second electronic flashcard in a third region of the graphical user interface is generated. |
| US08595634B2 |
Distributed hosting of web application styles
A method for facilitating distributed hosting of web application styles may include storing original style sheets at a first location, where the original style sheets pertain to a user interface (UI) provided by the service provider, and allowing a third party to customize a subset of the original style sheets and to store the customized style sheets at a second location. The method may further include causing the customized style sheets to be combined with the original style sheets when the user interface is presented to a user associated with the third party. |
| US08595628B2 |
Method and system for reviewing text files using distributable review data packets
A text file is generated by a plurality of users. Comments associated with portions of the text file are inputted utilizing offline computing units. A first and a second location of first and second portions of the text file are automatically obtained. A first review data packet (RDP), and a second RDP are automatically generated. The first and second RDPs consist of one or more comment fields, one or more separators, and one or more effort fields. The comment field consists of comment, author, date, line number, severity, priority, open status, and category. The first and second RDPs are distributed, without the text file, to a third computing unit which utilizes the first and second RDPs to display, respectively, the first comment together with the first portion, and the second comment together with the second portion. |