最新美国发明专利第2014-04-15期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US08696726B2	Flexible closed flat pad for cooling a body part An apparatus for cooling a body part includes a flat and flexible closed container defining an interior volume with a plurality of interconnected chambers. An attachment member is connected with the container and is configured for removably attaching the apparatus to a body part. A superabsorber is disposed in the chambers, and the chambers are shaped to be filled with water.
US08696724B2	Devices for vestibular or cranial nerve stimulation A nerve tissue stimulator configured for contacting to or insertion in the body of a subject to stimulate a tissue therein, said probe comprising: (a) a support configured for contacting to or positioning adjacent a tissue of said subject; (b) at least one thermoelectric device (TED) on said support and positioned for thermally stimulating said nerve tissue.
US08696723B2	System and method for leak detection in external cooling pad An externally-applied heat exchange pad has three layers laminated together, an inner and outer non-conductive layer and a middle conductive layer. A leak in the inner layer causes coolant to contact the middle layer and change impedance, which can be sensed and used as an indication of an impending total leak of the pad.
US08696720B2	Dental securing mechanism with varying thread size A dental implant assembly comprises an elongated tubular body adapted for securement within a bore in a jaw bone of a patient. The body has an expandable bottom portion. The expandable bottom portion has an outer thread on an outer surface. The outer thread has a major diameter that gradually increases from a first major diameter near a bottom end of the body to a second major diameter near a top end of the bottom portion. The top end of the bottom portion is located between the bottom top ends of the body. An expander at least partially extends into the bottom end of the tubular body. The expander is configured to be advanced from a first position in which the bottom portion of the body is not expanded to a second position in which the expander forces the bottom portion of the body to expand.
US08696718B2	Polyaxial screw assembly A polyaxial screw assembly includes a pedicle screw, a coupling, an insert, and a housing. The pedicle screw includes a shank having a helical thread formed thereon and a head at one end. The coupling is positioned on top the pedicle screw and releasably engages portions of the head. The coupling and pedicle screw are positioned within a distal portion of the housing. The pedicle screw is slid through an opening in the insert and the insert is thread into the distal portion of the housing to retain the coupling and the pedicle screw within the housing. The pedicle screw is rotatable and pivotable relative to the housing. Compressing the coupling within the housing locks the pedicle screw in a desired orientation.
US08696715B2	Low profile medical locking plate and bone screw design for bone fractures Disclosed embodiments of a low profile bone plate can allow for a locking relationship between the bone plate and one or more bone screws, without requiring specialized bone screws. According to the disclosure, a locking element and/or a flange can be provided in one or more through-holes in the bone plate to engage with the threads of the bone screw, to lock the screw in place. Locking elements, such as a straight wire or spring coil positioned near the bone-contacting surface of the bone plate can have a cross sectional diameter less than the pitch of the bone screw threads, so as not to interfere with insertion and tightening of the bone screw. Thus, standard bone screws without threaded heads or tapered shafts can be locked with a bone plate having a minimal thickness, which can advantageously improve chances of wound healing.
US08696714B2	Intervertebral stabilization devices Posterior spinal stabilization devices that engage vertebral structures of at least two verterbrae and increase the stability between the two vertebrae. In some embodiments the stabilization devices engage laminae of at least two vertebrae. The devices can be adapted, however, to engage at least one of a variety of vertebral structures (e.g., spinous process, lamina, transverse process, etc.) of a plurality of vertebrae to decrease vertebral motion between at least two vertebrae.
US08696713B2	Anchoring device for posteriorly attaching adjacent verterbrae An anchoring device for attaching an upper vertebra adjacent to a lower vertebra comprises a clamp having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, adapted to be positioned around upper and lower lateral masses of the adjacent vertebrae, and a fastener which in an installed position engages opposite ends of the clamp and which engages adjacent vertebrae thereby attaching the adjacent vertebrae together.
US08696705B2	Pacifier shields Pacifiers having a softer shield component for comfort and safety and a harder shield component for structural integrity. Baby bottle nipples and pacifier baglets having harder portions and softer portions, and raised portions as a teething aid. A multistage baglet system for a pacifier and a multistage nipple system. Baglets and nipples with bumps thereon are initially provided to accustom a baby to the use of such baglets and nipples. Subsequently, baglets and nipples with bumps are provided to assist the baby with teething.
US08696703B2	Anchor/suture used for medical procedures For suture tying in a medical procedure including the use of an anchor that includes a suture locking device that includes a sliding pin guided by axial side slots formed in the locking device that forces the suture where the two ends thereof are inserted into the interior of the suture locking mechanism to drive the captured suture and pin to fit into a recess on the top of the suture locking mechanism such that the top of the pin binds the suture against the upper inner surface of the recess. The recess can be serrated to enhance the locking capability and the pin is polygonal shaped to provide side surfaces that run parallel to the wall of the recess to assure that the side portion of the pin does not fracture the suture and cause it to weaken. The locking of the suture is automatic upon the deployment of the anchor which actuates the pin into the locking position, thus eliminating the necessity of manually knotting the suture and improving the cinching of the tissue to the bone. The suture locking mechanism is usable for attaching tissue to the bone, tying tissue to tissue and the like. The disclosure also includes the method of deploying the combined anchor and suture locking device in a medical procedure.
US08696702B2	Sheath-mounted arterial plug delivery device A method of facilitating hemostasis of a blood vessel puncture. The method includes the steps of inserting a tubular device into a puncture in a blood vessel to establish access to the blood vessel, providing a vessel closure system around the tubular device, introducing a hemostatic material into a space between the tubular device and vessel closure system, and delivering the hemostatic material adjacent to the puncture to facilitate hemostasis of the puncture.
US08696701B2	Braid-ball embolic devices Embolic implants, delivery systems and methods of manufacture and delivery are provided. The devices can be used for aneurysm treatment and/or parent vessel occlusion. Implant designs offer low profile compressibility for delivery to neurovasculature, while maintaining other necessary features such as density for occlusion purposes and desirable radial strength characteristics.
US08696700B2	Vein filter A vessel filter comprising a first region and a second region wherein the filter is movable between a collapsed position for delivery to the vessel and an expanded position for placement within the vessel. A first region has a filter portion having a converging region at a first end portion to direct particles toward the center of the filter and the second region is flared in the expanded position to have a transverse dimension increasing toward a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The second region includes a vessel engaging portion at the second end portion. The second region includes a plurality of spaced apart struts with adjacent struts being joined.
US08696699B2	Microvalve protection device and method of use for protection against embolization agent reflux An endovascular valve device for use in a vessel during a therapy procedure includes a catheter having at its distal end a valve. The valve is constructed of a braid of elongate first filaments coupled together at their proximal ends in a manner that the first filaments are movable relative to each other along their lengths. The first filaments have a spring bias that radially expands the valve. A filter is provided to the braid formed by electrostatically depositing or spinning polymeric second filaments onto the braided first filaments. The lumen of the catheter is in communication with the center of the valve.
US08696698B2	Microvalve protection device and method of use for protection against embolization agent reflux An apparatus is provided that is useful in an embolization procedure and enables substantially unrestricted forward flow of blood in a vessel and reduces or stops reflux (regurgitation or backward flow) of embolization agents which are introduced into the blood. A method of using the apparatus is also provided.
US08696697B2	Trocar and device for measuring a tracheoesophageal puncture A trocar device and measurement assembly, includes a trocar having a sharply pointed shaft and a handle. An elongated sheath receives the shaft of the trocar therein, wherein the elongated sheath includes a plurality of measuring indicia thereon for measuring a length of a tracheoesophageal puncture formed by the trocar. A method of measuring the tracheoesophageal puncture is provided by inserting the elongated sheath into the puncture while observing the measuring indicia on the sheath to determine a length of the puncture.
US08696694B2	Apparatus and method for endoscopic colectomy Apparatus and methods for endoscopic colectomy are described herein. A colectomy device having a first and a second tissue approximation device is mounted on a colonoscope separated from one another. During deployment of the colectomy device, a diseased portion of the colon is positioned inbetween the tissue approximation devices. The tissue approximation devices are radially expanded such that they contact and grasp the colon wall at two sites adjacent to the diseased portion of the colon. The diseased portion is separated from the omentum and is transected using a laparoscope or is drawn into the colonoscope for later removal. The tissue approximation devices are then urged towards one another over the colonoscope to approximate the two free edges of the colon into contact together where they are fastened to one another using the tissue approximation device as a surgical stapler to create an end-to-end anastomosis.
US08696692B2	Tissue ligation device A medical device comprises an elongated, flexible band equipped with ratchet members and connected to a device head having a channel dimensioned for reception of the band. A lock member is connected to the head and configured to interlock the ratchet members when the band is pulled through the channel to form a reverse-motion brake. A protrusion and a matching protrusion receiving member are arranged in the head in connection with the channel entrance and in the band in connection with the band-head interface. The protrusion receiving member is dimensioned for reception of the protrusion when the band is close to fully pushed into the head.
US08696689B2	Medical suturing device and method for use thereof A suturing device for use with a delivery catheter in a transcatheter procedure, for closing an opening formed in the body. The suturing device includes: a spiral needle having a central core, a proximal end, and a distal end. The distal end terminates in a sharp point for cutting a spiral passageway through body tissue surrounding the opening that is to be closed. The device also includes a guide wire having a suture eye at one end thereof for receiving suture thread after the guide wire has been advanced through the hollow central core of the spiral needle. The device further includes driving means, for allowing advancing and retracting of the spiral needle and guide wire with respect to the catheter, and for allowing connecting between the suture thread and the suture eye of the guide wire.
US08696688B2	Method and apparatus for passing a flexible strand An apparatus for passing a suture into a portion of the anatomy. The apparatus can include a handle and a suture advancement mechanism. The suture advancement mechanism can be disposed in the handle and adapted to advance a suture. The apparatus can also include a member coupled to the handle and in communication with the suture advancement mechanism to receive the suture. A cannula can be coupled to the member for receipt of the suture. The cannula can be operable to engage the anatomy. The suture advancement mechanism can contact the suture along a substantial distance of the suture to advance the suture into the member.
US08696685B2	Endoscope structures and techniques for navigating to a target in branched structure Systems and methods employing a small gauge steerable catheter (30) including a locatable guide (32) with a sheath (40), particularly as an enhancement to a bronchoscope (14). A typical procedure is as follows. The location of a target in a reference coordinate system is detected or imported. The catheter (30) is navigated to the target which tracking the distal tip (34) of the guide (32) in the reference coordinate system. Insertion of the catheter is typically via a working channel of a convention bronchoscope. Once the tip of the catheter is positioned at the target, the guide (32) is withdrawn, leaving the sheath (40) secured in place. The sheath (40) is then used as a guide channel to direct a medical tool to target.
US08696682B2	Intraocular lens insertion devices A cartridge for an intraocular lens insertion device is disclosed. An example cartridge may include an intraocular lens insertion cartridge body having a distal end and a proximal end and configured to receive an intraocular lens for insertion into a patient's eye through an incision; the intraocular lens insertion cartridge body having an inner surface comprising at least one polymeric material having a hardness greater than about 50 D and an elongation at break greater than about 150%; the inner surface of the intraocular lens insertion cartridge body defining an at least partially tapering insertion pathway disposed within the intraocular lens insertion cartridge body and extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the intraocular lens insertion cartridge body.
US08696681B2	Adjustable interbody introducer device and method Provided is a novel surgical instrument having an adjustable distal end that can securely engage an interbody for introduction of the interbody into an intervertebral space, can be adjusted before and during the surgical procedure to vary the angle of the distal end of the device and the angle of introduction of the interbody, and after positioning that interbody at the surgical site, can be easily disengaged and removed.
US08696680B2	Method and apparatus for insertion of an elongate pin into a surface A trajectory structure is configured for contact with a surface to dictate an insertion trajectory of a pin relative to the surface. A location structure is configured to allow longitudinal passage of at least a portion of the pin therethrough to dictate an insertion location of the pin relative to the surface. An elongate handling rod is connected to the trajectory structure and the location structure. The handling rod supports the trajectory structure and the location structure for manipulation by a user. The handling rod spaces the trajectory structure and the location structure longitudinally apart. The trajectory structure is connected to the handling rod for trajectory adjustment in at least two degrees of freedom relative to the handling rod. The insertion trajectory of the pin insertion is substantially dependent upon the trajectory adjustment. A method for inserting an elongate guide pin into a bone surface is also provided.
US08696676B2	Surgical instrument A bone plate fixing device comprises a first bone contacting element with a rod-shaped connecting member and a second bone contacting element displaceable on the connecting member. The connecting member has a first portion with a first diameter and a second portion comprising a protruding projection, the protruding projection being located towards a proximal end of the connecting member and having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. The protruding projection may comprise at least two teeth. The depth of the at least two teeth may be less than half the difference between the first diameter and the second diameter.
US08696672B2	Abrading tool for preparing intervertebral disc spaces Tools and methods for preparing an intervertebral disc space with an emphasis on abrading the vertebral endplates to promote controlled bleeding of the vertebral endplate without compromising the structural integrity of the vertebral endplate. Mechanisms to statically or dynamically alter blade angle of the cutter blade. Cutter blades may come in a variety of configurations including cutter blades with abrading heads for preparing endplates. Abrading heads may be used on upcutters or down cutters. A cutter assembly adapted to resist unwanted changes in blade angle.
US08696670B2	Fixation device for the fixation of bone fragments A fixation device for the fixation of bone fragments, applicable to the mutual fastening of bone fragments temporarily separated during a surgical operation or as a result of a trauma. The device is also suitable for the fixation of a bone flap in the replacement thereof in a corresponding aperture made in the cranium or cranial bone mass. The device is made of biocompatible material and comprises a flexible strip and fastening means, the strip having a length allowing the formation of a fastening loop tightly fastening the bone fragments to be joined together. The fastening means are provided with at least one opening provided with interlocking means allowing the passage of a free end of the strip and preventing its extraction in the direction opposite to the insertion.
US08696667B2	Dual durometer insulating boot for electrosurgical forceps An electrosurgical forceps includes a shaft having a pair of jaw members at a distal end and movable about a pivot from a first position and disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer to one another for grasping tissue, a movable handle that actuates a drive assembly to move the jaw members relative to one another. At least one jaw member conducts electrical energy to tissue held therebetween. A flexible insulating boot is disposed on an exterior surface of at least one jaw member and about the pivot and includes a first longitudinal portion made from a high durometer material and a second longitudinal portion made from a low durometer material. The high durometer material may operably retain the flexible insulating boot atop the proximal ends of the jaw members.
US08696664B2	Bipolar cutter A bipolar cutter includes a bipolar cutting treatment portion having a pair of electrodes provided at a front-end portion of an insertion unit inserted in a body of a living thing, a guide portion having a lead passage which captures a living tissue of a cutting target and which leads the living tissue to the treatment portion, the guide portion configured to vary a width of the passage, and a manipulation portion which manipulates the guide portion to vary the passage width. Alternatively, a shape of the lead passage is enlarged from its inner end to its outer end and a lead passage width regulating member being movable between the inner end and the outer end of the lead passage is included. Alternatively, a plurality of lead passages having widths being different from each other is included.
US08696663B2	Electromechanical polyp snare An electrosurgical device is provided for removing polyps from the gastrointestinal tract of a patient. In one implementation, an electrosurgical device comprises a snare support member and a snare positioning assembly mounted on an exterior surface of the snare support member. The snare positioning assembly has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with and offset from the longitudinal axis of the snare support member. The device also includes a base member attached to a distal end of the snare support member and has a longitudinal axis substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the snare support member. An aperture is formed through a side wall of the base member. Also included is a polyp snare extending through a first channel of the snare positioning assembly, through the aperture, and through a second channel of the base member.
US08696659B2	Electrosurgical system and method having enhanced temperature measurement Electrosurgical systems and methods are described herein in which the temperature of a fluid within a body or joint space is determined and/or monitored despite the energy generated during treatment by an ablation probe. One or more temperature sensors are positioned along the probe proximally of the electrode assembly and measure the temperature of an electrically conductive fluid without being overly influenced by the surgical effect occurring proximate the electrode assembly. A controller automatically suspends energy delivery for one or more periods of time while the temperature is monitored.
US08696658B2	System for non-invasive heart treatment The invention provides a non-invasive method for treatment of arrhythmia. In a first aspect, a method for treatment of a trial fibrillation in a heart of a patient comprises directing radiation from outside the patient toward one or more target treatment regions of the heart so as to inhibit the a trial fibrillation. The radiation may induce isolation of a pulmonary vein.
US08696654B2	Apparatus, method and computer program for applying energy to an object An apparatus for applying energy to an object includes at least one combination element for combining multiple energy applying elements for applying energy to the object. The combination element includes an axis around which the energy applying elements are wound. Further, the energy applying elements include energy emission locations arranged along a line.
US08696650B2	Universal medical device control console A control console is disclosed for controlling one or more medical devices. The control console communicates to at least one medical device, and at least one peripheral module associated with the medical device if needed. The control console has a microprocessor for processing data to direct an operation of the medical device.
US08696649B2	Laparoscopic surgical instrument having rotatable handles with a coupler feature A laparoscopic instrument including a pair of handles pivotally rotatable among at least two lockable positions. The instrument includes two drums attached to respective ones of the handles, a tool drum coupled to one of the drums, and a shaft passing through apertures formed in each of the drums and the tool drum. The drums are rotatable around the shaft to cause the handles to be rotated among the lockable positions. The shaft includes a pair of winglets disposed along a length of the shaft. A push-button is connected to an end of the shaft to slide the shaft relative to the three drums. When the push-button is depressed, the winglets lock the handles together, allowing them to freely rotate about the shaft. When the push-button is released, pins secure one of the drums to a housing to allow rotation of one of the handles relative to the other.
US08696645B2	Vascular treatment devices and methods An apparatus for performing a vascular treatment includes an intraluminal member that is controllingly moved during the vascular treatment. The intraluminal member of the vascular treatment device can be connected to a motor. The intraluminal member may be configured to retain endothelium during the vascular treatment procedure.
US08696639B2	Variably flexible insertion device and method for variably flexing an insertion device A variably flexible insertion device includes a hollow body having a proximal end with an entrance for receiving an instrument and a distal end with a tip for protrusion of the instrument. A device transitions the hollow body between a relatively flexible condition and a relatively stiff condition. Tendons within the hollow body maintain the hollow body in the relatively flexible and relatively stiff conditions. A method for variably flexing an insertion device for receiving an instrument, includes providing a hollow body having inner and outer sleeves defining a space therebetween in which tendons are disposed. Suction is applied to create a vacuum in the space for frictionally locking the tendons in place between the sleeves in a relatively stiff condition of the hollow body. The vacuum is relieved to release the tendons in a relatively flexible condition of the hollow body.
US08696633B2	Operating an infusion pump system Some embodiments of a medical infusion pump system include a pump device and a removable controller device. When the pump device and the removable controller device are removably attached to one another, the components may provide a portable infusion pump unit to dispense medicine to a user. In particular embodiments, the removable controller device includes a user interface to readily provide information, for example, about the operation of the pump.
US08696632B2	Infusion pump with battery operation capability An infusion pump includes a housing; a user interface carried by the housing; a pump actuator positioned by the housing so as to be able to actuate a medical fluid pump member; and wherein the user interface and the pump actuator are powered interchangeably by a first, rechargeable battery unit and a second battery unit, both the first and second battery units configured to power the user interface and the pump actuator at a place for which outside power is unavailable, and such that the user interface and the pump actuator can be powered by the second battery unit while the first battery unit is being recharged.
US08696626B2	Debubbler A device for removal of a gas from a liquid in a medical infusion line has a housing containing a plurality of hollow fiber membranes. Preferably liquid passes on the exterior of the membranes and gas bubbles in the liquid pass into the lumens of the hollow fiber membranes. This is for removal by a vacuum. The device can include its own vacuum chamber. When the device has its own vacuum chamber, it can include a warning system to alert a user to replace the device when the provided vacuum is no longer sufficient.
US08696624B2	Tamper-proof injector or applicator for dispensing a liquid or pasty drug An injector or applicator is used for dispensing a liquid or pasty drug. It comprises an injector body (1), a piston body (2) and a closing cap (3). The closing cap (3) has a cap portion and a connecting portion. The cap portion is used for closing the opening of the injector or applicator. The connecting portion is used for connecting the closing cap (3) with the injector or applicator. The cap portion and the connecting portion are releasably connected by a tear edge. To create an improved tamper-proof feature, the housing portion (1) has an undercut, and the piston body (2) has a protrusion (FIG. 6).
US08696623B2	Injection molded adjustable shape abscess irrigation device An adjustable shape abscess irrigation device includes a first tube that is slidably associated with a second tube. The irrigation device includes a retainer that defines a variable shape diameter. The diameter of the retainer is selectively adjustable by the relative positioning of the first tube and the second tube such that, once placed relative to an abscess, the shape of the device can be manipulated to allow desired drainage of irrigation and abscess fluids beyond the confines of the abscess. Upon adequate drainage of the abscess, the cross-section shape of the retainer can be reduced to facilitate more comfortable and less detrimental removal of the device from the patient. Preferably, the irrigation device is formed via one or multi-shot injection molding and is formed of more than material.
US08696620B2	Catheter with a mechanism for omni-directional deflection of a catheter shaft A catheter with a mechanism for omni-directional deflection of a catheter shaft includes a shaft assembly and a controller. The shaft assembly includes a first tubular component that has a preformed curvilinear distal section, a second, substantially straight tubular component with a main axis and an outer shaft. The first and second components are configured for slidable movement therebetween while preserving common rotation so that when the second component is axially moved in a distal direction, the second component deflects the preformed curvilinear section towards the main axis while orientation of the outer shaft is preserved. The controller is configured to effect relative axial movement between the first and second components as well as to effect rotation of the first and second components (and thus also of the preformed curvilinear distal section) without any rotation of the shaft relative to the handle. Varying the deflection of the preformed curvilinear section in combination with variable rotational movement achieves omni-directional distal tip bending.
US08696616B2	Obesity therapy and heart rate variability Methods and devices are provided for delivering obesity therapy to a patient. In general, the methods and devices allow for onset of a patient eating solid food, e.g., the patient beginning a meal, to trigger delivery of an obesity therapy to a patient. The obesity therapy can be delivered to the patient for a limited period of time such that the patient stops receiving the obesity therapy prior to a second onset of the patient eating solid food, e.g., the patient beginning a second meal, which can trigger a second delivery of the obesity therapy to the patient for a limited period of time.
US08696609B2	Multi-function switch for an oral care appliance A multi-switch (24) for an oral care appliance includes a switch housing (28) having a hollow chamber (30) therein, a button actuator (32) with at least two O-rings (42) around the periphery thereof, and inlet and outlet channels (50, 52) connecting a source of compressed gas (18) with the housing chamber and the housing chamber with a mixing chamber (26), respectively. A pump (60) moves fluid from a reservoir (20) to the mixing chamber. The O-rings are positioned so that as the button actuator is actuated and then released, the outlet is closed and the inlet is opened, allowing gas to move into the housing chamber. The pump is actuated, and then the inlet is closed and the outlet opens, allowing gas in the chamber to move to the mixing chamber to produce a stream of fluid droplets, which are directed out through a nozzle portion (16) of the appliance.
US08696606B2	Passive motion machine with integrated mechanical DVT prophylactic therapy There is provided a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine with integrated mechanical deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis for providing simultaneous CPM therapy and DVT prophylactic therapy to a human patient. The passive motion machine may include a base, at least one motor, one or more hinged frame rails, one or more support or suspension structures and a roller assembly. The hinged frame rails are driven to impart CPM to a patient's limb. The roller assembly can be a single roller, a multiple roller unit, or a belt and roller apparatus. A motor and connecting drive rotates the roller assembly. The roller assembly engages the patient's limb and the one or more rollers apply a mechanical DVT prophylaxis therapy to the limb, reducing the risk of blood clotting.
US08696605B2	Personal care vaporizer device for hands The main housing is defined by a large aperture formed in its side. The side aperture provides access to an internal treatment chamber. The user can insert one or both hands into the chamber through the side aperture to provide therapeutic treatment for the skin of the hands. The device has a removable fluid reservoir seatable into the main housing. Fluid from the reservoir is ported to an internal cool mist vaporizor such as a transducer or other misting apparatus. The mist is driven down a mist conduit by user-adjustable airflow. As the mist passes down the mist conduit, it passes a heating element that allows the user to selectively deliver heated or cool vapor into the treatment chamber. The user may utilize water and/or fluid having additives such as extracts, therapeutic medications and essential oils as the raw material for mist formation.
US08696603B2	System for measuring space width of joint, method for measuring space width of joint and recording medium A method for measuring space width of joint includes: a joint image input step of inputting an image of a joint; a contour detecting step of detecting contours of a pair of bones constituting the joint; a measurement range setting step of setting a measurement range of a space of the joint based on the contours detected in the contour detecting step; a space width calculating step of calculating a space width which is a distance between the pair of bones within the measurement range set in the measurement range setting step; and a display step of displaying the space width calculated in the space width calculating step.
US08696602B2	Method of determining body exit of an ingested capsule A method of determining body exit of an ingestible capsule comprising the steps of providing (40) an ingestible capsule (20) having a pressure sensor (23), having (41) a subject ingest the capsule, recording (42a) measurements from the pressure sensor as the capsule passes through at least an end portion of a gastrointestinal tract of the subject, transmitting (44) the measurements to a processor (31) outside of the gastrointestinal tract of the subject, identifying (47) an increasing pressure sequence (65) in the measurements between a selected start time (62) and a transmission end time (63), comparing (48) the sequence to a reference (66), and using the comparison to make a determination (52) regarding the capsule exiting the gastrointestinal tract of the subject. The increasing pressure sequence may be the longest increasing pressure sequence in the measurements. The reference may be a logarithmic regression of the measurements. The ingestible capsule may further comprise a temperature sensor (22) and the method may further comprising the steps of recording (42b) measurements from the temperature sensor as the capsule passes through the end portion of the gastrointestinal tract of the subject, transmitting (43) the measurements to the processor, analyzing (46) the temperature measurements for a substantial drop (68) in the temperature measurements, and using the analysis of the temperature measurements to make the determination regarding the capsule exiting the gastrointestinal tract of the subject.
US08696601B2	Systems and methods for ocular measurements A system for measuring the size of a capsular bag of an eye of a subject includes a size indicator and a sizing gauge. The size indicator is configured for insertion into a capsular bag and includes a peripheral portion and a pair of arms. The peripheral portion is configured to engage the capsular bag. Each of the arms has a proximal end and a distal end, the arms being joined to one another at the proximal ends. The peripheral portion is joined to the distal ends of the arms. The arms form an angle that depends on a size of the capsular bag into which the size indicator is placed.
US08696600B2	Medical guide wire assembly Medical guide wire assembly comprising a guide wire having a proximal end and a distal end, at least one physiology parameter sensor, and that the proximal end of the guide-wire is provided with an elongated connector part, having connection electrodes, for insertion into a connector housing provided with an elongated tubing adapted to achieve electrical and mechanical connection to the elongated connector part, the connector housing is in its turn electrically or wirelessly connectable to a physiology monitor. The guide wire is provided with a core wire running essentially along the entire guide wire. A sensor signal processing circuitry is arranged in connection with the physiological sensor and is adapted to generate a processed sensor signal in response of a sensed parameter. The sensor signal processing circuitry comprises a modulation unit arranged to modulate the processed sensor signal and to generate a modulated sensor signal. The assembly comprises exactly two micro-cables that are connected to the sensor signal processing circuitry, the micro-cables run along the guide wire and are connected to the connection electrodes of the connector part, wherein the core wire is actively used when transferring the processed and modulated sensor signal to the connector housing.
US08696599B2	Medical systems, devices and methods for coupling wire guides Medical systems, devices and methods are provided for coupling a wire guide to a previously introduced wire guide in intracorporeal procedures, and generally include a supplemental wire guide and a tracking element. The tracking element defines a first passageway and a second passageway. The first passageway is sized to receive the previously introduced wire guide and the second passageway is sized to receive the supplemental wire guide. The supplemental wire guide is attached to the tracking element in a coupled configuration and detached from the tracking element in a decoupled configuration for independent translation of the supplemental wire guide.
US08696596B2	Blood and interstitial fluid sampling device A device and method for lancing a patient, virtually simultaneously producing and collecting a small fluid sample from a body. The device comprises a blood collection system including a lancing needle (16), drive mechanism (11), kneading or vibration mechanism (25), optional suction system (7), and sample ejection mechanism. The device is preferably sized to be hand-held in one hand and operable with one hand. The device can optionally contain integral testing or analysis component (83) for receiving the sample and providing testing or analysis indication or readout for the user. A method involves piercing the skin at a rapid rate, kneading the surrounding area by ultrasonic action, piezoelectric or mechanical oscillation to stimulate the blood flow from the wound, drawing the fluid using a pumping system.
US08696595B2	Unitized system for collection, drying transport and analysis A unitized apparatus for collection and/or drying and/or transport and/or analysis of a specimen is provided having a desiccant chamber that permits variable quantities of desiccant to be loaded into the device and to allow the desiccant to be recharged within the device without contacting or causing damages to the specimen collected thereon.
US08696593B2	Method and system for monitoring intracranial pressure Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method for monitoring intracranial pressure. Embodiments of the present invention include emitting an electromagnetic wavelength into forehead tissue of a patient and detecting characteristics of the electromagnetic wavelength after the electromagnetic wavelength has been scattered by the tissue. The characteristics may include variations in the electromagnetic wavelength corresponding to a pulse. Further, embodiments of the present invention include analyzing the variations to identify venous pulsations, and determining whether intracranial pressure is elevated in the patient based on a correlation between the venous pulsations and levels of intracranial pressure.
US08696592B2	Breath biofeedback system and method A breath biofeedback method and system for encouraging a subject to modify respiration. The system includes a thoracic volume input module measuring thoracic volume data of the subject and a pattern module providing target breathing patterns in communication with a display generator. The display generator producing display information representing a displayable image including a first object having a first position determined as a function of the thoracic volume data and a second object having a second position determined as a function of the target breathing pattern and the thoracic volume data. The displayable image is designed such that when displayed on the display device the displayable image encourages the subject viewing the displayable image to modify respiration.
US08696588B2	Device and method for determining a respiration rate A device (1) and a corresponding method are provided for determining and/or monitoring the respiration rate based on measurement with more than one sensor (5, 7, 9, 13, 15). The device may be part of a monitor for determining and/or monitoring the respiration rate. The second and/or additional sensors are different form the first sensor and have a different manor of operation from the first sensor.
US08696584B2	Devices, systems and methods for determining fractional flow reserve in the presence of a catheter Devices, systems, and methods for obtaining fractional flow reserve in the presence of a catheter. In a method of determining a fractional flow reserve in the presence of a catheter, the method comprises the steps of obtaining measurements of an inner luminal organ diameter proximal to, at, and distal to a stenosis and a length of the stenosis, obtaining a pressure drop measurement at the stenosis, calculating a volumetric flow of fluid through the inner luminal organ at the stenosis, and determining a stenotic pressure drop at the stenosis corresponding to dimensions of the guidewire as a function of the calculated volumetric flow of fluid through the inner luminal organ at the stenosis, wherein the stenotic pressure drop is indicative of a fractional flow reserve at or near the stenosis.
US08696582B2	Apparatus and method for imaging a medical instrument The invention provides an ultrasound imaging and medical instrument guiding apparatus, a system for acquiring and displaying ultrasound medical images and methods of using the apparatus and system in epidural anesthetic procedure. The apparatus comprises a hand-held ultrasound probe, configured to acquire a volumetric dataset representing a 3-D depiction of a volume; a mount to which the probe is mounted; and a medical instrument guide positionable relative to the ultrasound probe and configured to receive and guide a medical instrument along a propagation axis to a target in a body such that the target and the propagation axis intersect in the volume. The volumetric dataset acquired by the hand-held ultrasound probe comprises information about the medical instrument's position relative to the target in three dimensions and the medical instrument guide has a visible mark from which the depth of the medical instrument insertion along the propagation axis can be referenced.
US08696579B2	Cardiac flow quantification with volumetric imaging data A method quantifies cardiac volume flow for an imaging sequence. The method includes receiving data representing three-dimensions and color Doppler flow data over a plurality of frames, constructing a ventricular model based on the data representing three-dimensions for the plurality of frames, the ventricular model including a sampling plane configured to measure the cardiac volume flow, computing volume flow samples based on the sampling plane and the color Doppler flow data, and correcting the volume flow samples for aliasing based on volumetric change in the ventricular model between successive frames of the plurality of frames.
US08696577B2	Tongue imaging in medical diagnostic ultrasound Tongue imaging is provided in medical diagnostic ultrasound. Ultrasound data is processed to enhance the information from the tongue. The enhancement increases signal from the tongue, decreases other signals, or both. The resulting image may more clearly present the tongue or tongue surface for feedback to a patient or review by a speech therapist.
US08696575B2	Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and method of controlling the same An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus removes a speckle pattern using information on a direction (depth direction) that is substantially orthogonal to a plurality of ultrasonic images included in three-dimensional image data. For example, three-dimensional CFAR processing, two-dimensional CFAR processing, and a depth-direction arithmetic process are performed to discriminate a continuous structure that is three-dimensionally arranged from a local microstructure, thereby generating a microstructure extracted image.
US08696568B2	Methods, system and kit for diagnosing and treating dysphagia Methods for evaluating and treating patients for dysphagia are provided. In a general embodiment, the method comprises screening the patient for dysphagia symptoms, diagnosing and categorizing the dysphagia if the patient exceeds a threshold of dysphagia symptoms, choosing the proper dysphagia treatment product based the patient's dysphagia, and giving the patient preparation instructions for the dysphagia treatment product.
US08696566B2	Method for analyzing stress based on multi-measured bio-signals Disclosed is a method and system for analyzing stress and managing stress by using a mobile electronic apparatus and a data management server. The method includes: generating bio-signal pattern information upon periodically receiving a bio-signal from a bio-signal measuring device connected to each of a plurality of unspecified individuals, and forming reference information for stress analysis based on received answers to each of a plurality of questions for checking a stress level; receiving bio-signal pattern information from a bio-signal measuring device connected to a specified user; and determining a stress level corresponding to the bio-signal pattern information of the specified user based on the reference information.
US08696564B2	Implantable sensor with biocompatible coating for controlling or inhibiting tissue growth All or a portion of a surface of an implantable sensor is covered with a biocompatible coating formed at least partially of a biomaterial matrix having properties that promote a substantially even growth of tissue cells over the surface of the coating. Additional materials, such as growth factors, agents that recruit endogenous stem cells, and cell adhesion motif arginine, glycine, aspartic acid may be included in the coating. Autologous cells may be added to the coating prior to implantation. The sensor surface may also be textured, by etching or abrading, in order to promote even tissue growth. Alternatively, the sensor surface may be covered with a coating having properties that inhibit the growth of tissue. These coatings may include a biomaterial, a biomaterial matrix having a drug, such as a sirolimus or a steroid, an active component, or a self assembled monolayer.
US08696559B2	Surgical access system and related methods A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue refraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.
US08696558B1	Pedicle guided retractor system There is disclosed a retractor system to facilitate surgical access to an intervertebral disc between an inferior vertebral body and a superior vertebral body. In an embodiment, the retractor system includes an elongate member having an anchor to attach to a pedicle of an inferior vertebral body with respect to an intervertebral disc. A retractor body has a collar to attach to the elongate member, slides coupled to the retractor body, and a pair of blades mounted to the slides. The blades have a proximal end and a distal end, a distance between the proximal end and the distal end of each one of the blades configured for displacing tissue for access to an intervertebral disc. An attachment portion is adjacent the proximal end of each one of the blades for attaching one of the slides thereto. Geometry of the blade end conforms to anatomy surrounding the pedicle.
US08696557B2	Access assembly including inflatable seal member An access assembly for insertion through an opening in tissue is provided. The access assembly includes a flexible outer sleeve having an upper rim formed on a proximal end, a lower rim formed on a distal end and defining a longitudinal opening extending therebetween. The lower rim may define an inflatable space that in a deflated state facilitates insertion of the lower rim through tissue and in an inflated state assists in retaining the access assembly in place relative to the tissue. The access assembly further includes an inflatable member secured within the longitudinal opening of the outer sleeve. The inflatable member includes a plurality of inflatable lobes configured to selectively receive at least one surgical device therebetween in a sealing manner.
US08696552B2	Self-contained sterilizable surgical system A self-contained surgical, e.g., endoscope, system. The surgical, e.g., endoscope, system may include a sterilizable shaft having a light source and/or an image capture device mounted at the distal end of the shaft or connected to the distal end of the shaft by fiber optics. The light source is a light emitting diode or an array of light emitting diodes, and may have its own power source located at the distal end of the shaft. The shaft includes a working channel, an irrigation/aspiration channel, and an electric cable. The shaft is coupled at its proximal end to a control module having a video processor and an integrally-mounted display screen for displaying image data from the image capture device. The control module may also include an irrigation/aspiration system, a control unit, and a controller. The control module is coupled to a power module. The power module includes steering motors connected to steering cables in the shaft. In addition, the power module includes drive motors and a power source.
US08696550B2	Endoscope sheath An endoscope sheath is provided for advancing medical devices into the anatomy of a patient. The endoscope sheath includes at least one lumen that may be used to advance devices alongside an endoscope. The endoscope sheath may include an endoscope cap configured to mate with the lumen. The endoscope may include one or more coupling members configured to mate with the openings of the lumen.
US08696549B2	Apparatus and method for four dimensional soft tissue navigation in endoscopic applications A surgical instrument navigation system is provided that visually simulates a virtual volumetric scene of a body cavity of a patient from a point of view of a surgical instrument residing in the cavity of the patient. The surgical instrument navigation system includes: a surgical instrument; an imaging device which is operable to capture scan data representative of an internal region of interest within a given patient; a tracking subsystem that employs electro-magnetic sensing to capture in real-time position data indicative of the position of the surgical instrument; a data processor which is operable to render a volumetric, perspective image of the internal region of interest from a point of view of the surgical instrument; and a display which is operable to display the volumetric perspective image of the patient.
US08696543B2	Method for controlling flow of intestinal contents in a patient's intestines There is provided a method for controlling a flow of intestinal contents in the intestinal passageway of a patient's intestines. The method comprises gently constricting (i.e., without substantially hampering the blood circulation in the intestinal tissue wall) at least one portion of the intestinal tissue wall to influence the flow in the intestinal passageway, and stimulating the constricted wall portion to cause contraction of the wall portion to further influence the flow in the intestinal passageway. The method can be used for restricting or stopping the flow in the intestinal passageway, or for actively moving the fluid in the intestinal passageway, with a low risk of injuring the intestines.
US08696540B2	Apparatus and method to shield radiation needles According to one general aspect there is a needle package apparatus that comprises a top portion and a bottom portion; a plurality of needle slots exact distance apart that allows to place a plurality of needles that contain radioactive seeds; a cylindrical coil that is inserted to the plurality of needle slots to hold said plurality of needles, wherein said cylindrical coil prevents the leakage of the radiation from the radioactive seeds; a set of hinges located at the end of said needle package within the outer most said plurality of needle slots; wherein the hinges can be bend to change the angle of said top portion of said needle package by a medical personnel to create a stand; and a single end enclosure located at the distal end of said cylindrical coil to provide an enclosed cylinder.
US08696535B2	Multiformat box forming machine Multiformat box forming machine which comprises, at least, a storage unit (1) for die-cut cardboard sheets (2), a loader (3) for unit-by-unit dispensing of the die-cut sheets (2), means (4) for guiding and positioning the die-cut sheet (2), means (5) for supplying an adhesive substance on the die-cut cardboard sheet (2), a shaping unit (6) which comprises at least a vertically displaceable inner mould and an exterior matrix, and means (9) for discharging the formed box (10). The mould and the matrix of the shaping unit (6) are divided into four segments, respectively, which allow horizontal displacement and positioning thereof at the points which coincide with the lower corners of the box (10), it having been provided that each one of the units of mould-matrix segments move solidly joined together.
US08696532B1	Exercise ball stabilizer An exercise ball stabilizer apparatus includes a ball stabilizing assembly and a telescopically connected platform assembly to allow for length adjustment along an axial distance between the stabilizer assembly and the platform assembly. The stabilizer assembly is adjustable to accommodate different exercise ball diameters. The exercise ball is stably maintained within the stabilizer assembly, thereby providing a stable support during conventional exercise ball exercising activities.
US08696531B1	Exercise furniture The present disclosure generally pertains to furniture that facilitates the performance of various exercises. In one exemplary embodiment, an article of furniture, such as a chair, a sofa, a love seat, a table, a desk, a dresser, an ottoman, a trunk, or a chest, for example, is used to perform various exercises. The article of furniture has at least one attachment device, such as a hook or handle, to which an exercise band is coupled. The exercise band is elastic and can be pulled by a user to perform one or more exercises. The exercise band deforms when pulled and resists the pulling motion of the user as it is being stretched. In addition, when deformed, the exercise band generates a force that tends to return the band to its pre-deformation shape. By countering the force generated by the exercise band, the user's muscles are strengthened and toned. After performing one or more exercises, the user can remove the exercise band from the attachment device and store the exercise band as may be desired until the next exercise session, and the article of furniture serves as a home or office furnishing.
US08696530B2	Portable exercise device and system for use thereof A portable exercise device includes an elongated base sheet and at least one attachment mechanism secured to the elongated base sheet at preselected locations on one side of said base sheet. The at least one attachment mechanism has at least one apparatus to receive an appendage of a user of the device and to provide a mechanism by which to secure a variety of exercise accessories to the base sheet. A retention mechanism for selectively removably connecting the device to a door sufficiently secures the device to the door that it will permit vigorous repeated use of the device without causing the device to inadvertently separate from the door during use and will also permit rapid, facile removal of the device from the door.
US08696528B2	Exercise device and method of using same A method of using an adjustably inclinable exercise device using guidelines from a selected strength table, hypertrophy table, power table, or endurance table. The exercise device includes an adjustable incline and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the incline of the adjustable incline. A user selects parameters including a loading parameter from the selected table, adjusts the incline to an inclination corresponding to the selected loading parameter, and engages the exercise device for performance of exercise training according to the selected parameters.
US08696526B1	Stationary recumbent bicycle device The stationary recumbent bicycle device is foremost mechanically basic. Design was principally concerned with basic, sturdy construction to avoid any functional or structural failures. The horizontal backbones provide rigidity, especially being coupled to the centrally disposed box frame. The rigidity continues with the backbone riser and backbone angle, and on through the sturdy fork assembly. Importantly, the body rest and the headrest assembly are easily and quickly adjusted to user fit. By being recumbent, the device involves more musculature than does an upright bicycle.
US08696521B2	Exerciser with length-adjustable inelastic strap An exerciser includes a suspension member having an extension strap. A connecting ring is fixed to a first end of the extension strap. A second end of the extension strap is wound around a positioning rod slideable on a linking ring to allow adjustment of an overall length of the extension strap. A hook is fixed to a looped attachment member and releasably engaged with one of the connecting ring and a first ring on the extension strap. A handle is slideably mounted around the attachment member. A connecting strap has an end fixed to the linking ring. A stop is fixed to the other end of the connecting strap. A second ring can be fixed to the connecting strap, and an attachment belt can be attached to the second ring. Two handles of two suspension members can be attached to two ends of a bar.
US08696520B2	Data transfer systems We have disclosed a data transfer system that includes athletic equipment and at least two individual network components. A first individual network component is engaged with athletic equipment and is configured to transmit data to a remote component. A second individual network component is configured to receive data from a remote component. A second individual network component includes at least one of a display device and an audio output device. Data transmitted may include user identity and performance data and route data.
US08696515B2	Coast stop vehicle and control method thereof An oil pump driven by an engine generates a hydraulic pressure supplied to a frictional engagement element. An accumulator provided at an intermediate position of an oil path supplies the hydraulic pressure generated by the oil pump to the frictional engagement element. A controller stops the engine after a hydraulic pressure reducing condition to reduce the hydraulic pressure supplied to the frictional engagement element holds and the hydraulic pressure supplied to the frictional engagement element is reduced.
US08696514B1	Method and apparatus for controlling engine operation in a multi-mode powertrain system A powertrain system includes a multi-mode transmission configured to transfer torque among an engine, torque machines, and an output member in one of a plurality of transmission ranges. A method for operating the powertrain system includes, in response to a command to disable one of the torque machines, converging minimum and maximum torque capacities of the one of the torque machines to zero and converging minimum and maximum engine torque system constraints to a single engine torque command in response to the minimum and maximum torque capacity limits of the one of the torque machines and an output torque request. Torque output from the engine is controlled including employing a fast engine actuator to control the engine in response to the output torque request, and maintaining torque output from the one of the torque machines at zero.
US08696497B2	Systems and methods for fitting golf equipment A golf equipment fitting system that uses advanced technology to not only objectively identify the optimum equipment for the golfer, but to also identify and help correct swing flaws so that the golfer can achieve optimum performance on the golf course. Thus, in one embodiment, golf fitting includes collecting data related to the golfer's swing and determining if the golfer's swing technique should be modified based at least in part on the collected swing data. When it is determined that the golfer's swing technique should be modified, then providing swing instruction to the golfer. When, however, it is determined that the golfer's swing technique is fine, then collecting data related to how the golfer's swing launches a golf ball. Finally, golf equipment, e.g., golf clubs, can be specified based on the collected swing data and launch data.
US08696494B1	Method for treating thermoplastic polyurethane golf ball covers A method of forming a golf ball is disclosed herein. The method includes injecting a cover mixture into a mold to form a cover mixture comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane resin and a polyahl, subjecting the golf ball to a polyisocyanated solution to create a golf ball with a polyisocyanated cover, and heating the golf ball or polyisocyanated cover to remove a solvent component of the polyisocyanated solution and promote the reaction of the polyisocyanate with the cover mixture and polyahl.
US08696493B2	Golf club head with improved aerodynamic characteristics A driver type golf club head comprising a body having a face, a crown and a sole, wherein the highest point of the crown surface is located within a crown apex zone, and the club head has a depth, the depth being at least twice the length as a height of the club head, wherein the depth is at least 4.600 inches.
US08696492B1	Putter face insert A putter-type golf club head having a face insert comprising a metal sheet and a urethane backing is disclosed herein. The metal sheet, which makes contact with a golf ball during use, includes a plurality of oval-shaped holes extending through the entire thickness of the sheet and having a specific size and spacing, and the urethane backing has a hardness that optimizes performance of the face insert, and thus the putter.
US08696491B1	Golf club head with adjustable center of gravity A golf club head comprising a channel and an expandable weight that can be removably fixed at any point within the channel is disclosed herein. The channel preferably is disposed on the sole and extends from a heel side of the golf club head, around a rear side, and ends at a toe side of the golf club head. This channel is not constrained to a planar arc, but instead twists as it extends around the golf club head so that it follows the contours, and preserves the aesthetics, of the golf club head. The expandable weight preferably is trapped within the channel so that it cannot fall out of the channel during use, and includes an anti-rotation feature so that it does not twist within the channel and cause an undesirable rattling noise.
US08696489B2	Golf club head with variable face thickness A face for a golf club head is disclosed herein. The face has an interior surface comprising a central region having a first perimeter having an elliptical shape, an outer edge having a non-elliptical, driver-face profile shape, a first intermediate region located between the first perimeter and the outer edge, the first intermediate region having a second perimeter with a shape that is more similar to the shape of the first perimeter than the shape of the outer edge, and a second intermediate region located between the second perimeter and the outer edge, the second intermediate region having a third perimeter with a shape that is more like the shape of the outer edge than the shape of the first perimeter. The thicknesses of the perimeters of the face disclosed herein may vary around their respective circumferences.
US08696484B2	Golf aid A golf aid is disclosed for providing a unique method of aiming and aligning a golf shot. The golf aid comprises an elongated base having a plurality of apertures and a plurality of elongated rods adapted to fit within the apertures. By inserting the elongated rods into the apertures in a pre-determined orientation, the present invention can assist the golfer with aiming, alignment, swing mechanics, backswing accuracy, follow-through accuracy, opening/closing their stance, and more.
US08696483B2	Golf club head with alignment markings A golf club putter having an alignment pattern is disclosed herein. The alignment pattern has first and second long lines that approach each other as they extend from an aft region of the putter to a front region of the putter and, when the putter is properly aligned with a golf ball, create an optical illusion of convergence of said lines at or near a center of the golf ball without actually intersecting.
US08696481B1	Long putter brace assembly A golfer body attached brace assembly for restricting motion of a long putter end to a fixed axis path with respect to the golfer's body including a base fixed to a frontal portion of the golfer's body with a pivotal joint on the base attached to the butt end of the putter restricting motion of the putter end to the axis of the joint. The base is held against the body using, as an example, the golfer's head to rotate the base toward the body.
US08696480B2	Golf swing training apparatus The present invention discloses a golf swing trainer for improving a golfer's drive, posture, and technique when swing a golf club. The golf swing trainer includes a base, two lateral arms, and inside and outside guides which form a corridor through which a golf club is swung. Other elongated members are disclosed for securing a golfer's waste with a harness, bracing their leg, and the like. These components allow a golfer to simulate a golf swing and practice posture and technique preparatory to driving an actual golf ball.
US08696473B2	Automatic resetting torque limiter capable of high speed continuous operations in released mode A resettable torque limiter for installation between two rotary members, which can smoothly disengage upon application of predetermined torque acting between the members and smoothly reset upon decline of applied torque below the predetermined level. An undulating engagement surface formed on one member according to a function preferably an eighth power polynomial is engaged by a plurality of engagement elements on the other member which smoothly ride over lobes formed on the engagement surface when the torque limit is exceeded without causing any discontinuities in acceleration or jerk when the driving connection between the rotary members is interrupted until the applied torque declines below the preset limit.
US08696471B2	Portable electronic device An electronic device (1) has hold parts (1R, 1L) constituting respective right and left side parts of the electronic device 1 and being available to be held by a user. Operating sticks (3R, 3L) are provided on the respective hold parts (1R, 1L). A rear touch panel (21) is provided on the rear surface of the electronic device (1). The rear touch panel (21) is provided in at least an area located further upward than a positions P opposite from the operation sticks (3R, 3L). This layout of the rear touch panel (21) allows a user to smoothly operate the rear touch panel (21) while holding the hold parts of the electronic device.
US08696470B2	Spontaneous player preferences An apparatus, method, and system to present at least one game offering on a display of a gaming machine may include a portable electronic device having a processor operative with a spontaneous interest data application to acquire spontaneous interest data. A memory may store the spontaneous interest data and the spontaneous interest data application. The spontaneous interest data application may save the spontaneous interest data to the memory, and a data transfer interface can transfer the spontaneous interest data to a second device.
US08696469B2	Interactive asynchrounous computer game infrastructure In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium that, when executing on one or more computers, receives a request for game play, and in response to the request, causing prior game play data to be retrieved, where the prior game play data was stored in response to prior game play of another user. Further, an asynchronous game play environment may be provided where an active participant, who made the request, is able to play against and interact with an apparently live participant based on the prior game play data.
US08696468B2	Amusement device including provision for tracking a player's top score A method of tracking electronic game score information for a plurality of players participating in an amusement system is disclosed. The amusement system includes at least one amusement device communicating with a central server over a network. The amusement device has a display, a memory storing a plurality of electronic games and a controller. The central server maintains a plurality of player accounts corresponding to the plurality of players. Each of the player accounts includes best score information for at least one of the plurality of electronic games played by the respective player on the amusement device. The central server receives score update information associated with the player accounts from the amusement device and updates the player accounts with the received score update information.
US08696466B2	Method and apparatus for implementing nemesis matchmaking A method is provided for matchmaking including receiving at a processor based system a request from a user to join a game having one or more matches, wherein the matches comprise a first side playing against a second side wherein each of the first side and second side comprises a set of one or more players, obtaining a nemesis list for the user wherein the nemesis list comprises a list of one or more players having a determined rivalry against the user, and assigning the user to at least one match on one of the first side and the second side at least in part based on the nemesis list. A computer readable storage medium stores one or more computer readable programs adapted to cause a processor based system to execute similar steps, and a processor-based system is configured to perform similar steps.
US08696463B2	System and method for integrated player tracking and cash-access The present invention relates to a system and method for integrating player tracking and cash access in a casino or other gaming environment. One aspect of the invention allows for fund access and management wherein gaming machines, such as slot machines, receive playable credits directly from a patron's banking or credit card account. Another aspect of the present invention relates to integrating player tracking and cash access transactions by allowing the players to provide a player tracking card for each financial transaction conducted in the casino. In return, the casino issues gaming or bonus points to the players for allowing their transactions to be tracked. Yet another aspect of the present invention consolidates the players' financial account information into a single casino database. Players can subsequently credit or debit cash from the players' financial accounts using any associated customer identification cards or otherwise receive such credits in other forms that permit negotiations, including quasi-cash documents.
US08696461B2	Automated sensor driven match-making A method of matching a player of a multi-player game with a remote participant includes recognizing the player, automatically identifying an observer within a threshold proximity to the player, using an identity of the observer to find one or more candidates to play as the remote participant of the multi-player game, and when selecting the remote participant, choosing a candidate from the one or more candidates above a non-candidate if the candidate satisfies a matching criteria.
US08696460B2	Game controller with at least one intermediary locking position A game controller having at least one arm mobile in relation to a base over a nominal range of displacement between two extreme positions, which implements a stopping mechanism of the aim 1n an intermediary locking position between the extreme positions to avoid reaching involuntarily a zone of the nominal range of displacement. An element of the stopping mechanism is removable and/or retractable with respect to the base so that this element is able to take two positions, an active position, wherein the stopping mechanism in the intermediary locking position is active and cooperates with the base and the arm, and an inactive position, wherein the stopping mechanism is inactive. The game controller also implements mechanical means of crossing the intermediary locking position under the action of a specific control carried out by a user when the stopping mechanism is active.
US08696458B2	Motion tracking system and method using camera and non-camera sensors Systems and methods for tracking the motion of a game controller and a player's body part are disclosed. The method includes receiving a video signal from a webcam, generating movement data corresponding to the motion of the game controller, tracking first predetermined degrees of freedom of motion of the body part, generating feature location data based on a location of at least one identifiable visual feature of the game controller, and estimating second predetermined degrees of freedom of a motion of the game controller.
US08696457B2	Game sound field creator Game sound field creator is comprised of means for computing a spaced distance between a sound source and a player character, means for outputting sound track data to default speakers if the spaced distance is a first distance or shorter, means for stopping output of the sound track data if the spaced distance is a second distance or longer, means for computing a virtual development angle of each sound channel according to the spaced distance if the spaced distance is between the first distance and the second distance, means for converting a virtual development angle into an actual angle adding a direction of the sound source and means for reproducing the sound track data of each sound channel based upon the converted actual angle.
US08696453B2	Game apparatus, storage medium storing a game program, and game control method A game apparatus includes an LCD and is provided a touch panel in relation to the LCD. The LCD displays a game screen for making a player character hit a ball. For example, when touch-on is performed on the LCD (touch panel), the stance and shot power of the player character are decided according to coordinates of the touch-on position. With this, the path of the ball is decided to be a straight ball, draw ball or fade ball, and the carry of the ball is decided with regard to the shot power. Following the touch-on, when a slide operation is performed, an impact is decided according to the slide operation. For example, the path of the ball is changed by the decided impact.
US08696452B2	Game system, control method of controlling computer and a storage medium storing a computer program used thereof Disclosed is a game system comprising a monitor (3) that outputs the game screen display, a touch panel (5), and an external memory device (20) that stores sequence data (28) which records the operation timing for touch operation of a touch panel (5). Furthermore, the game system displays objects (60) corresponding to each operation timing within the predetermined time range on a game screen (50) and displays a judgment line (65) that corresponds to the current time and moves within the game screen (50), such that the judgment line (65) traverses in order each object (60) at the operation timing recorded in the sequence data (28). The game system also alters at least either the judgment line (65) movement direction or movement speed according to predetermined conditions.
US08696448B2	Management engine for contractual terms in a video game According to various embodiments, a video game allows one or more players to enter contracts, where credit cards or other financial instruments are used to secure the contracts. A player defaulting on such a contract can be subjected to penalties in the video game and/or in the real world.
US08696444B2	Gaming token having a variable value A system installed in a casino allows gambling chips in the casino to have variable values. Each chip has an electronic circuit installed in it to store a chip identifier and data indicative of a value currently associated with the chip. Slot machines and other devices are arranged to interact with the gambling chips to read and write data from and into the chips. A central controller is connected to the slot machines and other devices that interact with the chips. The chips carry a display and/or an audio device to apprise players of the value currently associated with the chip.
US08696442B2	Game system In a game system which is provided with a monitor which displays a screen according to progress of a game, a touch panel which is operated by a player according to the progress of a game, a storage device which stores operation history data of the player who operates the touch panel, and a control unit, the control unit determines an attribute of the player based on the operation history data and controls setting of a game based on the determined attribute.
US08696441B2	Gaming device having alternate outcome presentations A gaming device and a method of playing a gaming device which includes a game having a plurality of presentations associated with outcomes or combinations in a game. Specifically, the each outcome or combination includes a default presentation and at least one of the outcomes includes one or more alternate presentations. The default and alternate presentations include probabilities of being selected by the processor. In a game, the processor predetermines the winning outcome or non-winning outcome to provide to the player and then selects one of the presentations associated with the determined outcome. The gaming device selects the presentation based on the probabilities of being selected associated with the presentations. The gaming device then provides any award associated with the determined combination to the player.
US08696440B2	Method of gaming, a game controller and a gaming system A method of gaming comprising: selecting a plurality of symbols and displaying the selected symbols at respective ones of a plurality of display positions arranged in a grid having a plurality of display positions arranged between a plurality of pairs of opposing sides, each symbol being selected from a symbol set; determining whether a line of contiguous symbols is formed by one or more designated symbols between a pair of opposing sides of the grid; and making an award in response to a positive determination.
US08696439B1	Slot machine with synchronized spinning reels A slot machine that can spin two or more of the reels in unison. Thus, the machine can spin and stop the reels in a standard fashion. If a special trigger occurs, then two or more reels can further spin with an identical offset. The further spin can generate additional rewards for the player.
US08696431B2	Mobile play instant ticket lottery game A method and system for implementing an instant win lottery game includes receiving a player's wager and selection of a game at a point-of-sale (POS) lottery location. The player receives a lottery ticket corresponding to the selected game, with the lottery ticket including a unique identification code that dictates the outcome of the game. The player accesses the lottery authority system via a wireless internet enabled mobile device to display and play an instant win game to reveal the outcome of the lottery ticket.
US08696428B1	Multi-player electronic gaming system and projectile shooting community game played thereon A large touch screen gaming table is disclosed that may accommodate, for example, four players. Each player creates a bank of credits at the table and plays a community game independently of other players. In one game, various icons are continuously displayed, and the icons display various wager amounts. Any player may simultaneous touch an icon of any wager and touch a player-active button, and the selected icon reveals a hidden prize credited to that player. In one embodiment, the game is continuous in that the icons are replenished after being selected. The players may play at any speed and in any order. The wagers may be very small and the prizes are generally also small to encourage rapid play. Any player(s) that does not wish to participate in the community game may control the screen to display a variety of individual games on a screen segment.
US08696423B2	Entertainment process based on competition games with multiple choices Entertainment system based on multiple choice competition games, characterized in that it comprises at least one terminal including connection means to a dedicated remote server (1), the system also comprising means of playing an extract of a recording with a configurable duration on at least one terminal (2, 3) comprising means of reproducing the recording, means of interaction with a user and means (21, 31) of connection with a dedicated remote server (1), means of asking a terminal user a question and suggesting multiple choice answers, the question being related to information characteristic of the extract of the recording, and the recording being selected by means independent of the terminal user.
US08696422B1	Electronic boxing game, gear, method and systems Devices and systems and methods that can include padded vest and head gear having sensors to be worn by opposing players, for a boxing game and training system and method wherein impacts on the sensors are automatically converted into points on a scoreboard. The sensors can be located on left and right sides of the headgear and on upper and lower portions of the front of the vest of the participants.
US08696420B2	System and method for counting swimming laps The invention can be worn by the swimmer and comprises a sensor module, preferably with a digital compass and accelerometer, preferably worn under a swim cap or attached to goggles, and a human interaction device, preferably integrated into or worn as wrist watch, for displaying laps. The sensor module and the human interaction device are in communication with each other, preferably via wireless communication. A microprocessor with software is included in either the sensor module, watch or both. The microprocessor/software interprets data from a digital compass and digital accelerometer within the sensor to determine when the swimmer has changed directions and thereby count the number of laps. The watch can then display the number of laps.
US08696418B1	System and method for securing a panel such as an aircraft air grille A system for securing a panel is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the panel is an air grille, such as, for example, an aircraft air-return air grille.
US08696416B1	Multi-Purpose chimney cap device A multi-purpose chimney cap device for a flue opening. The device includes a tubular housing with an open lower end surrounding the flue opening and an open upper end. A plurality of ventilation openings in the lower portion of the tubular housing draws air into the tubular housing. A plurality of exit openings are provided near the open upper end of the tubular housing. A removable heat deflector is attached to the open upper end of the tubular housing. A removable non-metal weather shield is fastened to the heat deflector to provide an enclosed chamber between the weather shield and the heat deflector. A receiver/transmitter within the enclosed chamber resides between the weather shield and the heat deflector.
US08696415B2	Clip machine for the manufacture of sausage-shaped products The invention relates to a clip machine for a production line for the manufacturing of sausage-shaped products receives a flowable filling material in a tubular wrapper material. The clip machine includes at least two sealing tools, movable relative to one another between a opening position and a closing position for the placing and closing of clips on a sausage-shaped product, at least one clip storage device from which clips can be fed to a sealing tool, a storage device for storing a supply of wrapper material, a separation device for separating an individual sausage product from the supply of wrapper material, a filling pipe for the feeding of filling material, a delivery device for delivering sausage-shaped products from the clip machine along a transport path for the sausage-shaped products and a feeding device for flexible suspension elements from which suspension elements can be fed. The delivery path for the sausage-shaped products includes a first transport path for the sausage-shaped products and, parallel to the first transport path for the sausage-shaped products, a transport path separate from the first transport path for the sausage-shaped products, for the suspension elements connected to a sausage-shaped product.
US08696411B1	Setup platform apparatus for bench and pedestal grinders A setup platform is provided for a grinder including a cutoff wheel. The setup platform includes an upper planar surface including a first edge, which may be shaped similar to the grinder housing, the first edge including a slot therein for receiving the cutoff wheel. An anchor bar is mounted horizontally to the grinder housing, and a post extending from a lower surface of the setup platform is slidable on the anchor bar such that the setup platform is slidable relative to the anchor bar to removably mount the setup platform to the grinder such that the first edge is disposed adjacent the grinder housing and the cutoff wheel is received in the slot.
US08696409B2	Self-bonded foamed abrasive articles and machining with such articles A self-bonded foamed abrasive article and a method of machining using such an article. The machining method includes providing a workpiece having a worksurface and removing material from the worksurface by moving an abrasive relative to the worksurface, wherein the abrasive comprises a foamed abrasive body consisting of abrasive grains and a porosity of at least about 66 vol %.
US08696404B2	Systems for recycling slurry materials during polishing processes Systems for recycling slurry materials during polishing processes are provided. One system includes a polisher having an inlet and drain outlet, and a slurry storage tank to supply a slurry including a preselected material to the polisher inlet, and a recycling assembly including a cross flow filter including an inlet to receive a waste slurry including the preselected material from the polisher drain outlet, where the cross flow filter is configured to concentrate the preselected material in an outlet slurry, a density meter configured to measure a concentration of the preselected material in the filter outlet slurry, a valve coupled to the filter outlet and configured to supply the slurry storage tank, and a controller coupled to the density meter and valve, where the controller is configured to open the valve when the concentration of the preselected material reaches a first concentration threshold.
US08696399B2	Components for rapidly constructing a user-definable apparatus Mechanical and electromechanical components for rapidly constructing a user-definable apparatus may include components that are reconfigurable into other construction set components, and that have at least one demarcation defining adjacent segments thereof. The demarcations facilitate reconfiguration of the components to produce other construction set components. Openings to substantially prevent sharp edges from being formed during reconfiguration may be included in the components. An electromechanical drive assembly having an integrated speed control and operable to receive interchangeable, non-circular drive shafts may be provided. The electromechanical drive assembly may be configured to attach to and self-align relative to other construction set components. One or more of the components may be provided with openings through which the non-circular drive shafts may rotate. The drive shaft may be locked in relation to openings of components that, allow the drive shaft to rotate via a lock plate. A bearing plate may also be included.
US08696398B2	Quick detach inflatable lifejacket A personal flotation is provided having a body harness portion and an inflatable lifejacket portion. The body harness portion is positionable on a wearer. The lifejacket is positionable about the neck of the wearer, where the lifejacket portion is removably secured to the body harness portion with a quick release connector. The lifejacket can be removed from the wearer by decoupling lifejacket portion from the body harness portion, and removing the lifejacket portion from about the neck of the wearer. The body harness portion will remain positioned on the wearer.
US08696394B1	Marine propulsion systems and cooling systems for marine propulsion systems A marine propulsion system comprises an internal combustion engine, a cooling circuit carrying cooling fluid that cools the internal combustion engine, a sump holding oil that drains from the internal combustion engine, and a heat exchanger receiving the cooling fluid. The oil that drains from the internal combustion engine to the sump passes through and is cooled by the heat exchanger.
US08696393B2	Water jet based underwater thruster The thruster pod that is made of a pump plate; a valve plate affixed to the pump plate, and a diaphragm mounted between the pump plate and the valve plate. The pump plate has juxtaposed pressure cavity and outlet cavity, and a partition separating the pressure cavity from the outlet cavity. The pressure cavity communicates with a source of water under pressure and the outlet cavity communicates with an outlet port. The valve plate has a control chamber facing the juxtaposed pressure and outlet cavities. The diaphragm is mounted between the juxtaposed pressure and outlet cavities and the control chamber for movement between a first position and a second position upon a change in pressure in the control chamber. A control valve is mounted in the valve plate for selectively changing a pressure in the control chamber and operating a diaphragm valve.
US08696390B2	Electrical connector with transfer contact for connecting cable and another contact An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (10) defining a passageway (12), a contact (30) received in the passageway and a transfer contact (40) with one end connected to a cable and the other end connected to the contact. The contact includes a retaining portion (31) fixed in the passageway, a contact portion (32) extending forwardly from the retaining portion and a tail portion (33) extending backwardly from the retaining portion. The transfer contact includes a U-shaped portion (41) for receiving the tail portion (33) and a cable connection portion (42) extending from the U-shaped portion for receiving the cable. The U-shaped portion includes a pair of side walls (412). At least one of the side walls (412) includes an elastic arm (413) engaging with the tail portion (33) of the contact for improving fixation force therebetween.
US08696389B2	Card edge connector A card edge connector for mating to a flex circuit includes a housing having a front, a top and a bottom. The housing has a slot between the top and the bottom. The slot is open at the front. The slot is configured to receive a flex circuit therein. Upper contacts are held by the housing between the slot and the top. The upper contacts are exposed in the slot for mating with an upper surface of the flex circuit. Lower contacts are held by the housing between the slot and the bottom. The lower contacts are exposed in the slot for mating with a lower surface of the flex circuit.
US08696387B2	Card adapter and electronic device A card adapter is disposed in a slot of an electronic device. The card adapter includes a slit which is configured such that a card with information written therein is inserted into the slit, an opening portion which reaches from an outer surface of the card adapter to the slit, and a fall-out prevention member which is disposed in the opening portion and which is movable in a thickness direction of the card adapter. When the card is inserted into the slit, the fall-out prevention member moves in the thickness direction of the card adapter and a portion thereof protrudes from the outer surface of the card adapter to come into contact with an inner wall surface of a case of the electronic device.
US08696385B2	Cable connector assembly having a front shell and a rear shell with interlatching parts A cable connector assembly (100) comprises an insulative housing (1) including a base portion and a first tongue and a second tongue extending forwardly from the base portion, a number of contacts (2) received in the insulative housing and held in the first and second tongues, and a metallic shell (3) enclosing the insulative housing. The metallic shell comprises a front shell (31) and a rear shell (32) combined with each other. The front shell has a front sleeve portion, a rear engaging portion (312) extending backwards from the sleeve portion, and a pair of arm portions extending rearwards from two sides of the engaging portion and opposite to each other. The rear shell encloses the engaging portion of the front shell, and has a latching hole (3212) on each of two lateral walls thereof engaging with a corresponding arm portion.
US08696372B2	Terminal having first and second contact parts of different lengths and widths connected to two sides of a printed circuit board A terminal connected to a printed circuit board by sandwiching the printed circuit board therebetween includes a first contact part making contact with an upper surface of the printed circuit board, and a second contact part making contact with a lower surface of the printed circuit board, the second contact part being in facing relation with the first contact part, the first contact part including a resilient contact piece making contact with the upper surface, and a support part for supporting the contact piece, the contact piece having a width smaller than a width of the support part, the second contact part having a width smaller than a width of the support part, the contact piece having a length greater than a length of the second contact part, the lengths being measured in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the printed circuit board.
US08696369B2	Electrical plug with main contacts and retractable secondary contacts Aspects of the disclosure related to a plug module including main contacts that connect to conductors of an electrical cable and retractable secondary contacts that connect to a storage component installed on the plug module. The secondary contacts may be releasably latched in the retracted position. The secondary contacts may be biased to the extended position. The storage component may move along with the secondary contacts.
US08696366B2	Connector module having a male connector and a female connector each having a magnetic part, a cathode contact and an anode contact A connector module includes a female connector and a male connector. The female connector includes a female magnetic part having a jack, an anode contact disposed in the jack, and a cathode contact disposed on the female magnetic part and surrounding the jack. The male connector includes a male magnetic part corresponding to the female magnetic part, an anode plug protruded from the male magnetic part, and a cathode plug disposed on the male magnetic part having a protruding position and an invaginating position in relative to the male magnetic part. When the male magnetic part attracts the female magnetic part, the anode plug is inserted in the jack and is in electrical contact with the anode contact. The cathode plug is in electrical contact with the cathode contact and is moved from the protruding position to the invaginating position. The male connector rotates on the female connector relatively.
US08696365B1	System for defining, tracking, and analyzing student growth over time Student growth can be defined, tracked, and analyzed using a method that comprises PLAN, ASSESS and REFLECT steps, potentially in conjunction with related sub-steps. This type of method can be facilitated using computer software that can be deployed over a remote network, and that can present a number of screens relevant to defining, tracking and analyzing student growth to a user.
US08696359B2	Methods of assessing cognitive dysfunction This invention relates to methods and means for assessing cognitive dysfunction, in particular impulsivity associated cognitive dysfunction, which may for example include Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), substance abuse, and non-toxic addictive/compulsive behavior. A method may comprise displaying a population of elements to the individual and allowing the sequential selection of elements within the population by the individual. The selection of an element reveals to the individual a characteristic of the selected element which is one of a number of possible characteristics of elements in said population. The sequential selection ends when the individual chooses which of the possible characteristics is possessed by the most elements in the population. The number of elements selected by the individual in making this choice is then correlated to the likelihood that the individual has impulsivity associated cognitive dysfunction.
US08696358B2	System and method for facilitating responsible behaviour A system (2) for facilitating responsible behavior by an entity comprising an identification means (32) for identifying the entity, a facility (4) for verifying the identification means and facilitating pursuit of the behavior, a storage means (18) coupled to be in communication with the facility (4) for storing information related to the pursuit of the behavior by the entity, a modeler module (24) for comparing the information related to the pursuit of the behavior by the entity with a behavior model to determine a category of behavior of the entity and a resolver module (22) for determining one or more actions to be initiated in relation to the entity and their pursuit of the behavior such as initiating a change to one or more operating parameters of the facility (4) in response to the activation of one or more limits, blocks or triggers related to the entity.
US08696357B2	Tactile communication apparatus, method, and computer program product A tactile communication apparatus that includes a signal receiver configured decode data received via a wireless signal, a tactile communication device containing a plurality of pins on one side, each pin configured to respectively move in both an outward direction and inward direction to form a plurality of pin combinations based on a plurality of activation signals, and a communication processor configured to generate the plurality of pin activation signals based on the received data so as to convey the data to a user through the plurality of pin combinations of the tactile communication device.
US08696352B2	Intra-oral appliance and methods of using same The present invention provides a system and method for correcting facial features and oral function in a subject. Also provided are a plurality of intra-oral appliances, which make up the system. The intra-oral appliances each include an appliance body configured for engaging one or more of the gingival-buccal area, the gingivolabial area, and the vestibular area of the subject's mouth, and include one or more extensions for at least partly defining the cavity in the vestibule of the subject's mouth.
US08696350B2	Heat-treating furnace A heat treating furnace capable of continuously performing binder removal and subsequent firing without requiring a complicated configuration and increasing the equipment size and cost, for example, for degreasing a ceramic molding which is to be fired in a process for manufacturing a ceramic electronic component. A heat insulator is disposed to surround a heat treatment region in a case, and a reflector is disposed between the inner wall of the case and the insulator in order to reflect heat transferred from the heat treatment region through the heat insulator. A module heater including a heater embedded in the insulator is used. As the reflector, there is used a reflector having a structure in which a plurality of thin plates is arranged so that the main surfaces are arranged in parallel to each other with a predetermined space between the adjacent main surfaces.
US08696348B2	Ultra-low NOx burner assembly Burner assembly comprising (a) an elongated body having a periphery, a discharge end adjacent a combustion zone, and an axis, wherein the axis extends into the combustion zone; (b) one or more oxidant nozzles disposed at the discharge end of the elongated body and adapted to discharge a gaseous oxidant into the combustion zone; and (c) one or more fuel nozzles disposed at the discharge end of the elongated body and adapted to discharge a fuel into the combustion zone. At least one of the oxidant and fuel nozzles is characterized by a shape factor, σ, that is greater than about 10, wherein σ is a dimensionless parameter defined as σ=P2/2A where P is the perimeter dimension of the discharge opening and A is the area of the discharge opening.
US08696341B2	Device for producing concrete blocks The invention relates to a device for producing concrete blocks, particularly paving stones, building blocks or the like, comprising a storage container forming a receiving chamber for a plurality of layers of concrete in different colors. Dispensing means are provided, in order to dispense partial amounts of the layers from the receiving chamber such that a release device connected downstream receives a mixture of the layers of concrete in different colors. At least a partial section of a side wall of the receiving chamber is provided with at least one dispensing opening for dispensing a partial amount of the layers. The size of the passage of the dispensing opening can be varied by the dispensing means.
US08696339B2	Blow moulding machine with sterile chamber and media feed in the sterile chamber An apparatus for shaping plastics material preforms into plastics material containers, having a multiplicity of shaping stations arranged on a movable carrier. The shaping stations each comprise blow moulds, inside which the plastics material preforms can be shaped into plastics material containers by application of a free-flowing medium, as well as blow mould carriers for holding these blow moulds. The blow mould carriers comprise at least two blow moulding carrier parts movable in relation to one another to open and close the blow moulds, and having at least one fastening element, via which at least one element of the shaping stations is arranged on the carrier. A clean chamber surrounds the individual shaping stations, at least in part, so that the shaping stations are movable inside this clean chamber.
US08696337B2	Plunger type water pump A plunger type water pump mainly comprises a cavity body, a rotary main shaft and a plunger flow-distributing unit. The plunger flow-distributing unit comprises a flat valve assembly, a plunger-shoe assembly and a supporting valve assembly. The plunger-shoe assembly divides the cavity body into a high-pressure cavity and a low-pressure cavity independent of each other. The high-pressure cavity is in fluid communication with the flat valve assembly; and the low-pressure cavity is in fluid communication with the supporting valve assembly. The high-pressure water and the low-pressure water are independent of each other. This arrangement ensures a high volumetric efficiency of the water pump under ultra-high-pressure conditions and provides fluid support and lubrication for a friction coupling under high-speed heavy-load conditions to prolong the service life of the water pump.
US08696332B2	Heat-dissipating fan A heat-dissipating fan includes a housing having a peripheral wall defining a compartment receiving a shaft seat. The peripheral wall includes a wire-guiding slot in communication with the compartment. A base is coupled to the housing and includes a coil unit and a connection port electrically connected to the coil unit. The connection port faces the wire-guiding slot. A power line includes a first end connected to the connection port and a second end extending through the wire-guiding slot. An impeller includes a hub, a shaft mounted to the hub and coupled to the shaft seat, and a permanent magnet mounted to the hub. The permanent magnet faces the coil unit. The connection port is located on a reference line passing through the shaft seat and the wire-guiding slot. A distance between the connection port and the wire-guiding slot is shortened to enhance assembling convenience of the power line.
US08696328B2	Photothermal source of fluid pumping device driven by self photovoltaic power The present invention relates to a photothermal source of fluid pumping device driven by self photovoltaic power, wherein a light projection space defined adjacent to a photothermal source device generating both optical and thermal power is provided with a photovoltaic (PV) device capable of converting the self optical power of the photothermal source device into the electric power, and a fluid pumping device driven by the electric power supplied by the photovoltaic device is provided for pumping a gaseous or liquid fluid, so that a part or all of the photothermal source device itself, a heat radiator installed on the photothermal source device and a thermal space heated by the photothermal source device can perform the operation of thermal energy transmission.
US08696327B2	Submersible pump motor cooling through external oil circulation An electrical submersible pump motor has motor oil flowing through external circulation tubes for cooling the motor. A substantial portion of the exterior of each tube is submerged in and exposed to wellbore fluid. Heat is transferred from the motor to the motor oil, and then circulated through the external circulation tubes to conduct heat to the wellbore fluid. Internal or external motor oil pumps may be used to propel the motor oil through the circulation tubes. Guards or baffles may be used to protect the circulation tubes and to influence the flow of production fluid over the circulation tubes.
US08696326B2	Integrated electrical auxiliary oil pump An externally mounted electric fluid pump for pumping fluid within a power transmission device is disclosed. The pump includes a housing adapted to be mounted to an external surface of the power transmission device. The pump is positioned within the housing and includes an input member. An electric motor is positioned within the housing and drives the input member. A controller is positioned within the housing to control the electric motor and vary the output of the pump.
US08696325B2	Return to neutral mechanism for hydraulic pump A hydraulic pump includes a housing (12), a cylinder block (14), a plurality of pistons (16), a swash plate (18), a trunnion arm (22), a first biasing assembly (54), and a second biasing assembly (56). The cylinder block includes a plurality of piston chambers. The swash plate is disposed for pivotal movement in the housing and cooperates with the pistons to vary the working volume of the piston chambers. The swash plate is pivotal about a pivot axis (80). The trunnion arm includes a cylindrical shaft portion (140) and a cam portion (142) connected with or integrally formed with the shaft portion. The trunnion arm is operatively connected with the swash plate for controlling pivotal movement of the swash plate. The cylindrical shaft portion defines a trunnion arm rotational axis (144) that is parallel to and offset from the pivot axis (80). The cam portion is disposed within the housing and includes a first lateral cam surface (154) and a second lateral cam surface (156) disposed on an opposite side of a cam portion axis (158) that extends through the cam portion, intersects the trunnion arm rotational axis and is perpendicular to the trunnion arm rotational axis. The first biasing assembly (54) is disposed in the housing and cooperates with the first lateral cam surface to urge the cam portion in a first direction toward a neutral position. The second biasing assembly (56) is disposed in the housing and cooperates with the second lateral cam surface to urge the cam portion in a second direction toward the neutral position. The second direction is opposite to the first direction.
US08696321B2	Cavitation detection There is disclosed an apparatus and method for detecting cavitation in fluid machines, for example pumps (100). In one embodiment a piezoelectric gasket (102) is used as a sensor to sense cavitation. In some embodiments highpass filters (302), (501) are used to detect ultrasonic acoustic signals in about the MHz range. If the energy in the MHz range is excessive then cavitation is deemed to be occurring and the speed of a motor (110) may be reduced in proportion to the degree of cavitation deemed to be occurring. In another embodiment (FIG. 5) the energy in the MHz range is normalized against the energy in the kHz range. Other sensors (600, 701) are also disclosed.
US08696316B2	Low blade frequency titanium compressor wheel A compressor wheel (20) for an air boost device and a method for designing the wheel are provided. The compressor wheel (20) comprises a hub (24) and a plurality of blades (22, 23) connected to the hub (24). The plurality of blades (22, 23) have a ratio (f/N) of natural frequency to maximum rotational speed of less than 4.0 and are made from a titanium alloy. The plurality of blades (22, 23) can comprise a plurality of full blades (22) and a plurality of splitter blades (23).
US08696315B2	Hub for a wind turbine and method of mounting a wind turbine A modular rotor blade hub for a wind turbine rotor includes a plurality of segments, wherein at least one segment includes at least one face abutting against at least one face of at least one adjacent segment, and wherein at least one of said faces extends from an outer periphery of the hub to a central region of the hub. Further, methods for mounting a wind turbine including a modular hub are provided.
US08696310B2	Turbo charger housing A turbocharger compressor housing apparatus comprises a compressor housing and diffuser. These components are configured to provide an interference fit when assembled. An annular projection extends outwardly from one of such components toward the other of the components and engages the other of the components to form an annular joint. One of the compressor housing and diffuser comprises a recess positioned to collect debris generated during the interference fit to prevent the debris from reaching the annular joint. A second recess can be provided at the opposite side of the projection to accommodate deformation of the projection during assembly of the diffuser and compressor housing. The recesses can be annular and can, along with the projection, be included in the diffuser.
US08696309B2	Brazed turbine seal A gas leakage seal for a turbine, including first and second cloth layers having woven warp and weft wires, wherein the first and second cloth layers are brazed together by a flux paste whereby the cloth layers have their edges aligned and the brazing substantially seals gaps between the wires along substantially the entire length and width of the brazed together cloth layers. Weld beads having a thickness greater than the combined thickness of the brazed together cloth layers connect the edges of the cloth layers along their length. The turbine includes two members with aligned recesses in which opposite of the weld beads are received. The seal is made by brushing a nickel and/or cobalt based flux paste on one side of one of the cloth layers, brazing that cloth layer to a side of the second cloth layer to substantially seal the gaps between the wires, and creating weld beads with an electron beam to connect the edges of the cloth layers along their length.
US08696308B2	Turbomachine According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a variable geometry turbine comprising: a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing, the housing defining an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls, the annular inlet being divided into at least two axially offset inlet portions; a cylindrical sleeve axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet; and a guide for guiding the movement of the cylindrical sleeve, the guide being at least partially located within the inlet at a radially extent of the inlet portions, and extending in an axial direction parallel to the turbine axis.
US08696299B2	Compressor A compressor comprises an impeller wheel mounted within a housing defining an inlet and an outlet. The wheel has a plurality of vanes and is rotatable about an axis. The housing has an inner wall defining a surface located in close proximity to radially outer edges of the impeller vanes which sweep across said surface as the impeller wheel rotates about its axis. The inlet comprises inner and outer tubular walls extending away from the impeller wheel in an upstream direction and defining between them gas flow passage. A bleed passage between the gas flow passage and the impeller wheel is selectively opened and closed by movement of a sliding sleeve in a helical direction.
US08696297B2	Method and system for stabilizing an egg tray The invention relates to an automated method for positioning eggs on a tray that comprises the automated detection of the presence/absence of eggs in the cells of a tray, and the picking-up of eggs from a supply and the placement thereof in the empty cells of a tray. The invention also relates to a system or positioning eggs on a stabilizing tray, the tray including evenly distributed cells in which the eggs are placed, one or more cells being likely not to contain eggs, this information being stored in an information processing unit, wherein said system includes a means in the form of a robot having an egg pick-up head that are driven by the information processing unit in order to pick up eggs from a supply tray and to place them in the empty cells of the stabilizing tray.
US08696296B2	Seed tender Seed tender apparatus for holding one or more seed containers and including an inclined conveyor apparatus pivotable between a stowed configuration and a discharged configuration.
US08696293B2	Component transfer device and method A component transfer device includes a holding mechanism (20) that positions and holds a component on a carrying surface (S) located at a predetermined height and a pull-out unit (40) that pulls out the component held on the carrying surface by the holding mechanism in a horizontal direction. The pull-out unit includes a grasping member (43, 44) that can separably grasp the component from a vertical direction, a cam member (42) that causes the grasping member to perform a component grasping operation and a component releasing operation at predetermined timings by exercising a cam function to the grasping member, a driving mechanism (41, 46, 47) that drives the cam member and the grasping member.
US08696288B2	Pipe handling boom pretensioning apparatus A pre-loading system for a pipe handling apparatus in which a boom is pivotally mounted at one end to a skid and in which an arm is connected to an opposite end of the boom. The pre-loading system has a tensioning assembly with one end affixed to the arm and an opposite end fixedly mounted so as to apply tension to the arm when the arm has a load applied to an end of the arm opposite the boom. The tensioning assembly includes a first cable assembly having one end connected to the arm and an opposite end fixedly mounted, and a second cable assembly connected to the arm and having an opposite end fixedly mounted. The first and second cable assemblies extend from opposite sides of the arm.
US08696287B2	In-line and off-line covers feed for binding book solutions A method and system for on-demand book production is provided in which covers and book content are synchronized at book binding equipment. In one exemplary system and method, a single printer prints a book cover followed by its corresponding book block. The cover and book block are each sequentially staged and synchronized together for binding in the binding equipment. In another method and system for on-demand book production, covers are printed and encoded at a first printer and a book block printing instruction is initiated in response to decoding of the cover in the binding equipment. Printing of the book block is in a separate but integrated printer and the book block is fed to the binding equipment for binding with the book cover. In each instance, synchronized book covers and book blocks are bound in and output from the binding equipment.
US08696285B2	Conical screw coupling A screw coupling between two bodies, one having an external screw thread and another having an internal screw thread complementary thereto, which screw threads are superimposed onto two base surfaces monotonously narrowing and widening respectively in the direction of a central axis, the longitudinal section of each of these screw threads relative to the central axis being a periodic univalent function which is continuous at least at the inflection points. The screw coupling has the following features: the first and second derivatives of the longitudinal section of each screw thread along the base surface is a continuous function; the second derivative of the longitudinal section of each screw thread relative to the central axis is a continuous function at least in the region of the inflection points; and the screw threads are in mutual contact over a substantial surface area differing from line contact.
US08696284B2	Threaded rod A threaded rod comprises a single coarse thread having flattenings on opposite sides forming thread sections on opposite sides. At least one of the thread sections on one side of the threaded rod is omitted.
US08696277B2	Captive fastener assembly and machine using same A machine includes a threaded fastener connected to, and positioned adjacent, a maintenance feature. A removable cover blocks access to the maintenance feature and includes a captive fastener assembly. The captive fastener assembly includes a barrel with an internal passage separating a tool opening from a fastener opening, and the internal passage is divided into a cage volume and a fastener passage by an internal thrust surface. A retention component that defines a tool passage through a capture surface is mechanically mounted in the barrel adjacent a tool opening. A captured fastener is trapped to move between the capture surface and the internal thrust surface in the cage volume. The captured fastener includes an internal tool engagement surface oriented toward the tool opening and threads oriented toward the fastener opening.
US08696274B2	Torque control bolt for hose clamp Disclosed is a torque control bolt for a hose clamp, which is configured to transmit a torque from a tool to a fastening bolt of a hose clamp to induce the fastening of the hose clamp, and then to be ruptured to prevent the transmission of torque exceeding a set value so as to prevent the damage of the hose clamp and the hose. The control bolt includes: a rupture bolt with a fastening body to transmit the torque from the tool to a head of the fastening bolt; a coupling unit formed on the head and the rupture bolt and configured to keep the coupling force between the head and the rupture bolt; and a rupture section formed on the rupture bolt and configured to prevent the torque from the tool from being transmitted to the fastening bolt when the torque exceeds the set value.
US08696269B2	Drill body as well as support pad therefor A support pad intended for metal machining drills and of the type that includes an outer surface, an inner surface, front and rear end surfaces, as well as a pair of spaced-apart side surfaces, between the outer surface and at least the front end surface a convexly arched entering surface being formed that extends between, on one hand, a pair of front and rear borderlines, the rear one of which borders the outer surface, and, on the other hand, two tangentially spaced-apart side borderlines. The rear borderline of the entering surface has the shape of a convex arc line as viewed in planar view toward the outer surface, more precisely an arc line the crest of which is facing forward. In such a way, the position of the contact of the support pad with a hole wall can be predetermined in an exact way. The drill body may be equipped with one or more support pads.
US08696261B2	Cutting tool assembly having a clamping mechanism A cutting tool assembly includes a tool body and a clamping mechanism for releasably clamping a cutting insert to the tool body. The clamping mechanism includes a rotatable cam member, a coupling member, a biasing spring and a clamping element. The rotation of the rotatable cam member in opposite senses results in the adjustment of the position of the coupling member in opposite directions, which results in a displacement of the clamping element, and therefore changing the locking position to a releasing position and vice versa.
US08696260B2	Tool for machining, in particular longitudinal turning tool The present invention relates to a tool for machining a workpiece, comprising a tool body, a cutting tool, and fastening means for fastening the cutting tool in a receiving recess of the tool body, the cutting tool having a cutting edge and a cutting-tool through-bore, and the tool body having a tool-body through-bore that opens into the receiving recess, wherein the fastening means comprises a clamping bushing that is provided with an internal thread, and comprises a clamping screw that is provided with an external thread corresponding to the internal thread of the clamping bushing, which are inserted into the cutting-tool bore or into the tool-body bore from opposing sides in order to fasten the cutting tool to the tool body, the clamping bushing is screwed directly to the clamping screw, irrespective of whether it is inserted into the cutting-tool bore or into the tool-body bore, and anti-rotation means are provided to prevent the clamping bushing from rotating about its longitudinal axis when being screwed and undone by means of the clamping screw.
US08696252B2	Rotary cutting tool having an adjustable cooling mechanism A milling cutter, having an adjustable cooling mechanism, has a tool body having a body central bore. At least one flute is formed on a body peripheral face. Each flute comprises a first row of insert pockets and at least a second row of insert pockets axially rearwardly displaced from the first row. The cooling mechanism includes a center pin having at least two grooves axially spaced apart from one another along the length of the center pin. A relocatable seal is seated in one of the grooves. When the relocatable seal is seated in a first groove, the body central bore is in fluid communication with cooling holes associated with a first number of rows of inserts; when the relocatable seal is seated in a second groove, the body central bore is in fluid communication with cooling holes associated with a second number of rows of inserts.
US08696251B2	Mesh system There is provided a mesh system (2) comprising a mesh sheet (4) and a reinforcing member in the form of a cable (6) coupled to one side of the sheet (4). The cable (6) is coupled to the mesh by wire ties (7). Two lengths (6a) and (6b) of the cable (6) may overlap or be disposed in a mutually adjacent manner. The lengths (6a) and (6b) may be coupled together by U-bolts or crimped bands (9), which may also engage the underlying sheet (4).
US08696247B2	Systems and methods for controlling risers Systems and methods for controlling movement of an elongated member providing communication between a vessel and a subsea unit are provided. The method can include connecting a positively buoyant member to an elongated member at a first location and connecting a negatively buoyant member to the elongated member at a second location, wherein at least a portion of the negatively buoyant member rests on a seabed when the elongated member is in an operational null position.
US08696246B2	Supporting element for an offshore wind turbine, production method thereof and method for installing same The invention relates to a supporting element (8) for an offshore wind turbine (3), comprising a base body (1) formed by a circular or polygonal basement (4), a shaft (5) with vertical walls and a plurality of vertical cavities (6) extending over the entire height thereof and a slab (2) dispose on the shaft (5) of the base body (1), on which slab (2) a wind turbine (3) is positioned and secured. The base body (1) of the supporting element (8) is produced using sliding formwork, from the basement (4) up to the upper base thereof. In addition, the method includes the following steps: ballasting the supporting element (8) by partially filling the above-mentioned vertical cavities (6); seaward towing the supporting element (8) from the production site thereof to the offshore wind turbine installation site; anchoring the supporting element (8) by filling the vertical cavities (6) completely; until the supporting element (8) rests on a stone bed (19) on the sea bed; and mounting the wind turbine (3).
US08696245B2	Articulating band saw and method An articulating band saw apparatus provides a frame that includes a vertically extending section having upper and lower end portions. An elevator moves between the upper and lower end portions of the frame. A first hydraulic actuator is supported on the elevator for movement therewith. A first arm provides arm end portions, the first arm supported by the first hydraulic actuator. An end of the first arm supporting a second hydraulic actuator that is spaced away from the first hydraulic actuator. The second hydraulic actuator supports a second arm. An endless band type saw is mounted on the free end of the second arm generally opposite the second actuator. The band saw is movable by articulation of the first and second actuators and resulting movement of the first and second arms. In one embodiment, the band saw is a diamond wire saw.
US08696240B2	Watercraft lift A lightweight, knock-down portable watercraft lift or mooring device for small watercraft includes a modular freestanding frame having a pair of spaced supporting foot members, each foot member carrying a pair of spaced support members connected at one end to the foot member, a pair of rails carried by and connected to a second end of the support members. Both the spacing of between the support members and the length of the support members are adjustable allowing the distance between and height of the rails to vary to accommodate watercraft of different widths, water of different depths and create varying lift angles.
US08696238B2	Emulsion tack coat applicator and methods thereof Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to an emulsion tack coat applicator and methods of utilizing the same. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to hand truck-type applicator for emulsion tack coat applications and methods of using the same. In one embodiment of the present invention, a tack coat applicator comprising a hand truck comprising a substantially frame having a handle section at a first end and a set of wheels separated by an axle at a second end, and a platform extending substantially perpendicular to the rigid proximate the wheels; and bucket having a voluminous storage portion for storing tack coat material, removeably positioned on the platform, the bucket comprising an output for dispensing the tack coat material.
US08696235B2	Precast interconnectable concrete paver block for constructing paving surfaces A precast concrete solid core paver block which has a first pair of flat parallel side walls and a second pair of transverse parallel side walls. One side has at least one block engaging projection in one or more portions thereof and spaced between a top and bottom surface of the paver block. The opposed side wall has a slot to receive in close sliding fit the at least one block engaging projection of an adjacent one of the paver blocks for side-by-side interengagement while permitting horizontal displacement of the adjacent paver block and the block engaging projection thereof while preventing vertical displacement thereof wherein a top face of the paver blocks lie in a substantially common planar surface. Spacers form open joints about each block in portions thereof to communicate with a support bed and form a permeable paved surface.
US08696234B2	Methods for installing a bounded paving system A method for installing a paver system includes positioning a first grid substrate adjacent to a second grid substrate, the first and second grid substrates form a paver support surface. At least the first grid substrate includes an integrated boundary ridge extending along the first paver support surface. The first grid substrate is interlocked with the second grid substrate with a first paver piece bridging the first and second grid substrates to form a paver linkage. Movement of at least the first paver piece is arrested beyond the integrated boundary ridge by directly or indirectly engaging at least the first paver piece against the integrated boundary ridge. In another example, movement of the first paver piece is arrested by anchoring at least the first paver piece on the first and second paver support surfaces through distribution of forces incident on at least the first paver piece through the paver linkage.
US08696232B2	Structural unit with axial adjustment limiting elements A structural unit having a tube (2) which is provided on at least one end with an internal thread (1) which is formed in a first direction of rotation. An adjustment sleeve (3) is screwed into the first end of the internal thread (1) of the tube (2), and the adjustment sleeve (3) has an internal thread (4) which is formed in the opposite direction to the first direction of rotation, and a shank (5) is screwed into the adjustment sleeve (3) and an adjustment travel of the shank (5) is limited by a blocking element (6). The adjustment sleeve (3) supports the blocking element (6) which is located within a groove (7), formed on the outer lateral surface of the shank (5), so as to limit adjustment travel over a range of motion.
US08696223B2	Shutter device for camera A shutter device for a camera is provided, which effectively provides an operating space of a shutter blade and a light-amount adjuster, improves assemblability of a top cover, and improves mechanical stability according to the assembly of the top cover by modifying the geometry of the top cover. The shutter device includes a driving unit driving a shutter blade and a light-amount adjuster, the shutter device including: a base where the driving unit is installed; a first plate placed on the top of the base; a second plate disposed on the top of the first plate; a top cover including first supports bent downward and supports projecting downward, where the first supports extend to pass through the second plate and support the top surface of the first plate, and the second supports are supported on the top surface of the second plate.
US08696222B2	Image-pickup apparatus An image-pickup apparatus includes a lead screw, a moving member, an image-pickup element, a mirror member that is capable of rotating between a first state and a second state, an urging member, and a first abutment member configured to abut against the mirror member when the mirror member is in the first state. An engagement portion parallel to a rotational axis of the mirror member is protruded from the mirror member. The engagement portion is held by both ends of the urging member when the mirror member rotates between the first state and the second state. A first end of the urging member elastically deforms so as to be apart from the engagement portion when the mirror member abuts against the first abutment member.
US08696220B2	Optical connector with improved dustproof mechanism An optical connector comprises an insulative housing defining an upper mating port, an optical device received in the housing and having at least one lens exposed to the upper mating port, and a dustproof mechanism movably retained in the housing along a mating direction of the optical connector. The dustproof mechanism includes a dustproof cover disposed in the mating port in an initial position and covering the lens, and a planar base disposed above the mating port and having a pushing projection protruding to an exterior of the optical connector. When the optical connector mates with a corresponding connector, the pushing projection is pushed to bring the dustproof cover leave from the upper mating port for allowing the lens to be exposed to exterior for mating with the corresponding connector.
US08696216B2	Optical module, method of producing optical module, optical transmission module, and electronic apparatus An optical module has a support board, an optical transmission path, and at least a single optical element having a light receiving function or a light emitting function provided on the support board. A light emission surface of the optical transmission path or a light incidence surface of the optical transmission path is arranged such that the optical element and the optical transmission path are optically coupled to each other, with respect to a light receiving surface or a light emitting surface of the optical element. The optical element is sealed by a sealing agent. A gap is provided between the optical transmission path and the surface of the sealing agent on the light receiving surface or the light emitting surface of the optical element.
US08696207B2	Sliding bearing A sliding bearing 1 includes a cylindrical bearing body 11; slits 14 to 18 provided in the bearing body 11; straight grooves 35 to 39 provided on an inner side of the bearing body 11 in such a manner as to extend in an axial direction A and respectively disposed between adjacent ones of the slits 14 to 18 which are adjacent in a direction B about an axis; a sliding surface 19 which is provided on the inner side of the bearing body 11 and partially severed in the direction B about the axis by the slits 14 to 18 and the straight grooves 35 to 39; a fitting groove 21 provided in an outer surface 20 of the bearing body 11; and an elastic ring 22 which is fitted in the fitting groove 21. Each of the straight grooves 35 to 39 is closed on an end face 12 side and is open on an end face 13 side.
US08696201B2	Device and method for calibrating an X-ray detector, calibration apparatus and X-ray apparatus A device and a method are disclosed, for energetic calibration of a photon-counting X-ray radiation detector by way of X-ray fluorescence radiation. The device includes a plurality of specifically selected elements, of which each element, upon being irradiated with electrons or with high-energy radiation, emits photons of X-ray fluorescence radiation of at least one specific or characteristic energy. The photons of X-ray fluorescence radiation of the at least one specific or characteristic energy are then useable or are used for energetic calibration of the photon-counting X-ray radiation detector. A calibration apparatus and an X-ray apparatus are also disclosed, which include such a device.
US08696200B2	Method for automatically positioning an X-ray source of an X-ray system and X-ray system In the interest of a particularly quick and simple X-ray examination, provision is made for a method for automatically positioning a positionable X-ray source (16) of an X-ray system (24) in respect of a mobile X-ray detector (15) with the following steps: —detecting the position of the mobile X-ray detector (15), —forwarding the position to the X-ray system (24), —determining a position of the X-ray source (16), aligned with the position of the mobile X-ray detector (15), for recording an X-ray image, and —driving the positionable X-ray source (16) to move into the aligned position.
US08696199B2	Proportional settling time adjustment for diode voltage and temperature measurements dependent on forced level current A temperature sensor circuit and system providing accurate digital temperature readings using a local or remote temperature diode. In one set of embodiments a change in diode junction voltage (ΔVBE) proportional to the temperature of the diode is captured and provided to an analog to digital converter (ADC), which may perform required signal conditioning functions on ΔVBE, and provide a digital output corresponding to the temperature of the diode. DC components of errors in the measured temperature that may result from EMI noise modulating the junction voltage (VBE) may be minimized through the use of a front-end sample-and-hold circuit coupled between the diode and the ADC, in combination with a shunt capacitor coupled across the diode junction. The sample-and-hold-circuit may sample VBE at a frequency that provides sufficient settling time for each VBE sample, and provide corresponding stable ΔVBE samples to the ADC at the ADC operating frequency. The ADC may therefore be operated at its preferred sampling frequency rate without incurring reading errors while still averaging out AC components of additional errors induced by sources other than EMI.
US08696196B2	Bleed leakage detection system and method A bleed leakage detection system includes an arrangement of thermostats that are capable of detecting the place where the bleed air leakage is occurring (e.g., the failed junction in bleed air duct work). The exemplary illustrative non-limiting implementation provides a bleed leakage detection system with continuous monitoring of thermostat sensor wiring during flight and thermostat self-test function (“Initiated Built In Test”—“IBIT”). The IBIT self-testing can be initiated before the aircraft takes off or optionally, during periodic self testing that may be run during predetermined periods such as overnight when the aircraft is not being flown. By the continuous monitoring the pilot is alerted when a bleed leakage has occurred or when the bleed leakage detection system has failed.
US08696193B2	Coaxial compact static mixer and use thereof Scalable compact static mixer comprising a rotationally symmetrical cascaded mixing structure.
US08696189B2	Light-guild-plate positioning sheet and corresponding backlight module The present invention provides a light-guide-plate (LGP) positioning sheet, which comprises: a fixing portion used to fix the LGP positioning sheet onto a fixing frame of a backlight module, a positioning portion used to abut against and position a light guide plate, and a connecting portion used to connect the fixing portion and the positioning portion. The present invention is further related to a backlight module. According to the LGP positioning sheet and the backlight module of the present invention, the LGP positioning sheet can efficiently ensure the complete alignment between a light emitting diode (LED) light source and a light input side surface of the light guide plate, so as to increase the light utilization rate of the light guide plate.
US08696188B2	Backlight module, light guide device, and method for manufacturing light guide plate A method for manufacturing a light guide plate includes the following steps. At least one dot area and at least one non-dot area are defined on a mask. A lithography and etching process using the mask is performed a mold to form at least one recess having a rough surface on the mold and leave at least one non-etched microstructure on the mold. The recess corresponds to the non-dot area, and the non-etched microstructure corresponds to the dot area. An injection molding process using the mold is performed to form the light guide plate. The light guide plate has at least one protrusion having a rough surface on the light guide plate and at least one indented microstructure in the light guide plate. The protrusion corresponds to the recess, and the indented microstructure corresponds to the non-etched microstructure.
US08696183B2	Backlight module A backlight module has a light guide plate, a notch structure, a light absorption layer, and at least one light source. The light guide plate has a light-emitting surface and at least one side surface forming an angle with the light-emitting surface. The notch structure is continuously formed on the side surface and concave towards the inside of the light guide plate. The light absorption layer is distributed on an area substantially overlapping the notch structure, and the light source is stored in the notch structure.
US08696181B2	Vehicular lamp with optical axis adjusting device A vehicular lamp with an optical axis adjusting device includes a housing, a reflector assembly pivotably mounted to the housing, a light source assembly mounted to the reflector assembly, and the optical axis adjusting device mounted to the reflector assembly. The optical axis adjusting device includes a threaded shaft and a fulcrum. The fulcrum is pivotably mounted to the reflector assembly and threaded with the threaded shaft. When the threaded shaft is rotated, the fulcrum can move along the axial direction of the threaded shaft and drive the reflector assembly to pivot with respect to the housing, so the angle of the optical axis of the vehicular lamp can be adjusted.
US08696175B2	Light emitting diode and lens for the same A lens for a light emitting diode is formed with a material having a refractive index of n, and the lens includes a base, a first curved circumferential surface extending from the base, a curved center-edge surface extending from the first curved circumferential surface, and a curved centermost surface extending from the curved center-edge surface. The base includes a groove for receiving a light emitting chip therein. In the lens, a distance from a center of the base to a point of the curved center-edge surface is always shorter than the radius of curvature for the point of the curved center-edge surface. The curved centermost surface has a concave shape with respect to the base. In addition, when an obtuse angle formed between a main axis of the lens and a tangent line of a point of the curved centermost surface is A1, and an acute angle formed between a straight line linking the center of the base to the point of the curved centermost surface and the main axis of the lens is A2, the lens satisfies the equation: A1+A2<90+sin−1(1/n).
US08696172B2	Lens and lamp using the same A lens and a lamp using the same are provided. The lamp includes a lampshade, a base, a lens and a light emitting diode (LED). The lampshade and the lens are assembled on the base, wherein the lens is located in the lampshade. The lens has an accommodating portion, a first light exiting surface and a second light exiting surface. The first light exiting surface is located above the accommodating portion, and the second light exiting surface surrounds the first light exiting surface and located outside the accommodating portion. The first and second light exiting surfaces are concaves. The LED is disposed in the accommodating portion of the lens.
US08696168B2	Illumination device An illumination device having enhanced thermal dissipating capacity is provided. The illumination device includes a heat sink, an LED module, a cover, an LED driver, and a lamp base. The LED module is disposed at one end of the heat sink. The cover covers the LED module. The LED driver is in connection with the LED module, and includes a circuit board and at least one electrical contact member disposed on the circuit board. The lamp base is connected to the other end of the heat sink, and comprises an insulating unit, a first electrode, a second electrode and at least one contact port. The contact port is arranged on the lateral interior of the insulating unit, so that the electrical contact member of the LED driver may establish electrical connection with the lamp base.
US08696166B2	Kinetic flame device An apparatus for creating flickering flame effects. The apparatus includes a housing with an interior space with first and second stages. A drive mechanism generates a time varying electromagnetic field extending into the first stage. A first pendulum member is pivotally mounted in the interior space of the first stage and includes first and second magnets on first and second ends, with the first end proximate to the drive mechanism such that the first magnet interacts with the varying electromagnetic field to cause movement of the pendulum member. The apparatus includes a second pendulum member pivotally mounted in the second stage with a magnet on a first end proximate to the second end of the first pendulum member. A flame silhouette element extends from the second pendulum member, and a light source transmits light onto the flame silhouette, which is moving due to the magnetic coupling of the pendulum members.
US08696164B2	Device for laser-optical generation of mechanical waves for processing and/or examining a body A device for laser-optical generation of mechanical waves for processing and/or examining a body includes a laser light source for generation of laser light and a modulator, on which a generated laser light falls and with which, from an incident laser light, a predetermined laser light intensity distribution can be generated on or in the body, in such a way that mechanical waves are excited on or in the body, with which the body is processed and/or with which, via detection of said waves, the body can be examined. According to certain aspects of the invention, the modulator is formed as a diffractive optical element wherein a height profile structure is formed on the surface of the diffractive optical element, with which the phase of the incident laser light is varied, thus generating a predetermined laser light intensity distribution.
US08696158B2	LED universal recessed light fixture A recessed LED ceiling light fixture kit for installation to a ceiling panel or plaster frame in residential homes or commercial buildings is disclosed. The kit includes an LED engine with at least one LED facing downward, an LED driver, and an annular shaped, finned heat sink that receives the LED driver therein and the LED underneath. The fixture includes a tubular-shaped can having an open bottom and a top engaging the heat sink. Detachable can retainer springs or threaded fasteners engage the can at its circumference, wherein the springs mount the can to the ceiling panel, or alternatively, the fasteners attach the can to the plaster frame. A trim ring is snapped onto the can at its open bottom, and an electrical junction box sits on top of the heat sink.
US08696149B2	Structures of luminous umbrella The present invention relates to an improvement in the structure of luminous umbrella, using integrated illumination components. The components are ideal for luminous umbrella particularly designed to be used in the evening when visibility is poor, and can be used for other decoration purposes. The integrated illumination components of the present invention are constructed by combining illumination emitter of LED with bases of parts of umbrella, such as linkage members on slip ring, rib members on fixed collar and umbrella handle. When the illumination emitter of LED is mounted on the surface of these parts, the overall umbrella structure can be made smaller and lighter, and the flexibility of light source design can also be maximized. In particular, when base parts with high heat dissipation capability are used as the heat dissipating fins, the full performance of high-brightness illumination emitter of LED can be achieved. The integrated illumination components offer another advantage. With the flexibility of design in the number of illumination emitter of LED and the angle of light projection, the components allow light to be fully projected onto the semi-transparent canopy, which turns luminous umbrella into a lantern with both illumination and warning functions when used at night. Umbrella users thus become obvious objects when walking at night. If color illumination emitter of LED is used, dazzling colored lighting design can be created to the satisfaction of both designers and users, achieving the decorative and aesthetic effect.
US08696148B2	Screws as bracket mounting element A mirror base is proposed that is extruded at least partially out of plastic and which retains its rigidity via long steel bolts, which at the same time produce the fastening to the vehicle.
US08696141B2	Method, apparatus, and manufacture for a tracking camera or detector with fast asynchronous triggering An image projection device for displaying an image onto a remote surface. The image projection device employs a scanner to project image beams of visible light and tracer beams of light onto a remote surface to form a display of the image. The device also employs a light detector to sense at least the reflections of light from the tracer beam pulses incident on the remote surface. The device employs the sensed tracer beam light pulses to predict the trajectory of subsequent image beam light pulses and tracer beam light pulses that form a display of the image on the remote surface in a pseudo random pattern. The trajectory of the projected image beam light pulses can be predicted so that the image is displayed from a point of view that can be selected by, or automatically adjusted for, a viewer of the displayed image.
US08696139B2	Projector having a plurality of cooling fans A projector includes: a cooling device which supplies cooling air to a cooling target, wherein the cooling device includes a plurality of cooling fans each of which discharges cooling air, and a plurality of ducts each one end of which is connected with the corresponding one of the plural cooling fans to introduce the cooling air toward the cooling target in directions different from each other, and the plural ducts communicate with each other at the other end and have an outlet port through which the cooling air flows out.
US08696135B2	Video recording prevention system A projector has at least four primary color components controlled to produce a metameric effect image which is not perceptible to the human optical system and is perceptible to a video recording device.
US08696134B2	Depolarization element and projection type display device A depolarization element includes high depolarization for light beams having coherence and plural wavelengths and also provides a projection type display device capable of reducing speckle noise. Unit regions, each formed of m regions (m≧4) having different phase differences generated for incident light, are disposed, and two regions extracted from the m regions have at least one combination of regions being different in area. When plural light beams having different wavelengths are incident, the composition of the Stokes vectors of the light beams emitted from the respective m regions is made nearly zero by setting the areas of the respective m regions and the generated phase differences, whereby the light beams having coherence and plural wavelengths can be converted so as to have the polarization state of natural light.
US08696133B2	Projection optical system and image projecting device A projection optical system (6) comprises a relay optical system (61), a PBS prism (71), and two projection lenses (81). The image light beam from a DMD (5) enters the PBS prism (71) via the relay optical system (61), is polarization-split there, and is directed to a screen by means of the two projection lenses (81). Displaying an image by means of the DMD (5) is controlled while the polarized states of the light beams produced by the polarization split by means of the PBS prism (71) are controlled. Thereby, a three-dimensionally viewable image and a high-resolution image created by pixel-offset can be projected. Since the relay optical system (61) is provided, the lens backs of the projection lenses (81) can be shortened, and the projection lenses (81) and further the projection optical system (6) can be made compact.
US08696131B2	Polarization element and projector A polarization element includes: a substrate; and a plurality of grid sections arranged on the substrate, wherein the grid sections each have protruding sections and recessed sections alternately arranged in a longitudinal direction of the grid sections at a pitch shorter than a wavelength of incident light, in the plurality of grid sections, the arrangement pitch P of the protruding sections is the same, and a proportion (D=L/P) of a length L of the protruding section to the arrangement pitch P of the protruding sections is the same, and a height of the protruding sections is different between the grid sections adjacent to each other.
US08696130B2	Apparatus, system, and method for vehicle mounted display device An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a vehicle mounted display device which can be easily attached to a vehicle and is removable. The projector can conveniently be plugged into the trailer light power source to give the device power to project an image onto a vehicle. The projector may be digital allowing the owner to choose an image from inside the vehicle. A magnetic or adhesive screen may be placed on the vehicle to allow the image to function properly and effectively on dark paint or other finishes that prevent a clean image. The apparatus comprises an adjustable mounting unit, an adjustable arm, and a projector which can all be adjusted to provide an efficient angle to project the image onto the vehicle.
US08696126B2	Eye and body movement tracking for testing and/or training The eye movement, body movement, and/or physiological performance of a subject may tracked while the subject performs a task, such as participating in an activity or sport. The collected data may then be used to identify correlations between the subject's eyesight and the subject's body movement exists and/or physiology. Such a correlation may be analyzed (e.g., over time) to determine any delays or gaps in the subject's ability to track an object, such as a ball, while participating in a sport or other activity. Further, a subject's performance may be compared to data collected from other individuals. The eye movement, body movement, and/or physiological performance data may be used to test and/or train the visual and cognitive abilities of an individual.
US08696125B2	Eye refractive power measurement apparatus An eye refractive power measurement apparatus includes: a measuring optical system for projecting measurement light onto a fundus of an examinee's eye, and causing a two-dimensional imaging device to capture the measurement light to be reflected from the fundus as a plurality of target pattern images at different distances from a measurement optical axis; a light deflecting member arranged at a position out of a conjugate position with a pupil of the examinee's eye on an optical path of the measuring optical system; a rotor for rotating the light deflecting member about an optical axis of the measuring optical system to allow a plurality of pattern light beams to be eccentrically rotated on the pupil; and a calculator for measuring an eye refractive power of the examinee's eye based on a target pattern image to be captured by the two-dimensional imaging device.
US08696124B2	Imaging apparatus and ophthalmic apparatus An imaging apparatus for obtaining a tomographic image of an object based on light obtained by combining returning light from the object, which is irradiated with measurement light, and reference light corresponding to that measurement light, the imaging apparatus comprising: a reference light splitting unit adapted to split the reference light into a plurality of reference light beams of different wavelength ranges, and a plurality of dispersion compensation units adapted to compensate dispersion in accordance with wavelength ranges of the plurality of reference light beams, the dispersion compensation units being provided in respective light paths of the plurality of reference light beams.
US08696123B2	Apparatus, method, and program for processing information An information processing apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine an incident angle of a signal light beam made incident on an object to be imaged in accordance with a structure of the object to be imaged and an instruction unit configured to send an instruction to capture a tomographic image of the object to be imaged on the basis of the signal light beam made incident on the object to be imaged at the determined incident angle.
US08696115B2	Comfortable ophthalmic device and methods of its production This invention relates to comfortable ophthalmic devices and methods of producing such devices by treating said ophthalmic lens with a wetting agent and packaging solution.
US08696114B2	Eyeglasses to compensate for fluctuating vision Adjustable focus eyeglasses where the range of adjustment can be moved. That is, if a pair of adjustable focus eyeglasses have a range of 0 diopters to 2.75 diopters (to provide a 2.75 D ADD for reading for an emmetrope), this invention could, for example, permit the user to move the range from 0 D to 2.75 D to 2.00 D to 4.75 D so as to accommodate a short term change in the user's distance vision requirement. Each eye can be adjusted independently.
US08696112B1	Magnetic securement device for eyewear on hats A detachable securement system for holding eyewear onto hats using magnetic force attraction and a laminated hook and loop securement strap assembly is described. A magnetic plate with rare earth magnets is placed inside the crown band of a hat. A receiver plate and securement strap assembly is located directly opposite on the front of the hat. The securement strap is a novel combination of both a hook and a loop fastening strip joined together adhesively to form a single, interlocking strap. The receiver plate is centrally located within the adhesive layers between the fastening strips. The strap when wrapped around the nose guard area of eyewear firmly interlocks onto itself. The combined use of magnetic force attachment and a single, interlocking securing strap provides a convenient means for securing and storing eyewear on hats.
US08696109B2	Inkjet recording apparatus An image forming apparatus may include a mechanism for forming a corrugated shape in a sheet to be conveyed. The mechanism may include various components include one or more pressing portions, one or more ribs, one or more discharge rollers, a switching mechanism and the like. In one arrangement, ribs and pressing portions configured to create the corrugated shape may be disposed at various locations upstream or downstream of the platen, recording portion and/or nozzles thereof. In one example, pressing portions may be disposed both upstream and downstream of the nozzles of the recording portion to maintain a corrugated shape in the conveyed sheet. Various other configurations may be used.
US08696106B1	Thermally switchable transfix blanket made with grafted switchable polymer for indirect printing methods A polymer composition includes a first polymer layer containing a base polymer matrix, and a second polymer layer grafted onto the first layer. The second polymer layer contains a stimulus-responsive polymer, and the surface free energy of the stimulus-responsive polymer is adjustable from a first surface free energy state to a second surface free energy state when heated to a critical activation temperature. A method of preparing a polymer composition includes providing a first polymer layer containing a base polymer, and grafting a second polymer layer containing a stimulus-responsive layer onto the first layer. A method of printing an image involves applying an ink onto an intermediate transfer member containing a first polymer layer containing a base polymer matrix and a second polymer layer containing a stimulus-responsive polymer grafted onto the first layer, spreading the ink, inducing a property change of the ink, and transferring the ink to a substrate.
US08696105B1	Thermally switchable transfix blanket made of blended polymers for indirect printing methods A polymer composition contains a stimulus-responsive polymer dispersed in a base polymer matrix. The surface free energy of the stimulus-responsive polymer may be reversibly adjustable from a first surface free energy state to a second surface free energy state when heated to a predetermined critical activation temperature. A method of preparing a polymer composition comprises dispersing a stimulus-responsive polymer in a base polymer matrix. A method of printing an image to a substrate comprises applying an aqueous inkjet ink onto an intermediate transfer member using an inkjet printhead, spreading the ink onto the intermediate transfer member, inducing a property change of the ink, and transferring the ink to a substrate, where the intermediate transfer member contains a stimulus-responsive polymer dispersed in a polymer matrix.
US08696102B2	Printing apparatus and method A printing apparatus and method may provide efficient transfer of ink from a transfer belt to a recording sheet by using a transfer mechanism having a supporting member for supporting the recording sheet and a contact member. In one arrangement, the contact member may be configured to contact an inner peripheral surface of the transfer belt to bend the transfer belt and push the outer peripheral surface of the belt outward at an angle smaller than 90°. By pushing and bending the transfer belt, the an ink transfer surface of the belt and the recording sheet may be pinched together to affect transfer of the image.
US08696101B2	Photopolymerizable inkjet black ink, and ink cartridge, inkjet printer and printed material using the ink, and method of preparing the ink A photopolymerizable inkjet black ink having a viscosity not greater than 20 mPa·s at 60° C., including a clear ink having a viscosity not greater than 15 mPa·s at 60° C. including a photopolymerizable monomer having a Stimulation Index (SI value) less than 3 when subjected to a skin sensitization test (LLNA method) and a polymerization initiator without including carbon black and insolubles; and a carbon black in an amount not greater than 7% by weight.
US08696098B2	Printhead having particle circulation with separation A printhead having a circulation device to create a directed flow of ink and a separator to divert particulate matter, which can be present in the ink, to a location where the particulate matter falls out of the directed flow. The circulation device can include a heater configured to provide the directed flow of ink and the separator can include a divider to provide a location for particulate matter to be separated and screened from the ink and a bin to catch particulate matter falling from the ink during circulation.
US08696096B2	Laminated ink supply structure mounted in ink distribution arrangement of an inkjet printer An ink distribution assembly for distributing different inks from respective ink sources to a plurality of print chips which together define an inkjet printhead. The assembly includes: a longitudinal distribution molding having an ink duct for each of the different inks extending longitudinally therealong; an ink inlet port corresponding to each ink duct, each ink inlet port being in fluid communication with a respective ink source for delivering ink from each ink source to a respective one of the ink ducts; and a laminated ink distribution stack in fluid communication with the distribution molding for distributing ink from the ducts to the print chips.
US08696095B2	Fluid supply device, printing device, and method of controlling a fluid supply device A fluid supply device, a printing device, and a control method for a fluid supply device can appropriately determine when the main tank should be replaced without increasing device cost or size. In a structure in which an expansion mechanism draws ink from an ink cartridge by expanding an ink cartridge using the force of carriage movement, a calculation means 112 calculates the remaining ink volume in the ink cartridge based on the ink discharge volume from the inkjet head, and a CPU 115 determines the ink cartridge replacement time has arrived when ink consumption in a specified number of ink packs has reached a specified remaining ink volume in a near-end range based on the result calculated by the calculation means 112.
US08696093B2	Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus A liquid ejecting head includes a nozzle; a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle; a pressure chamber substrate having pressure chambers defined by partition walls; a pressure generator generating pressure change in liquid inside the pressure chamber; and a bottom joined to the pressure chamber substrate by adhesive; and an organic solvent-based ink ejected from the nozzle by driving a piezoelectric element and generating the pressure change in the pressure chamber, and when a width of the pressure chamber in an arrangement direction of the pressure chambers is W and a width of the adhesive in the arrangement direction of the pressure chambers in a state where the adhesive has flowed out from between a lower end portion of the partition wall and the bottom to the pressure chamber side and is then solidified is L, the following expression is satisfied, 0.05≦L/W≦0.3.
US08696091B2	Screen printed jet stack heater Apparatus and methods for heating a printer jet stack. The apparatus includes a first layer and a second layer disposed generally parallel to the first layer. The apparatus also includes a heating layer including a thermal epoxy configured to generate heat when an electrical current is applied thereto. The heating layer is disposed between and bonds together the first layer and the second layer.
US08696090B2	Adapter on jet printer and its corresponding ink cartridge The present invention relates to an adapter on jet printer and its corresponding ink cartridge. The adapter comprises a chamber for accommodating the ink cartridge and a chip set on the adapter. The contact surface of the chip and the printer is set with an information contact that is electrically connected with the printer and two detecting contacts. The opposite back surface of the chip with two detecting contacts is set with a non-contact trigger switch. The non-contact trigger switch is electrically connected with two detection contacts respectively. The non-contact trigger switch is triggered to become disconnected at least once by the non-contact trigger mechanism on the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is inserted into the printer, after which it is not triggered by the non-contact trigger mechanism so as to go to the connected status.
US08696086B2	Ink-jet printer and method for replacing filling liquid in ink-jet head There is provided an ink-jet printer including: an ink supply source; an ink-jet head in which a plurality of nozzle groups corresponding to a plurality of color inks are formed; a maintenance mechanism; a controller which controls the ink-jet head and the maintenance mechanism; and a filling liquid filled in the ink-jet head in a state before the ink-jet printer is used for the first time, wherein, in the state before the ink-jet printer is used for the first time, the controller controls the maintenance mechanism and the ink-jet head to perform an initial discharge operation; and an amount of a liquid discharged from the ink-jet head during the initial discharge operation is adjusted based on a color difference between one of the plurality of color inks and a replaced-ink.
US08696081B2	Droplet ejecting device capable of maintaining recording quality while suppressing deterioration of actuator First and second piezoelectric layers are stacked from a side closer to an opening of a liquid channel formed in a channel member in this order, and are sandwiched between electrodes with respect to a stacking direction. A driving-signal generating section generates an ejection driving signal for ejecting droplets from an ejection port and a non-ejection driving signal for vibrating a meniscus formed in the ejection port without ejecting droplets from the ejection port. A voltage applying section applies, based on image data, a voltage corresponding to the ejection driving signal to one of the first and second piezoelectric layers, and applies a voltage corresponding to the non-ejection driving signal to another one of the first and second piezoelectric layers during a period in which the voltage corresponding to the ejection driving signal is not applied to the one of the first and second piezoelectric layers.
US08696079B1	Drawer display and storage organizer system A convenient drawer organizer storage and display system is provided, which includes a display base member and at least one storage module configured to hold personal items, such as jewelry or accessories. The display base member is fashioned of a single piece of fabric having a dense pile face. The display base member is manually positionable to cover the drawer bottom surface. One or multiple storage modules are positionable on the display base member, with any unutilized surface of the display base member functioning as a display space. Thus the display space available for storage of items includes both the space within the storage modules and the unutilized surface of the display base member. Variations of storage modules are also presented.
US08696077B2	Slide-track buffering device with a smoothly sliding carriage A slide-track buffering device with a smoothly sliding carriage comprising: a control stand on which there are a guide plate extending forward, a guide chute at the rear part of the guide plate, and a beveled resisting groove in front of the guide chute; a slide carriage sliding on and covering the guide plate and comprising a shorter first area in the back, a locator under the first area, and an accommodating groove in front of the locator; at least a spring unit linking between the control stand and the slide carriage; a swing member which is held in the accommodating groove and located between the slide carriage and the control stand and is provided with a joint hole in the back and a boss underneath in order to engage the locator with the joint hole, accommodate the boss in the guide chute and embody superior smoothness and actuation.
US08696076B2	Furniture item having a furniture body and a folding flap The invention relates to a furniture item having a furniture body and a folding flap, wherein the folding flap comprises at least three sub-flaps arranged one above the other. A first sub-flap is pivotally mounted relative to the furniture body, a second sub-flap is pivotally mounted with respect to the first sub-flap and a third sub-flap is pivotally mounted relative to the second sub-flap.
US08696075B1	Outdoor cooking organization system An outdoor cooking accessory organization system includes an outdoor cooker and an outdoor cooking accessory cart. The cart has a plurality of storage bays located in the cart top surface with an open top for receiving an item. The cart has a sliding drawer and a retractable cooking shelf with a cutting board surface on a cooking shelf first surface and a grill located on a cooking shelf second surface. The cooking shelf is pivotally mounted and is locked into position via a locking mechanism in a first position with the cutting board surface facing upwards or a second position with the grill facing upwards. The cart has a power supply with a connecting cord for connecting to a power source and a power outlet operatively connected to the power supply.
US08696073B2	Method for operating a hydraulically working brake system, and brake system A method for operating a hydraulically working brake system of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, having at least one brake line assigned to at least one wheel brake, the brake line being connected or connectable via a switchable valve to the high pressure side of a pump unit for brake fluid. It is provided that the valve is closed when an unexpected pressure drop is detected in the brake line. Also described is a brake system for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle.
US08696070B2	Enhanced braking valve A hydraulic braking valve having an inlet orifice intended to be connected to a pressure supply, an outlet orifice intended to be connected to a braking unit, a leak orifice intended to be connected to a tank, a power distributor adapted so as to connect the inlet orifice to the outlet orifice in a braking configuration, and a leak orifice to the outlet orifice in a rest configuration. The power distributor is driven by two independently driven calibrators.
US08696064B2	Backrest inclination structure for lumbar support A backrest inclination structure for lumbar support enables a backrest to enter a free state when a user sitting at any position of a chair lifts a lever of a spring continuous control unit, such that the backrest fits the user's moving back when the backrest is configured for movable inclination. Hence, the backrest can move together with the user's back ergonomically to provide lumbar support. Accordingly, the user can sit comfortably on the chair and be free from lumbago and kyphosis which are common among sedentary individuals.
US08696061B2	Vehicle seat A vehicle seat which comprises a back frame (10) provided inside a seat back (3) to support a headrest (4). The back frame (10) includes right and left side frames (12, 12), and a plurality of support spring members (20B, 20C) having opposite right and left ends (20b, 20c) locked between the right and left side frames (12, 12) and extending in a right-left direction to support a lumber region of an occupant. Each of the support spring members (20B, 20C) is shaped such that a central region thereof protrudes frontwardly relative to the right and left ends thereof in an approximately flat state. Thus, the central region of the support spring unit is largely bent (depressed) rearwardly when a rearward load is applied thereto during a rear impact event.
US08696059B2	Seat cushion A seat cushion for reducing back pain via elevating specific areas of a user's posterior and back is provided. The seat cushion includes two outer sections of generally semicircular shape and first height, each having a lower layer of firm foam of first thickness and an upper layer of soft foam of second thickness, the first thickness exceeds the second thickness, an inner section of generally rectangular shape with length and width and second height less than the first height, the inner section extends lengthwise between the outer sections forming a channel above the inner section and between the outer sections, a cushion base provides support for the underside of the outer sections and inner section, whereby for the user sitting on the seat cushion, a specific area of the user's posterior and back aligned with the channel is elevated above the channel to relieve pressure on the specific area.
US08696055B2	Highchair with adjustable tray and seat height A highchair includes a seat assembly, a tray connected with the seat assembly, a leg assembly connected with the seat assembly, and an adjustment mechanism. The seat assembly includes a rear support surface and a lower support surface for supporting an infant or child. The leg assembly is configured to support the seat assembly above a floor surface. The adjustment mechanism can be for adjusting the tray with respect to the seat assembly or the seat assembly with respect to the leg assembly. The adjustment mechanism can include a button, a linkage, a cable, and a locking member.
US08696053B2	Furniture member having powered rocking motion A furniture member having powered rocking motion includes a frame and an actuation mechanism rotatably connected to the frame and movable in forward and rearward rocking motions with respect to the frame. A powered rocking drive device includes a motor connected to the actuation mechanism and a solenoid. The solenoid when energized releasably couples the motor to the frame such that operation of the motor automatically induces the forward and rearward rocking motions of the actuation mechanism. The solenoid when de-energized decouples the motor from the frame permitting an occupant to induce the forward and rearward rocking motions of the actuation mechanism with respect to the frame.
US08696051B2	System for absorbing and distributing side impact energy utilizing a side sill assembly with a collapsible sill insert An energy absorbing and distributing side impact system for use with a vehicle is provided, the system utilizing a collapsible side sill assembly along with multiple vehicle cross-members to achieve the desired level of vehicle side impact resistance, the combination of these elements absorbing and distributing the impact load throughout the vehicle structure. The collapsible side sill assembly includes a side sill insert, the insert divided into a collapsible portion designed to absorb impact energy and a reacting portion designed to distribute the impact energy to the vehicle cross-members.
US08696050B2	Side vehicle body structure In a side vehicle body structure of a vehicle, which is provided with a shoulder anchor part 2 for a seat belt, a shoulder reinforcement 9 of the shoulder anchor part 2 extends to the joint portion of a side body outer panel 7 and a quarter panel 8, and the shoulder reinforcement 9, the side body outer panel 7, and the quarter panel 8 are jointed together in the state in which the three elements are lapped together.
US08696049B2	Vehicle body structure A vehicle body structure includes a cowl extending in a vehicle transverse direction at an upper rear section of an engine compartment, an air inlet to introduce outside air into a vehicle cabin from the cowl, a fluid discharge channel provided at the bottom of the cowl, the fluid discharge channel inclined to guide fluid entering the cowl to a drain opening disposed at a transverse end of the cowl, a one-way valve disposed inside the cowl at a position corresponding to the drain opening, the one-way valve including a flapper operable to open and close the drain opening in response to a differential pressure generated when air flows through the air inlet and a frame comprising a valve opening corresponding to the drain opening, wherein the one-way valve covers the drain opening.
US08696047B2	Retractable air deflection apparatus for reduction of vehicular air drag An air deflection apparatus for reduction of vehicular air drag comprises at least two air deflection elements coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle but not to the rear-facing surface of the vehicle or, in other embodiments, at least two air deflection elements coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle but not to any rear door which the vehicle may have. The air deflection elements are displaceable, preferably in unison, between a retracted position and at least one deployed position, and may be deployed and retracted manually, or remotely with powered assistance, or under microprocessor control. The air deflection elements are preferably arranged above, below and on either side of the rear-facing surface of the vehicle, with at least the latter two air deflection elements having matching configurations, and in some embodiments, with one or more of the air deflection elements being associated with a frame within which it is substantially disposed when in the retracted position. Vehicles equipped with the apparatus, and methods of reducing vehicular air drag using the apparatus, are also disclosed.
US08696044B2	Cargo screen of vehicle luggage room A cargo screen of a vehicle luggage room, the cargo screen may include a housing mounted at an upper portion of the vehicle luggage room in a horizontal direction and having a central portion to be foldable, a roller rotatably installed in the housing and having a cut central portion to be foldable, and a screen wound around an outer peripheral surface of the roller in the housing through a cut hole thereof or selectively unwound to the outside of the housing to cover the vehicle luggage room, and having a cut central portion to be foldable.
US08696040B2	Coupling for PVC piping sections A coupling (20) capable of connecting together two piping sections (30, 30) having the same outer diameter, two piping sections (40, 40) having the same inner diameter, or two piping sections (30, 40) having different diameters. The coupling (20) can have a unitary tubular structure and it can be made of the same material and in the same manner as conventional PVC piping. Installation of the coupling (20) during construction of a passageway can be accomplished in same manner as is conventionally accomplished with three distinct types of coupling.
US08696035B2	Venturi adapter A venturi adapter is provided and includes a first collar having an inward projection, a second collar having an outward projection and a shoulder defining an aperture extending between opposing axial faces thereof and having an axial projection, the first and second collars extending in opposing axial directions from the shoulder.
US08696034B2	Composite drill pipe and method for forming same Metal inner and outer fittings configured, the inner fitting configured proximally with an external flange and projecting distally to form a cylindrical barrel and stepped down-in-diameter to form an abutment shoulder and then projecting further distally to form a radially inwardly angled and distally extending tapered inner sleeve. An outer sleeve defining a torque tube is configured with a cylindrical collar to fit over the barrel and is formed to be stepped up in diameter in alignment with the first abutment shoulder to then project distally forming a radially outwardly tapered and distally extending bonding surface to cooperate with the inner sleeve to cooperate with the inner sleeve in forming a annular diverging bonding cavity to receive the extremity of a composite pipe to abut against the abutment shoulders and to be bonded to the respective bonding surfaces by a bond.
US08696028B2	Janitorial container with segmented, drainable utility compartments A portable container for carrying one or more janitorial liquids as well as janitorial supplies and equipment is disclosed. The janitorial container includes one or more closable bottom drain openings for fast and convenient draining of the janitorial liquids. The container also includes one or more attachment members for receiving, supporting, and/or securing the janitorial supplies and equipment. The container may be mounted on a wheeled cart as a part of a multi-tasking cleaning system. Methods for using the container, either independently or as mounted on the cart, to improve the efficiency and safety of janitorial operations are also disclosed.
US08696024B2	Coupler for a vehicle and a vehicle comprising same A coupler for securing an accessory to a motorized vehicle and comprising an accessory attachment component securable to the accessory and a coupler frame securable to the vehicle. The accessory attachment component includes an accessory pivotal connector and an accessory positioning connector. The coupler frame has a coupler pivotal support defined in the coupler frame configured to receive and pivotally support the accessory pivotal connector and a coupler positioning support configured to receive and guide the accessory positioning connector in a coupled configuration. The accessory positioning connector is aligned with the coupler positioning support when the accessory pivotal connector is received in the coupler pivotal support and slidable toward the coupled configuration. The coupler further comprises a locking mechanism engageable with the accessory attachment component and the coupler frame to lock the accessory attachment component and the coupler frame in the coupled configuration.
US08696023B2	Inflator and airbag device An inflator includes: an inflator case configured from a bottomed cylindrical upper case and lower case, with the inflator case having an upper combustion chamber and a lower combustion chamber in which gas generants are accommodated, the upper combustion chamber and the lower combustion chamber being partitioned by a partition wall, and with the inflator case having a peripheral wall in which upper gas discharge holes and lower gas discharge holes are formed; a first inner cylinder member in which a transfer charge for combusting the gas generant inside the lower combustion chamber is accommodated; a second inner cylinder member whose upper end portion penetrates the partition wall and is positioned in a lower portion of the upper combustion chamber, with a transfer charge for combusting the gas generant inside the upper combustion chamber being accommodated inside the second inner cylinder member; a first igniter and a second igniter.
US08696022B2	Air bag with variable venting An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) inflatable between a vehicle surface (36) and the vehicle occupant. A vent (160) releases inflation fluid from the protection device (14). The vent (160) includes a vent opening with a flow area that can be adjusted to throttle inflation fluid flow through the vent. A tether (150) has a first connection with the vent (160) and a second connection with the protection device (14). Tension on the tether (150) throttles the vent (160). The second connection of the tether is positioned on the protection device (14) such that deployment of the protection device throttles the vent (160) toward an actuated condition, and occupant (20) penetration into the protection device throttles the vent toward a non-actuated condition.
US08696020B2	Airbag apparatus An airbag apparatus mountable in front of a seat of a vehicle and including an airbag is disclosed. The airbag is deployable between a member of a vehicle body structure and knees of a vehicle occupant. The airbag includes a bag body formed by connecting peripheral edges of a vehicle body side wall and an occupant side wall, an outer connecting element that is located on an outer face of the vehicle body side wall and connected to the vehicle body side wall by two joints arranged away from each other in an up and down direction at deployment for reducing a length in an up and down direction of the vehicle body side wall, and a plurality of thin regions that are arranged between the two joints of the outer connecting element to the vehicle body side wall on the bag body. The thin regions are arranged generally along a left and right direction in a mutually separate fashion and help bend the airbag at deployment.
US08696019B2	Knee airbag module A knee airbag module for restraining an occupant seated in the interior compartment of a vehicle. The module includes an inflatable airbag cushion configured to deploy to a location forward of the legs of the seated occupant, and an inflator to supply inflation gas for inflating the cushion. The module further includes a housing configured to couple to the vehicle and a cover connected to the housing. The housing includes a base, a forward side wall and a rearward side wall, which together with the cover form a compartment for housing the airbag cushion prior to deployment, as well as the inflator. A portion of the rearward side wall is inclined to guide the deploying airbag cushion in an oblique direction when breaching the housing.
US08696017B2	Chair with a height-adjustable seat A chair for use by a person with limited lower-body mobility, the chair having a height adjustable seat and chair sides that fold down to form a ramp or bridge to facilitate lateral movement by a user between the chair and an adjacent surface.
US08696015B2	Stroller A juvenile stroller includes a foldable frame, wheels coupled to the foldable frame, and a seat coupled to the foldable frame. The frame can be folded to assume a compact size and unfolded to position the seat relative to the wheels to transport a child sitting in the juvenile seat.
US08696011B2	Trailer-hitch system and method A trailer-hitch system comprises a hitch frame adapted to be secured to a vehicle and having a receiver for accommodating a foremost end of a mount unit. The mount unit has a member portion in mating engagement with the receiver of the hitch frame. A connector for connection with a trailer is provided at a rearmost end. The trailer-hitch system also comprises a mechanism actuated to press a portion of the member portion against the receiver for locking the mount unit into the mating engagement with the receiver. A method for locking a mount unit in a receiver of a hitch frame is also provided.
US08696007B2	Bicycle frame A frame for a bicycle that has a fork and a handlebar. The frame includes a head tube, a bottom bracket adapted to support a crankset, and a down tube coupled between the head tube and the bottom bracket. The frame also has a fork bumper that is coupled to and is disposed on an underside of the down tube. The fork bumper extends outward from the down tube and includes a base and a resilient outer layer engageable by the fork to prevent contact between the down tube and the fork.
US08696005B2	Bumper step for heavy-duty truck A bumper step for a heavy-duty truck includes a main bracket that is provided on a front lower portion of a vehicle. The lower end of a first step is hinged to the main bracket such that the first step is rotatable and deployable downwards, and the first step is fixed in a deployed position. A second step is provided behind the first step. The upper end of the second step is hinged to the main bracket such that the second step is rotatable and deployable upwards. The second step is fixed in position above the first step.
US08695999B2	Moveable device A device comprising a planar element with a first wheel supported about a first rotary axis, a handle support, and a folding joint connecting the handle support to the planar element pivotal about a first pivotal axis such that in an operating state the handle support is aligned to a planar element at an angle, is provided. At least one second wheel is supported about a second rotary axis, at the distal end of the planar element. The second wheel is pivotal about a second pivotal axis and coupled to the handle support via a mechanism which converts a pivotal motion of the handle support about the first pivotal axis into a pivotal axis of the second wheel about the second pivotal axis such that the second rotary motion of the second wheel shows in the idle state a greater angle to the planar element than in the operating state.
US08695994B2	Board sliding device with air pump for sliding on ground A sliding device for sliding on the ground down a sloped or inclined surface (grass, dirt, sand, synthetic turf, etc.) has an upper deck and a slide mechanism mounted below and in parallel with the upper deck. The slide mechanism has a slide base formed by upper and lower planar members spaced apart and extending horizontally in parallel, with an enclosure formed by left and right braces and front and rear braces with radiused ends, and an endless anti-friction belt is entrained to slide around the slide base. The slide base is formed as an air tight enclosure provided with a portable air pump mechanism, and the lower planar member has an array of small air holes to let pumped air out to form an air layer between the lower planar member and the belt sliding around it for reducing friction and higher downhill sliding speeds. The device may be used for sliding down a hill like a body board, boogie board, surfboard, sled, ski, or skateboard.
US08695991B2	Drill chuck A chuck including a body having a tail section and a nose section defining an axial bore. A plurality of jaws are movably disposed with respect to the axial bore and a nut is in threaded engagement with the jaws. A sleeve engages the nut so that rotation of the sleeve moves the jaws. A first ring defines a plurality of teeth and a second ring is rotatable relative to the nut over a limited arc and defines at least one pawl. In a first state, the second ring is non-rotatable relative to the first ring in both the opening and closing directions, and in a second state the first and second rings are rotatable about the body, and the second ring is rotatable relative to the first ring in the closing direction.
US08695987B2	Minimal thickness, double-sided flange for insertion between two ultra-high vacuum flanges A thin flange for insertion between two ultra-high vacuum flanges includes opposing, parallel sealing surfaces. The sealing surfaces can be surrounded by mounting surfaces having mounting holes therein alignable with holes in the flanges. Forces applied by bolts inserted through the aligned holes are distributed by the flanges so that the thin flange is subjected only to symmetric, compressive forces. Since no deforming forces are applied to the thin flange, the thickness of the thin flange can be less than previously attained, and can be less than 15% of its diameter, or even less than 6.5%. The thickness of the thin flange can be less than 0.28 inches or less than 0.16 inches. Knife edges on the sealing surfaces pressed against soft metal gaskets can form vacuum seals. The thin flange can include a feature such as an inward-facing mounting groove, a threaded mounting bore, and/or an electrical feed-through.
US08695981B2	Casino card game A casino card game (20) including a plurality of cards (23) having values, suits, and colors are disposed in a vertical shuffler (22). The game (20) also includes a betting surface (21) presenting a plurality of wagering areas (26-38) corresponding to the values, suits, and colors of the cards in the vertical shuffler (22). The betting surface (21) further includes a plurality of player positions, each identified with a unique indicia (24). During each round of the game, players place wagers on the wagering areas (26-38) of the betting surface (21) and a dealer spins the vertical shuffler (22) to determine a winning card (23). The dealer then identifies each of the wagering areas (26-38) associated with the value, suit, and color of the winning card, if any, and pays the wagers on those identified wagering areas (26-38) according to a predetermined payout.
US08695975B2	Jam processing assisting device and image forming apparatus including the jam processing assisting device A jam-processing assisting device that performs a jam removal process for removing a sheet jammed at a carriage roller by rotating the carriage roller includes: a motor that drives the carriage roller to rotate; a rotation-direction detecting unit that detects a direction of rotation in which the motor is required to rotate for removing a jam; and a motor-driving controlling unit that drives the motor to rotate in the direction that has been detected. The rotation-direction detecting unit determines, based on a detection of a pulling-out direction in which the jammed sheet is pulled by an external force, the pulling-out direction that has been detected as the direction of rotation of the motor and drives the motor in the direction that has been determined.
US08695970B2	Multi-function peripheral A multi-function peripheral (MFP) including a machine body, a paper feeding cassette, and a sensing module is provided. The paper feeding cassette is assembled to the machine body, and multiple pieces of paper are suited for being stacked on a supporting surface of the paper feeding cassette. The sensing module includes a holder and a sensor. The holder is disposed at a side of the paper feeding cassette and capable of moving along a normal of the supporting surface. The sensor is disposed on the holder. A sensing surface of the sensor faces the supporting surface and keeps a distance from a top piece of the paper.
US08695968B2	Device for handling sheet material Apparatus for continuous singling of stacks of loose sheet material, in particular bank notes, vouchers, checks, separation cards, etc., includes a singling unit for singling stacks of loose sheet material and a feeding device which transports stacks of loose sheet material to be singled into a position where sheet material of the stack is grasped by the singling unit and transferred to a transport system. The feeding device has a first, substantially single-axis moved feeding element and a second, substantially multi-axis moved feeding element. A container is provided to receive the stack of loose sheet material, the container having a movable platform on which the stack of sheet material rests. The container is received by a container receiving device which has a transport device connected to the platform of the container located in the container receiving device, wherein the platform of the container together with the transport device forms the first feeding element.
US08695967B2	Sheet feeder and image forming apparatus including same A sheet feeder mountable to a body of an apparatus includes a bottom plate on which the sheets are placed and a bottom plate lift unit including a bottom plate pusher disposed beneath the bottom plate, a rack member to rotate the bottom plate pusher vertically by moving horizontally, a pinion gear to move the rack member horizontally, a biasing member to pull the bottom plate pusher toward the rack member, attached therebetween, and a position detector to detect positions of the rack member and the pinion gear. The pinion gear is coupled using projection-and-recess engagement to a rotation transmission device provided to the body, and a quantity of tooth Z1 of the pinion gear by which the rack member is moved by the rotation transmission device, a total tooth number Z2 of the pinion gear, and a coupling division number S of the rotation transmission device satisfy Z1=Z2·(1/S)·N.
US08695962B2	Device and method for generating a controllable reciprocal movement of a moveable mechanical element A device for generating a controllable reciprocal movement of a moveable mechanical element between a first stop point and a second stop point. At least one drive element is moved continuously with reciprocal movement between two turning points. A coupling device with a controllable coupling serves for the selective coupling of the mechanical element to the drive element. The coupling device further features a freewheel and is arranged such that in the active state of the coupling the mechanical element is coupled to the at least one drive element during a first half-cycle of the movement of the drive element and is moved from the first stop point to the second stop point, and during a second half-cycle of the movement of the drive element is substantially uninfluenced by the drive element due to the action of the freewheel.
US08695958B2	Flexible fixture A system and method for supporting a workpiece includes a plurality of support assemblies with movable heads. Positional errors are ascertained for the heads based on different positions thereof and used to properly position the heads to support the workpiece. Other inventive aspects are directed to features of the support assemblies and heads thereof.
US08695951B2	Carburettors A carburettor includes a primary air passage (19), an adjustable throttle valve (8) situated within the primary air passage, a fuel supply nozzle (28) communicating with the primary air passage and connected to a fuel metering valve for varying the amount of fuel discharged through the nozzle. The fuel metering valve includes an elongate sleeve (32) movably accommodating an elongate valve member (33). The sleeve and valve member define a fuel inlet space (35). A fuel inlet (37) communicates with the fuel inlet space. A fuel outlet (39) passes through the wall of the sleeve (32) and communicates with the fuel supply nozzle (28). A portion of the outer surface of the valve member (33) is so profiled that the valve member (33) is movable relative to the sleeve (32) such that the area of communication between the fuel inlet space (35) and the outlet (39) varies progressively between a maximum and a minimum value.
US08695949B2	Fence assembly An improved fence assembly is comprised of a plurality of pickets, an inner rail and an outer rail. The pickets are vertically oriented and attached to the inner rail. The inner rail has an upper locking seat, a lower locking seat and a recess between the seats. The fasteners attaching the inner rail to the pickets have their heads entirely enclosed within the recess. The outer rail snap fits over the inner rail. The outer rail is securely attached to the inner rail, but it may slide along the inner rail. The outer rail has an upper locking tang, a lower locking tang and a tensioning wall. These components slidingly interlock with the inner rail locking seats to provide a fence assembly wherein the outer rail is slidingly attached to the inner rail and the fasteners securing the inner rail to the pickets are hidden.
US08695943B2	Wire installation tool for heating wire support meshing A tool for installing a heating wire in a floor substrate of the type having receiving means opened toward a surface thereof to receive a heating wire comprises a support with a handle portion to be manually handled by a user. A contact surface is related to the support, the contact surface adapted to contact the floor or floor substrate during displacement of the tool along the floor substrate. An interface is between the handle portion and a heating wire. The interface is adapted to contact the heating wire such that a given pressure applied on the handle portion by the user during the displacement of the tool along the floor substrate is converted by the interface into local engagement of the heating wire in at least one of the receiving means. A method for installing the heating wire using the tool is also provided.
US08695939B2	Stand structure and display device A display device includes a body, a supporting member and a fastening member. The body has an accommodating portion, and the supporting member assembled to the accommodating portion for supporting the body is in the first state or the second state. The supporting member in the first state is switched to the second state when pivoting in an angle. The fastening member is detachably assembled to a first position or a second position of the supporting member, such that the supporting member is fastened to the accommodating portion of the body by the fastening member. The fastening member is assembled to the first position of the supporting member when the supporting member assembled to the accommodating portion is in the first state, and the fastening member is assembled to the second position of the supporting member when the supporting member assembled to the accommodating portion is in the second state.
US08695938B1	Glass clip Glass clips comprising a pair of opposed planar elements separated and joined by fasteners to an attachment means are employed to grasp, support or suspend a plate glass from a stable structure such as a rail, post or flooring. The suspended glass creates a transparent wall or bather that is valued for its expansive and uncluttered visual effect. Glass clips employed in this manner can be more decorative, less functional and contribute to the overall aesthetics and ambience of the setting when a concealing cap conforming generally to the dimensions of the opposed planar elements and configured to slidably engage with one of the planar elements to envelope the surface of that element and conceal any fasteners used to join the elements.
US08695936B2	Supporting device for display apparatus A supporting device to a display apparatus to prevent a wire from separating from a wire hanger. The supporting device to fix the display apparatus to a wall includes a wire part coupled to the display apparatus, a wire hanger mounted to the wall, the wire hanger to hang the wire part on the wall, and a separation protector provided at the wire hanger, the separation protector serving to prevent the wire part from separating from the wire hanger.
US08695933B2	Adjustable foot, in particular a rear foot, for an electric household appliance An adjustable foot for an electric household appliance having a body integrally fastenable to a casing of the electric household appliance, a stem carried by the body so as to vertically slide, a support element associated with a lower end of the stem, a first screw mechanism operatively associated with the stem and provided with anti-rotation portion cooperating with the body, a toothed wheel carried by the body so as to be coaxial to the stem and idle about a substantially vertical symmetry axis of the latter, a second screw mechanism operatively associated with the toothed wheel and cooperating with the first screw mechanism for vertically translating the stem in response to a rotation of the toothed wheel.
US08695925B2	Elastically deformable side-edge link for trailing-edge flap aeroacoustic noise reduction A system is provided for reducing aeroacoustic noise generated by an aircraft having wings equipped with trailing-edge flaps. The system includes a plurality of elastically deformable structures. Each structure is coupled to and along one of the side edges of one of the trailing-edge flaps, and is coupled to a portion of one of the wings that is adjacent to the one of the side edges. The structures elastically deform when the trailing-edge flaps are deployed away from the wings.
US08695922B2	Aircraft fuselage structure and method for its production An aircraft fuselage structure with frames (11) running transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the fuselage, and main deck cross members (14) is disclosed. The aircraft fuselage structure contains premanufactured integral units (10) which each comprise at least the lower region of the fuselage frame (11) and the main deck cross member (14), the fuselage frame (11) and a region (14a) of the main deck cross member (14) that spans at least an essential part of the width of the main deck and merges on both sides into the fuselage frame (11) being premanufactured in the form of an integral component.
US08695914B2	Disposable dispensing and display carton for paper towels and other rolled products A dispensing and display carton in combination with a rolled product is disclosed. The dispensing carton and rolled product combination generally comprises a disposable dispenser that is configured to hold a roll of tissue products, such as paper towels. The dispenser may be constructed, for instance, from paperboard, plastic or any other disposable material. Of particular advantage, the dispenser may be packaged with the roll of material and may be decorated to match or complement the roll of material.
US08695913B2	Earphone cord winder The earphone cord winder allows the cord of an earphone device to be wound thereto in order to prevent damage due to excessive bending. The earphone cord winder has a body, first, second, and third protrusions formed around the body at intervals forming an upper cord groove and a lower cord groove, two receiving slots recessed on a first surface of the body, a plug groove recessed on a second surface of the body, a middle groove connecting the opposite sides of the first protrusion, a remote control groove communicating with the upper cord groove, two first recessions communicating with the two receiving slots respectively, at least one second recession recessed on a side of the second protrusion, and at least one third recession recessed on a side of the third protrusion and communicating with the plug groove.
US08695912B2	Reel systems and methods for monitoring and controlling linear material slack A reel comprises a motorized spool member about which a linear material can be wound. A housing surrounds the spool member and has a port through which the linear material extends. A motor controller detects when the linear material is pulled from the spool member through the port, and responds by operating a motor to rotate the spool member in an unwind direction. During this operation, the motor controller (1) uses a spool sensor system to detect an unwind rate at which the linear material is unwound from the spool member, (2) uses a translation sensor system to detect a pull-out rate at which the linear material is pulled through the port in the unwind direction, and (3) adjusts the motor speed based on the detected rates, to limit a length of unwound linear material between the spool member and the port to less than a predetermined length.
US08695909B2	Fishing reel handle assembly A fishing reel handle assembly has a handle arm, a knob shaft, and a handle knob. The handle arm is relatively non-rotatably attached to a distal end of the handle shaft. The knob shaft is fixed to an end of the handle arm and extends in parallel to the handle shaft. The handle knob is supported by the knob shaft to be rotatable relative to the handle arm. The handle arm includes a main body and a convexo-concave portion. The main body extends substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the handle shaft, and is formed by laminating sheets of prepreg. The convexo-concave portion is convexly or concavely formed on at least either a front surface of the main body or a back surface of the main body. The front surface allows the handle knob to be attached thereto, the back surface disposed opposite to the front surface.
US08695904B2	Mobile crushing station A mobile crushing station for receiving and comminuting excavated material from earth moving vehicles provides at least one moveable skip connected to a chassis or frame for receiving material from vehicles, such as rear unloading vehicles like dump trucks. The skips are configured to move to dump material fed into the skips into a feed hopper. The feed hopper is positioned to guide material onto a feed conveyor, such as an inclined apron conveyor. The feed conveyor is configured to transport material to a feed orifice of a crushing device, such as a sizer, a crusher, or a crushing circuit. The crushing device is configured to crush material fed into the crushing device. The crushing device also has a discharge orifice that is positioned above a portion of a discharge conveyor. The mobile crushing station is moveable so it may be repositioned closer to an excavation site as excavation activities progress.
US08695903B2	Processing of steel making slag A system for processing slag material from a steelmaking process includes reducing the average particle size of slag from a steelmaking process into finer particle size material by directing the slag against a surface at a velocity sufficient to cause the slag to break into smaller pieces, and separating the finer particle size material into at least an iron rich product and a silicate rich product based on the differences between these products in at least one or more properties including magnetic susceptibility, particle size, weight or specific gravity. Directing the slag against a surface to reduce the average slag particle size can better separate the dissimilar materials in the slag from each other, and result in less dust generation and less energy consumption compared to grinding the slag material.
US08695902B2	Water sprinkler A water sprinkler includes a base defining a first cavity and an outflow opening, a conduit assembly positioned in said first cavity and defining a first channel and a second channel, and said first channel defining a first channel inlet and a first channel outlet, and further said second channel defining a second channel inlet and a second channel outlet, and a timer mechanism having a timer inlet and a timer outlet, said timer mechanism being configured to operate in (i) a first mode in which fluid is allowed to pass between said timer inlet and said timer outlet, and (ii) a second mode in which fluid is prevented from passing between said timer inlet and said timer outlet, wherein said first channel outlet is positioned in fluid communication with said timer inlet, wherein said second channel inlet is positioned in fluid communication with said timer outlet, and wherein said base and said conduit assembly are configured so that fluid advancing through the water sprinkler must pass through both (i) said second channel outlet, and (ii) said outflow opening.
US08695899B2	Fuel injector A fuel injector has a housing with a central longitudinal axis having a first cavity and may be coupled to a fuel rail having a fluid inlet portion and outlet portion. The fuel injector has a valve needle arranged at least partly within the housing axially movable in the first cavity facing the fluid outlet portion, the valve needle preventing a fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion in a closing position and releasing it through the fluid outlet portion in further positions. The fuel injector has a spring arranged within the first cavity for exerting a spring force on the valve needle along the central longitudinal axis for preventing the fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion. Additionally, the fuel injector has an adjusting element for adjusting an axial position regarding the central longitudinal axis of a spring rest depending on a pressure acting on the adjusting element.
US08695898B2	Spout including a stream straightener A faucet spout assembly including a spout shell and a stream straightener insert. The spout shell includes an inlet end, an outlet end, and a waterway that extends between the inlet end and the outlet end. Water flows around the stream straightener insert and is delivered from the outlet end of the spout shell in a laminar, sheet-like column, giving the appearance of a large volume of water being dispensed from the faucet spout assembly.
US08695893B2	Percussive sprinkler with accurate outflow angle adjustment functions A percussive sprinkler with accurate outflow angle adjustment functions includes a main body, a percussive diversion frame and swaying portion. Said swaying portion is formed between the main body and assembly portion or between the sprinkler head and assembly portion. An outflow angle regulator is set correspondingly to the swaying portion. Said outflow angle regulator comprises of an angle division and locating frame, which is provided with an arched surface and tooth flange set along the arched surface. A driving rod is provided with a tooth flanged portion that can be meshed with the tooth flange of the angle division and locating frame. A locating portion is used to limit the driving rod and make it in a rotatable state. The rotary shift of the sprinkler head can be located segmentally, enabling users to adjust accurately the outflow angle of the sprinkler head.
US08695886B1	Memory chip device In operation the storage device of this invention is an attachment to a player/recorder such as an iPhone or iPod. The storage device allows the user to record content, store it on the storage device, retrieve the content, and display/play the content on the host device. The software may come pre-loaded on the storage device. The storage chip may have an adhesive back and comes in different colors, shapes and sizes.
US08695883B2	Data storage card and method for the manufacture of a data storage card A data carrier card and a method for producing a data carrier card, in particular a chip card or magnetic stripe card. The data carrier card has a card body having one or several foils, where the foil or at least one of the foils is a coextruded foil having at least two areas with different material properties. The use of coextruded foils makes it possible to form in a simple manner different areas in the card body which differ from each other in material quality. In particular, it is possible to form for example a data carrier card with a card body having a plurality of alternating opaque and transmissive strips or with window strips and/or windows enclosed in the surface of the card body.
US08695880B2	Imaging devices and methods for inhibiting or removing captured aiming pattern A method for obtaining an image indicia includes performing one or more exposures of an imager to capture one or more images, and controlling active portions of an aiming pattern to inhibit capture of the aiming pattern in the one or more captured images or removing the aiming pattern from the one or more captured images. An attempted may be made to decode one or more decodable indicia utilizing the one or more captured images.
US08695878B2	Shelf-monitoring system A system and method for monitoring retail shelf inventory that combines bar code and RFID technologies to permit electronic data entry of retail item shelf assignments and real time reporting of item removal from display/dispensing shelves.
US08695876B2	Systems and methods for providing access to wireless gaming devices Systems and methods for controlling access to wireless gaming devices and networks are provided. For example, access is controlled through one or more levels of security checks, such as a hard security check instead of or in addition to a soft security check. In a hard security check, the user employs an apparatus such as a card or other physical token that can be used to access the wireless gaming device. Such an apparatus may communicate information that identifies the user to the device or may simply be used to produce a signal without which the device is locked to users.
US08695875B1	Methods of and systems for automatic credit card rewards Systems and methods for substantially immediate reward benefits. Reward benefits are provided without delay, for example, in credit card purchases by a cardholder. More specifically, a reward point value is converted to a credit amount and the credit amount is automatically and immediately applied to the cardholder's account.
US08695874B2	Check cashing banking system that operates responsive to data read from data bearing records A card actuated automated banking machine (152,198,200) includes a plurality of transaction function devices. The transaction function devices include a card reader (170), a printer (174), a bill dispenser (176), a display (182), a check imaging device (186), and at least one processor (190). The machine is operative, responsive to receiving a check and certification data, to dispense cash in exchange for the check. The person presenting the check to the machine need not provide user identifying inputs through input devices of the machine in order to receive cash for the check. Furthermore, prior to accepting the check as a payment, the person can communicate with a least one computer (204) through at least one consumer interface device (208) to verify that the check is payable for the check amount.
US08695867B2	Ultrasonic welding machine and method of assembling the ultrasonic welding machine An ultrasonic welding machine and method are provided. The machine includes a base portion having a first aperture that defines first internal threads. The machine further includes an electrically non-conductive member disposed on the base portion having a second aperture that is aligned with the first aperture. The machine further includes an anvil portion disposed on the electrically non-conductive member having a third aperture that is aligned with the second aperture. The machine further includes a first bolt disposed through the third aperture and the second aperture that is threadably received in the first internal threads, and the first bolt and the anvil portion are electrically isolated from the base portion.
US08695864B1	Magnetic coupling for surgical stapler A surgical tool may include a circular surgical stapler and an anvil initially disconnected and separate from the surgical stapler; where at least one of the circular surgical stapler and the anvil is magnetic.
US08695862B2	Oscillation reducing suspension device for a fan motor of a combustion-powered tool An oscillation reducing suspension device for a fan motor of a combustion-powered tool includes a rigid axial-play setting unit mounted on an upper major surface of a cylinder head, and having upper and lower limit defining members that are spaced apart from each other by an axial play route, a suspending mount configured to keep the fan motor oriented in a rotary axis, and having a lug which extends radially into the axial play route to divide the axial play route into proximate and distal regions, and an elastomeric damper unit having upper and lower damping members respectively disposed in the distal and proximate regions. By virtue of the rigid mount supporting the fan motor, and the resilient damper unit coupling the mount and the cylinder head, the fan motor is firmly secured to the cylinder head, and axial oscillation of the fan motor is reduced.
US08695861B2	Stitching head A stitching head is provided having a cam connected to the bender rail rail, the cam operates to redirect the staple driving force being applied by the driver rail to the driver and upon the staple during the staple driving step of stitching head operation; the force-redirecting position of the cam is automatically adjusted in response to the thickness of each workpiece as the cam is connected to the bender rail rail and the contacting of the workpiece by the bender rail repositions the cam at the desired distance above the workpiece to reestablish the set-point for the redirection of the staple driving force being applied to the driver rail upon as staple head contacts each variable thickness workpiece.
US08695857B2	Cap and container with cap An object is to provide a cap that can be flexibly designed, such as a cap that can be prevented or reduced from being increased in volume when the lid member has been attached to the cap body, while at the same time providing a capability to increase the distance between the lid member and the cap body when the elastic member has been restored, as well as providing a container equipped with the cap. Provided is a cap and a container with a cap, which includes a cap body (10), a lid member (20), an elastic member (30) that couples the lid member (20) to the cap body (10), and a coupling member (40) that couples the lid member (20) to the cap body (10), in which: the elastic member (30), which has been elastically deformed, is restored during at least part of the movement of the lid member (20) away from the cap body (10), thereby enabling the lid member (20) to be held away from the cap body (10); and the coupling member (40) is connected to the cap body (10) via a first hinge mechanism (41) and connected to the lid member (20) via a second hinge mechanism (42) that has an axis parallel to an axis of the first hinge mechanism (41).
US08695856B2	Disposable pump, a dispensing system comprising a pump and a method for dispensing liquid A disposable pump for a liquid dispensing system includes a compressible container and a housing forming a chamber and a dispensing opening wherein the pressure in the chamber may be varied for pumping liquid from the container to the chamber, and from the chamber to the dispensing opening. A regulator is fixedly arranged in the chamber for regulating a flow of liquid between the container and the chamber and between the chamber and the dispensing opening. The regulator includes an outer valve for regulating the flow between the chamber and the dispensing opening. The outer valve is displaceable between a symmetrical position corresponding to a closed position, where the outer valve is in sealing contact with the housing, and a tilted position corresponding to a dispensing position.
US08695855B2	Dosage-dispensing unit for dosage material of a powdery or granular consistency A unit for dispensing a dosage material of a powdery or granular consistency has a housing and at least one dispensing head. At least one reservoir cavity is formed inside the housing and serves to receive dosage material. The at least one dispensing head is formed of an elastomeric material. The dispensing head has an outlet which is slit-shaped in its non-deformed state and is delimited by a first outlet lip and a second outlet lip. The outlet can be opened to a variable width by the application of a lateral compressive force. The arrangement further includes at least a first motion-transmitting means designed to impart an oscillatory movement to the first outlet lip relative to, and in the lengthwise direction of, the second outlet lip.
US08695850B2	Tip arrangement for a dropper bottle A tip arrangement for a bottle used for dispensing viscous liquid, such as drops of medicine, is provided. Embodiments include a tip insert having an insert body and a piercing point at a lower end of the insert body, for piercing a top surface of the bottle and for retaining the tip insert on the top surface of the bottle after piercing. A passage extends from a distal end of the piercing point, through the insert body, to an opposing upper surface of the insert body. A dispensing tip at the insert body upper surface communicates with the passage for precisely forming drops of the liquid from the bottle.
US08695848B2	Angled tissue carton A product including a shipping box containing a plurality of sheet-material dispensers. The sheet-material dispensers enclose a stack of sheets formed from a sheet-material. The dispenser includes a top, a bottom, a first side wall, and a second sidewall. The first and second sidewall comprising either a triangle, truncated triangle, or a trapezoid. Two or more sheet material dispensers are interrelated within the shipping box to form a substantially parallelepiped shape for efficient shipping.
US08695846B2	Plastic pry off paint can assembly An all plastic paint container assembly comprising a container, a ring assembly attached to the rim of the container and a pry-off plastic closure having a dual sealing arrangement with the ring member and an undercut lock at a location which provides maximum circumferential area. Containers of this design can be stacked both with and without the ring members attached. Three embodiments are disclosed, providing double and triple closure locks and multiple seals.
US08695845B2	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.
US08695842B2	Protector for containers A protector for containers for improving hygiene conditions, especially for cans with an essentially cylindrical form. The protector includes an upper protector element covering the upper part of the container and a lower ring arranged peripherally around the container connected to the upper protector element by a hinge section. The upper protector element also includes a ring pull projecting towards the outside in a downwards direction from the body of the upper protector element and having a cambered form following the contour of the can.
US08695841B2	No-spill drinking cup apparatus An improved no-spill cup construction and valve assembly which provides an extremely secure seal against accidental liquid flow from the cup spout. An initially blocked opening in a flexible material moves up along a protruding member until the opening is unblocked, so as to allow fluid flow.
US08695839B1	Cooler with wrap-around side cover A cooler includes a cooler body including one or more cooler walls. The cooler further includes a cover configured to be disposed around an exterior of the cooler body, the cover being sized and dimensioned to generally cover an exterior of the one or more cooler walls of the cooler body. The cover preferably includes a moisture-absorbent material. The cover also preferably includes an image, logo, symbol, or text; or a panel preferably includes the image, logo, symbol, or text, which panel is removably attachable to the cover.
US08695835B2	Closure cap for a fluid container and method for the fabrication Closure cap (1) for a fluid container (30), which has a receiver (31), at which an applicator body (32) is movably supported, wherein the closure cap has a sealing element for contacting the receiver and/or the applicator body and has a cap base body (10) with an axial support (20, 20′), and wherein the sealing element and at least a part of the support are connected to each other by material bond.
US08695834B2	Medical waste disposal container system A carrier is configured to hold a container having a door mounted for reciprocation between opened and closed positions. The carrier includes a body adapted to receive the container as well as an extension coupled for reciprocal movement with respect to the body. The extension is adapted for engagement with the door of the container, and the reciprocal movement of the extension is adapted to reciprocate the door of the container between the opened and closed position. A container system including a container and the carrier is also provided.
US08695825B2	Counterweighted container latch Embodiments disclosed herein provide an apparatus that includes a container configured to store and transport drilling waste, a lid coupled to the container, and at least one arm coupled to the lid and configured to lift or lower the lid when moved, wherein the at least one arm comprises a counterweight. Disclosed embodiments also provide a method of opening and closing an apparatus. The method includes moving at least one arm coupled to a lid of the apparatus to an open position, wherein the apparatus is configured to store and transport drilling waste, disposing drilling waste in the apparatus, and moving the at least on arm coupled to the lid of the apparatus to a closed position. Disclosed embodiments also provide a method of modifying a mud skip that includes coupling at least one arm to a lid of the mud skip configured to store and transport drilling waste, wherein the at least one arm comprises a counterweight.
US08695822B2	Container for preventing loss of stopper and idle rotation thereof A container for preventing a container cap from being lost and for preventing unintended rotation thereof about a mouth of the container. Maintaining a stable posture of the an opened container cap to enhance use of an opened container.
US08695820B2	Bottle cap with releasable external formations The invention relates to a cap. More particularly, the invention relates to a bottle cap which has engaging formations which allow it to be releasably secured to other caps of the same kind. The cap includes a sleeve moulded integrally to an end wall, the sleeve having at least one line of weakness spaced apart from the end wall for separation of at least one ring portion from the sleeve. The cap further includes primary external co-operating engaging formations provided on either side of the line of weakness, such that the cap is connectible side-to-side, via the primary external cooperating engaging formations, to other caps or ring portions, or to bottles having corresponding primary external cooperating engaging formations.
US08695816B2	Dual function shelf unit A dual function shelf unit has identical support columns, horizontal shelf-supporting beams adjustably-mounted on the columns for vertical shelf adjustment and one or more hooks also mountable on at least one column. The columns have apertures with complementary apertures having opposed inclined edges for accepting a beam-end bracket from either side of the column and tabs for accepting mounting flanges of hooks. Both beam-end brackets and hooks are each mounted in two vertically-spaced apertures. Vertically adjustable shelf and hook storage is provided.
US08695810B2	Superoleophobic and superhydrophilic fabric filters for rapid water-oil separation Product, method of making product, and technique for using product to separate oil from water via a filter, such as cotton, polyester, or leather, coated with a chemical that blocks oil while allowing water to pass therethrough.
US08695806B2	Method and apparatus for separating excavated material A method and apparatus for separating material, particularly excavated material is presented. The method and apparatus utilize a releasable and interchangeable screen assembly which is positioned on top of a frame having a slanted grate. The screen assembly includes bar members which traverse the top of the screen and inverted hook members attached to a top surface of the bar members to enable an equipment bucket to engage the inverted hook members in order to lift and move the screen assembly.
US08695805B2	Magnetic vibratory screen clamping The present disclosure is generally directed to vibratory separators that are used for processing drilling fluid, and in particular, vibratory separators that utilize electro-magnetic clamping apparatuses for attaching screen assemblies to a basket assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, an illustrative vibratory separator is disclosed which includes, among other things, a basket assembly having at least one screen support, and at least one screen assembly that is adapted to be releasably secured to the at least one screen support. Additionally, the disclosed vibratory separator also includes an electro-magnetic clamp apparatus that is adapted to releasably secure the at least one screen assembly to the at least one screen support when the electro-magnetic clamp apparatus is energized to a magnetized state, and to release the at least one screen assembly from the at least one screen support when the electro-magnetic clamp apparatus is de-energized to an un-magnetized state.
US08695804B2	Sand dewatering device and method A dewatering device for aggregate products such as sand and gravel to allow dewatering to a moisture within the range of 8% by weight. This energy efficient dewatering system uses an inclined rotatably mounted dewatering screw to initially dewater, followed by an associated vibratory dewatering screen to achieve combined results that neither an inclined dewatering screw or a vibratory screen can achieve separately.
US08695803B2	Hinge configuration for container for frangible items A container for receiving frangible items comprises a sheet of polymer formed into a base portion having a plurality of item-receiving cavities for supporting frangible items. A cover portion has an item-covering concavity for covering the frangible items. A first hinge portion is positioned between a first longitudinal edge of the base portion and the cover portion for rotating the cover portion onto the base portion to hold the frangible items captive in the item-receiving cavities. The first hinge portion comprises a pair of longitudinal grooves formed into the first hinge portion and extending parallel to the first longitudinal edge of the base portion, with a web defined between the longitudinal grooves, and a hinge-reinforcement wall at least one end of the longitudinal grooves. A fold line is formed in the web and in the hinge-reinforcement wall when the cover portion is rotated onto the base portion.
US08695798B2	Case for electronic devices A mobile device case comprising separate inner and outer layers, wherein the inner layer comprises a flexible form-fit bumper that protects an electronic device installed therein without significantly covering the front and back of the device, and wherein the outer layer comprises a form-fit shell that interfaces with the inner bumper and extends on at least one face of the device excluding the front of the device.
US08695795B1	Interconnectable portable container systems A system used for organizing, storing, and transporting multimedia and related paperwork for use by, for example, a disc jockey. The interconnectable, portable container-system includes a box, with a top, bottom, back and two sides. It further includes accessories such as a large divider, and drawers and may be further divided by a small divider and mini dividers according to user's intended application of use. Boxes can be inter-connected for efficient storage and portability using the system described.
US08695794B2	Electronic cigarette container and method therefor An electronic cigarette container has a main body section having a hollow interior, the main body section having an open top end. A top cover is coupled to the main body section to cover the open top end. A holding mechanism is formed at a bottom end of the main body section to hold an electronic cigarette.
US08695790B2	Fastening system for a conveyor belt A fastening system for joining two ends of a conveyor belt segment includes an inhibiting surface for controlling movement of the ends relative to each other. The inhibiting surface is offset from an inner surface of a conveyor belt segment employing the fastening system and engages a surface of a corresponding conveyor belt segment to reduce tenting of the conveyor belt segment ends.
US08695789B2	Conveyor belt connector A conveyor belt connector has a plurality of wire hooks arranged in a pre-defined relationship. A strip shaped substrate has slots in which the loops of the wire hooks are received. The strip is shaped to completely cover the shanks of the wire hooks, and includes an adhesive layer on the interior side thereof in which the shanks of the wire hooks are imbedded prior to assembly on a conveyor belt to retain the same in their predefined relationship.
US08695788B2	Conveyor roller mounted via bearing pots The invention relates to a conveyor system (1) designed as a belt conveyor system and comprising a conveyor belt (5) that loops around the conveyor roller (2) at least partially, wherein the conveyor roller (2) is mounted on at least one side via a bearing pot (6) having, at least over a loop region of the conveyor belt (5) a radius substantially equal to or somewhat smaller than the radius of the conveyor roller (2) in the axial end region of the conveyor roller (2), wherein the conveyor belt (5) is wider than the length of the conveyor roller (2) in the axial direction and wherein the conveyor belt (5) is disposed on the conveyor roller (2) such that the gap (7) between the conveyor roller (2) and the bearing pot (6) is covered by the conveyor belt (5).
US08695787B2	Guide rail system A guide rail system for guiding containers in preselected positions on one or more conveyors. The guide rail system has inner and outer subsystems for locating the containers on the conveyor. The inner subsystem includes one or more offset adjustable point devices, each located at a preselected offset location adjacent to a straight segment of the conveyor and spaced apart from a boundary between it and a curved segment by a preselected distance. The inner subsystem also has one or more first and second transition rail portions, each mounted to said at least one offset adjustable point device, for engaging the containers as they are moved on the straight segment and the curved segment respectively. The first and second transition rail portions are positionable by the offset adjustable point device to locate the containers in the preselected positions.
US08695784B2	Chain conveyor apparatus There is provided a chain conveyor apparatus that realizes an accumulation operating environment that allows metallic articles to be readily and temporarily dammed up and retained at an accumulation position. Reduced power is required to operate the conveyor chain. Articles are attracted to and retained on the conveyor by using the magnetic force of magnet pieces. Attraction detaching pieces are built in rows of synthetic resin link modules to detach and release the articles. A projection driving mechanism is provided along a straight area on an inner circumferential side of the conveyor chain to project the attraction detaching pieces in and out of a loading surface of the rows of synthetic resin link modules.
US08695776B2	Bundle bill/check acceptor A bundle bill/check acceptor includes a bundle receiving module to receive a bundle of bills/checks. The bundle of bills/checks is separated on a leaf-by-leaf basis by a transfer module. The accepter further includes an alignment module to align the individual bill/check, an escrow module to escrow a plurality of bills/checks, and a reject module to discharge a rejected bill/check or a bill/check escrowed by the escrow module requested to cancel the deposit thereof to the bundle receiving module. A normal bill and check are separately received in a cassette unit.
US08695772B2	Torque converter apparatus A torque converter apparatus includes a torque converter, a lock-up clutch arranged between the torque converter and an engine, and a lock-up damper arranged between the torque converter and the lock-up clutch and connected to the lock-up clutch, the lock-up damper including a plurality of springs arranged at multiple stages and separated from each other in a radial direction of the torque converter, the lock-up clutch including an outer hub and an inner hub, the outer hub extending toward the lock-up damper and supporting one of first and second frictional engagement members engageable with each other, the outer hub extending toward a first space formed between the plurality of springs in the radial direction, the inner hub extending toward the engine and supporting the other of the first and second frictional engagement members.
US08695771B2	Lockup device and fluid type power transmitting device The object of the invention is to provide a lockup device that can improve a fuel efficiency of a vehicle. The lockup device (6) has a piston (61), an output plate (63), a first coil spring (65), an inertia member (64), and a second coil spring (66). The output plate (63) is coupled to a turbine (4) such that it can rotate as an integral unit with the turbine (4). The first coil spring (65) elastically couples the piston (61) to the output plate (63) in a rotational direction. The inertia member (64) is provided such that it can rotate relative to the output member (63). The second coil spring (66) elastically couples the inertia member (64) to the output plate (63) in a rotational direction.
US08695765B2	Shock absorber having resilient device in rebound chamber A shock absorber comprises a damping cylinder pressurized by a system pressure and divided by a piston into a compression chamber and a return chamber. A resilient device is disposed in the return chamber. The resilient device comprises a pressurizing member or pressurizing medium disposed in an inner volume that is delimited from the return chamber. The resilient device acts upon the damping medium volume in the return chamber such that the pressure initially during a compression stroke does not fall below a predetermined minimum pressure. As long as the pressure in the return chamber is less than the pressure created by the resilient device, the device is able to absorb energy. When the pressure in the return chamber is greater than the pressure created by the resilient device, the device becomes inflexible. The resilient device compensates for pressure reduction in the return chamber that occurs under rapid damping movements and that can cause cavitation during a compression stroke.
US08695762B1	Upright tree stand An upright tree stand includes a base pole section with a support pad, an intermediate pole section or sections, a lowermost one of which is connected to the base pole section by a knuckle hinge, and a top pole section. The top pole section is provided with a top securement assembly which utilizes a self-tapping screw and a remotely operable, dual-action ratchet wrench. The base pole section is initially secured to a tree. The intermediate pole section or sections and the top pole section are then swung, about the knuckle hinge, into an upright position. This movement is accomplished with sufficient force to embed the tip of the self-tapping screw into the tree. Operation of the dual-action ratchet wrench, remotely from the ground, will accomplish the positive securement of the top of the upright tree stand to the tree while the user remains safely on the ground.
US08695761B1	Cable-braced ladder tree stand A ladder tree stand for supporting a hunter at an elevated position, comprising a seating platform assembly, a ladder assembly, and a truss assembly. The seating platform is adapted for frictional engagement with a tree. The ladder assembly has an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end of the ladder assembly is supportingly connected to the platform. The truss assembly includes a flexible cable and a brace. The flexible cable has a first end connected to the ladder assembly near the upper end of the ladder assembly and a second end connected to the ladder assembly near the lower end of the ladder assembly The brace is connected to the ladder assembly and in engagement with the flexible cable to space an intermediate portion of the flexible cable from the ladder assembly for tensioning the flexible cable to thereby brace the ladder assembly against deflection.
US08695753B2	Mass loading for piston loudspeakers A diaphragm for a loudspeaker including a plurality of masses, each mass being substantially the same radial distance from the center of the diaphragm, the plurality of masses being divided into two arrays, each array including one or more individual masses, wherein, in use, at a selected frequency, the pair of arrays act to produce a dominant bending moment, and, the center of the diaphragm lies substantially on the axis of the dominant bending moment, wherein, the dominant bending moment is the bending moment produced by the combination of masses which has the greatest magnitude, if they produce more than one bending moment.
US08695747B2	Rear-wheel suspension for two-wheeled vehicle A rear-wheel suspension system for a two-wheeled vehicle capable of further reducing a vehicle width. An upper end of a coil spring of a shock absorber includes a tubular damper case, a rod connected to a piston disposed within the shock absorber and protrusively provided to be capable of making strokes with respect to the tubular damper case and an external hydraulic sub-tank positioned to be lower than an upper end of the shock absorber. Vehicle body component parts include a connecting tube and the sub-tank disposed to be close to the shock absorber above the coil spring.
US08695742B2	Vehicle A vehicle includes a body outer panel; a battery; a second seat including a seatback; a seatbelt apparatus including a webbing; and a side trim positioned behind the seatback of the second seat in a vehicle front-rear direction. The side trim includes an insertion opening through which the webbing of the seatbelt apparatus is inserted, an exhaust opening through which exhaust air after cooling the battery is discharged into a space between the side trim and the body outer panel, and an inlet opening which is positioned behind the insertion opening in the vehicle front-rear direction, and through which the exhaust air in the space is drawn into a vehicle room.
US08695740B1	Vehicle traction battery ventilation control A vehicle having a traction battery disposed within a battery housing is provided. The battery housing is in selective fluid communication with the cabin of the vehicle. An accessory battery separate and distinct from the traction battery is also provided. A closeable barrier system is electrically connected with the accessory battery and is configured to fluidly isolate the battery housing from the cabin when closed. At least one controller is configured to, in response to a trigger condition, disable the traction battery and increase an output of the accessory battery to close the barrier system to isolate gas in the battery housing from the cabin.
US08695739B2	Modular auxiliary power unit assembly for an electric vehicle A system and method for a propulsion system includes an electric motor and an energy storage unit configured to supply a primary power to the electric motor. The propulsion system also includes a plurality of auxiliary power units (APUs) configured to supply a secondary power to at least one of the electric motor and the energy storage unit. Each of the plurality of APUs includes a free-piston engine configured to generate a mechanical output, a linear generator configured to transform the mechanical output to an electrical power, and a controller. The controller receives a power command from the electric motor and/or the energy storage unit, determines an amount of secondary power needed to meet the power command, and selectively activates a number of the plurality of APUs to generate the needed amount of secondary power.
US08695738B2	Constant-ratio independent series-parallel hybrid drivetrain for a plug-in electric vehicle A drivetrain for a plug-in hybrid vehicle which uses constant gear ratios, rather than any type of multi-gear transmission (traditional transmission gears or CVT) to power the driven wheels in order to increase drivetrain efficiency. A transmission is not a necessary drivetrain component for vehicles with an electric motor/generator (EMG). The EMG is the only mechanical power source until highway speeds are achieved. At that time, the driver may choose to activate and engage the small internal combustion engine (ICE) and the EMG is usually electrically disconnected so that it does not regeneratively charge the vehicle batteries using the power created by the ICE. Constant gear ratios may be achieved by a mechanical gearing system or by a belt drive system. This drivetrain is only for plug-in hybrid vehicles where the batteries are primarily charged by AC electrical outlet or solar (photovoltaic) cells.
US08695736B1	Bin moving assembly A bin moving assembly is provided for tipping and moving upright wheeled recycling bins. The assembly includes a jack and a pair of wheels coupled to the jack. A fork is coupled to and extends from the jack. The jack selectively extends the fork upwardly whereby the fork is configured for engaging and tipping an upright wheeled recycling bin. A handle is coupled to the jack to facilitate moving the jack when the fork engages the bin whereby the bin is moved with the jack.
US08695734B2	Driving and steering of motor vehicles An arrangement and a method are disclosed for driving and steering an engine driven vehicle of the type m which left and right hand wheels 120L, 120R are respectively driven from the engine through left and right hand transmissions 122L, 122R and a steering effect is exerted by changing the ratio of one transmission relative to the other. According to the invention a follower is operatively coupled to at least one of the transmissions and is movable circumferentially about an axis by means of a driver actuable steering control to change the relative speeds of the two driven wheels and radially with respect to the axis by means of a driver actuable speed control to increase/decrease the speeds of the two driven wheels in unison.
US08695731B2	Drilling system A drilling system comprising a rotatable drill pipe 12 connected to a tractor unit 10, and a steerable drilling system 18, 20, 22, connected to and movable by the tractor unit 10.
US08695727B2	Drill string adapter and method for inground signal coupling A coupling adapter is insertable in at least one joint of a drill string as the drill string is extended from a drill rig. The coupling adapter includes an arrangement for receiving a data signal that is generated by an inground tool and for electromagnetically coupling the data signal onto at least a portion of the drill string that extends from the adapter to the drill rig such that at least some of the drill pipe sections cooperate as an electrical conductor for carrying the data signal to the drill rig. In another feature, a current transformer is resiliently supported to isolate the current transformer from mechanical shock and vibration that is produced by an inground operation that is performed using the drill string. In another feature, a drill string repeater is described.
US08695726B2	Electric motor driven tool for orthopedic impacting An orthopedic impacting tool comprises a motor, a linear motion converter, an air chamber, a compression piston, an impacting element, an anvil element, and a broach adapter. The compression piston may cause the impacting element to apply controlled force on a broach adapter to create a precise opening for subsequently disposing a prosthesis in a patient. The tool may further comprise a detent for holding the impacting element in a position until a sufficient pressure is applied to release the impacting element. The tool allows forward or backward impacting for expanding the size or volume of the opening or for facilitating removal of the broach and tool from the opening. A force adjustment control of the tool allows a user to increase or decrease the impact force. A light source and hand grips improve ease of operation of the tool.
US08695721B2	Agricultural machine with associated wheel and roller enabling furrow creation An agricultural machine having a first frame and a roller with a tube mounted about a first axis. A second frame is connected to the first frame and a wheel, which includes a rim mounted about a second axis. The wheel has a tire and the roller has a covering around the tube. The covering and the tire tread have moldings defining a pattern element repeated in a transverse direction parallel to the first axis and to the second axis, respectively. The pitch of transverse repeat of the pattern element of the roller and the pitch of transverse repeat of the pattern element of the wheel are equal to the nearest 10%. The pattern elements define ribs the height of which on the roller and the height of which on the wheel are equal to the nearest 90%.
US08695714B2	Easy drill slip with degradable materials Slip elements for a bridge plug include an inner body portion that is substantially formed of a material that is degradable by dissolution in response to a dissolving fluid and a hardened, resilient, radially outer contact portion. The outer contact portion includes a plurality of openings that function as stress risers. The inner body portion may be formed of magnesium powder.
US08695711B2	Subsea well containment and intervention apparatus A subsea well containment and intervention apparatus. The invention provides a rigid frame that includes a set of pilings for securely affixing the apparatus to the seafloor. Buoyancy modules included in the frame make the weight of the invention more manageable when in the water. Lifting eyes are provided on the frame for installation and removal. A series of tools are attached to the frame to eliminate the need for frequent trips to the surface to replace and replenish.
US08695704B2	Controlled release breaker composition for oil field applications The present invention relates to encapsulated breakers and the use of encapsulated breakers for breaking viscosified treatment fluids. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of providing a viscosified treatment fluid having a first viscosity having a gelling agent, a crosslinking agent, a proppant, an aqueous-base fluid, and an encapsulated breaker composition having an encapsulant that has a poly(meth)acrylate blend; introducing the viscosified treatment fluid in the subterranean formation; creating or enhancing a fracture in a subterranean formation; and allowing the encapsulated breaker composition to release the breaker so as to reduce the viscosity of the viscosified treatment fluid to a second viscosity.
US08695702B2	Diaxial power transmission line for continuous dipole antenna A dipole antenna may be created by surrounding a portion of the continuous conductor with a nonconductive magnetic bead, and then applying a power source to the continuous conductor across the nonconductive magnetic bead. The nonconductive magnetic bead creates a driving discontinuity without requiring a break or gap in the conductor. The power source may be connected or applied to the continuous conductor using a variety of preferably shielded configurations, including a coaxial or twin-axial inset or offset feed, a triaxial inset feed, or a diaxial offset feed. A second nonconductive magnetic bead may be positioned to surround a second portion of the continuous conductor to effectively create two nearly equal length dipole antenna sections on either side of the first nonconductive magnetic bead. The nonconductive magnetic beads may be comprised of various nonconductive magnetic materials, and preformed for installation around the conductor, or injected around the conductor in subsurface applications. Electromagnetic heating of hydrocarbon ores may be accomplished.
US08695699B2	Downhole release joint with radially expandable member An apparatus comprises an expansion device that is coupled to a support member and operable to be disposed within a tubular member. The expansion device is operable to radially expand the tubular member as the expansion device moves axially through the tubular member. A latch assembly is coupled to the support member and is operable to engage a corresponding latch receptacle disposed within the tubular member so as to limit the axial movement of the expansion device relative to the tubular member.
US08695696B2	Jar with improved valve A jar comprises an outer housing; an inner mandrel within the outer housing to define a fluid chamber; a valve disposed within the fluid chamber with a restriction surface facing, during setting, a cooperating restriction surface on the outer housing and a pressure surface facing the inner mandrel, the valve movable between a seated position and an unseated position; the cooperating restriction surface cooperating with the restriction surface to set the jar for a jar in a first direction; the pressure surface being exposed to fluid within the fluid chamber when the jar is set and pressuring up for a jar in the first direction; the pressure surface being indented to cause uneven radial movement, in a plane perpendicular to a jar axis, of the restriction surface towards the cooperating restriction surface when the jar is set and pressuring up for a jar in the first direction; and jarring surfaces.
US08695688B2	Nubbed U-bend tube support A self-supporting system for positioning and restraining the U-bend tubes in the U-bend region of a nuclear steam generator includes arrays incorporating unique support bars having nubs projecting in the out-of-plane direction of the tube planes. The system also includes assemblies for spacing the arrays, tie bars to prevent the arrays from splaying and saddle bar assemblies to support the outermost tube layers. The system provides positive restraint to nub engaged tubes in both the in-plane direction of the tube planes and the out-of-plane direction.
US08695687B2	Hybrid pin-fin micro heat pipe heat sink and method of fabrication A hybrid pin-fin micro heat pipe heat sink consists of a plurality of heat pipes secured to a base. The heat pipes have a generally hollow cross-section which transitions from a first cross-sectional shape (e.g., circular) to a second cross-sectional shape (e.g., triangular). A heat transfer medium (e.g., saturated steam) is sealed within the heat pipes. Cooling plates may be disposed over the base with the heat pipes in physical contact with and passing through the cooling plates. The method of manufacturing the heat pipes consists of passing a heat transfer medium through a pipe section having a first cross-sectional shape while transitioning to a second cross-sectional shape (e.g., by way of a rolling die press), then crimping the ends closed to seal the heat transfer medium therein.
US08695685B2	Method and device for producing steel strips by means of belt casting A method and a device for producing steel strips by belt casting, wherein a molten metal is output from a feed vessel onto a circulating casting belt of a horizontal belt casting system under protective gas by a gutter and a siphon-like outlet area designed as a casting nozzle. At least one plasma jet, which renders the area of action inert and heats the area of action, influences the outlet-side area of the casting nozzle and the molten metal exiting therefrom at least during the casting process. For this purpose, at least one plasma torch, which produces a plasma jet and is directed at the outlet area of the casting nozzle in a direction opposite the casting direction, is provided.
US08695684B2	Method for preparing aluminum—zirconium—titanium—carbon intermediate alloy The present invention discloses a method for producing an aluminum-zirconium-titanium-carbon (Al—Zr—Ti—C) intermediate alloy; the Al—Zr—Ti—C intermediate alloy comprises 0.01% to 10% Zr, 0.01% to 10% Ti, 0.01% to 0.3% C, and Al in balance; the producing method comprising the steps of: preparing commercially pure aluminum, zirconium, titanium, and graphite material according to the weight percentages of the aluminum-zirconium-titanium-carbon intermediate alloy; the graphite powder is subjected to the following treatments: being added to the aqueous solution of KF, NaF, K2ZrF6, K2TiF6 or the combination thereof, soaked for 12 to 72 hours, filtrated or centrifuged, and dried at 80° C. to 200° C. for 12 to 24 hours; melting the commercially pure aluminum and keeping it at 700° C. to 900° C. to provide aluminum liquid, in which the prepared zirconium, the titanium and the treated graphite powder are added and melted to provide an alloy solution; and keeping the alloys solution at 700° C. to 900° C. under agitation and performing casting molding. The present method produces a high-quality Al—Zr—Ti—C intermediate alloy in low cost.
US08695683B2	Cast features for a turbine engine airfoil An airfoil for a turbine engine includes a structure having a cooling passage that has a generally radially extending cooling passageway arranged interiorly relative to an exterior surface of the structure. The cooling passageway includes multiple cooling slots extending there from toward the exterior surface and interconnected by a radially extending trench. The trench breaks the exterior surface, and the exterior surface provides the lateral walls of the trench. The airfoil is manufactured by providing a core having multiple generally axially extending tabs and a generally radially extending ligament interconnecting the tabs. The structure is formed about the core to provide the airfoil with its exterior surface. The ligament breaks the exterior surface to form the radially extending trench in the exterior surface of the structure.
US08695681B2	System for operating and positioning a roller shade A system for operating and positioning a roller shade may include a roller shade clutch and an idler which are mounted to a bracket for attachment to a structure. The bracket may include a mounting plate and a wall or ceiling engaging member mounted to the mounting plate. The roller shade clutch or idler may be releasably coupled to attachment member of the bracket by a locking device. The locking device may comprise an insert having a body portion, a first end that is configured to be secured within a recess formed in a rear facing surface of the clutch, and a second end that is configured to remain extending at least partially beyond the rear surface of the clutch and to be secured by engagement with a slot formed in the bracket.
US08695680B2	Disabling device for window treatment A device for disabling a window treatment operated by a cord includes at least one member with a gear engaging the cord. When the cord is not tensioned correctly, the gear of the member intermeshes with teeth on another member impeding movement of the cord along its length. In one embodiment, two gears engage different sections of the cord and intermesh with each other. In another embodiment, a stationary member intermeshes with the gear of member selectively pivoted by the cord in accordance with the tension on the cord.
US08695675B2	Cargo screen structure A cargo screen structure may include a housing mounted at an upper portion of a vehicle luggage room in a horizontal direction, a shaft rotatably provided in the housing, a screen provided on an outer peripheral surface of the shaft and wound and unwound from the housing, and a switch provided in the housing and set to be turned on/off according to a winding amount of the screen around the outer peripheral surface of the shaft.
US08695674B2	Roller platform for tire inflation cage A roller platform for use in a tire inflation cage includes a frame and at least one roller assembly and facilitates the rotation of a rim-wheel within the tire inflation cage. The roller platform includes a frame having members that are spaced so that the tire stop on a tire inflation cage fits between the frame members. The roller platform includes cross members that are spaced so that the cross members fit between adjacent bars of a tire inflation cage and so a bar fits between the cross members.
US08695671B2	Prepreg lamination head and prepreg automatic lamination device equipped with same A prepreg lamination head and a prepreg automatic lamination apparatus with the same is provided. By using them, the curling-up of the cut terminal portion of the prepreg sheet can be prevented. The prepreg lamination head includes: a first roller, a second roller, and a forward-placed paper liner peeling device. The forward-placed paper liner peeling device includes a third roller, which is provided between and above the first and second rollers. The paper liner attached on the first side of the prepreg sheet is peeled off right after passing the first roller. The peeled paper liner is hanged over the third roller between the first and second rollers. The third roller guides the peeled paper liner to the second roller. The prepreg sheet is pressed on the laminated body with the second roller through the paper liner.
US08695670B2	Label sheet and label sheet manufacturing device A label and label attaching device for attaching a label onto a backing sheet. The label has a protruding apex portion, side surfaces defined when the label is folded at the apex and end portions at the outer base ends of the side surfaces. A label sheet is formed by temporarily attaching labels to a backing sheet. Prior to attachment, an intermediate portion of the label protrudes from its back surface to its front surface in a folded chevron shape. Outer end portions of the side surfaces project out from the side surfaces and the outer end portions are temporarily attached to the backing sheet with the folded portion protruding. The attaching device has two divided bodies to which the outer end portions are temporarily attracted. The divided bodies are movable together and apart to define the folded label. Then the label holding unit moves the folded label to an attaching position on the backing sheet which is moving past.
US08695668B2	Tire comprising a bielastic reinforcing element The invention relates to a tire comprising at least one, and preferably at least two, reinforcing structures of the carcass type, one inner one and one outer one, possibly one or more crown reinforcing structures, at least one circumferential bielastic reinforcing element consisting of a bielastic fabric in which the said fabric used is a bielastic knit, namely a loop mesh fabric the mesh-forming loops of which are able to move relative to one another in the direction of knitting and in the direction perpendicular to the direction of knitting, the said bielastic reinforcement being positioned in such a way as to run substantially parallel along a portion of a reinforcing structure.
US08695663B2	Tire component containing syndiotactic-1,2-polybutadiene The invention relates to a pneumatic tire with a component containing syndiotactic polybutadiene. The invention particularly relates to a tire with a tread configured with an outer cap rubber layer and an internal underlying rubber layer where the underlying rubber layer is comprised of such syndiotactic polybutadiene-containing rubber composition or a tire with a sidewall apex of such syndiotactic polybutadiene-containing rubber composition.
US08695662B2	Truck tire with rubber tread This invention relates to a tire with a circumferential rubber tread comprised of a rubber composition for promotion of reduced internal heat build-up. The invention particularly relates to truck tires.
US08695657B2	Pneumatic tire A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion; three or more circumferential direction grooves; width direction grooves; and lines of land portions. When a tread center area and tread shoulder areas are sectioned at centerlines of the circumferential direction grooves in outermost sides in the tire width direction, a ratio G=(A+B)/X of a sum A+B of a groove area A of the circumferential direction grooves and a groove area B of the width direction grooves to a contact area X of the tread portion is in a range of G≦0.25, a ratio S=B/(A+B) of the groove area B to the sum A+B is in a range of 0.25
US08695649B2	Portion measuring and dispensing device A portion measuring and dispensing device comprises a chamber, a handle and a hingeable lid. The chamber comprises a bottom, a side structure attached to the bottom, and an aperture opposite of the bottom. The handle comprises a body defining a longitudinal channel with a first end opening to the chamber and a second end opening at a distal point on the handle. The second end is proportioned to be received within a mouth of a bottle.
US08695648B2	Fuel pump nozzle The subject matter of the invention is a fuel pump nozzle, with an inlet (2), a discharge pipe (3), a main valve for controlling the stream of liquid between the inlet (2) and discharge pipe (3), a switching lever (4) for actuating the main valve, a first automatic safety shut-off which moves the main valve into the closed position if the liquid level in a tank to be filled reaches a filling level sensor arranged in the region of the discharge pipe (3), a second automatic safety shut-off which moves the main valve into the closed position if the liquid pressure at the inlet (2) drops below a minimum value, and a mechanism (13) for prestressing the main valve into the closed position, said mechanism bringing about a variable opening cross section of the main valve depending on the liquid pressure at the inlet (2). According to the invention, the main valve is pressed into the closed position in a tilted manner under the action of the mechanism for prestressing the main valve into the closed position in the full hose mode such that the tightness of said main valve is reduced.
US08695647B2	Cam apparatus for a beverage filling assembly A beverage filling assembly and a cam apparatus for a beverage filling machine is disclosed. A cam housing defines a first aperture along a central axis and a second aperture transverse to the central axis with a filling valve aligned with the second aperture. The cam member is rotatably disposed in the first aperture and includes a shaft portion and an eccentric portion aligning with the filling valve. A lever is connected to the cam member for concurrent movement with the cam member. A bearing sleeve defines an orifice for receiving the shaft portion. The bearing sleeve is formed of a self-lubricating material for preventing frictional engagement between the cam housing and the shaft portion. The bearing sleeve includes a flange adjacent the cam housing for preventing movement of the bearing sleeve axially along the central axis during operation. The bearing sleeve is removable from the shaft portion during servicing.
US08695645B2	Fuel transfer system and method of using with off-road or sport/recreational vehicles A fuel transfer system and a method of using said system by an operator in transferring fuel from a fuel tank or fuel line of an off-road or sport/recreational vehicle to the fuel tank of a second vehicle, the fuel tank of auxiliary equipment or to some other reservoir is provided. The fuel transfer system generally comprises a fuel transfer fitting, a flexible conduit, and a nozzle.
US08695641B2	Multilayer microfluidic probe head and method of fabrication thereof A microfluidic probe head includes a first layer, a second layer, and a first tubing port extending from an upper face of the first layer. The first layer has a first via, enabling fluid communication between the first port and a lower face of the first layer. The second layer includes a first aperture on a face, and a first microchannel enabling fluid communication between an upper face of the second layer, facing the lower face of the first layer, and the first aperture. The head enables fluid communication between the first via and the first microchannel. At least a portion of the first microchannel is a groove open on the upper face of the second layer, closed by a portion of a lower face of a layer of the head. The probe head further comprises a second tubing port, a second via, a second aperture and a second microchannel.
US08695640B2	Microfabricated elastomeric valve and pump systems A method of fabricating an elastomeric structure, comprising: forming a first elastomeric layer on top of a first micromachined mold, the first micromachined mold having a first raised protrusion which forms a first recess extending along a bottom surface of the first elastomeric layer; forming a second elastomeric layer on top of a second micromachined mold, the second micromachined mold having a second raised protrusion which forms a second recess extending along a bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer; bonding the bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer onto a top surface of the first elastomeric layer such that a control channel forms in the second recess between the first and second elastomeric layers; and positioning the first elastomeric layer on top of a planar substrate such that a flow channel forms in the first recess between the first elastomeric layer and the planar substrate.
US08695639B2	Multilayer microfluidic probe head and method of fabrication thereof A micro fluidic probe head includes a first layer, a second layer, and a first tubing port extending from an upper face of the first layer. The first layer has a first via, enabling fluid communication between the first port and a lower face of the first layer. The second layer includes a first aperture on a face, and a first microchannel enabling fluid communication between an upper face of the second layer, facing the lower face of the first layer, and the first aperture. The head enables fluid communication between the first via and the first microchannel. At least a portion of the first microchannel is a groove open on the upper face of the second layer, closed by a portion of a lower face of a layer of the head. The probe head further comprises a second tubing port, a second via, a second aperture and a second micro channel.
US08695638B2	Valve A valve includes a generally cylindrical housing including first and second end portions that are offset from each other along a longitudinal axis of the generally cylindrical housing. First and second inlet ports are arranged on one of said first or second end portions, and at least one outlet port is arranged on one of said first or second end portions. A disk is disposed in the generally cylindrical housing and is configured to independently control both mixing and flow rate of fluid flowing into at least one of the first and second inlet ports.
US08695637B2	Gate valve pressure equalization system Embodiments of a gate valve equalization system comprise: a gate valve; a gate; a preloading valve arrangement; a floating coupler assembly; a relief valve arrangement; and a means for control. The preloading valve arrangement permits fluid to enter the valve body from the upstream side of the gate. The means for control serves as a control interface allowing engagement of the floating coupler assembly and opening/closing of the gate valve. Engagement of the floating coupler, engages the assembly relief valve arrangement and allows redistribution of fluid pressure and circulation of fluid from one side of the gate to opposing side of the gate within the gate valve.
US08695636B2	One piece double membrane diaphragm valve A one piece double membrane diaphragm including an upper (308) and lower diaphragm membrane (310) joined together by a central section (312) is provided. The upper diaphragm membrane (308) seals against a top sealing surface (222) when the diaphragm is in a first position. The lower diaphragm membrane (310) seals against a bottom sealing surface (224) when the diaphragm is in a second position. The diaphragm may also be made from a resilient material and shaped in such a way as to create a spring force holding the diaphragm into a default position in the valve.
US08695632B2	Underground brine generating system A brine generating system is disclosed for use with an underground storage tank, the system including a main salt delivery channel that branches into two horizontal feed lines through a reducer to deliver salt under pressure to the bottom of the storage tank in a generally equal distribution along the tank floor. The salt distribution system can be combined with a water distribution system to ensure delivery of water at the location of the salt deposits along the tank floor.
US08695627B2	Stand for pressure relief valve A frame for supporting a pressure relief valve located within a frac line connected to high pressure pumps on frac trucks. A metallic base is formed from rectangular tubing in the shape of a box. Saddles on the base support a tee on the lower portion of the relief valve. Brace links are connected at one end to the corners of the metallic base and swivel about clevises to allow access to the pressure relief valve. The other end of the brace links connect to clevises on a flange when assembled. The flange is rigidly connected to an upper portion of the relief valve to stabilize the assembly. Lifting loops on the flange allow the frame to be lifted during assembly.
US08695626B2	Systems and methods for valve insertion and linestopping The present embodiments provide systems and methods for valve insertion and linestopping. In one embodiment, the system comprises a sealing housing having a lower housing portion and an upper housing portion that are each dimensioned to partially surround an exterior surface of an existing pipe in an airtight state. In one embodiment, an integral valve assembly is disposed at least partially within an integral valve housing section of the upper housing portion. The integral valve assembly comprises a valve movable between an open position in which the valve provides an open pathway through an opening in the upper housing portion, and a closed position in which the valve provides a seal adjacent to the opening. The upper housing portion may be adapted to selectively receive each of an adapter plate for a cutting machine, a valve bonnet, and a blind flange. Optionally, the valve bonnet and the gate may be removed from engagement with the upper housing portion when the valve of the integral valve assembly is in the closed position, and a blind flange may be secured to the upper housing portion after the valve bonnet and the gate are removed. Therefore, the user advantageously has an option of whether to leave the valve bonnet and the gate coupled to the sealing housing for certain applications, or may remove the valve bonnet and the gate for other applications.
US08695624B2	Multi-way valve and method of producing same The present invention relates to a multi-way valve for use in medicine or medical technology, having at least one basic housing through which a medium can flow in sections, and having an actuator which is held in said basic housing so as to be rotatable about a central axis, wherein the basic housing has at least two connection points for the inflow and outflow of the medium and forms an actuator receptacle which has a peg arranged concentrically with respect to the central axis and which has, on the inner side of the basic housing, a radially encircling cutout, and wherein the actuator has a control element, a substantially hollow cylindrical section which receives the peg of the actuator receptacle at least in sections, at least one throughflow opening for the fluidic connection between two connection points, and at least one radially encircling molding on the outer side of the cylindrical section, and wherein the peg of the actuator receptacle has at least one counterbearing for the actuator to form a sealing surface in the region of at least one connection point. The invention is characterized in that the peg has at least one flattened portion on the circumference relative to the central axis, and the molding of the actuator engages into the cutout of the actuator receptacle in order to fix the actuator in the actuator receptacle in a positively locking and fluid-tight manner.
US08695620B2	Method of monitoring wear in a diaphragm valve using pressure detection A flush valve for a waste water system comprises a valve including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a main valve element adapted for movement to allow fluid flow between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet based on a pressure differential across a portion of the main valve element. The valve also includes a vent system comprising a control chamber in flow communication with the fluid inlet of the valve and a vent outlet in flow communication with the fluid outlet of the valve, and a solenoid for venting fluid venting fluid from the control chamber to the fluid outlet. A pressure sensor, such as an electronic pressure transducer, senses the fluid pressure of fluid within the vent system. When a predetermined pressure threshold is reached or exceeded, the solenoid can be energized to release fluid from the control chamber.
US08695617B2	Handle assembly for cane The present disclosure relates to a cane with a novel handle assembly. The handle assembly includes, among other components, an inner frame, an outer cover, and a resilient filler that is positioned between the inner frame and the outer cover to provide the handle assembly with a measure of resiliency to increase the user's comfort during use. In one embodiment of the disclosure, it is envisioned that the handle assembly may include a fluorescent material to facilitate location of the cane in poorly lit, or dim, areas.
US08695613B2	External device for cleaning filtration material and adapted for application to filtration device An external device for cleaning a filtration material and adapted for application to a filtration device, in which the filtration material can be automatically cleaned easily and at low cost without requiring replacement of an existing filtration device with a newly purchased device. An external device for cleaning a filtration material is applied to a filtration device for filtering a supplied unfiltered liquid by layers of a filtration material to remove muddiness in the liquid and discharging the cleaned liquid to the outside. The cleaning device has an upstanding outer tube, a screw conveyor rotatably placed in the outer tube and transferring the filtration material upward from the lower end to the upper end of the outer tube while rub-washing the filtration material, a drive section for rotationally driving the screw conveyor, a control section for controlling rotation of the drive section, an introduction tube that introduces the filtration material into the outer tube, and a discharge tube for discharging the filtration material, having been rub-washed, into a filtration container from the inside of the outer tube.
US08695611B2	Dual tip oral care implement A disposable oral care implement that provides various oral care functions in a compact form is disclosed therein. The disposable oral care implement includes a body, a polishing block attached to a first end of the body, and one or more oral care tools coupled to a second end of the body. The one or more oral care tools may include a tongue scrapper, an inter-dental pick, a brush, a floss holder, and/or a gum stimulator. The body of the disposable oral care implement may be formed by injection molding. The oral care tool may be formed on the second end of the body by over-molding while the polishing block may be attached to the first end of the body by way of press-fit.
US08695610B2	Method of applying makeup and apparatus for implementing such a method A method of making up the skin or the lips, the method including measuring at least one optical characteristic at least one location of the skin or the lips; and automatically forming on the skin or lips a deposit that has an optical characteristic that varies and that corresponds substantially at said location, to the measured optical characteristic.
US08695608B2	Apparatus for cutting and storing a cigarette An apparatus has a housing that has a first section and a second section. The first section has a first compartment for storing a cigarette and a second compartment for containing a cutting device having a blade. The first compartment is sealed from the second compartment. A slide button on the housing allows the user to move the cutting device within the second compartment. The second section has an opening and a hollow interior that are sized to allow a user to insert a portion of a cigarette through the opening and into the hollow interior. A user inserts the used portion of a cigarette into the opening and hollow interior and then uses the slide button to move the blade into the hollow interior to cut off the used portion of the cigarette. The user then places the remaining portion of the cigarette in the first compartment.
US08695603B2	Face mask with truncated nosepiece A face mask which has a fabric body of folded filter material that defines an expandable face pocket, an interior face, an exterior face, a top edge, a bottom edge and opposed side edges. A bendable strip of metal defines a nosepiece that is centrally positioned between the opposed side edges along the top edge. The nosepiece has a length that is not less than 3.50 cm and not more than 6.00 cm, and a width that is not less than 0.30 cm and not more than 2.00 cm. Straps are used to secure the fabric body to a person's head.
US08695602B2	Corrugated flexible seal of a ventilation mask A ventilation mask comprises a corrugated flexible seal, and a plurality of ridges disposed along the corrugated flexible seal. The corrugated flexible seal is configured for establishing a fluid seal between the ventilation mask and a patient, and for allowing facial movements of the patient while maintaining the fluid seal. The plurality of ridges disposed along the corrugated flexible seal is configured for physical contact with the patient.
US08695598B2	Cockpit oxygen breathing device The invention relates to an oxygen breathing device, in particular for cockpit crew member of an aircraft, comprising a pressurized oxygen source for storing pressurized oxygen, an oxygen mask, adapted to fit to nose and mouth of a person to be supplied with oxygen from the pressurized oxygen source, an oxygen supply line connecting the pressurized oxygen source with the oxygen mask, a pressure regulator/safety valve coupled in the oxygen supply line to selectively open or shut off oxygen flow from the pressurized oxygen source to the oxygen mask and/or to control pressure of said oxygen supplied to the oxygen mask. According to the invention, such oxygen breathing device is improved by having a pneumatic seal adapted to pneumatically seal the pressurized oxygen source in a non-use condition, an opening device adapted to open the pneumatic seal in case of an emergency situation requiring oxygen supply to the person, a change over valve adapted to selectively supply oxygen from the pressurized oxygen source or pressurized air from a pressurized air source to the oxygen mask.
US08695596B2	Weaning from ventilation using capnography Devices and systems for monitoring weaning of a subject from a respiratory ventilator including a processing logic configured to characterize distinct patterns in a series of CO2 waveforms, the distinct patterns indicative of the effectiveness of a weaning process; and to provide an indication relating to the effectiveness of the weaning process.
US08695594B2	System and method of automated lung recruitment maneuvers A method of providing a recruitment procedure to a patient includes monitoring at least one derecruitment event. A score is calculated for the at least one derecruitment event. A derecruitment score is aggregated. The derecruitment score is compared to a recruitment threshold. A ventilator is operated with the processor to perform a recruitment procedure. A system for providing mechanical ventilation to a patient includes a mechanical ventilator configured for pneumatic connection to a patient in order to deliver medical gas to the patient. A peripheral system is configured to provide medical assistance to the patient and the peripheral system produces a signal indicative of the operation of the peripheral system. A processor is communicatively connected to the mechanical ventilator in the peripheral system. The processor receives the signal from the peripheral system and calculates a first score from the signal. The processor aggregates the first score into a derecruitment score and compares the derecruitment score to a predetermined threshold. The processor operates the mechanical ventilator to provide a recruitment procedure to the patient.
US08695593B2	Weaning and decision support system for mechanical ventilation A system for mechanical ventilation treatment is described. In one embodiment the system provides advice on treatment and/or weaning of patients from mechanical ventilation based on the patient's conditions. In another embodiment the system includes apparatus to monitor and analyze the patient's data and data from the mechanical ventilator and controls the ventilator automatically.
US08695586B2	Solar collector and solar heating system using same A solar collector includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the upper surface, a sidewall, a transparent cover, and a heat-absorbing layer. The sidewall is arranged on the top surface of the substrate. The transparent cover is disposed on the sidewall opposite to the substrate to form a sealed chamber with the substrate together. The heat-absorbing layer is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate and includes a carbon nanotube film having a plurality of carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube film are entangled with each other.
US08695584B2	Oven, especially domestic oven The invention relates to a domestic oven (1), having a cavity (2) and a carrier structure (3, 4) connected with the cavity (2), wherein the carrier structure (3, 4) comprises at least two side panels (3) arranged in the side regions (5) of the oven (1) and a component plate (4), wherein the component plate (4) is connected with the side panels (3), wherein the side panels (3) extend in vertical direction (V) and in a first horizontal direction (H) and wherein the component plate (4) extends in a horizontal transverse direction (T) perpendicular to the first horizontal direction (H). To eliminate tensions in the carrier structure due to thermal expansion in an easy and cheap way, the invention is characterized in that the component plate (4) has at least one carrier extension (6) extending in transverse direction (T) which extends in a corresponding first opening (7) with at least one bearing surface (8) in the side panel (3), so that a relative movement in transverse direction (T) is allowed between the side panel (3) and the component plate (4).
US08695582B1	Supporting assembly for portable stove A supporting assembly includes a base installed a portable stove and having extending portions. A plurality of connecting members is pivotally connected with the extending portions. Each of the connecting members includes a connecting wall, first and second jaw portions respectively extending from two opposite distal ends of the connecting wall. A plurality of first supporting members is pivotally connected with the first jaw portions. Each of the first supporting members includes a first supporting portion. A plurality of second supporting members is pivotally connected with the second jaw portions. Each of the second supporting members includes a second supporting portion. The supporting assembly is transformable from a folded storage position to an operative position. The first supporting portions are able to support a cooking vessel thereon. The second supporting portions support the supporting assembly on a supportive substrate.
US08695576B2	Temporary projectile retaining apparatus and related methods The present invention describes a slingshot apparatus having a pouch or similar type device, and/or wrist support/brace that is capable of temporarily retaining an object prior to launching the object. The slingshot assembly preferably includes a frame member, a pouch, and energy-storing and releasing members acting between the frame member and the pouch. In one embodiment, the pouch and/or wrist support preferably includes a magnetic force element capable of attracting an object to the pouch prior to launch of the object or projectile by the slingshot apparatus. Alternatively, the object to be launched includes a magnetic force element capable of attracting the pouch and/or wrist support prior to launch of the object by the slingshot apparatus. Related methods are described.
US08695571B2	Fluid pressure regulation apparatus and fuel supply apparatus To provide a fluid pressure regulation apparatus and a fuel supply apparatus which are compact in arrangement and simple in construction, a pressure regulator includes a housing, a pressure adjustment member constituted by a partition wall forming together with the housing a pressure adjustment member held in communication with a fluid introduction opening and having the pressure adjustment chamber brought into communication with a fluid discharge opening in response to the pressure of fluid in the pressure adjustment chamber. The pressure regulator is capable of adjusting the fluid pressure in the pressure adjustment chamber to a preliminarily set pressure, and has one surface side thereof forming an area of a pressure receiving range receiving the fluid pressure, the area being variably set and the set pressure being varied in response to the area of the pressure receiving range.
US08695570B2	Fuel distributor system for a motor vehicle, and method of manufacturing a fuel distributor system A fuel distributor system for a motor vehicle includes a fuel pipe having an interior space, and at least one receiving tube for receiving an injector. The receiving tube is arranged on the fuel pipe and configured to project into the interior space of the fuel pipe. The receiving tube has an end face formed with an opening for introduction of fuel, and includes a first portion which is arranged in the interior space of the fuel pipe, and a second portion which is arranged outside the fuel pipe. The first portion has an axial dimension which is greater than an axial dimension of the second portion of the receiving tube.
US08695569B2	Vehicle burner A vehicle burner (6) for heating a gas flow (14) in a motor vehicle is provided with a fuel pump (10) for delivering a fuel to an injection nozzle (11) that can be actuated for injecting the fuel into a combustion chamber (7), with an air delivery device (16) for delivering air to the combustion chamber (7), with a control (17) for operating the. A vehicle burner (6), which is coupled with the fuel pump (10), with the air delivery and/or air regulating device (16) and with the injection nozzle (11). Burner waste gas, which is generated during the operation of the. A vehicle burner (6) by the reaction of fuel with air in the combustion chamber (7), is used to heat the gas flow (14). To increase efficiency, a control (17) determines a quantity of fuel, a quantity of air and a fuel pressure as a function of a presettable heat output. The control (17) actuates the air delivery and/or air regulating device (16) for setting the quantity of air determined, the fuel pump (10) for setting the fuel pressure determined and the injection nozzle (11) for setting the quantity of fuel determined to set the predetermined heat output.
US08695563B2	Lubrication system for four-stroke engine A lubrication system for a four cycle engine that lubricates the valve mechanism with the oil mist of the concentration, lowered by the liquefying means. The lubrication system has an oil feeding passage for connecting an oil reservoir with the crank chamber and sending the oil retained in liquid form in the oil reservoir to the crank chamber under a negative pressure of the crank chamber, a communication passage for connecting the crank chamber with the oil reservoir and sending oil mist generated in the crank chamber to the oil reservoir when under a positive pressure of the crank chamber, liquefying means in the oil reservoir for liquefying the oil mist sent from the communication passage to the oil reservoir to decrease the concentration of the oil mist, and a supply passage for supplying the oil mist from the oil reservoir to the valve operating chamber through the liquefying means.
US08695560B2	Piston for an internal combustion engine A piston for an internal combustion engine has a piston crown, a circumferential fire land, a circumferential ring part having annular grooves, and a piston skirt, which comprises two skirt walls and two box walls set back from the ring part and connecting the skirt walls in such a way that an exposed underside of the ring part is formed in the area of each of the box walls. The box walls are provided with pin bosses having pin bores. At least one support element is arranged between each exposed underside of the ring part and the box wall associated with the underside of the ring part.
US08695559B2	Piston having oil supply channel for hub bore holes A cylindrical piston for internal combustion engines, comprising a piston crown and a piston base, in the piston base a hollow space being provided, and in a piston base wall forming the hollow space pinholes being provided, characterized in that the outer circumferential surface in at least the piston base at least one oil guide is provided, the direction thereof having an axial component relative to the piston axis and the oil guide extending from the piston crown in the direction of a pinhole.
US08695556B2	Method for balancing the mass forces of an internal combustion engine and internal combustion engine for carrying out such a method Embodiments for balancing an engine are provided. In one example, a method for balancing mass forces of a crank drive of an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder comprises providing at least one balancing unit which has at least one balancing weight which serves as an unbalance and which rotates about a rotational axis when the balancing unit is operational, the at least one balancing unit being embodied as a switchable balancing unit, and switching on the at least one balancing unit as a function of at least one operating parameter of the internal combustion engine.
US08695554B2	Forced air valve guide for an internal combustion engine Disclosed is a modified valve guide for a four-stroke internal combustion engine that utilizes compressed air to accelerate outflow of exhaust gases from a combustion chamber and through the exhaust manifold. The device comprises a ported valve guide that is concentrically mounted about an exhaust valve stem. The valve guide is a hollow cylinder that surrounds the exhaust valve stem, and includes a vertically mounted port on its working end. Below the port is a circumferential ring and guide tube connection that accepts compressed air input, communicating forced air through the valve guide port on its working end into the combustion chamber and exhaust manifold. The introduction of forced air increases volumetric efficiency of the system by improving scavenging and forcibly removing exhaust gases from the cylinder during the exhaust stroke. Both the power and efficiency of the engine are improved, along with reduced emissions from the engine exhaust.
US08695550B2	Valve timing controller A first housing has a first concave portion that opposes to a vane rotor, and the first concave portion has an inside diameter larger than an inside diameter of a first through hole of the first housing. A boss part of the vane rotor has a first convex portion projected into the first concave portion. A reed valve is arranged between an end surface of the first convex portion and a bottom surface of the first concave portion, and has an outside diameter larger than the inside diameter of the first through hole.
US08695548B2	Valve timing control apparatus A springless check valve enables flow of hydraulic fluid from a supply port toward a corresponding one of an advancing port and a retarding port in a connection passage upon lifting of a valve member from a valve seat and limits flow of the hydraulic fluid from the corresponding one of the advancing port and the retarding port toward the supply port upon seating of the valve member against the valve seat. In a synchronously rotatable member, a drain passage is circumferentially displaced from the drain port, and an advancing passage is placed at a corresponding circumferential position, which coincides with a circumferential position of the advancing port. Furthermore, a retarding passage is placed at a corresponding circumferential position, which coincides with a circumferential position of the retarding port.
US08695547B2	Adjustable camshaft An adjustable camshaft having at least one shaft, and having at least one cam package which has at least two different cams and/or cam contours. According to the invention, the cams and/or the cam contours of the cam packages have different widths.
US08695546B2	Engine equipped with variable valve device An engine that may be provided with a variable valve device may include an hydraulic pressure lash adjuster pivotally supporting one side of a swing arm, a valve supporting the other side of the swing arm, and an operating portion pushing a portion of the swing arm downwards so as to pivotally move the valve based on the hydraulic pressure lash adjuster, wherein the hydraulic pressure lash adjuster includes a housing in which an insertion hole may be formed therein, a slave piston that may be slidably inserted into the insertion hole, a master piston of which an end thereof may be placed into the insertion hole with a predetermined gap from the slave piston, wherein the other end of the master piston protrudes out of the housing and may be engaged with the one side of the swing arm, and an oil control valve that opens or closes a passage communicating with a master chamber that may be formed between the master piston and the slave piston in the housing.
US08695545B2	Phase changing device of camshaft A phase changing device 100A of a camshaft is provided to a dual structure camshaft 10 which is rotated by a driving force input thereto and which includes an inner shaft 11 and an outer shaft 12. The phase changing device 100A of the camshaft includes a phase changing portion 1A including a single housing 2 defining: an advance hydraulic chamber R1 advancing wholly a phase of the camshaft 10 by a hydraulic pressure; a retard hydraulic chamber R2 retarding wholly the phase of the camshaft 10 by a hydraulic pressure; and a phase difference hydraulic chamber R3 changing a difference between a phase of the inner shaft 11 and a phase of the outer shaft 12 by a hydraulic pressure.
US08695544B2	High expansion ratio internal combustion engine A high expansion ratio internal combustion engine includes: a variable compression ratio mechanism that varies a mechanical compression ratio of the internal combustion engine; and a variable valve train in which some valve(s) of a plurality of intake valves is phase-variable and the remaining valve(s) is phase-fixed, the variable valve train being configured such that a working angle of the phase-variable intake valve is larger than a working angle of the phase-fixed intake valve, wherein a valve-open timing of the phase-variable intake valve is retarded after a valve-open timing of the phase-fixed intake valve when the internal combustion engine is under low-load operating state.
US08695541B2	Cooling system for internal combustion engine During engine warm-up, a flow regulating unit in a cooling system operates in a fuel efficiency priority mode. In this mode, a head-side cooling water flow rate (Qhd) is regulated to be equal to or smaller than a first upper limit; a block-side cooling water flow rate (Qbk) is regulated to be equal to or smaller than a second upper limit; and cooling water flowing out of a block-side passage and a head-side passage flows mainly into a bypass passage. When a heating request to heat blown air is made during engine warm-up, the regulating unit operates in a heating priority mode. In this mode, Qhd is regulated to be equal to or smaller than a third upper limit; Qbk is regulated to be equal to or smaller than a fourth upper limit; and at least cooling water flowing out of the head-side passage flows into a heat exchanger.
US08695537B2	Slow-pull dog leash A leash apparatus includes a housing containing a spool assembly, a spring biased lever arm, and a first tensioning line. The first tensioning line is attached to a first end of the lever arm and wrapped at least once around the spool assembly, and has an opposite end attached to other than the rotatable portion of the spool assembly, such as a fixed location on the leash housing on a mounting of the spool assembly. A surface of the spool assembly slidingly rotates relative to the tensioning line portion that wraps at least once around the spool assembly. A second tensioning line is wound about the spool assembly and extends outside of the housing. The second tensioning line is guided around a wheel attached to a second end of the lever arm located on an opposite side of the lever arm.
US08695533B1	Modular cat station A modular cat station comprising a plurality of spaced apart platforms disposed at different heights relative to a connected base plate is presented. In particular, the different platforms are removably connected to either the base plate and/or each other in order to create a modular, customized, and collapsible cat station. In addition, the cat station comprises a plurality of camouflaging elements generally representative of leaves, branches, flowers, twigs, and/or other parts of a tree or other plant life in order to at least partially conceal one or more accessories, add-ons, or portions of the station, including scratching posts, toys, food and water bowls, beds, litter box, etc.
US08695531B2	Backing run for nozzle paste application A bottomer for the production of sacks, preferably cross-bottom valve sacks, includes at least one glue unit that applies glue to the components of the sacks. The glue unit includes a nozzle bar, which has at least one nozzle for extruding glue onto the sack components. The glue unit also includes a counter support, which positions the sack components with a force against the nozzle bar.
US08695528B2	Intelligent temperature indicator label and method A release of the frozen solvent trapped inside a solidified gel occurs when the temperature increases, followed by a dissolving of a reactive substance present in a membrane that is located in direct physical contact with the gel, resulting in the reabsorption of the reactive substance dissolved in the solvent into the solid gel layer within a constant time. In this manner, the components generating color change come together within the solid gel layer initiating a reaction to change the color of the indicator layer. Thus, the increase in temperature above a melting point of the solid gel layer is enough to activate the intelligent label with an irreversible color change.
US08695527B2	Glazing erosion indicator An aircraft glazing component is provided having at least a partially transparent body and a visual wear indicator positioned on or in the body which indicator is configured such that a predetermined amount of erosion on the body changes the appearance of the indicator.
US08695523B2	Apparatus for reducing pitching and rolling motion of vessel Provided is an apparatus for reducing the pitching and rolling motion of a vessel, the apparatus including a plurality of buoyancy members spaced apart from each other and vertically slidably mounted on a vessel, a plurality of hydraulic cylinders that are connected to the upper end portions of the respective buoyancy members and receive the locomotive power of the buoyancy members that rise from waves, and a hydraulic connection line provided in such a manner that the hydraulic pressures of the hydraulic cylinders are interconnected, so that the hydraulic pressures, which are generated from the rise of the hydraulic cylinders due to the rise of the buoyancy members located at the peaks of the waves, can be supplied to the hydraulic cylinders located at the troughs of the waves to cause the buoyancy members to fall, thereby increasing the buoyancy of the vessel and restraining the pitching and rolling thereof.
US08695522B2	Offshore drilling vessel The invention pertains to a monohull offshore drilling vessel comprising: a hull having a moonpool and a main deck, which hull further has a hold, which hold has a floor and a side wall, a firing line hoist system that is mounted on the hull above the moonpool, which firing line hoist system comprises a mast, which is connected to the hull of the drilling vessel, a pipe storage for storing drill pipes in a substantially horizontal position, a riser storage for storing risers in a substantially horizontal position, wherein the pipe storage and/or the riser storage extend to the floor of the hold.
US08695521B2	Vehicle flotation system The vehicle flotation system is adaptable to a conventional land motor vehicle to provide sufficient buoyancy for the vehicle should it become immersed in water. A plurality of permanently inflated pneumatic elements and/or solid closed-cell (e.g., foam, cork, etc.) elements is installed throughout the bodywork of the vehicle. Such permanently inflated and solid flotation elements do not require a pneumatic inflation system, thus providing benefits in reliability and economy. Optionally, a pneumatic inflation monitoring system may be provided for the pneumatic elements. As an additional option, a plurality of collapsed, inflatable elements may be installed within the vehicle fenders for deployment and inflation in the event of water immersion of the vehicle. These inflatable elements are automatically ejected laterally from slots or openings in the vehicle fenders and are automatically inflated by an on-board container of compressed gas, in the event of water immersion of the vehicle.
US08695516B2	Pollution abatement process for fossil fuel-fired boilers The present invention provides improved boiler assemblies (10) with enhanced pollution abatement properties through injection and recycling of particulate sorbent materials including sodium bicarbonate, trona, and mixtures thereof. The assemblies (10) include a boiler (12), economizer (14), air heater (15), and recirculation reactor (16). Fresh sorbent material is introduced via assembly (60) into the boiler assembly (10) at one or more injection locations, and serves to sorb NOx, SOx, and other pollutants in the flue gas. The flue gas and entrained sorbent material then pass through reactor (16) for separation of sorbent, which is then recycled for injection back into the assembly (10) upstream of reactor (16). In another aspect, the invention provides pollution abatement apparatus (110) and methods employing an upstream recirculation reactor (114), a supply of fresh sorbent (118), and a downstream collector (116). In the reactor (114), fresh sorbent reacts with incoming hot flue gas (112) to generate a reduced pollutant flue gas (128) and a solids fraction including reacted sorbent and pollutants, and unreacted sorbent. Recirculation apparatus (120) provided between the reactor outlet (126) and reactor (114) serves to generate a substantially constant mass or volume flow rate of the reactor solids fraction, which minimizes the use of fresh sorbent and maximizes the pollution abatement efficiency of the apparatus (110).
US08695515B2	Rotary kilns for alternative fuels A method for burning raw materials by which method the raw material and a secondary fuel are separately introduced to one and the same rotary kiln in which the raw material as well as the secondary fuel are heated by gases formed by burning of a primary fuel in the rotary kiln so that the secondary fuel is converted to gases and solid matter in the form of combustion residues such as ashes and coke. The secondary fuel during the process of conversion to gases and solid matter is kept separate from the introduced raw material, which may ensure that the secondary fuel and hence the locally reducing zones and major areas with reducing conditions are brought into minimum contact with the raw material.
US08695514B2	Gas leakage reduction system An air infiltration abatement system (300) for a power plant (10) includes a recirculated flue gas source (175), a recirculated flue gas supply line (310) connected to the recirculated flue gas source (175) and a power plant component. The power plant component has a leakage area in fluid communication with the recirculated flue gas supply line (310). The recirculated flue gas source (175) receives a combustion flue gas (75) from an oxygen fired boiler (20) of the power plant (10), and provides the combustion flue gas (75) to the recirculated flue gas supply line (310). The recirculated flue gas supply line (310) supplies the combustion flue gas (75) as a recirculated flue gas (330) to the oxygen fired boiler (20) via the leakage area of the power plant component.
US08695510B2	Table with storable monitor A table arrangement having a guide rail structure secured to the table adjacent the underside of the table top. A carriage is movable along a guide structure from a retracted position under the table top to an extended position disposed adjacent one table edge. A supporting frame is hingedly carried on the carriage and mounts a flat-panel video monitor thereon, the latter being storable directly under the table top when the carriage is in the retracted position. Movement of the carriage to the extended position causes the supporting frame and monitor to project beyond the adjacent table edge, whereupon the supporting frame and monitor can be swung upwardly about the hinge axis into an upright use position wherein the monitor protrudes above the table top adjacent the one edge, and the monitor screen fronts onto the region above the table top.
US08695509B2	Reinforced longitudinal beam for a railway vehicle A reinforced longitudinal beam for railway vehicles includes a first partial beam and a second partial beam. The first partial beam is connected to a second assembly of the railway vehicle and the second partial beam is connected to a first assembly of the railway vehicle. Particular surfaces are provided on the first partial beam for forming a welded connection to the second partial beam, and particular surfaces are provided on the second partial beam for forming a welded connection to the first partial beam, wherein one of the partial beams comprises an end facing.
US08695505B2	Detonator A detonator (120) which has a battery (136) which is movable by a pressure wave from a shock tube (158) to a position at which the battery is placed in electrical contact with a circuit (130) which controls firing of an ignition element (128).
US08695503B2	Apparatus and method for locking and actuating a stripper blade in a printer An assembly for actuating a stripper blade in an indirect printer has been developed. The system includes a blade mounted to an elongated member, a first cam, a second cam, and an actuator configured to rotate the first and second cams. The elongated member is fixed in the vertical direction by a channel, and the first cam is configured to limit the horizontal movement of the elongated member. The second cam pivots the elongated member in and out of engagement with an image receiving member when the horizontal movement of the elongated member is constrained.
US08695502B2	Cleaning station A cleaning station includes a fluid input which introduces a passive flow of fluid into a trough and a slit which provides an outlet through which the fluid exits the trough. A wetting roller rotates in a cylindrical cavity to form a viscous fluid pump which draws the fluid through the slit to form a fluid film on an outer surface of the wetting roller.
US08695501B2	Method of forming a contact printing stamp A method of forming a contact printing stamp, including creating a stamp material in a plurality of recessed regions formed in an exposed end-region of a multilayer thin film structure. The stamp material having a printing surface adapted to transfer a transfer material.
US08695494B2	Method for rapid cooling of a hot isostatic press and a hot isostatic press A system and method for rapid cooling a hot isostatic press including a pressure container. The pressure container has an internal load space and includes insulation disposed at least partially around the load space, heating elements disposed inside the insulation, and a load disposed on a load bearing plate. Fluid is directed into the load space of a pressure container using at least one nozzle to form a rotational flow. The fluid from the at least one nozzle is mixed as it passes through the rotational flow near the insulation with fluid near the load. The fluid from the at least one nozzle has a lower temperature than the fluid in the load space and/or the load.
US08695489B2	Food staging device A cooked food staging device and method are provided. The device and method are particularly suited for storing breaded, battered or bread food items for extended periods of time without becoming soggy. A heated compartment having a slot has a flexible member covering at least a portion of the slot to restrict airflow and to permit access to the food items contained therein, which may be contained on trays, without the necessity of removing the tray to view and remove selected food items therefrom.
US08695487B2	Cooking appliance Disclosed is a cooking appliance provided with: a water tank (30) disposed inside a main case (10); a steam-generation device (40) that generates steam by heating water supplied from the water tank (30); a heating chamber (20) to which steam from the steam-generation device (40) is supplied; an exhaust duct (72), provided inside the main case (10), for expelling exhaust from inside the heating chamber (20) to outside the main case (10); an exhaust temperature sensor (74) that measures the temperature of the exhaust air inside the exhaust duct (72); and a steam-generation decision unit that, upon cooking in which steam is supplied from the steam-generation unit (40) into the heating chamber (20), uses information on a physical quantity (the exhaust temperature measured by the exhaust temperature sensor (74)), which indirectly indicates whether there is water in the steam-generation device (40), to decide whether or not to halt steam generation, including the case in which the water tank (30) is out of water.
US08695484B2	Used capsule collector for beverage devices A device for preparing a beverage from a capsule containing an ingredient of the beverage, includes a housing with a cavity to which used capsules are evacuated; and a collection receptacle in the cavity of the housing. The receptacle has an opening for receiving the evacuated used capsules and collecting the capsules. The receptacle has a reception orientation in which the receptacle is arranged to be filled with capsules up to a maximum level of fill in the cavity which extends above the opening of the receptacle in the reception orientation of the receptacle. The receptacle being tiltable or pivotable in the cavity into a removal orientation for allowing removal of the collection receptacle filled with capsules from the cavity.
US08695483B2	Holder assembly for a powdered ingredient for preparing an instant drink The invention relates to a holder assembly (1) for a powdered ingredient (4) for preparing an instant drink. The assembly comprises a holder, a conveyor screw (6), an outflow channel (7) provided on the holder for dispensing ingredient (1), a threshold plate (9) extending into the outflow channel (7), and also a shut-off valve (10) for shutting off the outflow channel (7). The shut-off valve (10) comprises a shut-off body (11) which can be moved back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor screw (6) between a release position and a shut-off position. In the release position the shut-off body (11) is located downstream of the threshold plate (9), set apart therefrom. In the shut-off position the shut-off body (11) is located next to the threshold plate (9) in such a way that the shut-off body (11) and the threshold plate (9) together shut off the shut-off channel (7). The invention further relates to a drink preparation means comprising a holder assembly (1) according to the invention.
US08695481B2	Hot water supplying device for coffee machines The present invention relates to a hot water supplying device for coffee machines comprising a condensation chamber having at least one output duct for supplying the hot water, a first duct having a first flow rate and arranged for injecting water or steam at a first temperature into the chamber, a second duct having a second flow rate and arranged for injecting water at a second temperature into the chamber. According to the invention, the device further comprises first interception means (21) applied to the first duct (12) and arranged for supplying a first certain amount of water on the basis of the first flow rate by intercepting or not intercepting water injection by respective first time periods of interception or not interception in a certain time interval and second interception means (31) applied to the second duct (13) and arranged for supplying a second amount of water, calculated on the basis of the second flow rate, by intercepting or not intercepting the water injection by respective second time periods of interception or not interception in the certain time interval. The invention relates also to a method for supplying hot water with a device for a coffee machine, to a computer program product loadable in the memory of a computer for realising the method according to the invention and to a coffee machine that comprises the device.
US08695476B2	Armor plate with shock wave absorbing properties A composite armor plate includes a fracture layer placed adjacent to a ceramic layer. The ceramic layer provides a ballistic resistant layer that receives a ballistic impact and propagates a compression wave. The fracture layer is placed behind the ceramic layer and absorbs a portion of the compression wave propagating out in front of the ballistic impact. The absorbed compression wave causes the fracture layer to at least partially disintegrate into fine particles, which dissipates energy in the process. To cause a higher degree of fracturing (and thus larger dissipation of compression wave energy) the fracture layer includes a plurality of resonators embedded in a fracture material.
US08695475B2	Signature-reduced muzzle brake A muzzle brake of a weapon or a weapons system for small- and medium-calibre weapons, that has a reduced outer signature with respect to heat and/or propellant gas emissions is provided. For this purpose, the propellant gas emerging from the barrel is diverted to the gas outlet openings of the muzzle brake in order to impinge on them to absorb the recoil, and is then made to pass further to the rear, and thereby cooled in a device.
US08695470B2	Saw blade including teeth having a chip deforming element A saw blade (1) includes a base body (2) and a plurality of teeth (10) being connected to the base body (2), the teeth (10) including a cutting portion (6) and a chip producing surface (7). At least a part of the teeth (10) are arranged in a group of teeth being repeatedly arranged along the base body (2). The group of teeth (10) includes at least three unset teeth (10) having different widths. The broadest tooth (10) in the group of teeth (10) does not include a chip deforming element being located next to the chip forming surface (7) in a direction facing away from the cutting portion (6). At least one other tooth (10) in the group of teeth (10) includes a chip deforming element (8) being located next to the chip forming surface (7) in a direction facing away from the cutting portion (6).
US08695464B2	Pliers with pivot pin that can be moved against the force of a spring The invention relates to a pair of pliers (1) with two pliers legs (2, 3) crossing at a joint pin (4), one (3) of which legs is movable and the other (2) is fixed, and with a spring (13) between the fixed leg (2) and the joint pin (4) acting in such a way as to support interlocking engagement of the joint pin (4), wherein the pliers legs (2, 3) form gripping portions (5, 6) on one side of the joint pin (4) and a pliers mouth is formed on the other side of the joint pin (4), wherein furthermore the joint pin (4), through which a pivot axis (A) of the movable pliers leg at the same time extends, is adjustable in a longitudinal slot (9) of the fixed pliers leg (2), and wherein the movable pliers leg (3) can be optionally fixed in relation to the fixed pliers leg (2) by means of interlocking engagement between the joint pin (4) and the longitudinal slot (9) that takes place in the direction of a plane defined by the pliers legs (2, 3). To design and develop a pair of pliers of the type in question in such a way that different handling characteristics are advantageously obtained, it is proposed that the joint pin (4) is released from the interlock merely by tensile loading of the movable pliers leg (3) transversely in relation to the longitudinal extent of the longitudinal slot (9).
US08695462B1	Adjustable wrench An adjustable wrench having a fixed jaw and a movable jaw is shown and described. In one example, a wrench can be set to at least one predetermined opening using a removable pin.
US08695453B2	Lockout devices for use with rotary actuators Lockout devices for use with rotary actuators are described. An example lockout device for use with a rotary actuator includes an insert including a first portion to be inserted into a lever of the rotary actuator, the insert to interact with one or more features of the lever to enable rotational movement of the lever to be transmitted thereto. The lockout device includes a second portion of the insert to extend from the lever, the second portion defining an opening through which an object is to be inserted to rotationally fix the insert and the lever in a first position relative to a housing of the rotary actuator.
US08695452B2	Bicycle shifter A shifter designed to actuate a gear change device of a bicycle by pulling and releasing a control cable. The shifter includes a base plate mountable to the bicycle, a cable spool and cable-pull and cable-release lever assemblies. The cable spool is rotated in a cable-pull direction to wind the control cable thereon and in a cable-release direction to unwind the control cable therefrom. The cable-pull and cable-release lever assemblies are operatively connected to the cable spool to rotate the cable spool in the cable-pull and cable-release directions, respectively. The cable-pull lever assembly includes a cable-pull lever rotated about a first axis and at least two winding pawls received by and rotating with the cable-pull lever about the first axis to transmit rotational movement of the cable-pull lever to the cable spool.
US08695451B2	Bicycle control device A bicycle control device is basically provided with a base member, a control unit, an attachment member, a first operating lever and a second operating lever. The base member includes a handlebar mounting structure. The control unit is mounted to the base member. The attachment member is movably coupled to the base member. The first operating lever is operatively coupled to the control unit. The first operating lever is coupled to the attachment member to move with the attachment member when the attachment member is moved relative to the base member. The first operating lever is pivotally coupled to the attachment member to pivot relative to the attachment member about a first pivot axis to operate the control unit. The second operating lever is operatively coupled to the control unit and pivotally coupled to the attachment member.
US08695445B2	Wear-indicating system for use with turbine engines and methods of inspecting same A wear-indicating system includes a wear-indicating mark applied to a portion of a surface edge margin of an internal component of a turbine. The wear-indicating mark is visually discernible from the surface edge margin through boroscopic inspection. An inner extent of the wear-indicating mark is spaced a pre-selected distance from the surface edge.
US08695442B2	Sensor system and method for operating a sensor system A sensor system has a first sensor-element block and a second sensor-element block, at least one first sensor element and one second sensor element are assigned to the first sensor-element block, and at least one third sensor element is assigned to the second sensor-element block. The third sensor element is situated between the first and second sensor elements.
US08695441B2	Flexible force or pressure sensor array using semiconductor strain gauge, fabrication method thereof and measurement method thereof The force or pressure sensor array of the present invention effectively has both flexibility and elasticity. Since the substrate itself is a kind of a polymer material, the substrate can be bent or expanded. Although silicon, which is a material of the semiconductor strain gauge, is easily broken and solid, mechanical flexibility can be secured if it is fabricated extremely thin. To this end, particularly, disclosed is a flexible force or pressure sensor array using semiconductor strain gauges 110, the sensor array comprising: a substrate 10 including: the semiconductor strain gauges 110 in which a plurality of elements formed in a certain array pattern is deformed by force or pressure, a pair of polymer film layers 120 and 130 having film surfaces contacted facing each other and containing the semiconductor strain gauge 110 between the film surfaces contacted with each other, and a pair of signal line layers formed on top and bottom surfaces of an insulating layer using either of the pair of polymer film layers 120 and 130 as the insulating layer and connected to the elements 111 of the array pattern to form electrodes, for fetching deformation signals outputted due to deformation of the elements 111 to outside; and a pair of elastomer layers 20 and 30 formed on both sides of the substrate 10 to contain the substrate 10 inside.
US08695440B2	Method and apparatus for determining and compensating for a change in a differential zero offset of a vibrating flow meter A method for operating a vibrating flow meter system is provided. The method includes the step of receiving a first sensor signal from a first vibrating flow meter. A second sensor signal is received from a second vibrating flow meter. A first flow rate is generated from the first sensor signal and a second flow rate is generated from the second sensor signal. The method further includes the step of determining a differential zero offset of the first vibrating flow meter based on the first and second flow rates.
US08695439B2	Dual pick-off vibratory flowmeter A dual pick-off vibratory flowmeter (100) is provided according to the invention. The dual pick-off vibratory flowmeter (100) includes a first flowtube (102A) and a second flowtube (102B), with the first and second flowtubes (102A, 102B) configured to be vibrated substantially in opposition. The vibratory flowmeter (100) further includes a first pick-off sensor (108) including first and second pick-off portions (108A, 108B) affixed to the first and second flowtubes (102A, 102B), with the first pick-off sensor (108) being located at a first longitudinal location X along the first and second flowtubes (102A, 102B). The vibratory flowmeter (100) further includes a second pick-off sensor (109) including first and second pick-off portions (109A, 109B) affixed to the first and second flowtubes (102A, 102B), with the second pick-off sensor (109) being located substantially at the first longitudinal location X and substantially spaced-apart from the first pick-off sensor (108).
US08695437B2	Method and apparatus for vibrationaly separating driver and pick-offs of a vibrating-type flow sensor assembly The present invention provides a vibrating sensor assembly (310). The vibrating sensor assembly (310) includes a conduit (103A), a driver (104), and at least a first pick-off (105). The driver (104) includes a first driver component (104a) and a second driver component (104b). The first pick-off (105) includes a first pick-off component (105a) and a second pick-off component (105b). The vibrating sensor assembly (310) also includes a first reference member (250). The first pick-off component (105a) is coupled to the conduit (103A) while the second pick-off component (105b) is coupled to the first reference member (250). The vibrating sensor assembly (310) also includes a second reference member (350). The first driver component (104a) is coupled to the conduit (103A) while the second driver component (104b) is coupled to the second reference member (350).
US08695434B2	Fluid additive delivery system powered by the flowing fluid A system for delivering an additive to a flowing fluid wherein the system is in whole or in part powered by the flow of the fluid is provided. The fluid-additive delivery system includes a fluid motor, a speed sensor, an electricity generation and storage system, a clutch, an additive pump, and a flow meter, where the fluid motor and the flow meter are in fluid communication with a piping of the fluid to which the fluid additive is to be added. Preferably, the fluid is a fuel and the fluid additive to be added is a fuel additive.
US08695433B2	Mechanical-quantity measuring device A mechanical-quantity measuring device capable of measuring a strain component in a specific direction with high precision is provided.At least two or more pairs of bridge circuits are formed inside a semiconductor monocrystal substrate and a semiconductor chip, and one of these bridge circuits forms a n-type diffusion resistor in which a direction of a current flow and measuring variation of a resistor value are in parallel with a <100> direction of the semiconductor monocryastal silicon substrate, and an another bridge circuit is composed of combination of p-type diffusion resistors in parallel with a <110> direction.
US08695430B1	Temperature and pressure sensors based on spin-allowed broadband luminescence of doped orthorhombic perovskite structures Systems and methods that are capable of measuring pressure or temperature based on luminescence are discussed herein. These systems and methods are based on spin-allowed broadband luminescence of sensors with orthorhombic perovskite structures of rare earth aluminates doped with chromium or similar transition metals, such as chromium-doped gadolinium aluminate. Luminescence from these sensors can be measured to determine at least one of temperature or pressure, based on either the intense luminescence of these sensors, even at high temperatures, or low temperature techniques discussed herein.
US08695422B2	Vehicular distance sensor apparatus A vehicular ultrasonic sensor apparatus serving as a distance sensor apparatus is equipped with a sensor unit, a case body, a bezel, and a retainer. The retainer includes a pair of pawl members. The pair of pawl members is equipped with a stopper portion. The ultrasonic sensor apparatus is inserted into an attachment hole of the bumper such that a connector portion of the case body is first inserted. When the retainer passes through the attachment hole, the pair of pawl members are elastically deformed. After passing through the attachment hole, the pair of pawl members are elastically restored, and the stopper portion is caught at an inner circumference edge of an exit side of the attachment hole.
US08695421B2	Fuel pump module including a horizontal sender gauge A fuel pump module includes a reservoir and a sender gauge. The reservoir is configured to contain fuel. A sender gauge includes a card mount and a resistance card. The card mount is fixed within the reservoir. The resistance card is fixed to the card mount and has a length oriented horizontally.
US08695419B2	Acoustic volume indicator Acoustic volume indicators for determining liquid or gas volume within a container comprise a contactor to vibrate a container wall, a detector to receive vibration data from the container wall, a processor to convert vibration data to frequency information and compare the frequency information to characteristic container frequency vs. volume data to obtain the measured volume, and an indicator for displaying the measured volume. The processor may comprise a microprocessor disposed within a housing having lights that each represent a particular volume. The microprocessor is calibrated to provide an output signal to a light that indicates the container volume. The processor may comprise a computer and computer program that converts the data to frequency information, analyzes the frequency information to identify a peak frequency, compares the peak frequency to the characteristic frequency vs. volume data to determine the measured volume, and displays the measured volume on a video monitor.
US08695415B2	Contact-less sensor cartridge The disclosure provides a sensor cartridge that includes a protective housing that is resistant to downhole oilfield environment; a sensor within the protective housing able to measure a parameter of the down-hole oilfield environment; an attaching device to interconnect with another sensor cartridge and/or a hub; a data communication unit within the protective housing, the data communication unit providing wireless communication of the measured parameter to the other sensor cartridge and/or the hub when interconnected with the other sensor cartridge and/or the hub; and a power unit within the protective housing, the power unit providing power supply to sensor and/or data communication unit.
US08695409B2	Air flow rate measuring apparatus An air flow rate measuring apparatus includes a heater and a control circuit. The heater heats a part of an intake air sucked into an engine. The control circuit controls an energization of the heater. The heater has a measuring-mode temperature when a flow rate of the intake air is measured. The control circuit has a heat cleaner which temporarily raises a temperature of the heater higher than the measuring-mode temperature when an energization of the air flow rate measuring apparatus is started.
US08695405B2	Bearing, arrangement for determining properties of a lubricant in a bearing and method for determining properties of a lubricant in a bearing A bearing including a first and a second bearing element that are movable relative to one another, a lubricant arranged between the first and the second bearing element for reducing the friction between the first and the second bearing element, at least one transmitter for exciting acoustic waves in the first or the second bearing element, the transmitter being arranged on the first or the second bearing element; at least one receiver for receiving acoustic waves evoked by the transmitter, the receiver being arranged on the first or the second bearing element, wherein information related to properties of the lubricant can be determined using a signal generated by the receiver upon receipt of acoustic waves evoked by the transmitter. The invention is also related to a method for determining properties of a lubricant in a bearing.
US08695402B2	Integrated IR source and acoustic detector for photoacoustic gas sensor A photoacoustic gas detector includes an integrated source, infrared filter and an acoustic sensor. The source, filter and acoustic sensor can be integrated onto one or more semiconductor substrates, such as silicon. Processing circuitry can also be integrated onto the substrate. Further, the source, filter and acoustic sensor can be integrated into a single component package, such as a metal can transistor package.
US08695400B2	System and method for determining readings of gases and/or an aerosol for a machine In order to improve a system for monitoring the working area atmosphere of an operating engine, measuring devices (2) for determining readings for a gas and/or an aerosol in the working area (4) of an operating engine are used as a starting point. Each measuring device comprises a suction means (8) which extracts a gas and/or a mixture of an aerosol from the working area (4) of the operating engine and feeds it to a sensor unit (16, 17, 18). An electronics module for operating the sensor unit (16, 17, 18) is also present. The suction means is designed as a convection pump (8) preferably with a heating device (42) and a cooling device (44).
US08695399B2	Detector for detecting sulfur components The present detector for detecting sulfur components includes a storage portion for storing SOx and NOx in the exhaust gas passing through an exhaust passage, in which the more an amount of stored SOx increases, the more an amount of NOx that can be stored decreases, estimates the amount of stored SOx on the basis of an amount of NOx stored in the storage portion, and detects an integrated amount of SOx passing through the exhaust passage during a given period or an value on the basis of the integrated amount. In the present detector, the estimating of the amount of stored SOx for detecting the integrated amount of SOx or the value on the basis of the integrated amount is prohibited when a current amount of NOx that can be stored is not stored in the storage portion.
US08695397B2	Calibration of a sensor for processing value documents The invention relates to a method for calibrating a sensor which is configured for checking value documents. The sensor senses measurement signals of a calibration medium which is transported past the sensor. From the sensed measurement signals there are determined reference data of the calibration medium and there is moreover determined a transport property of the calibration medium, e.g. the transport speed or the transport position of the calibration medium. From the transport property there is ascertained at least one correction value which is employed for correcting the sensed reference data of the calibration medium. After the calibration, the corrected reference data are compared with target data of the calibration medium. Optionally there is then effected an adjustment of the sensor using the corrected reference data.
US08695393B2	Motor vehicle pedals and manufacturing methods thereof According to an implementation a method for manufacturing a pedal for a motor vehicle is provided. The method comprising inserting into a hollow profile a flexible yet substantially incompressible retainer member and subsequently applying one or more forces to an external surface of the hollow profile to induce a change in shape of the hollow profile from a first shape to a second shape. The substantial incompressibility of the retainer member inhibiting deformations in the internal wall surface of the hollow profile as the one or more forces are applied to the external wall surface of the hollow profile so that the internal wall surface is substantially free of deformations upon the hollow profile assuming the second shape, the flexibility of the retainer member allowing it to bend in the direction of the applied one or more forces to accommodate a change in shape of the hollow profile from the first shape to the second shape.
US08695391B2	Method and apparatus for suppression of oscillations in a rolling installation A method and an apparatus for suppression of oscillations in a rolling installation is described. By means of a hydraulic roller engagement third-octave oscillations are effectively suppressed, thus making it possible to improve the quality of the rolled material and/or the productivity of the rolling installation. A manipulated variable is supplied to an electrohydraulic actuating element that acts on at least one hydraulic actuator for the roller engagement and has a rated flow rate of ≧50 l/min. At least a portion of the frequency response at frequencies f≧80 Hz has a magnitude drop of ≦3 dB, and the phase lag φ in this frequency range satisfies the conditions f≧19·{square root over (φ)}+3.1·10−6·φ4 and φ<90°.
US08695390B2	Wafer cylinder having blockable wafer tumblers The invention relates to a cylinder lock of the type of a disk tumbler cylinder having a cylinder housing and a cylinder core rotatable therein, with a plurality of blockable disk tumblers being provided in the cylinder core which have at least one respective engagement section. The disk tumblers are movable between an unlatched position and a latched position and are biased along a respective direction of bias into the latched position. In the latched position, the respective engagement section engages into an associated cut-out in the cylinder housing to block the cylinder core against a rotary movement relative to the cylinder housing. The cylinder core is rotatable in a rotary opening direction relative to the cylinder housing when the disk tumblers are in the unlatched position. At least one of the disk tumblers has a toothed zone which can be brought into engagement with a counter-toothed zone of the cylinder lock such that the disk tumbler is blocked against a movement opposite to the respective direction of bias when the disk tumbler is in the latched position and a torque is exerted onto the cylinder core in the rotary opening direction.
US08695385B2	Safe with dual locking mechanism A safe for providing security and storage of personal items. The safe includes a housing, a door, a user operable locking mechanism and a user operable release mechanism. The door can be opened only upon both proper manipulation of the user operable locking mechanism and proper manipulation of the user operable release mechanism. The user operable release mechanism is disposed to reduce the risk of theft of the contents of the safe by unauthorized attempts to manipulate the release mechanism. The safe may include a mounting arrangement for mounting the housing to a structure to reduce the risk of theft of the safe.
US08695384B2	Lock structure A lock structure for an electrical device is provided. The lock structure includes a rotatable fastener, a lock body, an operation device, and a housing. The lock body is disposed at least partially in the housing, connected with the operation device, and includes or couples with a driving portion. When the lock body is operated to achieve an unlocked state, the lock body allows the driving portion to move the rotatable fastener. At the same time, the operation device achieves an operable status in which the operation device can move driving portion to change the orientation of the rotatable fastener, resulting in the connection/detachment of the lock structure and the electronic device. When the lock body is in a locked state, the movement of the driving portion is restricted and the operation device is not operable to directly or indirectly rotate the rotatable fastener, resulting in the secure connection of the lock structure and the electronic device.
US08695382B2	Washing machine Disclosed herein is a washing machine that is capable of increasing a frictional force between an outer diameter of a rotary shaft and an inner race of a bearing to prevent the sliding between the rotary shaft and the bearing due to a gap between the outer diameter of the rotary shaft and the inner race of the bearing, thereby preventing creep noise from the rotary shaft. The washing machine includes at least one elastic member disposed between the outer diameter of the rotary shaft and the inner race of the bearing to prevent noise due to the sliding between the rotary shaft and the bearing.
US08695378B2	Apparatus for making glass and methods Methods of making glass include the steps of providing a glass melt in a first melting furnace and flowing the glass melt through a connecting tube from the first melting furnace to a second melting furnace. The methods further include the steps of heating the glass melt within a first area of the connecting tube with a first heating device and heating the glass melt within a second area of the connecting tube with a second heating device. Apparatus for making glass are also provided with a first melting furnace, a second melting furnace, and a connecting tube connecting the first and second melting furnaces. Example apparatus include a first heating device configured to heat the glass melt within the first area of the connecting tube and a second heating device configured to heat the glass melt within the second area of the connecting tube.
US08695377B2	Process and apparatus for the separation of air by cryogenic distillation A process for producing a gaseous component of air under pressure by cryogenic separation is provided.
US08695376B2	Configurations and methods for offshore LNG regasification and heating value conditioning Contemplated plant configurations and methods employ a vaporized and supercritical LNG stream at an intermediate temperature that is expanded, wherein refrigeration content of the expanded LNG is used to chill one or more recompressor feed streams and to condense a demethanizer reflux. One portion of the so warmed and expanded LNG is condensed and fed to the demethanizer as reflux, while the other portion is expanded and fed to the demethanizer as feed stream. Most preferably, the demethanizer overhead is combined with a portion of the vaporized and supercritical LNG stream to form a pipeline product.
US08695373B1	Segmented liner system with microencapsulated phase change material A temperature maintenance system for use with nested containers includes a segmented wall liner assembly and removable cover. The segmented wall liner assembly includes a plurality of segments formed in an array, with each of the segments connected to at least one of the other of the segments, and which extend radially outward from a central point. Each of the segments has a plurality of sections, and each of the sections has a central compartment which contains phase change material. The segmented wall liner assembly is capable of changing from a substantially flat, open position, to an angular position when removably disposed in-between the nested containers, and the nested containers have substantially concave surfaces, whereby the segments conform to the substantially concave surfaces when the segmented wall liner assembly is in the angular position.
US08695371B2	Refrigerator dispenser assembly including a water conditioning cartridge A refrigerator includes a water conditioning cartridge having a filter for removing impurities from water and a temperature control unit for selectively developing cold and heated water that is released from a refrigerator dispenser. The temperature control unit is preferably formed from one or more thermal electric coolers. The thermal electric cooler(s) include a plurality of heat sinks that develop cool and hot temperatures to treat or condition the water. A fan is positioned adjacent the thermal electric cooler(s) to provide air exchange for the plurality of heat sinks. The temperature control unit conditions, i.e., heats or cools water passing from the filter to the dispenser depending upon a selected consumer preference.
US08695370B2	Refrigerator ice compartment with intermediate temperature An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency. The temperature of the ice compartment is between the temperatures of the fresh food and freezer compartments.
US08695369B2	Compressor with vapor injection system A heat pump system is provided and may include a compressor, a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the compressor, a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and the compressor, and a flash tank fluidly coupled to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. A first conduit may extend between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. A valve associated with the first conduit may operate in an open state to permit flow along the first conduit between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger to at least partially bypass the flash tank and may operate in a closed state to prevent flow along the first conduit between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger to direct flow into the flash tank.
US08695364B1	System and method for recycling non-reusable refrigerant containers A system and method for recycling non-reusable refrigerant transport containers. At least one intact refrigerant transport container is received into a sealed chamber. The refrigerant transport container is punctured to release residual refrigerant, which is removed and compressed. The container is shredded and/or compacted. A refrigerant transport container deposit program is provided, comprising: encoding a deposit container prior to use; receiving the encoded spent container and releasing the imposed deposit; automatically removing residual refrigerant from the spent container; and recycling materials from the refrigerant transport container. A database storing a record relating to the encoded refrigerant transport containers may be employed for tracking.
US08695359B2	Water circulation and drainage system for an icemaker A refrigerator having a water circulation and drainage system includes a fresh food compartment with a liner and a drain, an icemaker system having an ice forming cavity with a draining mechanism, and an ice storage bin coupled to a drain line for draining excess liquid from the ice storage bin. The water circulation and drainage system includes a water tank having an inlet port and an overflow device for draining water. The system also includes a drainage tank having a first water tank inlet port for receiving water from the overflow device of the water tank, a second water inlet port for receiving water from the ice storage bin, and a third inlet port for receiving water from the liner.
US08695355B2	Thermal management techniques, apparatus and methods for use in microfluidic devices A heating/cooling device for a microfluidic apparatus having a thermal insulating substrate. The device includes heating/cooling chamber for heating and/or cooling a sample disposed in the chamber; a waste heat channel for carrying away waste heat and/or waste cooling; and at least one Peltier junction having first and second opposing faces, the first face thereof facing towards said heating/cooling chamber and being in thermal communication therewith for providing either heat or cooling to the chamber in response to a flow of electrical current through the at least one Peltier junction, the second face thereof facing towards said waste heat channel and being in thermal communication therewith for either receiving heat from or dumping heat to the channel in response to a flow of electrical current through the Peltier junction.
US08695349B2	Fuel injector for a gas turbine engine An improved fuel spray nozzle for a gas turbine engine is proposed, in order to address problems associated with the nozzles being wetted with fuel purged from fuel lines upon engine shutdown. The nozzle has a heat shield provided around a fuel discharge orifice, the heat shield incorporating a sliding expansion joint and having a drip collar arranged to cover the expansion joint so as to protect it from being wetted by fuel ejected through the fuel discharge orifice and falling on the heat shield. The fuel spray nozzle is particularly suited to marine or industrial gas turbine engines having a plurality of radially oriented combustion chambers with respective fuel spray nozzles.
US08695348B2	Combustor and gas turbine A combustor of the present invention includes: a plurality of nozzles which is arranged around the central axis of a combustor and of which each base end is connected to an oil supply tube; a nozzle tube base which supports the plurality of nozzles and includes an oil chamber supplying fuel to the nozzles via an oil inflow portion provided in each oil supply tube; a first guide portion which faces the center of the combustor inside the oil chamber and guides the oil remaining inside the oil chamber to the oil inflow portion; and a second guide portion which faces the base end of the combustor inside the oil chamber and guides the oil remaining inside the oil chamber to the oil inflow portion.
US08695346B1	Ceramic based enhancements to fluid connected heat to motion converter (FCHTMC) series engines, caloric energy manager (CEM), porcupine heat exchanger (PHE) ceramic-ferrite components (cerfites) The components in this application utilize advanced ceramics, which are homogeneous rather than crystalline. This feature allows strong, fine detail parts of great definition, that remain stable and have extraordinary wear resistant characteristics. The Porcupine Pin is a solid-bodied extrusion from a surface through a surface or tangent to a surface. The homogeneous features give extreme durability and equalized flow characteristics. The porcupine pin may be created in other shapes, where within it is embedded ferrite material to form a part that is an electromagnet sensitive or magnetically stable, while exhibiting excellent sliding ability and a precision of detail. These features also allow exceptional miniaturization of magnetically active parts called a Cerfite.
US08695342B2	Heating system for a turbine A turbine for converting thermal energy into mechanical work. The turbine includes a heating system, wherein the heating system is adapted for heating the turbine in a power off state and/or a start-up phase of the turbine. The heating system may include an electrical heating device and/or a steam heating device.
US08695341B2	Systems and methods for collecting solar energy for conversion to electrical energy The present disclosure provides systems and methods for collecting and converting solar energy into electrical energy. The present invention includes solar collectors that concentrate solar energy and mechanisms for transporting and transferring the concentrated solar energy directly into closed cycle thermodynamic engines without heating the outside surface of the engines. Additionally, the present invention includes multiple thermodynamic engines and mechanisms to direct solar energy into each of the thermodynamic engines to increase overall system efficiency by maximizing the use of collected solar energy. Advantageously, the delivery system of the present invention avoids heating an outside surface of the engine as is done in conventional designs, provides a closed design to protect the collectors, and maximizes efficiency through multiple engines.
US08695339B2	Blowby flow control system for a turbocharged engine A flow control system is provided having an engine, a turbocharger, and positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) line, and a flow regulating device. The engine has an air-oil separator and an intake manifold. The air-oil separator separates oil droplets and oil mist from a blowby gas. The turbocharger has an air inlet and an air outlet, where the air outlet is connected to the intake manifold of the engine. The positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) vent line has a first end connected to the air-oil separator and a second end connected to the air inlet of the turbocharger. The PCV vent line delivers the blowby gas from the air-oil separator to the air inlet of the turbocharger. The flow regulating device is located in the PCV vent line. The flow regulating device selectively limits the flow of blowby gas from the air-oil separator to the air inlet of the turbocharger.
US08695338B2	Exhaust gas control apparatus for engine A flow rate control valve and a waste-gate valve are operatively linked to a common cam plate, which is driven by an actuator. The cam plate has a first driving portion for rotating the flow rate control valve in a synchronized manner with rotation of the cam plate. The cam plate has a second driving portion for rotating the waste-gate valve in accordance with the rotation of the cam plate, wherein an operational pattern for the waste-gate valve is different from that for the flow rate control valve. As above, two valves are operated by one actuator so as to move independently from each other.
US08695336B2	Exhaust gas waste gate system with charge pressure control In one aspect, an internal combustion engine may include at least one turbocharger having an exhaust gas inlet and a turbine. An exhaust gas channel may be connected to the exhaust gas inlet of the turbocharger. In the exhaust gas system a valve may be provided that has a valve member. The valve may regulate exhaust gas directed to the turbine. The valve position may be controlled in response to a characteristic indicative of charge pressure of combustion air. In another aspect, a method may be provided for regulating the pressure of charged air delivered by a turbocharger of an internal combustion engine. The method may include regulating the exhaust gas that is directed to the turbine of the turbocharger in response to a characteristic indicative of a charge pressure of charged combustion air. In another aspect, a valve for regulating exhaust gas directed to the turbine may be provided.
US08695335B1	Liquid ring system and applications thereof The present disclosure concerns liquid ring systems, including (i) a fixed or rotating casing adapted to contain a liquid, (ii) a rotor located within the casing and having at least one impeller, (iii) a liquid ring formed by rotation of the rotor or the casing, and (iv) a plurality of gas cells formed between the inner surface of the liquid ring and vanes of the impeller. For example, at least one compressing gas cell is in fluid connection with at least one expanding gas cell integrated with the rotor. A liquid valve consisting of a small gas cell with a reciprocating liquid surface and at least two fluid connections having a free pathway between the connections during an angle of rotation of the rotor and a closed pathway between the connections during 360 minus the angle of rotation.
US08695326B2	Fuel addition control method applied to exhaust emission purifier of internal combustion engine and exhaust emission purifier An exhaust emission purifier is provided and able to suppress overheating of an exhaust emission purifying catalyst and execute fuel addition promptly when fuel addition to the exhaust emission purifying catalyst is requested. In the exhaust emission purifier of an internal combustion engine, exhaust purifying cycles are repeated in order that the exhaust emission purifying catalyst is to be regulated at a target temperature, the cycle being a combination of an addition period during which fuel is added from the fuel addition valve and a halt period during which fuel addition is halted, and the fuel addition valve is manipulated such that the halt period is disposed so as to sandwich the addition period in the cycle.
US08695325B2	Exhaust purification system of internal combustion engine Inside of an engine exhaust passage, in order from an upstream side, a hydrocarbon feed valve oxidation catalyst exhaust purification catalyst, and NOX selective reduction catalyst are arranged. By lowering the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust purification catalyst by a predetermined period while maintaining it lean, the NOX is reduced in the exhaust purification catalyst and the NOX which was not reduced at the exhaust purification catalyst is reduced by the ammonia which is adsorbed at the NOX selective reduction catalyst. The air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust purification catalyst is sometimes switched from lean to rich. At this time, the ammonia which was generated at the exhaust purification catalyst is adsorbed at the NOX selective reduction catalyst.
US08695322B2	Thermally decoupled can-annular transition piece A turbomachine includes a plurality of injection nozzles arranged in a can-annular array and a transition piece including at least one wall that defines a combustion flow passage. A dilution orifice is formed in the at least one wall of the transition piece. The dilution orifice guides dilution gases to the combustion flow passage. A heat shield member is mounted to the at least one wall of the transition piece in the combustion flow passage. The heat shield member includes a body having a first surface and an opposing second surface through which extends a dilution passage. The dilution passage is off-set from the dilution orifice. The heat shield member is spaced from the at least one wall of the transition piece defining a flow region between the at least one wall and the second surface.
US08695320B2	Non-back-bending chain A non-back-bending chain having a plurality of links wherein said links include a rounded portion, a right flat portion, a bottom portion, and a left flat portion. The rounded portion allows the chain to bend or coil in one direction. The flat portions, when in contact, prevent the chain from bending in the opposite direction. Therefore, a chain that can be used to both “push” and “pull” is provided. Further, the chain can be used to provide a rigid extension that can be used to support a force even when only supported by one end. The chain can be retracted for storage and bunched or coiled.
US08695314B2	Two-way action cable control assemblies, systems and methods Two-way action cable control assemblies, systems, and methods are provided. A two-step cable control assembly for a power machine can include a base member pivotably attached to a handle of a power machine and being movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position to actuate a machine component, a hand lever pivotably attached to the handle of the power machine, and a latch pivotably attached to the hand lever and movable into interlocking engagement with a portion of the base member. In this arrangement, the base member can be moved by the hand lever when the latch is interlocked with the base member.
US08695311B2	Apparatus for inflating and sealing packing cushions employing film recognition controller An apparatus for inflating and sealing packing cushions utilizes a controller adapted for acquiring information from preconfigured film material and automatically setting one or more operation parameters suitable for inflating and sealing the film. The controller can avoid or limit the need for user input, thus simplifying use of the apparatus.
US08695310B2	Modular building structure The disclosure relates to a kit for building an exterior wall of a modular building structure. The kit comprises at least two substantially elongated posts and a wall panel for installing on the at least two posts. The wall panel includes a wall panel first attachment and a wall panel second attachment. The wall panel first and second attachments each includes an L-shaped wall panel attachment linking member, an attachment bracket post attachment portion, a wall panel attachment bracket and an attachment bracket spacing section.
US08695309B2	Method for sealing of replacement windows In the method for sealing of replacement windows, a sealing tape with a first layer of flexible foam and a second layer of stiff material, which are bonded to each other, is used. The sealing tape is inserted with the second layer facing forward into a channel-shaped recess in the masonry, which is bounded by a bottom and two side walls and comprises an open access section, wherein the first layer of the sealing tape is at least partially compressed when in the inserted state. The second layer of the sealing tape is clamped against the side walls of the recess at a predetermined distance from the open access section. After the window frame has been placed opposite the open access section of the recess, the first layer of the sealing tape expands until it rests against the window frame.
US08695308B2	Method for mounting façade elements on a multi-storey building The present invention relates to a method for mounting facade elements (12, 12b-c) on a multi-story building by means of a profile system comprising a first type of vertical profile (1a-d) having a slot extending along the longitudinal axis of the profile, and an inner part of the slot being designed to receive an edge of a first facade element and an outer part of the slot being designed to receive and support a second type of vertical profile, provided with a groove extending along the longitudinal axis of the profile and designed to receive and support an edge of a second facade element. The method comprises: a) mounting two vertical profiles (1a-b) of the first type at a second floor of the building so that the slots are facing each other, and above profiles (1c-d) of the first and second type previously mounted on a first floor, b) transporting a facade element (12), guided by the grooves of the profiles mounted on the first floor until it reaches the vertical profiles mounted on the second floor, c) entering the facade element into the outer part of the slots of the vertical profiles mounted on the second floor, d) continuing transporting the facade element, guided by the outer part of the slots to a mounting position, e) pushing the facade element from the outer part of the slots to the inner part of the slots, f) attaching the facade element to the building, and g) inserting vertical profiles of the second type into the outer part of the slots.
US08695307B2	Double-lug fastener for securing a ridge or hip strip The invention falls within the field of the securing of protective strips covering the ridge or hip regions of a metal roof with standing seams. More specifically, the invention relates to a double tab metal fastener for securing a ridge strap or hip strap on a metal roof covering of the type with a standing seam, comprising:—a first tab (1) forming at one of its ends a hook (2) intended to be secured to the standing seam;—a second tab (3) forming at one of its ends a hook (4) intended to accept an edge of the ridge or hip strap; the two tabs being articulated about an axis (5) allowing their respective rotation in a plane intended to lie substantially parallel to the plane of the roof. This double tab represents a retaining system that can be used for ridging and hipping, which is easy to fit, without any through-fasteners, thus guaranteeing perfect sealing.
US08695304B2	Apparatus, system, and method for constructing a wall using wall blocks A wall block includes two finished wall material layers attached to a frame where the tops of the wall blocks are configured to support other wall blocks. Exterior wall blocks for constructing exterior walls include an interior wall material layer and an exterior wall material layer. Interior wall blocks include interior wall material layers on both vertical sides of the frame. Walls are formed by stacking and gluing the prefabricated wall blocks and vertically aligning the wall blocks in an offset or in a vertical configuration to form a stack bond, running bond, or offset running bond wall configuration. The interior wall material layers and exterior wall material layers do not require further finishing after a wall is assembled thereby greatly reducing labor costs.
US08695302B2	Air seal assembly An air seal assembly is provided. The air seal assembly includes a plurality of segments configured to form a cavity. The cavity is configured to engage an edge of a construction material. A gasket material is applied to an exterior surface of one of the segments. In an installed position, the air seal assembly is configured to substantially seal gaps formed between the construction material and other materials forming a wall.
US08695301B2	Building support system A roofing support system includes a spacer bracket having a lower edge adapted to pierce through a layer of insulation to abut in direct contact with a purlin, a fastener that fastens the spacer bracket to the purlin, and an upper portion adapted to support a beam above the insulation layer and in spaced relationship to the purlin.
US08695300B2	Support plate and method for producing such a support plate A support plate for a slab-lined wall, ceiling, or floor construction for achieving decoupling between a ground and a surface lining to be affixed to the support plate. The support plate comprises a foil-like plate made of plastic material and provided with a plurality of chambers constituted by recesses with respect to a plane of the foil-like plate, outer end faces which form a first plate side and on an opposite side a second plate side, the recesses being configured for receiving a hardening contact means for providing a contact layer for the surface lining to be applied, a woven or non-woven fabric disposed on the first plate side, and an adhesion-strengthening layer made of a web-like material being applied to at least one of the first or second plate sides for lining at least the recesses of the chambers.

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