最新美国发明专利第2014-04-29期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

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US08709153B2	Microfludic protein crystallography techniques The present invention relates to microfluidic devices and methods facilitating the growth and analysis of crystallized materials such as proteins. In accordance with one embodiment, a crystal growth architecture is separated by a permeable membrane from an adjacent well having a much larger volume. The well may be configured to contain a fluid having an identity and concentration similar to the solvent and crystallizing agent employed in crystal growth, with diffusion across the membrane stabilizing that process. Alternatively, the well may be configured to contain a fluid having an identity calculated to affect the crystallization process. In accordance with the still other embodiment, the well may be configured to contain a material such as a cryo-protectant, which is useful in protecting the crystalline material once formed.
US08709152B2	Microfluidic free interface diffusion techniques A static fluid and a second fluid are placed into contact along a microfluidic free interface and allowed to mix by diffusion without convective flow across the interface. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the fluids are static and initially positioned on either side of a closed valve structure in a microfluidic channel having a width that is tightly constrained in at least one dimension. The valve is then opened, and no-slip layers at the sides of the microfluidic channel suppress convective mixing between the two fluids along the resulting interface. Applications for microfluidic free interfaces in accordance with embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, protein crystallization studies, protein solubility studies, determination of properties of fluidics systems, and a variety of biological assays such as diffusive immunoassays, substrate turnover assays, and competitive binding assays.
US08709149B2	Hydraulic cements, methods and products Non-aqueous hydraulic cement compositions comprise a non-aqueous mixture of a powder composition and a non-aqueous water-miscible liquid. In one embodiment, powder composition is a Brushite or Monetite-forming calcium phosphate powder composition. In another embodiment, the powder composition comprises porous β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) granules and at least one additional calcium phosphate powder. In another embodiment, the powder composition comprises calcium silicate powder. In a further embodiment, the powder composition comprises calcium aluminate powder. In another embodiment, the powder composition is a cement composition and comprises nanopowders having a grain size of less than 1 micron. Hardened cements are formed from such hydraulic cement compositions, and methods of producing hardened cements, kits, and articles of manufacture employ such hydraulic cement compositions.
US08709144B2	Precursor sol of aluminum oxide and method for producing optical member A precursor sol of aluminum oxide includes a solvent and particles containing a hydrolysate of an aluminum compound and/or a condensate of the hydrolysate, in which the particles have an average particle size of 2.5 nm to 7 nm. A method for producing an optical member includes the steps of feeding the precursor sol of aluminum oxide described above onto a base to form an aluminum oxide film and immersing the aluminum oxide film in hot water with a temperature of 60° C. to 100° C. to form a textured structure comprising aluminum oxide boehmite.
US08709143B2	Water-based ink set for ink-jet recording, ink-jet recording method and ink-jet recording apparatus A water-based ink set for ink-jet recording includes: a water-based black ink containing a black colorant, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent; and a water-based cyan ink containing a cyan colorant, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent; wherein the black colorant includes a self-dispersible carbon black modified by at least one of a carboxyl group and a sulfo group; and the cyan colorant includes a dye represented by general formula (1):
US08709139B2	Layer for use in a HEPA filter element A layer for use in a HEPA filter element solves the problem of disclosing a filter element which satisfies HEPA requirements. Said layer comprises a first support layer (1) for stabilization which contains polypropylene fibers, and a second deposition layer (2) which contains polypropylene fibers, wherein the polypropylene fibers of the deposition layer (2) are at least partially electrostatically charged, and wherein the support layer (1) and the deposition layer (2) are constructed as nonwoven material which is at least partially free of glass fiber. The layer according to the invention can be easily pleated while having excellent filter efficiency.
US08709138B2	Filter medium for particulate filtration A filter medium including a carrier layer and a microfiber layer applied thereon is characterized in that, with respect to the aim of providing a filter medium which has a relatively low pressure drop, and at the same time a good fraction separation rate and excellent dust storage capacity, the carrier layer has first fibers, which are designed as endless bicomponent fibers and spunbonded fibers, and the microfiber layer has second fibers, which are designed as endless melt-blown fibers.
US08709136B2	Adsorption process A process for separating a first gas, for example CO2, from a feed gas mixture comprising the first gas and a second gas, for example H2, in five or more adsorption beds each containing an adsorbent selective for the first gas. The process comprises subjecting each of the adsorption beds to a repetitive cycle comprising, in sequence, (a) a feed step, (b) a rinse step, (c) a pressure decreasing equalization step, (d) a blowdown step, (e) an evacuation step, (f) a pressure increasing equalization step, and (g) a repressurization step. The feed gas mixture may be a reformate from a steam-hydrocarbon reforming process.
US08709134B2	Reversible ethylene oxide capture in porous frameworks This disclosure relates to porous frameworks for ethylene oxide separation and recovery.
US08709132B1	Separating hydrogen from disassociated water In some implementations, a system for disassociating water includes a decomposition chamber, a heating element, a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, and a water inlet. The heating element is positioned in the decomposition chamber and configured to generate heat sufficient to dissociate at least a portion of water to hydrogen and oxygen. The plurality of hollow fiber membranes include at least a section of each hollow fiber membrane that passes through the decomposition chamber and has an inner conduit and an outer wall. The inner conduit for each hollow fiber membrane is configured to pass a sweep gas, and the outer wall for each hollow fiber membrane is configured to selectively pass either oxygen or hydrogen. The water inlet connected to the decomposition chamber and configured to pass water vapor into the decomposition chamber.
US08709131B2	Method and system for the production of direct reduced iron using a synthesis gas with a high carbon monoxide content Methods and systems for the production of direct reduced iron, including: removing a top gas from a direct reduction furnace; carbon monoxide shifting the top gas using a carbon monoxide shift reactor to form a carbon monoxide shifted top gas having a reduced carbon monoxide content; adding one of a coal gas, a synthesis gas, and an export gas to at least a portion of the carbon monoxide shifted top gas to form a combined gas; removing carbon dioxide from the combined gas using a carbon dioxide removal unit to form a carbon dioxide lean combined gas; and providing the carbon dioxide lean combined gas to the direct reduction furnace as a reducing gas for producing direct reduced iron after heating to reduction temperature. Optionally, the method includes removing carbon dioxide from the top gas using a carbon dioxide removal unit prior to carbon monoxide shifting the top gas.
US08709130B2	Method for producing metal zirconium industrially and producing low-temperature aluminum electrolyte as byproduct The invention provides a preparation method for producing metal zirconium industrially and producing low-temperature aluminum electrolyte as byproduct, which comprises the following steps: A) aluminum and fluorozirconate are put in a closed reactor, inert gas is fed into the reactor after evacuation, the reactor is heated up to 780° C. to 1000° C. and then the mixture in the reactor is stirred rapidly; and B) after reaction continues for 4 to 6 hours, the liquid molten at the upper layer is sucked out to obtain low-temperature aluminum electrolyte, and the product at the lower layer is subjected to acid dipping or distillation to remove surface residue to obtain metal zirconium.
US08709126B1	Generation of metal and alloy micron, submicron, or nano particles in simple, rapid process Various embodiments provide methods of forming metallic particles or carbon/graphite coated metallic particles with zero-valence from metal precursor compounds by a reductive/expansion synthesis method using nitrogen-hydrogen containing molecules.
US08709124B2	Sintered sliding member There is provided a novel sintered sliding member superior in thermal resistance, corrosion resistance and wear resistance. The sintered sliding member of the present invention includes 7.7-30.3% Cu, 2.0-20.0% Sn and 0.3-7.0% boron nitride by mass, with a remainder composed of Ni and unavoidable impurities. The sintered sliding member may further include 0.1-3.0% C or 0.1-0.7% P. A porosity of the sintered sliding member is 5-25%.
US08709123B2	Degassing of martensitic stainless steel before remelting beneath a layer of slag The invention relates to a method of fabricating a stainless martensitic steel, comprising a step of electroslag remelting of an ingot of said steel then a step of cooling said ingot. Before the electroslag remelting step, the ingot undergoes vacuum degassing for a time that is sufficient to obtain a hydrogen content in the ingot of less than 3 ppm.
US08709117B2	Oil separator A disclosed oil separator provided in a flow path of a refrigerant gas flowing from a compressor to a refrigerator including a filter configured to form an internal space by including a filter material filtering out oil from the refrigerant gas, an upper lid bonded to an upper portion of the filter material, and a lower lid bonded to a lower portion of the filter material; a body accommodating the filter; a gas inlet pipe introducing the refrigerant gas into the internal space; and a gas outlet pipe ejecting the refrigerant gas from which the oil is filtered out by the filter from an upper portion of the body, wherein a lower end of the gas inlet pipe is opened to the internal space at a position higher than the lower lid and lower than a substantial center between the upper lid and the lower lid.
US08709116B2	Filter device, especially air filter for an internal combustion engine A filter device (10), especially an air filter for an internal combustion engine, includes a main filter element (22) arranged in a filter housing (12). The main filter element is flown through by a fluid to be filtered. The main filter element (22) is a multi-bellows filter having nested filter bellows (32, 34). Between the filter bellows (32, 34) a flow space (44) for the fluid is formed communicating with an end face of the main filter element (22), wherein each one of the filter bellows (32, 34) is embodied as a star-shaped filter with filter folds arranged in a star shape. On at least one end face of the main filter element (22) there is a seal (36) between one of the filter bellows (32, 34) and the filter housing (12). The main filter element (22) is forced seal-tightly against the filter housing (12) by a lateral insert (38) insertable into a housing receptacle (66) of the filter housing (12), or the main filter element (22) is seal-tightly forced by means of a locking device (74) against the filter housing (12), or the main filter element (22) is sealed by means of a two-component synthetic seal (36, 96, 98) relative to the filter housing (12,104).
US08709115B2	Cyclone separators and separator apparatuses including the cyclone separators Cyclone separators and separator devices for separating gas and entrained particles from a particle-contaminated gas stream are provided. The cyclone separator comprises a cyclone body having a first end and a second end with a sidewall extending therebetween. The cyclone body defines a cyclone gas inlet for receiving the particle-contaminated gas stream. A cyclone gas outlet is for discharging the clean gas stream. A centripetal accelerator is proximate the cyclone gas inlet to induce centripetal acceleration of the particle-contaminated gas stream. The sidewall defines a discharge opening between the first end and the second end for discharging separated particles from the cyclone body. The discharge opening has a leading edge and a top edge in relation to a flow path of entrained particles within the particle-contaminated gas stream. The top edge extends at an acute angle relative to the leading edge.
US08709111B2	Fuel formulations A diesel fuel formulation with improved lubricity is provided containing (i) a fatty alcohol ester, (ii) an acid-based lubricity additive and (iii) an additional diesel fuel component. The ester (i) has the formula R1-C(O)—O—R2, in which R1 is for example either hydrogen or methyl and R2 is for example a C6 to C14 alkyl group.
US08709110B2	Use of carotenoid (ester)s The present invention relates to a composition comprising a) a substance selected from the group of astaxanthinmonoalkanoylesters, astaxanthindialkanoylesters, isozeaxanthin, isozeaxanthinmonoalkanoylesters, isozeaxanthindialkanoylesters and mixtures thereof; and b) a substance selected from the group of alkyl nitrates, nitrooxy esters of alkoxy substituted aliphatic alcohols and organic peroxides; as well as to a change in oxidation reactions of hydrocarbons, especially fuels, admixed to these compositions. The invention also relates to a composition comprising a) a compound selected from the group consisting of astaxanthinmonoalkanoylesters, astaxanthindialkanoylesters, iso-zeaxanthin, iso-zeaxanthinmonoalkanoylesters, iso-zeaxanthindialkanoylesters and mixtures thereof; and c) a fuel. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a composition comprising a) a compound selected from the group consisting of astaxanthinmonoalkanoylesters, astaxanthindialkanoylesters, isozeaxanthin, isozeaxanthinmonoalkanoylesters, isozeaxanthindialkanoylesters and mixtures thereof; and b) a compound selected from the group of alkyl nitrates, nitrooxy esters of alkoxy substituted aliphatic alcohols, organic peroxides and mixtures thereof; and d) a stabilizing compound; and e) optionally a solvent.
US08709108B2	Fuel compositions There is disclosed a fuel composition comprising (a) a major amount of a middle distillate fuel comprising from about 0.5% to about 30% by weight fatty acid methyl esters, relative to the total amount of the fuel composition; and (b) a minor amount of an additive composition comprising an antioxidant system comprising at least one cyclic amine antioxidant and at least one phenolic antioxidant, and at least one ashless dispersant, wherein said fuel composition demonstrates reduced sediment formation as compared to a fuel composition devoid of the additive composition, and methods of use thereof.
US08709107B2	Biodiesels useful for improving cloud point The instant invention pertains to new biodiesels which may be blended with petrodiesel. The biodiesels may comprise a fatty acid C1-C2 alkyl ester and a fatty acid branched C3-C4 alkyl ester. Blends of the novel biodiesel and petrodiesel often exhibit advantageous cloud point properties.
US08709106B2	Lithium secondary battery anode member and method for manufacturing the same A lithium secondary battery anode member of the present invention includes a solid electrolyte film formed on a lithium metal film and is capable of suppressing reduction of the solid electrolyte film over a long period of time. In the lithium secondary battery anode member, the lithium metal film and the solid electrolyte film are laminated on a substrate, the solid electrolyte film contains the composition xLi.yP.zS.wO wherein x, y, z, and w satisfy the relations, 0.2≦x≦0.45, 0.1≦y≦0.2, 0.35≦z≦0.6, and 0.03≦w≦0.13, respectively, (x+y+z+w=1), and the main peaks of an X-ray diffraction pattern of the solid electrolyte film measured by a film method using Cu Kα radiation are at 2θ of about 11° and 30° and each have a half width of 10° or less.
US08709103B2	Sublimation transfer ink, method for producing a dyed article, and dyed article A sublimation transfer ink to be discharged by an ink jet process contains water, a sublimation dye, and a trehalose-based compound. The amount of the trehalose-based compound in the sublimation transfer ink is preferably in the range of 3% by mass to 20% by mass, both inclusive.
US08709102B2	Dyeing composition for keratin fibers Present invention relates to dyeing composition for keratin fibers especially human hair comprising cationic anthrachinone dye. The first object of the present invention is a dyeing composition for keratin fibers especially human hair resulting from mixing of two parts A and B wherein part A has an alkaline pH and comprises at least one cationic antraquinone dye and at least one additional dyestuff selected from direct and oxidative dyes and part B has an acidic pH and comprises at least one oxidizing agent.
US08709100B2	Hair colorant compositions comprising 2-methoxymethyl-1,4-diaminobenzene and 5-amino-4-chloro-o-cresol, methods, and kits comprising the compositions A hair colorant composition comprises 5-amino-4-chloro-o-cresol in combination with a 2-methoxymethyl-1,4-diaminobenzene developer. A kit for coloring hair comprises the hair colorant composition. A method of treating hair comprises applying the hair colorant composition to hair.
US08709098B2	Depilatory composition A depilatory cream composition comprising, a depilatory active, an emollient selected from at least one of mineral oil, silicone oil and emollient esters, and a silicone wax, a talc and/or polyamide resin.
US08709094B2	Anti-adhesion sheet An anti-adhesion sheet for placement upon the anterior wall of a vertebral body, wherein the sheet has a radius of curvature that is less than that of the anterior wall of the vertebral body.
US08709092B2	Periprosthetic fracture management enhancements A variety of options for for fracture fixation after total hip arthroplasty or total knee arthroplasty. The ability to pre-engineer fracture fixation contingent solutions into femoral or tibial components provides a distinct clinical advantage in the planning and execution for periprosthetic fracture fixation. Methods and apparatus include targeting devices allowing for intimate association of fixed angle locking screws in pre-drilled holes in an existing prosthetic, femoral nail, or other components including additional fixation components. Such apparatus and methods further include alignment devices and other components to allow for ease of repair of periprosthetic fractures utilizing the pre-engineered solutions.
US08709084B2	Devices for delivering spinal disc implants A spinal disc implant delivery device includes a blocking component having opposed distal and proximal ends. The proximal end of the blocking component includes an anchor member configured and adapted for movement between an undeployed position in which the anchor member can pass into and out of an opening in a disc annulus, and a deployed position in which the anchor member anchors the blocking component to the opening of the disc annulus. In the deployed position, the anchor member is configured to prevent extrusion of implant material from the opening of the disc annuls. An implant delivery needle is located radially within the blocking component and has opposed proximal and distal ends. The needle is configured to deliver implant material from the distal end thereof to an interior of a disc annulus.
US08709083B2	Intervertebral fusion implant The present invention provides an intervertebral implant for implantation in a treated area of an intervertebral space between vertebral bodies of a spine. The implant includes a spacer portion having an inferior and superior surface, wherein the inferior and superior surfaces each have a contact area capable of engaging with anatomy in the treated area, and the inferior and superior surfaces define a through-hole extending through the spacer body. The present invention further provides screw holes extending from a side portion to the inferior and superior surfaces of the spacer portion and a plate portion coupled to the spacer portion through a coupling means, wherein the plate portion contains screws holes for receiving screws. A screw back out prevention mechanism adapted on the plate portion and prevents the back out of screws from the screw holes.
US08709081B2	Cellular scaffold A cellular scaffold that is suitable for tissue regeneration, cell culture and in vitro assays. The invention relates to a layered cell scaffold that is seeded with mesenchymal and ectodermal cells. The layered cellular scaffold comprises an inoculum of mesenchymal cells and ectodermal cells positioned between two opposing scaffolds in a sandwich configuration. The layered cell scaffold provides a functional skin equivalent that is suitable for transplantation and in vitro cell-based assays.
US08709080B2	Coated devices comprising a fiber mesh imbedded in the device walls Devices used in the management of bodily airways including bronchial and tracheal stents, bronchial Y-tubes, bronchial TY-tubes, nasal septal buttons, and nasal stents. The present invention also relates to devices used to manage the esophagus, such as salivary bypass tubes. These devices may comprise a fiber mesh imbedded in the walls of the device in order to provide integrity to the device wall and permit anchoring and suturing of the device.
US08709079B2	IOL with varying correction of chromatic aberration An ophthalmic lens includes an optical filter operable to filter out at least visible light having a wavelength less than 450 nm. The lens also includes a first diffractive structure adapted to produce a focus for visible light in a first wavelength range above 550 nm and to reduce longitudinal chromatic aberration to less than one diopter for incoming visible light in the first wavelength range. The lens also includes a second diffractive structure outside the first diffractive structure in a radial direction and adapted to produce a focus for visible light in a second wavelength range between 450 nm and 550 nm. The second diffractive structure is also adapted to reduce longitudinal chromatic aberration for incoming visible light in the second wavelength range to less than one diopter while allowing longitudinal chromatic aberration in the first wavelength range in an amount greater than the first diffractive structure.
US08709076B1	Two-piece prosthetic valve A two-piece prosthetic valve having first and second members, a first end of the first member being sized and configured to receive a second end of the second member therein, the second end of the second member being attached to the first member at at least one commissure connection point to form at least one leaflet therein.
US08709074B2	Method and device for treatment of mitral insufficiency A device for treatment of mitral annulus dilation is disclosed, wherein the device comprises two states. In a first of these states the device is insertable into the coronary sinus and has a shape of the coronary sinus. When positioned in the coronary sinus, the device is transferable to the second state assuming a reduced radius of curvature, whereby the radius of curvature of the coronary sinus and the radius of curvature as well as the circumference of the mitral annulus is reduced.
US08709073B2	Implant and method for production of the same One example embodiment of the present invention relates to an implant, particularly an intraluminal endoprosthesis, having a body that contains metallic material, preferably iron. The implant body has a first layer with at least one ionic compound that contains ions of at least one halogen, particularly chloride ions and/or bromide ions, on at least part of its surface. Furthermore, a method for the production of such an implant is described.
US08709072B2	Endoprosthesis A stent includes a MOF which adjusts pore size upon desorption or adsorption of organic molecules.
US08709071B1	Stent with preferential coating This invention relates to stents, a type of implantable medical device, with an antiproliferative coating and a prohealing luminal coating and methods of fabricating stents with an antiproliferative coating and a prohealing luminal coating.
US08709070B2	Bioabsorbable scaffold with particles providing delayed acceleration of degradation Methods of controlling the degradation profile of a biodegradable stent scaffolding are disclosed. A bioabsorbable scaffold having a plurality of particles incorporated into the scaffolding that accelerate the absorption of the scaffolding after an induction time during degradation is disclosed.
US08709062B2	Stent delivery system having stent securement apparatus Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include an elongate shaft including a first tubular member and a second tubular member. A balloon may be coupled to the shaft. A first member may be coupled to the first tubular member and positioned within the balloon. A second member may be coupled to the first tubular member and positioned within the balloon. A medical implant may be coupled to the shaft and positioned adjacent to the balloon.
US08709059B1	Suturing an expanding, contracting graft tube in artery segment previously occluded A spiral wire with shape memory wound to a small circumference for percutaneous introduction into an artery lumen has holding balloons gripping each end to control unwinding that increases and decreases circumference of a concentric graft tube against artery wall without under-sizing that creates dangerous gaps or over-sizing that promotes occlusion re-growth. Inflating holding balloons pushes ends of a plurality of tunnel arcs located at 2 mm intervals in rim around balloon circumferences tightly against graft tube whereupon push-rods within tunnel arcs simultaneously push out sharp circular sutures of memory material that return to original circular shape as they pierce and join graft tube and artery wall.
US08709057B2	Laser system for non ablative treatment of mucosa tissue A laser system has a laser source for generating a laser beam, a control unit, and a hand piece for manually guiding the laser beam onto a target area. A wavelength (λ) of the laser beam is in a range from above 1.9 μm to 11.0 μm inclusive. The laser system is adapted for a thermal, non ablative treatment of mucosa tissue by the laser beam such, that the laser source generates the laser beam in single pulses with a pulse duration (tp) in a range from 1.0 μs, inclusive, to 1.0 sec, inclusive, and that a fluence of each of the single pulses on the target area of the mucosa tissue is in a range from 0.2 J/cm2, inclusive, to 2.5 J/cm2, inclusive, and preferably in a range from 1.40 J/cm2, inclusive, to 1.95 J/cm2, inclusive.
US08709054B2	Implantable vertebral frame systems and related methods for spinal repair A system for performing surgical repair of the spine includes a distractor and a permanently implanted bone plate system. A surgical repair methodology is also disclosed that employs an implanted bone plate system with a substantially void internal volume which is attached to adjacent vertebrae subsequent to the distraction and adjustment of curvature of the vertebrae and prior to the excision of disc and/or end plate tissue through the bone plate. The device further facilitates the subsequent delivery of an interbody repair device for the purpose of either fusion or dynamic stabilization, such as by disc arthroplasty. The plate may be permanently implanted, such as when a fusion between the attached vertebral bodies is desired, but it need not be permanently implanted.
US08709053B2	Orthopedic fastener blocking system In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides an orthopedic fastener blocking system that allows for a desirable number of fasteners to be used with an orthopedic device even when the orthopedic device is too small to accommodate a desired number of traditionally located and oriented fasteners or when the accessibility to the device is reduced so that addressing a desired number of traditionally located and oriented fasteners is not possible. The system includes an orthopedic implant and at least first and second fasteners where one of the first and second fasteners prevents the other of the first and second fasteners from uninstalling when the first and second fasteners are in the installed position.
US08709048B2	Rod system for gradual dynamic spinal fixation A rod system includes two rods each with a head and a shaft, two elastic members each fitted around one shaft against one head, and a case defining a first inner portion, a second inner portion, and a third inner portion in communication with the first and the second inner portions. A first rod with a first elastic member is seated in the first inner portion so the first elastic member abuts the bottom of first inner portion and the first head protrudes into the third inner portion. A second rod and a second elastic member is seated in the second portion so the second elastic member abuts the bottom of the second inner portion and the second head protrudes into the third inner portion and abuts the first head.
US08709045B1	Joint fusing system A surgical reamer for cutting an opening in a facet joint for placement of a dowel between the sides of the facet joint to immobilize the joint and create a fusion. The reamer is used with a set of surgical instruments to prepare facet joints for insertion of dowels. The reamer creates a bone shelf above the opening for the dowel to prevent migration of the dowel. The reamer is configured with a flat profile in one plane to allow insertion into the facet joint and the profile of the dowel in the perpendicular plane to create a shape corresponding to the dowel when rotated. The neck of the reamer is smaller in diameter at the coronal end to allow creation of a bone shelf in the facet above the opening for the dowel. The bone shelf resists migration of the dowel out of the prepared opening in the facet.
US08709033B2	Trigger activated lancet A lancet device including a housing and a lancet structure having a puncturing tip maintained within an interior cavity of the housing. The device incorporates a bow spring which cooperates with the lancet structure within the housing, and a trigger which extends laterally through and into the housing. The bow spring is resistive to movement, and therefore maintains the puncturing tip in a retracted position within the housing. Lateral movement of the trigger into the housing, such as through a pivoting trigger operation, biases the bow spring against this resistive to deflect the bow spring and extend the puncturing tip through the forward end of the housing to achieve a puncturing position.
US08709030B1	Explanting implantable devices Systems and techniques for explanting implantable devices are described. In one aspect, a device includes an explant tool configured to explant an implantable device from a body. The explant tool includes an elongate shank comprising a forward portion defining a longitudinal passage and a front tip attached to the forward portion and defining an opening to the longitudinal passage defined by the forward portion. The front tip comprises a slanted surface that slopes in a direction so as to spread tissue during forward penetration of the front tip into the body.
US08709022B2	Method and apparatus for passing a suture A suture passing instrument including an operation handle, a needle member, and a suture holder assembly. The operation handle has at least one actuator movable between a first position and a second position. The needle member extends from the operation handle. The needle member has a curved end portion and defines an eyelet extending therethrough. The suture holder assembly extends from the operation handle and has a movable suture carrier at a distal end configured to hold a suture. The movable suture carrier has a suture pusher telescopically and movably received in the movable suture carrier. The suture carrier is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The suture pusher is movable beyond the suture carrier to carry the suture through the eyelet.
US08709020B2	Suturing device and method for sealing an opening in a blood vessel or other biological structure A suturing device allows a physician to remotely seal an incision in a blood vessel or other biological tissue. The device comprises an elongated tubular body having a distal portion which is adapted to be inserted percutaneously through the incision and into the blood vessel. The distal portion has first and second retractable arms which extend from the distal portion of the body and releasably hold a suture within the blood vessel. First and second retractable needles, each of which is configured to catch the suture from a respective arm, are provided along the body proximal to the retractable arms. The arms and the needles are remotely movable by the physician using a handle or other control mechanism provided at a distal portion of the device. In operation, the arms are initially deployed within the blood vessel to hold the ends of the suture beyond the circumference of the tubular body. The needles are then deployed from and then retracted into the body, during which time the needles pierce the vessel wall on opposite sides of the incision, release the suture ends from the retractable arms, and pull the suture through the vessel wall. The device is particularly useful for closing an incision in an artery following a catheterization procedure. In one embodiment, the catheter sheath introducer (CSI) used to perform the catheterization procedure is left in place during the suturing procedure.
US08709017B2	Mounting for a bone drill and bone drill mounting system A mounting device for arranging a medical apparatus on a bone includes a fastening portion for fixing the mounting device to the bone. The fastening portion is configured to interface with the bone and operative to fix the mounting device to the bone using a vacuum.
US08709014B2	Device, kit, and a method for handling a medical implant A medical device for handling an implant, the medical device comprising a loading section adapted to be loaded with an insert element to be inserted into a hole formed in an implant, and a guiding section adapted to be guided by a pin inserted into the hole formed in the implant for guidedly inserting the insert element into the hole formed in the implant.
US08709013B2	Cannulated drill bit with radially offset cutting edge A drill bit has a cylindrical proximal end coupled to a driving device with a central axis of rotation about which the proximal end rotates. A distal portion of the drill bit is a cutting device attached to the proximal end in such a way that it extends outside the periphery of the proximal end for a distance less than the entirety of the circumference of the proximal end. A guide wire extends through a passageway in the bit and is provided to create a pilot hole before the distal portion enlarges that hole. With this configuration of the cutting device, it is possible to position the cutting device in the distal portion in a direction facing away from the medial femoral condyle so that the proximal end of the drill bit can slide past the medial femoral condyle, with its axis of rotation much closer to that condyle than would be the case in prior art drill bits.
US08709012B2	Surgical cutting tool Surgical cutting tool for manufacturing of a recess in a firm body tissue, in particular in a bone and/or in a cartilage, with a milling range rotatable around a central axis of rotation, with an outside lateral surface and an internal area substantially defined by the lateral surface and turned away from the worked on body tissue. The lateral surface is formed with at least two machining cutting edges, which proceed at the lateral surface from a machining center to a machining edge of the milling range and which are in particular spiral curved. Apertures are arranged adjacent to the cutting edges for the transport of the cutting splinters into the internal area, whereby the cutting edges are interrupted by means of recesses in such a way that the cutting edges are formed by individually cutting elements.
US08709008B2	Visual electrode ablation systems Visual electrode ablation systems are described herein which include a deployment catheter and an attached imaging hood deployable into an expanded configuration. In use, the imaging hood is placed against or adjacent to a region of tissue to be imaged in a body lumen that is normally filled with an opaque bodily fluid such as blood. A translucent or transparent fluid, such as saline, can be pumped into the imaging hood until the fluid displaces any blood, thereby leaving a clear region of tissue to be imaged via an imaging element in the deployment catheter. An electric current may be passed through the fluid such that it passes directly to the tissue region being imaged and the electrical energy is conducted through the fluid without the need for a separate ablation probe or instrument to ablate the tissue being viewed.
US08709006B2	System and method for applying plasma sparks to tissue A pulse delivery system for producing a spark in tissue is disclosed. The system can include at least two electrodes having sharp surface features, where the at least two electrodes are electrically isolated from one another. The sharp features of the electrodes can be separated by a distance of about 2 to 20 mm. The system can also include a pulse generator for delivering pulsed voltage differences between the at least two electrodes. The pulsed voltage differences can producing a voltage difference ranging from about 2.5 kV to about 35 kV for a duration of about 50 ns to 3 μs. The system can include a controller for determining whether the plurality of pulsed voltage differences produced a spark between the at least two electrodes. A method of producing a spark in tissue for both therapeutic and cosmetic, i.e., non-therapeutic, applications is also disclosed.
US08709002B2	Ophthalmic system for shape determination and modification Systems and methods for modifying an eye including a light source with light elements, a photodetector producing a signal representing images of the light elements and corresponding to locations on an ocular surface, an optical system directing light from the light elements reflected by the ocular surface onto the photodetector, a memory including code for processing the signal, and a processor for executing the code and outputting shape data for use in calculating a treatment plan for the eye. The code includes instructions for determining the shape data based on a combination of zonal reconstruction and polynomial fitting using the plurality of images.
US08708998B2	Enclosure-based reduced pressure treatment system A reduced pressure treatment appliance is provided for enclosing and providing reduced pressure treatment to a portion of a body of a patient. The reduced pressure treatment appliance may be used to treat wounds and other conditions, such as lymphedema, varicose veins, venous insufficiency and stasis, and other infirmities. In some embodiments, the appliance comprises an enclosure that encloses the portion of the body to be treated for purposes of applying a reduced pressure to the enclosed portion of the body. In other embodiments, the wound treatment appliance also includes a vacuum system to supply reduced pressure to the portion of the body to be treated in the volume under the enclosure. In yet other embodiments, the treatment appliance also includes wound packing means to prevent overgrowth of the wound or to encourage growth of wound tissue into an absorbable matrix comprising the wound packing means. In still other embodiments, a suction bulb may be used to provide a source of reduced pressure to an enclosure that encloses the portion of the body to be treated. Finally, methods are provided for using various embodiments of the treatment appliance.
US08708996B2	Methods and device for synergistic mitigation of reperfusion injury after an ischemic event A method for synergistic mitigation of reperfusion injury after an ischemia event in a subject.
US08708995B2	Methods and kits for volumetric distribution of pharmaceutical agents via the vascular adventitia and microcirculation Methods and kits for delivering pharmaceutical agents to the adventitia and other regions outside the external elastic lamina (EEL) surrounding a blood vessel utilize a catheter having a needle. The needle is positioned in up to 5 mm beyond the EEL and delivers an amount of pharmaceutical agent sufficient to circumferentially permeate around the blood vessel and, in many cases, extend longitudinally and radially along the blood vessel. Confirmation that a delivery aperture of the needle lies beyond the EEL may be required before delivering the pharmaceutical agent.
US08708989B2	Tampon comprising a plurality of strips or cords A tampon that has a body including a first end, a second end, a center portion, a longitudinal axis and a radial axis. The body includes a plurality of cords or strips joined at the first end, the second end, the center portion or both the first and second ends. The plurality of strips and cords being selected from the group being selected from the group consisting of, films, woven materials, absorbent foams, superabsorbent polymers, and mixtures thereof.
US08708987B2	Ostomy appliance with moldable adhesive A body fitment for an ostomy appliance comprises an adhesive wafer including a moldable region shapable by the user. A removable release liner covering an external adhesive surface of the wafer is configured to permit molding of the moldable region by manually manipulating the adhesive through the release liner, and/or with removable segments. In an alternative form, an interior release liner is removable through the entrance aperture of the wafer, by pulling on a grip portion that protrudes through the entrance aperture. In an alternative form, an ostomy pouch includes a finger pocket in a front pouch wall, for permitting insertion of a finger tip for molding the moldable region of an adhesive wafer that is secured around a stomal aperture in a rear pouch wall.
US08708984B2	Reduced-pressure wound treatment systems and methods employing manifold structures Manifold structures, systems, and methods are disclosed that include using longitudinal members and one or more shaped projections to cause microstrain at a tissue site. In one instance a manifold structure includes a plurality of spaced longitudinal members and at least one shaped projection coupled to at least one of the plurality of longitudinal members for creating a microstrain at a tissue site. The at least one shaped projection includes a columnar member having a distal end and includes an enlarged member positioned at the distal end of the columnar member. The columnar member has a first outer diameter (D1) and the enlarged member has a second outer diameter (D2). The second outer diameter of the enlarged member is greater than the first outer diameter of the columnar member (D2>D1). Other systems, methods, and structures are presented.
US08708983B2	Antiseptic applicator An applicator assembly includes a body having a proximal and a distal end, a container slidably coupled to the body, a valve cap coupled to the container, and an application member attached to the distal end, wherein an interior of the container is placed in fluid communication with the application member by way of a fluid conduit that is only accessible when one of the body and the container are axially translated in an opposite direction away from each other.
US08708982B2	Wound protection and therapy system A method and apparatus for protecting and treating wounds are provided. A housing is adapted to be adhesively secured over the wound of an injured or infected person. The housing has an opening for access to the wound, and is further provided with inlet and outlet ports for the application of therapeutic materials. There is particularly provided a program for a closed looped system for such wound care. Additionally, the invention provides for a protective and treating cover for the eye, which can be either opaque or translucent. Additionally, a mechanism for accurately depositing eye drops without risking injury to the eye is also provided.
US08708974B2	Cylinder-piston unit of a disposable injector having increased operational safety The end face of a cylinder-piston unit has a press-in area, engaging around the mouth, and a press-on area, surrounding the press-in area. The press-in area comprises an inner web, delimiting the mouth, and an outer web. The webs delimit a recess, which surrounds the inner web and of which the depth measured parallel to the center axis of the cylinder-piston unit is at least a quarter of its width in a plane oriented normal thereto. The press-on area, at least during an injection, is offset counter to the injection direction relative to the end face of the press-in area. Moreover, the surface of the press-on area projected into a plane normal to the center axis is at least as large as the surface of the press-in area projected into the same plane.
US08708970B2	Injection needle assembly An injection needle assembly is presented having a tubular needle holder with distal and proximal engagement means, a tubular cap having proximal inner and outer engagement means, a tubular needle cover having a first engagement means arranged to cooperate with the proximal engagement means, and second engagement means arranged to cooperate with the proximal outer engagement means of the cap. The needle cover is arranged to be displaced from a first position wherein the second engagement means and the proximal outer engagement means prevents the needle cover and the needle holder to be axially displaced by a linear displacement, to a second position wherein the needle cover and the needle holder are distally displaced. The proximal inner engagement means of the cap and the distal engagement means of the needle holder prevents the needle holder to be proximally displaced but allows the needle cover to be distally displaced.
US08708969B2	Safety device actuation system The present disclosure relates to a safety needle assembly that includes a syringe and a safety mechanism. The safety mechanism includes a housing defining an internal cavity, a shield member at least partially disposed within the internal cavity, and first and second locking members that are configured to selectively engage and maintain the shield member in one or more predetermined positions. The locking members are movable between a locked position, in which the locking members are in engagement with the shield member to substantially prevent axial movement thereof, and a release position, in which the locking members are disengaged from the shield member to permit axial movement thereof. The first and second locking members each include biasing members. The biasing member of the each locking member is positioned to cooperate with the other locking member to normally bias the locking members towards the locked position.
US08708961B2	Apparatus for infusing liquid to a body An infusion device having a housing with a reusable control portion and an expendable reservoir portion includes a precise drive for an infusion pump. The drive includes a piezoelectric bender assembly, a limiter and at least one contact stop. The piezoelectric bender assembly includes a cantilevered piezoelectric bender having an member of predetermined thickness fixed to move with the second end. A limiter of dimensionally stable material including a gap and at least a first mounting hole extending to the gap. The member of predetermined thickness extends into the gap. A first contact stop is positioned in the gap to define a critical gap distance limiting movement of the member of predetermined thickness in the gap. A base has a mounting surface, a port through the base and extending to the mounting surface. The port includes a first length having a smaller diameter at the mounting surface and a second length displaced from the mounting surface and having a larger diameter. A rigid cannula extends from the base through the port. The rigid cannula has a diameter smaller than the smaller diameter of the port, and the first length of the port has an annular open gap for lateral or pivotal movement of the rigid cannula. A mount of elastomeric material in the length having the larger diameter mounts the rigid cannula. The cannula includes hydrogel material in a desiccated state coating the surface of the cannula, including the beveled end, which rehydrates upon placement in the patient.
US08708953B2	Steerable medical delivery devices and methods of use Steerable medical delivery devices and their methods of use.
US08708950B2	Medical treatment system and methods using a plurality of fluid lines A medical treatment system, such as peritoneal dialysis system, may include control and other features to enhance patient comfort and ease of use. For example, a peritoneal dialysis system may include patient line state detector for detecting whether a patient line is primed before it is to be connected to the patient. The patient line state detector can also the ability to detect whether a patient line has been properly mounted for priming. Both patient line presence/absence and fill state can be determined using an optical system, e.g., one that employs a single optical sensor.
US08708946B2	Access disconnection systems using conductive contacts An extracorporeal blood machine includes a blood circuit; an access device enabling the blood circuit to be connected to a patient; first and second coupling devices for connecting to first and second tubes of the circuit; first and second electrodes held by the first and second coupling devices to contact blood flowing through the blood circuit, the electrodes enabling an electrical signal to be injected into the circuit; first and second contact members contacting the first and second electrodes, wherein at least one of the coupling devices includes a stem portion enabling at least one of the first and second contact members to contact at least one of the first and second electrodes, respectively, on an outer portion of the at least one electrode without disturbing blood flowing through the coupling device; and electronics coupled operably to the first and second contact members for applying the electrical signal.
US08708945B2	Method for suppressing surgical site infection and column to be used for the method An object of the present invention is to provide a method for suppressing surgical site infections (SSI) that have occurred at extremely high incidence rates at the time of surgical operations and particularly surgical operations on digestive system organs, and to provide a column to be used for the method. According to the present invention, a method is provided for suppressing surgical site infections, which comprises the steps of: (a) administering a chemotherapeutic drug for treating and/or preventing a surgical site infection; and (b) collecting blood from a surgical subject and removing leukocytes that comprise neutrophils from the blood during or within 24 hours after surgical operation, and then returning the blood from which the leukocytes have been removed to the surgical subject. The present invention also provides a column for blood circulation which is filled with a carrier having affinity for leukocytes comprising neutrophils, which is used for suppressing a surgical site infection during or within 24 hours after surgical operation on a digestive system organ.
US08708939B2	Pronation/supination orthosis and method An orthosis for supination and/or pronation of a forearm of a wearer, the orthosis including a base, an upper arm support coupled to the base and configured to secure an upper arm of the wearer, a rotation assembly coupled to the base and including an output member rotatable relative to the base within a rotation plane, and a forearm support member coupled to the output member of the rotation assembly and configured to releasably engage a wrist and the forearm of the wearer.
US08708937B2	High frequency chest wall oscillation system A high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) therapy system includes an inflatable garment, an air pulse generator operable to produce oscillating pressure pulses that are communicated to the inflatable garment, at least one hose to interconnect the air pulse generator with the inflatable garment and to communicate the oscillatory pressure pulses from the air pulse generator to the inflatable garment. The air pulse generator is sized, shaped, and configured so as to occupy a volume no greater than about 1,200 in.3 and to weigh no more than about 17 lbs.
US08708936B2	Therapeutic system The therapeutic system provides an oscillatory, pivoting table for applying motion-induced therapeutic sensory stimuli to a user. Further, therapeutic audio and visual output may be provided to the user during the application of the therapeutic sensory stimuli. The therapeutic system includes a base having an upper vertex. A tabletop is pivotally mounted to the upper vertex of the base, and the upper surface of the tabletop is adapted for supporting the user. At least one piston is provided, with the lower end thereof being mounted within the base, and the upper end thereof being pivotally mounted to a lower surface of the tabletop in order to pivot the table with respect to the base in a controlled, oscillatory manner. Oscillation of the table at a user-controlled frequency and angle induces the therapeutic sensory stimuli in the user.
US08708935B2	System and method for variable depth ultrasound treatment A non-invasive variable depth ultrasound treatment method and system comprises a variable depth transducer system configured for providing ultrasound treatment to a patient. An exemplary variable depth transducer system can comprise a transducer configured to provide treatment to more than one region of interest, such as between a deep treatment region of interest and a superficial region of interest, and/or a subcutaneous region of interest. The variable depth transducer can comprise a transduction element having a piezoelectrically active layer, matching layers and/or other materials for generating radiation or acoustical energy. The variable depth transducer may be configured to operate at moderate frequencies within the range from approximately 750 kHz to 20 MHz or more. In addition, the transduction element may be configured with a variable depth device comprising one or more materials configured to allow for control and focusing/defocusing of the acoustic energy to more than one region of interest.
US08708927B2	Apparatus and method for medical measurement A measuring device for medical applications in at least one example embodiment includes a first part provided with measuring means for measuring data of a patient, and a second part provided with communication means for sending the data. In at least one example embodiment, the second part is releasably connected to the first part.
US08708926B2	Double temperature sensor A double temperature sensor is provided for determining the body temperature. The sensor includes at least a first temperature sensor element for measuring a near-surface temperature of the ambient air and a second temperature sensor element for measuring a temperature of the skin surface. The first and the second temperature sensor elements are arranged in a sensor block. A holding element surrounds the sensor block at least partially. An adhesive element fixes the holding element on the skin surface. A spring element acts on the sensor block and provides a spring force directed in the direction of the skin surface.
US08708924B2	Method and apparatus for management of heart failure hospitalization A hospitalization management system including a heart failure analyzer that receives diagnostic data including at least sensor data representative of one or more physiological signals sensed from a hospitalized patient using one or more sensors and assesses risk of rehospitalization for the patient using the diagnostic data. The outcome of the risk assessment is used during and following the patient's hospitalization for reducing the risk of rehospitalization.
US08708923B2	Wearable system for monitoring physiological signals A wearable system for monitoring a plurality of physiological signals is provided. The wearable system includes at least one sensor producing the physiological signals associated with a patient. A processor unit receives the physiological signals from the at least one sensor. The processor unit analyzes the physiological signals to determine the occurrence of a triggered event and produces at least one output signal identifying the triggered event. A transmission unit receives the at least one output signal and prepares for transmission of the at least one output signal.
US08708922B2	Electrically isolated catheter with wireless sensors A local power-delivery/data-reception unit is installed within an insertion end of a sealed catheter. The local power-delivery/data-reception unit wirelessly powers a separately sealed sensor that is attached to the insertion end and configured for wirelessly sending a data signal to the local power-delivery/data-reception unit. The catheter may further feature a remote power-delivery/data-reception unit disposed within the handle and configured for wirelessly communicating with the local power-delivery/data-reception unit and a controller for controlling the sensor.
US08708921B2	Method and device for detecting and assessing reactive hyperemia using segmental plethysmography A method for measuring reactive hyperemia in a subject is disclosed. The method includes performing a first segmental cuff plethysmography to generate a baseline arterial compliance curve and/or a baseline pressure-area (P-A) curve, performing a second segmental cuff plethysmography to generate a hyperemic arterial compliance curve and/or a hyperemic P-A curve, and calculating an area between the baseline and the hyperemic curves. The size of the area can be used as an indication of endothelial dysfunction (ED) and ED-related diseases.
US08708919B1	System and method for remotely sensing vital signs In accordance with the present disclosure, a method for sensing vital signs of a victim includes positioning a transmitter pod near a victim. The transmitter pod transmits a source signal. A reflected signal is created by reflecting the source signal off the victim. The source signal is directly received by a receiver that is remote from the victim and the transmitter pod. The receiver also receives the reflected signal, which is compared with the source signal. At least one vital sign is determined based on this comparison, and this vital sign is displayed. The vital sign may be the victim's heart rate or respiration rate.
US08708916B2	Ultrasound diagnostic appartus with CMUT bias voltage discharge system An ultrasound diagnostic system includes a connection section for detachably connecting an ultrasound device mounted with a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (C-MUT) and a transmission signal generation section that generates a transmission signal using a connector provided in the ultrasound device and a connector receiver provided in the ultrasound observation apparatus, a discharge section for discharging the charge applied to the C-MUT, a lock mechanism that keeps the connection section in a locked state and a released state and a switching section arranged on a signal line between the C-MUT and the ultrasound observation apparatus, wherein when a predetermined mounting state is set, the C-MUT is electrically connected to the transmission signal generation section via the signal line, and through switching by the switching section after an operation of unlocking the lock mechanism, a state is set in which the charge of the C-MUT of the ultrasound device is discharged.
US08708915B2	Ultrasonic probe The invention provides an ultrasonic probe having a frame to constitute a part of a cubicle, a motor fixed on the frame, a first arm with one end fixed on a rotating shaft of the motor, and a second arm with one end rotatably coupled with the other end of the first arm via a coupling shaft and with the other end having an ultrasonic element mounted thereon. The second arm has a lengthwise long groove and is slidably engaged with the fixed shaft of the frame in the direction of length. The length from an end of the second arm where the ultrasonic element is mounted on the coupling shaft is designed to be longer than the length from the rotating shaft to the coupling shaft, and further, to be longer than the length from the rotating shaft to the fixed shaft.
US08708912B2	Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and method of displaying ultrasound image Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes an unit 7 for forming time series tomographic images on the basis of a reflection echo signals received by ultrasound probe 2, an unit 8 for obtaining the elasticities of body tissue on the basis of the reflection echo signals and forming elasticity images on times series, an unit 9 for forming a superimposition image on time series by superposing the tomographic image on the elasticity image, an unit 43 for inputting an instruction for controlling superimposition image formation, and an unit 10 for displaying the superimposition image. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus further includes a freezing control portion (7, 8) for outputting an image, as a frozen image, selected in response to a freezing instruction for freezing the display operation on time series of any of the tomographic image or the elasticity image input into the input unit to the superimposition image forming unit.
US08708910B2	Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus and ultrasonic diagnosis method An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic probe which includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducers which transmit ultrasonic waves to an object, receive the ultrasonic waves reflected by the object, and output ultrasonic detection signals; a reception time calculating device which calculates at least one of a reception time and a reception wave at each of elements corresponding to lattice points set in a shallower region than a region of interest in the object; an image generating device which generates an image at a lattice point in the region of interest, based on a hypothetical sound velocity set in the region of interest and the calculated one of the reception time and the reception wave; an image analyzing device which analyzes the generated image; and a local sound velocity calculating device which calculates a local sound velocity in the region of interest, based on a result of the image analysis.
US08708906B1	Method for the prevention of dementia and Alzheimer's disease A method for the prevention of dementia is provided including the steps of testing, in a client, for a dementia risk factors (including those related to brain tissue, atrial fibrillation, hypercoaguable state, LDL cholesterol, carotid artery evaluation, tobacco use, hypertension, and inflammation evaluation), determining a score for each of the risk factors tested, wherein each score is based on a continuous scale from a low number to a high number, wherein a low number corresponds to a relatively low likelihood of dementia risk and a high number corresponds to a relatively low likelihood of dementia risk, applying all of the scores obtained to an equation that yields a resulting value proportional to an overall risk of dementia, and providing dementia risk reduction advice to the client to lower the scores for each of the components.
US08708902B2	Catheter configuration interface and related system A system for implementing a procedure for the diagnosis or treatment of tissue in a body is provided. The system includes an electronic control unit configured to generate a graphical user interface on a display. The interface depicts an image of the tissue. The unit is further configured to receive one or more inputs regarding target locations on the tissue for diagnosis or treatment. The electronic control unit identifies a catheter for use in the procedure and determines configurations for a distal end of the catheter at each target location. The unit superimposes representations of the distal end of the catheter having the determined configurations on the image of the tissue at the target locations. The unit may also generate control signals to guide the distal end of the catheter to the target locations and to assume the determined configurations at each location.
US08708899B2	Surgical access system and related methods A system for accessing a surgical target site and related methods, involving an initial distraction system for creating an initial distraction corridor, and an assembly capable of distracting from the initial distraction corridor to a secondary distraction corridor and thereafter sequentially receiving a plurality of retractor blades for retracting from the secondary distraction corridor to thereby create an operative corridor to the surgical target site, 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.
US08708897B2	Tunneling system A tunneling system for use with a catheter includes an elongate tunneling member defining a longitudinal axis along at least a portion of a longitudinal length thereof. The elongate member has a first end and a second end. The tunneling system further includes a connector configured for releasably engaging the second end of the elongate tunneling member to the catheter.
US08708893B2	Structural unit, endoscope, and adhering method The present invention provides a structural unit, an endoscope and an adhering method that suppress deterioration in adhesive strength of an adhesive that adheres plural structural members that structure the endoscope. An imaging unit 68 side of an adhesive 88 is covered by a first moisture-proof coating 91, and an obverse side of the adhesive 88 is covered by a second moisture-proof coating 92. Due thereto, in autoclave sterilization processing or the like, even if moisture passes along a wire portion 86 and penetrates into the imaging unit 68, penetration of the moisture into the adhesive is suppressed by the first moisture-proof coating 91. Due thereto, deterioration in adhesive strength of the adhesive, that adheres plural structural members of the imaging unit 68, can be suppressed.
US08708889B2	Jawed trocar assembly A trocar assembly is presented herein. The trocar assembly can have a hollow elongate member having a first end and a second end. The first end of the hollow elongate member can be open. The first end also can allows an implement to be inserted. The trocar assembly also includes a jaw hingedly coupled to the second end of the hollow elongate member.
US08708880B2	Three-layered containers and methods of making the same A thermally insulated container is disclosed. The container comprises an inner layer having a bottom portion with a bottom closure attached to the bottom portion. The container further comprises an outer layer wrapped around the inner layer. The container further comprises an insulating middle layer sandwiched between the inner layer and the outer layer. The middle layer has at least one aperture formed therein.
US08708877B2	Drum rotating device A drum rotating device enables a drum and a driving device mounted in the drum to be supported with a simple structure and which reduces the possibility that the driving shaft of the driving device may be offset with respect to the rotation axis of the drum. The drum rotation device includes the drum and the driving device arranged to drive and rotate the drum. The drum includes an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder arranged inside the outer cylinder coaxially therewith, and a support wall arranged to connect the outer and inner cylinders to each other at an approximately intermediate portion in the axial direction. The outer and inner cylinders are substantially cylindrical. The driving device is fixed to a frame at one axial end. The driving shaft of the driving device extends through the drum and is rotatably supported by the frame through a bearing at the other axial end. The driving shaft is arranged to extend through the inner cylinder, thereby being fixedly attached the drum so that the drum and the driving shaft can rotate together.
US08708872B2	Adjustable assembly for exercise apparatus Exercise apparatus and method with selectively variable stabilization enabling a user to progressively increase his/her core body muscular strength. In various embodiments, the exercise apparatus includes a resistance cabling system providing a user defined line of motion, and a partial stabilizer pad being adjustably positionable offset from the line of motion, wherein the user's core body is positionable against the pad and required to resist the torque created by the offset. The user can progressively increase the distance between the line of motion and partial stabilizer pad, in order to progressively increase the force which the user's core body must resist to maintain an upright stature. In this way, the user can progressively, over time, increase his or her core body strength. A vertically and rotatably adjustable handle/arm assembly, resistance cabling and pulley assembly, and an overall exercise apparatus having a relatively small footprint but allowing multiple variable exercise routines, are also provided.
US08708870B2	Weight plate with center post locking cartridge A weight plate for use with physical fitness weightlifting equipment so that the weight plate may be coupled to other weight plates and lifted together in a stack. Each weight plate includes a pivotal switch arm including a first end at which to receive a pushing force to cause the switch arm to rotate relative to the weight plate and an opposite end at which a curved fork is carried. In one embodiment, a center post runs continuously through the center bore holes of the weight plates. In another embodiment, an insert is located in the center bore hole of each weight plate to be mated to the insert from an adjacent plate. When the pivotal switch arm of any weight plate is rotated to a locked position, the curved fork is rotated with the switch arm into surrounding engagement with the center post or the insert.
US08708859B2	Multi-speed transmission having three planetary gear sets A transmission having an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes.
US08708851B2	Power transmission chain and power transmission system including same With a view to suppressing fretting in a power transmission chain, when a chain straight-line area is seen from a chain widthwise direction W, a flat portion 18 of a first pin 3 of the chain extends in an inclination direction D. A point of intersection P0 is formed by an imaginary line L1 which passes through a center position of an overall height h of the first pin 3 along the inclination direction D intersecting the flat portion. A point of intersection P2 is formed by an imaginary line L2 which passes through a contact portion A0 and which extends in a chain advancing direction X intersecting the flat portion 18 between the point of intersection P0 and one end P1 of the flat portion. When assuming that a distance between the point of intersection P0 and the point of intersection P2 is referred to as h1 and a distance between the point of intersection P2 and the one end P1 of the flat portion 18 is referred to as h2, 0.1·h1≦h2.
US08708849B2	Inverted tooth chain sprocket with frequency modulated meshing features A sprocket for an inside flank engagement inverted tooth chain includes tooth spaces each defined at least partially by the engaging flank of one tooth, the disengaging flank of another tooth, and a root surface that is located between the engaging flank and the disengaging flank of the tooth space. The engaging flank of each tooth space is defined as a mirror image of the disengaging flank of each tooth space relative to a tooth space centerline such that each tooth space is symmetrically defined about its tooth space centerline. The sprocket teeth include Type A Standard Teeth, Type B Standard Teeth, Type A Relieved Teeth, and Type B Relieved Teeth. The engaging flank of each Type A Relieved Tooth and both the engaging and disengaging flanks of each Type B Relieved Tooth are relieved or negatively offset. The root surface preceding a Type A Relieved Tooth or a Type B Relieved Tooth is raised so as to be located radially outward as compared the root surface preceding a Type A Standard Tooth or a Type B Standard Tooth.
US08708847B2	Sport ball casing and methods of manufacturing the casing A sport ball may include a casing and a bladder. The casing includes a plurality of panels having edge areas joined to each other with bonds, and the edge areas project toward an exterior of the ball. The bladder is located within the casing. In another aspect, the casing includes a first panel and a second panel that each have an exterior surface facing outward and an opposite interior surface facing inward. The interior surface of the first panel is bonded to the interior surface of the second panel to form a seam that joins the first panel and the second panel together. A method of manufacturing the casing may include forming thermal bonds between the panels.
US08708845B2	Ball bat including multiple failure planes A composite ball bat includes multiple failure planes within a barrel wall. By including multiple failure planes in a barrel wall, the bat exhibits a drop in performance when subjected to rolling or other extreme deflection, with no temporary increase in barrel performance. Because the barrel performance does not increase, the ball bat is able to comply with performance limitations imposed by regulatory associations.
US08708835B1	Golf putter apparatus Golf putter apparatus includes a golf putter, a laser light generator and mirror mounting structure inserted in the shaft maintaining proper positioning of a mirror used to reflect laser light from the laser light generator and operable to hold the mirror in stable fixed position and orientation.
US08708832B2	Electromagnetic swing Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a powered children's swing. In various embodiments, the swing includes a seat, swing frame, one or more swing arms, a first magnetic component, second magnetic component, swing motion sensor, and swing control circuit. The magnetic components are configured to generate a magnetic force that drives the seat along a swing path. The swing control circuit is configured to control the magnetic components based at least on input from the swing motion sensor and generate control signals causing the seat to swing with a substantially constant amplitude as specified by a user.
US08708830B2	Break away spline misalignment coupling A torque-limiting coupling may be used to provide a torsion drive between an engine or motor and a driven accessory. If an accessory should experience a catastrophic failure a torsion limit is exceeded and a spline breaks away from the coupling. This guarantees that the internal engine gearing used to drive the accessory is not compromised and interfering with essential moving parts inside the engine. Further, a misalignment compensation limits the side load and wear that occurs when coupling two precision shafts with little clearance on the bearings. With a misalignment coupling, the mount can be slightly out of parallel with no negative effects.
US08708829B2	Video game using short range communications to establish pairing and alternate communications during multiplayer gameplay Each game apparatus participating in a network system has a wireless communication module for performing a one-to-many wireless communication with reference to identifying information and a local communication module for performing a one-to-one infrared communication without referring to it. In a case that the one-to-many wireless communication is performed, pairing processing is executed in a tournament method such that a master and a slave are first decided between its own game apparatus and any one of the game apparatuses over the local communication module, and identifying information stored on the slave side is collected into the master side. In a case that its own game apparatus becomes the only master game apparatus as a result of a series of pairing processing, it transmits a signal including identifying information of all the game apparatuses over the wireless communication module whereas in a case that its own game apparatus becomes the slave apparatus, it receives the signal.
US08708828B2	Pluggable modular gaming modifiers and configuration templates for gaming environments Frameworks for providing modular computer program code and automated configuration of server-based gaming environments are disclosed. One or more “pluggable” modular gaming modifier can be provided for the modular computer program code without requiring the replacement of the entire computer program code for the game. Typically, the pluggable” modular gaming modifier can be added to or can replace one or more gaming modules or sub-modules, thereby requiring less time and effort for effectively modifying game presentation. In addition, configuration data can be generated and stored as configurations templates which can be used to configure one or more gaming machines in an automated manner. The configuration templates can be generated based on gaming modules and/or sub-modules provided for modular computer program code. As such, a content-based configuration template can effectively include and/or identify one or more modules, sub-modules and/or pluggable modular or sub-modular gaming modifiers associated with a modular computer program code. The configuration modules can be combined together for form configuration modules that effectively incorporate the features of two or more existing configurations.
US08708827B2	Network breeding game system, breeding game server apparatus and breeding game terminal apparatus, character display method, together with program and recording medium In a network game system, as well as causing a player to appreciate a growth of a character in accordance with an elapsing of time, to cause the player not to feel a strangeness either in a display of a character which another player is breeding. A visible range of a hypothetical space displayed on a display device for each player participating in a network game is managed. Also, a plurality of parameters, including a number of breeding days, strength, stamina and judgment, are set in a breeding character which each player breeds, and managed in a server apparatus. Although the number of breeding days is updated at a daily prescribed time, the strength, the stamina and the judgment are updated in accordance with details of breeding which each player has carried out for the breeding character. Information relating to a breeding character included in the visible range of each player, regardless of whether the relevant player breeds it or another player breeds it, is included in visible range information transmitted from the server apparatus.
US08708824B2	Information processing program A game system comprises image obtaining means, direction calculation means, first rotation means, and display control means. The image obtaining means obtains an image taken by an imaging device. The direction calculation means calculates a direction originally determined from the image of an imaging target included in the image taken by the imaging device. The first rotation means rotates an operation target in accordance with the calculated direction. The display control means generates an image in accordance with the rotation of the operation target performed by the first rotation means and displays the generated image on a screen of a display device.
US08708822B2	Information processing system and program A game system comprises image obtaining means, direction calculation means, moving means, and display control means. The image obtaining means obtains an image taken by an imaging device. The direction calculation means calculates a direction originally determined from the image of an imaging target included in the image taken by the imaging device. The moving means moves an operation target in a predetermined direction in accordance with the calculated direction. The display control means generates an image in accordance with the movement of the operation target performed by the moving means and displays the generated image on a screen of a display device.
US08708818B2	Display control system, display control method, computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon display control program, and display control apparatus An image of a virtual space viewed from a first virtual camera is displayed on a screen provided on an example terminal device, and an image of the virtual space viewed from a second virtual camera which operates in conjunction with the first virtual camera is displayed on a display device. A first user operates a user object while viewing the screen of the terminal device. A second user views the screen of the display device on which an image similar to that on the screen of the terminal device is being displayed, and indicates a position on the screen, using a controller. An indicated object is arranged at a position in the virtual space corresponding to the position indicated on the screen of the display device, and the indicated object is displayed on the screen of the terminal device.
US08708815B2	Game method and gaming system Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for gaming. A method includes the steps of displaying a set of objects and a set of prizes to a player, the number of objects and prizes being the same; receiving at least one object selection instruction from a player, each object selection resulting in one of the set of prizes becoming unavailable to the player; displaying to the player an award for ending the game that the player can accept or reject; if an award acceptance instruction is received from the player, granting the player the displayed award, or, if an award rejection instruction is received from the player, receiving at least one further object selection instruction, each further object selection instruction resulting in a further prize becoming unavailable to the player; and repeating the previous two steps until either an acceptance instruction is received or a last of the objects remains.
US08708814B2	System and method for playing a game having online and offline elements A system and method are provided for playing a game of chance. The game of chance may include, for example, a lottery-type or casino-based game. A partial result of the game of chance is revealed to a player in an offline portion of the game. The remaining portion of the result is revealed to the player in an online portion of the game. In one example, the online/offline game includes a slot machine game. In one example, the online/offline game includes a bingo game. In yet another example, the online/offline game includes a game of roulette. In one example, particular game features are associated with either the online or offline portions of the game. In this way, players are motivated to participate in both portions of the game, enhancing and prolonging the game experience.
US08708813B2	Network game system, game apparatus, storage medium storing program, and game controlling method A network game system includes a plurality of game apparatuses, a game server and a network. In the game apparatuses whose players are acquainted with each other, each-other's profile IDs are registered via a game server, and the contents of the registration are managed by the game server. A game apparatus having a released version game program performs a communication game inviting request on the game server while a game apparatus having its trial version game program performs a communication game participating request on the game server. If the game apparatuses are game apparatuses whose each-other's profile IDs are registered, the game server permits a connection to execute a communication game between these game apparatuses.
US08708803B2	Award features for a gaming machine and related methods A method for providing an award feature on a gaming machine is provided. The method includes providing a sequential series of games, each game of the sequential series producing a game outcome, which can be a winning or losing outcome. A winning outcome results in an award value to be added to a player's award total. The highest single award value is determined from all award values resulting from all the games of the sequential series of games. Prior to adding the highest single award value to the player's award total, a multiplier is applied to the highest single award value to obtain a multiplied value. The multiplied value is added to the player's award total in place of the highest award value.
US08708797B2	Device to automatically change award parameters for a gaming machine A control unit in communication with a plurality of gaming machines selects one or more of the active machines to be set to an enhanced play mode. The selection may be random or based on other factors. During the enhanced play mode, the awards attributed to each symbol combination are increased, and the game parameters, other than the award amounts may be changed.
US08708795B2	Method and system for facilitating extended play of a wagering game Systems and methods for facilitating one or more base wagering games in an extended format are provided. Outcomes for the base wagering game may be determined, and based on the outcomes, player rankings in the extended play wagering game may be determined.
US08708790B2	Method of operating an online game using consolidated game objects The present invention provides methods for playing a multi-player, online game in which players build virtual worlds by placing game objects into a game space and may consolidate multiple game objects into a single object such that the new consolidated object maintains some or all of the features of the original, separate objects but occupies less game space.
US08708784B2	Method and apparatus for processing poultry suspended by the feet from a conveyor hook A method for processing poultry suspended by the feet from a conveyor hook is provided. The method and apparatus allow the quality of the poultry to be classified and graded in a simpler and more effective manner to realize higher yields or an extra added value. In one exemplary embodiment a processing apparatus for a foot of the poultry is provided that includes a foot pad inspection apparatus.
US08708781B2	Systems and methods for grinding refractory metals and refractory metal alloys A system for grinding surgical needles made of refractory metal alloys such as tungsten-rhenium alloys includes a rotatable grinding wheel having a grinding surface, a layer of a binding material, such as a nickel binding material layer, overlying the grinding surface, and a plurality of abrasive particles, such as ABN600 abrasive particles, embedded within the binding material layer. The abrasive particles are similarly sized and the binding material layer has a thickness that is about 65% of the size of the similarly sized abrasive particles. The system includes a lubricating device adapted to apply a lubricant to an interface between the grinding surface and distal ends of needle blanks and a rotating element coupled with the rotatable wheel for rotating the grinding surface at about 10,000 surface feet per minute.
US08708780B2	Honing apparatus A rotary tool of a honing apparatus is provided with honing grindstones that grind a cylinder bore, and guide members that slide in a guide hole of a tool guide. The guide members are each constituted of a base member fixed to the tool body and a slide member fixed to the base member. The base member is composed of a ceramic material, and the slide member is composed of a cemented carbide material. With the guide members having such a configuration, electrolytic dressing is performed on the honing grindstones.
US08708774B2	Automatic grinding machine for end mills for wood, programmable with optical reading of the geometric characteristics and computerized shapening An automatic grinding machine for end mills for wood, programmable with optical reading of geometric features and for computerized sharpening, has a compact structure, which includes a computerized control panel actuating various assemblies adapted for automated sharpening. A first optical reading assembly has an arm for automatic movement from an inactive position to a position suited for detecting the geometric features of the end mill. A second assembly for holding the end mill is configured to move on command forward and backward and/or simultaneously rotate the mill about its own axis. A third assembly for supporting a cup grinding wheel is mounted on the vertical frame, which rests on a rotatable circular and horizontal base. The grinding wheel can move above and below, longitudinally along the mill and/or in front of it, on the right and left side to sharpen end mills for wood with a left-handed or right-handed helix.
US08708767B2	Color changing toys, games and devices In one aspect of the present invention, a toy arrangement involving a flickering, animated and/or luminescent toy object will be described. The toy arrangement includes a toy object having an ultraviolet sensitive layer. A light source is arranged to illuminate the ultraviolet sensitive layer with ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet sensitive layer is arranged to emit colored light in response to exposure to the ultraviolet light. In some implementations, the light source is arranged to vary the intensity of the ultraviolet light, which in turn can cause the colored light emitted from the toy object to fade, brighten and flicker. The toy arrangement may also include a speaker that emits sounds that are synchronized with changes in the colored light.
US08708765B2	Kit for constructing a play structure A kit for constructing a variety of play structures for children includes a plurality of arcuate tubes, a plurality of linear tubes, and a plurality of connectors. At least one of the tubes is releasably assembled together with another one of the tubes using the connectors to form a frame. An instruction manual provides directions for releasably assembling the tubes and the connectors to form the variety of play structures from the kit. The kit may also include at least one covering and at least one covering connector to releasably affix the covering to at least a portion of the frame of the play structure.
US08708750B2	Combo connector A receptacle connector includes an insulative housing, at least three terminal groups and a metal shell. The insulative housing has a base and at least three tongue pieces which integrally extend from the base and are transversally spaced apart to each other and in which a tongue piece of the tongue pieces at a left side thereof belongs to a left tongue piece, a tongue piece of the tongue pieces at a right side thereof belongs to a right tongue piece, and the other of the tongue pieces between the left tongue piece and the right tongue piece belongs to a middle tongue piece. The metal shell surrounds the tongue pieces and defines a common mating space as well as a first and second mating space.
US08708749B2	High-speed interface connector A high-speed interface connector is used for connecting a cable or a memory card each having a differential transmission system signal pin arrangement including a pair of differential transmission signaling pins that are adjacent to each other and two stable potential pins provided on both sides of the pair of differential transmission signaling pins, the two stable potential pins having potentials different from each other. The connector includes: a first and a second contact terminals for differential transmission respectively connected to the pair of differential transmission signaling pins; and a third and a fourth contact terminals provided on both sides of the first and the second contact terminal, the third contact terminal adjacent to the first contact terminal being connected to one of the two stable potential pins, and the fourth contact terminal adjacent to the second contact terminal having a potential identical to that of the third contact terminal.
US08708748B2	Electrical connector and method of assembling the same An electrical connector assembly (100) comprises: a first insulative housing having a base portion (11) and a mating portion (12), and a second insulative housing (4) located on the base portion. The second insulative housing defines a body portion (41) and a tongue portion (42). A number of contacts (2) are formed in the first and second insulative housings. Each of the contact defines a first mating section (201) and a second mating section (202), and a curved connecting section connected with the first and second mating sections. A first metallic shell (3) encloses and engages with the first insulative housing. A second metallic shell (5) encloses the second insulative housing and engages with the first insulative housing. And, a metallic connecting piece (6) respectively connects with the first and second metallic shells.
US08708737B2	Cable connectors having a jacket seal A cable connector has a jacket seal. In one example embodiment, the cable connector also has a pin configured to receive an inner conductor of a cable. In such embodiment, the connector has components or surfaces which cooperate to engage a section or portion of an outer conductor of the cable.
US08708734B2	Cable assembly A cable assembly, comprising a housing having a main portion, a plurality of conductive terminals received in the main portion of the housing, a cable having a plurality of wires and a metal shell with a no-joint-line surface enclosing the housing and comprising a front portion enclosing the housing and a rear portion enclosing the cable and a receiving space passing through the front portion and the rear portion.
US08708732B2	Connector having a receptacle and a plug with a pair of locking pieces with a pair of locking hooks Connector includes a plug and receptacle. The receptacle includes a cylindrical part and a flange. The plug includes a cylindrical barrel, which houses internal connectors, and a coupling nut. At an end of the barrel, an engaging piece and a pair of locking pieces, which face each other, project in an axial direction of the barrel. Locking hooks are formed at the tips of the locking pieces. The coupling nut is screwed onto the cylindrical part to connect the plug to the receptacle. Before the connection, the engaging piece and the locking pieces are inserted into and engaged with the cylindrical part and positioned. At the same time, the locking pieces are caught in the receptacle to temporarily secure the plug to the receptacle.
US08708731B2	Electrical assembly with socket and plug The invention relates to a plug assembly (1), a socket (2, 2′) and a plug with a plug member (3, 3′), wherein the socket (2, 2′) is shaped with a hollow receiving section (4) for receiving the plug member (3, 3′) in a mating direction (M). In order to latch or unlatch the plug assembly (1) the hollow receiving section (4) comprises at least one actuating zone (36), which can be deformed perpendicular to the mating direction (M), resulting in a movement of a latching element (9) of the receiving section (4). For improving the handling of the plug assembly (1), especially while connecting, the present invention provides that the socket (2, 2′) comprises supporting elements (29, 30, 31), which rest on an outer wall guiding section (13) of the plug member (3, 3′), assuring that only a proper deformation of the actuating zone (38, 39) occurs while mating the plug and the socket.
US08708730B2	Wireless internet device Embodiments of the present invention disclose a wireless Internet device. The wireless Internet device includes a device body (1) with an accommodation space, a connection interface (2) set in the accommodation space, and a subscriber identity module (SIM) card holder (3) configured to install a SIM card, where a push-locking apparatus (4, 5) is also set in the accommodation space; the push-locking apparatus (4, 5) includes a push part (41, 51) and a locking part (42, 52); the push part (41, 51) is connected to the locking part (42, 52). The solution provided in the embodiments of the present invention can achieve a purpose that the SIM card holder (3) cannot be randomly plugged in and out when the wireless Internet device works.
US08708718B2	Electrical connector with grounding contact having forked soldering branches A cable connector compatible to type-A USB 3.0 standard includes a number of contacts divided into a first contact group and a second contact group. The first contact group is compatible to USB 2.0 standard. The second contact group includes a number of second contacts having a first pair of high-speed differential signal contacts, a second pair of high-speed differential signal contacts and a grounding contact disposed between the first pair and the second pair of high-speed differential signal contacts. The second soldering section of the grounding contact is of a forked manner and includes at least a first branch and a second branch. As a result, it is more effective to solder the second soldering section of the grounding contact with a cable without any manual alignment work.
US08708717B2	Motherboard with edge connector A motherboard includes a board, and a hard disk drive (HDD) controller. The board includes an edge connector formed on a bottom side of the board. The edge connector includes a group of signal pins and a group of ground pins. Two cutouts are defined in the board and are located at two opposite sides of the edge connector. The HDD controller drives a storage device when the storage device is connected to the edge connector. The group of signal pins of the edge connector is connected to the HDD controller. The group of ground pins is connected to a ground layer of the motherboard.
US08708714B2	Capacitively coupled connector for electronic device An electrical connector is provided that includes a plug portion having an upper surface on which one electronic device is disposed, and a receptacle which is disposed on another electronic device. The plug portion has plug side contact conductors which are positioned separately from each other on a lower surface side of the plug portion. Between the plug side contact conductors which are positioned separately from each other, a capacitive coupling conductor is provided. The receptacle has a receptacle side contact conductors which are in contact with the plug side contact conductors. The plug side contact conductors and the receptacle side contact conductors have shapes corresponding to each other, and the receptacle side contact conductors retain the plug side contact conductors while the dielectric isinterposed between the capacitive coupling.
US08708704B2	System for providing roadmaps for building proficiencies in skill areas A system is described for providing roadmaps for building proficiencies in skill areas. The system may include a memory, interface, and processor. The memory may store skill area and skill level identifiers, and associated job experience data items describing tasks of a user within the skill area and skill level, formal learning data items describing learning activities of a user within the skill area and skill level, and collaborative data items describing collaborative roles of a user within the skill area and skill level. The processor may receive the skill area and skill level identifiers. The processor may retrieve the job experience, formal learning and collaborative data items associated with the skill area and the skill level identifiers. The processor may transform the data items into a roadmap describing the job experience, formal learning and collaborative data items recommended to reach the skill level, and provide the roadmap to the user.
US08708702B2	Systems and methods for learning using contextual feedback A method of supporting vocabulary and language learning by positioning at least one microphone so as to capture speech in the listening environment of a learner. The microphone is monitored to develop a speech signal. The speech signal is analyzed to determine at least one characteristic of the speech or vocalization, wherein the characteristic indicates a qualitative or quantitative feature of the speech. The determined characteristic is compared to a preselected standard or such characteristic is tracked to show growth over time and the comparison or growth is reported to the person associated with the speech signal or person who potentially can affect the language environment of the learner.
US08708700B2	Generating a chemical agent in situ A method of cleaning teeth by providing a device for generating a chemical agent in situ on an as-needed basis via the application of an electrical potential across a pair of conductors in communication with an electrolyte. The chemical agents may include ozone, hydrogen peroxide, peroxide, chlorine and/or hypochlorite. The device may include a voltage source and a first set of electrodes for applying an electrical potential to the electrolyte. The device may also include a second set of electrodes disposed about an anode of the first set of electrodes. The first and second sets of anodes cooperate to produce ions, peroxides, ozone and/or other chemical agents via the application of electrical potential to the electrolyte.
US08708698B2	Ligating device for arch wires or orthodontic wires and respective method for the application of an arch wire or an orthodontic wire The present invention relates to a ligating device (1) for arch wires or orthodontic wires, having a bondable base (2), for coupling to a tooth, and a main body (3), where the main body (3) has a slot (4), suitable for receiving a metal arch wire (5). The slot (4) has its entrance on one of its gingival or occlusal sides. The invention relates also to a method for the application of an arch wire or an orthodontic wire (5), by insertion of the arch wire or orthodontic wire (5) in a plurality of ligating devices (1) for arch wires or orthodontic wires, along a gingival-occlusal, or occlusal-gingival direction of insertion.
US08708693B2	Industrial burner and related combustion process for heat treatment furnaces A high speed burner having very low polluting emissions, suitable for the process for heat treatment furnaces of a load in free atmosphere. The burner is capable of creating a compact and lean flame with the peculiarity of keeping the NOx emissions at very low levels at any chamber temperature and at any excess combustion air. The burner requires a single inlet for the comburent air and a single inlet for the combustible gas.
US08708688B2	Thermally insulated die plate assembly for underwater pelletizing and the like An insulated die plate assembly for use in underwater pelletizing and other granulation processes includes a thin, continuous air chamber formed across the plate assembly generally parallel to the die face such that the heated upstream portion of the die plate assembly is thermally insulated from the downstream portion. The air chamber is atmospherically equilibrated by venting the air chamber to the atmosphere. The plurality of extrusion orifices, either individually or in groups, are formed in extrusion orifice extensions that extend through the insulation chamber so that the process melt to be granulated can pass therethrough. The orifice extensions and the components forming the air chamber around the orifice extensions channel heat along said extensions to maintain the process melt therein at a desired temperature, to help rigidify the die plate assembly and to better seal the air chamber.
US08708683B2	Mold-runner system having independently controllable shooting-pot assemblies A mold-tool system for use with a molding-system platen structure, the mold-tool system a frame assembly being connectable with the molding-system platen structure (107); and a set of shooting-pot assemblies being supported by the frame assembly, wherein control of each shooting-pot assembly of the set of shooting-pot assemblies is independent.
US08708681B2	Blow-moulding machine with blow mould locking in the clean room An apparatus for molding plastic preforms into plastic containers, includes a plurality of molding stations which are arranged on a movable carrier. The molding stations each include blow molds, within which plastic preforms can be molded into plastic containers by applying a flowable medium, as well as blow mold carriers for holding the blow molds, a clean room which at least partially surrounds the individual molding stations, so that the molding stations can be moved within the clean room, and a locking mechanism at least partially located within the clean room, to lock the two blow mold carrier parts together in a closed condition. The locking mechanism includes a first locking element that cooperates with a second locking element, the first locking element being arranged to be movable by a movement device that is supported by at least one bearing that is at least partially provided outside of the clean room.
US08708676B1	Drive system having a variable output gerotor pump A variable output assembly including a hydraulic pump disposed on a pump running surface located on a center section, end cap or other hydraulic mounting member. The pump may be a gerotor or other rotatable pump body. A support member is disposed between the pump running surface and the pump and includes a pump support surface having openings to permit fluid communication between the support member and the pump running surface. The support member is movable between neutral and a plurality of positions corresponding to forward and reverse directions of the output. In forward and reverse positions, the support member permits fluid communication between the pump and a first porting system, and in the neutral position the support member permits fluid communication between the pump and a sump through the support surface openings and a second porting system.
US08708674B2	Modular CPAP compressor A modular compressor assembly comprises a common motor assembly, an impeller, a blower housing and an engagement mechanism. The common motor assembly includes a stator housing containing a stator assembly and having a rotor magnet rotatably disposed therewithin. The impeller is mounted to and rotatable with the rotor magnet. The blower housing is selectable from among a plurality of blower housings each having a different cross-sectional geometry. The engagement mechanism is formed on the stator housing and/or the blower housing and allows interchangeable mounting of different blower housing configurations to the common motor assembly in order to achieve varying flow characteristics of the compressor assembly.
US08708673B1	Inline shaft driven draft inducer Draft inducers are set forth herein. According to one embodiment, a draft inducer for use with corrosive and high temperature gas includes an inline tubular housing, an impeller inside the housing, and a motor outside the housing. A drive shaft couples the motor to the impeller to rotate the impeller with force from the motor. According to another embodiment, an inline shaft driven draft inducer includes an inline tubular housing, a rotating member, a motor, and a drive shaft. The housing has an external perimeter, and the motor is outside the housing external perimeter. The rotating member is inside the housing, and the drive shaft couples the motor to the rotating member to spin the rotating member with force from the motor.
US08708672B2	Magnetic liquid pump assembly with shaft and axle arrangement A fluid pump assembly is provided. The pump has a pair of units magnetically coupled to each other. The first unit contains a drive motor and a magnetic assembly. The second unit contains a magnetic assembly and a blade of a propeller/impeller for imparting movement to a fluid. As the first unit is activated by the drive motor, a magnetic flux is created which in turn rotates the magnetic assembly in the second unit, driving the blade.
US08708668B2	Thrust generating apparatus A thrust generating apparatus is provided under water and configured to generate thrust by ejecting the water. A rotor main body includes: a first member including a side surface and outer peripheral surface which are opposed to a first water lubricated bearing; a second member including a side surface and outer peripheral surface which are opposed to a second water lubricated bearing; and a third member including a supporting surface contacting an inner peripheral surface of a rotor core. The first to third members are fixed to one another so that each member is detachable.
US08708667B2	Fuel pump assembly A fuel pump assembly for a fuel injection system comprises a drive shaft, at least two pump heads each of which is axially displaced along the drive shaft, each pump head having a respective plunger for pressurising fuel within a respective pump chamber, and at least two cams provided on the drive shaft, each of which is associated with a respective one of the pump heads. Adjacent pump heads are offset angularly from one another by an amount sufficient to allow a region of overlap, in an axial direction along the drive shaft, between the adjacent pump heads.
US08708662B2	Linear compressor A linear compressor for adjusting a variable rate of a cooling capacity is provided. The linear compressor may include a fixed member having a compression space formed therein, a movable member linearly reciprocated in the fixed member to compress a refrigerant drawn into the compression space, one or more springs provided to elastically support the movable member in the motion direction of the movable member, a motor unit including a motor connected to the movable member to linearly reciprocate the movable member in the axial direction and a capacitor connected in series to the motor, and a motor control unit controlling an AC voltage applied to the motor to adjust a variable rate of a cooling capacity by the reciprocation of the movable member.
US08708661B2	Compressor with oil level controller A compression device includes a controller to control an operating speed of a compressor based on a detected level of oil in an oil storage area. During a speed-change operation, the controller controls acceleration of the compressor to maintain the oil level within a predetermined range when the oil level is detected to be outside the predetermined range.
US08708660B2	Airfoil for a compressor blade The present disclosure provides an improved second stage airfoil for a compressor blade having a unique chord length (CD) stagger angle (γ) and camber angle (Δβ). The stagger angle (γ) and camber angle (Δβ) provide improved aerodynamics while the chord length (CD) provides for reduced airfoil weight.
US08708659B2	Turbine engine component having protective coating A turbine engine apparatus includes a structural component made of a superalloy material. A protective coating is disposed on the structural component and has a composition that consists essentially of up to 30 wt % cobalt, 5-40 wt % chromium, 7.5-35 wt % aluminum, up to 6 wt % tantalum, up to 1.7 wt % molybdenum, up to 3 wt % rhenium, up to 5 wt % tungsten, up to 2 wt % yttrium, 0.05-2 wt % hafnium, 0.05-7 wt % silicon, 0.01-0.1 wt % zirconium, and a balance of nickel.
US08708658B2	Local application of a protective coating on a shrouded gas turbine engine component A gas turbine engine component includes a blade section having an inner end and an outer end, a shroud section at the outer end, and a platform at the inner end. A protective coating is disposed on the shroud, where the blade section is substantially free of the protective coating. The protective coating may also be disposed on the platform.
US08708657B2	Rotor Disc A rotor disc 2 is provided with blade receiving recesses 40 at its outer periphery. The disc 2 has an internal cavity 34 for conveying cooling air to blades 4 retained in the recesses 40. Each blade-receiving recess 40 intersects the cavity 34 to provide communication between the cavity 34 and the recesses 40. The disc 2 may be made from separate disc components 12, 14 which define the cavity 34 between them.
US08708652B2	Cover plate for turbine rotor having enclosed pump for cooling air A cover plate for use with a rotor disk in a gas turbine engine includes an enclosed chamber associated with a web on the rotor disk. The enclosed chamber ensures that adequate cooling air is delivered by rotation of the cover plate.
US08708651B2	Aerodynamic performance enhancements using discharge plasma actuators The current invention provides significant performance improvements or significant energy savings for fans used in these applications: personal, industrial and automotive cooling, ventilation, vacuuming and dust removal, inflating, computer component cooling, propulsors for unmanned and manned air vehicles, propulsors for airboats, air-cushion vehicles, airships and model aircraft. Additionally, the invention provides higher performance such as higher lift and higher lift efficiency to small air vehicles. These advantages are achieved by using plasma actuators to provide active flow control effectors into thin fan blades and wing.
US08708650B2	Fan assembly A fan assembly for creating an air current includes a nozzle mounted on a base. The base comprises an outer casing, an impeller housing located within the outer casing, the impeller housing having an air inlet and an air outlet, an impeller located within the impeller housing and a motor for driving the impeller to create an air flow through the impeller housing. The nozzle includes an interior passage for receiving the air flow from the air outlet of the impeller housing and a mouth through which the air flow is emitted from the fan assembly.
US08708649B2	Architecture of a compressor rectifier The present invention relates to a turbine engine rectifier stage comprising a plurality of fixed vanes connecting an inner ferrule support 19 to an outer ferrule support 14, said inner ferrule support and said outer ferrule support defining an aerodynamic vein and comprising a set of contiguously assembled sectors 20,15 respectively, the plurality of fixed vanes comprising so-called structural vanes 5 surrounding so-called non-structural or aero vanes 6 so as to form boxes 7, said structural vanes 5 being rigidly attached to the ends of the sectors of the inner ferrule support 20 by means of attachment elements 17 in order to impart increased stiffness to the boxes 7.
US08708642B2	Stable wind power turbine A new improved compact wind power turbine with multiple turbine blades and an isolated arrow point stationary nose is presented. Turbine blades (rotors) are connected to a circular cage, and at the center of the turbine, the isolated arrow point stationary nose points forward. Each turbine blade has a 90 degree right angle fin connected to its tip for capturing the force of the wind that applies to the blade tip, which otherwise spills over, reducing wind force and creating turbulence at the tip. The captured wind at the blade tip increases the rotational force on the turbine blades creating a greater rotational force than on other market-available wind turbines. Preferentially, the turbine is directed into the wind either manually, or by using a tail vane or other means for orientating turbine into a wind. A generator or alternator converts the mechanical power into electricity for use at industrial, commercial or home sites.
US08708640B2	Method and apparatus for efficiently generating and extracting power from an air flow to do useful work A portion of the internal energy of a mass flow of a compressible fluid, such as air, is transformed efficiently into greatly increased flow kinetic energy by passing the flow through a set of converging nozzles in a cylindrical rotor; this accelerates the isentropic flow to sonic speed generating large thrust. The nozzle thrust generates torque, thus rotating the rotor which is coupled to a power take-off for doing useful work. The mass flow of air through the apparatus is supplied by a vacuum pump.
US08708637B2	Consignment system and method of loading a freight carrier The invention relates to a consignment system and method for loading a freight carrier (2) with freight units (4) forming a freight stack (3), either manually or on an automated basis. The consignment system comprises a device (1) with a positioning conveyor unit (16) which has conveyor tracks (50a, 50b) which can be adjusted by means of a displacement device (52) to a distance (53) determined on the basis of the conveying property of the freight unit (4) to be stacked and/or from a gap width (81) of a stack gap in a stack position of the freight stack (3).
US08708635B2	Compact roll-off trailer configurations for container-hauling applications A compact roll-off trailer is short and light, but able to carry a large load. As such, the unit competes with roll-off trucks. A horizontally tilt frame has a forward section coupled to a king-pin assembly, a rear section with wheels on at least two axles, and a mid section. A frameless version uses a set of opposing arms as opposed to a separate, non-tilting frame. A single hydraulic cylinder has a retracted state wherein the lift frame is generally horizontal for hauling, and an extended state wherein the lift frame is pivoted at an angle for loading and unloading. A mechanism may be provided for extending the rearward portion of the lift frame to ground level when the hoist frame is pivoted, and a mechanism for pulling a cable with a container attached thereto onto the lift frame for hauling. The mechanism for extending the rearward portion of the lift frame may either include a ‘stinger tail’ or a slide frame on the lift frame a hydraulic cylinder for extending and retracting the slide frame. The latter configuration may include one or two sets of rollers to accommodate both ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ type containers. A “dead-lift” container-pulling mechanism may also be provided.
US08708631B2	Fastening element for hard constructional components A fastening element for hard constructional components such as concrete, masonry, and the like, includes a cylindrical base body (22; 42; 62) having an inwardly located engagement element (28; 48; 68) for the setting bit and formed as a through-opening (31; 51; 71) in the bottom section (23; 43; 63) which is provided at the first end of the base body, a receptacle (29) opening toward the second end (25), remote from the first end and adjoining the engagement element (28; 48; 68) in a direction toward the second end (25), and provided with load application means (30; 50); and a self-tapping thread (27) provided, at least regionwise, on an outer surface (26) of the base body (22, 42; 62).
US08708624B1	Router chip guard A chip deflector repositionable as needed relative to a bottom work contacting surface of a hand-held power router. The chip deflector can be positioned in a shielding location below the bottom work contacting surface of the router. When the chip deflector is in the shielding position and the router is held so that the deflector is between the cutter and the worker it will deflect debris away from the operator. When not useful the chip deflector can instantly be repositioned to a non-shielding location flush with or above the bottom work contacting surface of the router. When in the non-shielding location no portion of the chip deflector protrudes beyond the bottom work contacting surface of the router thereby allowing the router to perform all basic routing without obstruction. Repositioning requires no tools or downtime plus safety and comfort are enhanced. Embodiments may be provided as original equipment or aftermarket retrofits.
US08708623B2	Angle tool holder for five-face machining The invention provides an angle tool holder to be disposed on an attachment attached to a spindle head of a vertical machining center and holding the angle tool holder to enable five-face machining of a workpiece. The angle tool holder denoted as a whole by reference number 500 has a shank 510 inserted to a spindle of the main machine, wherein a rotation of the shank 510 is transmitted via a gear transmission mechanism or the like disposed in a housing 540 so that the direction of a drive shaft thereof is varied orthogonally to thereby drive the angle cutter 520. An arm 550 connected to the housing 540 has three pull stud bolts 570 disposed thereon. The three pull stud bolts 570 are arranged at 90-degree intervals, and are clamped simultaneously by three collet chucks out of the four collet chucks disposed on the attachment unit for five-face machining.
US08708622B2	Gearwheel cutting machine having vibration damping Gearwheel cutting machine for machining the tooth flanks of gearwheels (1), comprising chucking means (20) for chucking a workpiece (1) to be machined; a gear cutting tool; and a flat, ring-shaped vibration-damping element (21) insertable in the area of the chucking means (20) during the chucking of the workpiece (1) to be machined, the ring-shaped vibration-damping element (21) being provided in order to suppress or damp vibrations.
US08708614B2	Cutting knife for chip-removing cutting tools with breaking notch A cutting knife for difficult-to-manipulate, chip-removing cutting tools, that is replaceably held in a knife window of a rotary-driven tool shaft of a base body, in which at least one knife holder that is connected to the cutting knife over a predetermined breaking point, and that assists with manipulation, is attached to the cutting knife, and is broken away for the tool shaft to be put to use.
US08708604B2	Quick release system for topsides float-over installation on offshore platforms The present invention provides a system and method that keeps a barge and grillage system on the barge in compression with a topsides supported by the grillage system during the transport, while providing a quick release system between the barge, grillage system, and topsides during an installation procedure that transfers the topsides to an offshore platform. The quick release system can be in tension to apply a compressive force between the grillage system and the topsides until the quick release system is released.
US08708602B2	System and methods for stabilizing subsea pipeline Systems and methods are described for controlling axial, lateral and/or vertical movements of subsea pipelines which reduce the need for expensive pipeline anchoring or other mitigation solutions. The pipeline is connected to a stabilizing structure generally adjacent to the pipeline using a plurality of load-bearing members attached to the pipeline and the stabilizing structure at a plurality of predetermined locations. Also described are systems and methods for monitoring operating parameters of the pipeline over time.
US08708601B2	Box culvert A box culvert assembly and method of forming a box culvert assembly is provided. The boxes forming the assembly comprise portions configured to allow pivoted assembly of one box into another, while reducing the likelihood of high stress or fracture. The box assembly further allows for a generally tight seal between the boxes.
US08708598B2	Stroke control trowel An automatic speed control system for a power trowel for regulated adjustment of rotational speed of the trowel rotor assemblies. The disclosure provides for and is configurable to automatically regulate trowel speed and can be adapted to utilize advanced control features like cruise control and power management. The disclosed system incorporates several user and feedback inputs in a number of logic patterns for trowel control.
US08708597B2	System and method for increasing roadway width incorporating a reverse oriented retaining wall and soil nail supports A system and method are provided for increasing the width of an existing roadway. The system incorporates a reverse-oriented retaining wall and soil nail supports. The retaining wall is formed by a first set of soil nails, wire mesh material, and one or more geotextile material layers. An alternate embodiment forms the retaining wall with a plurality of concrete blocks stacked and spaced to form a block wall. The blocks are mounted over the first set of nails. Backfill material fills a gap between the existing sloping surface and the retaining wall. A second set of soil nails can be provided for additional subsurface support. An upper surface of the backfill material can be paved to form the extended roadway width.
US08708591B2	Golf club cleaner with detachable brush A cleaning bottle has a detachable brush removably secured to the bottle. The cleaning bottle can have a spray head to spray liquid out of the bottle and deliver it to a desired surface, such as a golf club or a golf shoe, for example. The user can them use the brush, either attached to the bottle or after removing it from the bottle, to scrub the surface on which the liquid/cleaner in the bottle has been sprayed. A loop can be disposed on the bottle onto which a fastener, such as a carabineer fastener, can be used for easy transport of the bottle.
US08708587B2	Substrate treating apparatus with inter-unit buffers The invention provides coating units, heat-treating units, and a first main transport mechanism for transporting substrates to each of these treating units. The substrates are transferred from the first main transport mechanism to a second main transport mechanism through a receiver. When a substrate cannot be placed on the receiver, this substrate is placed on a buffer. Thus, the first main transport mechanism can continue transporting other substrates. The other substrates in the treating units are transported between the treating units without delay, to receive a series of treatments including coating treatment and heat treatment as scheduled. This prevents lowering of the quality of treatment for forming film on the substrates.
US08708585B2	Imaging apparatus and lens unit An imaging apparatus includes a first terminal and a second terminal and a control unit configured to perform switching between a first communication mode for outputting a clock signal via the first terminal and communicating with a mounted lens unit via the second terminal based on the clock signal and a second communication mode for communicating with the mounted lens unit via the first terminal or the second terminal without using the clock signal. The control unit continuously sets the first communication mode if the second communication mode is not usable for the mounted lens unit. On the other hand, the control unit sets the second communication mode if the second communication mode is available for the mounted lens unit and sets a baud rate to communicate with the lens unit in the second communication mode to be a baud rate value received from the lens unit.
US08708576B2	Electro-optical device having an elastomeric body and related methods An electro-optical device may include a substrate having opposing first and second surfaces and an opening extending therebetween. The optical device may also include an optical waveguide extending laterally along the first surface and having an end aligned with the opening, and an electro-optical component carried by the second surface and aligned with the opening. The electro-optical device may further include an elastomeric body within the opening and having a first end face adjacent the optical waveguide and having a second end face adjacent the electro-optical component. The elastomeric body and the optical waveguide may have respective gradient refraction indices within ±5% of each other.
US08708575B2	Active optical connector using audio port An active optical connector using an audio port includes a plug insertable into a jack having an optical transceiver module. A conductor is mounted on the plug. Optical fibers extend through a central bore of the plug and have front ends held in a fiber ferrule. The jack has a terminal for contacting the conductor on the plug. The optical transceiver module has a receptacle for receiving the fiber ferrule. A light source emits light to an optical fiber, and a photo-detector receives light from another optical fiber. A controller chip has a converting circuit configured to convert electrical signals into optical signal and optical signals into electrical signals.
US08708574B2	Safeguard device for an interface of a fibre adapter The present invention relates to a field of optical fiber communication. A safeguard device for a fiber adapter used to connect an input optical fiber connector with an output optical fiber connector is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the safeguard device comprises a shutter and a shutter locking unit. The shutter is operably provided at an interface of said fiber adapter to allow the interface to switch between an open position and a closed position, wherein, the shutter at least shuts off the optical beam emitted from the input optical connector when in said closed position. The shutter locking unit is adapted for selectively locking the shutter in the open position or in the closed position. The safeguard device for the interface of the fiber adapter is configured to lock the shutter in the conventional fiber adapter to stably hold the interface of the fiber adapter in an open position or in a closed position, especially, to lock the shutter in the closed position to shut off the optical beam emitted from the input optical fiber connector so as to effectively prevent the emission leakage of the optical beam from the input optical fiber connector, thus avoiding potential safety hazard to the user.
US08708573B2	Connector system with physical security feature A connector system comprising: a multi-plug connector, each plug having a housing and a ferrule, said housing having a front and back orientation and having a front face defining an opening, said ferrule being disposed within said opening, said housing defining a first keying element on said front face around said opening, at least two housings of said multi-plug connector having different said first keying elements.
US08708572B2	Retainer segment for tapered roller bearing, tapered roller bearing, and method for mounting tapered roller bearing An object of the present invention is to prevent breakup of segments which constitute a split type retainer for a tapered roller bearing, when the tapered roller bearing is being mounted on target equipment, thereby improving operability in the mounting process. A segment for a tapered roller bearing is provided with a predetermined number of posts between a small-diameter-side end fringe which constitutes a small-diameter-side circumferential edge of a split type retainer and a large-diameter-side end fringe which constitutes a large-diameter-side circumferential edge thereof. Pockets are formed between the posts. At least the large-diameter-side end fringe, out of the small-diameter-side end fringe and the large-diameter-side end fringe, is provided with a large-diameter-side engagement piece. When the bearing is mounted, the large-diameter-side engagement piece is engaged with the large-diameter engagement member fitted and fixed onto the bearing's inner ring, whereby the segment is prevented from breaking up.
US08708568B2	Synthetic resin-made thrust sliding bearing A synthetic resin-made thrust sliding bearing 1 includes a synthetic resin-made upper casing 12, a synthetic resin-made lower casing 22, a synthetic resin-made thrust sliding bearing piece 33 interposed between the upper casing 12 and the lower casing 22, an outer elastic seal member 47 having an inner elastically deformable lip portion 43 and an outer elastically deformable lip portion 46, and an inner elastic seal member 54 having an outer elastically deformable lip portion 50 and an inner elastically deformable lip portion 53.
US08708565B2	Bearing arrangement A bearing arrangement of a shaft (2) is provided with which an annular bearing sleeve (4) is applied onto the shaft (2). At least in the axial region in which the bearing sleeve (4) is arranged, the shaft (2) includes a profiling extending parallel to its longitudinal axis (X). A corresponding engagement element (12) on the inner periphery of the bearing element (4) engages the profiling with a positive fit. At least one engagement element (12) extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis (X) of the shaft (2) only over a part of the length of the bearing sleeve (4).
US08708560B2	Method and apparatus for adjusting the color properties or the photometric properties of an LED illumination device The invention relates to a method for the temperature-dependent adjustment of the color properties or the photometric properties of an LED illuminating device having LEDs emitting light of different colors or wavelengths or LED color groups emitting light of the same color or wavelength within a color group, the luminous flux portions thereof determine the color of light, color temperature and/or the chromaticity coordinates of the light mixture emitted by the LED illuminating device.
US08708550B2	Fluid processing apparatus and processing method A fluid is processed between processing surfaces capable of approaching to and separating from each other, at least one of which rotates relative to the other. A first fluid is introduced between processing surfaces, by using a micropump effect acting with a depression arranged on the processing surfaces from the center of the rotating processing surfaces. A second fluid, independent of this introduced fluid, is introduced from another fluid path that is provided with an opening leading to the processing surfaces, whereby the processing is done by mixing and stirring between the processing members.
US08708545B1	Frame structure of light module A frame structure of a light module is described. The frame structure includes a rear plate including first side plates, a plastic frame and a front frame. Each first side plate is set with at least one fixing hole and includes top positioning protrusions. The plastic frame includes second side plates disposed on the first side plates. Each second side plate includes a connecting part disposed on the first side plate, at least one fixing element connected to the connecting part and lodged in the fixing hole, and positioning elements protruded on the connecting part. Each positioning element has a positioning slot. The top positioning protrusions are embedded in the positioning slots. The front frame includes side rims disposed on the second side plates. Each side rim is set with positioning holes. The positioning elements of each second side plate are embedded in the positioning holes.
US08708544B2	Light source unit and device using same Provided is a light source unit in which locating components are mounted on a substrate together with LEDs forming a light emitting portion, and with this, the light source unit can be more easily replaced, and the number of components can be reduced.
US08708541B2	Backlight module and display panel The present invention provides a backlight module and display panel. The backlight module includes a light guiding plate, an optical film, and at least two positioning structure. The at least two positioning structure are placed on the opposite side surfaces of the light guiding plate. Each of the positioning structure includes a main positioning member and a sub positioning member fixedly connected to the main positioning member. The main positioning member is fixedly connected to the side surface of the light guiding plate. The sub positioning member extends for a fixing distance along the main positioning member. The opposite at least two sub positioning member fix the optical film on the emitting surface of the light guiding plate.
US08708538B2	Vehicle lamp A vehicle lamp includes a plurality of light sources, and a light guide plate configured to emit light to the front side of the lamp from a second surface facing a first surface by internally reflecting light, which is emitted from the respective light sources, by a plurality of reflective elements formed on the first surface after causing the light to enter the light guide plate from a rear end face of the light guide plate. The light guide plate is curved to the first surface and gradually becomes thinner toward the front side. The reflective elements are disposed at a predetermined interval in a longitudinal direction and extend in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction.
US08708536B1	Optic assembly for mirror An optic assembly has a reflector with a reflective surface, one or more light sources, and mask assembly with one or more apertures. Light rays from a light source are refocused and substantially converged before being emitted through one or more apertures in the mask assembly.
US08708533B2	Lighting fixture for bicycle A bicycle lighting fixture includes a housing defining therein an accommodation chamber, a reflector mounted in the accommodation chamber and a light source mounted in the accommodation chamber for emitting light onto the reflector. The reflector provides a curved reflecting surface facing toward the outside of the accommodation chamber and defining a plurality of reflecting surface areas at different elevations and a terrace surface connected between each two adjacent reflecting surface areas.
US08708528B2	Multiple focus point light A lamp unit with a relay lens that allows two different focus points. Two different optical altering elements are hence simultaneously in focus. The elements can be taken in and out of focus to allow different effects.
US08708523B2	Panorama lamp with 360 degree peripheral illumination A panorama lamp with 360 degree peripheral illumination with reference to an axis of the lamp is disclosed. Each of the light units mounted on a heat sink has a light chip facing outward from the lamp. Either a protection cap or a circular wall lens can be optionally adopted to cap the top of the lamp. The protection cap provides protection to the chips of the lamp from being damaged. The circular wall lens modifies the beam profile of the lamp to meet various market requests.
US08708519B2	LED conversion module for incandescent work light An LED conversion module for converting an incandescent work light to an LED work light includes an enclosure housing a plurality of LEDs, wherein at least a portion of the enclosure permits light generated from the LEDs to pass therethrough. A screw base is coupled to the enclosure and extends outwardly therefrom. The screw base provides electrical communication between the LEDs and a screw-type light socket disposed in a work light handle. A hook is coupled to the enclosure to facilitate hanging the LED conversion module and handle from a support structure.
US08708514B2	Portable device for hands-free illumination A portable device for hands free illumination includes a battery pack and a lamp assembly coupled to the battery pack to receive power. The lamp assembly includes a housing defining an opening extending along at least a portion of two sides and defining an enclosure, a light source within the enclosure and coupled to the battery pack to receive power, and a transparent cover sized to fit over the opening to seal the enclosure and to permit light to pass through in at least two directions.
US08708513B2	Device and system for illuminated apparel A system for creating a lighted apparel design includes a light element and a securing member. The securing member has a base and a capture portion. The capture portion is located, at least in part, attached to the base and defines a capture region configured to releasably secure the light element therein. The securing member is secured to an associated apparel item and the light element secured in the capture region to create a lighted design on the apparel item. A lighted apparel item is also disclosed.
US08708512B2	Backlight system The present invention provides a backlight system, which includes an LED light source, a back frame, and a PCB. The LED light source comprises an LED lamp and an LED substrate. The LED substrate includes, sequentially stacked, a first conductor wiring layer, a first insulation layer, an aluminum substrate, a second insulation layer, and a second conductor wiring layer and the LED lamp is mounted on the first conductor wiring layer. The back frame carries the LED light source and includes at least two primary assembling pieces. The at least two primary assembling pieces are joined to form a main frame structure of the back frame. The PCB is disposed on the second conductor wiring layer of the LED substrate. The backlight system of the present invention can reduce the cost of back frame mold and save the material and space of the back frame, so as to lower down the cost of the backlight system.
US08708511B2	Semiconductor light source apparatus and lighting unit A semiconductor light source apparatus can emit various color lights having a substantially uniform color tone and high brightness. The semiconductor light source apparatus can include a radiating substrate, at least one phosphor layer disposed on the radiating substrate and a semiconductor light source emitting blue light. The at least one phosphor layer can be composed of at least one of a glass phosphor and a phosphor ceramic. The light source can be located adjacent the phosphor layer so that the blue light having high brightness can be efficiently reflected on the radiating substrate via the phosphor layer while preventing the blue light from a mirror reflection on the phosphor layer. Thus, the disclosed subject matter can provide a semiconductor light source apparatus that can emit various uniform color lights having high brightness and a lighting unit using the light source apparatus, which can be used for general lighting, vehicle lighting etc.
US08708509B2	Strobe device Each of electrode terminals is provided with an electrode connection section connected to an electrode of an electric discharge tube. When an exterior member is mounted on a housing, a concave section of the exterior member abuts on the electrode connection section of the electrode terminal, to displace the electrode connection section in a direction in which the electrode of the electric discharge tube is held therein. Thus, the exterior member is mounted on the housing so that connection between the electrode of the electric discharge tube and the electrode connection section can be completed. Therefore, connection work can be significantly easily performed without requiring soldering and press fitting.
US08708507B2	Optical apparatus for magnifying a view of an object at a distance The magnifying apparatus is based on two dimensional arrays of micro magnifying modules (MMMs) positioned along a plane perpendicular to the axis of the magnifying apparatus. In addition, the structure may include a two dimensional array of micro beam multipliers (MBMs) to improve the quality of the magnified image. The micro beam multipliers are positioned along a plane parallel to the array of micro magnifying modules. The structure also may include a two dimensional array of ray angle adjusters (RAAs) to extend the view angle. The ray angle adjusters are positioned along a plane parallel to the array of micro magnifying modules. The array of micro magnifying modules, with or without the micro beam multipliers and/or ray angle adjusters, may be constructed as a thin plate with a thickness of a few millimeters, through which the object is viewed. An object at a distance appears in the magnifying apparatus as a magnified image and the magnifying apparatus can be used for viewing an object at a distance in a way similar to the use of a conventional magnifier for viewing an object in a short distance.
US08708491B2	Method and system for measuring an eye There is provided a system, apparatus and methods for developing laser systems that can create a precise predetermined capsulotomy. The systems, apparatus and methods further provide laser systems that reduce the patient-to-patient variability and doctor-to-doctor variability associated with hand held apparatus for performing capsulorhexis and capsulotomies. There is further provided a precise predetermined shot pattern and shaped capsulotomy that is based at least in part on the shape of an IOL and in particular an accommodating IOL.
US08708490B2	Method and a device for automatically measuring at least one refractive characteristic of both eyes of an individual A method for automatically measuring at least one refractive characteristic of both eyes of a person, includes: a) adjusting at least one position of a person's head, in a reference system connected to an image capture apparatus set up to convert each captured image into a signal representing the image; b) illuminating both eyes with at least one light source, whose position is known within the reference system; c) measuring at least one sight direction parameter connected to the sight direction of the person within a reference system connected to the head thereof; d) capturing at least one retinal reflection image from the light source onto the retina of both eyes; f) determining, from the captured image in Step d), the refractive characteristic of the eyes; and h) storing the sight direction parameter in relation to the predetermined refractive characteristic during the image capture in Step c).
US08708485B2	Method for providing a spectacle ophthalmic lens by calculating or selecting a design A method for providing a spectacle ophthalmic lens to a wearer, the method comprising the following consecutive steps: measuring the visual acuity value(s), VA, of the eye(s) of the wearer or the binocular visual acuity value, VAbino, of both eyes of the wearer where the eye(s) of the wearer is (are) substantially free of low order aberrations or is (are) corrected of low order aberrations; calculating thanks to computer means a design of the spectacle ophthalmic lens or selecting a design in a spectacle ophthalmic lens design data base by adapting the management of residual astigmatism based on the measured visual acuity value(s) of the eye(s) of the wearer.
US08708477B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head having a nozzle opening for ejecting a liquid; a heating unit disposed opposite a liquid ejecting surface of the liquid ejecting head; a transport unit that transports a liquid-ejection-target medium between the liquid ejecting head and the heating unit; a blower unit that blows air onto a liquid-ejection-target surface of the medium; and a blowing control unit. The blower unit is able to vary an amount of air blown in a plurality of regions disposed along a certain direction, the plurality of regions including a region of the liquid-ejection-target medium, and the blowing control unit controls an amount of the air blown from the blower unit in the plurality of the regions along the certain direction on the basis of a width of the medium in the certain direction.
US08708475B2	Ultraviolet crosslinking inkjet ink, ink cartridge containing same, and image forming method and apparatus using same An ultraviolet crosslinking inkjet ink including a radically polymerizable monomer including a methacrylate and no acrylate; and a photoradical generator. An ink cartridge including the ultraviolet crosslinking inkjet ink and a container containing the ultraviolet crosslinking inkjet ink therein. An image forming method including ejecting droplets of the ultraviolet crosslinking inkjet ink toward a recording material to form an image on the recording material; and irradiating the image with ultraviolet light to crosslink the image. An image forming apparatus including a recording device to eject droplets of the ultraviolet crosslinking inkjet ink toward a recording material to form an image on the recording material; and an ultraviolet irradiator to irradiate the image with ultraviolet light to crosslink the image.
US08708468B2	Image forming apparatus including recording head for ejecting liquid droplets An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, head tanks, replaceable main tanks, liquid feed pumps, a first driving source, and a drive switching assembly. The feed pumps feed liquids from the main tanks to the head tanks and in reverse from the head tanks to the main tanks. The drive switching assembly selectively transmits a driving force of the first driving source to the feed pumps. The drive switching assembly includes a second driving source, a cam, a slider member, and a switching gear. The switching gear receives the driving force of the first driving source and is movable with the slider member between positions to engage driving gears of the feed pumps and a position to disengage from the driving gears. With movement of the switching gear, the driving force of the first driving source is selectively transmitted to the feed pumps.
US08708460B2	Piezoelectric actuator device and printer There is provided a piezoelectric actuator device including a piezoelectric actuator which includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements, each of which has a piezoelectric layer sandwiched between two types of electrodes; and a plurality of driver ICs which drive the piezoelectric elements, wherein a part of the piezoelectric elements are connected to the plurality of driver ICs.
US08708455B2	Capping device and liquid ejection apparatus A capping device including: (a) a cap structure is movable, relative to an object, in a contact direction toward a surface of the object so as to be brought into contact with the surface, for thereby covering the surface of the object; (b) a transmission mechanism configured to transmit, to the cap structure, a pressing force that causes the cap structure to be brought into contact with the surface; and (c) a support member supporting the transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism is configured to restrain increase and reduction of the pressing force, such that the pressing force transmitted to the cap structure is held in a given amount range at least when a distance between the cap structure and the support member in the contact direction is in a given distance range while the cap structure is in contact with the surface.
US08708454B2	Fluid ejecting apparatus A fluid ejecting apparatus includes a fluid ejecting head and a fluid receiver. The fluid ejecting head has an ejection face in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting fluid is formed. The ejection face is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane. The fluid receiver receives the fluid discharged from the fluid ejecting head. The fluid receiver includes a holding portion that holds an absorbing member. The absorbing member absorbs the fluid. A fluid reservoir is formed in the fluid receiver. The fluid reservoir can contain the fluid, thereby offering a fluid-retaining function that is different from the retention of the fluid due to absorption by the absorbing member.
US08708451B2	Liquid ejection apparatus A liquid ejection apparatus includes a head for ejecting liquid, a cap unit for sealing an ejection surface of the head, a humidified air supply mechanism for performing a humidifying operation; a forcible discharge mechanism for performing a forcible discharge operation of forcibly discharging liquid from the ejection ports, a measuring unit for measuring a lapse time after a power supply becomes off and until the power supply becomes on, and a control unit for controlling the humidifying operation when the power supply becomes off, and controlling the forcible discharge operation when the power supply becomes on. When the power supply becomes on, the control unit controls the humidifying operation before performing the forcible discharge operation based on whether the lapse time measured by the measuring unit exceeds a predetermined time.
US08708449B2	Liquid ejection device and liquid testing method A liquid ejection device includes a plurality of nozzles and a common ejection testing portion. The nozzles are arranged to eject a liquid. The common ejection testing portion is provided in common to the nozzles, the common ejection testing portion being arranged to perform ejection testing of each of the nozzles during printing. At least one of the nozzles is selected to be tested using the common ejection testing portion when the liquid is ejected from the nozzles based on print data. The nozzles that eject liquid being identified based on the print data, and one of the nozzles, which have not been tested, having low ejection frequency based on the print data being selected as the at least one of the nozzles to be tested.
US08708445B2	Printing device, printing method, and program A printing device includes: a driving motor that applies a power rotating a roll body in which a medium is rolled; a driving roller that transfers the power of the driving motor to the roll body; a transport motor that applies a power transporting the medium; a transport roller that is provided further to the downstream side than the roll body in the transport direction of the medium; and a looseness acquiring unit that acquires an looseness between the driving roller and the transport roller. When the looseness is equal to or more than a predetermined looseness, the driving motor is controlled on the basis of the looseness acquired by the looseness acquiring unit. When the looseness is less than the predetermined looseness, the driving motor is controlled on the basis of tension between the driving roller and the transport roller.
US08708443B2	Element substrate, printhead, head cartridge, printing apparatus, and method for confirming electrical connection status of printhead and printing apparatus An element substrate capable of independently confirming an electrical connection status with a logic power source without increasing costs due to increasing the number of terminals or the like. The element substrate includes a connection status output circuit that outputs a signal in response to a connection status of a logic power source input terminal, or a connection status of input terminals of each of a print signal, a clock signal, a drive signal, and a latch signal, and a connection status output terminal that outputs an output signal from the connection status output circuit.
US08708438B2	Printer having energy storage device A printer includes an energy storage device and a charger for charging the energy storage device and for providing a first DC voltage. The printer includes a first DC-to-DC voltage converter for converting the first DC voltage to a second DC voltage. The printer includes first printer electronics powered by the second DC voltage.
US08708435B2	Upper drawer insert An insert drawer arrangement attachable to an existing drawer of a file cabinet to define a raised second storage compartment. The arrangement includes an insert drawer provided with end panels which are disposed sidewardly adjacent separate mounting panels, the latter being mounted on the end walls of the existing drawer. The sidewardly adjacent end and mounting panels have a horizontal guide structure cooperating therebetween to enable the insert drawer to be horizontally moved from a first position superimposed over the existing drawing into a second position wherein it is cantilevered outwardly beyond the existing drawer to permit access to the interior of the existing drawer.
US08708429B2	Hydraulic braking assembly for a vehicle comprising a hydraulic fluid level sensor A hydraulic braking assembly (14) for a vehicle comprising an electric servomotor (15), a master cylinder (16), a hydraulic fluid tank (17) mounted on the master cylinder, a hydraulic fluid level sensor (25) situated inside the fluid tank and monitoring the hydraulic fluid level inside the tank. The fluid level sensor is connected from the tank to the computer of the electric servomotor by a cable (26).
US08708425B2	Bimetallic casting A method of forming a casting includes providing a preform to a mold cavity. The preform is formed from one of a first metal and a second metal and defines an interface surface. A molten portion of the other of the first metal and the second metal is cast into the mold such that the molten portion proximately contacts the interface surface of the preform. An interface layer at the interface surface, a first portion defined by the mold cavity and the interface layer, and a second portion defined by the interface layer, are formed during casting. The interface layer may define a metallurgical bond between the first portion and the second portion. In the non-limiting example provided herein, the first portion is substantially comprised of aluminum and the second portion is substantially comprised of magnesium. In a non-limiting example, the casting may be configured as a vehicle wheel.
US08708424B2	Interface fitting for a cycle wheel and a cycle wheel comprising a rim, a tire, and such fitting A cycle wheel that includes a rim and a tire, having a width S, the rim including a rotational body whose cross section includes a main portion, having a width L greater than the width S, and a peripheral portion which is radially positioned outside of the main portion and which includes an annular cavity in which the tire is partially received. The outer surface of the wheel is comprised of the portions of the tire and of the rim facing outward of the wheel. The wheel further includes an interface fitting in contact with the rim and the tire, the interface fitting being positioned in a groove, one side wall of which is a portion of the outer surface of the tire and the other side wall of which is a portion of the outer surface of the rim. The interface fitting constitutes an intermediate portion of the outer surface of the wheel, the fitting being a deformable portion distinct from the tire and the rim, and at least 40% of the volume of the interface fitting being comprised of a hollow space.
US08708423B2	Customizable modular brush system and method thereof A system and method that utilizes modular components to form a customizable brush for different applications with ease and at a low cost. The system and method utilizes three main components: a base, a plurality of rails, and a plurality of strip brush elements. The plurality of rails is fastened to the base and the plurality of rails holds the strip brush elements to the base to form a brush. All three components may be made of a thermoplastic or thermoset, non-metallic material which can be either rigid or flexible to allow the resulting brush to be easily recyclable.
US08708422B1	Inherently safe in situ uranium recovery An in situ recovery of uranium operation involves circulating reactive fluids through an underground uranium deposit. These fluids contain chemicals that dissolve the uranium ore. Uranium is recovered from the fluids after they are pumped back to the surface. Chemicals used to accomplish this include complexing agents that are organic, readily degradable, and/or have a predictable lifetime in an aquifer. Efficiency is increased through development of organic agents targeted to complexing tetravalent uranium rather than hexavalent uranium. The operation provides for in situ immobilization of some oxy-anion pollutants under oxidizing conditions as well as reducing conditions. The operation also artificially reestablishes reducing conditions on the aquifer after uranium recovery is completed. With the ability to have the impacted aquifer reliably remediated, the uranium recovery operation can be considered inherently safe.
US08708420B2	Bulk material handling vehicle A vehicle including a chassis (50) and a load carrying container supported thereon, the container arranged for pivotable movement relative to the chassis of the vehicle to discharge material from the container in a lateral direction to a side of the chassis, the container including a lower container body (25) and an upper container body (4) mounted thereto for operable movement with fespect to said lower container body to provide a selectively openable discharge passage e.g., via openable side discharge door (32), between the upper and lower container bodies when the upper and lower bodies pivot with respect to one another.
US08708419B2	Vehicle seat A vehicle seat includes a seat cushion, a seat back, a reclining adjustment mechanism and a seat-position adjustment mechanism. The seat is connected to the seat cushion. The reclining adjustment mechanism adjusts an inclination angle of the seat back with respect to the seat cushion. The reclining adjustment mechanism includes a reclining operating part which is disposed on the seat cushion in a vicinity of a connecting part between the seat cushion and the seat back. The seat-position adjustment mechanism adjusts a position of the seat cushion in a forward/rearward direction. The seat-position adjustment mechanism includes a seat-position operating part which is disposed on the seat cushion below the reclining operating part within a range of a length of the reclining operating part.
US08708418B2	Vehicle seat and method of manufacturing the same A vehicle seat is provided. The vehicle seat includes: a planar elastic body that has a frame body provided in a periphery of the planar elastic body, the planar elastic body stretched to the frame body; a cushion member disposed around the planar elastic body; and a backbone member, wherein a supporting surface configured to support a seated person is formed by the planar elastic body and the cushion member, the planar elastic body is assembled to the seat by fixing the frame body to the backbone member, and the cushion member is disposed to be overlaid on the periphery of the planar elastic body at a supporting surface side, the cushion member is covered by a skin material that is attached on the planar elastic body at the supporting surface side.
US08708414B2	Travel headrest A travel headrest comprises a right side and a left side. The right side of the headrest includes a right side occipital support portion and a right side mandible portion which extends outwardly from the right side occipital support portion. When a person leans against the right side occipital portion the right side mandible support portion exerts a force against the person's mandible and thereby provides support to the mandible. The left side of the headrest includes a left side occipital support portion and a left side mandible portion which extends outwardly from the left side occipital support portion. When a person leans against the left side occipital portion the left side mandible support portion exerts a force against the person's mandible and thereby provides support to the mandible.
US08708411B2	Vehicle seat A seat back frame includes: a base frame; a movable frame supported for movement in a frontward-rearward direction with respect to the base frame; and a biasing member biasing the movable frame frontwardly and permitting a rearward movement of the movable frame in response to a load having a given value or more. The base frame has an upper frame section supporting a headrest, and two side frame sections extending in an upward-downward direction on laterally opposite sides of the upper frame section. The movable frame has a back-receiving section located between the side frame sections, and two side support sections on laterally opposite sides of the back-receiving section to project forward from the side frame sections. Front ends of the side support sections are disposed to stop a rear surface of the pad that receives a rearward load from a back of an occupant.
US08708406B1	Chair device for accommodating a user's stomach, neck, and body A chair device for providing comfort to a individual such as a pregnant woman comprising a first, second, and third panel, wherein the first panel is pivotally connected to the second panel and the third panel is pivotally connected to the second panel opposite the first panel; legs for supporting the panels; a first hole disposed in the second panel for accommodating a user's stomach (a pregnant woman's stomach) when she lies on her stomach; a second hole disposed in the first panel for accommodating the user's face; a shelf hanging downwardly from and generally parallel to a bottom surface the first panel, wherein the shelf may be used as a book shelf, wherein the shelf is attached via an attachment means; the shelf can move between first position where the shelf hangs below the bottom surface of the first panel and a second position where the shelf flipped over a top surface of the first panel.
US08708400B1	Translating cargo bed A vehicle includes a vehicle frame, a plurality of wheels and a cargo bed assembly. A cargo bed translation mechanism is operable between the vehicle frame and the cargo bed to translate the cargo bed between a range of positions including a first transport position, a plurality of raised position a variety of loading positions. A cargo bed dumping mechanism is operable for tipping the cargo bed to dump the contents of the cargo bed at least from the transport position and the raised positions.
US08708396B2	Glass indexing system and method A system and method is provided to index the door window glass of a vehicle to disengage the glass from the window sealing interface prior to opening the door. A door latch including an unlatching lever selectively connectable to the inside and outside door handles is configured such that moving either handle to actuate the latch causes an initial change in the position of the unlatching lever prior to latch release. A sensor in the latch detects the initial change in position of the unlatching lever and signals an indexing mechanism to move the glass to the indexed position prior to latch release, such that the glass does not substantially interfere with the sealing interface when the door is moved from a closed position. The system may be configured such that the door lock mechanism must be unlocked prior to the indexing mechanism moving the window to an indexed position.
US08708391B2	Liner systems A system relating to lining heavy-material hauling and processing equipment comprising a plurality of magnetically attached liner panels installed without the need to drill or otherwise alter the truck bed or device being lined.
US08708390B2	Vehicle-body structure of vehicle and manufacturing method of the same In a vehicle-body structure of a vehicle which comprises vehicle-body forming members forming a closed-section portion and having a dent portion which dents toward an inside of the closed-section portion, and a reinforcing member provided in the closed-section portion and joined to the vehicle-body forming members, a joint portion of the vehicle-body forming members and the reinforcing member includes a rigid joint portion where the vehicle-body forming members and the reinforcing member are joined with a direct contact thereof and a flexible joint portion where the vehicle-body forming members and the reinforcing member are joined via a damping member provided therebetween, and this joint portion is provided at or in the vicinity of the dent portion.
US08708387B2	Console box A console box is made of resin, is elongate in the vehicle front-rear direction, and can be installed on a floor panel. An upper component forms a top face and a front wall on the vehicle front side, and has, in the top face near the front wall, a drink holder that is recessed downward. A lower component forms side walls and on both sides in the vehicle width direction and a rear wall on the vehicle rear side. The lower component has a link portion that extends between and links the inner faces of the side walls and below the drink holder. The link portion is fixed with bolts and to the floor panel, and a lower face at a bottom of the drink holder has a clip that connects the drink holder to the link portion.
US08708376B2	Medium connector A medium connector including a passage configured to allow for the flow of medium, and a multi-portion engagement surface positioned about the passage. The multi-portion engagement surface includes a first surface portion, and a second surface portion. The first surface portion is configured to provide an interference fit with a corresponding sealing surface of a mating connector. The second surface portion is configured to provide a clearance fit with the corresponding sealing surface of the mating connector. The ratio of the first surface portion and the second surface portion is selected to regulate an engagement force between the medium connector and the mating connector.
US08708375B2	Plug connection A plug connector for media-bearing lines has a plug body for connecting to an opening. At least one rib is provided on the plug body, the rib being retained in the opening in the assembly position of the plug body by a retaining clip adjustable on the plug body. An assembly force acts on the retaining clip, the clip being supported on at least one rib of the plug body, thereby displacing the plug body into the opening, and locking therein in an undercut.
US08708369B2	Towed vehicle protection device A protection device for a towed vehicle. The protection device includes a moveable support. The moveable support is adapted to be coupled with a towing vehicle member. A fixed support is adapted to be coupled with a towed vehicle member. A flexible material is coupled between the moveable support and the fixed supports. A biasing device is coupled with the moveable support. The biasing device allows the moveable support to move and maintains the flexible material in a taut condition.
US08708368B2	Gas generator The present invention provides a gas generator including a housing provided with a diffuser shell and a closure shell, an ignition device, the diffuser shell being in a substantially cup-like shape and having an annular bent portion obtained by bending a circumferential wall portion at an opening inwardly, the closure shell being in a substantially annular shape having a annular plate portion that includes a annular curved portion projecting toward the inside of the housing, the ignition device being fixed to a central hole in the annular plate portion with a resin, an inner circumferential part of the annular plate portion in the closure shell abutting against the resin, an outer circumferential part of the annular plate portion abutting against and being fixed to the annular bent portion of the diffuser shell.
US08708364B2	Collapsible two seat perambulator A buggy for transporting children has a frame (3a, 3b, 5) and wheels (9) that are rotatably mounted relative to the frame to support the frame above a ground surface. A primary seat (8) is operatively supported by the frame for supporting a first child. A secondary seat (17) is operatively supported by the frame for supporting a second child. The buggy is convertible between an in use configuration for transporting children and a folded storage configuration, whether or not the secondary seat is attached. The secondary seat may be detachable. The secondary seat may be positioned at least partly behind and at least partly below the primary seat.
US08708363B1	Folding walker A folding walker includes a first frame of two parallel main supports separated by a horizontal cross bar. An inverted U-shaped second frame has one leg pivotally affixed to each main support of the first frame and pivotal between an extended operable position and a folded storage position. At least one brace extends from an intermediate portion of a leg of the second frame and is pivotally affixed thereto, and an upper end of the brace is slidably attached to an upper portion of one of the main supports of the first frame. At least one tension brace extends between a lower portion of one of the main supports of the first frame and one of the legs of the inverted U-shaped second frame. The tension brace is intermediately hinged wherein a first segment of the tension brace is pivotal with respect to a second segment of the tension brace.
US08708354B2	Caster skateboard This skateboard invention has novel swiveling caster wheels mounted on a cross carriage (axle) holding spaced apart swivel caster wheels in place on the undersurface of the board by fixed in place fastening brackets. Dual front and dual rear caster wheels—two in front and two in the rear—as well as a three caster wheeled skateboard is disclosed. Inwardly directed axle stubs (angled toward the center of the board, front and back) are employed with said stubs holding long front and long rear caster arms with wheel hubs supported by the long caster arms. A centering movement for the cross axles—whether front and/or rear—and each caster wheel is disclosed such that the cross axle and/or wheel returns itself to an initial straight line position.
US08708352B2	Cabinet structure configurations for infusion systems A cabinet structure for an infusion system includes a platform, on which the system is mounted, and a shell surrounding an interior space, which contains at least a portion of the system. The shell preferably includes an opening that is sized and oriented to allow a lowering of a radioisotope generator, for the system, into the interior space, and a lifting of the generator out from the interior space. The shell may further include another opening, located at a higher elevation than the aforementioned opening, in order to provide access to a waste bottle of the infusion system.
US08708349B1	Portable transfer apparatus for moving items The disclosed technology is a configurable column tool configured for moving items from a first elevation to a second elevation such as moving an item from a pallet to a shelf. The configurable column tool is further associated with a transporter, such as a rider lift, said transporter configured to transport a transport-device, such as pallet, from one location to another and perhaps raise/lower such transport-device for stacking. The configurable column tool is mechanically associated with the transporter so that the transporter can move the configurable column tool from a first location to a second location and perhaps raise/lower the configurable column tool. The configurable column tool is configured with one of a plurality of tool attachments, one such attachment being clamping device.
US08708348B2	Shopping trolley This invention relates to a shopping trolley having castors and a handle, the surface of which consists of plastic. The surface of the handle consists of one or more different materials, at least one of said materials having conductive properties.
US08708346B2	Rotary tool including a collet A collet for connecting a rotary tool to a rotary tool driver, the rotary tool including a shaft having a shaft end and a shaft diameter includes a body including a first end configured to connect to the rotary tool driver and a second end configured to receive the rotary tool. A magnet is disposed within the body and is positioned to magnetically engage and contact the shaft end to inhibit movement of the rotary tool along a shaft rotational axis. A support member is disposed within the body and is configured to support the shaft for rotation about the shaft rotational axis.
US08708344B2	Sealed assemblies and methods of unsealing same A sealed assembly includes a first component having a first flange, and a second component having a second flange matable with the first flange. The sealed assembly also includes a sealant disposed between and along the first flange and the second flange such that the first component is sealingly mated to the second component. The sealed assembly further includes a wire disposed within the sealant, wherein the wire is configured for unsealing the second component from the first component. A method of unsealing the sealed assembly is also disclosed.
US08708339B2	Game machine A game machine includes: an entertainment button that can move up and down from a normal operation position to a protruding position; an assigned object determining part that determines an assigned object; a prize determining part that determines a prize to be given to a player, when the assigned object determining part determines an assigned object; a prize display part that displays a prize symbol corresponding to the prize determined by the prize determining part; a movement determining part that determines whether or not to move the entertainment button from the normal operation position to the protruding position; a drive control part to move the entertainment button from the normal operation position to the protruding position, when the movement determining part determines to move the entertainment button from the normal operation position to the protruding position; and a push operation detecting part that detects the entertainment button being pushed down.
US08708337B2	Dual flip over roll inverter Provided herein is sheet inverter apparatus which includes a diverter gate which diverts the sheet to one of at least two paths, a first paper path, and a second paper path. The first and second path each include a rotatable nip assembly, the rotatable nip assembly including a nip drive roll and a nip idler roll positioned so as to define a nip therebetween, the nip serving as a rotatable axis around which the nip drive roll and the nip idler roll rotate to invert the sheet.
US08708333B2	Medium feeding device and recording apparatus A medium feeding device includes a first feeding unit feeds the medium to be fed to a downstream side of a feeding direction. A second feeding unit then feeds the medium to a upstream side and a downstream side on the basis of a feeding direction of the first feeding unit. A friction member is positioned opposite to the first feeding unit. A displacement member converts between a first state in which the displacement member protrudes upwardly in a stacked direction with respect to the friction member and a second state in which the displacement member retracts downwardly. The displacement member is set as the second state when one remaining sheet of the medium is fed to the downstream side by the first feeding unit, and the displacement member is set as the first state when a trailing end of the one remaining sheet passes through the friction member.
US08708331B2	Sheet supplying apparatus A sheet supplying apparatus includes a feed roller, a sheet receiving plate, a lifting member, an urging member, and a cam. The sheet receiving plate is configured to pivot between a nearby position where the sheet receiving plate is disposed near the feed roller and a remote position where the sheet receiving plate is disposed remote from the feed roller. The lifting member is configured to pivot between a first position where the sheet receiving plate is in the nearby position and a second position where the sheet receiving plate is in the remote position. The urging member is configured to urge the lifting member from the second position toward the first position. The cam is configured to contact and move the lifting member from the second position to the first position when the feed roller feeds a sheet, and to move the lifting member to the second position again.
US08708328B2	Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming system A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking unit, a suction conveyance unit configured to convey an uppermost sheet stacked on the sheet stacking unit, a suction unit configured to adsorb the sheets onto the suction conveyance unit, and an adsorption completion detection unit. In the sheet feeding apparatus, when the tab-attached sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking unit and fed such that their tab portions are on the downstream side in a sheet feeding direction, the suction unit starts to adsorb the sheet and the suction conveyance unit starts to convey the sheet immediately after the adsorption completion detection unit detects the completion of the adsorption. When the sheets other than the tab-attached sheets are fed, the suction unit previously adsorbs the sheet onto the suction conveyance unit, and the suction conveyance unit starts to convey the sheet in response to the sheet feeding signal.
US08708327B2	Paper sheet handling machine A paper sheet handling machine includes: a storage unit 30 for storing therein paper sheets P in a batch form; a kicker roller 2 for providing drive force to the paper sheet P located in the lowest position, among the paper sheets P in the batch form, by rotating; a gate mechanism 5 for grasping each paper sheet P provided with the drive force by the kicker roller 2, and feeding out the paper sheet P along a feed out plane; and a pressing member 11 for pressing, from above, the paper sheets P stored in the storage unit 30. The gate mechanism 5 includes a feed roller 3 provided to the storage unit 30, and a gate member 4 provided to be opposed to the feed roller 3. Further, a guide roller 10, which is rotatable in a feeding direction of the paper sheets P, is provided to a bottom end of the pressing member 11.
US08708317B2	Venturi tube for shower head A Venturi tube device is provided with a Venturi tube; a hollow cylindrical fitting; a shroud; and a hollow, cylindrical flow guide member disposed in the Venturi tube. In a showing operation, air can flow through one communicating hole of the shroud, a space defined by two adjacent ridges on the fitting, a conic hole between the two adjacent ridges, and a transverse hole of the Venturi tube in addition to water flowing through the flow guide member and the Venturi tube.
US08708315B2	Electric mining shovel hoist rope impact-reduction box Disclosed is an impact-reduction box through which the hoisting ropes of a mining shovel or other machine pass. The impact-reduction box includes a roller frame subassembly and spring box subassemblies attached thereto on either side. The impact-reduction box is configured so that when the hoisting cables impact the box during undesirable whipping, the roller frame subassembly will move in reaction while the spring box subassemblies will remain essentially motionless. The mining shovel will feel less of the impact of the jolting hoisting rope, and the rope will not suffer the wear and tear of frequent slapping against the machine such that the rope will be less likely to completely break.
US08708314B2	Gambrel device A gambrel device includes a gambrel frame of a generally tri-angular shaped plate construction of steel or similar strength material that includes a top apex, oppositely disposed base apexes and a substantially flat back surface. A winch is mounted to a front surface of the gambrel frame and includes an electric motor and a winch drum operatively connected to the electric motor for driving the winch drum. A rigging cable extends from the winch drum and is threaded through an eyelet disposed at the top apex of the gambrel frame. The rigging cable may be secured to an existing structure and the winch is operated to hoist and suspend the gambrel frame from the structure. Further, the gambrel device may be utilized as a skid to relocate an animal by dragging the animal across a ground surface.
US08708310B2	Flooring installation tool with adjustable shoe A flooring installation tool includes a base having a bottom surface configured to engage a top surface of a flooring material, and a shoe having a connection portion and a vertical surface engaging portion. The connection portion is movably connected to a gear housing supported by the base, and the vertical surface engaging portion is configured to engage a vertical surface of the flooring material. An adjuster is configured to selectively hold the shoe relative to the base in a first position or in a second position that is different from the first position.
US08708309B2	Self-aligning spring seat for fluid regulator and fluid regulator comprising self-aligning spring seat A spring seat for self aligning a bias-open or bias-close spring is disposed within a tubular control element of a gas regulator and designed to reduce side loading of the spring, which can cause the spring to prematurely fail. The spring seat can comprise a spring seat adaptor and a seat ring. The spring seat adaptor is fixed inside of the tubular control element and the seat ring is movably mounted on the spring seat adaptor via a ball and socket type joint. The movable seat ring is engaged by the spring and adapted to be self-aligned through three-dimensional displacement relative to the spring seat adaptor via the ball and socket joint.
US08708308B2	Sealing arrangement for a diaphragm valve A diaphragm valve is disclosed. The diaphragm valve includes a valve body including a housing defining a fluid flow passageway and a valve seat. A bonnet assembly including a housing is mounted to the valve body. A diaphragm, a backing cushion and a resilient member are positioned between the bonnet assembly and the valve body. The resilient member is sandwiched between the housing of the bonnet assembly and the backing cushion for urging the backing cushion toward the diaphragm, thereby urging the diaphragm against the valve body.
US08708298B2	Supporting apparatus The instant disclosure relates to a supporting apparatus for adapting to a flat electronic device. The supporting apparatus includes a pedestal and a carrying seat movably disposed thereon. The carrying seat includes a main body, a blocking member, and a bearing member. A sliding surface is formed on the main body. The blocking member is disposed on the main body, and a blocking surface is formed on the blocking member facing the sliding surface. The sliding surface and the blocking surface are arranged in gradual convergence. The bearing member is slidably disposed on the sliding surface and is separated from the blocking member. The bearing member is movable along the sliding surface in adjusting the distance between the bearing member and the blocking member. The flat electronic device is clipped fixingly by the bearing member and the blocking member on opposite sides thereof.
US08708286B2	Swing tip assembly rotation joint A rotation joint and methods for rotationally coupling a swing tip assembly to a fluid-dynamic body are presented. A rotation plate configured to couple to the swing tip assembly comprises a slide ring comprising an open center, an upper slide surface, an inner slide surface, and a lower slide surface. An upper joint plate is slidably coupled to the upper slide surface and the inner slide surface is configured to couple the fluid-dynamic body. A lower joint plate is slidably coupled to the lower slide surface and the inner slide surface, and is coupled to the upper joint plate through the open center. The lower joint plate is configured to couple to the fluid-dynamic body.
US08708283B2	Pitch control valve in an aircraft store ejector system An aircraft store ejector systems and subsystems thereof. Embodiments can include a two-reservoir re-pressurization system wherein a remote reservoir is used to maintain desired pressure in a local ejector reservoir. The system can include a release valve having a vent valve and valve piston. The release valve can control release of pressurized gas to a pitch control valve. The pitch control valve can be configured to distribute the pressurized gas between two or more ejector piston assemblies. One or more of the ejector piston assemblies can include multiple concentric piston stages and piston chambers, the piston chambers configured to contain a volume of gas. The ejector piston assemblies can be configured to compress the volume of gas within the piston chambers as the piston stages are extended out from the aircraft. Such compression can provide a return force to the piston stages.
US08708279B2	Composite structural member with progressive rigidity A composite structural member with fiber reinforcement comprising a plurality of layers oriented relative to a longitudinal direction of said member in directions including 0°, 90° and +/−θ, the relative proportion of layers in one of these orientations being variable along a transverse direction of said member so as to spatially adjust the rigidity of the member according to a defined distribution of mechanical stresses along this transverse axis. The rigidity of the member is adapted locally to the stress system so as to dissipate the force flux over the entire volume of said member.
US08708277B1	Method and apparatus for automated launch, retrieval, and servicing of a hovering aircraft Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus configured to automatically retrieve, service, and launch an aircraft. For retrieval, the aircraft drops a weighted cable, and pulls it at low relative speed into a broad aperture of the apparatus. In certain instances, the cable is dragged along guiding surfaces of the apparatus into and through a slot until its free end is captured. The aircraft becomes anchored to the apparatus, and is pulled downward by the cable into a receptacle. Guiding surfaces of the receptacle adjust the position and orientation of a probe on the aircraft, directing the probe to mate with a docking fixture of the apparatus. Once mated, the aircraft is automatically shut down and serviced. When desired, the aircraft is automatically started and tested in preparation for launch, and then released into free flight. A full ground-handling cycle is thus accomplished with a simple, economical apparatus.
US08708274B2	Transverse mounted gas turbine engine A propulsion engine comprises a compressor, a combustor and a turbine arranged in flow series about a turbine axis. A shaft is coupled to the turbine along the turbine axis, and first and second propulsions fans are rotationally coupled to the turbine at opposite ends of the shaft. The first and second propulsion fans rotate substantially parallel to one another, and transversely with respect to the turbine axis.
US08708272B1	Landing gear door liners for airframe noise reduction A landing gear door for retractable landing gear of aircraft includes an acoustic liner. The acoustic liner includes one or more internal cavities or chambers having one or more openings that inhibit the generation of sound at the surface and/or absorb sound generated during operation of the aircraft. The landing gear door may include a plurality of internal chambers having different geometries to thereby absorb broadband noise.
US08708271B2	Mandrel used for digital printing on can members There is proposed a clamping mandrel for a rotationally symmetrical hollow body in the form of a beverage can integrally comprising a body portion and a bottom. Accurate coupling and precise control of the movement of the mandrel is to be transmitted to the hollow body. For that purpose there are provided a plurality of clamping segments forming an outwardly facing cylindrical clamping surface for engaging an inside surface of the hollow body. The clamping segments are radially movably guided. A force-transmission device arranged in the interior of the clamping mandrel is provided for synchronous control of the radial movement of the clamping segments. That provides for controlled precision movement of a hollow body clamped by the clamping device.
US08708268B2	Fishing reel A fishing reel having a reel housing comprising a ring gear with a rod mount directly or indirectly attached to the ring gear and a spool positioned within the ring gear, a reel crank adapted to impart rotational movement to the spool, a line guide positioned radially outwardly from the spool, a flange hingedly attached to the spool, wherein the spool may be positioned in a first casting position wherein the axis of the spool is generally parallel to a fishing rod when the rod mount is mounted to the fishing rod; and wherein the spool is movable 90 degrees with respect to the flange to be positioned in a second reeling position, wherein the axis of the spool is generally perpendicular to a fishing line being retrieved upon line retrieval; and wherein as the reel crank is rotated the spool orbitally rotates within the ring gear.
US08708267B2	Device and method for a rolling a sheet of material for packaging, storage, shipment, and dispensing A method and device for handling and deploying a sheet of material are provided. In a first version, a rigid rod is positioned within a flexible cylindrical core and the sheet is wrapped around the core. The rod is then removed from the core and the core and sheet may be folded and reshaped for storage or shipment. The core and sheet may then be unfolded and the sheet may be unwrapped from the core. The rigid rod may be positioned within the core after the core is unfolded and to enable easier removal of the sheet from the core. A dispenser may be provided that attaches to the core and/or the rod and enables an operator to unwrap the sheet from the core. The core may be sufficiently rigid to allow the dispenser to be coupled with the core and without positioning of a rigid rod within the core.
US08708257B2	Spray attachment with a separable holding part and spray head The spray attachment has a holding part with a water guide that can be connected to a feed water pipe, and a spray head with an external housing. Said spray head and the holding part are fastened separably to each other by means of a coupling. Furthermore, the spray head can have switching options for producing different spray jets, and an illuminating means.
US08708248B2	Straw adapted for consumption of non-homogenous beverages A straw is provided for drinking beverages which may contain pieces, fragments, chunks, etc., of food matter. The straw has one or more notches, cuts or recesses located near an end portion which facilitates fluid intake even in the presence of blocking material.
US08708240B2	RFID booster antennas, antenna modules, and increasing coupling A transponder with an antenna module having a chip module and an antenna; a booster antenna having a first antenna structure in the form of a flat coil having a number of turns, an outer end and an inner end, and a second antenna structure in the form of a flat coil having a number of turns, an outer end and an inner end; the inner end of the second antenna structure connected with the outer end of the first antenna structure. The antenna module may be positioned so that its antenna overlaps one of the first antenna structure or the second antenna structure. An antenna module having two additional antenna structures is disclosed. Methods of enhancing coupling are disclosed.
US08708236B2	Encoded information reading terminal with user-configurable multi-protocol wireless communication interface An encoded information reading (EIR) terminal can comprise a microprocessor, a memory, an (EIR) device, and a wireless communication interface. The EIR device can be provided by a bar code reading device, an RFID reading device, and/or a card reading device. The EIR device can be configured to perform outputting raw message data containing an encoded message and/or outputting decoded message data corresponding to an encoded message. The wireless communication interface can comprise a radio frequency front end configured to perform receiving a first radio signal and/or transmitting a second radio signal. The radio frequency front end can be electrically coupled to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) which can be electrically coupled to the system bus and/or to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) which can be electrically coupled to the system bus. The microprocessor can be configured to execute a base-band encoder software program and/or a base-band decoder software program.
US08708235B2	Card reader Disclosed is a card reader which has a comparatively simple construction and is capable of appropriately detecting whether or not a magnetic head for skimming has been attached thereto. A card reader is provided with: a magnetic head which reads magnetic data recorded on a card and/or records magnetic data onto a card; a card insertion unit which has an insertion opening into which a card is inserted formed therein; and a metal sensor (which detects that a foreign body containing metal material has been attached to the front surface side of the card insertion unit. The metal sensor is arranged in substantially the same position as the arrangement position of the magnetic head, in the width direction of the card.
US08708234B2	IC tag communication apparatus An IC (Integrated Circuit) tag communication apparatus is capable of transporting a medium with an IC tag along a transportation path and communicating with the IC tag. The IC tag communication apparatus includes an antenna portion for communicating with the IC tag. Further, the transportation path includes a low dielectric region arranged to face the antenna portion.
US08708231B2	Automated transaction machine An automated retail terminal in which a plurality of goods and/or services are provided in an integrated system. The integrated system generally avoids duplicating hardware or functions in the course of delivering the goods or services offered, so for example in a combination ATM and Internet kiosk the same credit card or smart card reader is used for both the ATM and the Internet kiosk functions, the same control screen activates the ATM functions and the Internet functions, and etc.
US08708230B2	Biometric identification device with smartcard capabilities A smartcard-enabled BPID Security Device integrates a smartcard reader with a biometric authentication component to provide secured access to electronic systems. The device allows for an individual to insert a smartcard into an aperture in the physical enclosure of the BPID Security Device, allowing the smartcard and the BPID Security Device to electronically communicate with each other. The BPID Security Device is based on a custom application specific integrated circuit that incorporates smartcard terminals, such that the BPID Security Device can communicate directly with an inserted smartcard. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the BPID Security Device is based on a commercial off-the-shelf microprocessor, and may communicate with a commercial off-the-shelf microprocessor smartcard receiver using a serial, USB, or other type of communication protocol. The device allows for enrolling a user's credentials onto the BPID Security Device and for authenticating an individual using the BPID Security Device.
US08708229B1	Systems and methods for customized deposit slips Systems and methods for customized deposit slips are described. The system comprises a first module to receive an account selection from a user for a bank account, a second module to create a representation of a deposit slip customized with an account number for the account selection, and a third module to post the deposit to the bank account identified by the account selection. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08708228B2	Financial kiosk According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system and method for cashing checks is disclosed. The system and method for cashing checks includes a financial kiosk for check cashing. The financial kiosk includes a processor-based platform for executing methods embodied in software programs incorporated in the system for check cashing. Further, an administrative processor in another location from the financial kiosk determines whether or not to cash the check.
US08708225B1	Systems and methods for electronic document delivery, execution, and return To expedite electronic delivery and return of a document, the document is sent to an electronic mail system and stored in an electronic form thereat. The recipient is informed that the document is available thereto at any of a plurality of merchants where the document may be retrieved. The recipient visits one of the plurality of merchants and at the visited merchant retrieves the document in the electronic form from the mail system to a computing device at the visited merchant. The recipient then reviews and executes the document at the visited merchant, and sends the executed document in an electronic form to the organization by way of the visited merchant and the computing device thereat.
US08708219B2	Support arm positioning tab A mailbox support attaching to a post includes an arm for supporting a mailbox at a given height, an opening for freely allowing the arm to slide over the post, and a tab flexibly extending into the opening and designed to limit movement of the arm relative to the post if the post is disposed within the opening.
US08708217B2	Carton and carton blank A carton for packaging a plurality of articles includes top (214, 314) and bottom (218/220, 318/320) panels connected together by spaced side wall panels thereby forming a tubular structure and a set of end panels for at least partially closing each end of the tubular structure. Each set of end panels includes a pair of upper end closure panels (232a, 232b, 332a, 332b), a pair of lower end closure panels (226a, 226b, 326a, 326b) hinged to respective lower portions of the side wall panels respectively and a pair of securing panels (224a, 224b, 324a, 324b) hingedly connected to respective upper portions of the side wall panels respectively. The upper end closure panels (232a, 232b, 332a, 332b) are hingedly connected respectively to the securing panels by respective connecting panels (230a, 230b, 340a, 340b). The upper end closure panels are coupled to the lower end closure panels respectively.
US08708215B2	Solder ball supplying apparatus Disclosed herein is a solder ball supplying apparatus including: a cartridge formed in a box shape and having a plurality of solder balls embedded therein; a vibration unit coupled to a lower portion of the cartridge; and a metal mask coupled integrally with a lower portion of the vibration unit and having a plurality of holes formed over the entire surface thereof.
US08708210B2	Method and force-limiting handle mechanism for a surgical instrument A safety handle assembly for use with a surgical instrument having an operative distal end portion is disclosed. The handle assembly includes a handle housing and a drive element movably mounted within the handle housing and connected to an associated operative distal end portion. A drive assembly is positioned within the handle housing and is engageable with the drive element to move the drive element within the handle housing. An actuator is movably mounted on the handle housing and an adjustable force-limiting mechanism is interposed between the drive assembly and the actuator. A force-limiting mechanism releasably connects the actuator to the drive assembly. The force-limiting mechanism is adjustable to preset the force at which the actuator separates or breaks away from the drive assembly.
US08708208B2	Apparatus and method for separating dunnage from a pallet An apparatus for separating dunnage from a pallet including a base plate for placement on a floor, a shearing surface positioned at a predetermined distance above the base plate, and means for securing the shearing surface to the base plate. The shearing surface includes a bottom edge which is substantially planar with the base plate. The base plate, bottom edge of the shearing surface, and the means for securing define an opening for passing a pallet therethrough. In a second aspect, a method is provided for separating dunnage from a pallet which includes providing the apparatus, and forcing the pallet through the opening, whereby the shearing surface separates the dunnage from the pallet when the pallet passes through the opening.
US08708204B2	Arrangement for controlling the flow out of a tundish In continuous casting of steel, the flow out of the tap hole (11) in the tundish (10) is controlled by a stopper rod that is rotatable so as to give the molten steel a swirling motion. This rotation reduces the risk of deposits in the tap hole and in the discharge tube (12). A non-rotatable sleeve around the stopper rod (16) extends through the slag layer (18) and into the molten steel (17). Protective gas is supplied to the gap between the stopper rod (16) and the sleeve (30) to prevent air from being drawn through the gap and into the molten steel.
US08708201B2	Modular platen assembly for inductor pump A modular platen assembly comprises an annular hub, a wiper ring assembly and a coupling ring. The annular hub is for connecting to a ram of an inductor pump. The wiper ring assembly includes an annular wiper for sealing with a container. The coupling ring is independently joined to the hub and the wiper ring assembly at first and second connections, respectively.
US08708199B2	Bulk dispensing system and method A unified system, device and method for bulk dispensing a product in a safe and sanitary environment preventing micro and macro contamination, adulteration and product mix-up. The system comprises a bulk product dispenser having a discharge valve; a container/bag holding to-be-dispensed product in a UV-proof, fluid-impermeable, sealed environment, having a tear-tab adapted for releasing the product from outside the dispenser; and a containment device removably attachable with the discharge valve which measures and dispenses the product to the consumer. A containment device for bulk product dispensing comprises an inner containment receiving the product, having an inner tube, first coupling, bottom opening, and second coupling aligned with the bottom opening; and an outer valve portion enclosing the inner containment, comprising an outer tube, cap, spring and bottom closure with aperture(s), the spring between the first coupling and the cap, and providing resistance keeping the bottom closure against the second coupling.
US08708197B1	Portable refrigerator system A portable refrigeration system having a refrigerator unit with a door surface, aperture surface, dispenser surface, and inner cavity, a door pivotally attached to the door surface which can move between an open and closed position allowing and preventing access to the inner cavity, the unit further having standard refrigeration components for cooling the inner cavity, a base, the unit is mounted atop the base such that a gap exists between the dispenser surface and base, a first, second, third and fourth aperture are in the aperture surface, a lid removably attached to the aperture surface functioning to temporarily cover the apertures, which can move between an open and closed position allowing and preventing access to the aperture, a dispenser on the dispenser surface having a first dispenser for water or liquid and a second dispenser for ice, and a plurality of control buttons on the unit.
US08708196B2	Ampoule protector and method of construction thereof A fluid delivery device includes a compressible sleeve configured to hold a fluid-holding container such as an ampoule or capsule. The sleeve is compressible so as to be able to shatter the container under user-applied force to release the contents of the container for application to a desired location. The sleeve is constructed from at least two independent and separate walls. The independence of the walls improves the resistance of the sleeve to accidental puncturing by the frangible container while not significantly impacting the force required to shatter the container.
US08708195B1	Bifurcated alcoholic beverage dispenser and associated use thereof A bifurcated alcoholic beverage dispenser for isolating a plurality of alcoholic mixtures in separate compartments before consumption preferably includes a bifurcated body having first and second ends each being independently opened from a closed position. A divider is disposed within the body. First and second compartments are located at proximal and distal portions of the body and isolated by the divider. A first fluid is housed within the first compartment, and a second fluid is housed within the second compartment. Advantageously, the first and second fluids are independently dispensed from the first and second compartments when the first and second ends are independently opened, respectively.
US08708190B2	Anti-sloshing apparatus An anti-sloshing apparatus comprising: a plurality of buoyant members having buoyancy to be floated on the surface of liquid; a foam member having open cell structure to absorb the liquid and covering the buoyant member; and a connecting member to connect the adjacent buoyant members one another, allows effectively preventing liquid cargo sloshing.
US08708185B2	Supports for tanks A support assembly mounted on the roof of a tank comprising a support block, a base plate between the support block and the tank, and guiding brackets or rails joined to a structure above the tank. The guiding brackets or rails comprise a face turned towards a cooperating face of the support block. The face of the bracket or rail and the cooperating face of the support block are inclined at an angle which depends on the width and height of the support block.
US08708184B2	Food container apparatus and method of using same A food container system and method of using same is provided for heating, storing or cooling food placed within a container. The container system facilitates heating of food without dehydration of the food, and it permits cooling of the food, such as, for example, cooling in a refrigerator or cooling at room temperature after removal from a heating oven or microwave, without vapor lock preventing or making difficult the removal of a lid from a container in which the food is heated or cooled. The system comprises, in one aspect, a ceramic lid and a ceramic container to receive the lid, and a seal having a channel there through and disposed intermediate the ceramic lid and the ceramic container. In one aspect, the seal may comprise a heat-resistant silicon material. In one aspect, the same container system may be used, for example, to heat a food placed in the container, to serve the food at a dining table, and to store the food, or the remaining unconsumed portion of the food, in a refrigerator for later reheating and consumption.
US08708181B2	Lid with integrated container Lid with integrated container(s) that couples with the top of a cup/can. The lid and cup/can form at least two containment volumes, Embodiments enable easy containment, inclusion of fresh food, transportation and access of solid or liquid in the container and cup/can without disengagement of the lid from the cup/can. Contents of the lid container may be accessed, partially consumed, replaced in the container and resealed at any time as desired by the user. Additionally, an independent drop-in container within the lid cavity may be resealed and removed from the lid cavity and taken to other locations such as home, work, or car. Simplifies eating and drinking from one unified container and cup in a theater or stadium having seats for example that provide one cup-holder per seat. Provides one free hand to hold a child's hand for safety while in stadiums and amusement parks.
US08708176B2	Quick access closure apparatus and methods of use A quick access closure apparatus including a reusable bottle and lid that secure together. The bottle has at least one protrusion and the lid has a channel and ridge.
US08708174B2	Bottle teat A bottle teat comprising: A nipple sleeve having a hollow nipple and a through-hole connected at the bottom to a hollow nipple sleeve which is connected at the bottom to a nipple flange that is connected to the nipple sleeve to be fastened to a bottle by a fastening ring which serves at the bottom with an annular disc-shaped ring flange overlapping the nipple flange, A contact area projecting downward or upward from the nipple flange, or from the nipple sleeve above the nipple flange outward into the area for placing a ring flange, and A lip valve that is opened when the nipple flange is not fastened to a bottle arranged in a deforming area next to the contact area so that the deformation of the nipple flange that arises from pressing the fastening ring against the contact area closes the valve.
US08708170B2	Crane control for the control of a hoisting gear of a crane The present invention relates to a crane control for the control of a hoisting gear of a crane which takes account of oscillation dynamics based on the elasticity of the hoist rope on the control of the hoisting gear and reduces them by a suitable control of the hoisting gear.
US08708169B1	Combination cabinet A combination cabinet includes a plurality of upright posts, a plurality of crossbars arranged between the upright posts, a plurality of connectors mounted between the upright posts and the crossbars to connect the upright posts and the crossbars, and a plurality of rotation knobs mounted between the crossbars and the connectors. Thus, the upright posts and the crossbars are combined together by interaction of the connectors and the rotation knobs. In addition, when the crossbars are unlocked from the upright posts, the crossbars are moved freely relative to the upright posts to adjust the position of the crossbars relative to the upright posts.
US08708167B2	Combination guitar and amplifier stand A combination guitar and amplifier stand has the ability to hold two guitars and a single 1×12 or 2×12 combination solid state or tube amplifier. The stand has been designed to hold a single piece of equipment without tipping over. The guitar holders allow the user to place their guitars in the holders when not in use. The bottom of the guitar's headstock will rest in the padded holders and the body of the guitar will rest against a padded bar located on the right and left hand side of the rack near the bottom. The amplifier is placed in the rack, located in the middle of the stand and the rack can be adjusted so that the amplifier rack can rest at either a 0° or a 45° angle.
US08708163B2	Spunbond polyester fiber webs Provided are spunbond polyester mats using an improved curable composition. The curable composition comprises a reaction product of an amine and a reactant in the form of an amino-amide intermediate. To the amino-amide is added an aldehyde or ketone to form the curable binder composition. The composition when used as a binder in the mat is cured to form a water-insoluble binder which exhibits good adhesion and thermodimensional stability.
US08708162B2	Polymeric fiber webs with binder comprising salt of inorganic acid Provided are nonwoven polymeric fiber webs using an improved curable composition. Such curable composition comprises an aldehyde or ketone and an amine salt of an inorganic acid. The composition when applied to polymeric fibers is cured to form a water-insoluble polymer binder which exhibits good adhesion and thermodimensional stability.
US08708158B2	Material separator A material Separator with a hopper, a rigid helically shaped tubular pipe structure, an inlet port, a large particle outlet port and a small particle outlet port. The helically shaped tubular pipe structure connected to the underside of the hopper. The helical pipe structure has an internal false bottom. The false bottom is perforated so that particles that are larger than the perforations flow down the upper portion of the helical tubular pipe structure and material particles that are smaller than the perforations drop through the perforations and flow down the lower portion of the helical tubular pipe structure. The larger material particles exit the large particle outlet and the smaller material particles exit the small particle outlet. A preferred embodiment includes the helical tubular pipe structure is constructed of a plurality of curved pipe members, each having flanges at each end so that one the flanged curved pipe member can be bolted to the adjoining flanged curved pipe member.
US08708152B2	Iron ore separation device Slurries of magnetic and nonmagnetic particles in water are treated in a high intensity magnetic separator including at least one turntable that defines at least one circular channel therethrough in which a matrix material is positioned. Rotation of the turntable in a generally horizontal plane about a generally vertical virtual axis causes the circular channel(s) to rotate through a plurality of magnetic and nonmagnetic zones generated by magnet members. Treatment slurry is directed into the channel(s) in one or more of the magnetic zones as the turntable rotates. A tailings fraction passing through the channel(s) in a generally downward direction in the magnetic zones is collected in tailings launders. Magnetic particles attracted to the matrix material in the magnetic zones remain in the channel(s) until they pass into an adjacent nonmagnetic zone, where the magnetic particles are washed from the channel(s) into concentrate launders.
US08708144B2	Adapter for wire dispensing carton An adapter for inserting into a carton containing a non-reel coil of filamentary material or wire has a shaft-receiving sleeve supported by a box structure. The adapter's box structure has top and back walls joined at right angles and reinforced by side walls. Knobs extend outwardly from the side walls and have openings therethrough. Ribs on the underside of the top wall define a channel which is aligned with the openings in the knobs. The ribs, top wall and knobs define a sleeve which is oriented such that it may receive a shaft or rod of a wire pulling rack. Alternatively, said adapter having a box structure with walls only in two perpendicular planes. At least two of said walls forming a channel extending outwardly that may receive a shaft or rod.
US08708142B2	Housing for encasing an object This disclosure relates generally to an apparatus and/or system for housing a device. The apparatus includes a housing that is configured such that a device may be fitted within the housing and thereby be protected, such as from shocks and/or liquid. The housing may include top and bottom members that may be removably coupled together so as to form the housing. Each top and bottom member optionally includes front and back surfaces surrounded by a perimeter. The perimeter is defined by proximal and distal ends as well as opposing sides. The top and bottom members may include respective clasping mechanisms that extend along the perimeter of the top and bottom members. The clasping mechanisms are configured for coupling the top and bottom members with one another thereby sealing the housing, for instance, in a shock-proof and/or water tight seal.
US08708141B1	Ultraviolet shields for eyes and kit therefor An eye protection kit comprises a plurality of soft, smooth eye patches and an atomizer providing ultraviolet radiation protection for use while sunbathing or in a tanning bed is herein disclosed stored within a carrying case. The eye patches are each comprised of a textile material comprising reinforced perimeters. For personal comfort and to maintain moisture, the patches are wetted with a cooling fluid therefrom the atomizer. Further, the patches would be oversized, thus providing shielding to areas adjacent to the eye where skin lines often form and shielding below the eyes where sunbathers sometimes develop unflattering skin discolorization.
US08708125B2	Clutch and motor A clutch is provided that includes an annular clutch housing, a driving-side rotor, a driven-side rotor having a control surface, and a rolling element located between the inner circumferential surface of the clutch housing and the control surface. The control surface faces radially outward in the clutch housing. When the driving-side rotor rotates, the rotational driving force of the driving-side rotor is transmitted to the driven-side rotor. When the driving-side rotor is driven to rotate, the rolling element rotates together with the driven-side rotor. When the driving-side rotor is not driven to rotate, the rolling element is held between the inner circumferential surface of the clutch housing and the control surface so as to prevent the driven-side rotor from rotating.
US08708124B2	Parking lock apparatus for transmission A parking lock apparatus for a transmission including a meshing type clutch is provided in which when a parking lock is operated by engaging a parking pawl (43) with a parking gear (41) provided on a gear shaft of a transmission, since a parking rod (51) for operating the parking pawl (43) is provided on a shift rod (44) connected to and operated by an actuator (46) in order to establish a reverse gear position on the transmission, it is possible to establish the reverse gear position with a shift fork (48) by moving the shift rod (44) in one direction from the neutral position, and to carry out the operation of the parking lock automatically without requiring a special actuator by moving the shift rod (44) in another direction from the neutral position, thereby reducing the size and cost of the transmission by enabling the number of components, including the number of actuators (46), to be cut.
US08708123B2	Hydraulic pump assembly One embodiment may include a system for distributing torque between front and rear axles of an all wheel drive vehicle and/or between left and right wheels of a two or four wheel drive vehicle comprises at least one limited slip coupling having a disc package and a piston acting thereon, the piston being actuated by a hydraulic pump assembly. This assembly has an electric motor, a hydraulic pump driven thereby, and a centrifugal regulator also driven thereby, the centrifugal regulator controlling a pressure overflow valve, connected to the oil outlet of the hydraulic pump. The assembly specifically comprises an axial piston pump having a piston drum rotatable in a pump housing and containing a number of reciprocable axial pistons, at least one centrifugal lever pivotally attached to the piston drum, and a valve member connected to the centrifugal lever and being arranged for cooperation with the mouth of an oil outlet bore in the piston drum to form the pressure overflow valve.
US08708121B2	Electronically activated clutch The present invention employs an electronic control device which monitors and controls the extent of engagement of a friction clutch on a motor vehicle. The control device includes a variable controller which enables the operator of the motor vehicle to pre-select the extent or degree of engagement of the friction clutch. A switch enables the operator to activate the present invention and bypass the clutch lever which would normally be used to operate the friction clutch. A gauge indicates the degree of engagement of the friction clutch and a second switch enables the operator to disconnect the electronic control from operation of the clutch.
US08708112B2	Inertial braking system for a trailer An inertial braking system for a trailer has an elongated casing member defining an axis along its elongated length, and having an opening at one end of the elongated length. A movable plate housed within the casing and including at least one opening adapted to allow light to pass therethrough. A piston member including a pad member at a distal end thereof and placed inside of the one end of the casing member with the pad member facing outwards from the interior of the casing member and adapted to move along the axis, and rigidly connected at an opposite end to an adjacent end of the movable plate.
US08708110B2	Brake device The invention relates to a brake device for braking a moving brake body (2) by means of pressing a brake element (3, 4) onto the brake body (2), wherein a conversion device (7) is provided for converting a rotational movement of a brake drive shaft (9) into a translational movement of the brake element (4) in the direction of the brake body (2), wherein a rotary percussion mechanism (8) is connected between the brake drive shaft (9) and the conversion device (7).
US08708106B2	Elevator arrangement and method in elevator maintenance An elevator arrangement, comprising an elevator car arranged to move in an elevator shaft or equivalent, preferably along car guide rails, and an element which is disposed in the elevator shaft or equivalent and is shiftable between an activated state and an inactivated state, and an activating device for shifting the said element between the activated and inactivated states. The activating device includes a flexible element, such as e.g. a rope or equivalent, movably attached to a fixed structure of the elevator shaft or equivalent, and the said flexible element is connected to the said shiftable element in a manner permitting the shiftable element to be shifted by means of the flexible element.
US08708103B2	Joints for a stand An interconnect structure of a support apparatus. The interconnect structure includes a channel configured to receive a portion of a cross member. The interconnect structure further includes a pair of openings oriented relative opposite sides of the channel, each opening configured to receive a leg member of the support apparatus. The interconnect structure is a single-piece structure.
US08708102B2	Vehicle utility ladder A ladder constructed for reaching an elevated surface or object and having a bow-shaped configuration so that the reach may extend further from the base on which the footing of the ladder rests, the ladder being configured to reach areas such as the roof of a vehicle.
US08708090B2	Power steering system for a vehicle provided with means for actuating the stop and start function in a moving vehicle, especially an industrial or commercial or special vehicle The present invention relates to a power steering system for a vehicle provided with means for actuating the stop & start function in a moving vehicle, especially an industrial or commercial or special vehicle, said vehicle being equipped with hybrid drive of the parallel type, comprising a thermal engine (1), an electric motor-generator (2), a single clutch unit (3) placed between the two engines, a transmission system (6) comprising an automated manual transmission, the method comprising the steps of enabling of the stop phase, activation of the stop phase, maintaining of the stop phase, activation of the start phase, the system comprising a hybrid power steering with coupling of a hydraulic power steering controlled by the thermal engine, and an electric power steering controlled by a control system (EPS) of the electric power steering.
US08708089B2	Vehicle steering apparatus A vehicle steering apparatus includes an actuator that generates a steering force, and a first speed reduction mechanism connected to the actuator. To the first speed reduction mechanism, a second speed reduction mechanism is connected. To the second speed reduction mechanism, a steering mechanism is connected. A sub-assembly including the actuator and the first speed reduction mechanism is configured.
US08708088B2	Hydraulic pump control arm and method Adjustable control arms for dual path hydrostatic pumps have first and second arms interconnected by an eccentric mechanism with a common pivot point on a pivotal control input shaft for the pumps. The control arms are adjusted at a minimal pump output such as 500 r.p.m. by varying the eccentric to achieve equal r.p.m. The throw of the pump arms is adjusted at a maximum pump output r.p.m., such as approximately 4000 r.p.m., to achieve uniform tracking, steering, and directional control from the dual path hydrostatic pumps.
US08708077B2	Grille shutter apparatus A grille shutter apparatus arranged at a grille opening portion at a frontal portion of a vehicle body includes a frame shaping a flow path of air flowing into the vehicle body from the grille opening portion, a movable fin rotationally supported by the frame and configured to control a flow amount of the air by providing an opening movement and a closing movement, the movable fin including a fin portion and rotary shafts rotationally supported by the frame, the rotary shafts including exposure portions configured to be arranged on the flow path of the air, at least one first shielding wall extending radially outward of the rotary shaft and provided at the exposure portion and a second shielding wall arranged at an upstream side of the air that flows in relative to the exposure portion extending in a direction intersecting a direction of the air that flows in.
US08708076B2	Automobile comprising an electric engine powered by a power supply module The invention relates to an automobile, comprising an electric engine powered by a power supply module (10) to which a pipe (11) for extracting the hot air generated by said module is connected, and a structure including a floor (2) defining the lower portion of the vehicle passenger compartment. According to the invention, one of the ends (12) of said extraction pipe (11) is in communication with an opening (3) formed in the floor (2) of the vehicle.
US08708075B2	Front end structure for vehicle A front end structure for a vehicle includes a facia member defining a forward end of an engine compartment of the vehicle and a radiator disposed in the engine compartment rearwardly spaced from the facia member. A duct member is interposed between the facia member and the radiator. The duct member at least partially blocks the radiator and defines a duct passage extending from an underside opening of the vehicle to the radiator. At least one duct opening is defined in the duct member for supplementing air flow to the radiator from the underside opening.
US08708067B2	Drill pipe A drill pipe assembly includes an elongate drill pipe and a drill pipe extension. The elongate drill pipe has a first threaded end and a second threaded end. The drill pipe extension has a first threaded end and a second threaded end. The second threaded end matingly engaging the first threaded end of the elongate drill pipe. The first threaded end being adapted to matingly engage an additional component of a drill string. The drill pipe extension has an external upset. The external upset has recessed flow paths.
US08708054B2	Dual path subsea control system A technique enables protection of subsea wells. The technique employs a subsea test tree and associated control system to ensure control over the well in a variety of situations. The subsea test tree may be formed with an upper portion releasably coupled to a lower portion. The upper portion employs at least one upper shut-off valve, and the lower portion employs at least one lower shut-off valve to protect against unwanted release of fluids from either above or below the subsea test tree. The subsea test tree also is coupled with the control system in a manner which allows control to be exercised over the at least one upper shut-often valve and the at least one lower shut-off valve.
US08708049B2	Downhole mixing device for mixing a first fluid with a second fluid Methods and devices for mixing a first fluid with a second fluid downhole include a chamber having a first end, a second end and an opening for fluid to flow there through. A top surface of a perforated piston is capable of contacting the second end and a top surface of a piston is capable of contacting a bottom surface of the perforated piston. The perforated piston is located at a first position within the chamber based upon characteristics of a first fluid. A first fluid delivery system supplies the first fluid and a second fluid delivery system supplies a second fluid to the chamber, wherein the second fluid is at a pressure that moves the piston approximate to the first end. An actuating device applies a force against the bottom surface of the piston to inject the fluids through channels of the perforated piston to produce spray droplets.
US08708044B2	Process for consolidating sand Method of treating a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation comprising unconsolidated or poorly consolidated particulates, by contacting the formation with a solution or a dispersion of an organosilane which is a silylated polymer of formula (I): (RO)3-nRnSi-A-B-A-Si(OR)3-nRns (I) wherein each R is independently a substituted or unsubstituted, alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a —C(O)R group where R is as hereinbefore defined; n is 0, 1 or 2; each A is a divalent organic radical; and B is a poly(oxyalkylene) linking group, a polyurethane linking group, or a poly(meth)acrylate linking group wherein the poly(oxyalkylene) linking group or the polyurethane linking group has a number average molar mass in the range of 600 to 20,000 g mol−1. The poly(meth)acrylate linking group has a number average molar mass in the range of 600 to 40,000 g mol−1.
US08708041B2	Method and system for using wireline configurable wellbore instruments with a wired pipe string A wellbore instrument system includes a pipe string extending from earth's surface into a wellbore. At least a portion of the pipe string includes a signal communication channel having a cable, such as an electrical conductor or an optical fiber. At least one wireline configurable wellbore instrument is coupled to the pipe string and has at least one sensor therein for measuring a physical parameter. The at least one instrument is in signal communication with the signal communication channel in the pipe string. The system includes a controller functionally associated with the at least one instrument and configured to initiate operation of the at least one sensor upon detection of a command signal.
US08708039B2	Producing gas and liquid from below a permanent packer in a hydrocarbon well The invention relates to an arrangement for positively pumping liquids to the surface of a hydrocarbon well where the hydrocarbon well has bee previously completed with a permanent packer and tailpipe. A rod pump having a plunger connected to a hollow rod string can positively pump the liquids collecting at the bottom of the well while the natural gas is produced up the annulus between the production tubing and the hollow rod string. In this invention, the tail pipe is perforated above the rod pump and below the packer to all the natural gas into the production tubing.
US08708033B2	Calcium titanate containing mold compositions and methods for casting titanium and titanium aluminide alloys The disclosure relates generally to mold compositions comprising calcium aluminate and calcium titanate. The disclosure also relates to methods of molding and the articles so molded using the mold compositions. More specifically, the disclosure relates to calcium aluminate/calcium titanate mold compositions and methods for casting titanium-containing articles, and the titanium-containing articles so molded.
US08708031B2	Method and mold for casting thin metal objects Provided herein are various embodiments of systems for casting thin metal plates and sheets. Typical embodiments include layers of mold cavities that are oriented vertically for casting the metal plates. In some embodiments, the mold cavities include a beveled edge such that the plates that are cast have a beveled edge. In some embodiments, the mold cavities are filled with a molten metal through an open horizontal edge of the cavity. In some embodiments, the mold cavities are filled through one or more vertical feed orifices. Further disclosed are methods for forming a thin cast metal plate or sheet where the thickness of the cast part is in a range from 0.005 inches to 0.2 inches, and the surface area of the cast part is in a range from 16 square inches to 144 square inches.
US08708030B2	Mold A mold includes a first groove part and a second groove part. The first groove part extends with a constant length or a constant width from a center part to an outer circumferential part of the mold. The second groove part extends from a terminal end of the first groove part on an outer circumferential part side of the first groove part and merging with any portion of the first groove part.
US08708026B2	Telescopic traversing system for retractable window treatments A variable length support rod apparatus for translational support of a window treatment, such as draperies, comprised of a support member formed of a plurality of transnationally engaged segments, the support member is infinitely configurable from a minimum contracted length to a maximum extended length through a translation of the plurality of segments toward or away from each other. A continuous flexible member is positioned along a pathway running between a first end and a second end of the support member. The support rod may be configured to any length between the minimum and maximum lengths and may be fixed to a support surface without an adjustment of the fixed length of the continuous flexible member.
US08708023B2	Cordless blind assembly Disclosed is a cordless blind assembly, comprising an upper frame rod with two blind cord winders disposed at two opposing sides, a retracting rod disposed beneath the upper frame rod, and two side guiding rails. A plurality of guiding components are disposed at the ends of the retracting rod. The driving cords from the blind cord winders connect to corresponding guiding components by going around both sides of the blind shading parts. The extended driving cords are hidden inside the side guiding rails where the guiding components can freely move inside the corresponding side guiding rails. Accordingly, the cordless blind assembly can avoid neck-strangling accidents to achieve easy DIY installation without breaking the function of the blind shading parts.
US08708022B2	Label peeling unit and label printer A label peeling unit having an installation body: a movable body movable while engaging with the installation body and stopping in a closed state or an open state in which the movable body is closed or open relative to the installation body; a label peeling body installed on the movable body and allowing backing paper of a continuous label body, which is conveyed by the paper sheet conveyance device, to be in contact with the label peeling body to bend the backing paper for peeling a part of a label off the backing paper; and a backing paper conveyance roller rotatably installed on the movable body and rotating while being in contact with a platen roller of the paper sheet conveyance device with the backing paper in between to thereby convey the backing paper and discharge it to the outside. The label peeling unit facilitates loading of paper sheets.
US08708021B2	Heating apparatus and implemented body manufacturing method To improve the tact time of a heating apparatus, provided is a heating apparatus comprising a first pressing member that heats a heating target; a second pressing member that includes an elastic body, and sandwiches the heating target between the first pressing member and the elastic body; and a floating jig that thermally separates the first pressing member from the heating target, holds the heating target between the first pressing member and the second pressing member, and when one of the first pressing member and the second pressing member presses the heating target toward the other of the first pressing member and the second pressing member, thermally connects the heating target and the first pressing member.
US08708013B2	Pneumatic tires including short fibers A pneumatic tire comprising a body, a tread, a pair of bead assemblies disposed in the lower section of the body, where said bead assemblies include a bead core and a bead filler, and a pair of sidewalls, where the bead assemblies and pair of sidewalls include vulcanizated rubber, and where at least one of said bead assemblies, or at least one of said sidewalls, or both said bead assemblies and sidewalls include short fibers.
US08708010B2	Pneumatic tire A pneumatic tire comprises, on a tread surface, a circumferential groove which extends in a tire circumferential direction, a land portion which is zoned by the circumferential groove, and a plurality of lag grooves in which one end is open to a side of the circumferential groove and another end is terminated within the land portion, wherein the land portion has a rib-like portion which is successive in a tire circumferential direction and a wing portion which is zoned by the lag grooves, and wherein a plurality of small holes are formed on a surface of the land portion along a line connecting trailing end portions of the lag grooves adjacent to each other.
US08708009B2	Pneumatic tire To enhance cornering performance on each road surface and improve steering stability while ensuring traction performance and breaking performance of a pneumatic tire on a snow road or off-road.A shoulder land row (31) between a main groove (11) extending in the tire peripheral direction of a tread unit (2) and a tread end (TE) is partitioned into plan-view trapezoidal blocks (31B) with their widths reducing toward the outer side of a tire width direction by shoulder lug grooves (26) in an almost tire width direction. A plan-view trapezoidal notch (40) with its width reducing toward the inside of a block (31B) is formed in almost the center of the main groove (11) side edge of a block (31B), and an inclined surface (41) extending from the surface of the block (31B) toward the bottom of the main groove (11) is formed in the notch (40) integrally with the block (31B). This inclined surface (41) is formed stepwise by a plurality of recessed curved surfaces and protruding ridges formed between them.
US08708006B2	Liquid container refilling system and method A system for and method of refilling a liquid in a container. The system includes a one-way valve attachable to a liquid storage container. In a particular embodiment, the system is operable to refill a container for a liquid soap dispenser via the one-way valve and a hose connected to a refilling reservoir, through the operation of a pump. A method of refilling a liquid storage container using the inventive system is also described.
US08708005B2	Gas filling system A gas filling system includes a vehicle having a gas tank, and a gas station that supplies the gas tank with gas. The vehicle includes a controller having a filling protocol that specifies a method of control on the gas station side that is used when the gas is filled into the gas tank. The gas station controls filling of the gas into the gas tank according to the filling protocol provided by the controller. A filling protocol specific to the vehicle is used and therefore, it is made possible to perform filling adapted to the gas tank of the vehicle.
US08708003B2	System for transferring fill material A two part system for transferring fill material in and out of soft furniture such as beanbag furniture, which comprises a transfer bag and a tubular funnel secured to the transfer bag and a second tubular funnel secured inside a piece of soft furniture to which the filling is to be transferred.
US08708000B2	Bore plug An apparatus and method for plugging a tubular bore is disclosed herein. The apparatus comprises: a shaft member; one or more cylindrical compressible seals slideably disposed around the shaft member, wherein the shaft member passes axially through the one or more cylindrical seals; one or more cylindrical hard sleeves having one or more conical ends slideably disposed around the shaft member and adjacent to the one or more cylindrical seals; a flange attached at or near a distal end of the shaft member, wherein the flange retains the cylindrical sleeves and cylindrical seals on the shaft member; and a pulling mechanism disposed at or near a proximal end of the shaft member, wherein the seal is positioned between the flange and the one or more cylindrical hard sleeves such that compression of the seal causes it to expand away from the shaft member.
US08707999B2	Method for fabricating solid body having superhydrophobic surface structure and superhydrophobic tube using the same method The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a solid body having a superhydrophobic surface structure formed by using a surface treatment of a metal body, a replication process, and a polymer sticking phenomenon to increase efficiency of fluid transfer and prevent foreign materials from being accumulated in the tube, and a superhydrophobic fluid transfer tube using the method. The superhydrophobic fluid transfer tube includes a fluid guider and a solid body provided on a fluid contact surface of the fluid guider and has micrometer-scaled unevenness and nanometer-scaled protrusions. In the method, a plurality of nanometer-scaled holes are formed on a surface of a metal body through an anodizing process, a replica is formed by immersing the metal body provided with the nanometer-scaled holes in a non-wetting polymer material and solidifying the non-wetting polymer material, the solid body having the superhydrophobic surface is formed by removing the metal body and an anode oxide from the replica, and the solid body is provided to a fluid contact surface of a fluid guider for guiding a fluid.
US08707997B2	Fluid device unit structure Provided is a fluid device unit structure in which a chemical solution stagnation portion that is formed between a valve of a main fluid flow path and a branching point of a return flow path is minimized to cause hardly any solidification of a chemical solution. In the fluid device unit structure in which a plurality of fluid devices that are connected via flow paths are integrated on a base member (10) to form a single unit, and the main fluid flow path (11) and the return flow path (12) formed in the base member (10) are respectively provided with a first valve (20) and a second valve (40) for switching the flow paths, the branching inlet (12a) at which the return flow path (12) branches from the main fluid flow path (11) is close to the upstream side of the first valve (20).
US08707996B2	Selector valve for an internal combustion engine A selector valve for independently controlling fluid between a first passage, a second passage, and a common passage, comprising: a valve housing comprising an inner chamber in communication with the outlet, having a first valve seat in communication with the first inlet and a second valve seat in communication with the second inlet, a shaft slidably extending through the housing between the first and second valve seats; first and second valve poppets slidably mounted upon the shaft within the inner chamber, each having valve faces for seating against the first and second valve seats; and a spring coaxially located around the shaft between the first and second valve poppets, pushing against the inner surfaces of the first and second valve poppets, biasing the first valve poppet and the second valve poppet away from each other and toward the first valve seat and the second valve seat.
US08707993B2	Coaxial quick coupling A coaxial quick coupling suitable for being employed in very high pressure applications in the field of emergency tools, such as shears, retractors, cylinder lifters and the like, and/or in the construction field. The coupling according to the present invention is characterized in that it has a high standardization of the internal components, different components being used both in the male coupling and in the female coupling, and in that it has a greater structural and constructional simplicity, also having few points of elastomeric sealing, which results in longer duration and greater reliability of the coupling itself.
US08707990B2	Removable manifold for an air compressor A removable manifold for use with an air compressor unit having a main feed hose for dispensing compressed air, the manifold including a body, a hub disposed on the body defining a hub chamber, an inlet disposed on the body, the inlet defining an inlet chamber in fluid communication with the hub chamber, and the inlet being configured to engage the main feed hose, thereby providing fluid communication between the air compressor unit and the hub chamber, and an outlet disposed on the body, and defining an outlet chamber in fluid communication with the hub.
US08707989B2	Mounting system for fluid discharge devices A fluid discharge device having a main body with first and second ends may be mounted to one or more components of a system. The first end may include an inlet for receiving a fluid flow. A mounting system may include a first mounting plate having an opening with a diameter that is greater than the inlet diameter. An insert may include an outside wall configured to be fitted to the opening of the first mounting plate and may include an inside wall that defines another opening through which the inlet of the fluid discharge device may be fitted. The opening defined by the inside wall of the insert may provide a radial clearance for the inlet that compensates for distortions and/or deviations from an expected inlet and/or main body shape, wherein such distortions may be caused at least partially by stresses experienced during manufacturing.
US08707985B2	Quick stop encasement for malfunctioning fire sprinkler head A removable casing for a fire sprinkler head encases the sprinkler head to stop unwanted water spray. The casing has hinged shells that latch closed to form a watertight interior space. One or both of the shells have gaskets that contact the opposite shell to seal off the interior space. The hinges and latches may be adjustable to make the casing easier to fit over the sprinkler head and to fasten tightly. Each shell may have one or more necks configured to fit tightly around a pipe when the casing is closed. A drain having a valve may be disposed through one or both of the shells to prevent initial pressure buildup and to allow the removal of accumulated water from inside the casing. The casing fills with water until the flow out of the sprinkler head stops, allowing the rest of the fire sprinkler system to remain active.
US08707984B2	Valve fastening means A valve fastening element (1) for attaching a hydraulic valve (2) to a tractor (13). The valve fastening element (1) includes a tractor part (1a) adapted to be attached on the tractor and a valve part (1b adapted for direct assembly of the valve (2), wherein the valve (2) includes at least two screw holes (10,11,12), each adapted to receive a screw (3,4,5). The valve part (1b) of the valve fastening element (1) includes at least two slits (6,7,8), of which at least a first slit (6,8) includes an opening (6a,8a) adapted to let the head of the screw pass, and all slits include a groove (6b,7,8b,8c) that is sufficiently narrow to prevent the head of the screw (3,4,5) from passing but sufficiently wide to allow the thread of the screw (3,4,5) to pass.
US08707983B1	Push type water tap with automatic closing functions A push type water tap with automatic closing functions wherein a through valve tube and a protruding bottom tube are set separately into the chambers of the main body. A lifting valve lever is assembled into the valve tube and bottom tube. A stop ring can be abutted onto the water stop ring flange for stopping water supply. A restoring spring is set between the top of the valve lever and the lock-joining seat, and supports the valve lever and the push button. A single-way check ring is sleeved on the bottom of the valve lever to keep contact with the wall of the bottom tube. A resettable regulating space is formed by the gap between the bottom of the valve lever and the sealing surface. A resettable regulating water channel is set on the bottom of the valve lever to guide water into the regulating space.
US08707982B2	Anti-freeze vacuum breaking structure for a faucet An anti-freeze vacuum breaking structure for the faucet contains a tube body including a chamber, an inlet, an outlet, a connecting hole, and an intake valve; a control valve including a housing, a shaft bolt, a rod, a stopping sleeve, an upper ceramic piece, a lower ceramic piece, and a seat, the shaft bolt having a connecting segment and an actuating segment, a watering room, a through hole, the shaft bolt including an outflow orifice, the rod including an increased shoulder, the shoulder including a first stopping ring, the rod also including a decreased fitting section, the decreased filling section having a resilient element, an air channel, and an air bore, the rod including a second stopping ring; a handle including a rotating member coupling with a driving stem, the driving stem including one end with an aperture and another end fitted with the connecting segment.
US08707980B2	Automatic draining back flow prevention device A double check valve is provided that includes an in-line inlet check valve and an outlet check valve that cooperate to prevent back flow of fluid through the valve. The check valve also includes at least one vent that allows for fluid trapped within the check valve to drain, thereby preventing freezing of the check valve and hydrant to which it is interconnected. The check valve provided omits many superfluous components and thus is smaller and easier to install than check valves of the prior art.
US08707979B2	Method and apparatus of hot tapping multiple coaxial or nested strings of underwater piping and/or tubing for overturned wells or platforms A method and apparatus for tapping into a pressurized multiple strings of coaxially situated tubulars for wells and/or platforms which have overturned wherein the tapping occurs underwater via a diver or remotely operated vehicle. The assembly includes a tapping tool connectable to the tubular via a saddle connection and an adjustable tapping clamp with adjustable support/locking feet, compression plate with view ports, and angularly adjustable hot tapping system, along with a drill/saw system.
US08707978B2	Breaking pumpable hydrocarbon gels Where the loss of volatile organics during storage of high gravity oil is minimized by forming a flowable or pumpable gel in the high gravity oil, (and/or condensates and distillates), as they are introduced to a storage vessel, the gel is broken by the addition of a small amount of an amine/formaldehyde reaction product, which may be either a triazine or a mixture of non-triazine reaction products. The previously gelled hydrocarbon may then by more readily moved by draining or pumping into a pipeline.
US08707977B2	Apparatus and methods to dispense fluid from a bank of containers and to refill same An example valve described herein includes a bonnet having a bonnet cavity defining a bonnet inner surface, a bonnet outer surface, and a first pressure sensing passageway extending between the bonnet outer surface and the bonnet cavity. A base is coaxially coupled to the bonnet and has a base outer surface, a base cavity that defines a base inner surface, a fluid inlet passageway extending between the base outer surface and the base cavity, a fluid outlet passageway extending between the base outer surface and the base cavity, and a second pressure sensing passageway extending between the base outer surface and the base cavity. A valve element within the base and bonnet cavities controls a fluid flow path through the fluid inlet passageway and the fluid outlet passageway.
US08707974B2	Wafer cleaning device A wafer cleaning device comprising a wafer stage for holding a wafer having a surface to be washed, a first nozzle positioned above the wafer, a second nozzle positioned above the wafer. A first height is between the first nozzle and the surface and a second height is between the second nozzle and the surface, wherein the first height is shorter than the second height.
US08707973B2	Dishwasher A dishwasher is provided that prevents foreign materials from remaining lodged in a filter. The dishwasher may include a sump in which washing fluid is collected, a filter provided in the sump so as to separate foreign materials from the washing fluid, and a cleaning device including at least one blade that scrapes foreign materials from the filter as the cleaning device moves, either in a rotating direction or a linear direction.
US08707965B2	Electronic cigarette with liquid reservoir An electronic cigarette including an elongated housing that has a mouthpiece with an aerosol outlet, and an atomizer disposed within an atomizing chamber. The atomizer selectively generates an aerosol of the liquid in response to suction pressure at the aerosol outlet. The atomizing chamber has an air inlet, an atomizer outlet coupled to the aerosol outlet, and a first wick aperture. A liquid reservoir is disposed within the elongated housing, which is sealably separated from the atomizing chamber. A wick disposed through the first wick aperture between the liquid reservoir and the atomizing chamber and it is configured to transfer the liquid by capillarity from the liquid reservoir to the atomizer.
US08707964B2	Medical or veterinary digestive tract utilization systems and methods Systems and methods are described for implementing or deploying medical or veterinary utility modules (a) operable for mooring at least partly within a digestive tract, (b) small enough to pass through the tract per vias naturales and including a wireless-control component, (c) having one or more attachment protrusions positionable adjacent to a mucous membrane, (d) configured to facilitate redundant modes of attachment, (e) facilitating a “primary” material supply deployable within a stomach for an extended and/or controllable period, (f) moored by one or more adaptable extender modules supported by a subject's head or neck, and/or (g) configured to facilitate supporting at least a sensor within a subject's body lumen for up to a day or more.
US08707959B2	Implantable devices, systems, and methods for maintaining desired orientations in targeted tissue regions At least one implant structure is sized and configured for implantation in, on, or near an extrinsic muscle region affecting movement and/or shape of a tongue, e.g., a genioglossus muscle. The position of the implant structure is stabilized relative to the extrinsic muscle region to maintain the tongue in a desired orientation, e.g., to maintain patency of an airway.
US08707958B2	Methods and devices for deployment into a lumen The invention described is directed to an intracorporeal occluding device having elements with non-traumatic ends and devices, systems and methods for occluding the lumens of anatomical passageways and/or for delivering drugs or other substances to the bodies of human or animal subjects.
US08707954B2	Air/oxygen supply system and method Provided is a method that includes automatically providing air/oxygen at a pre-selected maximum pressure limit, breath volume and respiratory-rate. The pre-selected maximum pressure limit, breath volume, and respiratory-rate are automatically set as a function of a size of a mask coupled to an air/oxygen supply system. Further provided is a ventilator system that includes a ventilator mask, a ventilator supply system, and a mask conduit. The ventilator mask is configured in a size that will fit upon a selected range of sizes of human faces. The ventilator supply system includes an air/oxygen source and an air/oxygen regulator system configured to regulate air/oxygen flow parameters as a function of the size of the mask. The mask conduit is configured to couple the ventilator supply to the ventilator mask.
US08707950B1	Universal medical gas delivery system A first source of medical gas has a generally cylindrical male outlet with a cylindrical bore and a threaded outer cylindrical surface. A flexible cylindrical elastomeric medical gas tubing has an input end with a bushing making a flush abutment with the male outlet at the output orifice. An output end attaches to any of a plurality of medical gas utilizing devices, but preferably with a dampening disperser held in position in the space in the vicinity of a patient's nose and mouth. An annular flange of the input end bushing resides within a central cylindrical bored out region extending through the first end and nearly to the second end of a rotatable connector forming an interior surface of a connector with threads coupling with the threads of the male outlet. The second end is an annular abutment against the annular flange holding the input end tubing bushing against the outlet source and providing an airtight coupling. A gripping means is on the exterior surface of the connector.
US08707948B2	Non-tracking solar collector device Non-tracking solar collector device (1) comprising at least an absorber element (2), at least a couple of reflector elements (3) disposed on opposite sides of the absorber element (2) for conveying the solar radiation onto the absorber element itself and said reflector elements (3) comprising at least one fixed portion (8a,8b) and at least one rotating portion (9); the rotating portions (9) being movable between at least a first extreme position (10), in which the rotating portions are moved away from each other and the entire surface of said reflector elements (3) is substantially continuous, and a second extreme position (11), in which the rotating portions are moved close to each other in order to substantially obscure said absorber element (2).
US08707947B2	Solar collector The invention relates to a solar collector. The collector has a heat regulating medium which defines a cavity therein. An aperture communicates with the cavity so as to allow solar energy incident on the aperture to enter the cavity. An energy collection device is disposed in the cavity and in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium to collect solar energy entering the cavity.
US08707943B2	Saw drive arrangement Saws (1) for cutting or sawing harder materials, such as concrete, concrete structures, brick and stone, have an endless cutting member (4) that is driven through a transmission assembly (11, 20) being supported in the saw and having a drive member and that is guidingly supported on a cutting member supporting portion (3). In such a saw a clamping member is provided that for providing a friction drive contact between the drive member, the clamping member and the cutting member is biased in a direction towards the drive member with driven parts (7) of the cutting member introduced there between, whereby an essentially reduced load on the actual saw, its parts and the cutting member is obtained as well as an improved functionality in the form of an increased flexibility and safety during operation of the saw. The invention also relates to a transmission assembly as well as a cutting member for such a saw.
US08707942B2	Rotary wheel for ball pitching machine A rotary wheel for a ball pitching machine includes a wheel body and a resilient member engaged on an outer periphery of the wheel body. A shaft hole is provided in the wheel body for receiving a shaft of a motor of the ball pitching machine. The wheel body includes a spring portion arranged between the shaft hole and the outer periphery of the wheel body in a radial direction and including first and second bending portions both of which protrude from two sides of the wheel body respectively. When the rotary wheel is driven to turn by the motor, a frictional force of contact of the resilient member with a ball makes the ball shot outwardly, and the rotary wheel is not broken or damaged due to the spring portion compressed in the radial direction to absorb the impact energy.
US08707941B2	Air-powered toy gun and pliable projectiles for shooting therefrom An air-powered toy gun is described. The toy gun includes a housing with a barrel. A cartridge slot is formed in the housing to accept a projectile cartridge and align a bullet chamber of the cartridge with the barrel. An air cylinder is attached with the housing. A dual slide unit is slideably attached with the housing, the dual slide unit having a plunger positioned within the air cylinder. Further, a pull back handle is attached with the dual slide unit to allow a user to draw the plunger from the air cylinder. Finally, conduits are attached with the air cylinder to connect the air cylinder with the bullet chamber of a cartridge. Thus, a user can draw the plunger from the air cylinder and release the pull back handle to shoot a projectile from the toy gun.
US08707936B2	Control system for internal combustion engine To provide a control system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of providing a stable intake air amount through reduction of pumping loss and blow-back of combustion gases by appropriately controlling the valve-opening timing of the intake valves, and thereby being capable of securing excellent drivability. In the control system 1, the valve-closing timing of the exhaust valve 9 is changed by an exhaust-side variable valve-operating mechanism 60, whereby the internal EGR amount is controlled, and the valve-opening timing of an intake valve 8 of an internal combustion engine 3 is changed by an intake-side variable valve-operating mechanism 40. Further, a target valve-opening timing CAINVO serving as a target of the valve-opening timing of the intake valve 8 is set such that the length of time from the top dead center of a piston 3b at the start of the intake stroke to the valve-opening timing of the intake valve 8 becomes equal to the length of time from the valve-closing timing of the exhaust valve 9 to the top dead center, and based on the target valve-opening timing, the intake-side variable valve-operating mechanism is controlled. Further, as the valve-closing timing of the exhaust valve 9, one of the detected actual valve-closing timing and the set target valve-closing timing is used.
US08707929B2	Multi-rotor rotary engine architecture A multi-rotor internal combustion engine has a plurality of rotary internal combustion units axially distributed along an engine axis. Each unit has a rotor mounted on an eccentric portion of the shaft inside a housing. The housings of adjacent rotary internal combustion units have different angular positions about the engine axis so as to angularly offset the housing from adjacent housings, which may provide for a more uniform temperature distribution around the housings and may also or instead allow optimising of the balancing of pressure induced side loads on the shaft of the rotors.
US08707925B2	Air intake with air mass sensor and sound dampening resonator An intake tract is provided for combustion air of a vehicle. The intake tract includes, but is not limited to an intake opening and an intake channel. At the end of the intake channel a sound source is arranged, which is sound-dampened by a sound damping device in the intake channel. An air filter is arranged between part regions of the intake channel and downstream of the air filter an air mass sensor is provided in an intake channel section, wherein the intake channel section of the air mass sensor includes, but is not limited to the sound damping device.
US08707922B2	Spark ignition device for an internal combustion engine and central electrode assembly therefor A spark ignition device includes a ceramic insulator with a metal shell surrounding at least a portion of the ceramic insulator. A ground electrode is attached to the shell. The ground electrode has a ground electrode sparking tip spaced from a central sparking tip by a spark gap. A first terminal is arranged in electrical communication with the central sparking tip and is configured for electrical connection with a power source. The device further includes a second terminal configured for electrical connection with the power source. The second terminal is spaced from the first terminal, with the second terminal being arranged in electrical communication with the first terminal. A heater element brings the first terminal in electrical communication with the second terminal and completes an electrical circuit. The heater element has a resistance greater than the first and second terminals thereby producing a significant source of heat.
US08707917B2	Device for adjusting a camshaft of an internal combustion engine A device for adjusting the camshaft of an internal combustion engine, having a lift profile element (12) which is provided on an axially movable mounted camshaft for conjoint rotation therewith and which provides a control groove, and having a control unit for generating a predetermined axial movement of the camshaft, wherein the control unit has a tappet unit (17) which is movable radially with respect to the camshaft along a movement direction and which is designed for controllable engagement into the lift profile element, and wherein the lift profile element forms a first control groove (16) which is designed to interact with the tappet unit at a first penetration depth so as to describe a first axial movement of the camshaft, and the lift profile element forms a second control groove (18, 22) which is designed to interact with the tappet unit at a second penetration depth, which differs from the first penetration depth, so as to describe a second axial movement, which differs from the first axial movement, of the camshaft.
US08707915B2	Outboard engine unit An exhaust fan chamber is defined with a belt cover and a fan cover provided over the belt cover, and an exhaust fan is accommodated in the exhaust fan chamber. The fan cover has an air intake port for sucking air within an engine cover into the exhaust fan chamber and an exhaust outlet port for discharging air within the exhaust fan chamber to outside of the exhaust fan chamber. The exhaust outlet port is in communication with an exhaust opening formed in an upper portion of the engine cover so that the air discharged through the exhaust outlet port is discharged to outside of the engine cover through the exhaust opening.
US08707908B2	Poultry weighing apparatus A poultry weighing apparatus includes a support surface configured to permit at least one fowl to stand thereon. A force sensor is operably connected with the support surface, and detects the weight of the fowl or fowls on the support surface. A second sensor is operably connected with the support surface, and detects at least one additional physical characteristic, other than weight, of the fowl or fowls standing on the support surface.
US08707906B1	Elevated animal perch assembly An elevated animal perch assembly provides a perch for an animal permitting play or relaxation in an elevated position away from other animals and an alternative to perching on existing furniture. The assembly includes at least one track section having a pair of spaced rails and a plurality of spaced cross members coupled to and extending across the rails. A plurality of chains each has a lower end coupled to the track section. Each chain has an upper end configured for coupling to a ceiling. A top bracket is also provided having a first flange coupled to the track section and a second flange configured for coupling to a wall for bracing the track section relative to the wall.
US08707897B1	Combinatorial processing chamber having electrical contacts A reactor assembly having a plurality of reaction chambers defined therein is provided. The reactor assembly includes conductive leads that mate with contacts disposed on a substrate being combinatorially processed. The conductive leads may be disposed within walls of the reactor assembly so that one end of the lead mates with the contacts on the substrate or anywhere on the surface of a conductive blanket substrate, while the other end of the lead enables communication with an external monitoring or control device.
US08707893B2	Substrate treatment system, substrate treatment method, and non-transitory computer storage medium A substrate treatment system includes a plurality of treatment apparatuses, a position adjustment apparatus adjusting a center position of the substrate, a substrate transfer apparatus transferring the substrate to the treatment apparatuses and the position adjustment apparatus, and a control unit controlling operations of the apparatuses. The substrate transfer apparatus includes an arm part curved along a peripheral edge portion of the substrate with a radius of curvature larger than a radius of the substrate, and a holding part projecting inward from the arm part and holding a rear surface of the substrate. The position adjustment apparatus includes a mounting table which holds a central portion of the rear surface of the substrate and is rotatable and horizontally movable. The control unit controls the mounting table such that the center position of the substrate held on the mounting table is aligned with a center position of the arm part.
US08707890B2	Imprint lithography A method of depositing an imprintable medium onto a target area of a substrate for imprint lithography is disclosed. The method includes moving the substrate, a print head comprising a nozzle to eject an imprintable medium onto the substrate, or both, relative to the other in a first direction across the target area while ejecting a first series of droplets of imprintable medium onto the substrate and moving the substrate, the print head, or both, relative to the other in a second opposing direction across the target area while ejecting a second series of droplets of imprintable medium onto the substrate on or adjacent to droplets from the first series of droplets.
US08707883B2	Modular floating bar with optional canopy mounts The modular floating bar with optional canopy mounts is a floatation device with optional canopy mounts therefor. The device includes a plurality of modular segments that can be assembled and arranged in a various patterns to create a floating structure that is usable in pools, lakes and ponds or in any water that is relatively calm and devoid of strong current pulls. The modular segments are provided with a hinge and pin arrangement that permits easy assembly. The segments incorporate structure for retaining cups and beverage coolers therein. Support structure is also provided for mounting a canopy on the assembled segments.
US08707882B2	Offshore platform with outset columns A hull, suitable for use as a tension leg platform (TLP) or as a semi-submersible vessel, comprises four columns arranged in a rectangular planform with each column having a generally polygonal transverse cross section at least one axis of which is generally disposed at a 45-degree angle to a line between the center points of adjacent columns. Buoyant, subsurface pontoons interconnect adjacent columns. The pontoons are generally rectangular in cross section and the outboard, generally vertical surface of each pontoon is connected to a side surface of an adjoining column at a location which is substantially inboard of the outermost face of the column. In certain embodiments of the invention, tendon porches (configured to receive the upper tendon connectors of a TLP) are mounted to the outboard surface of one or more pontoons.
US08707880B2	Trimaran motion damping A multi-hulled vessel (10) configured as a trimaran. The multi-hulled vessel (10) comprises a main hull (15) and at least one outer hull (17) to each side of the main hull. The multi-hulled vessel (10) is provided with motion control means (40) for providing damping to wave-induced motion, thereby offering ride control. The motion control means (40) comprises a forward motion damping device (41) disposed adjacent the bow (25) of the main hull (15), and two aft dampening devices (43) disposed one adjacent the stern (33) of each side hull (17). With this arrangement, one of the motion damping devices (41, 43) is located at or near each apex of a notional triangular envelope (44) of the vessel (10). Each motion damping device (41, 43) is configured to resist wave-induced motion of the multi-hulled vessel (10) and thereby provide a damping effect. Each motion damping device (41, 43) may comprise an underwater hydrofoil (45), although other damping arrangements are possible.
US08707878B2	System and method for controlling delivery of materials into sub-surface A system includes a first chamber configured to hold a liquid and a second chamber configured to hold the particles. A first pump transfers the particles from the second chamber to a third chamber. A first valve during a first time period regulates the delivery of the liquid into the third chamber through a first opening. A second opening directs jets of liquid from the third chamber during the first time period to form holes in the ground. A second valve is operable during a second time period to regulate the first pump to transfer the particles to the third chamber. The first valve is operable during a third time period to regulate the delivery of the liquid to the third chamber through the first opening causing jets of the particles to be directed through the second opening into the holes.
US08707868B2	Pre-compressed penetrator element for projectile A projectile instrument is provided for penetrating a target, the penetrator element being disposable in a projectile. The instrument includes a substantially cylindrical core, first and second plates and first and second devices. The core has first and second ends and a radially extending surface. The first plate supports the first end; the second plate supports the second end. The first device radially constrains the surface, whereas the second device axially constrains the first and second ends respectively disposed between their corresponding plates. Preferably, the core is either a ceramic or else is composed of reactive materials. In one embodiment, the first plate and the first device combine as a closed sleeve; the second plate is a lid removably secured to the first plate; and the second device is a helical spring disposed between the first end and the first plate. In another embodiment, the first and second devices constitute a plurality of bolt-and-nut assemblies, each bolt-and-nut assembly having a bolt and a nut, the bolt having a shaft terminating at head and tail ends, the shaft mechanically engaging the surface, the head end having a cap mounted to the shaft and male threads on the tail end, and the nut has female threads compatible with the male threads, the head and the bolt engaging against the first and second plates to compress the core.
US08707862B1	Cooking apparatus and method Methods and apparatuses for cooking food are provided. In particular, food is placed in a bowl held at an angle to horizontal. With the food in the bowl, the bowl is simultaneously heated and rotated. A scraper assembly is disposed within the bowl, to lift the food from the side and bottom surfaces of the bowl as the bowl rotates. A temperature sensor can be provided to provide a signal to discontinue rotation of the bowl and the application of heat to the bowl when the food has reached a desired temperature. A tilt mechanism can also be provided to maintain the food within a desired distance from the top edge of the bowl.
US08707860B2	Oblong cooking container with strainer-basket Apparatus for cooking foods such as pasta and or rice including a container which receives a liquid to be heated, and a cooking strainer-basket that is partially submerged within the liquid and container for cooking of food. The container and basket having an oblong shape wherein the median length dimension is greater than the median width dimension. This shape provides for positioning of the basket within the container for cooking of the food, and then repositioning the basket above the liquid for straining of the food.
US08707859B2	Stock pot with fitted strainer-basket Apparatus for cooking foods such as stock or pasta, rice including a container which receives a liquid to be heated and a cooking strainer-basket partially submerged in the liquid for cooking within the container, the container and the strainer-basket configured with cooperating selectively engaging support members for alternatively positioning of the strainer-basket in the liquid for cooking of the food and repositioning of the strainer-basket above the liquid to provide for straining of the food.
US08707857B2	Cooking device to deep fat fry foods A cooking device include an outer housing and a cooking cavity disposed within and separate from the outer housing. The cooking cavity accommodates a volume of cooking liquid therein. The device includes a heater positioned adjacent the cooking cavity to heat the cooking liquid. A lid is movably attached to the device and is used to form a seal with the cooking cavity. The lid includes a transparent portion positioned along a top surface to enable viewing inside of the cooking cavity. A controller can be used to heat the cooking fluid for an amount of time designated by user input. A moving mechanism can be used to move a food article into and out of the cooking liquid. The moving mechanism can be automated. The device can include a drainage system for removing the cooking liquid.
US08707856B2	Coffee/espresso machine comprising a milk foam generating device for cappuccino A coffee/espresso machine having a milk froth generating device for cappuccino and including at least one outflow tube fluid-conductively connected with an espresso supply. The espresso supply is connected to an outlet of an espresso brewing unit, and at least one milk froth tube is connected to the milk froth generating device. At least one milk froth tube leads into an upper end of the outflow tube.
US08707855B2	Beverage Brewing Device The beverage brewing device is configured for use with a beverage brewer having an inlet probe for dispensing water and an outlet probe. The beverage brewing device includes a body defining a brew chamber configured to contain a dry beverage medium and at least one outlet probe receptacle defined in the body and extending upwardly from a bottom surface of the body. The at least one outlet probe receptacle is sized and configured to receive an outlet probe of a beverage brewer. A lid is removably securable to the body and is engageable with the body to selectively enclose a top opening of the body. An inlet probe opening is defined in the lid for receiving an inlet probe of the beverage brewer. At least one filter is defined within in the body, wherein the filter is configured to retain a dry beverage medium within the brew chamber while allowing a brewed beverage to pass through the brew chamber.
US08707854B2	Hydraulic cylinder device and boat propelling apparatus including the same A trim device includes a trim cylinder, a piston, a piston rod and a support member. The piston is slidable inside the trim cylinder, in the axial direction of the trim cylinder. The piston rod is connected with the piston and moves in the axial direction of the trim cylinder following the movement of the piston. The support member is slidable relative to the piston rod and arranged to support the piston rod so that the piston rod's axial center can become tilted with respect to the axial center of the cylinder.
US08707853B1	Reciprocating pump assembly A reciprocating pump assembly having a power end housing and a fluid end housing and a cylinder having at least a portion within the power end. A plunger assembly reciprocates between the power end housing and the fluid end housing of the pump assembly, the plunger assembly having a crosshead, a first section limited to movement within the power end and a second section moveable within the fluid end housing. The pump assembly also includes a seal housing disposed within the cylinder, the seal housing having a proximal end adjacent an entrance to the cylinder, and a distal end disposed within the cylinder. A power end seal is secured to the seal housing proximate the distal end and a fluid end seal is disposed within the fluid end housing. The power end seal sealingly engages an outer surface of the first section and the fluid end seal sealingly engages an outer surface of the second section such that during the reciprocating movement of the plunger assembly, fluid end proppant is deterred from contaminating the outer surface of the first section and thus, contaminating the power end seal.
US08707848B2	V-shaped blast shield for protection against IEDs An armor blast shield for use on the bottom of a vehicle to protect occupants of the vehicle from improvised explosive devices. A preferred embodiment is configured in a V-shaped configuration formed by at least two planar blast resistant panels and an I-beam having channels with inclined walls which receive the panels at an obtuse angle. The panels are adhesively adhered to the I-beam channel walls and at least one bolt is secured through the I-beam and a panel to provide superior blast resistant performance as compared to welded panels.
US08707842B2	Cutter wheel, manufacturing method for same, manual scribing tool and scribing device A cutter wheel for scribing a brittle material substrate having excellent biting in the surface of the brittle material substrate when the brittle material substrate used for a liquid crystal display panel or the like is cut and a method for manufacturing the cutter wheel with high productivity are provided. The cutter wheel made of a hard metal or sintered diamond is formed in such a manner that a V-shaped ridge line part is formed as an edge along the circumferential part of a disk-like wheel, and at least one notch is engraved in the above described ridge line part and notches as that described above are formed in the entirety of the periphery of the above described ridge line part at a pitch of more than 200 μm.
US08707840B2	Apparatus for slicing food products An apparatus for slicing food products includes a product feed, at least one cutting blade which rotates about a blade axis and/or revolves about a center axis and to which at least one product to be sliced can be fed in a product feed direction and a blade holder to which the cutting blade can be attached. An adjustment device is configured to deform the cutting blade.
US08707839B2	Miter saw having a workpiece adjusting mechanism A workpiece adjusting mechanism for a miter saw is provided. The workpiece adjusting mechanism may include: a table for supporting a workpiece to be cut by the miter saw; an engager for engaging the workpiece, the engager configured to move the workpiece with respect to the table; and an actuator configured to control the engager to move the workpiece with respect to the table.
US08707838B2	Cutting arrangement having a tip-to-tip blade arrangement A cutting arrangement for longitudinally cutting material includes two blades disposed across from one another and which cooperate during cutting. Each blade is embodied as a circular blade having a sharp cutting edge and supported by an adjusting or placement mechanism. During the cutting process, the circular blades are positioned by the adjusting or placement mechanisms so that the cutting edges overlap one another to form an overlap zone, the center of which coincides with the middle of the material that is to be cut. An adaptive control assembly includes individual drive motors for driving each blade and enables constant side load force control for each blade, such that side load pressures are adjustable in response to changes in web sped, web tension, and blade condition in real time. Automatic blade diameter sensors calculate the zero point of the cut, determine the appropriate blade speed and automatically set the overlap.
US08707837B2	Automatic torque adjusting cutter The objective is to improve durability while making it possible to maintain an excellent cutting plane and feeling of use with a simpler configuration. Disclosed is a tabletop circular saw for which a main body equipped with a saw blade that is rotated by the driving of a motor is provided to be capable of vertical movement on a base on which a material to be cut is placed; the output shaft of the motor is provided parallel to a spindle of the saw blade; and an automatic torque adjustment mechanism, which is equipped with a drive pulley, a follower pulley, and a belt, and which automatically adjusts the torque transmitted from the output shaft to the spindle according to the load when the saw blade rotates, is provided between the output shaft and the spindle.
US08707835B2	Device for turning a brake disc on a vehicle A device for holding a movable tool holder at right angles to a shaft for turning a brake disc on a vehicle, has a coupling section, which is formed by a plate that is fastened against a hub on the shaft, and securing devices, in the form of a disc, for securing the tool holder. The device also has devices for holding the tool holder at right angles to the shaft. These devices are formed by a hinge construction, which is built up of a sphere, which is fastened on an ancillary shaft that is fastened in the plate, and two scale-shaped parts. The scale-shaped parts can be pressed towards each other by turning a hollow nut, so that they can be clamped onto the sphere and block the hinge construction.
US08707833B1	Pliers with offset handles A set of pliers having either right or left offset handles, each of which provides clearance for a user's hand when used for gripping an object protruding from a large flat surface. The pliers include adjustable slip-joint tongue-and-groove plier jaws with offset angled handles. The handles are intermediately angled to a right side or left side to allow gripping or rotating of an object located in close proximity to a flat wall or floor surface, while maintaining a parallel relationship between the pliers and the adjacent surface. The pliers also include jaw covers to protect fine surfaces, and contrasting colored handle grips.
US08707832B2	Driving head for open wrench An open wrench includes integral handle and first driving head. The first driving head has a U-shaped body which has a mounting hole defined therein and an opening communicates with the mounting hole. Each of top surface and bottom surface of the first driving head has a first face and a second face. The second face is a U-shaped face and located along with the mounting hole. The first face is a U-shaped face and located outside of the second face. A U-shaped groove is defined between the first and second faces.
US08707828B2	Combined corked bottle opener and fluid aerator An apparatus used for a corked bottle opening and fluid aeration device. It is comprised of a vertical holder with features to receive and guide the bottle and with features to permit and direct fluid flow for aeration; a cork-engaging member with a handle and corkscrew; a fluid receiving section; and a means for connecting the apparatus to the atmosphere. Preferably the features divide the sections by a stop, by a cone shape, and by a shoulder. The apparatus engages the corkscrew to the holder when used as a bottle opener and the apparatus restricts fluid flow enabling a venturi effect when used as an aerator. The apparatus allows a full hand grip on holder and bottle to ease removal of a cork from the bottle.
US08707820B2	Load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device and load-sensor-equipped operating device A load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device includes a load sensor (30) having a case member (34) formed with a pair of mounting wall portions (62a, 62b) converged in a convex shape at a predetermined apex angle α. The pair of mounting wall portions (62a, 62b) are held in surface contact with a pair of rest surfaces (28a, 28b), formed in a sensor-mounting hole (28) in a fixed and positioned state. Thus, even if a direction of an input load (reactive force), applied to a clevis pin (26) varies with an operating pedal 16 being progressively depressed, the pair of rest surfaces (28a, 28b) always bear the input load via the pair of mounting wall portions (62a, 62b). This suppresses the case member (34) from flexure deforming due to stress concentration. As a result, positional displacement of a sensor is prevented regardless of a variation in the direction of the input load, improving detecting precision.
US08707815B2	Power transfer box lubrication device A vehicle having a power generating device and a power transfer device. The power transfer device includes a plurality of gears in a housing within which the plurality of gears rotate. The plurality of gears include a first gear and a second gear, the first gear meshing with the second gear. The housing has a lubrication passage. The housing also has a lubrication slot and/or a spray nozzle in fluid communication with the lubrication passage. The lubrication slot and/or spray nozzle direct the fluid flowing therethrough toward where the first gear and second gear mesh.
US08707813B2	Shiftable twin gear for a twin-clutch transmission and twin-clutch transmission In a shiftable twin gear for a twin-clutch transmission and a twin-clutch transmission, to reduce the effort and costs involved in bearing-mounted idler gears, and in order to provide a simplified twin-clutch transmission a bearing sleeve which is non-rotatable with respect to a first gear body and which has a first bearing region for the bearing support of a second gear body is in the form of a separate component which is press-fitted to the first gear body.
US08707811B2	Spindle drive The present invention relates to a spindle drive having a first load path which is formed by the spindle and having a second load path which is formed by a torsion bar which is exposed to torsion, which is arranged in the spindle and is connected to it such that a rotary movement is exerted onto the spindle in at least one state of the threaded drive by the torsion bar, with the spindle drive having a sensor unit which is made such that it detects a relative movement between the spindle and the torsion bar.
US08707809B2	Multi-selective micro manipulator The multi-selective micromanipulator has a main mover which moves linearly or rotationally with respect to an axis, an actuator which moves the main mover, a projection which is formed on the main mover, and a plurality of submovers which the projection selectively contacts depending on the movement of the main mover, wherein a selected submover is linearly moved by the projection in a direction parallel to the axis direction.
US08707808B2	Sensor attachment and motor vehicle A sensor attachment device is provided for attaching a sensor device in such a way that removal of the sensor device without damage is ruled out, whereby the sensor device has a pair of holding fingers and a pin. The sensor attachment device has a first and a second pin recess corresponding to the pin of the sensor device. The sensor attachment device has a first and a second pair of holding finger recesses corresponding to the pair of holding fingers of the sensor device, whereby the second pin recess is offset by an offset distance with respect to the first pin recess and whereby the second pair of holding finger recesses is offset by the offset distance with respect to the first pair of holding finger recesses.
US08707804B2	Dynamic load bench The present disclosure relates to a load bench for applying on the rotary shaft of a device to be tested, such as an actuator or the like, radial loads and variable torques provided by controlled reproduction means. Advantageously, the controlled reproduction means include two identical reproduction modules arranged in parallel and symmetrically relative to the rotary shaft to be tested, each of which comprises a torque motor, a torsion rod, and a connecting rod-crank connection connecting the torsion rod to the rotary shaft of the mechanism to be tested.
US08707801B2	Two-phase flow exciting force evaluation method and device acting on a plurality of tube bodies arranged to intersect with the flow In a two-phase flow exciting force evaluation method of the present invention, the surface of one of a plurality of tube bodies (3) is at least partially formed from a conductive material, displacement or stress of the tube body (3) is measured in a state of being vibrated by a shaking device (4), and a void fraction of a two-phase flow (F) flowing in the vicinity of the tube body (3) is measured based on the potential difference between an electric potential at a predetermined position on the surface of the tube body (3), and a reference electric potential.
US08707800B2	Electromagnetic flow meter having liner reinforcing plate with spiral ring An electromagnetic flow meter has a lining locking frame provided in a measuring pipe composed of a cylindrical plate with openings and a belt shaped spiral plate, and a resin lining portion embedded in the lining locking frame. The belt shaped spiral plate is spirally around the outer circumference of the cylindrical plate with openings. A first gap is set between the inner face of the measuring pipe and the outer circumference face of the cylindrical plate with openings, and the belt shaped plate forming the belt-shaped spiral plate is wound around the cylindrical plate with openings in the pipe axis direction of the measuring pipe with a prescribed interval so as to provide a spiral third gap. When pressure molding the resin lining portion, the resin can be filled in gaps between the measuring pipe and the lining locking frame via the first gap and the third gap.
US08707799B2	Method for chemical milling an apparatus with a flow passage A method for manufacturing an apparatus with a flow passage includes providing a preform apparatus with a preform flow passage. Flow area of the preform flow passage is determined to provide determined flow area data. The determined flow area data is compared to reference flow area data to provide flow area comparison data. The preform apparatus is chemical milled based on the flow area comparison data.
US08707793B2	Sensor system having a magnetoelastic deformation element A sensor system includes: an at least partially magnetoelastic deformation element for measuring pressures, caused by a fluid, that are able to be applied to the magnetoelastic deformation element; and a magnetic circuit formed via a magnetic flux feedback and having a sensor unit and an evaluation unit. The sensor unit is positioned at the deformation element and the evaluation unit having an evaluation coil is structurally separated from, yet inductively coupled to, the sensor unit. The sensor unit has a sensor coil positioned on the deformation element and the evaluation unit has the evaluation coil that is inductively coupled to the sensor coil, the sensor coil forms a resonant circuit, using its own parasitic capacitance or using an additional capacitance, which is able to be energized by the evaluation coil in free resonance with strong or weak inductive coupling by a magnetic circuit enclosing the two coils.
US08707790B2	Method and device for optical pressure measurement of a gas in a closed container Method for optical pressure measurement of a gas in a closed container by directing a radiation of a radiator through the container and measuring the transmitted radiation by a detector, wherein the radiation of the radiator covers at least one first wavelength range in which there is an absorption of the radiation by the gas, the intensity of the transmitted radiation is detected in a second wavelength range by the detector, wherein the second wavelength range overlaps at least partially with the first wavelength range, and an accumulated intensity of the detected radiation in the second wavelength range is assigned to a pressure of the gas.
US08707789B2	Pressure measuring syringe A syringe having an internal pressure gauge comprises a syringe barrel; a piston within the barrel; a spring coupled to the piston at a first position of the spring, the spring having a second portion that is movable in response to fluid pressure within a syringe cavity; and a pressure gauge having an indicator correlated to a plurality of positions of the second portion of the spring to indicate a pressure of a fluid. The spring can be a bellows. The first portion of the spring can be coupled to the piston to form a sliding seal with an inner wall of the syringe, and the second portion of the spring can move longitudinally within the syringe without sealing contact.
US08707783B2	Sensor housing cover and method for manufacturing such a sensor housing cover A sensor housing cover and a method for manufacturing such a sensor housing cover are described. The sensor housing cover is made up of a base cover having at least one opening. The base cover is extrusion-coated with a first plastic in such a way that the first plastic constitutes at least one element of the sensor housing cover and is positively connected to the base cover via the at least one opening. In the manufacturing process, the base cover is provided and then enclosed by a mold. The first plastic is injected into the mold to manufacture the at least one element of the sensor housing cover.
US08707773B2	Method of monitoring oil in a vehicle A method of monitoring oil in a vehicle having an internal combustion engine is provided. The method includes setting an original oil life, which is measured by event units occurring in the engine, and measuring a lapse of the event units. The method calculates a remaining oil life as a function of the lapse of event units and the original oil life. The remaining oil life is expressed in terms of the event units. The method monitors for oil additions and calculates an addition credit from any monitored oil additions. The method also includes calculating a modified oil life as a function of the addition credit, wherein the modified oil life is expressed in terms of the event units.
US08707772B2	Electronic component device provided with countermeasure for electrical noise The electronic component device includes an electronic component such as a pressure sensor for detecting pressure of fuel injected into an internal combustion engine, an insulating member made of an insulative resin and sealing the electronic component, and a shield member made of a conductive resin and surrounding the insulating member.
US08707766B2	Leak detection in vacuum bags A device indicates the location of an air leak in a vacuum bag used to process composite parts. The device includes a layer of material on the inner face of the bag that changes in appearance due to an oxidation-reduction reaction in areas of the layer exposed to oxygen caused by a leak in the bag.
US08707763B2	Method for the accurate measurement of the density of a sample A method for the accurate measurement of the density of a sample using a densimeter equipped with a measurement cell, a sample-containing U-tube including a ferromagnetic member, an insulated conductive reading plate maintained at a different potential relative to the U-tube, and an electromagnetic excitation winding. The method includes the steps of transmitting a synchronised rectangular excitation signal continuously to the U-tube to cause the U-tube to vibrate at resonance frequency, the vibration being represented by a sinusoidal resonance signal; determining the resonance frequency from the variations in the voltage at the terminals of the capacitor and deducing an approximate value of the density of the sample; controlling the pulse width of the rectangular excitation signal to maintain a predefined constant amplitude of the resonance signal; and deducing a correction factor dependent on the viscosity of the sample.
US08707760B2	Gas collection and analysis system with front-end and back-end pre-concentrators and moisture removal Embodiments of a front-end pre-concentrator module, a back-end pre-concentrator module and a gas analysis subsystem are disclosed, as well as gas analysis systems using combinations of the front-end pre-concentrator module, the back-end pre-concentrator module and the gas analysis subsystem. Embodiments of disposable and re-usable moisture removal filters are disclosed for use alone or in combination with a gas analysis system.
US08707755B2	Reference vibrator for an unbalance measurement device A reference vibrator 10 of the present invention includes: a vibrator body 11 configured to mount to a mount 4 in an unbalance measurement device 1 to which a rotary product is mounted at the time of unbalance measurement, in a same mounting state as the rotary product; a vibration generator 12 fixed to the vibrator body 11 and that applies vibrations to the vibrator body 11; and a control unit 13 that controls the vibration generator 12. Because vibration is caused by the vibration generator 12 fixed to the vibrator body 11, repeatability of vibration force is high. This makes it possible to apply vibrations for repeatability check to the unbalance measurement device 1 with an accurate vibration force. Thus, variations in vibration force can be eliminated, and the repeatability of the unbalance measurement device 1 can be properly checked.
US08707753B2	Weight measuring device To correctly recognize the 0 kg state and to reduce the time required for weight measurement. A body composition meter including a load cell for measuring a weight includes step of performing a measurement of an output value of the load cell in an initial state on which a measuring target does not ride, a storage unit for storing a plurality of measured output values of the initial state, step for creating 0 kg reference value data when variation of the plurality of output values in the initial state is within a predetermined range, and step of measuring using the initial reference value when measuring the weight with the load cell.
US08707748B2	Turn down apparatus A turn down apparatus is disclosed for guiding a hot rolled product moving along a downwardly curved path. The apparatus comprises a stationary support structure having an open bottomed channel following the contour of the curved path. The channel has a top surface overlying the path, sides extending downwardly from the top surface, and ledges projecting inwardly from the sides. Wear resistant inserts are affixed in place in the channel. The inserts are arranged to line the top surface of the channel, with sides of the inserts overlapping the inwardly projecting ledges, and with the lengths of the inserts defining chords of the curved path.
US08707745B2	Tailgate lock A lock includes a lock body, a lock bar, and a locking mechanism. The lock body extends in a longitudinal direction between a first end defining a longitudinal passage and a second end. The lock bar is disposed within the passage and movable in a longitudinal direction between a securing position proximal to the second end and a release position distal to the second end, with a proximal end portion of the lock bar and the second end defining a first gap when the lock bar is in the release position. The locking mechanism is assembled within one of the lock body and the lock bar and is operable between a locking condition securing the lock bar against movement from the securing position to the release position, and an unlocked condition permitting movement of the lock bar from the securing position to the release position.
US08707738B2	Glass-melting furnace, process for producing molten glass, apparatus for producing glass products and process for producing glass products A glass-melting furnace, which suppresses the effect of exhaust gas on molten glass quality, a process for producing molten glass, and a process and apparatus for producing glass products. The glass-melting furnace containing: a raw glass material particle feed portion disposed downwardly at a furnace wall portion in an upper portion of the glass-melting furnace; a heating unit provided under the feed portion, which forms a gas phase portion for converting raw glass material particles into liquid glass particles; a flue inlet disposed on the upstream side of the gas phase portion in a flow direction of the molten glass liquid; a furnace-bottom portion, which accumulates the liquid glass particles that produce the molten glass liquid; and a discharge portion, which discharges the molten glass liquid.
US08707731B2	Wearable device for jewelry ring storage The present invention relates to a mobile device and method for a secure jewelry ring holder. The improved jewelry ring holder provides a wearable storage device for displaying the jewelry ring from a chain while suspending a jewelry ring in a secure fashion. For securing, the jewelry ring is threaded onto the improved wearable storage device rather than requiring that the wearer remove or unfasten a chain, or open or unlock a clasp. The chain holds in place a wearable storage pendant. When threaded onto the wearable storage pendant the jewelry ring is stored as it rests securely on the wearable storage pendant. Curvatures located on the wearable storage pendant allow the jewelry ring to lie substantially flat against the wearer's body.
US08707730B2	Conditioning an ethane-rich stream for storage and transportation A process comprising receiving an ethane-rich stream comprising at least about 70 molar percent ethane, conditioning the ethane-rich stream to a temperature such that the ethane-rich stream has a vapor pressure similar to the vapor pressure of conventional liquefied natural gas (LNG), and transporting the conditioned ethane-rich stream. Included is a plurality of processing equipment configured to implement a process comprising receiving an ethane-rich stream, adjusting a temperature, a pressure, or both of the ethane-rich stream such that the ethane-rich stream has a temperature from about −160° F. to about 0° F. and a pressure from about 14.7 pounds per square inch absolute (psia) to about 100 psia, and removing substantially all of any vapor fraction from the ethane-rich stream.
US08707728B2	Refrigerator with icemaker Refrigerator with an icemaker including a cabinet having a mullion wall for compartmentalization of a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber, a case provided to a door on the refrigerating chamber, having a cavity therein, a first duct for supplying cold air from a neighborhood of an evaporator in the freezing chamber to the cavity, the icemaker in the cavity for producing ice, an ice container in the cavity for storing the ice, and a dispenser in the door in communication with the cavity, thereby having ice supplied to a user at an outside of the refrigerator through a dispenser provided to the door.
US08707726B2	Refrigerator A refrigerator including a main body provided with a freezing chamber, a freezing chamber door to open and close the freezing chamber, a subsidiary door to open and close an opening provided on the freezing chamber door, and an ice maker installed on the rear surface of the subsidiary door to manufacture ice. As the opening is opened by the subsidiary door, the ice maker is drawn out of the freezing chamber, thereby enabling a user to conveniently supply water to the inside of the ice maker or to conveniently use the ice manufactured by the ice maker.
US08707721B2	Ram air based cooling and ventilation system for an aircraft A cooling system for an aircraft includes an air inlet through which air from the environment of the aircraft enters a ram air channel, and an air outlet through which air emerges from the ram air channel. A heat exchanger is arranged in the ram air channel. A ventilation device is in fluid communication with the ram air channel. Also connected to the ram air channel is a distribution line to cool at least one heat-loaded component of the aircraft, in particular a cabin air conditioning system, and/or to ventilate an installation space of the at least one heat-loaded component.
US08707718B2	System and method for controlling a vehicle engine An engine configured to drive a compressor of a vehicle air conditioning system is controlled based on a threshold condition. In at least one embodiment, a comfort-level selection is received, a threshold condition is determined based on the comfort-level, and a vehicle interior condition is detected. The engine is requested to run if the interior condition exceeds the threshold condition.
US08707717B2	Method for operating a cooling device for cooling a superconductor and cooling device suitable therefor A cooling device is disclosed for cooling a superconductor, wherein the cooling device includes a linear compressor for compressing a working medium and a cooling unit for providing a cooling power to a cryogenic coolant of the superconductor by expanding the working medium. The linear compressor includes two pistons of which at least one, preferably both synchronously relative to each other, are displaceable at a frequency and a stroke linear to the other piston, wherein a defined cooling power can be generated at a good efficiency so that the cooling device is suitable for use particularly in mobile installations, such as ships. To this end, according to at least one embodiment of the invention, the stroke of the at least one displaceable piston is controlled at a preferably prescribed target value.
US08707715B2	Thermoelectric conversion unit A thermoelectric conversion unit includes first and second cases including first and second recesses that define first and second flow passages and have openings, first and second substrates, a plurality of thermoelectric devices in contact with inner surfaces of the first and second substrates, a connector for joining the first and second cases, first and second fins protruding from the first and second substrates in the first and second flow passages. The first and second cases include first and second opposed portions opposed to the first and second substrates outside the first and second recess, respectively. A spacer for setting distance between the first opposed portion and the second opposed portion is provided. The spacer sets the distance between the first and second opposed portions to be longer than distance between the outer surface of the first substrate and the outer surface of the second substrate.
US08707712B2	Gas turbine engine turbine vane airfoil profile A turbine vane for a gas turbine engine includes inner and outer platforms joined by a radially extending airfoil. The airfoil includes leading and trailing edges joined by spaced apart pressure and suction sides to provide an exterior airfoil surface. The inner and outer platforms respectively include inner and outer sets of film cooling holes. One of the inner and outer sets of film cooling holes are formed in substantial conformance with platform cooling hole locations described by one of the sets of Cartesian coordinates set forth in Tables 1 and 2. The Cartesian coordinates are provided by an axial coordinate, a circumferential coordinate, and a radial coordinate, relative to a zero-coordinate. The cooling holes with Cartesian coordinates in Tables 1 and 2 have a diametrical surface tolerance relative to the specified coordinates of 0.200 inches (5.08 mm).
US08707710B2	Tailorable design configuration topologies for aircraft engine mid-turbine frames An expandable mid-turbine frame assembly includes a first bearing cone, a second bearing cone and a mid-turbine frame. The mid-turbine frame assembly connects to a gas turbine engine casing and transfers a first load from a first bearing and a second load from a second bearing towards the engine casing. The first bearing cone transfers the first load from the first bearing. The second bearing cone transfers the second load from the second bearing. The mid-turbine frame is connected to the first and second bearing cones and includes segments. Each segment includes a pre-stressed support for equilibrating the first and second loads.
US08707708B2	3D non-axisymmetric combustor liner A combustor liner with an input end and an output end includes an annular inner wall and an annular outer wall. At least one of the inner wall and outer wall is three-dimensionally contoured. The inner wall and the outer wall form a combustion chamber with the contours creating alternating expanding and constricting regions inside the chamber causing combustion gases to flow in the circumferential and axial directions.
US08707707B2	Late lean injection fuel staging configurations A gas turbine engine is provided and includes a combustor having a first interior in which a first fuel supplied thereto is combustible, a turbine, including rotating turbine blades, into which products of at least the combustion of the first fuel are receivable to power a rotation of the turbine blades, a transition zone, including a second interior in which a second fuel supplied thereto and the products of the combustion of the first fuel are combustible, the transition zone being disposed to fluidly couple the combustor and the turbine to one another, and a plurality of fuel injectors, which are supported by the transition zone and coupled to a fuel circuit, and which are configured to supply the second fuel to the second interior in any one or more of a single axial stage, multiple axial stages, a single axial circumferential stage and multiple axial circumferential stages.
US08707706B2	Combustion chamber A combustion chamber includes at least one annular wall. The annular wall includes a plurality of segments and each segment has a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The first portion of each segment extends circumferentially, the third portion of each segment extends circumferentially and the second portion of each segment extends radially to connect the first portion and third portion of the segment. The segments are arranged such that the first portion of each segment overlaps the third portion of an adjacent segment and the first portion of each segment is bolted to the third portion of the adjacent segment. The segments are cast and define a double wall combustion chamber and enable easier construction of the combustion chamber and replacement of damaged segments.
US08707704B2	Method and apparatus for assembling turbine engines A method of assembling a turbine engine includes defining a first chamber and defining a second chamber. The method also includes forming at least one venturi device oriented with a predetermined venturi step angle greater than approximately 48°. The method further includes coupling the first chamber in flow communication with the second chamber via the venturi device therebetween.
US08707699B2	Apparatus and method for a natural draft air cooled condenser cooling tower The present invention relates to a natural draft cooling tower that employs an air cooled condenser. The aforementioned cooling tower operates by natural draft and achieves the exchange of heat between two fluids such as atmospheric air, ordinarily, and another fluid which is usually steam. The aforementioned cooling tower utilizes a central steam duct riser supplying steam to perimeter ducting via radial ducting.
US08707692B1	Two piece center section for a drive apparatus A center section or other mounting member for mounting and hydraulically connecting a pump and motor, includes a first piece having a running surface for the pump and connected to hydraulic porting and a second separable piece having a running surface for the motor and connected to the hydraulic porting. A spacer is disposed between the first piece and the second piece for hydraulically connecting the first piece and the second piece and for modifying the distance between the pump running surface and the motor running surface, whereby the first piece is physically separated from the second piece. Two such mounting members may be used at opposite ends of a main housing with a drive device having two pumps and two motors.
US08707682B2	Exhaust purification system of internal combustion engine In an internal combustion engine, an upstream side air-fuel ratio sensor (23), hydrocarbon feed valve (15), exhaust purification catalyst (13), and the downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor (24) are arranged in an engine exhaust passage in that order from the upstream side. If hydrocarbons are fed from the hydrocarbon feed valve (15), the air-fuel ratio which is detected by the downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor (24) changes to the rich side from the reference air-fuel ratio which is detected when hydrocarbons are not fed from the hydrocarbon feed valve (15). The amount of hydrocarbons which are fed from the hydrocarbon feed valve (15) and which slip through the exhaust purification catalyst (13) is detected from the air-fuel ratio difference between the air-fuel ratio detected by the upstream side air-fuel ratio sensor (23) and the reference air-fuel ratio detected by the downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor (24).
US08707681B2	Exhaust purification system of internal combustion engine In an internal combustion engine, inside an engine exhaust passage, a hydrocarbon feed valve (15) an exhaust purification catalyst (13), and a particulate filter (14) are arranged. If the hydrocarbon feed valve (15) feeds hydrocarbons by a period of within 5 seconds, a reducing intermediate is produced inside the exhaust purification catalyst (13). This reducing intermediate is used for NOx purification processing. When the stored SOx should be released from the exhaust purification catalyst (13), the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust purification catalyst (13) is made rich, the reducing intermediate built up on the exhaust purification catalyst (13) is made to be desorbed in the form of ammonia, and the desorbed ammonia is used to make the exhaust purification catalyst (13) release the stored SOx.
US08707677B2	System and method for controlling a nitrogen oxide sensor A vehicle includes an engine having an exhaust port, an exhaust system for conditioning an engine exhaust stream, a nitrogen oxide (NOx) sensor positioned within the exhaust stream, and a controller. The controller has an out-of-range diagnostic tool for evaluating a range performance of the sensor. The controller detects a predetermined engine-on fuel shutoff event, and then temporarily disables the diagnostic tool during the fuel shutoff event. The fuel shutoff event may be a vehicle deceleration-based event. A selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device may be positioned within the exhaust system, with at least one NOx sensor positioned at the outlet of the SCR device. An additional NOx sensor may be positioned in proximity to the exhaust port. A method for use aboard the above vehicle includes detecting the engine-on fuel shutoff event via the controller, and temporarily disabling the diagnostic tool for the duration of the detected fuel shutoff event.
US08707674B2	Pulse detonation tube with local flexural wave modifying feature In one embodiment, a pulse detonation tube includes a continuous base tube having a substantially uniform wall thickness. The pulse detonation tube also includes a local flexural wave modifying feature configured to locally vary a flexural wave speed such that the flexural wave speed through the pulse detonation tube is different than an expected detonation wave speed, and/or to locally dissipate flexural wave energy.
US08707671B2	Fuel control method and fuel control apparatus for gas turbine and gas turbine A fuel control method for a gas turbine with a combustor being formed of at least two groups of a pluralities of main nozzles for supplying fuel, and that supplies fuel from the main nozzles of all groups upon ignition of the combustor (S1), and supplies fuel from three main nozzles of a group A during subsequent acceleration of the gas turbine (S3). Because fuel is injected from a small number of the main nozzles during acceleration, the fuel flow rate per one main nozzle is increased, thereby increasing the fuel-air ratio (fuel flow rate/air flow rate) in a combustion region and improving the combustion characteristics. Accordingly, the generation of carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon is reduced, whereby no bypass valve is required and manufacturing costs are reduced. Because fuel is supplied from the main nozzles of all groups and burned in the entire area of the combustor upon ignition, it is possible to easily propagate a flame to all the other adjacent main nozzle groups, thereby improving the ignition characteristics of the whole gas turbine.
US08707670B2	Cable protection and guide device A cable protection and guide device is capable of preventing noise and abrasion powder generated by a flexion outer circumferential connecting arm and avoiding disconnection of the arm. The device includes: a number of link frame bodies each having link side plates each having a front side plate portion connected longitudinally to a preceding link side plate to form a cable flexion inner circumferential side; a rear side plate portion connected longitudinally to a succeeding link side plate to form a cable flexion outer circumferential side; and, a flexible linkage portion interposed between the front and rear side plate portions. The link frame body also includes a flexion outer circumferential-side connecting arm whose flexion outer circumferential-side surface is provided so as to be closer to the cable flexion inner circumferential side than a flexion outer circumferential edge of the rear side plate portion.
US08707669B2	Method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced metal connecting rod, and resulting connecting rod The present invention relates to a method of fabricating a metal link rod (6) that is longitudinally reinforced in its thickness by fiber reinforcement (2), the method comprising the following steps: making a metal blank including at least one longitudinal housing (11, 12) leading into an edge face of the blank; inserting fiber reinforcement (2) in the housing; connecting the fiber reinforcement to the blank by metal diffusion around the fibers of the fiber reinforcement (2); and finishing the blank in order to obtain a link rod (6). The invention also provides a link rod having a metal matrix in which reinforcing fibers are embedded that extend on either side of a longitudinal axis (X) of the link rod, the fibers leading into an edge face of the link rod.
US08707666B2	Short splice systems and methods for ropes A rope system comprising a rope structure comprising an intact portion comprising intact strands and a disassembled portion comprising loose strands. The loose strands are passed into an interior of the rope structure. Each loose strand is passed from the interior of the rope structure to the exterior of the rope structure adjacent to an associated intact strand. Each loose strand is extended along and wrapped around its associated intact strand at at least one wrap location.
US08707665B2	Cutting disc assembly for a mowing device A mowing device for plants includes at least one rotor with a first rotation axis, and at least one blade which is driven in rotation by the rotor, in which the blade is attached to a blade holder during normal operation. By a blade pivot pin or shaft that is situated at a radial distance from the first rotation axis. This allows the blade to be freely rotatable through at least a predetermined angle. The blade pin can be displaced radially inwards. The blade holder is connected to the rotor about a latent dedicated second rotation axis; and the first and second rotation axes and the blade pivot pin determine a triangle in a plane of projection at right angles to the first rotation axis.
US08707663B2	Apparatus for the filling of bags having at least one opening therein and having space to permit decreased accumulation of filling materials An apparatus for the treatment of flexible, hose-like objects, such as bags, in which the processing devices are located on a guide track above the objects to be treated, which processing devices and guide track are suspended from a framework with an empty space underneath.
US08707658B2	Rack-integrated packing station A method and a work station for order-picking and simultaneously packing articles onto a shipping support includes at least one rack which is divided into at least one rack plane respectively comprising a plurality of rack positions for storing load supports, wherein the articles to be picked are stored preferably in or on the load supports in rack positions; at least one vertical lift unit arranged adjacent to a longitudinal side of the rack and being adapted to retrieve load supports from such rack positions being adjacent to the lift unit; and at least a packing station, which is arranged within an immediate area of the lift unit.
US08707655B2	Roof mount sealing assembly A variety of roof mount sealing assemblies are disclosed. The roof mount sealing assemblies allow a user to mount rails for solar panels, signs, satellite dish or any other desired item on the roof and have the mounting location sealed against water. The roof mount sealing assemblies has a body with a recess for a flexible washer, which is attached to a bolt body (or formed with the bolt body) and threaded either down in a base plate or directly into the roof. The bolt body and body form a double stud assembly, which also holds a flashing onto the roof to provide further water proofing.
US08707654B2	Roof mount sealing assembly A variety of roof mount sealing assemblies are disclosed. The roof mount sealing assemblies allow a user to mount rails for solar panels, signs, satellite dish or any other desired item on the roof and have the mounting location sealed against water. The roof mount sealing assemblies has a body with a recess for a flexible washer, which is attached to a bolt body (or formed with the bolt body) and threaded either down in a base plate or directly into the roof. The bolt body and body form a double stud assembly, which also holds a flashing onto the roof to provide further water proofing.
US08707653B2	Modular truss system with six-way connector boxes A modular truss system includes six-way box connectors to which truss beams can be bolted and pinned together in a wide variety of configurations and to any or all of the six identical faces. Each box connector face and each truss beam endplate is fitted with matching center holes for bolts and spring pin arrangements on the peripheral corners. These make aligning and attaching the truss beams and box connectors to one another a quick and simple job that does not require any tools. The truss beam endplates have one or more spring pins and a center hole that matches the ones in each of the six faces of the box connectors.
US08707652B2	Building block, building structure and the method of bricking wall using the same The present invention relates to a building block serving as a mold when carrying out civil engineering and construction works and forming an external appearance of a structure, a building structure and a method of bricking a wall using the same. The building block comprises first and second exterior walls facing each other and spacing from each other in back and forth directions, and a connecting portion connecting the first and second exterior walls to each other and having an upper portion provided with a first mounting groove for mounting a width-directional reinforcing bar. Here, concavo-convex coupling portions are formed at inner peripheries of the first and second exterior walls, for concavo-convexly coupling to each adjacent block, and here, leakage preventing recesses are respectively formed at outer peripheries of the first and second exterior walls.
US08707650B2	Mechanical locking system for panels and method of installing same Floor panels are provided with a mechanical locking system including a flexible locking element in a locking groove, which during a horizontal motion is displaced vertically.
US08707646B2	Low reflected-sound-pressure-level, low moisture-vapor-transmission-rate flooring system A flooring system having a top floor layer, a sub-floor, and an underlayment material disposed between the sub-floor and the top floor layer is disclosed. The underlayment material may include a cross-linked, polyolefin foam having a moisture vapor transmission rate of less than about 3.0 lb/1000 ft2/24 hr, and an average sound pressure level of less than about 15 dB over a range of about 300 Hz to about 1000 Hz. Foam density, gel fraction, and resin blend may combine to provide an underlayment material having such reflective sound and moisture vapor barrier properties.
US08707644B2	Concrete flooring system formwork assembly having triangular support structure A floor formwork system is disclosed. The floor formwork system comprises a form member having a reinforcement beam attached to a surface of the form member. The reinforcement beam of the floor formwork system is positioned and attached in grooves within or on the contact surface of the form member. The reinforcement beam comprises a plurality of longitudinal rods or members, one or more of which are connected by a diagonal support member. Concrete is added to the assembled form member and reinforcement beam so as to create a floor or ceiling, or other structure. A method of assembling the formwork system and use for preparation for a floor or ceiling is also disclosed.
US08707642B2	Sheet material hanging methods and hanging members therefore A sheet member fastening system and kit, as well as methods of hanging sheet members on a framework for a wall or ceiling surface are described. Fastening members, comprising substantially flat members and corner members are usable to enable edges of standard sheet members, such as wallboard or the like, to be properly supported and attached adjacent one another by means of the fastening members. The use of the fastening members enables hanging of sheet members on the framework without cutting of the sheet members or measuring of the relationship of the sheet member to the underlying framework, except adjacent a corner of the wall/ceiling surface. The fastening members allow attachment of the edges when not positioned directly on a frame member to properly secure the edges relative to one another. The fastening members are made of a material to accept fastening devices such as screws, staples, nails or the like to secure the sheet members thereto.
US08707641B2	Telescopic canning sleeve for forming voids in concrete slabs A two-piece cylindrical telescopic canning sleeve comprising an inner lower member and an upper outer member. The outer member is provided with at least one set of a plurality of engagement devices. The inner lower member is provided with at least one set of a plurality of engagement devices complimentary to the engagement devices provided with the outer member. The telescopic canning sleeve is assembled for use by aligning the engagement devices of the outer member with the engagement devices of the lower member, then sliding the outer member over the inner member until the desired functional height of the canning sleeve is reached after which, the outer member is frictionally engaged with the inner member by twisting the outer sleeve member to the inner member so that the complimentary engagement devices frictionally communicate.
US08707639B2	Door lite frame with nestable frame components A door lite frame comprises a first frame component comprising first screw bosses and first grip sockets, and a second frame component comprising second screw bosses and second grip sockets. The first and second frame components are constructed to permit arrangement of the first and second frame components in an assembled state and a nested state with respect to one another. In the assembled state, the first screw bosses are correspondingly aligned with the second screw bosses, and the first and second frame components are secured to each other. In the nested state, at least one of the first screw bosses of the first frame component is mated with at least one of the second grip sockets of the second frame component.
US08707633B2	Field emergency shelter for fast minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery The present invention relates to a medical emergency care shelter, more specifically, to a field emergency shelter for fast minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery. The field emergency shelter for fast minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery includes a fixed central shelter body 1. The poison filter 6, purifying air conditioner 7, and heating apparatus 8, 9 are installed on the fixed central shelter body 1. A door 12 is installed on the rear wall of the fixed central shelter body 1. The retractable linkages 13 are installed around the door 12. Two extendable shelter bodies are connected to the left and right sides of the fixed central shelter body, respectively. The extendable shelter bodies 2 have an extendable structure. Doors 4 are installed on the side wall of the extend shelter bodies 2. Each of the extendable shelter bodies 2 has hydraulic cylinder 3 and an extendable unit. The working end of the hydraulic cylinder 3 is connected to one end of the foldable unit.
US08707632B2	Structure having convertible roof and walls A movable building structure is configured to selectively enclose an area. The structure includes at least one side wall and an end wall attached thereto. The side wall comprises a number of individual panels that are independently movable along a track secured to the ground. The panels are selectively collapsible such that they may travel along the track and overlap one another when in a collapsed or stowed position. The structure may be configured in any number of intermediate positions wherein the panels are partially collapsed. Roof panels may be attached to the side walls for movement therewith, or alternatively, the roof panels may operate independent of the side walls to extend and retract between an open and collapsed configuration.
US08707631B2	Portable housing system A modular housing system, also known as “Maisons Demontables” may utilize a plurality of lightweight composite construction panels to create modular housing units that have high degrees of resistance to environmental factors like wind, hurricanes, floods and so forth. The housing units may have a very high thermal insulating rating. The panels may comprise expanded polystyrene (EPS) panels to create a bent which is a plurality of panels that are hinged to one another so that they can be compressed for shipping, and expanded or unfolded to be used as part of a housing unit. The panels may be mated together to form a section of a housing unit such as a wall. The housing unit may be easily assembled or disassembled using basic tools. A hinge technique is provided for joining the panels together to form the bents, and may include a tensioning system to bind multiple panels together.
US08707629B2	Disposable tradeshow booths A tradeshow booth is constructed of portions including structural members [10, 28, 44, 56, 56a, 72, 103]. Each of these portions are constructed of laminated cardboard or other similar easily recyclable material, Vertical L-shaped beam members [74] connect upper and lower structural members together to form portions of a tradeshow booth. The individual portions are in turn connected together using U-shaped connectors [68], and which may be locked in place by gussets [62]. A decorative or advertising display covering [90] covers the assembled portions. Significantly, the entire tradeshow booth is extremely lightweight and strong, and may be assembled entirely by hand without using tools of any kind.
US08707627B2	Method of removing slack from a flexible driven member A method of operating a movable barrier operator includes engaging a flexible driven member with a drive of the movable barrier operator. The method includes moving the flexible driven member in a first direction to move a movable barrier connected to the driven member and monitoring the position of the movable barrier. In response to the movable barrier reaching a given position, the driven member is moved in a second direction without moving the movable barrier to remove slack from the driven member. A movable barrier apparatus includes a movable barrier controller operatively coupled to the movable barrier operator. The movable barrier controller is configured to cause the movable barrier operator to reverse direction of the flexible driven member a distance after stopping movement of a movable barrier without moving the movable barrier.
US08707624B2	Heated sliding window assembly A heated sliding window assembly for a vehicle that includes at least one fixed window. A rail is attached to the at least one fixed window. The fixed window may include an electrical contact. A sliding window is moveable along the rail and is moveable between open and closed positions. The sliding window includes a heater grid and an electrical contact. A drive mechanism is attached to the sliding window for moving the sliding window between the open and closed positions. An electrical circuit is included for carrying current to the heater grid. A switch is disposed within the electrical circuit that cuts off current to the heater grid when the sliding window is moved.
US08707623B2	Window regulator assembly including a mechanism for securing a lift arm to a drive mechanism A window opening device for use in an automobile door. The device including a motor having a drive gear comprised of a tooth region and a head region. The diameter of the head region is greater than the diameter of the tooth region. A sector gear engages the tooth region and the head region overlaps the sector gear. A first lever arm has a drive end engaging the sector gear and a window end engaging a window. The motor is secured to a body plate configured for mounting to a door. The body plate includes an opening through which the drive gear passes to facilitate engagement with the sector gear.
US08707618B2	Modular planting system for roof applications A green roof planter module includes a planter including a bottom wall, a plurality of sidewalls each including an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the bottom wall and the plurality of sidewalls cooperate with one another to form an interior space, and a biodegradable collar member extending upwardly from at least a select one of the biodegradable sidewalls, wherein at least a portion of the collar member is in-molded within the upper portion of at least one of the sidewalls, and wherein the collar member is adapted to retain a plant matter that extends above the plurality of sidewalls.
US08707613B2	Fish hook with multiple convex facets A fish hook with multiple convex facets is provided. Each facet may have a length that is some multiple of the diameter of the hook body. In addition, each convex facet has a radius of curvature that is some multiple of the diameter of the wire. Each facet may alternatively be formed from first and second convex surfaces, having first and second curvatures.
US08707611B2	Turkey decoy A turkey decoy or other animal hunting decoy is provided depicting a live mature animal, wherein certain body parts are dwarfed and diminished in size in comparison to the live mature animal it depicts. The decoy will further have colors thereon mimicking colors of the live mature animal eliciting a sexual response from the hunted live animal.
US08707608B2	Apparatus and method for calculating aiming point information The present invention relates to target acquisition and related devices, and more particularly to telescopic gunsights and associated equipment used to achieve shooting accuracy at, for example, close ranges, medium ranges and extreme ranges.
US08707601B1	Indicator light for filming An indicator light for filming is provided having a button wirelessly coupled to an illumination device. The button is placed on a camera while the illumination device is placed on the barrel of a gun. The button is depressed on the camera to indicate that the shooter is free to take the shot.
US08707600B2	In-store marketing sign A marketing sign is constructed of a sheet material and includes at least one break-away section coupled to a main section by at least one score. The main section includes a free portion, a base portion and connecting portion. The free portion includes a price piece and a balloon piece coupled to the price piece at a fold. The base portion is configured to couple with a product display structure after the main section is detached from the break-away section at the at least one score. The connecting bend line couples the free portion to the base portion and has a first end located a space distance from a right side edge of the sheet material.
US08707598B2	Double umbilical identification device mother-infant, and method thereof A double umbilical identification device mother-infant, includes: an identification armband (1) for the mother provided with irreversible closing element (4, 5) and with an identification code (8); a first umbilical clamp (2) and a second umbilical clamp (3) for the newborn, irreversibly marked with the same identification code (8) of the armband (1); wherein the armband (1) is connected to the clamps (2, 3) by connecting rings (6, 7) made out of easily removable plastic material, characterized in that the device includes a sterile bag (200) connected by a first ring (6) to the armband (1), the sterile bag (200) containing the first clamp (2), and a second sterile bag (300) being connected by a second ring (7) to the first clamp (2), the second sterile bag (300) containing the second clamp (3). A mother-infant identification method making use of a double umbilical device is also described.
US08707597B1	Portable signage display apparatus A moisture-protected, bi-directionally viewable portable sign display having a rectangular frame with a removable side that enables configuring a plurality of indicia bearing signs and which is supported by a removable support structure that includes features to prevent moisture damage.
US08707595B2	Retractor safety device Retractor safety device for identifying and controlling hazardous areas associated with unmarked, unbarricaded or unprotected areas of Construction and General Industry work sites, as well as any application requiring pedestrian movement-control, designed to meet all required safety standards in terms of color and signage, and will incorporate a variety of elements to promote visibility and ease of use. Retractor safety device is an industrial-grade, reusable caution/danger/hazard tape retractor that attaches by means of a universal mounting bracket, includes a manually- or automatically-operated tape-locking mechanism, as well as a quick-connect, universal tape attachment with Lock-Out, Tag-Out (LOTO) capabilities, and field cleanable/maintainable.
US08707586B2	Athletic shoe with athletic positioning cleat pattern An athletic shoe includes an upper section and a sole section. The sole section includes a sole and cleats, which are grouped into a heel group, a ball-of-foot group, and an outer edge mid foot-to-toe group. Cleats of the heel group are of a first length. A cleat of the outer edge mid foot-to-toe group is proximal to a heel section and has a length equal to or a first value less than the first length. A cleat of the outer edge mid foot-to-toe group is proximal to a small toe section of the athletic shoe and has a length that is a second value less than the first length, wherein the second value is greater than the first value. A cleat of the ball-of-foot group has a length that is a third value less than the first value, wherein the third value is greater than the second value.
US08707581B2	Laundry treating machine with basement portion having multi-level air flow path A laundry treating machine includes a casing (1) accommodating therein a laundry container (6) and a basement portion (14). The basement portion (14) has seats (18A-18F) adapted to receive machine operational devices (5) and further provides at least one air path. The at least one air path extends over two levels of the basement (14) at different height, and a conveyor (21, 40) is provided for reversing the air path from one of the levels to the other.
US08707577B2	Adjustable hair dryer Embodiments of the present invention include an adjustable hairdryer permitting a user to rotate and vertically adjust the barrel portion of a hand-holdable dryer. Embodiments of the invention disclose ball-and-socket and disc joint couplings between a hairdryer barrel and handle. Embodiment linkage apparatus is disclosed providing mechanical contact between the barrel and a rotatory electrical interface, permitting the barrel to be freely rotatable relative to the handle while maintaining electrical contact.
US08707575B2	Tape measuring device with magnetic end hook A magnetic end hook for a tape measuring device is provided, the end hook comprising vertical and horizontal elements, the horizontal element of the end hook is generally perpendicular to the vertical element of the end hook, the vertical element comprising a cavity designed for receiving a magnet; and at least one magnet situated within said cavity.
US08707574B2	Template A template for forming an opening in a surface includes a substrate having parallel first and second planar surfaces. The first planar surface includes parallel first and second lengthwise edges. The first planar surface also includes parallel first and second widthwise edges, where the second widthwise edge is perpendicular to the first and second lengthwise edges. First matching measurement index markings are located on the first planar surface along the first and second lengthwise edges. Second matching measurement index markings are located on the first planar surface along the first and second widthwise edges. A lengthwise slot is formed in the substrate parallel to the first and second lengthwise edges. Lengthwise measurement index markings are located on the first planar surface adjacent to a lengthwise edge of the lengthwise slot. A widthwise slot is formed in the substrate parallel to the first and second widthwise edges.
US08707573B2	Low clearance machined part mating system A device, system, and method for generating low clearance slidably mated parts. In an exemplary embodiment, the system includes a measurement device having a non-contact micrometer capable of coincidentally indicating opposing edge data, rotational and linear air bearing slides, and a holding device. The non-contact micrometer allows for measurement of a plurality of parameters of a first part including the diameter and the difference between an edge of the first part and a reference point. The coincidental measurements are used to determine the size and geometric errors associated with the first part after suitable error elimination. In an exemplary system, a processing machine may be instructed by the measurement device to remove material from a second part so that the first part and the second part when mated together have a very low clearance tolerance level, e.g., as little as 0.00005 inches or less.
US08707571B2	Apparatus for measuring dimensions of spacer grid for nuclear fuel assemblies Provided is an apparatus for measuring dimensions of a spacer grid for nuclear fuel assemblies. The apparatus includes a fixing unit fixed to a measuring table placed on a floor and kept insulated from vibrations caused by external force, a measuring unit mounted on the fixing unit and configured so that measuring members are installed on both sides of a rectangular spacer grid and move in forward and backward directions by cylinders while grasping the both sides of the spacer grid, and measure abnormalities in the both sides of the spacer grid, and a displacement measuring unit mounted on one side of the measuring unit and sending the measured abnormalities in the both sides of the spacer grid to the outside.
US08707570B2	Alignment apparatus An alignment apparatus for adjusting an image sensor is provided. The alignment apparatus includes a first stage, a second stage, a positioning aligned unit, and an adjustment unit. The second stage is floatingly disposed on the first stage. The image sensor is adapted to be disposed on the second stage. The positioning aligned unit connected between the first stage and the second stage constrains the second stage on a datum surface above the first stage. The positioning aligned unit coupled to the second stage drives the second stage to rotate along the datum surface.
US08707569B1	Quick change chain saw system A quick change chain saw system includes a swing arm and a hydraulic clamp device. The swing arm extends from the hydraulic clamp device. The swing arm retains drive sprocket components and is retained by a tree harvester or wood processor unit. The hydraulic clamp device includes a hydraulic clamp block, a puck plate, a clamp plate and a detent pin. The puck plate includes a base plate and three stud projections that is actuated with a plurality of pucks in the hydraulic clamp block. Three stud projections extend from the base plate and are inserted through the hydraulic clamp block. The clamp plate is secured to the three stud projections. A spring tensioner is used to bias the chain bar. A retraction tool is used to retract the hydraulic clamp device. The detent pin is used keep the hydraulic clamp in a retracted position for changing the chain blade.
US08707566B2	Utility knife A knife has a blade holder in a housing adapted to hold a blade and shiftable between a first cutting position with the blade projecting a little from the housing and a second position projecting somewhat more from the housing. An actuating element shiftable in the housing between a starting position and an actuating position is effective on a connecting linkage such that in a first orientation force is transmitted to the blade holder to retain the blade holder against moving into its retracted safety position from its first cutting position and in the second orientation the linkage does not prevent the blade holder from moving into its safety position from its second cutting position.
US08707565B2	Blade holder Specific embodiments of the present invention are directed to blade holders, which provide an easier method to cut by way of including a guide incorporated into the handle. This guide rests upon the surface to be cut, leading the cutting blade. Furthermore, the leading end of the tool is blunt, which is safer than leading with a sharp edge. In specific embodiments, the handle is of such a shape that the user can pull the tool straight back to cut, allowing the hand to rest in a more neutral and ergonomic position.
US08707562B2	Wet shaving cartridge with four blade edges A razor cartridge is provided that includes a frame, at least four razor blades, a guard that includes a contact surface, and a cap that includes a contact surface. The razor blades are supported by the frame. The guard is disposed forward of the razor blades and the cap is disposed aft of the razor blades. The razor blades are arranged so that the cutting edge of each razor blade is adjacent a plane that tangentially intersects the contact surfaces of the guard and the cap. As a result, each stroke of the razor exposes the surface being shaved to at least four razor blade cutting edges in succession. A unitary razor assembly that includes a head characterized in the same manner as the above-described cartridge is also provided.
US08707561B1	Shaving device with a pad The present invention provides a shaving device that includes a handle for better control, and a stand that has a pad with sufficient surface area to comfortably compress and frictionally grip to tighten skin in relation to the working plane of one or more blades of the shaving device for smoother shave. The stand tightens the skin for closer shave, and compresses it below a level of existing hair growth, causing the hair follicles to protrude for even a better and closer shave. The stand further pushes the skin away from in-between the razor heads to diminish cuts and nicks, all for a closer shave.
US08707560B2	Spacing tool and method of use The invention includes a hand tool that may be used for applying a design to a jewelry line, The tool may include at least one three-dimensional object having a slot spanning at least the distance of one side of the object. The slot may be receptive to a jewelry line, such as a wire or string. The tool may include at least a first object connected to another object so the objects may abut one another or be spaced an adjustable distance apart and at least two of the slots are in-line. Further, the hand tool may be used in a method of applying a design or designs to the jewelry line by placing the line in the slot(s) and applying a stop to the line.
US08707559B1	Material dispense tips and methods for manufacturing the same A material dispense tip includes an elongated hole in an elongated neck that extends from an input end of the neck to an output end of the neck. The hole at the output end of the neck has a first diameter. The output end of the neck is positioned against a die surface. A punch is inserted into the hole at the input end of the neck. An external force is applied to the neck to cause the output end of the neck to be deformed under compression by the die surface, to reduce the diameter of the hole at the output end of the neck from the first diameter to a second diameter that is less than the first diameter.
US08707558B2	Water heater threaded weld fitting having improved weld integrity A threaded weld fitting and a method of welding a threaded weld fitting to the tank wall of a water storage tank are provided. The threaded weld fitting comprises a body defining an aperture and having a facing surface configured to be positioned facing the tank wall. A female thread is formed along the aperture. A first beveled surface portion of the facing surface extends from an edge of the body. A landing surface portion of the facing surface extends from the first beveled surface portion toward a longitudinal axis of the aperture. A second beveled surface portion of the facing surface extends from the landing surface and to the female thread. The landing surface portion and the second beveled surface portion together define an open annular area positioned to receive a portion of a weld formed by welding the threaded weld fitting to the tank wall.
US08707557B1	Method and apparatus to improve performance of power plant steam surface condensers The invention apparatus and method is practiced in large steam surface condensers and in one aspect comprises relatively narrow horizontal trays installed between the vertical tube bundles to drain the condensate from the upper bundle around the lower ones and thereby improve the heat transfer coefficient of the lower bundle(s). A second aspect of the invention apparatus comprises relatively narrow horizontal trays installed slightly below the lowest bundle to improve reheating of falling condensate up toward the saturation temperature of the condenser thereby reducing subcooling and the level of dissolved oxygen in that condensate. A third aspect of the invention apparatus comprises a partial hood retrofitted at the top of the central tube sheet air off-take entrance which is a unique element of the starburst/core pipe condenser design to thereby improve the air removal capability and consequently the performance of the condenser.
US08707549B2	Ergonomic grip assemblies and handles for ultrasound transducers The present invention relates to ultrasound transducers for ultrasonic imaging systems and, in particular, to improved grip assemblies for ultrasound transducers. One grip assembly includes a locking plate defining first and second apertures and a coupling post extending from the locking plate. An interface plate has a first elongate extension being extendable at least partially through the first aperture and a second elongate extension being extendable at least partially through the second aperture. A handle is coupled to the locking plate and includes a grip, a coupling interface, and a neck extending between the grip and the coupling interface. The coupling interface defines a coupling aperture for receiving the coupling post.
US08707547B2	Method for fabricating a lead-frameless power inductor A lead-frameless power inductor and its fabrication method are disclosed. The power inductor comprises a lower substrate, a coil provided on the lower substrate, and an intermediate layer which encloses the coil, wherein the lower substrate can be a soft magnetic entrainer or a non-magnetic entrainer. The coil is made of an insulated wire, and the intermediate layer is a colloid consisting of magnetic powder. A method for fabricating the lead-frameless power inductor includes steps of preparing a lower substrate; forming a plurality of conducting metal layers on the lower substrate; forming a wire package on an upper surface of said lower substrate; coating a surface of said wire package with a magnetic powder; dividing the substrate into a plurality of granulated elements by cutting process; and forming the conducting metal layer on both sides of the element to form a surface mounting device.
US08707546B2	Method of manufacture of multi-layer-multi-turn high efficiency tunable inductors A multi-layer, multi-turn structure for an inductor having a plurality of conductor layers separated by layers of insulator is described. The inductor further comprises a connector electrically connected between the conductor layers. The structure of the inductor may comprise a cavity therewithin. The structure of the inductor constructed such that electrical resistance is reduced therewithin, thus increasing the efficiency of the inductor. The inductor is particularly useful at operating within the radio frequency range and greater.
US08707541B2	Process for roughening metal surfaces A method of roughening metal surfaces of a workpiece such as a cylinder bore of an internal combustion engine to improve the adhesion of layers thermally sprayed thereon. Uniform grooves are formed in the surface and ridges are arranged between the grooves. The grooves may be formed by a process such as turning, drilling, milling or rolling. The ridges are plastically deformed in order to form undercuts in the grooves, with the degree of plastic deformation of the ridges varying regularly in the longitudinal direction of the grooves. Local deformations are produced in the ridge, and these bring about regular undercuts in the groove. This makes it possible to produce the undercuts in identical dimensions with little effort. Furthermore, since the groove is now not completely constricted by undercuts, it can be filled more effectively with spraying material.
US08707537B2	System and method for securing detachable construction equipment A security lock assembly includes a channel blocking frame, deadbolt and a pin-lock assembly. The channel blocking frame defines a central opening along a first axis and a pair of opposing apertures along a second axis orthogonal to the first. The deadbolt also defines an aperture or bore extending therethrough for alignment with the frame's opposing apertures when positioned at least partially within the central opening of the channel blocking frame. The pin lock assembly has an elongated shaft dimensioned to extend through opposing apertures of the lock frame and deadbolt thereby entrapping the deadbolt within the channel blocking frame. Enlarged ends of the pin lock assembly prevent unauthorized removal of the pin-lock, the deadbolt, and thus the installed lock assembly from a detachable assembly (e.g., plow). The security lock assembly when secured within an attachment channel of a plow prevents unauthorized attachment without first removing the security lock assembly.

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