Document Document Title
US08735068B2 Method and test kit comprising citric acid salt and alcohol in a binding buffer for the separation, purification and recycling of long- and short-chain nucleic acids
Long- and/or short-chain nucleic acids are separated, purified and recovered by binding the nucleic acid to a solid phase using a binding buffer, to obtain a bonded nucleic acid, and eluting of the bonded nucleic acid from the solid phase, wherein the binding buffer comprises at least one citric acid salt and at least one alcohol.
US08735065B2 Device and methods for epigenetic analysis
Provided herein are methods and devices for single object detection. The methods and devices can be used to identify a plurality epigenetic markers on a genetic material, or a chromatin, encompassing fragments thereof. The invention provides for the characterization of the genetic material flowing through a channel in a continuous body of fluid based on detection of one or more properties of the genetic material. The methods and systems provided herein allow genome-wide, high-throughput epigenetic analysis and overcome a variety of limitations common to bulk analysis techniques.
US08735054B1 Acellular tissue matrix preservation solution
The present disclosure provides a variety of methods and compositions (e.g., solutions) useful for making, sterilizing, and preserving tissues (e.g., acellular tissue matrices). The disclosure also features the acellular tissue matrices made by the methods, which matrices can be used for a variety of applications such as, but not limited to, treating an injury to, or repairing, a large number of tissues and/or organs (e.g., e.g., fascia, bones, and/or cartilage) in a mammal (e.g., a human).
US08735050B2 Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits using double patterning processes
Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. One method includes creating a master pattern layout including first and second adjacent cells. The first adjacent cell has a first border pin with a first routing line. The second adjacent cell has a second border pin with a second routing line. The first and second routing lines overlap to define an edge-edge stitch to couple the first and second border pins. The master pattern layout is decomposed into sub-patterns.
US08735049B2 Liquid platemaking process
A method of making a relief printing element in a liquid photopolymer platemaking process is described. The method comprises the steps of: (a) selectively exposing the liquid photopolymer to actinic radiation through a negative to crosslink and cure portions of the liquid photopolymer; and (b) reclaiming uncured portions of the liquid photopolymer to be reused in the platemaking process. The step of reclaiming uncured portions of the liquid photopolymer comprises (i) heating the printing element to decrease the viscosity of the uncured liquid photopolymer; and (ii) removing uncured liquid photopolymer from the surface of the relief image printing element so that recovery of uncured liquid photopolymer from the surface of the relief image printing element is enhanced.
US08735048B2 Actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition, resist film using the composition and pattern forming method
An actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition comprising (P) a resin having a repeating unit represented by the following formula (1), a resist film using the composition, and a pattern forming method.
US08735047B2 Resist composition and method for producing resist pattern
A resist composition having a resin having a structural unit represented by the formula (I), a resin being insoluble or poorly soluble in alkali aqueous solution, but becoming soluble in an alkali aqueous solution by the action of an acid and not including the structural unit represented by the formula (I), and an acid generator represented by the formula (II), wherein R1, A1, A13, A14, X12, Q1, Q2, L1, ring W1 and Z+ are defined in the specification.
US08735046B2 Positive resist composition and patterning process
A polymer obtained from copolymerization of a recurring unit having a carboxyl group and/or phenolic hydroxyl group substituted with an acid labile group with a methacrylate having a phenolic hydroxyl-bearing pyridine is useful as a base resin in a positive resist composition. The resist composition comprising the polymer is improved in contrast of alkali dissolution rate before and after exposure, acid diffusion control, resolution, and profile and edge roughness of a pattern after exposure.
US08735045B2 Positive resist composition, method of forming resist pattern, and polymeric compound
A positive resist composition including a base component (A) which exhibits increased solubility in an alkali developing solution under action of acid and an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, the base component (A) including a polymeric compound (A1) containing a structural unit (a0) represented by general formula (a0-1) shown below and a structural unit (a1) derived from an acrylate ester containing an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group.
US08735039B2 Toner for electrostatic image development
A toner for electrostatic image development containing at least a resin binder, the resin binder being composed of a crystalline resin and an amorphous resin, wherein the crystalline resin contains a crystalline polyester obtained by polycondensing an alcohol component containing an aliphatic diol having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and a carboxylic acid component containing an aromatic dicarboxylic acid compound and an aromatic tricarboxylic or higher polycarboxylic acid compound, wherein the crystalline polyester has a weight-average molecular weight of from 20,000 to 150,000, and wherein the crystalline resin and the amorphous resin are in a weight ratio, i.e. crystalline resin/amorphous resin, of from 55/45 to 95/5. The toner for electrostatic image development of the present invention can be suitably used in, for example, the development or the like of latent image formed in electrophotography, an electrostatic recording method, an electrostatic printing method, or the like.
US08735035B2 Electrophotographic toner and process of preparing the same
An electrophotographic toner and a process for preparing the same. The electrophotographic toner includes a binder, a coloring agent, and a release agent. The binder includes two resins having different weight average molecular weights.
US08735034B2 Toner for electrostatic image development
A toner for electrostatic image development containing toner matrix particles having at least a resin binder and a colorant, and an external additive, the external additive having composite oxide particles (an external additive A) that have titania and silica, wherein the external additive A has a core-shell structure in which a core portion has the titania and a shell portion has the silica, wherein the titania is present in the external additive A in an amount of from 75 to 95% by weight, and the resin binder comprising a polyester obtained by polycondensing a carboxylic acid component comprising an isophthalic acid compound and an alcohol component (a polyester A).
US08735032B2 Electrophotographic photosensitive member, method of producing electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus
An electrophotographic photosensitive member having a surface layer that contains a polymer produced by the polymerization of a compound having a chain-polymerizable functional group. The compound having a chain-polymerizable functional group is a compound represented by the formula (1).
US08735029B2 Positive photosensitive resin composition, and display device and organic light emitting device using the same
Disclosed are a positive photosensitive resin composition including (A) an alkali soluble resin including a polybenzoxazole precursor, a polyimide precursor, or a combination thereof, (B) a photosensitive diazoquinone compound, (C) a compound represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, and (D) a solvent, and a display device and an organic light emitting device using the same. The Chemical Formula 1 is the same as defined in the detailed description.
US08735024B2 Non-planar lithography mask and system and methods
Various non-planar lithography masks, systems using such lithography masks, and methods are disclosed. An embodiment is a lithography mask comprising a lens-type transparent substrate and a reticle pattern on a surface of the lens-type transparent substrate. The reticle pattern is opaque to optical radiation. Methods for forming similar lithography masks and for using similar lithography masks are disclosed.
US08735023B2 Fuel cell with layered electrode
One embodiment includes at least one of the anode and cathode of a fuel cell comprises a first layer and a second layer in intimate contact with each other. Both the first layer and the second layer comprise a catalyst capable of catalyzing an electrochemical reaction of a reactant gas. The second layer has a higher porosity than the first layer. A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) based on the layered electrode configuration and a process of making a fuel cell are also described.
US08735021B2 Cobalt(II) tetramethoxyphenylporphyrin (CoTMPP) ionomer stabilization to prevent electrode degradation
A membrane/electrode assembly for fuel cell applications includes an ion conducting polymer and a porphyrin-containing compound at least partially dispersed within the ion conducting polymer, a first electrode and a second electrode. At least one of the first and second electrodes also includes the porphyrin-containing compound. The membrane/electrode assembly exhibits improved performance over membrane/electrode assembly not incorporating such porphyrin-containing compounds.
US08735020B2 Fuel cell
A fuel cell includes an anode current collector provided between an anode and a separator for collecting electrical energy generated in the electrolyte electrode assembly, and supplying a fuel gas to an electrode surface of the anode. The separator has at least one fuel gas inlet hole for supplying the fuel gas to the anode current collector. The anode current collector has at least one fuel gas inlet channel having an opening that faces an opening of the fuel gas inlet hole at an end of the fuel gas inlet hole, for allowing the fuel gas supplied through the fuel gas inlet hole to flow into the anode current collector.
US08735019B2 Fuel cell
A fuel cell including a single fuel cell which includes a membrane electrode including a polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode electrode on one surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane, and a cathode electrode on another surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane, the anode electrode including an anode catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer and the cathode electrode including a cathode catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer. At least one of the anode cathode catalyst layers includes core-shell type catalyst particles, each having a core and a shell covering the core and including a shell metallic material. At least one of the polymer electrolyte membrane, anode catalyst layer, gas diffusion layer at the anode side, cathode catalyst layer and gas diffusion layer at the cathode side includes metallic nanoparticles having an average particle diameter different from that of the core-shell type catalyst particles and including the shell metallic material.
US08735015B2 Fuel cell
A fuel cell includes a plurality of power generation cells each having a first separator. The separator has a fuel gas flow field. A fuel gas supply passage extends through one corner of the power generation cell in the stacking direction, a fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas supply passage into a fuel gas flow field. An inlet buffer is provided upstream of the fuel gas flow field. The fuel gas supply passage and the inlet buffer are connected by a plurality of inlet connection grooves. The inlet connection grooves are inclined from a direction perpendicular to a wall surface of the fuel gas supply passage toward the center of the fuel gas flow field.
US08735014B2 Fuel cell and fuel cell stack including the same
A fuel cell of the present invention includes an electrolyte layer-electrode assembly (5), a first separator (4A), and a second separator (4C). A cooling water channel (8) is formed on a main surface of at least one of the first separator (4A) and the second separator (4C) so as to communicate with at least one of a first cooling water manifold hole (41) and a second cooling water manifold hole (51). A first channel forming portion (11) is located in at least one of the first cooling water manifold hole (41) and the second cooling water manifold hole (51) when viewed from a thickness direction of an electrolyte layer (1) and is provided so as to be opposed to at least a part of an end surface constituting the first cooling water manifold hole (41) and the second cooling water manifold hole (51).
US08735011B2 Fuel cell system
A fuel cell system is provided including heating means for heating up heat medium that exchanges heat with a fuel cell, and in which the fuel cell is warmed up by the heat medium heated by the heating means. The system includes: flow rate detecting means for detecting a flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the heating means; and heat controlling means for controlling the heating means based on the flow rate of the heat medium detected by the flow rate detecting means. With this arrangement, it is possible to prevent overheating of the heat medium in the fuel cell system in which the heat medium is heated to warm up the fuel cell.
US08735010B2 Control system for direct alcohol fuel cell
A control system for a direct alcohol fuel cell, comprising: a fuel tank; a fuel cell stack; a pump feeding the fuel in the fuel tank to the fuel cell stack; a switching mechanism connecting the pump selectively with the fuel and air in the fuel tank; and a control unit switching the switching mechanism to connect the pump with the air when stopping power generation of the fuel cell stack. When the generation of the fuel cell stack is stopped, feeding of the fuel to the fuel cell stack is stopped and the air is supplied to the fuel cell stack thereby pushing out the remaining fuel.
US08735008B2 Fuel cell system
A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell stack for generating electrical energy by reacting oxidant and mixed fuel, and for discharging non-reacted fuel, oxidant, moisture, and carbon dioxide; a mixer for preparing the mixed fuel by mixing at least a portion of the non-reacted fuel, oxidant and moisture with concentrated fuel and for supplying the mixed fuel to the fuel cell stack; a fuel supply unit for supplying the concentrated fuel to the mixer; an oxidant supply unit for supplying the oxidant to the fuel cell stack; a first heat exchanger between an outlet of the fuel cell stack and the mixer; and a second heat exchanger between the mixer and an inlet of the fuel cell stack.
US08735005B2 Fluorinated cyclic carbonates and compositions thereof
Novel fluorinated cyclic carbonate compounds are described. These compounds may be useful as non-aqueous electrolyte solvents, specialty solvents, and starting materials and intermediates for synthesis of dyes, agricultural chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.
US08735004B2 Overcharge inhibitor, and nonaqueous electrolyte solution and secondary battery using the same
An overcharge inhibitor is provided which increases an internal resistance of a battery, being electropolymerized by reaction with a positive electrode at a high potential in overcharging.The overcharge inhibitor is produced by using a polymer containing a polymerizable monomer as a repeating unit. The polymerizable monomer has a functional group that is electropolymerized at a potential of 4.3 to 5.5 V based on a lithium metal reference.
US08735000B2 Porous membrane and process for preparing the same
The present invention relates to a porous membrane containing cellulose fibers, wherein the cellulose fibers contain 5% by weight or more of cellulose fibers with a diameter of 1 μm or more, relative to the total weight of the cellulose, and the porous membrane has a tensile strength of 50 N·m/g or more, and/or has a tear strength of 0.40 kN/m or more. The porous membrane according to the present invention can provide a separator for electrochemical devices with superior properties, at a reasonable cost.
US08734998B2 Spinel-type lithium transition metal oxide and positive electrode active material for lithium battery
Provided is spinel-type lithium transition metal oxide (LMO) used as a positive electrode active material for lithium battery, said LMO being capable of simultaneously achieving all output characteristics (rate characteristics), high temperature cycle life characteristics, and rapid charging characteristics. The disclosed is spinel-type lithium transition metal oxide including, besides Li and Mn, one or more elements selected from a group consisting of Mg, Ti, Ni, Co, and Fe, and having crystallite size of between 200 nm and 1000 nm and strain of 0.0900 or less. Because the crystallite size is markedly large, oxygen deficiency is markedly little, and the structure is strong, when the LMO is used as a positive electrode active material for lithium secondary batteries, all output characteristics (rate characteristics), high temperature cycle life characteristics, and rapid charging characteristics can be achieved simultaneously.
US08734996B2 Anode of lithium battery and method for fabricating the same
An anode of a lithium battery includes a supporting member and a carbon nanotube film disposed on a surface of the support member. The carbon nanotube film includes at least two overlapped and intercrossed layers of carbon nanotubes. Each layer includes a plurality of successive carbon nanotube bundles aligned in the same direction. A method for fabricating the anode of the lithium battery includes the steps of: (a) providing an array of carbon nanotubes; (b) pulling out, by using a tool, at least two carbon nanotube films from the array of carbon nanotubes; and (c) providing a supporting member and disposing the carbon nanotube films to the supporting member along different directions and overlapping with each other to achieving the anode of lithium battery.
US08734992B2 Electrolytic manganese dioxide, and method for its production and its application
Disclosed is an electrolytic manganese dioxide having an alkali potential of at least 310 mV, a full width at half maximum of the (110) plane in the XRD measurement using the CuKα line as the light source of from 2.2° to 3.0°, and a (110)/(021) peak intensity ratio in the X-ray diffraction spectrum of from 0.5 to 0.80. Also disclosed is a method for producing electrolytic manganese dioxide by electrolysis in an aqueous solution of a sulfuric acid/manganese sulfate mixture.
US08734991B2 Negative electrode material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery
This invention provides a negative electrode material for a rechargeable battery with a nonaqueous electrolyte, characterized in that the negative electrode material contains polycrystalline silicon particles as an active material, the particle diameter of crystallites of the polycrystalline silicon is not less than 20 nm and not more than 100 nm in terms of a crystallite size determined by the Scherrer method from the full width at half maximum of a diffraction line attributable to Si (111) around 2θ=28.4° in an x-ray diffraction pattern analysis, and the true specific gravity of the silicon particles is 2.300 to 2.320.
US08734989B2 Negative electrode for rechargeable lithium battery and rechargeable lithium battery including the same
A negative electrode for rechargeable lithium batteries includes a current collector, a porous active material layer having a metal-based active material disposed on the current collector, and a high-strength binder layer on the porous active material layer. The high-strength binder layer has a strength ranging from 5 to 70 MPa. The negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery according to the present invention can improve cycle-life characteristics by suppressing volume expansion and reactions of an electrolyte at the electrode surface.
US08734987B2 Active material, electrode containing same, lithium-ion secondary battery with the electrode, and method of manufacturing active material
The method of manufacturing an active material in accordance with the first aspect of the invention yields an active material containing LiVOPO4 capable of improving the cycle characteristic of a battery. Methods of manufacturing active materials in accordance with the second, third, and fourth aspects of the present invention yield active materials containing LiVOPO4 capable of improving the discharge capacity of a battery.
US08734985B2 Jelly-roll type battery unit and winding method thereof and lithium secondary battery comprising the same
A jelly-roll type battery unit includes a first electrode plate having a first electrode current collector with a first electrode tab, and a first electrode active material layer on a surface of the first electrode current collector; a second electrode plate having a second electrode current collector with a second electrode tab, and a second electrode active material layer on a surface of the second electrode current collector; and a separator interposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate. The electrode tab is incorporated into the electrode current collector in an area of either first or second electrode plate where the corresponding electrode active material layer is not coated. The electrode tab is cut widthwise with respect to the electrode current collector from a center area of the electrode current collector and folded, and an insulating tape is adhered to either surface of the electrode tab.
US08734984B2 Bipolar battery manufacturing method, and bipolar battery
When a bipolar battery is manufactured, a bipolar electrode and a separator are prepared first. Then, one electrode (for example, a positive electrode) out of positive and negative electrodes is applied with such an amount of electrolyte as being exposed on a surface of the one electrode. Then, the separator is arranged on the surface of the one electrode applied with the electrolyte, thus forming a sub-assembly unit. Then, a plurality of the sub-assembly units are layered, and the electrolyte applied to the one electrode is made to permeate through the separator to the other electrode, thus forming an assembly unit.
US08734983B2 Housing for electrochemical devices
An improved housing for a rolled-ribbon electrochemical device is provided. The housing comprises a fastener that aligns first and second cups during assembly and maintains electrode contact independent of external pressure on the housing eliminating the possibility of an open circuit state for a cell. In one alternative embodiment, the fastener comprises a stem that fits into a hollow tube and resists detachment from the tube. In another alternative embodiment, the fastener comprises a stem that fits into a grommet and resists detachment from the grommet. In yet another alternative embodiment, the fastener comprises a tube that fits into a grommet and resists detachment from the grommet.
US08734981B2 Spill containment system and method with liner applied in liquid form
A system and method are provided including a containment system for containing leaks or spills from at least one battery. Further provided is a liner formed in the containment system. Such liner is formed of a material capable of being applied to the containment system in a liquid form, whereafter the material solidifies for containing the leaks or spills from at least one battery.
US08734977B2 Battery module
A battery module includes a cooling tube through which cooling air passes, a unit battery installed on the cooling tube, and a temperature adjusting unit installed on the cooling tube to adjust a temperature of the unit battery.
US08734976B2 Battery having enhanced electrical insulation capability
Disclosed is a battery including a cathode in which cathode active-material coating layers provided on both surfaces of a cathode collector are longitudinally deviated from each other, and an anode having at least one anode active-material coating layer provided on an anode collector, the cathode and anode being wound to face each other with a separator interposed therebetween. At least one of a winding beginning portion and winding ending portion of the cathode is provided with a cathode uncoated part for installation of a cathode lead. An insulator tape is attached to the boundary of the cathode active-material coating layer at a position where the anode active-material coating layer faces a non-coating part of the cathode not containing the cathode active-material coating layer, achieving enhanced electrical insulation capability and consequential safety of the battery.
US08734972B2 Battery pack processing apparatus and processing method
Provided is a battery pack processing apparatus and a processing method with which discharge can be performed in a short time when a battery pack is discharged by immersing the battery pack in a discharge liquid.A processing apparatus A is for discharging a battery pack P having single cells c and a case b by immersing the battery pack P in the discharge liquid. The processing apparatus A includes an aperture-forming machine 20 forming an aperture through which the discharge liquid can flow inside the case b by pressurizing the battery pack P. A state can thus be achieved which is the same as the state that results if the single cells c accommodated in the case b are individually immersed in the discharge liquid. A protection circuit f for preventing an over-discharge is prevented from suppressing a discharge current from the battery pack P, enabling the discharge in a short time.
US08734970B2 Automotive fuel cell water management system and method of operating same
Actuators are attached with plates of a fuel cell stack. Electrical power is provided to the actuators to drive the actuators to mechanically excite the plates to agitate liquid water restricting or blocking flow fields formed in the plates.
US08734968B2 Micro-sized microbial fuel cell
A microbial fuel cell includes an anode portion having an anode and a cathode portion having a cathode. The anode is configured to support an electrically conductive biofilm matrix. A cation exchange membrane is positioned between the anode and the cathode. The anode portion and the cation exchange membrane define an anode chamber having a volume of between about 1 μL and about 100 μL and configured to receive an anolyte. The cathode portion and the cation exchange membrane define a cathode chamber having a volume of between about 1 μL and about 100 μL and configured to receive a catholyte. The microbial fuel cell is configured to achieve a Coulombic efficiency of at least 30% and/or a power density of at least of 4.7 μW/cm2. The microbial fuel cell is a microelectromechanical system and can be fabricated in an automated production process.
US08734965B2 Controlled polarity group III-nitride films and methods of preparing such films
The present invention provides methods of preparing Group III-nitride films of controlled polarity and substrates coated with such controlled polarity films. In particular, the invention provides substrate preparation steps that optimize the substrate surface for facilitating growth of a Group III-polar film, an N-polar film, or a selectively patterned film with both a Group III-polar portion and an N-polar portion in precise positioning. The methods of the invention are particularly suited for use in CVD methods.
US08734964B2 Etching resist
An etching resist has a first heat-generating layer, a second heat-generating layer, and a metal compound layer including a metallic oxynitride layer containing a metallic oxynitride. The first heat-generating layer, the metallic oxynitride layer, and the second heat-generating layer are directly or indirectly laminated such that the metallic oxynitride layer is positioned between the first heat-generating layer and the second heat-generating layer.
US08734963B2 Complex salts
Disclosed is a salt of an organometallic complex cation and an organometallic complex anion, wherein the cation as well as the anion consists of a central metal atom M of atomic weight greater than 40 associated to 2 or more ligands, at least one ligand comprising a cyclic organic moiety with a carbon atom bonding to M, and at least one ligand comprising a cyclic organic moiety with a nitrogen atom bonding to M. The novel salts may be used as conductive and/or light emitting components in electronic devices. Color emission may be chosen by selecting anion(s) and cation(s) of suitable emission characteristics.
US08734962B2 Phosphorescent metal complex compound radiation emitting component comprising a phosphorescent metal complex compound and method for production of a phosphorescent metal complex compound
A phosphorescent metal complex is provided, which comprises a metallic central atom M and at least one ligand coordinated by the metallic central atom M, wherein the one metallic central atom M and the ligand form a six-membered metallacyclic ring. Additionally specified are a radiation-emitting component comprising a metal complex, and a process for preparing the metal complex.
US08734956B2 Polybutylene terephthalate resin composition
The present invention provides a polybutylene terephthalate resin composition which satisfies performances such as high durability in an environment of heating and cooling cycles and adhesion properties to an addition-reaction type silicone rubber. Specifically, provided is the polybutylene terephthalate resin composition, exhibiting excellent adhesion properties to the addition-reaction type silicone rubber, including: (A) 100 parts by weight of polybutylene terephthalate resin; (B) 5 to 30 parts by weight of a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer containing 40% by weight or less of styrene component; and (C) 20 to 100 parts by weight of glass fiber.
US08734943B2 Resin composition, two-pack type adhesive for laminates, multilayer film, and back sheet for solar cells
Provided are a resin composition with high adhesion to substrates under hot and humid conditions, a two-part laminate adhesive containing the resin composition, and a laminated film and backsheet for solar cells including a layer of the adhesive. The resin composition contains, as essential components, a polyester polyurethane polyol (A) having a branched structure in a molecule thereof and having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 25,000 to 200,000 and a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of 2.5 to 25; a hydroxyl-containing epoxy resin (B) having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 300 to 5,000; a hydroxyl-containing polycarbonate resin (C) having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 300 to 3,000; and a polyisocyanate (D).
US08734940B2 Diffusively light reflective paint composition, method for making paint composition, and diffusively light reflective articles
A diffusively reflective paint composition is disclosed for use in reflectors in lighting fixtures. The paint is formed by blending macroporous polymeric particles with a paint carrier. The macroporous polymeric particles are formed by reducing a reflective macroporous sheet material. The paint can further comprise solid or hollow microspheres. The paint can be applied to a variety of substrates to form diffusely reflective articles.
US08734936B2 Transparent conductive film, method for production thereof and touch panel therewith
A transparent conductive film includes a transparent film substrate; and a first and second crystalline transparent conductive laminate, wherein the second crystalline layer is located between the transparent film substrate and the first transparent conductive layer, and a second content of the tetravalent metal element oxide of the second transparent conductive layer is higher than a first content of the tetravalent metal element oxide of the second transparent conductive layer. The transparent conductive film allows a reduction in crystallization time.
US08734930B2 Hydrogel implants with varying degrees of crosslinking
The present disclosure relates to a hydrogel composition and methods of using the same. The hydrogel composition may include precursors that react with each other upon contact as well as precursors that react upon contact with an initiator. In embodiments, the resulting hydrogels may have varying levels of crosslinking with both denser and less dense regions.
US08734929B2 Hydrophobic composites and methods of making the same
Hydrophobic composites, as well as methods for making a hydrophobic composite, are provided. A hydrophobic composite may include a plurality of nanostructures elongated from one or more supports and having a configuration characterized by a first hydrophobicity, and at least one substance characterized by a second hydrophobicity and configured to at least partially cover one or more portions of the plurality of nanostructures such that the overall hydrophobicity of the hydrophobic composite is greater than the first hydrophobicity.
US08734928B1 Decorative cover for outdoor patio heaters
After observing patio heaters at many events, hotels and restaurants, we, as decorators, knew they have little decorative appeal in beautiful settings.Patio heaters have gained popularity as people are enjoying more outdoor entertaining. We designed a cover to “hide” the heaters. Our cover is a tailored, box-pleat skirt design with three pleats, two side pleats are inset with fabric mesh to allow for ventilation of the tank, and detailed with a welt trim. Like a slip-cover, it fits over the neck and base of the heater, fastened with hook/loop sewn inside.All components are fire retardant. They are machine washable, hold their shape, offer protection from the elements, and have easy setup, and access to controls.
US08734926B2 Plastics transporting container for transporting and/or storing articles and the like
The present invention relates to a plastics transport container for transporting and/or storing articles, having a container base (14) and side walls (2, 3) which are circumferentially arranged at the base of the container. Thus, it is provided that at least one flat section of the thin-walled container with a thickness ranging from 1.4 mm to 4 mm is reinforced by a braided or woven structure of fibers (4) embedded in the surface or proximal to the surface of the section.
US08734921B2 Ink composition for continuous deflected jet printing, especially on wet glass
Ink composition for continuous deflected jet printing, that is liquid at ambient temperature, comprising a solvent containing less than 0.5% by weight of water and less than 0.5% by weight of alcohols relative to the total weight of the ink composition; one or more dye(s) and/or pigment(s) that is (are) insoluble in water, and in mixtures of water and of at least one alcohol; and a binder, comprising at least 50% by weight, relative to the total weight of the binder, of at least one binder resin capable of being obtained by reaction between at least one alkoxysilane and at least one hydroxyaromatic resin.
US08734919B2 Pre-stressed substrate for photographic paper
A pre-stressed substrate for a photographic paper includes a base paper having a front surface and a back surface; a top pre-stress coat on the front surface, the top pre-stress coat including a first pre-stress mixture containing at least a first pigment, a first binding material including a first water soluble binder and a first water-dispersible binder; and a back pre-stress coat on the back surface, the back pre-stress coating including a second pre-stress mixture containing at least a second pigment, a second binding material including a second water soluble binder. The weight % of the first water soluble binder in the first binding material is less than the weight % of the second water soluble binder in the second binding material. The pre-stressed substrate has a predetermined degree of curvature toward the back surface and is capable of countering curling forces that occur when the pre-stressed substrate is used.
US08734904B2 Methods of forming topographical features using segregating polymer mixtures
Methods are disclosed for forming topographical features. In one method, a pre-patterned structure is provided which comprises i) a support member having a surface and ii) an element for topographically guiding segregation of a polymer mixture including a first polymer and a second polymer, the element comprising a feature having a sidewall adjoined to the surface. The polymer mixture is disposed on the pre-patterned structure, wherein the disposed polymer mixture has contact with the sidewall and the surface. The first polymer and the second polymer are segregated in a plane parallel to the surface, thereby forming a segregated structure comprising a first polymer domain and a second polymer domain. The first polymer domain and/or the second polymer domain are lithographically patterned, thereby forming topographical features comprising at least one of i) a first feature comprising a lithographically patterned first polymer domain and ii) a second feature comprising a lithographically patterned second polymer domain.
US08734901B2 Film deposition method and apparatus
A film deposition method of depositing a thin film by alternately supplying at least a first source gas and a second source gas to a substrate is disclosed. The film deposition method includes steps of evacuating a process chamber where the substrate is accommodated, without supplying any gas to the process chamber; supplying an inert gas to the process chamber until a pressure within the process chamber becomes a predetermined pressure; supplying the first source gas to the process chamber filled with the inert gas at the predetermined pressure without evacuating the process chamber; stopping supplying the first source gas to the process chamber and evacuating the process chamber; supplying the second source gas to the process chamber; and stopping supplying the second source gas to the process chamber and evacuating the process chamber.
US08734900B2 Graphene shell and process of preparing the same
Provided are a process for economically preparing a graphene shell having a desired configuration which is applicable in various fields wherein in the process the thickness of the graphene shell can be controlled, and a graphene shell prepared by the process.
US08734892B2 Surface of the workpiece and a relative motion between the workpiece and the coating element
The invention relates to a coating method for coating at least one surface of a workpiece (1) by means of a coating element (2), from which material is transferred to the surface of the workpiece (1), wherein in a first method step at least the area of the surface of the workpiece (1) to be coated is heated, and in a further method step the area of the surface of a workpiece (1) to be coated is brought into contact with the coating element (2), wherein a relative motion between the surface of the workpiece (1) and the coating element (2) is applied.
US08734890B2 Method for forming a molecularly imprinted polymer biosensor
A method for forming a molecularly imprinted polymer biosensor includes: (a) preparing a reaction solution including an imprinting molecule, a functional monomer, an initiator, and a crosslinking agent; (b) disposing the reaction solution in a space between upper and lower substrates each of which is made of a light-transmissible material; (c) disposing on the upper substrate a photomask having a patterned hole; (d) irradiating the reaction solution through the patterned hole of the photomask and the upper substrate so that the reaction solution undergoes polymerization to form a polymer between the upper and lower substrates; (e) removing the upper substrate after the polymer is formed on the lower substrate; and (f) extracting the imprinting molecule from the polymer so that a patterned molecularly imprinted polymer film is formed on the lower substrate.
US08734888B2 Cocoa bean processing methods and techniques
Improved methods and/or techniques for processing and/or extracting materials from cocoa beans. In certain embodiments, cocoa bean processing methods (e.g., using unfermented or fermented or roasted or non-roasted beans) which result in cocoa products with improved taste characteristics and/or increased levels of anti-oxidants and/or vitamins.
US08734881B2 Capsule with filtering insert for preparing a coffee beverage
A capsule for the production of a beverage from a beverage production machine that provides a capsule holder with relief and recessed elements. The capsule includes an inverted cup-shaped body forming a chamber containing a beverage forming ingredient, a bottom injection wall, a sidewall and a flange-like rim; and a delivery wall which is sealed to the body and comprises a relatively flat outer surface extending from the central axis of the capsule to the flange-like rim of the body and at least one portion of porous material capable of providing a backpressure that is greater than the backpressure of the beverage forming ingredient in the chamber. Also, a system and method for the production of a beverage from the previously described capsule.
US08734880B2 Method for controlling the evolution of an alcoholic beverage in a container with a closing stopper
Method and installation for controlling the evolution of bottled wine closed with stoppers.Applicable to an alcoholic beverage comprising wine and spirits comprising controlling a surrounding environment of a bottle or bottles containing said beverage, applying a pressure which follows any profile of values over time, with a value equal to, greater than or less than atmospheric pressure, inducing an interaction between the surrounding environment and the inside of the bottle.An installation is used that comprises a sealed enclosure capable of storing bottles of said alcoholic beverage closed with caps, and a system controlling the pressure and composition of the atmosphere in the environment of the bottles in said tight enclosure.
US08734879B2 Methods of preservation
This invention discloses a method of preservation of a food product comprising the step of adding 1) a first component comprising between 10 ppm and 1% of a biocidal salt of Nα-(C1-C22) alkanoyl di-basic amino acid alkyl (C1-C22) ester cationic biocidal molecule with an anionic counterion, and 2) a second component comprising from 10 ppm to 1% by weight an acyl monoglyceride, directly to a food product. The preferred cationic biocidal molecule comprises Nα-lauroyl-L-arginine ethyl ester (“LAE”). The invention also discloses the method of preservation of a food product using salts of a Nα-(C1-C22) alkanoyl di-basic amino acid alkyl (C1-C22) ester cationic biocidal molecule and an anionic counterion with or without a monoglyceride of a fatty acid, whereby the packaging film is compounded with the salts and the optional monoglyceride of a fatty acid.
US08734874B1 Beverage brewing lid and system and method incorporating such a lid
A beverage cup lid and a system and method incorporating such a lid is provided. The lid holds an individual serving dose of a beverage to be brewed. Hot water is poured into a chamber of the lid to brew the beverage. The brewed beverage is fed into an underlying cup through an outlet in the lid. The beverage can be consumed through an opening in the lid without removing the spent grounds contained in the lid, from which the beverage was brewed.
US08734864B2 Methods for increasing human growth hormone levels
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to methods and supplements for increasing human growth hormone (hGH) levels in healthy human beings.
US08734860B2 Traditional Chinese medicinal ointment for treating burn, scald and infective trauma and preparative method thereof
This invention is disclosing a pure ointment of traditional Chinese medicine which was invented to treat burn or scald, and infectious trauma, and its preparation. The ointment has solved a number of problems in the treatment of burn or scald, and infectious trauma, such as the high cost of current drugs, post-treatment scar, and unfavorable therapeutic effect. The advantages of this ointment include low cost, favorable therapeutic effect, short course, and without scar after treatment. Its formula is based on the weight of every five hundred portions of following ingredients: lithospermum, 4-10 portions, beeswax, 5-20 potions, insect-white wax, 5-20 portions, and lard, 450-486 portions.
US08734857B2 Hydrolysates made of plant extracts and antibacterial agent containing the same
The present invention relates to an antibacterial agent and a hydrolysate made of at least one extract that has been produced by extraction using ethanol/water from dried plant material of: a) at least one of the plants selected from the group consisting of: Verbena officinalis L., Sambucus nigra L., Primula veris L., Primula elatior (L.) Hill, and Gentiana lutea L.; and a mixture thereof; or b) a mixture of: Verbena officinalis L., Sambucus nigra L., Primula veris L., Gentiana lutea L., and Rumicis herba; and subsequent removal of the ethanol/water extraction agent, wherein the hydrolysate can be obtained from the extract via hydrolytic treatment using a mineral acid. The hydrolyzates according to the invention show a pronounced antibacterial effect against germs relevant to the skin, ears, nose, and throat and respiratory systems.
US08734854B2 Process for removing growth factors from platelets
A sub-atmospheric, negative pressure is applied to a growth factor starting material, such as whole blood, to release growth factors and plasma in a non-destructive medium. The released growth factors having a weight of about 70-76 kDaltons are applied in either a filtered or unfiltered state to a wound to promote healing of the wound. The released growth factors are applied topically to the area of a surface wound to effect healing. The released growth factors are also injected into soft tissue, such as a torn tendon, to promote tissue growth and healing. The growth factors are released in one method from a patient's own blood. In another method the growth factors are released from a whole blood source and freeze dried by conventional lyophilization. Then at a later date, the freeze dried product is reconstituted by normal saline for treatment of a patient's wound or for use in a surgical procedure.
US08734853B2 HDL particles for delivery of nucleic acids
Disclosed are high density lipoprotein-nucleic acid particles, wherein the particles include (a) an apolipoprotein; (b) a nucleic acid component comprising a therapeutic nucleic acid segment; and (c) a polypeptide comprising a positively charged region, wherein the positively-charged region of the polypeptide associates with the nucleic acid component. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions that include a) an apolipoprotein; (b) a nucleic acid component comprising a therapeutic nucleic acid segment; and (c) a polypeptide comprising a positively charged region. Methods that concern the particles and pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention are also set forth, as well as kits.
US08734848B2 Hollow biodegradable nanospheres and nanoshells for delivery of therapeutic and/or imaging molecules
A polymeric hollow nanoshell or nanosphere for release of an agent is described, wherein the hollow nanosphere comprises at least one biodegradable polymer, characterised in that the polymer is cross-linked. The biodegradable mono-disperse nanospheres described are suitable for use as carriers of biomolecules, therapeutic agents and/or imaging agents.
US08734847B2 Formulation of indomethacin
The present invention relates to methods for producing particles of indomethacin using dry milling processes as well as compositions comprising indomethacin, medicaments produced using indomethacin in particulate form and/or compositions, and to methods of treatment of an animal, including man, using a therapeutically effective amount of indomethacin administered by way of said medicaments.
US08734846B2 Methods for the preparation of targeting agent functionalized diblock copolymers for use in fabrication of therapeutic targeted nanoparticles
This application provides nanoparticles and methods of making nanoparticles using pre-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)(also referred to as PEG) as a macroinitiator for the synthesis of diblock copolymers. Ring opening polymerization yields the desired poly(ester)-poly (ethylene glycol)-targeting agent polymer that is used to impart targeting capability to therapeutic nanoparticles. This “polymerization from” approach typically employs precursors of the targeting agent wherein the reactivity of functional groups of the targeting agent is masked using protecting groups. Also described is a “coupling to” that utilized the poly(ethylene glycol)-targeting agent conjugate where the targeting agent remains in its native un-protected form. This method uses “orthogonal” chemistry that exhibit no cross reactivity towards functional groups typically found within targeting agents of interest.
US08734843B2 Medicament sustained-release particles and method for preparing the same
The present invention provides theophylline sustained release particles which contain a polyglycerol fatty acid ester as a matrix base material, which have a homogenous nucleus particle structure, which can effectively mask the unpleasant taste of medicaments, and which exhibit an excellent sustained medicament releasability (dissolvability) and outstanding storage stability. In particular, the present invention provides, among other things, a method for preparing theophylline sustained release particles comprising the steps of heating a matrix base material containing a polyglycerol fatty acid ester, theophylline and ethyl cellulose to give a molten mixture; spray-cooling the molten mixture to obtain spherical core particles having an average particle diameter of 250 μm or less; and applying fine particles to the core particles by fusion coating.
US08734842B2 Compositions for regenerating defective or absent myocardium
Compositions of the invention for regenerating defective or absent myocardium comprise an emulsified or injectable extracellular matrix composition. The composition may also include an extracellular matrix scaffold component of any formulation, and further include added cells, proteins, or other components to optimize the regenerative process and restore cardiac function.
US08734840B2 Polynuclear microcapsules
A process is disclosed for preparing polynuclear microcapsules by polymerizing an alkoxysilane at the oil/water interface of a multiple phase emulsion to form a suspension of polynuclear microcapsules. Also disclosed are polynuclear microcapsules optionally comprising a hydrophilic active and uses thereof.
US08734839B2 Liquid compositions for soft sustained-release capsules and method for production
The invention relates to liquid compositions for production of soft sustained-release capsules. According to the invention, the sustained release of the active agent is obtained by in situ formation of a matrix, more or less consolidated and biodegradable, by physical modification of the capsule contents on coming into contact with digestive juices on the opening thereof. The above leads to a release time of more than one hour for the active agent previously dissolved or dispersed by means of solvents, said release being modulated by addition of appropriate adjuncts. The invention further relates to a method for production of said liquid compositions. The above finds application in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and dietary fields.
US08734837B2 Enhancement of development of oviparous species by in ovo feeding of enteric modulators
The development and growth of oviparous species such as birds is enhanced by in ovo administration of an enteric modulator such as HMB. The enteric modulator is administered into the amnion, where it is then orally ingested by the subject. The enteric modulator enhances the enteric development of the subject prior to hatch, and enhances the growth of the animal before and after hatch.
US08734836B2 Methods and compositions for applying pharmacologic agents to the ear
Methods and materials useful for applying pharmacologic agents to the ear are described. The methods involve delivering a composition that contains at least one viscogenic agent and at least one pharmacologic agent to the epidermal surface of the tympanic membrane via the ear canal. The composition is delivered to the tympanic membrane in a flowable form and, after delivery to the tympanic membrane, becomes sufficiently viscous such that the pharmacologic agent is localized against the tympanic membrane. Such compositions can be used to prophylactically and/or therapeutically treat middle and inner ear conditions, including otitis media.
US08734830B2 Manufacturing method and apparatus of ultrafine particles having uniform particle size distribution
The present invention relates to a novel technology for forming fine particles with a size of 0.0˜23 microns from a solid that can be dissolved in a liquid solvent and is not decomposed by heat. The particle preparation technology according to the present invention may be applicable to the fields of food, cosmetics, biopolymer, polymer compositions, and pharmaceuticals.
US08734828B2 Matrix-gel graft without cells
A cell-free graft contains (i) a cohesive, scaffold-forming matrix with open porosity containing a biologically and pharmaceutically acceptable material, and (ii) a gel of a biologically and pharmaceutically acceptable material. The cell-free graft is produced by (v) contacting the matrix with the gel, and (vi) drying the matrix-gel complex formed in (v). The cell-free graft can be used for covering and increasing the viscoelasticity of defects, for tissue regeneration and in particular for regenerating mesenchymal tissue, especially cartilage and/or bone.
US08734826B2 Device and method for treating the anal sphincter
A rectally insertable device for localized drug delivery to the anal sphincter of a subject, a method of using the device and the use of the device is disclosed. The device comprises a shell for containing an active pharmaceutical ingredient, the shell being substantially impermeable to the active pharmaceutical ingredient wherein a lower portion of the shell is configured to release the active pharmaceutical ingredient from the shell and wherein when the device is inserted into the rectum of the subject, the lower portion of the shell is proximal to the anal sphincter, such that the active pharmaceutical ingredient is released proximal to the anal sphincter.
US08734825B2 Local delivery of water-soluble or water-insoluble therapeutic agents to the surface of body lumens
A method and device for local delivery of a water-insoluble therapeutic agent to the tissue of a normal or diseased body lumen is disclosed. An expandable structure of a medical disposable device, such as a balloon of a balloon catheter, is coated with a non-durable coating which comprises poly(HEMA) complexed with iodine and has a substantially water-insoluble therapeutic agent dispersed therein. The medical disposable device is inserted into a body lumen, and expanded to contact the non-durable coating against the body lumen and deliver the substantially water-insoluble therapeutic agent to the body lumen tissue.
US08734824B2 Hydrogel implants with varying degrees of crosslinking
The present disclosure relates to a hydrogel composition and methods of using the same. The hydrogel composition may include precursors that react with each other upon contact as well as precursors that react upon contact with an initiator. In embodiments, the resulting hydrogels may have varying levels of crosslinking with both denser and less dense regions.
US08734821B2 Silicone surfactant-based agricultural formulations and methods for the use thereof
A silicone surfactant-based synergistic agricultural formulation contains a combination of a first defined silicone surfactant and a second defined silicone surfactant in a concentration sufficient to cause a knockdown level on treated arthropods, even in the absence of known pesticidally active ingredients.
US08734815B2 Vaccine composition and immunization method
The present invention refers to the recombinant vaccine against canine visceral leishmaniasis containing the recombinant A2 protein and saponin, as an adjuvant, allowing the distinction between vaccinated and infected animals through conventional ELISA or immunofluorescence tests that employ antigens of promastigote forms of Lesihmania.
US08734805B2 Systems and methods for harvesting algae from photobioreactors
A method for harvesting algae according to embodiments of the present invention includes filling a reservoir at least partially with a liquid, submerging a bag at least partially in the liquid, the bag containing media, the media comprising algae, the bag comprising a first end, a second end, a harvesting port located closer to the first end than to the second end, and a gas port, delivering gas into the bag through the gas port, and raising the second end of the bag by accumulating the gas at the second end to flow the media toward the harvesting port.
US08734800B2 Subtypes of humanized antibody against interleukin-6 receptor
An antibody subtype (1) which is a subtype of the humanized PM-1 antibody against interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) and in which one C-terminal of the heavy chain is Pro-NH2 (447), and an antibody subtype (2) which is a subtype of the humanized PM-1 antibody against interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) and in which both C-terminals of the heavy chain are Pro-NH2 (447), and a pharmaceutical composition comprising them.
US08734795B2 Light targeting molecules and uses thereof
LIGHT-targeting molecules (e.g., LIGHT fusion molecules), anti-HER2 antibody molecules, compositions, e.g., pharmaceutical compositions thereof, are disclosed. Methods of using these molecules to treat, prevent and/or diagnose hyperproliferative, e.g., neoplastic, diseases or conditions, including, but not limited to, cancer and metastasis are also provided.
US08734790B2 Anti-TLR4 antibodies and methods of use thereof
This invention relates generally to antibodies that specifically bind Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR-4), and to methods of using the anti-TLR4 antibodies as therapeutics and to methods of using the anti-TLR4 antibodies in methods of preventing transplant rejection and/or prolonging survival of transplanted biological material.
US08734789B2 Targets for regulation of angiogenesis
The present invention relates to the identification of polynucleotides and polypeptides having increased expression in tumor blood vessels. The invention further relates to the use of the identified polynucleotides and polypeptides, and inhibitors of the polynucleotides and polypeptides, in the regulation of angiogenesis and the diagnosis and treatment of angiogenesis-related diseases such as cancer.
US08734787B2 Drug delivery system
Red blood cells can be used as effective drug delivery systems when they contain proteins that do not readily diffuse out and which form affinity complexes with the desired drug.
US08734781B2 Method of preventing early Lawsonia intracellularis infections
The present invention relates inter alia to the use of a combination of a vaccine against Lawsonia intracellularis and an anti-Lawsonia antibiotic for the prevention or reduction of early, preferably fulminant Lawsonia intracellularis infections. The present invention relates particularly to the use of a live Lawsonia intracellularis vaccine in conjunction with an antibiotic that is effective against Lawsonia intracellularis, for the avoidance or reduction of early Lawsonia intracellularis infections in animals.
US08734780B2 Methods for treating cardiac pacing conditions
The method may include administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of an HCN polynucleotide. The HCN polynucleotide includes a nucleotide sequence encoding an HCN polypeptide having channel activity. The amino acid sequence of the HCN polypeptide and the amino acid sequence of a reference polypeptide have at least 80% identity, where the reference polypeptide begins with an amino acid selected from amino acids 92-214 and ends with an amino acid selected from amino acids 723-1188 of SEQ ID NO:8. An example of a reference polypeptide is amino acids 214-723 of SEQ ID NO:8. The HCN polynucleotide may be DNA or RNA.
US08734774B2 Protease activated cytokines
Provided herein are chimeric nucleic acid sequences encoding chimeric polypeptides. Also provided herein are chimeric polypeptides. Further provided herein are methods of treating a subject with or at risk of developing a cancer. The methods comprise selecting a subject with or at risk of developing a cancer, and administering to the subject an effective amount of the chimeric polypeptides provided herein.
US08734770B2 Methods and compositions for administration of TRPV1 agonists
Compositions are provided that contain a TRPV1 agonist, such as capsaicin, and a solvent system. Topical application of the composition results in rapid delivery of agonist to the dermis and epidermis. Method of using the compositions for reducing nociceptive nerve fiber function in subjects, and for treatment of capsaicin-responsive conditions are also provided.
US08734768B2 Animal litter, process for preparing animal litter, and method for removal of animal waste
Disclosed are animal litters, processes for preparing animal litters, and methods for removal of animal waste. The disclosed animal litters are made from ingredients including virgin germ and have a total fat content of about 0.5 to about 15 based on the weight of the litter. The litters are provided in the form of discrete plural particles which tend to agglomerate when wetted.
US08734767B2 Aminofunctional endblocked silicone polyether copolymers in personal care compositions
Personal care compositions containing aminofunctional endblocked silicone polyether copolymers are disclosed. The aminofunctional endblocked silicone polyether copolymers are particularly useful in hair care formulations to provide conditioning, which includes ease of detangling, combing, pliability, smoothness, slipperiness and styling benefits.
US08734762B2 Perfluorocarbon nano-emulsion containing quantum dot nanoparticles and method for preparing the same
The present invention relates to a perfluorocarbon nanoemulsion containing quantum dot nanoparticles and a method for preparing the same, more specifically, relates to a method for preparing a multifunctional perfluorocarbon nanoemulsion which simultaneously shows the fluorine-based magnetic resonance properties of perfluorocarbon and the optical properties of quantum dot nanoparticles, the method comprising dispersing quantum dot nanoparticles, modified with a fluorine end group, in perfluorocarbon, and then adding an aqueous emulsifier solution containing lipid to the dispersion. The disclosed perfluorocarbon nanoemulsion containing quantum dot nanoparticles has excellent biocompatibility and simultaneously shows optical properties and magnetic resonance properties, and thus can be used as a contrast agent for multi-mode molecular imaging. Accordingly, the nanoemulsion can be used to study cell and small-animal molecular imaging in various fields, including biological and medical fields.
US08734759B2 Methods of diagnosing and treating motor neuron diseases
Use of an agent which upregulates an activity or amount of miRNA-9 or miRNA-9* is disclosed for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of a motor neuron disease (MND).
US08734757B2 Odor control
A process for producing a mineral concentrate product that at is at least a substantially odor-free product comprises any one or more than one of (a) organics removal by (i) treatment of a froth product slurry containing floated mineral particles to remove organic compounds from the mineral particles and/or (ii) thermal treatment, and (b) addition of chemicals to prevent residual organic compounds on mineral concentrates being converted to odorous compounds, particularly while the concentrates are being stock-piled or transported.
US08734756B2 Process for in-situ formation of chlorides in the preparation of titanium dioxide
A process for producing titanium dioxide, comprising: a) reacting an alloy comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, titanium and mixtures thereof, wherein one metal is a major component of the alloy, and an element, with chlorine gas to form chlorides of aluminum, titanium or mixtures thereof and chlorides of the element, at or above the boiling point of the chloride of the major component of the alloy; with the proviso that the element does not comprise Ti when the metal is Ti and does not comprise Al when the metal is Al; (b) adding titanium tetrachloride to the chlorides formed in step (a); (c) oxidizing the chlorides formed in step (a), and titanium tetrachloride of step (b); and (d) forming titanium dioxide.
US08734751B2 Method and apparatus for recycling and treating wastes of silicon wafer cutting and polishing processes
A method is provided for recycling and treating the wastes of silicon wafer cutting and polishing processes. To begin with, a dewatered filter cake is mixed with water so that the filter cake is diluted to form a working fluid. The water reacts with silicon in the filter cake to produce silicon dioxide and hydrogen. After the hydrogen is extracted for storage, specific gravity separation takes place via water so that silicon carbide and silicon particles are separated for sorting. Then, solid-liquid separation is performed on the remaining working fluid to separate silicon dioxide (solid) from water and PEG (liquid), before PEG is separated from water. Thus, the useful silicon particles, silicon carbide, silicon dioxide, and PEG are recycled from the filter cake to reduce the total amount of wastes. Moreover, as the side product, hydrogen, is of high commercial value, the method also adds value to recycling.
US08734747B2 Method and apparatus for treating exhaust gas
A method for treating exhaust gas is provided, which includes measuring SO3 concentration in the exhaust gas which contains at least SO2 and SO3 by using an SO3 gas analyzer; injecting fine particles into the exhaust gas after the step of measuring; cooling the exhaust gas after the step of injection, by recovering heat from the exhaust gas; collecting fly ash from the cooled exhaust gas; and removing at least SO2 from the exhaust gas after the step of collecting by absorbing the SO2 with an absorbing solution. In addition, an apparatus for treating exhaust gas is provided, which includes an SO3 gas analyzer; a fine particles injector; a heat exchanger; an electrostatic precipitator; an absorption tower; and a fine particle feed controller.
US08734742B2 Method for treating a gas containing nitrogen oxides (NOx), in which a composition comprising cerium oxide and niobium oxide is used as a catalyst
A method is described for treating a gas including nitrogen oxides (NOx). The method can include conducting a reduction reaction of the nitrogen oxides with a nitrogen reducing agent. Further described, is a catalyst used for the reduction reaction which is a catalytic system including a composition based on cerium oxide and including niobium oxide in a proportion by a mass of from 2% to 20%.
US08734741B1 Methods for removing contaminants from exhaust gases
A method for removing contaminants from a gas stream by feeding the gas stream into a scrubber that can use seawater as the scrubbing medium. The gas stream is first scrubbed with the seawater and then mixed with ozone to remove the contaminants. Nitrogen oxides that are present in the gas stream are converted to nitric acid/nitrates and these are recovered via condensate or coalesced mist for neutralization. The treated gas stream is then exhausted to the atmosphere.
US08734738B1 Molten salt extraction of transuranic and reactive fission products from used uranium oxide fuel
Used uranium oxide fuel is detoxified by extracting transuranic and reactive fission products into molten salt. By contacting declad and crushed used uranium oxide fuel with a molten halide salt containing a minor fraction of the respective uranium trihalide, transuranic and reactive fission products partition from the fuel to the molten salt phase, while uranium oxide and non-reactive, or noble metal, fission products remain in an insoluble solid phase. The salt is then separated from the fuel via draining and distillation. By this method, the bulk of the decay heat, fission poisoning capacity, and radiotoxicity are removed from the used fuel. The remaining radioactivity from the noble metal fission products in the detoxified fuel is primarily limited to soft beta emitters. The extracted transuranic and reactive fission products are amenable to existing technologies for group uranium/transuranic product recovery and fission product immobilization in engineered waste forms.
US08734734B2 Liquid analysis cartridge
An analytical cartridge and a rotary analytical device with which the cartridge cooperates. The cartridge may have a housing, an axis, analysis chambers spaced from and located circumferentially about the axis, and a magnetically movable element located in and movable within each analysis chamber to mix fluid in the analysis chamber. The rotary analytical device may have a housing with a cavity having an axis, an impeller extending into the cavity and rotatable about the axis to receive and rotate the cartridge, a motor to rotate the impeller, at least one magnetic element near the cavity and offset from the axis, a light source in the housing to direct a beam of light into the cavity and through the analysis chamber of the cartridge, and a light sensor to receive light from the analysis chamber.
US08734726B2 Multilayer mounting mat for pollution control devices
A multilayer mounting mat for an exhaust gas treatment device including high temperature resistant inorganic fibers, optionally organic binder, and optionally intumescent material. A plurality of the mounting mat plies contain a substantial proportion of the inorganic fibers oriented in the x-y plane of the mounting mat. An exhaust gas treatment device includes a housing, a fragile catalyst support structure resiliently mounted within the housing, and the multilayer mounting mat disposed in a gap between the housing and the fragile catalyst support structure.
US08734723B2 Liquid crystal gas sensor cell and the use thereof
A gas sensor cell using a liquid crystal composite material is provided. The gas sensor cell has recovery capability and can be reused. Upon gas adsorption, the liquid crystal composite material has visually detectable color changes and changes in electrical properties to facilitate the measurement of gas concentration from low to high.
US08734721B2 Analyzer
An analyzer includes, as a cleaning system, a cleanser tank that contains a cleanser; a cleaning-water tank that contains cleaning water; a connection pipe that connects the cleanser tank with the cleaning-water tank; a pump that is provided to the connection pipe and pumps the cleanser out of the cleanser tank to the cleaning-water tank; a valve that is provided to the connection pipe and adjusts a flow of the cleanser from the cleanser tank into the cleaning-water tank; and a control unit that opens the valve and causes the pump to pump the cleanser out of the cleanser tank to the cleaning-water tank via the connection pipe to clean the inside of the cleaning-water tank and the insides of cleaning-water flow-path constituents that form a flow path through which the cleaning water flows from the cleaning-water tank when the specimen is subjected to an analysis process.
US08734715B2 Method for the preparation of ferrous low carbon porous material
A method for preparing a porous metal article using a powder metallurgy forming process is provided which eliminates the conventional steps associated with removing residual carbon. The method uses a feedstock that includes a ferrous metal powder and a polycarbonate binder. The polycarbonate binder can be removed by thermal decomposition after the metal article is formed without leaving a carbon residue.
US08734711B2 Method for producing a profile from composite fiber material
The present invention provides a method for producing a profile from composite fiber material, in particular in the aviation and aerospace field, having the following steps: A preliminary fabric, particularly made of pre-impregnated fiber material, is first packed in a vacuum bag. Then support elements are laid on the packed preliminary fabric to support the latter. The vacuum bag is then supplied with a vacuum. Next, the preliminary fabric is hardened to the profile under the action of heat, in particularly in an autoclave. With the claimed method the support elements can be formed advantageously from favorable material, in particular aluminum, instead of highly expensive nickel-36 steel, since the support elements are uncoupled mechanically from the preliminary fabric in a longitudinal direction by means of the vacuum bag, enabling movement of the support elements in the longitudinal direction relative to the preliminary fabric.
US08734710B2 Synergistic biopolymer blown film extrusion system and method
A biopolymer blown film extrusion system comprising an extruder receiving polymer pellets and at least two additives, and generating a molten mass having at least one layer; a die receiving the molten extrudates and generating a bubble having at least one layer from a die orifice; an internal bubble blower operably connected to maintain air inside the bubble; a bubble collapsing frame receiving the bubble and generating a biopolymer film having at least one layer, the film having a selected elongation at break of 180% or more in one direction and heat sealing at 195° F. or less; a nip roller operably connected to draw the biopolymer film from the bubble collapsing frame; a turning bar operably connected to change a travel angle of the biopolymer film; and a travel roller operably connected to direct travel of the biopolymer film.
US08734706B2 Carbon composite mold design
A mold assembly or system includes a moldbase that holds mold inserts and has embedded fluid lines to facilitate cooling during part formation. Mold inserts combine to form mold cavities that receive carbon fiber and resin components to form a carbon composite based part. A permanent release coating along a mold component surface that contacts the carbon fiber and resin components facilitates the release of the finished part from the mold component. Guide pins and guide pin receiving holes facilitate accurate alignment of mold components. Ejector pins within respective ejector pin shafts help eject a finished part from a respective mold component. An ejector pin shaft cover transfers force from an ejector pin to eject a finished part and also prevents substantial passage of resin into the ejector pin shaft. A fluid actuated ejection system provides fluid based mechanical forces to the ejector pins to facilitate finished part ejection.
US08734705B2 Method for fabrication of structures used in construction of tower base supports
Disclosed are apparatus and corresponding methodologies for providing a base support, such as including concrete, and used such as for a wind-driven generator. Precast concrete cylinders are stacked in place upon a platform that may be partially precast and partially cast in place during assembly and supported, in certain embodiments, by plural concrete legs, the other ends of which are supported on a unitary or subdivided concrete foundation. In other embodiments, the platform may be supported by ribbed concrete panels. The concrete cylinders are glued together using an epoxy and then secured by an internal vertical post tension system extending from the platform to the upper most cylinder. Methodologies and apparatus for fabrication of concrete structure used in constructing the base support are also disclosed, with a focus on staves and various ring piece constructions.
US08734697B2 Patch production
A method for use in producing a patch having a number of projections thereon. The method includes providing a distribution member and filling material on a mold surface, the mold including a number of cavities extending from the mold surface for defining the patch projections, filling the cavities with filling material, at least in part by urging filling material from the distribution member into the cavities, causing the filling material to solidify and separating the solidified filling material and the mold to thereby form the patch.
US08734696B1 Polymer-graphite nanocomposites via solid-state shear pulverization
Polymer-graphite compositions and related methods of using solid-state shear pulverization as can be used to affect one or more physical properties thereof.
US08734694B2 Method for supplying a building material
A device (1) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a layer wise solidification of a building material at positions in the respective layers that correspond to the object is provided. A feed (96) that supplies the building material to a building space (10) in the device (1) and at least two filler portions (98a, 98b) that are provided at the feed (96) and are independent from one another are provided, wherein one connector (99a, 99b) is provided for each building material supply container (100a, 100b) in order to supply the building material from outside of the device (1).
US08734693B2 Method of separating a poly(arylene ether) composition from a solvent, and poly(arylene ether) composition prepared thereby
A method of separating a poly(arylene ether) from a solvent includes treating a poly(arylene ether)-containing solution with a devolatilizing extruder to form an extruded composition, and cooling the extruded composition with a cooling device that does not immerse the extruded composition in water. The composition may be used to isolate a poly(arylene ether) from the solvent-containing reaction mixture in which it is prepared, or to remove solvent from a multi-component poly(arylene ether)-containing thermoplastic composition.
US08734683B2 Graphene nano-sheets and methods for making the same
Various embodiments provide materials and methods for forming a graphene product by vacuum induction heating expandable graphite. The graphene product can include graphene nano-sheets with high purity and uniform thickness. The graphene nano-sheets can contain carbon of more than about 99% by weight. The graphene nano-sheets can be exfoliated or dispersed within a matrix of a semiconducting polymer to form a graphene-containing composite.
US08734681B2 Luminescent materials that emit light in the visible range or the near infrared range and methods of forming thereof
Luminescent materials and methods of forming such materials are described herein. In one embodiment, a luminescent material has the formula: [AaSnbXxX′x′X″x″], where the luminescent material is polycrystalline; A is included in the luminescent material as a monovalent cation; X, X′, and X″ are selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine; a is in the range of 1 to 5; b is in the range of 1 to 3; a sum of x, x′, and x″ is in the range of 1 to 5; and at least X′ is iodine, such that x′/(x+x′+x″)≧⅕.
US08734680B2 Silicate-based phosphor and manufacturing method of silicate-based phosphor
There are provide a silicate-based phosphor excellent in emission intensity and a manufacturing method of the same. A manufacturing method of a silicate-based phosphor is characterized by: introducing in a vessel raw material powders having a compound containing light-emitting ions selected from at least one of Eu, Ce, Mn, and Tb; and firing the raw material powders while supplying SiOx (0.5≦x≦1.9, preferably, 0.8≦x≦1.2) in a gas phase. The raw material powders preferably further contains at least one of an alkali metal compound, an alkaline-earth metal compound, a magnesium compound, and a rare-earth compound. The silicate-based phosphor is preferably M2SiO4:Eu2+ (wherein M is one or more selected from a group consisting of Ca, Sr and Ba). The firing is preferably performed by supplying the SiOx to the raw material powders in a gas atmosphere at a temperature of 1200 to 1700° C. and subjecting the raw material powders to a gas-solid phase reaction at a temperature of 700 to 1700° C.
US08734672B2 Ice crystallization inhibitor derived from basidiomycete
The objective to be solved by the present invention is to provide an ice-crystallization inhibitor which has a practicable and excellent ice-crystallization inhibiting property and which can be efficiently and stably produced in a safe process suitable for food production. Also, the objective of the present invention is to provide an antibody which specifically reacts with the ice-crystallization inhibitor, and a composition, a food, a biological sample protectant and a cosmetic which contain the ice-crystallization inhibitor. Furthermore, the objective of the present invention is to provide a polysaccharide which is derived from a basidiomycete and which is used for inhibiting ice-crystallization of a liquid containing water, and a method for inhibiting ice-crystallization of a liquid containing water. The ice-crystallization inhibitor according to the present invention is characterized in being a polysaccharide derived from a basidiomycete.
US08734670B2 Lead-free piezoelectric materials with enhanced fatigue resistance
A lead-free piezoelectric ceramic material has the general chemical formula xBi(A0.5Ti0.5)O3-y(Bi0.5K0.5)TiO3-z(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3, wherein x+y+z=1, x≠0, and A=Ni or Mg.
US08734662B2 Techniques providing photoresist removal
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a patterned photoresist layer over a substrate, performing a plasma ashing process to the patterned photoresist layer, thereby removing a portion of the patterned photoresist layer, exposing the patterned photoresist layer to broadband ultraviolet radiation and ozone, thereby removing other portions of the patterned photoresist layer, and performing a cleaning of the patterned photoresist layer after exposing the patterned photoresist layer to broadband ultraviolet radiation and ozone.
US08734660B2 Advanced mask patterning with patterning layer
An imaging structure such as a mask or reticle may be fabricated using a patterning layer on an imaging layer. The patterning layer may have substantially different etch properties than the imaging layer. A first etch process may be selective of the patterning layer with respect to a resist layer. A second etch process may be selective of the imaging layer with respect to the patterning layer.
US08734659B2 Process for structuring silicon
A process for etching a silicon-containing substrate to form structures is provided. In the process, a metal is deposited and patterned onto a silicon-containing substrate (commonly one with a resistivity above 1-10 ohm-cm) in such a way that the metal is present and touches silicon where etching is desired and is blocked from touching silicon or not present elsewhere. The metallized substrate is submerged into an etchant aqueous solution comprising about 4 to about 49 weight percent HF and an oxidizing agent such as about 0.5 to about 30 weight percent H2O2, thus producing a metallized substrate with one or more trenches. A second silicon etch is optionally employed to remove nanowires inside the one or more trenches.
US08734646B1 Bioremediation treatment for human sanitary waste
A system for converting urine into potable water for drinking and use in a hand washing station (165) comprises a commode (100), a three-way valve (110) at the outlet of the commode, a urine reactants tank (145), a storage container (160), a pump (170), and a spigot (175). A user turns an actuator (111) on the valve in one direction to direct feces and feces-plus-urine into a reactants tank for feces, and in another direction to direct urine into the urine reactants tank. The urine reactants tank contains a plurality of baffles (210) separating the tank into chambers. A first chamber contains algae and microorganisms supplied by a seed (150). These organisms absorb nutrients from the urine as they grow into a mass (152). A last chamber contains only purified water which flows from the tank into the storage container from which it can be pumped to the spigot.
US08734645B2 Media-free system for the production of high purity water and methods of use
A system for producing high purity water, and particularly for the production of water that is suitable for injection, as well as method of using the same, are disclosed. The system includes a unique combination of known water purification methods that is particularly well-suited to the production USP purified water and USP water that is suitable for injection. The system minimizes potential for organism growth within the system by providing multiple means of organism destruction and removal and by not utilizing any standard water treatment media.
US08734644B1 Liquid purification apparatus
A portable apparatus for decontaminating water, having an iodine release section in which iodine, often from a charged nylon iodophor, is released into the water, followed by an iodine recapture section in which a nylon polymer removes iodine from the water by forming an iodophor with it.
US08734643B2 Apparatus for treating a substance with wave energy from an electrical arc and a second source
An apparatus for treating a substance includes: (a) a volute or cyclone head, (b) a throat connected to the volute or cyclone head, (c) a parabolic reflector connected to the throat, (d) a first wave energy source comprising a first electrode within the volute or cyclone head that extends through the outlet into the first opening of the throat along the central axis of the throat, and a second electrode extending into the parabolic reflector proximate to the focus wherein the second electrode is spaced apart and axially aligned with first electrode, and (e) a second wave energy source disposed inside the throat, embedded within the throat or disposed around the throat. The substance is supplied to the inlet of the volute or cyclone head and is irradiated with one or more wave energies produced by the first and second wave energy sources.
US08734641B2 Tertiary wastewater filtration using inclined filter media and internal reverse flow backwashing of filter disks
A wastewater tertiary media filtration system capable of enhancing filtration performance while including backwashing capabilities that eliminate turbidity spikes by using compressed fluid injected to the interior of submerged includes a filter tank having an inlet and an outlet with a plurality of pile cloth media filter disks disposed in generally parallel relation between the inlet and outlet. Each filter disk preferably includes opposing filter panels disposed in generally parallel spaced relation and supported by a frame. The filter disks may be angularly disposed at approximately 55-degrees relative to horizontal so as to maximize settlement velocity in accordance with the advantages of inclined plate technology. Backwashing is primarily accomplished by injecting compressed fluid (such as air) to the interior of each filter disk assembly whereby accumulated solids are blown off of the cloth filter media by reverse flow. Injecting a compressed fluid medium into the interior of each filter disk assembly increases the internal pressure within each filter disk thereby avoiding turbidity spikes associated with externally applied suction backwash systems of the background art.
US08734640B2 Water purifying apparatus
A water purifying apparatus, comprises: a filtering unit for filtering water supplied from a wellhead into purified water; a water tank unit including a cold water tank for storing the purified water in a cold water state, and a hot water tank for storing the purified water in a hot water state; a discharging unit for selectively discharging out the purified water stored in the water tank unit; a state detecting unit for detecting an operation state of at least one of the filtering unit, the water tank unit, and the discharging unit; a controller for comparing the information detected by the state detecting unit with a preset reference, thereby judging an abnormal state of the water purifying apparatus; and a state displaying unit for displaying the abnormal state information to outside. When the water purifying apparatus has a breakdown, mal-operated components of the water purifying apparatus may be checked by being displayed on the state displaying unit, without being checked by an A/S specialist. This may reduce the time taken to repair the mal-operated components, thereby enhancing a consumer's satisfaction degree for a service.
US08734637B2 Method of scavenging hydrogen sulfide and/or mercaptans using triazines
Sulfhydryl compounds, including hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans, may be removed from a fluid or gaseous stream or substrate by reacting the hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans in the stream with a scavenger of the structural formula: wherein R1, R2 and R3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of R4 and R5, R4 is a C1-C20 straight or branched chain alkyl group, R5 is —[(CH)m—NH]p—(CH2)nOH, n and m are independently an integer from 2 to about 6, p is from 1 to about 6; and wherein at least one of R1, R2 and R3 is R4 and at least one of R1, R2 and R3 is R5.
US08734635B2 Method for inhibiting fouling in vapor transport system
Elimination and/or mitigation of fouling in a vapor transport systems, such as vent lines and scrubber feed lines may be accomplished using an antifouling additive. The method for employing the antifouling additive includes introducing into the vapor transport system an additive including a polar solvent and corrosion inhibitor wherein: the vapor transport system is substantially water free; the vapor transport system is used to transport acidic materials; the additive is a liquid at vapor transport system operating conditions; and the additive is stable at the vapor transport system operating conditions.
US08734625B2 Hydrogen generation device
A hydrogen generation device (100) of the present invention includes: a transparent substrate (1); a photocatalytic electrode (4) formed of a transparent conductive layer (2) and a photocatalytic layer (3) disposed on the transparent substrate (1); a counter electrode (8) connected electrically to the transparent conductive layer (2); a water-containing electrolyte solution layer provided between the photocatalytic electrode (3) and the counter electrode (8); a separator (6) that separates the electrolyte solution layer into a first electrolyte solution layer (5) in contact with the photocatalytic electrode (4) and a second electrolyte solution layer (7) in contact with the counter electrode (8); a first gas outlet (14) for discharging a gas generated in the first electrolyte solution layer (5); and a second gas outlet (15) for discharging a gas generated in the second electrolyte solution layer (7). The photocatalytic electrode (4) and the counter electrode (8) are arranged so that a surface of the photocatalytic layer (3) and a surface of the counter electrode (8) face each other. The separator (6) allows an electrolyte in the electrolyte solution layer to pass therethrough and prevents hydrogen gas and oxygen gas in the electrolyte solution layer from passing therethrough.
US08734616B2 Acrylamide-derived cationic copolymers, and uses thereof
Cationic or amphoteric (co)polymer obtained by Hofmann degradation reaction, in aqueous solution, in the presence of an alkaline-earth and/or alkali metal hydroxide and of an alkaline-earth and/or alkali metal hypohalide, on a base (co)polymer comprising at least one nonionic monomer chosen from the group comprising acrylamide (and/or methacrylamide) and N,N-dimethylacrylamide, is characterized in that the base (co)polymer is modified beforehand with at least one polyfunctional compound containing at least 3 heteroatoms chosen from N, S, O and P and each having at least one mobile hydrogen. Use as a flocculation, retention and/or drainage aid, and dry strength aid is contemplated.
US08734612B2 Method and system for high alpha dissolving pulp production
A method for pulp processing used in connection with a pre-hydrolysis kraft process (PHKP) includes adding wood chips or similar material to a reaction vessel, performing pre-hydrolysis, and neutralizing the mixture with a first quantity of white liquor followed by a different solution such as a cold caustic extraction alkaline filtrate optionally enriched with white liquor. The neutralization fluids are replaced with a cooking fluid comprising a hot black liquor and alkaline filtrate, optionally enriched with white liquor. The cooking fluid may have a relatively high effective alkali concentration. The cooked pulp may exhibit very low residual hemicelluloses and a kappa number within an optimal range.
US08734607B2 Method of producing optical film laminate
A method of producing an optical film laminate includes: a first film layer forming step of cutting a first optical film having an elongated shape into first optical film pieces along cutting lines crossing the longitudinal direction of the first optical film and disposing the first optical film pieces adjacent to each other in a substantially band or strip shape; a second film layer forming step of cutting a second optical film having an elongated shape into second optical film pieces along cutting lines crossing the longitudinal direction of the second optical film and disposing the second optical film pieces adjacent to each other in a substantially band or strip shape; and a cutting step of, while holding a third film layer made of the third optical film, the first film layer and the second film layer in a laminated state, cutting them into plural optical film laminates.
US08734603B2 Method for producing a friction element
The invention relates to a method for producing a friction element (3) comprising the steps: providing a metal main body (10), hardening the main body (10) on at least part of its surface (11, 12) in a salt bath, wherein the salt bath hardening is the final method step, and no further processing of the hardened surface (11, 12) is performed. Furthermore, the invention relates to a friction element produced according to this method and a friction component comprising the latter.
US08734602B2 Magnesium based composite material and method for making the same
The present disclosure relates to a magnesium based composite material. The magnesium based composite material includes a magnesium based metal matrix and nanoparticles dispersed in the magnesium based metal matrix in a weight percentage of a range from about 0.01% to about 2%. The present disclosure also relates to a method for making the magnesium based composite material. In the method, the nanoparticles are added to the magnesium based metal at a temperature of about 460° C. to about 580° C. to form a mixture. The mixture is ultrasonically vibrated at a temperature of about 620° C. to about 650° C. The mixture is casted at a temperature of about 650° C. to about 680° C., to form an ingot.
US08734598B2 Aluminum surface treatment process and aluminum composite material
There is provided an aluminum surface treatment process, comprising: preparing an aluminum material containing silicon and magnesium; and plasma nitriding the aluminum material to form an aluminum nitride region on a surface of the aluminum material.
US08734597B2 Segmental ultrasonic cleaning apparatus for removing scales and sludge on top of tube sheet in heat exchanger
Disclosed herein is a segmental ultrasonic cleaning apparatus configured to remove scales and/or sludge deposited on a tube sheet. The segmental ultrasonic cleaning apparatus includes a plurality of segment groups arranged in a ring shape on a top surface of a tube sheet along an inner wall of the steam generator, in which each of the segment groups includes an ultrasonic element segment and a guide rail support segment loosely connected to each other by metal wires through hand holes located at a lower portion of the steam generator, such that ultrasound waves radiated from an ultrasonic transducer in each of the ultrasonic element segments travels along the surface of the tube sheet, with the segment groups tightly connected in the ring shape by tightening the metal wires via wire pulleys of flange units.
US08734595B2 Rapid heat system for a multi-tub dishwasher
A dishwasher includes a first washing chamber and a second washing chamber capable of performing a washing operation separately and/or concurrently. Each washing chamber includes a wash pump, a drain pump and a heating unit that are operatively connected to a controller. When initiating a washing fluid in one washing chamber, the controller determines if the other washing chamber is active. If the other washing chamber is active, the heating unit for the one washing chamber is operated at a low power level. However, if the other washing chamber is inactive, the one washing chamber is operated at a high power level to rapidly heat the washing fluid and thus shorten the duration of the washing operation.
US08734590B2 Dishwashing machine and method for executing a wash cycle with a dishwashing machine
A dishwasher including a control device in which a wash program is stored to control a wash cycle for cleaning items to be washed. A water inlet device has a hot-water valve to take in hot water from an external hot-water supply and a cold-water valve to take in cold water from an external cold-water supply. The wash program has a wash step including an intake phase for taking in water via the water inlet device and a spraying phase for spraying the items to be washed with washing liquor containing the water that has been taken in via the water inlet device. The wash program includes a first phase of the intake phase during which the hot water is taken in via the hot-water valve and during which the temperature of the hot water that has been taken is measured by a temperature sensor.
US08734586B2 Process for cleaning shield surfaces in deposition systems
A process for cleaning and restoring deposition shield surfaces which results in a cleaned shield having a surface roughness of between about 200 microinches and about 500 microinches and a particle surface density of less than about 0.1 particles/mm2 of particles between about 1 micron and about 5 microns in size and no particles less than about 1 micron in size and method for use thereof is disclosed.
US08734585B1 Fan blade cleaning device
A cleaning device for blades of a fan including a first arm with distal end and proximal end, a first cleaning element attached to the proximal end and a second arm with a distal end and proximal end, a second cleaning element attached to the proximal end as well as a pivoting joint connected to the distal end of the first arm and the distal end of the second arm the pivoting joint also having a handle connection.
US08734582B2 Dried gypsum composition and gypsum-based coating
Disclosed is a dry gypsum composition containing hemihydrate gypsum, at least one pigment and a crystal habit modifier. The crystal habit modifier is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of sulfate salts, carboxylate salts, carbonate salts and inorganic chlorides, and a content of the at least one compound is in a range of 0.1 to 5 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the hemihydrate gypsum, whereby upon hydration of the hemihydrate gypsum into dihydrate gypsum, the dihydrate gypsum is controlled to become plate crystals having an aspect ratio of 1 to 9. A gypsum-based coating formulation making use of the dry gypsum composition is also disclosed.
US08734580B2 Carbonyl propyl sulfuryl anthrapyridone sulfonic acid compounds and their preparation methods and applications
The present invention relates to compounds shown in the general formula (I) or (III), the salts thereof or their mixtures, as well as their preparation method and application. In the general formula (I), X1 is H or CO2H; X2 is OH or phenyl group with 0-2 sulfonic acid substituents, and the sulfonic acid substituents are located at random positions of a benzene ring; when X2 is OH, X1 is H; when X2 is phenyl group with 0-2 sulfonic acid substituents, X1 is H or CO2H; n is an integer of 0-2; and in the general formula (III), n and m are respectively an integer of 0-2. The compounds and the mixtures not only have improved light resistance, ozone resistance and water resistance, but also have excellent water solubility and long-term stability in ink-jet ink.
US08734576B2 Composite hydrogen storage material and methods related thereto
Embodiments of the invention relate to a composite hydrogen storage material comprising active material particles and a binder, wherein the binder immobilizes the active material particles sufficient to maintain relative spatial relationships between the active material particles.
US08734572B2 Quick engagement method for gas turbine inlet filter installation and replacement
A filter installation arrangement and an associated method of installing a filter assembly to a partition. A filter assembly includes a filter element that extends along a longitudinal axis. The filter element includes an end cap disposed at an end of the filter element. An adjustment device of the installation arrangement axially displaces the end cap of the filter element in a first direction. An insert portion is inserted adjacent the end cap subsequent to the axial displacement of the end cap. The insert portion is configured to limit axial displacement of the end cap in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.
US08734569B2 Method of obtaining carbon dioxide from carbon dioxide-containing gas mixture
Disclosed are methods of obtaining carbon dioxide from a CO2-containing gas mixture. The methods combine the benefits of gas membrane separation with cryogenic temperatures.
US08734568B2 Asymmetric hollow fiber gas separation membrane
The present invention relates to an asymmetric hollow fiber membrane for gas separation made of a soluble aromatic polyimide, wherein an orientation index is 1.3 or less, a separation coefficient α(P′O2/P′N2) as a permeation rate ratio of oxygen gas/nitrogen gas at 40° C. is 5.3 or more, and a tensile fracture elongation is 15% or more.
US08734566B2 Apparatus and method for gas separation
Herein disclosed is an apparatus that includes a porous rotor positioned about an axis of rotation and surrounding an interior space wherein the porous rotor comprises sintered metal or ceramic; an outer casing, wherein the outer casing and the porous rotor are separated by an annular space; and a motor configured for rotating the porous rotor about the axis of rotation.
US08734565B2 Methods and systems of verifying a filter change in an HVAC system
Methods and systems for monitoring the condition of a new air filter installed in an HVAC system are disclosed. In one example, an input that indicates a new air filter has been installed may be accepted, and in response, the HVAC system may be automatically operated in an air filter verifying mode, in which the fan of the HVAC system is activated to drive air through the new air filter. While in the air filter verifying mode, a measure related to an amount of flow restriction presented by the new air filter may be received. A status of the new air filter may be determined based, at least in part, on the received measure related to the amount of flow restriction presented by the air filter of the HVAC system. Once the status of the new air filter is determined, an indication may be displayed on a display, which may communicate the determined status of the new air filter to a user.
US08734558B2 Exhaust gas purification filter
An exhaust gas purification filter 100 includes: a honeycomb structure 10 having partition walls 12, plugging portions 13, and a surface trapping layer 14 having an average pore size of 0.1 μm or more and 5 μm or less, a porosity of 50% or more and 80% or less, and a thickness of 1 μm or more and 50 μm or less. The partition walls 12 have a thickness of 0.05 mm or more and 0.18 mm or less and an average pore size of 10 or more and 18 μm or less, and the proportion of the volume of the pores having a size of twice the average pore size or more in the entire pore volume in a pore size distribution of the partition walls 12 is 5% or more and 40% or less.
US08734555B2 Device for filtering fluid in a power generating system
This disclosure describes examples of a seal element that can prevent leaks that occur due to sagging and/or displacement of a filter device from the tubesheet in a power generating system. The seal element can have a non-uniform profile that defines a material thickness for the seal element. In one example, the non-uniform profile defines an area or section of the seal element that is thicker relative to other areas or sections of the seal element. The thicker area corresponds to certain positions on the filter device that are susceptible to movement that can occur, e.g., due to particulate build-up during operation of the turbo-machine.
US08734554B2 Formed seal ring for a liquid gas separating element
A gas compression system includes a compressor operable to discharge a mixed flow of gas and lubricant, a separator tank including an opening having a first face, and a separator element including a disk portion having a second face and a third face. The separator element is positioned at least partially within the opening and is operable to separate at least a portion of the lubricant from the mixed flow of gas and lubricant. A lid is coupled to the separator tank and includes a fourth face. A one-piece seal ring is coupled to the disk and is compressed between the lid, the disk, and the separator tank to define a first airtight seal between the first face and the second face and a second airtight seal between the third face and the fourth face.
US08734547B2 Processes for preparing a catalyzed carbonaceous particulate
Processes are provided for preparing a substantially free-flowing alkali metal gasification catalyst-loaded carbonaceous particulate suitable for use as a feedstock for the production of gaseous products, and in particular methane, via the catalytic gasification of the catalyst-loaded carbonaceous particulate in the presence of steam.
US08734545B2 Low emission power generation and hydrocarbon recovery systems and methods
Methods and systems for low emission power generation in hydrocarbon recovery processes are provided. One system includes integrated pressure maintenance and miscible flood systems with low emission power generation. The system may also include integration of a pressure swing reformer (PSR), air-blown auto-thermal reformer (ATR), or oxygen-blown ATR with a gas power turbine system, preferably a combined cycle gas power turbine system. Such systems may be employed to capture and utilize greenhouse gases (GHG) and generate power for use in hydrocarbon recovery operations.
US08734543B2 Oxygenated gasoline composition having good driveability performance
A method for producing a gasoline blend having a high concentration of a butanol isomer and having good cold start and warm-up driveability performance.
US08734542B2 Detergent additive-containing mineral oils having improved cold flow properties
The invention relates to the use of at least one oil-soluble compound B) which acts as a nucleating agent for paraffin crystallization and which is selected from ethylene copolymers and 2 to 10.5 mole % of at least one ethylenically unsaturated carbonic ester for improving the response of cold flow improvers for mineral oils C), which are different from B), in middle distillates that contain at least one ashless, nitrogenous detergent additive A), which is an oil-soluble, amphiphilic compound that comprises at least one alkyl or alkenyl group bound to a polar group, said alkyl or alkenyl group having 10 to 500 C atoms and the polar group having 2 or more nitrogen atoms.
US08734540B2 Fuel composition comprising a nitrogen-containing compound
A fuel additive concentrate comprising at least one aryl amine; and at least one metal-containing compound is disclosed. In an aspect, the fuel additive concentrate can be synergistic. Fuel composition comprising the fuel additive concentration and methods of combusting the fuel composition are also disclosed. Moreover, methods of enhancing research octane number, increasing fuel economy, and reducing the carbon footprint of a vehicle are also disclosed.
US08734539B2 Method of manufacturing active material containing vanadium and method of manufacturing lithium-ion secondary battery containing such active material
The first aspect of the present invention provides a method of manufacturing an active material capable of improving the discharge capacity of a lithium-ion secondary battery. The method of manufacturing an active material in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention comprises the steps of heating a phosphate source, a vanadium source, and water so as to form an intermediate containing phosphorus and vanadium and having a specific surface area of at least 0.1 m2/g but less than 25 m2/g; and heating the intermediate, a water-soluble lithium salt, and water. The second aspect of the present invention provides a method of manufacturing an active material capable of improving the rate characteristic of a lithium-ion secondary battery. The method of manufacturing an active material in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention comprises the steps of heating a phosphate source, a vanadium source, a water-soluble organic compound, and water for 1 to 12 hr so as to form an intermediate; and heating the intermediate, a lithium salt, and water.
US08734537B2 Battery production method
A method for producing a battery comprises a deformation step for moving a first metal foil forming a pair of perpendicularly intersecting portions of a first metal, respectively, toward the outside in a second radial direction while enlarging the inside diameter, in the second radial direction, of a first metal winding part by making a force act on the pair of perpendicularly intersecting portions of a first metal toward the outside in the second radial direction, and a resistance welding step for pressing a pair of first metal welding portions toward the inside in a first radical direction under a state where the first terminal welding part of a first current collecting terminal member is arranged on the radial by inside of the first metal winding part after the first metal winding part is deformed.
US08734534B2 Azo dyes
The present invention relates to new azo dyes, a process for their preparation, and their use for dyeing or printing fibrous materials, to produce materials with brownish shades.
US08734533B2 Composition for application to a surface
Compositions, methods, apparatuses, kits, and combinations are described for permanently or temporarily re-designing, decorating, and/or re-coloring a surface. The compositions useful in the present disclosure include a décor product that is formulated to be applied and affixed to a surface. If desired, the décor product may be substantially removed from the surface before being affixed thereto. If a user desires to remove the décor product, the décor product is formulated to be removed by a number of methods including, for example, vacuuming, wet extraction, chemical application, and the like. If the user desires to affix the décor product to the surface in a permanent or semi-permanent manner, the décor product may be affixed to the surface by applying energy thereto in the form of, for example, heat, pressure, emitted waves, an emitted electrical field, a magnetic field, and/or a chemical. The décor product may also be utilized in the form of a kit or in conjunction with a design device, such as a stencil, to control the application of the décor product to create, for example, a pattern on the surface.
US08734532B2 Azo dyes
The present invention relates to new azo dyes, a process for their preparation, and their use for dyeing or printing fibrous materials, to produce materials with brownish shades.
US08734513B2 Artificial retinal system and retinal implant chip thereof
An artificial retinal system includes an external optical device having an image generator and a background light generator, and a retinal implant chip having a solar cell and a stimulus generator. The stimulus generator is disposed to receive a target image projected by the image generator and a background light provided by the background light generator, and receives the electrical power from the solar cell. The stimulus generator includes an image sensing stimulator operable to convert the target image into electrical stimuli, and a contrast enhancer for reducing effect of the background light on the electrical stimuli.
US08734512B2 Biased accommodating intraocular lens
An accommodating intraocular lens has a lens optic that is coupled to at least one haptic and is anteriorly biased with respect thereto.
US08734509B2 Interfacial refraction accommodating lens (IRAL)
This invention relates to intraocular lenses. More particularly, this invention relates to intraocular lenses that have the ability to alter the light refractive power in response to changes in the tension of the ciliary muscle or ciliary body of the eye or any other accommodative forces. Lenses of this invention are generally referred to as interfacial, i.e., lens properties being defined as the interface of two liquids having different refractive indices, refractive accommodating lenses (IRAL).
US08734508B2 Systems and methods for making and using percutaneously-delivered pumping systems for providing hemodynamic support
A percutaneous pumping system for providing hemodynamic support to a patient includes a pumping sleeve that defines a lumen extending along the length of the pumping sleeve. The pumping sleeve is configured and arranged for insertion into patient vasculature. At least one rotatable magnet is disposed in the pumping sleeve. The at least one first magnet is configured and arranged to be driven to rotate by a magnetic field generated external to the pumping sleeve. At least one impeller is coupled to the at least one magnet. Rotation of the at least one magnet causes a corresponding rotation of the at least one impeller. An anchoring arrangement is coupled to the pumping sleeve. The anchoring arrangement is configured and arranged to anchor the pumping sleeve at a target pumping location when the pumping sleeve is inserted into patient vasculature.
US08734505B2 Methods and apparatus for cardiac valve repair
The methods, devices, and systems are provided for performing endovascular repair of atrioventricular and other cardiac valves in the heart. Regurgitation of an atrioventricular valve, particularly a mitral valve, can be repaired by modifying a tissue structure selected from the valve leaflets, the valve annulus, the valve chordae, and the papillary muscles. These structures may be modified by suturing, stapling, snaring, or shortening, using interventional tools which are introduced to a heart chamber. Preferably, the tissue structures will be temporarily modified prior to permanent modification. For example, opposed valve leaflets may be temporarily grasped and held into position prior to permanent attachment.
US08734502B2 Tapered stent and flexible prosthesis
The disclosure relates to a tapered stent and flexible prosthesis. The stent has a first longitudinal region and a second longitudinal region. The second region is substantially parallel to and spaced axially apart from the first region. A plurality of struts is disposed intermediate the first region and the second region and circumferentially connects the first region and the second region. The first region has a longitudinal length that is greater than the second region longitudinal length. The struts have varying longitudinal lengths that gradually decrease from the first region to the second region. The flexible prosthesis comprises at least two alternating tapered stents.
US08734499B2 Systems and methods for thermal neuroinhibition
Disclosed herein, among other things, is system for thermal neuroinhibition. According to an embodiment, the system includes at least one implantable fluid-filled conduit adapted to be placed adjacent to a neural target. The system also includes an implantable housing including a power source, a heat pump deriving power from the source and connected to the conduit, and a controller within the housing. The controller is connected to the heat pump, and is adapted to control the heat pump to effect fluid flow in the conduit to cool the neural target using electromechanical refrigeration to reversibly inhibit neural activity as part of a medical treatment.
US08734498B2 Intranasal red light probe for treating alzheimer's disease
A method of treating disease in which intranasal red light devices are used to shine red light upon the brain structures in the basal prefrontal cortex.
US08734492B2 System for rib fixation
System, including methods, apparatus, and kits, for fixing ribs with bone plates.
US08734486B2 Multiple suture thread configuration with an intermediate connector
A suture system has a plurality of barbed sutures each with a plurality of barbs and a body connector that connects said plurality of barbed sutures. The sutures can move relative to the body connector. The body connector can retain tissue.
US08734484B2 System and method for closure of an internal opening in tissue, such as a trans-apical access opening
A method for closing an opening at a target site including bodily tissue including embedding a plurality of self-closing clips into the target site in a spaced apart manner about a perimeter of the opening. Each of the clips has opposing clip ends and an intermediate segment. A flexible tether is coupled to the embedded clips to form a loop about the opening perimeter. A pulling force is applied onto at least one of the loop ends, thereby drawing the perimeter of the opening onto itself to completely close the opening. The loop ends are secured to maintain the target site in a closed state. In some embodiments, the target site is apical cardiac tissue, and the method is performed as part of a trans-apical access procedure.
US08734482B2 Method for preventing blood leakage from a vessel
A method is provided for preventing leakage of blood from a vessel. The method includes inserting a portion of an apparatus into a puncture tract extending through tissue to a puncture in the vessel; the apparatus including a thrombogenic matrix disposed in a distal portion of the apparatus. The method also includes deploying the thrombogenic matrix from the distal portion of the apparatus and into the puncture tract, the thrombogenic matrix being exposed to blood and compressively engaging the tissue surrounding the vessel to prevent leakage of blood.
US08734480B2 Vascular filter
A filter, configured to be disposed within a body lumen, that includes one or more filtering zones. The filter may include one or more sets of legs, configured to interact with the body lumen wall in order to stabilize the position of the filter and to create a filtering structure. In some embodiments the filter may be integrally formed form a single tube of material.
US08734479B2 Embolus blood clot filter delivery system
A blood filter delivery system for delivering a blood filter into a vein includes a push rod for pushing the blood filter through and out of a catheter, the push rod having a filter positioning assembly on one end. The filter positioning assembly includes positioner members, which retain anchor members of the filter. The filter positioning assembly can position the end of the delivery catheter near the blood vessel centerline before releasing the filter's anchor members, thereby helping to align the blood filter along the centerline of the blood vessel.
US08734478B2 Rectal manipulation devices
Tissue manipulation devices are disclosed. In various forms, the devices include tissue manipulation arms that are arranged in a position suitable to enable the device to be inserted into the colon then, upon application of at least one actuation motion thereto, at least some of the tissue manipulation arms are moved to deployed positions wherein they contact corresponding portions of the colon to thereby expand the colon. Various devices are actuatable by various forms of actuation forces. In various embodiments, the tissue manipulation arms may be movable along corresponding axes that are transverse to an insertion axis and may also be rotated about the insertion axis as well as be moved in directions that are substantially parallel to the insertion axis.
US08734475B2 Medical implant with floating magnets
Systems and methods are described for the use of floating magnetic elements in medical implants. The magnetic elements within the medical implant are allowed to rotate freely to align with a strong external magnetic field, such as that of an MRI scanner, and align to attract each other during the normal functioning of the medical implant in the absence of a strong external magnetic field.
US08734472B2 Device and method for establishing an artificial arterio-venous fistula
A shunt rivet for implantation in the aorta and inferior vena cava to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and a method of treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
US08734469B2 Suture clip applier
Suture clip appliers, suture clips and methods of their use for securing sutures during an endoscopic or laparoscopic procedure are provided, wherein the method includes the steps of providing a suture clip applier having a working tip configured to retain and fire a suture clip; providing a suture clip having a biased closed configuration; loading the suture clip into the working tip of the clip applier; translating the suture clip distally relative to the working tip to a first position wherein the suture clip is splayed open; inserting a suture into the opened suture clip; and translating the suture clip distally relative to the working tip such that the suture clip is ejected from the working tip and biased to the closed configuration to close on and to retain the suture.
US08734468B2 Devices, systems and methods for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia and other conditions
Devices, systems and methods for compressing, cutting, incising, reconfiguring, remodeling, attaching, repositioning, supporting, dislocating or altering the composition of tissues or anatomical structures to alter their positional or force relationship to other tissues or anatomical structures. In some applications, the invention may be used to used to improve patency or fluid flow through a body lumen or cavity (e.g., to limit constriction of the urethra by an enlarged prostate gland).
US08734463B2 Method of implanting an intraocular lens
A method for implanting an intraocular lens into the eye of a subject includes placing the intraocular lens into the eye of a subject and administering a drug in an amount sufficient to maintain an accommodative state of the eye. The method further includes permitting at least a portion of the intraocular lens to become coupled to at least a portion of the eye while maintaining the eye in the accommodative state. In certain embodiments, the method may include forming an intraocular lens while maintaining an accommodative state of the eye. In such embodiments, the method may exclude permitting at least a portion of the intraocular lens to become coupled to at least a portion of the capsular bag.
US08734458B2 Methods and apparatus for treating vertebral fractures
Methods and apparatus for treating bones, including, in one or more embodiments, methods and apparatus for treatment of vertebral fractures that include an inflation device for cavity creation and an inflation and containment device for maintaining vertebral height and cement containment. Methods for treating a bone comprising: creating a cavity in the bone; inflating a containment jacket in the cavity; inflating a balloon within the containment jacket so that the balloon occupies a first portion of the containment jacket; introducing a first filler material into a second portion of the containment jacket, wherein the second portion of the containment jacket is not occupied by the balloon; removing the balloon from the containment jacket; and introducing a second filler material into the first portion of the containment jacket.
US08734456B2 Sacroiliac joint immobilization
Improved tools and procedures relate to the immobilization of the sacroiliac joint for the treatment of pain associated with the joint. Kits comprise, for example, a guide element and an immobilization element of a biocompatible material with a size and shape suitable for placement within the sacroiliac joint. Suitable immobilization elements include, for example, pins, nails, screws, darts, wedges, shims and hardening material. A bioactive agent can be delivered into the joint to compliment the immobilization and promote healing. Suitable procedures can be done in a less invasive procedure through a cannula or the like.
US08734455B2 Hip resurfacing surgical guide tool
Disclosed herein is a tool for guiding a drill hole along a central axis of a femur head and neck for preparation of a femur head that is the subject of a hip resurfacing surgery. In one embodiment, the tool includes a mating region and a guide hole. The mating region is configured to matingly receive a predetermined surface of the femur. The mating region and guide hole are positionally correlated or referenced with each other such that when the mating region matingly receives the predetermined surface of the femur, the guide hole will be generally coaxial with a central axis extending through the femur head and the femur neck.
US08734453B2 Instruments for minimally invasive surgery total knee arthroplasty
An anti-backout stylus comprising a stylus and a locking stylus holder. The locking stylus holder engages the stylus at a series of discrete positions during insertion of the stylus into the holder. The locking stylus holder prevents inadvertent backing out of the stylus by preventing the stylus from being withdrawn to a previous one of the discrete positions. The locking stylus holder can preferably be selectively disengaged from the stylus to allow for selective withdrawal of the stylus. Each engagement of one of the discrete positions by the locking stylus holder preferably indicates a femoral size. The discrete positions are preferably defined by detents formed on the stylus and a stop member on the locking stylus holder. The locking stylus holder can be provided on an anterior rough cut guide, with the anterior rough cut guide preferably mountable on an intramedullary rod.
US08734447B1 Apparatus and method of inserting spinal implants
Apparatus and a method of inserting spinal implants is disclosed in which an intervertebral space is first distracted, a hollow sleeve having teeth at one end is then driven into the vertebrae adjacent that disc space. A drill is then passed through the hollow sleeve removing disc and bone in preparation for receiving the spinal implant which is then inserted through the sleeve. Apparatus and a method of inserting spinal implants is disclosed in which an intervertebral space is first distracted to restore the normal angular relationship of the vertebrae adjacent to that disc space. An extended outer sleeve having extended portions capable of maintaining the vertebrae distracted in their normal angular relationship is then driven into the vertebrae adjacent that disc space. A drill is then passed through the hollow sleeve removing disc and bone in preparation for receiving the spinal implant which is then inserted through the sleeve.
US08734444B2 System and method for delivering high current to electrosurgical device
An electrosurgical system is disclosed. The system includes an electrosurgical generator adapted to supply electrosurgical power and an electrosurgical device coupled to the electrosurgical generator. The electrosurgical device includes a transformer and one or more active electrodes coupled thereto, wherein the transformer is adapted to step down the voltage of the power supplied by the electrosurgical generator.
US08734438B2 Circuit and method for reducing stored energy in an electrosurgical generator
A circuit for discharging stored energy in an electrosurgical generator. The circuit includes a pulse width modulator for controlling a high voltage power supply, an error signal generating circuit configured for delivering an error signal as a difference between an output signal voltage with a feedback voltage generated by the high voltage power supply. The error signal is transmitted to the pulse width modulator. The circuit further includes a switching circuit configured to switch in a load in parallel with an output of the high voltage power supply when the error signal is lesser than a first predetermined threshold to discharge the output.
US08734433B2 System and method for determining dosimetry in ophthalmic photomedicine
A system and method for treating ophthalmic target tissue, including a light source for generating a beam of light, a beam delivery system that includes a scanner for generating patterns, and a controller for controlling the light source and delivery system to create a dosimetry pattern of the light beam on the ophthalmic target tissue. One or more dosage parameters of the light beam vary within the dosimetry pattern, to create varying exposures on the target tissue. A visualization device observes lesions formed on the ophthalmic target tissue by the dosimetry pattern. The controller selects dosage parameters for the treatment beam based upon the lesions resulting from the dosimetry pattern, either automatically or in response to user input, so that a desired clinical effect is achieved by selecting the character of the lesions as determined by the dosimetry pattern lesions.
US08734431B2 Remote control system
A remote control system capable of precise operations or treatments in which the visual recognition and operation portions are as close to each other as possible, including: a) an imaging device for taking an image of the object; b) a manipulation tool having at its tip an illuminator for casting a spot light onto the object; c) a driver for changing the position of the manipulation tool; d) an external display unit for displaying an image; e) an input unit for allowing an operator to specify a position corresponding to the display of the external display unit; f) a distance calculator for calculating the distance between the position specified through the input unit and the position of the spot light cast from the illuminator onto the object; and g) a controller for controlling, based on the aforementioned distance, the driver so as to bring the tip of the manipulation tool closer to the specified position.
US08734429B2 Device, system and methods for the oral delivery of therapeutic compounds
Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents within the GI tract. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable device such as a capsule for delivering drugs into the intestinal wall or other GI lumen. Embodiments also provide various drug preparations that are configured to be contained within the capsule, advanced from the capsule into the intestinal wall and degrade within the wall to release the drug to produce a therapeutic effect. The preparation can be coupled to a delivery mechanism having one or more balloons or other expandable devices which are expandable responsive to a condition in the small intestine or other GI lumen to advance the preparation out of the capsule into the intestinal wall. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for the delivery of drugs which are poorly absorbed, tolerated and/or degraded within the GI tract.
US08734428B2 Insulin pump having selectable insulin absorption models
Methods of estimating human insulin absorption for use in an insulin pump are disclosed. A method includes prompting a user to select between a first insulin absorption model and a second insulin absorption model. The method also includes prompting a user to provide at least one model parameter. The method further includes forming an applied insulin absorption model from the selected insulin absorption model and the at least one model parameter.
US08734427B2 Urinary catheter
A catheter comprising a tube part, a tip part and at least one through-going opening, where the through-going opening is positioned distally to the proximal end of the tube part, wherein the outer surface of the tube part has at its proximal end a first outer diameter that is smaller than a second outer diameter at the tube part's distal end, and the diameter of the outer surface of the tube part increases constantly along the entire length of the tube part from its proximal first outer diameter end to its distal second outer diameter.
US08734423B2 Methods and apparatuses for treating tonsils
Methods and apparatuses include applying a biting force to a bite-piece, the biting force is applied by a user's teeth, wherein the bite-piece is held inside of the user's mouth. Closing the mouth and the biting force suppress the user's gag reflex and the user's tonsils and adjacent Throat structures can be treated by spraying fluid onto the tonsil or manipulating the surface of the tonsil and related structures. The tonsils can be cleaned thereby.
US08734421B2 Methods of treating pores on the skin with electricity
The present invention features a method of treating pores on the skin by applying to skin in need of such treatment a device including a housing having a skin contacting surface, a first conductive electrode, a second conductive electrode, and a carrier; wherein the first conductive electrode is in electric communication with the second conductive electrode, wherein the first conductive electrode is in ionic communication with the carrier, wherein the carrier is in communication with the skin contacting surface, and wherein the skin contacting surface is placed in contact with the skin.
US08734415B2 Body adhering absorbent article
A feminine care absorbent article includes an absorbent structure and a shell for supporting the absorbent structure at a vaginal region of a wearer. The absorbent structure has a body-facing surface and a garment-facing surface. The shell has a body-facing surface and a garment-facing surface. The body-facing surface has an adhesive thereon for adhering the shell directly to the wearer. The article has a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, an anterior region, a posterior region, and a central region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting the anterior and posterior regions. At least a portion of the absorbent structure is releasably attachable to the shell for configuring the absorbent structure between an operative configuration in which the releasably attachable portion of the absorbent structure is attached to the shell and an inoperative position in which at least part of the releasably attachable portion of the absorbent structure is detached from the shell.
US08734414B2 Pull-activated tampon applicator
A pull-activated applicator includes a barrel, a pledget, a finger grip, and a deployment element. The pledget includes a withdrawal string and is located within the barrel. The barrel, the pledget, and the deployment element are configured such that application of a force to the deployment element in a first direction deploys the pledget and withdrawal string from the barrel in a second direction generally opposite the first direction.
US08734410B2 Apparatus for topical negative pressure therapy
Apparatus and a method for the provision of TNP therapy to a wound are described, the apparatus comprising: a sealing membrane (504) for covering a wound to form a wound cavity (500); one end of an aspirant conduit (522) operably associated with the wound cavity, vacuum means (524) provided at a distal end of the aspirant conduit for applying a vacuum to the wound cavity; and, air bleed means (510) in fluid communication with the wound cavity. Various embodiments of air bleed port members are also described.
US08734407B2 Faceted nasal seal
A nozzle for a nasal rinse device including a collar that forms a conduit. The collar is configured to attach the nozzle to the nasal rinse device. An outlet aperture defined by the collar is on a top portion of the nozzle. The nozzle also includes a skirt extending outwards and downwards from the collar, and an outer surface of the skirt is faceted.
US08734403B2 Blocking element for a dosing mechanism
A lock for a dosing mechanism of an injection device, the lock including at least one holding element that interacts with the dosing mechanism, or with a dosing element of the dosing mechanism, whereby an adjustment movement of the dosing mechanism or the dosing element is prevented in a starting position of the lock and is possible only after a movement or displacement of the lock or the holding element. An injection device used in conjunction with a two-chamber ampoule is encompassed, as is a method for preparing the injection device for dispensing a substance wherein the ampoule is introduced into the injection device and a lock is released when the ampoule has been introduced far enough to appropriately mix the substances in the two chambers, whereupon the mixed substances can be dispensed from the ampoule.
US08734401B2 Catheter securement device
A securement device for securing a catheter to a patient comprises a pad having adhesive on at least a portion of the bottom surface. A fixed plate and a rotatabie adjustable plate are affixed to the pad. The adjustable plate is rotated with respect to the fixed plate to secure a catheter. Posts are on the fixed plate and the adjustable plate to secure a winged catheter. A bracket can be affixed to a fixed plate or an adjustable plate and a cooperating tab can be affixed to the other plate for securing a catheter there between. In a further modification, a base is secured to a pad and a pair of plates is pivotally mounted on the base for rotation with respect to one another. Complementary pawl and ratchet members enable limited rotation of plates with respect to one another and to fix plates in selected adjustment position.
US08734400B2 Medical device securement system
A catheter securement device 100 holds a medical article such as a catheter in position upon the body of a patient and at least inhibits longitudinal movement of the medical article. The securement device 100 includes a retainer 102 and a clamp 104. The retainer 102 and clamp 104 include interengaging structure. The interengaging structure may be a ratchet mechanism by which a medical provider tightens the clamp against the retainer. The ratchet mechanism allows a single securement system to be used with medical articles that have different longitudinal lengths as well as medical articles that have distally located contact surfaces. The retainer forms a channel 106 into which at least a portion of the medical article is inserted. Each of the retainer 102 and the clamp 104 include at least one abutment surface that can abut against a contact point or surface on the medical article. The abutments inhibit motion of the medical article in proximal and distal directions through the channel when the clamp 104 is tightened against the retainer 102. The securement system may be designed for single or multi-use.
US08734399B2 Self cleaning catheter and methods of use thereof
An improved catheter is provided for insertion into a trachea, blood vessel, bladder or urinary tract of a patient. The self cleaning catheter can be easily inserted and removed from the patient without retained, solid components falling into a patient's trachea, blood vessels, bladder, or urinary tract when the catheter is removed from the patient. The self cleaning catheter has a flexible cylindrical sleeve on the exterior of a cylindrical member that can be withdrawn to the interior of the catheter prior to removal from the patient's body. Alternatively, the catheter has a design allowing an end of the catheter to fold inward on itself prior to removal from the patient's body.
US08734397B2 System and method for positioning implantable medical devices within coronary veins
An improved system and method for placing implantable medical devices (IMDs) such as leads within the coronary sinus and branch veins is disclosed. In one embodiment, a slittable delivery sheath and a method of using the sheath are provided. The sheath includes a slittable hub, and a substantially straight body defining an inner lumen. The body comprises a shaft section and a distal section that is distal to, and softer than, the shaft section. A slittable braid extends adjacent to at least a portion of one of the shaft section and the distal section. In one embodiment of the invention, the sheath further includes a transition section that is distal to the shaft section, and proximal to the distal section. The transition section is softer than the shaft section, but stiffer than the distal section.
US08734396B2 Flexible medicine reservoir with an internal reservoir port
Devices for the automatic release of liquid medicaments are disclosed. In particular, a flexible container for storing a liquid medicament, a port for such a flexible container, and a device for the automated release of a liquid medicament are disclosed. A flexible container for storing a medicament comprises sealed top and bottom flexible sheets and at least one port mounted to a wall of the flexible container. The at least one port comprises a flange attached to the wall and an inner conduit connecting the inner storage volume and the exterior of the flexible container. The port comprises an adapter protruding through a hole in the top flexible sheet and a base plate having at least one drain channel connected to the inner conduit via an inner opening on the base plate. A device for the automated release of a medicament comprises at least one flexible container.
US08734394B2 Automatic injection device with delay mechanism including dual functioning biasing member
An automatic injection apparatus including a delay mechanism for properly delivering medication prior to the needled syringe of the apparatus being retracted. In one form, the delay mechanism includes a shuttle (170) for the syringe, a follower (250), a locking member, a damping compound between the follower and a supporting surface (308) to dampen rotation of the follower relative to the shuttle, and a dual functioning biasing member (290) acting between the shuttle and the follower. When the locking member moves to a release position during an injection, the dual functioning biasing member first provides a torsional force to force the follower to rotate relative to the shuttle from a latching position to an unlatching position, and then the dual functioning biasing member provides an axial force to force the shuttle axially relative to the follower to move the shuttle for retracting the syringe needle into the housing of the apparatus after injection.
US08734387B2 Expansion device for treatment of black triangle disease and method
An expansion device includes an inflatable balloon moveable from an unexpanded configuration to an expanded configuration configured to pass through soft tissue between two adjacent teeth of a patient when in the unexpanded configuration. The an expansion device also includes an inflation tube having one end connected to the inflatable balloon and another end serving as an entry port for an inflation fluid. The inflatable balloon has a triangular shape when in the expanded configuration.
US08734386B2 Electric breast milk pump
A breast milk pump having an electric motor, a pump driven by the motor, a suction cup, an electrically activated first three-way valve in a suction line, an electrically activated second three-way valve in a pressure line, an electronic control system, which sets the electric motor into an operating mode or an idle mode depending on an activation of a switch; in the operating mode, it operates the electric motor and the electrically activated first and second three-way valves in cycles, which comprise a suction phase, in which the electric motor is switched on, the inlet of the pump is connected to the suction cup via the first three-way valve and a floater valve, the pump outlet is connected via the second three-way valve.
US08734379B2 Fetal shunt
A medical device, system, and method are described for treating in utero a fetus with a lower urinary tract obstruction. An implantable medical device may have a flexible catheter and an anchor. The catheter may define a proximal port, a distal port, a longitudinal axis, and a lumen providing fluid communication between the ports. The anchor may be affixed to the catheter at a position between the ports, and may have a resilient proximal member and a resilient distal member spaced a longitudinal distance apart, the proximal member and distal member each extending radially outward with respect to the longitudinal axis. An elongate delivery member may be releasably affixed to the medical device, and the medical device may be delivered through a tubular sheath defining a sheath lumen.
US08734377B2 Ocular implants with asymmetric flexibility
An ocular implant having a body extending along a generally curved longitudinal axis, the curved longitudinal axis defining a first plane, the body having a diameter of between 0.005 inches and 0.04 inches and being adapted to be disposed within a canal of Schlemm in a human subject's eye; wherein the body has a first flexibility when bent along the first plane and a second flexibility different from the first flexibility when bent along a second plane that intersects the first plane and is not coincident with the first plane. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of treating a human eye, including the steps of: inserting an implant into Schlemm's canal of a human eye, the implant having a first flexibility when bent along a first plane and a second flexibility different from the first flexibility when bent along a second plane that intersects the first plane and is not coincident with the first plane; and supporting tissue forming Schlemm's canal with the implant.
US08734373B2 Assembly, device kit and method for preparing platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
An assembly comprising: (a) a test tube for receiving a blood sample or a platelet-comprising fraction thereof and for obtaining therein, by a procedure that includes centrifugation, a platelet rich plasma (PRP) fraction; (b) an elongated filter device having a first and second end and a lumen extending there between, and having a filter fitted at the first end, the filter having a effective pore size such to permit passage of platelets and not permit passage of white blood cells (WBC) larger than a defined size into the lumen, the second end having an opening; the first end of the elongated filter device being adapted for tight fitting into said test tube such that when forced into the test tube to exert pressure on the PRP fraction, the PRP fraction with the platelets filters into said lumen and white blood cells of a size large than said defined size remain in the test tube to thereby obtain a WBC-selective PRP within said lumen.
US08734368B2 Percussion assisted angiogenesis
The present invention relates to a new non-invasive method for inducing angiogenesis and more particularly coronary angiogenesis wherein an operator applies localized percussion upon the upper torso proximate an ischemic myocardial region, whereby the percussive forces penetrate to cause sheer stresses to the endothelium of the coronaries which lie thereupon, and thereby cause new coronary growth by virtue of endogenous liberation of beneficial angiogenic mediators. A pair of vibratory contacts are advantageously applied to rib-spaces to either side of the sternum (or alternatively to the upper back), where-after percussion is applied at the resonance frequency of the heart/epimyocardium at a displacement amplitude of 0.1 mm-15 mm (preferably greater than 1 mm), such as to maximize an internal oscillatory effect. The system is also adaptable for cerebral and peripheral vasculature applications. Ultrasonic imaging may optionally be utilized to direct percussive therapy.
US08734366B2 Guide rod for introducer replacement
The invention provides a method for replacing a first introducer, whose distal end is inside a vessel and whose proximal end is outside the skin of a patient, with a second introducer. The method comprises the steps of inserting a guide rod into the first introducer, removing the first introducer, passing the second introducer over the guide rod, and removing the guide rod. The guide rod to be used according to the method has preferably a flexible distal portion with a blunt distal end and a stiff proximal portion with a tapered proximal end.
US08734363B2 Coaxial needle assembly
An adjustable coaxial needle assembly for placement into a tissue mass prior to a biopsy procedure comprises a guide cannula assembly, a stylet, and a throw calibrator. The stylet is selectively coaxially received by the guide cannula, which is in turn coaxially received by the throw calibrator. The effective length of the guide cannula can be selectively adjusted by moving the throw calibrator relative to the guide cannula to adjust the distance between an open distal end of the guide cannula and a the throw calibrator.
US08734360B2 Monitoring, predicting and treating clinical episodes
Apparatus and methods are provided for use with a subject who is undergoing respiration. A motion sensor senses motion of a subject. A breathing pattern analysis unit analyzes components of the sensed motion that result from the subject's respiration. The breathing pattern analysis unit includes double-movement-respiration-cycle-pattern-identification functionality that designates respiration cycles as being double-movement-respiration-cycles (DMRC's) by determining that the cycles define two subcycles. Double-movement-respiration-cycle-event-identification functionality of the breathing pattern analysis unit identifies a DMRC event by detecting that the subject has undergone a plurality of DMRC's. An output is generated that is indicative of the subject having used accessory muscles in breathing, in response to identification of the double-movement-respiration-cycle event. Other embodiments are also described.
US08734355B2 Motion management in a fast blood pressure measurement device
The invention is in one embodiment an apparatus and a method for measuring the blood pressure of a vertebrate subject. The apparatus uses an inflatable chamber with a sensor to detect signals indicative of a blood pressure of the subject during an inflation interval of the inflatable chamber. If secondary motion or artifact signals are detected, the apparatus and method determine whether the secondary signals are below a predetermined value, and if so, complete the measurement. If the signals indicate that the measurement is not accurate, the system and method immediately institute a measurement of the blood pressure during a deflation interval, which can include a step deflation interval. In the event that the subject is identified as a neonate, the system and method immediately measure using the deflation interval procedure.
US08734347B2 Analytical method and investigation system
Metabolism diseases are evaluated by using a sensor to measure concentration of a medically significant analyte in a human or animal body fluid. The measurement data are correlated with the concentration of a medically significant analyte in body fluid over a time period of at least eight hours. An analytical facility analyzes time intervals within the time period to determine a stability parameter that characterizes the analyte concentration dynamics of change. The analytical facility further analyzes the stability parameters to determine disease-related particularities of metabolism.
US08734344B2 On-body medical device securement
Devices and methods for maintaining a medical device on-body are provided. Embodiments include medical device securement systems having first and second on-body securement elements. Also provided are systems and kits for use maintaining a medical device on-body.
US08734343B2 Real-time physiological signal measurement and feedback system
A real-time physiological signal measurement and feedback system is suitable to be worn on a body part of an user for decreasing the noise of motion, and includes a sensor module, a signal processing module and a feedback platform. The sensor module includes a first magnetic unit having a light emitting diode and a second magnetic unit having a photo-detector. The light emitting diode illuminates a light beam passing through the body part and being received by the photo-detector so as to generate an electric signal when both of the first and the second magnetic units attract mutually to sandwich the body part. The signal processing module converts the electrical signal into a digital signal. The feedback platform processes the digital signal to generate a physiological parameter, and is used as a multi-function driving recorder. An alarm is triggered or not by the feedback platform according to the physiological parameter.
US08734336B2 Wound retractor device
A wound retractor device comprises a distal member for insertion into a wound opening, a proximal member for location externally of the wound opening, a connecting member extending at least between the distal member and the proximal member. At least part of the connecting member is movable relative to the proximal member to shorten the length of the connecting member located between the distal member and the proximal member and thereby retract laterally the sides of the wound opening. At least part of the connecting member is movable relative to the proximal member by a guide slot through which the connecting member changes its direction to substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the wound retractor device.
US08734334B2 Method and device for imaging an interior surface of a corporeal cavity
An endoscopic imaging catheter is configured for insertion, optionally via a longitudinal channel of an endoscopic insertion tube. The endoscopic imaging catheter includes reflecting and optical elements and an imaging element. The reflecting element reflects onto the imaging element through the optical element side and rear views of at least a portion, or the entire 360° view of a wall encircling an intrabody lumen around the axis of said the longitudinal channel.
US08734332B2 Connector unit for endoscopes
A plug-in unit with integral cable connection to the operating part of an endoscope and plug connections for lamps, mechanical, and/or electronic modules is characterized in that a hollow tube extending to the distal end of the endoscope is inserted into the plug-in unit by the integral cable connection and the operating part and has its proximal end positioned so that it is freely movable in the plug-in unit in such a way that can be conducted out of a closeable bore-hole in the wall of the plug-in unit.
US08734323B2 Device for carrying out a sexual act
Device for fulfilling sex αcf comprising α prosthesis placed, at least partially, around the male-member, at the base thereof, characterized by comprising means for retaining in place said prosthesis around the member, and in that said prosthesis is inflatable.
US08734320B2 Methods and apparatus providing suction-assisted tissue engagement through a minimally invasive incision
Suction-assisted tissue-engaging devices, systems, and methods are disclosed that can be employed through minimal surgical incisions to engage tissue during a medical procedure through application of suction to the tissue through a suction member applied to the tissue. A shaft is introduced into a body cavity through a first incision, and a suction head is attached to the shaft via a second incision. The suction head is applied against the tissue by manipulation of the shaft and suction is applied to engage the tissue while the medical procedure is performed through the second incision. A system coupled to the shaft and a fixed reference point stabilizes the shaft and suction head. When the medical procedure is completed, suction is discontinued, the suction head is detached from the shaft and withdrawn from the body cavity through the second incision, and the shaft is retracted through the first incision.
US08734316B2 Biomolecular wearable apparatus
This invention relates to an apparatus that regulates thermodynamic energy-flow within a human body for producing beneficial effects such as, for example, improvement in strength, improvement in stamina, pain relief, etc. According to one embodiment, the invention provides a wearable apparatus that may include biomolecular components for building-up of a thermomagnetic energy within the human body. According to another embodiment, the invention provides a wearable apparatus that may include biomolecular components for dilution of a thermomagnetic energy within the human body. According to yet another embodiment, the invention provides a wearable apparatus that may include biomolecular components having orthomolecular and/or non-orthomolecular organic materials which are capable of thermomagnetic levororotary action and/or thermomagnetic dextrorotatory action.
US08734313B2 Accelerated partial breast irradiation with shielded brachytherapy applicator system and method of use
The system and methods of the invention partially shields the radiation dose to the skin and/or other anatomical organs by using magnetically responsive material that blocks radiation, which may be fine grains of iron or other ferrous powder for example. The powder is typically injected into an IB applicator, along with inflating saline solution in case of MSB, when a skin spacing problem is encountered, or there is a risk of high doses being delivered to the critical organs surrounding a lumpectomy cavity, for example. A slight magnetic field of predetermined configuration will be applied externally to arrange the shielding material internally under the segment of surface of the IB applicator where the skin spacing is typically less then 7 mm, thereby protecting the skin from radiation damage. Monte Carlo studies to develop parameterizations for treatment planning with the IB applicator utilizing the suggested shielding material is also provided. In one aspect, the improvement to the IB system allows better cosmetic outcome in breast conserving therapy, and should allow more women to take advantage of BCT.
US08734312B2 Control portion of and device for remotely controlling an articulating surgical instrument
A remotely controlled surgical device control portion comprises a user moveable bi-directional trigger, a finger loop disposed within the trigger, and a flange coupled to the finger loop. The trigger is configured for receiving a motion input in opposing first and second directions. The motion input is for controlling an articulation motion of an articulating surgical instrument. The finger loop is configured for receiving the motion input in the form of a user squeezing the trigger in the first direction with at least one finger or pushing the trigger in the second direction with said at least one finger. The flange is configured for receiving the motion input in the form of pushing the trigger in the second direction with a thumb.
US08734311B2 Centrifuge having tubular elements on an outside circumference of a disk package
A centrifuge includes a drum having a vertical rotational axis, a single or double conical inner jacket, an inlet pipe, a distributor into which the inlet pipe opens, the distributor having at least two distributor channels distributed about a circumference of the distributor, and a disk package including separator disks. Further included are tubular elements distributed on an outside circumference of the disk package, the tubular elements being fastened externally to the separator disk package.
US08734310B2 Low-noise rotor chamber for a centrifuge
The present invention relates to a rotor chamber for a centrifuge, in particular an air-cooled laboratory centrifuge, having a chamber wall, comprising an inner side facing toward the chamber interior, the chamber interior being implemented to receive a centrifuge rotor, and an outer side facing away from the chamber interior, and having a sound barrier which is implemented to reduce the sound emitted from the rotor chamber, which comprises a multilayer damping lining. The first layer comprises a material having essentially sound-absorbing properties relative to the second laver, and the second layer comprises a material having essentially sound-reflecting properties relative to the first layer. The present invention also relates to a centrifuge having such a rotor chamber, and methods for reducing the sound emanating from the rotor chamber of a centrifuge, in particular an air-cooled laboratory centrifuge.
US08734309B2 Forming die assembly with enhanced stop
A die assembly for producing paperboard pressware includes an obliquely angled, continuous ring, and/or annular stop member between an inner die member and an outer die ring. Increased surface area of contact between stop components provides greater wear resistance, and the angled contact face maintains alignment of the die components.
US08734302B2 Treadmill with workstation
A treadmill includes a tread assembly, a supporting frame, a control unit and a tread utility assembly. The supporting frame has a lower end portion connected to a front end portion of the tread assembly, and an upper end portion extended from the lower end portion at a predetermined evaluation. The control unit is mounted at the upper end portion of the supporting frame for controlling an operation of the tread assembly. The tread utility assembly includes a utility member frontwardly and movably extended from the control unit to form a utility platform which has a predetermined angle of inclination with respect to the control unit, wherein a user is allowed to simultaneously operate the control unit and run on the tread assembly, and accomplish a predetermined task on the utility platform in a convenient and safe manner.
US08734301B2 Particulate material treadmill
An apparatus for providing a walking surface including a particulate material to a user is described. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a primary endless belt that transports a walking surface formed at least in part by a particulate material. The apparatus may further include a return transport system to facilitate recycling of the particulate material to the front of the apparatus. Methods of exercise and methods of treatment using such an apparatus are also described.
US08734297B2 Flash spinner trampoline
A trampoline has a bed. The bed is made of a sheet of fabric having an exterior periphery. A frame includes legs supporting the frame from the ground. A plurality of springs attach the bed to the frame. A light sound module is suspended under the bed. The light sound module includes a light emitting element mounted on a rotation rod. The rotation rod is mounted on a rotation axis, and the rotation rod is driven to rotate by a motor. A plurality of elastic cords has a length, namely a first elastic cord, a second elastic cord, and a third elastic cord.
US08734296B1 Biometric sensing device having adaptive data threshold, a performance goal, and a goal celebration display
A biometric monitoring device with a display is provided. The biometric monitoring device may track the completion progress towards one or more biometric performance goals and provide a goal celebration indicator upon completion of a biometric performance goal and subsequent receipt of an input signal. In some implementations, the completion of a biometric performance goal may be signaled prior to receipt of the input signal using a secondary indicator.
US08734295B2 Vehicular shift control apparatus
A vehicular shift control apparatus for a vehicle provided with a parking lock device selectively switched to a locking position in which rotation of wheels of the vehicle is prevented and a non-locking position in which the rotation of the wheels is not prevented, by an operation of an electrically operated actuator, the vehicular shift control apparatus being configured to perform a failure diagnosis to determine whether the actuator is operable or not, the vehicular shift control apparatus includes: the vehicular shift control apparatus permits the operation of the actuator if a supply voltage to the actuator is raised from a value lower than a predetermined threshold supply voltage value to a value not lower than the threshold supply voltage value after a determination that the actuator is inoperable is obtained in the failure diagnosis.
US08734294B2 Control device of vehicle power transmission device
It is provided a control device of a vehicle power transmission device including a transmission capable of fixing a rotating member with either of engagement of a one-way clutch or engagement of an engagement device, the transmission having a predetermined shift stage formed on condition that at least the rotating member is fixed, if an input torque to the transmission is changed after the engagement of the engagement device, a torque capacity of the engagement device being temporarily reduced without changing the predetermined shift stage, and if a request for applying a driven torque is made during reduction of the torque capacity of the engagement device, the temporarily reduced torque capacity of the engagement device being recovered, and the driven torque being increased depending on a recovery status of the torque capacity.
US08734291B2 Hydraulic fluid supply systems
A tractor has an engine which drives the tractor via a transmission whose operative ratio is controlled electronically. The tractor also has an auxiliary hydraulic fluid supply system with an engine driven hydraulic pump which provides pressurized fluid to one or more auxiliary outlets on the tractor. A driver operated control means is provided for selecting the oil flow rate to be delivered to the outlets, and a control system adjusts the speed of the engine to the minimum required to provide the selected oil flow rate and changes the operative ratio of the tractor transmission so that the speed of the tractor remains substantially unchanged despite any change in engine speed required to deliver the selected oil flow rate. The transmission may be a CVT or powershift transmission.
US08734290B2 Control system for a vehicle drivetrain
The invention concerns an arrangement for controlling a vehicle drivetrain having an engine provided with a speed governor and a continuously variable transmission (“CVT”) incorporating a variator which is constructed and arranged to regulate its reaction torque. The control system comprises a control part (504) movable by the driver to provide a driver input, an open loop subsystem (511) for operatively coupling the control part to the governor (520) to control no-load speed of the governor in dependence on the driver input, a closed loop subsystem comprising a comparator (502) which receives a first control signal deprived from the driver input and corresponding to a target engine speed, and a second control signal corresponding to engine speed, and which adjusts variator reaction torque in dependence upon a comparison of the first and second control signals causing the transmission to load the engine suitably to achieve the target engine speed.
US08734286B2 Multi-speed planetary gear set transmission
A transmission has an input member, an output member, at least four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes actuatable in combinations of two to establish a plurality of forward gear ratios and one reverse gear ratio.
US08734282B2 Operation method for at least one form-locking shifting element of an automatic transmission before start-up of an combustion engine
A method of operating at least one form-locking shifting element of an automatic transmission integrated in a drivetrain which comprises an oil pump that can be driven mechanically by an internal combustion engine and an auxiliary oil pump that can be electrically driven, before start-up of the internal combustion engine. The method including the steps of recognizing the start-up of the combustion engine and, when a start-up of the combustion engine is recognized, controlling the electrically driven auxiliary oil pump and the at least one form-locking shifting element such that, directly after the generation of a defined rotational speed difference of the at least one form-locking shifting element by the internal combustion engine, the at least one form-locking shifting element is engaged.
US08734281B2 Dual-mode electromechanical variable speed transmission apparatus and method of control
A dual-mode electro-mechanical variable speed transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft system, a gear system having at least three branches, two electric machines, and at least a clutch. The first electric machine couples to a branch of the gear system, the output shaft system couples to another branch of the gear system, the input shaft couples to the remaining branch or one of the remaining branches of the gear system, and the second electric machine selectively couples either to the same branch that is coupled to the output shaft system with a speed ratio or to one of the remaining branches that that is not coupled to the first electric machine with a different speed ratio. The transmission provides at least two power splitting modes to cover different speed ratio regimes. The transmission can also provide at least a fixed output shaft to input shaft speed ratio.
US08734279B2 Tensioner
A tensioner comprising a sleeve, an adjuster cooperatively engaged with an inner surface of the sleeve, a pivot arm pivotally engaged with the sleeve, a pulley journalled to the pivot arm, a torsion spring engaged with the sleeve for urging the pivot arm, an elastomeric damping ring connected to the arm and in compressive frictional contact between the sleeve and the arm whereby a tangential friction force damps a pivot arm movement, the elastomeric damping ring exerting a radial force on the sleeve, and a retaining member connected to the adjuster and cooperatively engaged with the sleeve whereby the adjuster and sleeve are kept in a predetermined relation.
US08734278B2 Rachet-type tensioner
A ratchet-type tensioner capable of restricting setback of a plunger includes a ratchet mechanism that allows setback of the plunger by sliding a ratchet element in a disengaging direction to disengage ratchet teeth from rack teeth when a reaction force acts on the plunger as a result of excessive chain tension. The ratchet element is slidable in a ratchet-receiving hole, and an inclination suppressing structure that prevents the ratchet element from becoming skewed in the ratchet receiving hole to an extent such that its forward end contacts one side of the hole while its rearward end contacts the opposite sides of the hole.
US08734276B2 Transforming dart
A transforming dart mechanism is described. The transforming dart mechanism includes an inner collar and an outer collar. A dart body is positioned through the inner collar, while fins are pivotally attached with the outer collar. A deployable canopy is affixed with the fins. Thus, in operation, a user can position the fins and deployable canopy against the dart body in a collapsed state. When in the collapsed state, a user can shoot the toy dart horn a to dart gun and upon contacting a target, the fins and deployable canopy expand into an expanded state.
US08734274B1 Collapsible, tip resistant tee ball stand
A tee ball stand with an adjustable length ball support stanchion having a thin fiber wand as a section thereof which readily deflects when the stanchion is struck by an errant blow from a bat and which then causes the support stanchion to return to an upright position. The lower end of the stanchion is connected to an X-frame base which is tip resistant and which may be readily disassembled or collapsed for lineal storage alongside the upright stanchion in a tube or sleeve. A double layered, fabric cone is connected to the upper end of the stanchion to support a ball. The ball support cone readily deflects if struck by a bat and returns to its original shape.
US08734273B2 Golf ball
A golf ball 2 includes a core 4, a mid layer 6 positioned outside the core 4, a reinforcing layer 8 positioned outside the mid layer 6, and a cover 10 positioned outside the reinforcing layer 8. The difference between: a JIS-C hardness H(5.0) and a JIS-C hardness Ho at the central point is 6.0 or greater. The difference between: a JIS-C hardness H(12.5) and the hardness H(5.0) is 4.0 or less. The difference between a JIS-C hardness Hs at the surface of the core 4 and the hardness H(12.5) is 10.0 or greater. The difference between the hardness Hs and the hardness Ho is 22.0 or greater. In the golf ball 2, there is no zone in which a hardness decreases from the central point toward the surface. A hardness H2 of the mid layer 6 is greater than a hardness H3 of the cover 10.
US08734272B2 Golf ball wear indicator
A golf ball includes a cover that includes a plurality of layers over the core. A reacting layer changes when exposed to a particular atmospheric or environmental agent. A protecting layer protects the reacting layer from exposure to the agent. A top layer covers the other layers, though the top layer, the protecting layer, and the reacting layer may be intermingled with each other to varying degrees. Upon deterioration of the top layer and the protecting layer, the reacting layer becomes exposed to the agent and undergoes a change. This change alerts a golfer to the deterioration of the ball.
US08734266B2 Golf putter head, golf putter having such a golf putter head, and method of using the golf putter
A golf putter head includes a contact face, a top surface extending rearwardly away from the contact face, a toe edge, a heel edge, and a sole spaced from the top surface. A center of gravity of the putter head is disposed closer to the toe edge than to the heel edge. A visual sight line is provided on the top surface and extends rearwardly away from the contact face, wherein the visual sight line and the center of gravity lie in a sight line plane disposed perpendicular to the top surface and to the contact face. The toe edge extends rearwardly away from the contact face and parallel to the visual sight line. A golf putter is also provided including a shaft and the golf putter head connected to an end of the shaft. A method of using a golf putter includes utilizing the golf putter to strike a golf ball.
US08734263B2 Flooring system for bowling alley
A prefabricated flooring system used in a section of a bowling lane such as an approach section. The flooring system includes a plurality of wooden boards having a longitudinal axis. The plurality of wooden boards each having substantially flat side edges along the longitudinal axis. Interior boards of the plurality of wooden boards are bonded together by an adhesive applied on the side edges and two of the outermost boards of the plurality of boards are bonded only on one side edge by the adhesive to adjacent corresponding interior boards to form a preformed approach section of wooden boards. In one aspect, the boards have a thickness of approximately that of the bowling lane. In another aspect, the preformed approach section has a width greater than that of the bowling lane.
US08734261B1 Slip yoke assembly
A slip yoke assembly is provided. The slip yoke assembly includes a slip yoke having a long bore extending between a first end and a second end and a counterbore at the second end of the long bore. The counterbore has a first diameter and a second diameter. The first diameter is greater than a major diameter of the long bore and the second diameter is greater than the first diameter. The slip yoke assembly also includes a plug having an elastomeric member secured to a surface thereof. The elastomeric member is disposed within the first diameter and the plug is disposed within the second diameter. The plug is secured to the slip yoke by a lip formed over the plug.
US08734260B2 Three-dimensional auditorium wagering system
A gaming system provides a wagering venue for multiple wagering positions. A processor executes code to simulate a physical random gaming event outcome using a random number generator. Memory stores three-dimensional video displayable image data of a device for the physical random gaming event outcome. A three-dimensional video display system has a three-dimensional image display field. At least two player input terminals and seating for the player input terminals within the at least 30 degree field of view. The processor i) identifies a wager from a specific player input terminal, ii) initiates generation of an event outcome in a random event outcome game, iii) generates an event outcome simulating a physical random event generating outcome; iv) selects image data from the memory of a three-dimensional event outcome in which the generated simulated physical random event outcome is shown; v) displays the selected image data; and resolves the wager based upon the generated event outcome.
US08734255B2 Methods and systems for providing a game center having player specific options and statistics
Described herein are methods and systems for providing a game center having player specific options and statistics. For example, in at least certain embodiments, a game center module can provide a friends option such that a user can view and select from a list of friends. The game center module can provide friend details of a selected friend including a list of games played together between the user and the selected friend and a list of other games in common between the user and the selected friend. In an embodiment, the list of games in common and the list of other games in common each include a list of options with each option indicating a respective game name and a comparison of the user's ranking and the selected friend's ranking for the respective game.
US08734253B2 Game system, game apparatus, storage medium storing game program and game data exchange method
A game system including a plurality of mobile game apparatuses, and a mobile game apparatus that can communicate with another game apparatus that exists within a communicable range by use of a radio communications unit. When a communicated state is established, exchanging conditions for exchanging game data are received and transmitted, and in a case the exchange conditions are coincident with each other, the game data are exchanged.
US08734250B2 Control of vehicles in three dimensional space
Methods and systems for controlling vehicles within graphically simulated environments are described herein. A video game such as a vehicle-based combat game may have vehicles (such as airplanes) operating in a simulated three dimensional space. In a destination based control mode, users may partially control vehicles using two-dimensional input devices by inputting a new destination for the vehicle to go to, and the game's control logic may then automatically calculate how to control the vehicle toward the new heading. Fight and assault (bombing) control sub-modes may be provided. In addition, in an immediate control mode, a user may provide input that indicates a direction and speed of rotation, to provide more direct control of a vehicles control systems and/or control surfaces.
US08734248B2 System for processing input in a wagering game machine
Systems and methods for processing input in a wagering game machine are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises a button panel for a wagering game machine. The button panel comprises a main button circuit board. The button panel also comprises at least one socket mounted to the main button circuit board. The button panel comprises a number of display components plugged into the at least one socket, wherein each display component comprises a display coupled to a display circuit board, wherein at least one switch used to determine a button press is mounted on each display circuit board.
US08734244B2 Thin client support for a gaming machine
A gaming machine, such as a video slot or video poker machine, may be configured to request a thin client game from a game server for presentation within a thin client. The outcome of the thin client game is determined by the game server. The gaming machine is also configured to execute a thick client game determined by the gaming machine. Indications of the outcomes of the thin and thick client games may be provided to a data collection device.
US08734241B2 Wagering apparatus, methods and systems
A system, method and apparatus provides a unique pool betting product where players make selections in a number of different events which occur in sequential legs or time periods. After some and preferably most of the legs have been completed, players who have correct “win” predictions for each of the events or legs that are completed and thus remain in contention for the Jackpot Pool, and potentially those still eligible for consolations prizes, will be offered an opportunity to sell their tickets, in whole or in part, to the game operator or through the game operator.
US08734239B2 Progressive game and processing system thereof
A progressive game is implemented on a gaming system, wherein the gaming system includes one or more gaming machines connected to a game server, and wherein the progressive game has a progressive prize value that increases according to a progressive prize growth rate. The progressive game includes a selectable targeted progressive prize value, a selectable targeted progressive prize time, and one or more enticement factors. The progressive prize growth rate is calculated using the selectable targeted progressive prize value, the selectable targeted progressive prize time, and the one or more enticement factors. The selectable targeted progressive prize time is used to calculate the predetermined time period for testing for a progressive prize win. If a progressive prize win has not been identified, the progressive prize value is incremented by the progressive prize growth rate. If a progressive prize win has been identified, one or more winners are determined.
US08734238B2 Anti-cheating hybrid game
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments operate an anti-cheating hybrid game. One embodiment includes an anti-cheating hybrid game constructed to communicate occurrences based upon a player's skillful execution of an entertainment game that triggers a randomly generated payout to a gambling game; where the anti-cheating hybrid game incorporates an anti-cheating module constructed to: receive player data for a player, where the player data is indicative of the player's current gameplay performance at the entertainment game; analyze the player data to determine whether cheating is occurring by comparing the player's current gameplay performance with historical gameplay data to evaluate whether the player's current gameplay performance is beyond the statistical limits of the randomness inherent in the anti-cheating hybrid game; and send a command to penalize the player during play of the entertainment game based upon a determination that cheating has occurred from the analyzed player data.
US08734235B2 Gaming system and method of operating a gaming system providing wagering control features for wagering games
A gaming system and method provides wagering control features for application in multi-stakes, multi-player wagering games. Players have the option to choose one of a plurality of different modes at the beginning of a gaming session. Depending on which mode is selected, the wagering control feature or features available to players during game play will be different.
US08734234B1 Slots-fueled adventure
Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for executing an online casino game, such as slots. One method includes operations for detecting a bet placed on a slots game, and for calculating a win amount based on the bet and based on mechanics for calculating prizes on the slots game. An avatar associated with an adventure game is advanced along a path of a road in the adventure game, which is associated with the slots game. The advancement is based on the win amount, thereby tying the adventure game with the chances provided by the casino game.
US08734233B2 Method and apparatus for authenticating data relating to participation in an electronic game
Methods and apparatus for managing and authenticating usage of features of gaming devices is presented. The methods include tracking and/or accumulating usage data relating to gaming device features, determining an authentication code based on the usage data, outputting the authentication code to an operator for transmission to an interested party, and verifying the authentication code. The present invention allows regulatory agencies and manufacturers of gaming devices to reliably verify the usage of individual features of gaming devices without having to rely upon a casino to report the usage data.
US08734228B2 Membership reward system
A gaming machine is provided, which is arranged to play a game having 2 modes wherein the base game, when in the first mode, has a standard set of features and when in the second mode has an enhanced set of features which improve its attractiveness to players. The first game mode is available to all players and the second enhanced game mode is made available to players who have established membership in a group by inserting a members card.
US08734227B2 Method for establishing a wager for a game
In a particular embodiment of the invention, a system for establishing a wager associated with a game comprises a processor that receives information about a wager offer, wherein the wager offer is associated with an online game. The processor also receives information about a wager acceptance. The wager offer and the wager acceptance combine to form a wager, wherein the wager is associated with at least one wager parameter. The system further comprises a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and that stores information associated with the at least one wager parameter.
US08734225B2 Video slot gaming machine
A gaming machine and method are provided which provide a video slot game to a player. The video slot game includes a plurality of cells arranged in a grid. The grid has a plurality of rows and columns. The machine and method display a base instance of the video slot game and in response to occurrence of a triggering event, the base instance of the video slot game is split and a plurality of sub-instances of the video slot game are displayed.
US08734215B2 Power play game mechanics
Method, article and apparatus for executing computer games, and in particular, computer-based racing games. In a racing game, a player may be allowed to earn one or more game play options which may be exercised during the race. The game play options, when exercised, may modify the predefined race path to create an advantage for the player or a disadvantage to the competitors.
US08734212B2 Container data center having high heat dissipation efficiency
A container data center (CDC) includes a server system and two cooling systems sandwiching the servers system. The server system includes a first container and a number of servers received in the first container. Each of the cooling systems includes a second container and a cooling device received in the second container. The cooling device generates cooling air which is directed to the servers for heat dissipation.
US08734200B2 Toy playset with a launcher and a material dispenser
In some examples, a toy vehicle playset for a toy vehicle is provided with a track assembly including a vehicle launcher operatively connected to a track. The track defines a travel path, and there is a dispensing assembly including a release mechanism positioned adjacent a portion of the track. A trigger assembly is operably connected to the vehicle launcher and the release mechanism so that activation of the trigger assembly may simultaneously activate the vehicle launcher and the release mechanism.
US08734193B2 Connector
A connector including a contact member and a housing. The contact member includes a spring part having a length variable in an axial direction, and a contact part extending from an axial end of the spring part and adapted to be pushed against and electrically connected to a counterpart flat contact. The spring part includes a slanted meandering portion provided with a plurality of major arms spaced from each other in the axial direction and generally slanted with respect to the axial direction. The slanted meandering portion is adapted to be elastically deformed so as to narrow a space between the major arms by a contact pressure applied from the counterpart flat contact to the contact part. The contact part is adapted to be displaced so as to slide on the counterpart flat contact by an elastic deformation of the slanted meandering portion.
US08734190B2 Device for electrically contacting electronic units
A device for electrically contacting a first electronic unit with a second electronic unit includes a guiding unit, at least one first contact unit that is guided in the guiding unit, and a second contact unit. The contact units each include at least one contact element, which cooperates with the other as contact partners. The at least one contact element of the first contact unit is embodied as a hollow contact element. The at least one contact element of the second contact unit is embodied as a shaped contact part that comprises an elevated region that tapers in the direction along a vertical axis. The electrical contact of the at least one hollow contact element with the at least one shaped contact part is provided in the form of a plug connection inside the hollow contact element of the first contact unit.
US08734188B2 Tray-type card connector preventing tray from flying out therefrom
A card connector (100) includes an insulative housing (10), a number of contacts (30) retained in the insulative housing, a metal shell (20) attached to the insulative housing for cooperatively defining a receiving space (60), and a tray (40) received in the receiving space. The metal shell includes a pair of elastic portions (24). The tray has a frame portion (41) having two lateral edges. Each lateral edge has a notch (410) securing with the corresponding elastic portion when the tray is fully inserted in the receiving space along an insertion/ejection direction and an inclined surface (414) on which the elastic portions bias to slow down ejection of the tray.
US08734186B2 Cable assembly with circuit-interrupter-lead receptacles
A cable assembly for connecting an electronic device to another electronic device and/or to a signal source. The cable assembly comprises a first connector and a second connector and a plurality of conductors connected between the connectors. The first connector may comprise receptacles for receiving a circuit-interrupter that can open a circuit in the cable assembly when an undesired signal (e.g., a over-voltage signal or an over-current signal) is applied to the cable assembly. The circuit-interrupter may comprise a fuse, such as a non-resettable fuse or a resettable fuse. The first connector may be arranged for connection to an automobile and the second connector may be arranged for connection to an electronic device operable for diagnosing and/or servicing the automobile.
US08734173B2 Connector
A connector includes a first terminal housing for housing a plurality of first connecting terminals aligned, a second terminal housing for housing a plurality of second connecting terminals aligned, a plurality of insulating members aligned and housed in the second terminal housing, a resin molded body provided in the second terminal housing, and an insulating member assembly formed by assembling the plurality of insulating members. The resin molded body includes at least one pair of restricting protrusions in order to restrict expanding movement of the insulating member assembly in the lamination direction when inserting the first connecting terminals into a gap between the second connecting terminals and the insulating members. The insulating member assembly includes a terminal protecting member to interfere with a rim of the first terminal housing to prevent the first terminal housing from being erroneously inserted into the gap.
US08734172B2 Connector coupling structure and holder device
A connector portion of a hard disk device is provided with a recess portion that guides a connector portion of a holder device so as to align the connector portion of the holder device with the connector portion of the hard disk device. The connector portion of the holder device is provided with a guide projection that is guided by the recess portion. A connector body is attached to a holder body shiftable within a range that the connector portion of the holder device can follow the connector portion of the hard disk device and a range that the guide projection can be guided by the recess portion.
US08734164B2 Current control brush assembly having axial and radial filaments
A system, in certain embodiments, includes a current control brush assembly including an axial button having a first electrically conductive housing retaining a first set of electrically conductive filaments. The first set of electrically conductive filaments extends generally inward along an axial direction. The current control brush assembly also includes a radial shaft grounding ring (SGR) coupled to the axial button. The radial SGR includes a second electrically conductive housing retaining a second set of electrically conductive filaments. The second set of electrically conductive filaments is arranged circumferentially around the second electrically conductive housing, and the second set of electrically conductive filaments extends generally inward along a radial direction.
US08734163B1 Apparatus, method, and system for on-site evaluation of illumination scheme using a mobile lighting evaluation system
Apparatus, methods, and systems for a novel approach to on-site evaluation and demonstration of illumination schemes to fit the unique needs of a defined area or object. The system provides a versatile method of producing a wide range of illumination schemes from a limited number of components and allows for optional add-on features or replaceable modules to simulate various lighting characteristics from various types of lighting fixtures, including commercially available fixtures or custom fixtures. Methods of wireless control described herein help to achieve the purpose of the mobile lighting evaluation system in that a system operator may evaluate and/or demonstrate illumination schemes from a convenient remote location.
US08734160B2 Operating room educational television “OReduTV”
An apparatus for viewing information includes a wireless interactive monitor including a screen for displaying the information and adapted to receive the information wirelessly and a surgeon scrub sink for allowing a surgeon to sterilize the hands of the surgeon, positioned under the wireless interactive monitor.
US08734154B2 Device for infiltration of approximal enamel lesions of teeth
The device for infiltration of approximal tooth surfaces, with a flexible planar element and with a holder into which the planar element is clamped, is characterized in that the planar element is a liquid-impermeable plastic film which has a surface area for taking up a liquid to be used for treatment, and in that the holder is a bow-shaped element with a web and two lateral arms which extend from the latter and are arranged in an arc-shape or U-shape, to which the plastic film is connected in a liquid-impermeable manner.
US08734152B2 Intraoral device adapter
An adapter for connecting a vacuum source to an intraoral device has a plug portion and a connection portion extending proximally from the plug portion. The plug portion is configured for releasable mating engagement with a connection section of an intraoral device which communicates with one or more evacuation channels of the intraoral device. The connection portion has a proximal end configured for connection to one or more vacuum lines of a vacuum source. One or more vacuum lumens extend through the plug and connector portions to communicate with the one or more vacuum lines to remove fluid from a patient's mouth.
US08734143B2 Adjustable dough roller device
The invention relates to a dough roller device (2) comprising a first roller pair unit (21) and a second roller pair unit (22) situated below the first roller pair unit (21), wherein the relative position of the first and second roller pair units is adjustable. Preferably the rollers (31,32) of the first roller pair unit (21) define a passage for dough between the rollers, and wherein the relative position is adjustable for placing one of the rollers (33, 34) of the second roller pair unit (22) more or less below the passage. The invention further relates to an assembly for dough treatment, comprising a dough roller device (2) as disclosed above and a supply device for supplying dough, wherein the supply device comprises a conveyor (12) extending to an upper side of the dough roller device (2). The belt onto which the dough is deposited has flour dusted onto it before the dough is laid on the belt.
US08734141B2 Stator/rotor assemblies having enhanced performance
A stator/rotor assembly includes at least one extruded preform bonded to a stator housing and/or a rotor mandrel. A method of constructing a stator/rotor assembly includes extruding at least one preform, and bonding the preform to a stator housing and/or a rotor mandrel. A method of constructing a stator includes applying multiple polymer strips to a bladder; and bonding the polymer strips to a stator housing while compressing the polymer strips between the bladder and the stator housing, without injection molding. A method of constructing a rotor includes applying multiple polymer strips to a rotor mandrel, and bonding the polymer strips to the rotor mandrel while compressing the polymer strips between a bladder and the rotor mandrel, without injection molding.
US08734139B2 Pumps and pump heads comprising volume-compensation feature
A fluid pump having a pump housing that includes at least one expansion joint, provides volume compensation, as needed, to adjust for changes in pressure in the pump housing. Various embodiments automatically and passively reduce static pressure in the pump housing associated with a freezing event, thereby preventing damage to the pump head. Volume compensation is achieved by employing, in each expansion joint, a dynamic seal that allows relative movement of two portions of the pump housing, and a bias that provides a selected counter-force to the movement of the housing portions. The subject pumps are particularly suited for use in automotive and other rugged applications, in which fluid pumps may experience recurring freezing events.
US08734134B2 Bracketless magnetic pump
A fluid pump kit is provided. The kit includes a magnetic driven member for coupling with and rotating a propeller, and a magnetic driver for magnetically coupling to and driving the magnetic driven member by a magnetic attraction force establishable between the magnetic driver and the magnetic driven member. A motor of the kit operates the magnetic driver. First and second casings are provided for housing the magnetic driver and the magnetic driven member, respectively. The first and second casings with housed magnetic driver and magnetic driven member, respectively, are detachably securable to opposite sides of a non-magnetic spacer solely by the magnetic attraction force establishable between the magnetic driver and the magnetic driven member sufficient to support the second casing and the housed magnetic driven member in a particular position without the use of mechanical aids.
US08734132B2 Water pump for use in irrigation and for other purposes
The present invention addresses the need for a water pump that may be constructed from inexpensive materials available even in impoverished areas. The pump uses a simple rocking motion to pump water and can pump significant amounts of water from sources that otherwise could not be reached. In a preferred embodiment, the pump comprises three concrete chambers, a pumping platform adapted to rock in a see-saw fashion, and a plurality of valves to control the flow of water. The first two chambers contain diaphragms that, as a result of rocking the pumping platform, draw liquid into the chambers and force liquid from those chambers into the third chamber. Two valves selectively permit liquid to be drawn into the first and second chambers, and prevent the liquid from exiting the chambers and returning to the source. Third and fourth valves allow liquid to flow from the first and second chambers into the third chamber, and prevent the liquid in the third chamber from flowing back into the first or second chambers.
US08734125B2 Crankcase heater systems and methods for variable speed compressors
A system includes a compressor having a shell housing a compression mechanism driven by an electric motor in an on state and not driven by the electric motor in an off state. The system also includes a variable frequency drive that drives the electric motor in the on state by varying a frequency of a voltage delivered to the electric motor and that supplies electric current to a stator of the electric motor in the off state to heat the compressor.
US08734123B2 Converter for converting mechanical energy into hydraulic energy and robot implementing said converter
A converter for converting mechanical energy into hydraulic energy and a robot implementing the converter are disclosed. The converter includes a shaft rotated about a first axis relative to a casing, a hub defining a bore about a second axis, the shaft rotating in the bore. The first axis is parallel to the second axis, and a distance between the first axis and second axis defines an eccentricity. At least two pistons are movably disposed in radial housings of the shaft with the at least two pistons bearing against the bore. Movement of the pistons feed a hydraulic fluid into one of two annular grooves of the casing arranged in an arc of a circle about the first axis, and the hub is configured to translate along a third axis to modify the value of the eccentricity between two extreme values.
US08734116B2 Turbine bucket airfoil profile
A turbine bucket is provided including a bucket airfoil having an airfoil shape, the bucket airfoil having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table 1 wherein the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z are non-dimensional values from 0% to 100% convertible to dimensional distances in inches by multiplying the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z by a height of the airfoil in inches, and wherein X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z, the airfoil profile sections at Z distances being joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
US08734115B2 Optimized aerodynamic profile for a turbine blade, in particular for a rotary wheel of the third stage of a turbine
When cold and in the non-coated state, the aerodynamic profile is substantially identical to a nominal profile determined by the Cartesian coordinates X,Y,Z′ given in Table 1, in which the coordinate Z′ is the quotient D/H where D is the distance of the point under consideration from a first reference plane P0 situated at the base of the nominal profile, and H is the height of said profile measured from the first reference plane to a second reference plane P1. The measurements D and H are taken radially relative to the axis of the turbine, while the X coordinate is measured in the axial direction of the turbine.
US08734114B2 Blade for a gas turbine engine comprising composite material having voids configured to act as crack initiation points when subject to deformation wave
Blades for gas turbine engines which are formed from composite materials have problems with respect of resistance to impacts such as bird strikes. Previous blades formed from metals had some ductility towards the trailing edge which could accommodate the whiplash effects of impacts. With regard to composite materials such ductility is not present. By providing projections 32 which act as propagation wave trips as well as high intensity reflectors 36 it is possible to limit the whiplash at the edge 31 resulting in damage. Typically a cladding cap 38 is provided which also may be formed from a metal to allow some greater uniformity with respect to mass per length despite the tapering of the blade. Furthermore by providing voids which act as delamination initiation sites cracking can be provided between plies which allows greater flexibility towards the edge and therefore release of energy. These voids may incorporate uncured polymer matrix to act as a binder subsequent to delamination.
US08734100B2 Turbine stage
A turbine stage for a turbomachine, the stage comprising a rotor wheel mounted inside a sectorized ring carried by an outer casing, and a sectorized nozzle fastened to the casing downstream from the wheel, each ring sector having a downstream end that is held bearing radially outwards against a cylindrical rail of the casing by means of the nozzle, the casing rail including an annular row of through radial notches reducing the areas for heat exchange by conduction both between the casing and the ring sectors and between the casing and the nozzle.
US08734097B2 Compact low noise efficient blower for CPAP devices
A blower includes an electric motor having a shaft, a housing having an inlet and outlet between which is defined a gas flow path, the outlet structured to direct gas exiting the blower in an axial first direction, a first impeller attached to the shaft and adapted to accelerate air tangentially and direct it radially outward, a stationary portion, and a shield. The stationary portion includes a first stator vane structure defining a plurality of stator vane leading edges and a stator vane outer radial edge. The first stator vane structure is arranged to direct gas flow along a curved path that directs flow at an inner end thereof in a radially inward direction. The shield has an outer edge extending radially beyond the outer radial edge of the first stator vane structure and is adapted to isolate the stator vane leading edges from an impeller blade pressure pulse.
US08734096B2 Optimized aerodynamic profile for a turbine vane, in particular for a nozzle of the second stage of a turbine
When cold and in the non-coated state, the aerodynamic profile is substantially identical to a nominal profile determined by the Cartesian coordinates X,Y,Z′ given in Table 1, in which the coordinate Z′ is the quotient D/H where D is the distance of the point under consideration from a first reference plane P0 situated at the base of the nominal profile, and H is the height of said profile measured from the first reference plane to a second reference plane P1. The measurements D and H are taken radially relative to the axis of the turbine, while the X coordinate is measured in the axial direction of the turbine.
US08734095B2 Gas turbine
A gas turbine that can effectively cool an axial cavity between a stator blade and a rotor blade and a blade-end surface is provided. In a gas turbine in which a blade-count difference between stator-blade segments of a second-stage stator blade and a third-stage stator blade is set to zero, a relative position between the second-stage stator blade and the third-stage stator blade in the circumferential direction is set by clocking so that a wake flow produced by the stator-blade segments of the second-stage stator blade is guided to the leading edges of the stator-blade segments of the third-stage stator blade within a range of 0% to 15% of the length in a span direction from a hub side of the stator-blade segments of the third-stage stator blade.
US08734090B2 Combination of mechanical actuator and case cooling apparatus
A rotor blade tip clearance control apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of circumferentially distributed segments which form an annular shroud surrounding the outer tips of a row of rotor blades. A mechanical arrangement is operatively connected to the segments. Actuation of the arrangement causes the segments to move in a radial direction thereby controlling a clearance between the segments and the outer tips. A case cooling system supplies cooling air to an engine case to which the segments are mounted. The cooling air regulates thermal expansion of the case and thereby also controls the clearance between the segments and the outer tips.
US08734089B2 Damper seal and vane assembly for a gas turbine engine
One embodiment of the present invention is a vane assembly for a gas turbine engine. Another embodiment of the present invention is a damper seal that may be employed in conjunction with a vane assembly of a gas turbine engine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods and combinations for vane assemblies and the sealing and damping thereof. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits and advantages of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
US08734088B2 Variable stator vane
A variable stator vane in a gas turbine engine has a journal provided with a circumferential recess. An aperture extends from the recess to a face of the journal directed towards the aerofoil portion of the vane. In operation of the engine, heated air, for example from a downstream compressor stage of the engine is admitted to the recess and flows through the aperture to, for example, the pressure surface of the aerofoil portion. The aerofoil portion is thereby heated, so preventing ice accretion on the vane.
US08734084B1 Wind wing
The Wind Wing converts wind energy into electrical energy utilizing an oscillating vertical unarticulated wing, and in one of its two models, employs a new type of electrical generator.
US08734082B2 Implement support device
An improved implement support device for using an implement with a motor vehicle, with the device having an implement support structure, a lift mechanism, and a swing mechanism, where the implement support structure is suitably adapted to support and manipulate useful implements, such as a snowplow blade, a pair of fork lift forks, a container, a platform, and the like, with the lift mechanism suitably adapted to move the implement vertically in both an upward and a downward direction and the swing mechanism suitably adapted to move the implement laterally in both a leftward and a rightward direction, and with the implement able to be concurrently moved both vertically and laterally by substantially simultaneous operation of both the lift mechanism and the swing mechanism.
US08734078B2 Automated automotive vehicle parking/storage system
A system and method for optimizing the parking and storage capacity of a vehicle parking garage wherein rows of vertical columns of parking spaces or cubicles are spaced in opposing relationship with one another such that at least one automatic guided and self propelled vehicle (AGV), with or without a vehicle support tray mounted thereon, is vertically movable in engagement with the opposing racks or chains that extend on opposite sides of the vertical columns of parking cubicles so that a vehicle may be loaded onto the AGV and thereafter transferred to, and later removed from a parking cubicles and transferred to an exit of the garage. If tray are used on the AGV, additional trays are stored in storage spaces adjacent each parking cubicle.
US08734077B2 Bale picking truck
Biomass may become an important source of combustible fuel in the future. For biomass, such as switchgrass, to be economically viable as a fuel, the processes required to take the plant material from a green, growing plant in the field to an energy dense package must be efficient. A self-propelled bale picking truck simplifies and speeds bale collecting, stacking, and staging for loading onto a truck for transport over the road.
US08734076B2 Rivet and method for riveting components
A rivet, in particular a solid rivet, for riveting components, which has a primary head for bearing on a component to be riveted and a rivet shank, which is plastically deformable to form a closing head, joined to the primary head so as to constitute a single piece therewith. The primary head has a greater hardness than the rivet shank. Owing to the greater hardness of the primary head, the rivet joint can be produced in a reliable and cost effective manner, even in the case of a rivet header bearing only partially on the primary head.
US08734075B1 Sheared pole butt removal tool
A pole butt removal tool is an unconventionally threaded shaft and a hub. The unconventionally threaded shaft has a minor diameter, a major diameter, a hub end and a terminal end with the terminal end ending in a conical point. The major diameter as a ratio to the minor diameter of the thread is greater than a major diameter/minor diameter ratio of Unified Coarse Thread Series (UNC) and the pitch is significantly less than Unified Coarse Thread Series (UNC).
US08734073B2 Fastening arrangement
A fastening arrangement, including a quick-action nut that has two nut parts. The nut parts each have a groove to receive a threaded rod, and including a locking element with at least one passage opening for securing the quick-action nut to the threaded rod. In the passage opening, the locking element has a locking surface for pressing the nut parts against the threaded rod as well as a centering surface for centering the threaded rod in the passage opening. In the passage opening, the locking element has a transition surface that adjoins the locking surface and the centering surface, and that runs between the locking surface and the centering surface.
US08734072B2 Locking threaded fastener
A locking fastener includes a fastener body, a locking band within the fastener body, and a retainer secured to the fastener body to retain the locking band within the fastener body. The locking band includes first and second tangs that fit within recesses in the fastener body to limit angular movement of the tangs. The tangs and the recesses are dimensioned to control the torque required to remove the fastener from a threaded member. The retainer defines a central circular hole corresponding to the diameter of a threaded member on which the fastener is mounted.
US08734064B2 Cutting insert for a machine tool
A tooling insert for a screw machine includes a plurality of cutoff blades. The insert is indexable. The cutting side of the blade includes a planar impact surface with a 7° side rake angle. In addition, the blade cutting side has a narrow raised land adjacent the impact surface.
US08734063B2 Cutting tool assembly for stable coupling structure
A cutting tool assembly includes a cutting head having a coupling face provided with a multilateral recess, a shank having a coupling face provided with a multilateral recess corresponding to that of the cutting head, and a multilateral coupling plate which fits complementarily into the interior space created by the multilateral recesses. The cutting tool assembly provides a more stable coupling structure, since rotational torque is transmitted through the multilateral coupling plate from the shank to the cutting head, whereas in the prior art coupling screws are used to directly bear the torque force.
US08734058B1 Method of piling remediation for supporting girders and other structural members
A method for supporting and securing structural members, such as girders, to remediated pilings utilizes a pipe segment and cap plate positioned on the planed top section of the piling and welded to the pipe segment. Structural member supports, such as girder brackets or lally type jacks, are secured to the cap plate. The girder is positioned on the structural member supports and is secured thereto. By this method the girder is solidly and effectively supported by a fully formed, reinforced piling.
US08734056B2 Underwater hydrocarbon transport and temperature control device
The invention relates to a hydrocarbon transport device intended to be immersed and arranged at an extraction wellhead, comprising a first pipe through which a first fluid leaving the extraction well flows, the first pipe being arranged in an external protective casing, a piloting system to pilot the temperature in the first pipe controlling an activation element of a regulating system for regulating a heat exchange between the first pipe and the liquid medium filling the immersed external casing, the regulating system comprising at least a second pipe arranged around the first pipe and delimiting an annular space enclosing at least one regulating fluid, this regulating fluid being injected into or expelled from the annular space by the activation element of the regulating system.
US08734053B1 Articulated baffle assembly
An articulated baffle assembly is disclosed and claimed. The battle assembly includes a support and vanes connected to the support. The support holds the vanes in the flow of a liquid in order to promote sedimentation when the baffle assembly is in an operational configuration. The support includes an articulation that allows the baffle assembly to be reversibly converted to a retracted configuration that facilitates access to and removal of sediment.
US08734051B2 Apparatus for aerating and draining
An aeration and drainage system includes an aeration & drain pipe which contains slots on its upper surface, a stand which holds said aeration & drain pipe above a bottom surface, an air and liquid transfer element attached to the aeration & drain pipe and positioned over said slots. Additionally the air and liquid transfer element extends upward from the slots, and the air and liquid transfer element contains openings on its top to allow fluids to flow into the air and liquid transfer element and through the slots in the aeration & drain pipe.
US08734050B1 Infiltration trench filler system and method
A system and method are provided for depositing fragmentized stonework material in layers within a drainage trench extending alongside a roadway. The system includes a mobile platform, a dispensing arm portion, an actuating portion and a controller. The mobile platform defines a storage compartment for intermediately storing the fragmentized stonework material received from a predetermined source. The dispensing arm portion is coupled to extend transversely from the storage compartment and is selectively activated to convey and expel the fragmentized stonework material from the storage compartment into the drainage trench. The actuating portion couples the dispensing arm portion to the mobile platform in angularly displaceable manner. The is controller coupled to selectively activate the actuating portion and thereby adjust the dispensing arm portion in angular position relative to the storage compartment to maintain substantially even distribution of the fragmentized stonework material in the drainage trench.
US08734049B1 One piece water permeable paver
A one piece water permeable paver for forming a surface suitable for traffic having outer flex joint connection cells connected to flex joints, outer three connection cells connected to one of the outer flex joint connection cells, outer two connection cells connected to two outer three connection cells, a plurality of inner single flex joint connection cells connected to one of the flex joints, and an inner dual flex joint connection cell engaging two flex joints, inner four connection cells connected to a pair of outer three connection cells and a pair of inner single flex joint connection cells. Fastening slots are formed partially through outer surfaces of cells that form two sides of the paver. Locking tabs extend from outer surfaces of cells forming two sides of the paver opposite the sides with the locking tabs, enabling a first paver to securely interlock to an adjacent paver.
US08734047B2 Traffic control marker with mesh base
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a traffic control marker having a mesh base and an improved inner core. In accordance with various embodiments, there is provided a traffic control assembly, which includes a base selectively mountable adjacent a roadway, the base comprising a plurality of through holes, and a flexible tubular member connected to the base. The traffic control assembly further includes a flange selectively mountable below the base. The flange includes a plurality of through holes spaced around a portion of the circumference of the flange. Further, the traffic control assembly includes an adhesive material applied to an underside of the base and the flange to secure the traffic control assembly to the roadway. The adhesive material fills the plurality of through holes in the base and in the flange, when the traffic control assembly is mounted to the roadway. Various embodiments also provide for a flexible support arranged inside of the flexible tubular member and configured to increase the resiliency of the flexible tubular member to an impact by a moving vehicle.
US08734035B2 Media cartridge with shifting ribs
A media cartridge is disclosed for insertion into a cartridge receptacle of a printer. The media cartridge includes a cartridge housing having one or more shifting ribs on the cartridge housing. At a position of initial insertion of the media cartridge into the cartridge receptacle, the shifting ribs are configured to center a length of media and an ink ribbon of the media cartridge between a print head and a platen roller in the cartridge receptacle. As the insertion of the media cartridge into the cartridge receptacle continues, the shifting ribs shift the length of media and the ink ribbon toward one of the print head and the platen roller.
US08734034B2 System and method for pre-print ink use estimation
An image representation of an image and printing specifications describing how the image is to be printed may be accepted at a device. A predicted ink drop count may be calculated by a processor in the device using the image representation and a printer imaging step, the printer imaging step to convert image data into printer data. A predicted ink use value may be calculated by processor based on the predicted ink drop count, predicted ink drop weights, the image representation (e.g., a histogram) and the printing specifications. Actual ink use during a printing operation may be measured.
US08734030B2 Camera
When a mirror holder is at a mirror-down position, a follower portion traces a first region of a cam portion to urge the mirror holder toward the mirror-down position by an urging force of an urging member. When the mirror holder is at a mirror-up position, the follower portion traces a second region of the cam portion to urge the mirror holder toward the mirror-up position by the urging force of the urging member. When the mirror holder is at an intermediate position between the mirror-down position and the mirror-up position, a contact portion is contacted with one edge of a hole by the urging force of the urging member. When the mirror holder is bounced near the mirror-down position or near the mirror-up position, the contact portion is contacted with an opposite edge of the hole against the urging force of the urging member.
US08734028B2 Tool-less clamping mechanism
A clamping mechanism having a top and bottom orientation, comprising: (a) an inner component having a platform defining a fiber channel and a clamping member disposed over the fiber channel, the clamping component being connected to the inner component such that it moves radially independently from the rest of the inner component, the inner component defining a cavity above the clamping member to receive an actuator; (b) an outer casing containing the inner component, the outer casing defining a slot; and (c) an actuator comprising a rotating member disposed in the cavity and restrained therein from moving radially, the rotating member being configured to rotate along an axis parallel to the fiber channel, the rotating member configured to interact with the clamping member such that rotating the rotating member causes the clamping member to move toward the fiber channel such that any fiber disposed therein is clamped between the clamping component and the platform, the actuator also comprising a lever connected to the rotating member and protruding from the outer casing through the slot.
US08734026B2 Subsea electro-optical connector unit for electro-optical ethernet transmission system
A subsea connector unit with an integrated, bi-directional electrical to optical (EO) media converter is provided which has a first end configured for connection to standard subsea electrical cable connector unit and a second end joined to a subsea optical or electro-optical ethernet jumper cable. The EO media converter has one or more electrical input/output (I/O) junctions which communicate with electrical signal conductors in a connected electrical ethernet cable and one or more optical I/O junctions which are connected to one or more optical fibers extending from the subsea jumper cable. Electrical input signals received at the electrical I/O junctions are converted into corresponding optical signals provided at the optical I/O junctions for transmission along the subsea jumper cable, and optical input signals received from the jumper cable are converted to electrical signals at the electrical I/O junctions for output to the electrical cable.
US08734024B2 Optical couplings having a coded magnetic array, and connector assemblies and electronic devices having the same
Optical couplings for optically coupling one or more devices are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an optical coupling includes an optical coupling body, an optical interface, and a coded magnetic array located at the optical coupling body. The coded magnetic array has a plurality of magnetic regions configured for mating the optical interface. The optical coupling further includes a reflective surface within the optical coupling body and positioned along an optical path of the optical coupling body. The reflective surface is operable to redirect an optical signal propagating within the optical coupling body such that it propagates through the optical interface. The optical coupling may be configured as a plug, such as a plug of a connector assembly, or as a receptacle, such as a receptacle on an electronic device. Connector assemblies of optical cables, optical coupling receptacles, and translating shutter assemblies are also disclosed,
US08734023B2 Bearing race
A race for a rolling-element bearing is characterized in that the race comprises at least one circumferentially-extending region having a reduced stiffness compared with the remainder of the race. The or each circumferentially-extending region may be thinner than the remainder of the race, and may further comprise a hole or a slot. In a particular preferred embodiment there are two such circumferentially-extending regions, each extending around an arc of approximately 60 degrees in the circumferential direction.
US08734022B2 Sealing device for a hub and a bearing assembly including the sealing device
A sealing device is provided for sealing a space between a hub and a spindle pivotally connected by a bearing, the hub being coaxially mounted on the spindle and extending in an axial direction and the bearing having an inner ring. The sealing device includes a radial shaft seal including a shell portion having an outer static sealing surface disposeable against the hub and a hinge portion having a radial sealing lip. A sleeve member includes an inner static sealing surface disposeable against the spindle, a running surface contactable by the sealing lip and a sleeve portion. The sleeve portion extends in the axial direction beyond a side surface of the bearing inner ring and is disposeable about a shoulder diameter of the bearing inner ring.
US08734021B2 Rolling bearing device and spindle
By incorporating a pump for sucking and discharging lubricating oil in a tank for storing the lubricating oil on an outside of a rolling bearing, for example, on a spacer for an outer ring in a housing for accommodating the rolling bearing and a nozzle in which an lubricating oil outlet communicating with a discharging port of the pump to supply the lubricating oil discharged from the pump to the rolling bearing is opened in an annular-shaped space between a fixed ring and a rolling ring in the rolling bearing, a cost is reduced by using a general-purpose rolling bearing, and at the same time, external devices and pipes for a lubrication are not required wholly or partially and problems of a noise made by compressed air are eliminated.
US08734015B2 Flexible package bag provided with one-way functioning nozzle and packaging structure for liquid material
There is proposed a non-self supporting type flexible package bag provided with a film-shaped one-way pouring nozzle, which is excellent in not only the non-return function and liquid cutting properties but also the pouring property of a liquid packed material as a filling material (packed material in the bag can be poured smoothly until the end). In the flexible package bag provided with the film-shaped one-way pouring nozzle protruding from a side portion, corner portion or top portion of the package bag body, a coating layer made from a water-repellent material or an oil-repellent material is provided on an outer surface of the film-shaped one-way pouring nozzle, while a wet-treated layer is provided on an inner face of a pouring path in the film-shaped one-way pouring nozzle.
US08734014B2 Radiological apparatus
The present invention relates to a radiological apparatus (1) comprising a base (2) adapted to stand on a floor, a column-shaped chassis (3) mounted on the base, a column-shaped stand (4) mounted on the chassis, a patient bed (5) mounted on the chassis, an X-ray detector (6) mounted on the chassis, a slide (7) mounted on the stand, an arm (8) mounted on the slide, an X-ray emitter (9) mounted on the arm; the axis of the chassis column and the axis of the stand column are perpendicular to one another; the apparatus comprises further mechanisms adapted to implement a plurality of movements between its parts (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) so as to achieve a highly flexible functionality sufficient to meet a variety of clinical and diagnostic needs.
US08734010B2 Thermal detector, thermal detection device, electronic instrument, and thermal detector manufacturing method
A thermal detector includes a substrate, a support member, a heat-detecting element, a thermal transfer member, a first light-absorbing layer and a second light-absorbing layer. The support member is supported on the substrate so that a cavity is formed between the substrate and the support member. The heat-detecting element is supported on the support member. The thermal transfer member includes a connecting portion connected to the heat-detecting element and a thermal collecting portion formed over the heat-detecting element and having a surface area larger than a surface area of the connecting portion as seen in plan view. The first light-absorbing layer contacts the thermal transfer member and disposed between the thermal transfer member and the support member. The second light-absorbing layer contacts the thermal transfer member and disposed on the thermal transfer member.
US08734003B2 Micro-chemical mixing
A method comprising, providing a droplet having a first chemical species and a second chemical species on a substrate, and applying a voltage across the droplet to physically repeatedly deform the droplet. In this embodiment, the applying causes the droplet to move with respect to an object located therein and at least partially mix the first chemical species and the second chemical species.
US08734001B2 Backlight assembly including a light source cover including a sidewall cover portion which contacts with an exterior surface of a sidewall of a receiving container and a light source cover portion which covers a light source and a portion of the exiting surface of a light guide plate, display device having the same and method of assembling the display device
A backlight assembly includes a receiving container, a first light source module and a first light source cover. The receiving container includes a bottom portion, a first sidewall and a second sidewall connected to the bottom portion. The first light source module is supported by the bottom portion and adjacent to the first side wall. The first light source cover makes contact with an exterior surface of the first sidewall. The first light source cover surrounds the second sidewall so that a first end portion of the first light source cover covers the first light source module.
US08733999B2 Method and apparatus pertaining to display backlighting
An apparatus comprises a display backlight having a substrate and a plurality of light-receiving channels formed in that substrate. At least some of these channels have a depth that varies as a gradient along a longitudinal axis of the channel that is substantially axially aligned with a light-receiving input for the channel. These channels can be formed substantially parallel to one another. The aforementioned light-receiving inputs can, if desired, be formed at either end of each such channel and can be disposed inwardly of an edge of the substrate. Also if desired, at least some of these channels can be disposed other than at an orthogonal angle with respect to such substrate edges. So configured, light rays that orthogonally enter the light-receiving inputs will have an opportunity to contact the edges of the channels and be reflected outwardly of the channel to provide the desired backlighting effect.
US08733992B2 LED low profile linear front fog module
A fog lamp for a vehicle is disclosed. Light leaving an LED is collected by a refractive/TIR lens. The central portion of the refractive/TIR lens is purely refractive, while the peripheral portion of the lens includes a total internal reflection off an exterior surface of the lens. The refractive/TIR lens converges the light to a focus at or near a laterally-elongated aperture in a light baffle. Light exiting the aperture diverges and passes through an anamorphic lens, which reduces the angular extent of the beam in the vertical direction and increases the angular extent in the lateral direction. The full fog lamp may include multiple pairs of LEDs and respective refractive/TIR lenses, all arranged coplanar, parallel and laterally adjacent to each other. The LED/lens pairs may all direct light through a single light baffle and through a single anamorphic lens.
US08733989B1 Helmet mounted bicycle lights
A bicycle light system has front and rear (white and red) lights with mounting brackets to secure on a bicycle helmet. A battery is contained in the rear light casing, with an electrical cord extending between the front and rear light casings. The front light casing has controls for both front and rear lights, which can include different power levels and preferably a flash mode for the front light. The rear light can be separately controllable with a switch on the rear casing. 360° visibility preferably is provided via the front light, which projects colored light, such as amber, toward the sides. Helmet mountings for the front and rear light casings have a quick-release feature enabling the lights to be easily and quickly removed from the helmet, such as for recharging. For marine use appropriate light colors can be provided.
US08733985B2 Horizontally and vertically mountable fixture extension that can be lowered for service
An example includes a lamp system couplable to a vertical structure and a horizontal structure, the system including a base including a first electrical contact couplable to a power source, a motor coupled to the base, the motor couplable to the power source, a cord coupled to the motor, with the motor configured to extend and retract the cord with respect to the base and a lamp socket coupled to the cord, the lamp socket including a second electrical contact mateable to the first electrical contact to electrically couple the lamp socket to the power source, wherein the base is hingedly couplable to a hinge plate, with a proximal portion of the hinge plate to be hinged to a side of the base in a vertical-mount configuration, with the cord extending through a channel located on a distal end of the hinge plate.
US08733982B2 Internal collecting reflector optics for LEDs
An optical system is disclosed that uses an LED light source. The light output is coupled to an optic element formed from a material with a high refractive index. The coupling of the light to the high index material significantly reduces the cone angle of the light. The system is very efficient in that nearly all the light generated by the LED is directed to the intended subject.
US08733981B2 Lens with multiple curved surfaces for LED projecting lamp
This invention relates to a secondary optics for the multi-chip LED. It features in that the optics consists of a refraction collimating portion, two total internal reflection (TIR) portions, an emitting surface with a micro lens array, an edge flange and a snap lug for lens assembly. The refraction collimating portion is located on the center of the lens bottom, which has a convex aspheric surface. Around the refraction collimating portion outwards, there are two rounds of TIR prisms, featured in that at least one TIR prism has a flake polyhedral reflection surface. On top of the secondary optics, there is the emitting surface constituted with the micro lens array. The edge flange and the snap lug for lens positioning represent non operational portion and may have any shape. Related to the present invention, the LED used therewith may be a multi-chip or single-chip LED.
US08733978B2 Optical filter system and method
An optical system and method for illuminating an object under investigation with filtered light is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises a filter wheel having a plurality of variable bandpass filters. The filter wheel is rotatable about two axis, whereby rotation about the first axis brings a selected filter in line with a collimated beam of white light and rotation about the second axis adjusts the angle of the filter relative to the light beam in order to adjust the bandpass frequencies. A second beam of white light, which may be from a second light source, can also be reflected off of the face of the filter in a manner that illuminates the object with substantially white light. In one embodiment, the object may be alternately or simultaneously illuminated with filtered light or with reflected white light. The filter can be used as a bandstop or band rejection filter to illuminate the object with white light that is missing a narrow frequency band.
US08733977B2 LED light bulb
The invention discloses a novel LED (light-emitting diode) light bulb which comprises a light holder, a light cover and an LED light-emitting body, wherein the LED light-emitting body is composed of an LED light and a driving circuit board; the LED light is electrically connected with the driving circuit board; the driving circuit board is electrically connected with the light holder; the LED light-emitting body is installed in the light cover; and the light cover is installed on the light holder. The LED light bulb is simple in structure, has high universality, is energy saving and electricity saving, is convenient to maintain, has a long service life, is economical and practical, and is suitable for popularization and using.
US08733971B2 LED floodlight formed with a stratified sheet
A LED floodlight (1), includes: a plurality of LEDs (3) suitably arranged for use; an electrical circuit (4) for powering the plurality of LEDs (3); a finishing casing (5); element of electrical connection (6) to a power supply network; characterized in that it includes a stratified sheet (2), folded so as to suitably orient the beam from the floodlight (1), wherein the sheet (2) simultaneously serves as a mechanical support and as an electronic power and control board for the plurality of LEDs (3) and the electrical circuit (4) is obtained directly thereon.
US08733968B2 Lighting device and lighting method
A lighting device comprising first and second groups of solid state light emitters, which emit light having peak wavelength in ranges of 430 to 480 nm, and first and second groups of lumiphors which emit light having dominant wavelength in the range of 555 to 585 nm. In some embodiments, if current is supplied to a power line, a combination of (1) light exiting the lighting device emitted by the first group of emitters, and (2) light exiting the lighting device emitted by the first group of lumiphors would have a correlated color temperature which differs by at least 50 K from a correlated color temperature which would be emitted by a combination of (3) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the second group of emitters, and (4) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the second group of lumiphors.
US08733967B2 Portable terminal with lighting decoration
A portable terminal includes a housing, a light tube arranged along at least one part of a circumference of the housing, and a tube guide mounted along the circumference of the housing. As light is incident on the light tube and propagates along the light tube, the light radiates through a circumferential surface of the light tube, and the radiated light is diffused through the tube guide.
US08733966B2 LED flashlight
A lighting device with improved optical performance and efficiency is provided. The lighting device includes a source of energy, a light source, a reflector and a holder. The reflector has a first open end, a second end, and a parabolic profile extending between the first open end and second end. The focus of the parabolic profile is located outside of the profile. The reflector may also be movable relative to the light source. The lighting device may include a circuit that delivers a pulsed or thermally compensated pulsed current to the light source. The light device may also include a heat sink housing.
US08733964B2 Portable electric lamp with a casing mounted in angularly movable manner
A portable electric lamp with a compact casing housing a lighting module, comprising a support on which the casing is mounted angularly movable around an axis of rotation, and at least one element having the global shape of a wire and comprising a part in the form of a collar-band surrounding the casing around the axis of rotation, said element being deformable by elasticity to secure the casing by friction against the support in a determined angular position.
US08733960B2 Locally dimmed cinema projection system with reflective modulation and narrowband light sources
A backlight for a display comprises a plurality of independently controllable light sources and inclined surfaces inclining in a radially outward direction from each light source for shaping the distribution of emitted light. The light sources may each comprise a group of differently-colored light emitters. The backlight may include light integrators configured to mix light of the differently-colored light emitters. Inclined surfaces for shaping the distribution of emitted light may be arranged around exits of the light integrators.
US08733953B2 Display apparatus and projection type lighting apparatus therefor
A display apparatus includes a light source which is configured to emit a light, a first light modulation unit which is configured modulate the light emitted from said light source, a first drive unit which is configured to drive said first light modulation unit, a projection unit, which is configured to project the light from said first light modulation unit enlargedly, a second light modulation unit, which is configured to modulate the light emitted from said projection unit so as to be emitted to an observer side, a second drive unit which is configured to drive said second light modulation unit, and an optical direction conversion unit, which is configured to convert the light from said projection unit so that the light is incident upon an incident surface of said second light modulation unit in a direction approximately perpendicular thereto.
US08733952B2 Methods and systems for coordinated use of two or more user responsive projectors
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that are related to coordinated projection from two or more projectors.
US08733950B2 LED projector
An LED projector includes a plurality of light sources; and an image generator which includes an arrangement of pixels, each pixel including at least one light source; wherein the LEDs are stacked epi-LEDs which include layers arranged above one another for different colors, or each pixel includes an emission surface and at least two LEDs are arranged adjacent one another in the emission surface.
US08733948B2 Light source unit and projector
In a projector which includes a light source unit 63, a light smoothing unit, a display device, a projection side optical system and a projector control unit, the light source unit 63 includes a light generating device for generating light of a specified wavelength band which includes a first light source 152 which is a light emitting diode or solid-state light emitting device for emitting light of a predetermined wavelength band, a second light source 153 which is a light emitting diode or a solid-state light emitting device for emitting excitation light, and a third light source 154 for emitting light of the same wavelength band as that of the first light source 152 using the light emitted from the second light source 153 as excitation energy, and the third light source 154 is formed by a phosphor which transmits light from the first light source 152 and absorbs light emitted from the second light source 153.
US08733947B2 Light source control device and projector
A light source control device is for controlling a solid-state light source array having a plurality of solid-state light sources connected in series to each other, and includes a detector (a current detection resistor, voltage detection resistors, and operational amplifiers) adapted to detect at least one of a voltage applied to the solid-state light source array and a current supplied to the solid-state light source array, and a control circuit adapted to determine whether or not discontinuity of at least one of the voltage and the current is present using a detection result of the detector, and change control of one of the current and electrical power performed on the solid-state light source array if it is determined that the discontinuity is present.
US08733943B2 Image distortion correcting mechanism of back-projection image display device and back-projection image display device
In a back-projection image display device, image light outputted from a projection device is reflected by a reflection mirror held by a base frame and projected onto the back of a screen, to display an image on the screen. An image distortion correcting mechanism includes adjustment mechanisms that deform the reflection mirror, drive units that generate driving force necessary for the deformation of the reflection mirror by the adjustment mechanisms, and a control substrate that supplies power to the drive units. The control substrate supplies power to the drive units in response to a control signal supplied from a remote control unit. This allows pin distortion and barrel distortion, as well as trapezial distortion to be corrected by remote control in the back-projection image display device.
US08733941B2 Light source system with high luminance and miniaturized profile and projection apparatus using the same
A light source system and a projection apparatus using the same are provided. The light source system comprises a light guide module, a light emitting module and a wavelength conversion element. The light guide module has a first side and a second side. The light emitting module is configured to generate a first light, a second light, a third light and a fourth light. The wavelength conversion element, disposed beside the second side of the light guide module, is configured to receive the second light and the fourth light, and to generate a fifth light according to the second light and the fourth light. The second light and the fourth light are guided to the wavelength conversion element via the light guide module. The first light, the third light and the fifth light are guided to the first side via the light guide module.
US08733931B2 Method for determining binocular performance of a pair of spectacle lenses
A method of determining binocular performance of a pair of spectacle lenses comprises: a eyes characteristics providing step, a pair of spectacle lenses providing step, a environment providing step, a cyclopean eye positioning step, a binocular performance criteria defining step, and a binocular performance criteria determining step, wherein the cyclopean eye position is customized.
US08733930B2 Lens deblocking method and related device
A method of deblocking an ophthalmic lens component (100) blocked on a thermoplastic layer (310) arranged on the holding surface (210) of a lens holding block (200) comprising the step of applying a pushing force on the thermoplastic layer (310), wherein the pushing force is greater or equal to 100 N and smaller or equal to 1000 N and wherein the pushing force is applied in a region of the thermoplastic layer (310) situated at a distance of at least 17.5 mm from the fitting point or prism reference point of the ophthalmic lens component (100).
US08733924B2 Inkjet printer having platen plate with suction holes
An inkjet printer 10 includes a platen plate 4 that has recess portions 41 and suction holes 42, and an inkjet type print head that has arrays of ink discharge nozzles right above the recess portions 41. Each suction hole 42 is set to have a first flow rate of air in a first suction path, and a second flow rate of air in a second suction path. The first suction path is made by the suction hole 42, and one of regions extending at a recess portion 41 of the platen plate 4, with the suction hole 42 intervening in between in a transfer direction. The arrays of ink discharge nozzles are disposed in the one region. The second suction path is made by the suction hole 42 and the other region at the recess portion 41. The second flow rate is smaller than the first flow rate.
US08733923B2 Printing device and printing method
A printing device includes a head, a radiation unit and a control unit. The head is configured to eject metallic ink including a plurality of longitudinal metal fragments onto a medium. The radiation unit is configured to irradiate the metallic ink with light to cure the metallic ink. The control unit is configured to control irradiation of the light by the radiation unit so that a film thickness formed by the metallic ink is equal to or less than a length of a long side of the longitudinal metal fragment when the metallic ink is cured on the medium.
US08733917B2 Line image forming method and apparatus
A line image forming method includes the steps of: ejecting a plurality of droplets of liquid sequentially from an inkjet head, the liquid containing a functional component; and depositing the droplets of the liquid onto a non-permeable medium, the deposited droplets becoming joined together on the non-permeable medium to form a line pattern of the liquid, wherein a receding contact angle of the liquid with respect to the non-permeable medium being not larger than 10°.
US08733914B2 Method of manufacturing a liquid container
A method of manufacturing a liquid container includes (a) a process of preparing a liquid container, (b) a process of storing liquid in a liquid storage chamber by injecting the liquid from the liquid storage chamber or an upstream side of the liquid storage chamber in a channel from an atmosphere opening port to a supply port based on a flow direction of a fluid from the atmosphere opening port to the supply port.
US08733910B1 Unitary multiple seal mechanism
A unitary multiple seal mechanism includes a tubular sealing member having a longitudinal axis, and a second sealing member radially displaced from the tubular sealing member and connected to the tubular sealing member by a flexible connection.
US08733909B2 Negative-pressure ink cartridge refilling device, system and method
The invention relates to a negative-pressure ink cartridge refilling device, system and method. The device comprises an ink container used to store ink, an ink injection channel, an aspirator and a suction channel communicated with the ink container, wherein one end of the ink injection channel is an ink inlet end while the other end is an ink outlet end connected with the ink cartridge to be refilled; a sucking opening connected with the aspirator is formed on the suction channel; and the inlet end is disposed above the ink level surface of the ink container. Therefore, the ink in the ink container cannot be overflowed via the ink injection channel regardless of the environmental factors, and thus the technical problem that the phenomenon of ink splash tends to occur when the traditional negative-pressure ink cartridge refilling device is used by a user for the first time can be solved.
US08733907B2 Liquid discharge head and method for manufacturing liquid discharge head
A liquid discharge head includes piezoelectric members including: a pressure chamber applying a pressure for discharging liquid to liquid; a first electrode provided on an inner surface side of the pressure chamber; and a second electrode provided outside the pressure chamber, the piezoelectric members being arranged in a first direction intersecting with an ink flow direction and in a second direction crossing the ink flow direction and the first direction so that the flow directions of the liquid flowing through the pressure chamber of the piezoelectric members are arranged along one another. The head includes first common wiring lines connected to the first electrodes arranged in the first direction; and second common wiring lines connected to the second electrodes 23 arranged in the second direction. The first common wiring lines are arranged in the second direction and the second common wiring lines are arranged in the first direction.
US08733905B2 Piezoelectric device, process for producing the same, and liquid discharge device
A piezoelectric device includes a substrate; and a laminated film formed above the substrate. The laminated film includes a lower electrode layer, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode layer formed in this order, and the lower electrode layer is a metal electrode layer containing as one or more main components one or more nonnoble metals and/or one or more nonnoble alloys. Preferably, the one or more main components are one or more of the metals Cr, W, Ti, Al, Fe, Mo, In, Sn, Ni, Cu, Co, and Ta, and alloys of the metals.
US08733904B2 Electro-mechanical transducer, method of making the transducer, liquid ejection head including the transducer, and liquid ejection apparatus including the head
An electro-mechanical transducer includes a plurality of independent elements. Each of the plurality of independent elements includes one of a substrate and a foundation film, a first electrode of oxide disposed on the one of the substrate and the foundation film, an electro-mechanical transducer film disposed on the first electrode, a second electrode of oxide disposed on the electro-mechanical transducer film, and a third electrode of metal formed on the first electrode as a common electrode conductive to the first electrode and common to at least two of the plurality of independent elements.
US08733903B2 Liquid dispenser including passive pre-stressed flexible membrane
A liquid dispenser includes first and second liquid chambers. The second liquid chamber is in fluid communication with liquid supply and liquid return channels. A flexible membrane separates and fluidically seals the first and second liquid chambers from each other. The flexible membrane, residing in a first position, includes a residual compressive stress that exceeds an onset buckling stress of the flexible membrane. A heater, associated with the second liquid chamber, is selectively actuated to create a pressure pulse in a liquid that causes the flexible membrane to move from the first position to a second position to eject liquid through a nozzle of the first liquid chamber. In one embodiment, a liquid supply provides liquid that flows continuously from the liquid supply through the liquid supply channel through the second liquid chamber through the liquid return channel and back to the liquid supply during a drop dispensing operation.
US08733900B2 Thermal inkjet print head with solvent resistance
A method of preparing an inkjet printing system with a print head in fluid communication with an ink reservoir and having a plurality of orifices and a corresponding plurality of associated ejection chambers includes providing a substrate and disposing a photoresist material on the substrate. A mask is provided between the UV light source and the photoresist material. The photoresist material is exposed to the UV light source to polymerize the photoresist material to form a barrier layer on the substrate. The barrier layer defines in part a plurality of fluid channels and the plurality of ejection chambers. An orifice plate is attached over the substrate. The orifice plate includes a plurality of orifices in fluid communication with the ejection chambers.
US08733897B2 Non-wetting coating on a fluid ejector
A fluid ejector includes a substrate having an exterior surface and an interior surface. A non-wetting coating can cover at least a portion of the exterior surface and can be substantially absent from the flow path. A non-wetting coating can be formed of a molecular aggregation. A precursor of a non-wetting coating may flow into a chamber at a higher temperature higher than the substrate. A non-wetting coating can be over a seed layer. An outer portion of the seed layer can have a higher concentration of water molecules or a greater density than an inner portion. The outer portion can be deposited at a ratio of partial pressure water to partial pressure matrix precursor that is higher than the ratio for the inner portion. An oxygen plasma can be applied to a seed layer on the exterior surface, and the non-wetting coating can be applied on the seed layer.
US08733895B2 Ink-jet head
An ink-jet head includes: a first nozzle group; a second nozzle group; a first common ink chamber; and a second common ink chamber. With respect to a first direction, nozzles constituting the first nozzle group and nozzles constituting the second nozzle group are arranged alternately to complement each other, the first nozzle group includes a first nozzle and a second nozzle which deviates from the first nozzle with respect to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the second nozzle group includes a third nozzle arranged adjacent to the first nozzle with respect to the first direction and a fourth nozzle arranged adjacent to the second nozzle with respect to the first direction, and with respect to the second direction, the fourth nozzle deviates from the third nozzle in a direction opposite to a direction in which the second nozzle deviates from the first nozzle.
US08733891B2 Inkjet recording apparatus
An inkjet head is provided with an ejection surface on which first and second ejection regions having a plurality of ejection openings ejecting different colors of ink are formed in proximity to each other or to partially overlap each other. A first wiping operation in which, after ink is forcibly ejected only from the first ejection region, the first ejection region is wiped by relative movement of the wiping member in a direction from the second ejection region toward the first ejection region, and a second wiping operation in which, after ink is forcibly ejected only from the second ejection region, the second ejection region is wiped by relative movement of the wiping member in a direction from the first ejection region toward the second ejection region are selectively performed.
US08733888B2 Printhead cleaner
In one embodiment, a container or housing includes a body, a cavity and an aperture. A first and a second rotatable spindle are positioned within the cavity such that their long axes are substantially parallel, the first spindle to unwind unused wiping material, and the second spindle to wind used wiping material. A plurality of suspension devices connect to the body. A plurality of wipers are each connected to a discrete suspension device, each wiper including a wiping surface protruding through the aperture and each wiper to engage and wipe a discrete printhead during a wiping operation.
US08733883B2 Detecting stretch or shrink in print media
A printing system includes a print media having two sets of test patterns formed or printed in at least two margins adjacent a content area on the print media. The two sets of test patterns are separated by a pattern distance and at least two test patterns in each set of test patterns have a different number of marks. Two integrated imaging systems are disposed opposite the print media and are mechanically tied together and separated by a fixed distance. The integrated imaging systems substantially simultaneously capture images of the two sets of test patterns. An image processing device can process the images to determine if one or more size variations have occurred in the print media in the in-track direction.
US08733882B2 Printer control method and printer
A method of controlling a printer 1 that cuts recording paper according to a paper cut command after printing print data received from a host computer 80 on the recording paper 10. If the paper cut command is received while performing an automatic clogged nozzle detection process on the inkjet head 17 after printing ends (S1: Yes), the automatic clogged nozzle detection process is interrupted (S2), and the cutting process is performed (S3).
US08733880B2 Digital printing method and an apparatus therefor
A digital printing method includes printing timing marks for each of images; in reprinting after printing is temporarily suspended, feeding a web of paper to travel backwards so that a plurality of images and timing marks printed thereon before printing is temporarily suspended move towards upstream of a digital printer and thereafter feeding the web of paper to travel forwards again, and counting by mark sensors, upstream of the digital printer, the number of such timing marks moving in each of the backward feed and forward re-feed of the web of paper; and when the number of counts of the timing marks counted in the forward re-feed coincides with the number of counts of the timing marks counted in the backward feed, reinitiating to print consecutive images from a position following an image last printed before printing is temporarily suspended.
US08733879B2 Inkjet recording apparatus and printing method
An inkjet recording apparatus includes a drying chamber on a downstream side of a recording head along a conveyance path for a sheet-shaped recording medium originally wound to be like a roll; and a drying unit circulating gas. The drying unit includes a heat pump separating water droplets from gas containing moisture returned after moisture is moved from the sheet-shaped recording medium, heating the gas, supplying the gas as high temperature dried gas to the drying chamber, causing moisture to move from the sheet-shaped recording medium to the gas in the drying chamber and returning the gas to which the moisture has been moved and which becomes gas containing moisture to the drying unit.
US08733877B2 Method and apparatus for detecting discharge defect, image processing apparatus, computer-readable recording medium, and printing system
A discharge defect of a nozzle in an apparatus that forms an image on a medium by discharging liquid from a liquid discharge head based on image data is accurately detected. A discharge defect of a nozzle is detected by comparing data (reference data) of a reference image with read data obtained by reading an output image. In this case, a mark for matching the read pixel and the nozzle position with each other is recorded on the medium, and the correspondence relationship is specified by reading the mark. In addition, data items that are converted to have the nozzle resolution by performing a filtering process corresponding to the human visual characteristics for both the data of the reference image and the data of the read image are compared with each other, thereby detecting a discharge defect of a nozzle.
US08733875B2 Liquid discharge apparatus and liquid discharge method
A liquid discharge apparatus includes: movable head having a nozzle line with nozzles arranged in a predetermined direction; and a control unit that performs a first liquid discharge process and a second liquid discharge process, which sequentially form dots on a medium by intermittently discharging liquid from the nozzles while moving the head and maintaining the inclusion of a normal component perpendicular to the predetermined direction in the moving direction of the head and which form dots on the medium such that a dot formation position in the perpendicular direction of the dots formed in the second liquid discharge process is positioned between dot formation positions in the perpendicular direction of the dots formed continuously in the first liquid discharge process.
US08733872B2 Common base lateral bipolar junction transistor circuit for an inkjet print head
A print head circuit of an inkjet printer comprising a plurality of row heating elements arranged in a plurality of rows, a plurality of column heating elements arranged in a plurality of columns, and a plurality of lateral bipolar junction transistors (BJTs), each lateral BJT is connected in between and in series with a corresponding one of the plurality of row heating elements and a corresponding one of the plurality of column heating elements, the plurality of lateral BJTs have common bases, wherein the plurality of row heating elements and the plurality of column heating elements are selectively energized to heat ink in the inkjet printer in a desired pattern for printing media, and wherein each of the plurality of lateral BJTs operates to allow the corresponding row and column heating elements that are connected in series with the lateral BJT to be energized.
US08733868B1 Direct-to-product printing tray including a tracking label-dispensing mechanism
A direct-to-product printing tray to hold a photo product and a plurality of labels in place while a composite image is printed on the photo product and a first label. The direct-to-product printing tray includes a label-dispensing system within the direct-to-product tray. The label-dispensing system is configured to automatically advance a second label to a position previously occupied by the first label in response to the removal of the first label from the label-dispensing system.
US08733864B2 Two way drawer slide
A two way three section slide drawer slide assembly for permitting a drawer to be selectively pulled out from opposite open ends of a compartment is provided with an elongated outer section secured to the compartment; an elongated intermediate section disposed in the outer section; two elongated sliding members each slidably disposed either between upper edges of the outer section and the intermediate section or between lower edges of the outer section and the intermediate section; an elongated inner section including a two-end open flat track; an elongated bearing member disposed between the intermediate section and the inner section; two stop units releasably secured to the engaging members respectively; and two flexible limit members threadedly secured to the inner section. One limit member is disposed reverse to the other limit member.
US08733863B2 Washing machine
A laundry machine (1) including a cabinet (10) having an opening (10a) for loading and/or unloading laundry, a door (300) selectively opening and/or closing the opening of the cabinet (10), and a door positioning unit (A) for positioning the door (300) away from the cabinet (10).
US08733861B1 Cooperating cabinetry hinge arrangement for doors or panels
A cooperating hinge arrangement on a door or panel that includes a first hinge coupled with a first area of the door or panel and a second hinge coupled with a second area of the door or panel. The first and second areas of the door or panel meet at a miter joint such that opening of the first area simultaneously opens the second area of the door or panel.
US08733853B2 Arc-resistant switchgear enclosure with door latch mechanism
An arc-resistant switchgear enclosure has an interior compartment with a door opening and a vent outlet. The door is mounted to close the door opening. The door receives pins that extend from the enclosure. The pins have stops thereon that are received by a keyhole in the latch member. The latch member can slide so as to position the pin in a large opening in the keyhole and unlatch the door or a narrow opening in the keyhole to latch the door. The latch members are ganged so that a handle operates all of the latch members.
US08733852B2 Toilet brush caddy
A toilet brush caddy is provided, includes a unitary one-piece housing, and is capable of supporting a toilet brush. The housing includes a brush receptacle and the toilet brush includes a handle and a cleaning head having a plurality of bristles. The caddy is capable of supporting the toilet brush such that the toilet brush is supported at an angle relative to the vertical, only contacts a front side of the brush receptacle, and the bristles do not contact any other portion of the brush receptacle when the brush is supported by the caddy.
US08733851B2 Modular furniture system
A modular furniture system is provided. The system includes surface members, junctions, and connectors. Each connector has two engagement portions. The surface members and junctions each include one or more channels for receiving a connector, the channels are shaped to slidingly attach with an engagement portion of a connector. The channels are positioned so that the connectors being used to interconnect a surface member to a junction or a surface member to another surface member to assemble the modular furniture system.
US08733850B2 Apparatus for controlling tension of track
An apparatus for controlling tension of a track, and more particularly to an apparatus for preventing a track wheel from separating due to an uneven road surface and obstacles on the road surface by minimizing space between a moving idler and roller when controlling the tension of the track, and for supporting the weight of a machine more safely by maximizing the space between a rear roller and a front roller. To this end, the present invention is characterized by: a track frame structure in which the idler and the front roller move together when controlling the tension of the track; and a damping member for absorbing external shock, wherein the idler is fixed in an idler frame, the front roller is fixed in a roller frame, and the buffer member is positioned between the idler frame and the roller frame.
US08733849B2 Brake control device, and brake control method
In a brake control device and a brake control method, when a shift to a brake mode for backup involving separation of a supply path of working fluid is performed at the time of detection of an abnormality during braking, a differential pressure acting between an outlet opening and an inlet opening of an open-close valve which is provided between a hydraulic pressure source that is used during the backup brake mode and wheel cylinders and which needs to be opened during the backup brake mode is lessened prior to the separation of the supply path of working fluid so that the open-close valve is opened in accordance with a valve-opening command. Therefore, at the time of switch of the control mode, the confinement of wheel cylinder pressure is avoided.
US08733844B1 Lightweight chair
A lightweight seat suitable for applications such as those in which the seat and occupant must withstand extreme amounts of applied force during use, e.g., encountering high waves in boats of seven meters (23 feet) or greater at speeds of at least 20 knots (37 km/h (or 10.3 m/s)).
US08733843B2 Process for producing a supporting shell for a seat
A supporting shell for a seat is provided by carrying out in-seat measurements with a plurality of test subjects, wherein the test subjects sit down on a measuring mat placed on a neutral seat frame. The measuring mat has a readily displaceable filling and adapts to the contour of the body of the respective test subject. After the test subject has sat down on the measuring mat and before the test subject leaves the same, the filling inside the measuring mat is fixed in place by applying a negative pressure. The geometric data of the surface contour of the measuring mat are determined and stored for each test subject. The measured surface contours are then superimposed onto one another. This produces an average surface contour which can subsequently be further altered slightly for adaptation to large seat users, and therefore a modified surface contour is created as a basis for the production of the supporting shell of the seat.
US08733841B2 Zero turn lawnmower mounting support arm
A zero turn lawnmower mounting support arm affixable to the frame assembly portion of the lawnmower and being made up of a mounting tube unit affixed to the topside of the frame assembly and to which a first hollow tube unit is perpendicularly affixed with a laterally positioned mounting plate being also affixed to the frame assembly and the mounting tube and the first hollow tube unit with a second hollow tube unit atop of which there is held a pivotable handrest base unit equipped with a cushion and pivot arm stop complex unit with the second hollow tube unit being adjustably fitted about the first hollow tube unit.
US08733840B2 Seat pan assembly
Described are seat pan assemblies for a passenger seat having a pan frame pivotally coupled to a seat back, a seat pan pivotally coupled to the pan frame, a tilting mechanism coupled to the seat pan and the pan frame, wherein the tilting mechanism is configured to rotate the seat pan between an upright position and a sleeper position, and an automatic release mechanism, wherein the automatic release mechanism is configured to return the seat pan to an upright position when the seat back is in an upright position.
US08733839B2 Mechanism for an office chair
A mechanism for an office chair has a displaceable actuating element. The position of the element changes during a movement of the office chair mechanism, and the change in position thereof changes the movement characteristic of the office chair mechanism. The actuating element is operationally connected to a functional element. The position of the functional element changes in the event of a change in the position of the actuating element during a movement of the office chair mechanism. At least one property of the change in position of the actuating element changes in the event of a change in the position of the functional element.
US08733834B2 Trim assembly
A trim assembly for a seat back of a vehicle seat is provided. The seat back has a seat frame and a seat cushion. The trim assembly includes a backboard securable to the seat frame and adapted to form a rear surface of the seat back. The backboard has a channel formed therein and a plurality of spaced apart retaining windows formed along a length of the channel. A trim cover is adapted to cover the seat cushion and form a front surface of the seat back. The trim cover has a cover material portion and a trim retainer connected to the cover material portion. The trim retainer includes an engagement feature. The trim retainer is insertable into the channel such that the engagement feature cooperates with the retaining windows for securing the trim cover to the backboard.
US08733833B2 Safety or booster seat for use in conjunction with a vehicle
The invention relates to an inflatable seat for use as a child safety seat when fitted to a vehicle seat. The seat can be moved between a compact storage condition and an inflacted in use condition. The seat includes a plurality of inflatable cells (16), the inflation of which and control of air between the same are controlled by air control means so as to prevent rapid loss or gain of air to or from a portion of the seat.
US08733832B2 Vehicle seat
An apparatus includes groove-shaped thin portions, of which the length direction is in a vertical direction, that are provided at predetermined intervals in the front-back direction in front of a hip point of a seat side garnish. When an impacting body impacts the seat side garnish and a load is applied to the seat side garnish, first, stress concentrates at the thin portions, and then the area between the thin portion and the thin portion of the seat side garnish, and the area between the thin portion and the thin portion of the seat side garnish deforms so as to move inward in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the seat cushion will readily rise up in front of the hip point, and is thus able to be prevented or suppressed from rising up at the hip point.
US08733831B2 Mounting assembly for securing an entertainment device to a vehicle seat
A mounting assembly for securing an entertainment device to a vehicle seat having a pair of spaced headrest post guides extending through a top surface of the vehicle seat is provided. The mounting assembly includes a first bracket member having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end and the second end each configured to attach to a respective headrest post guide with the first bracket member extending between the headrest post guides. A second bracket member is configured to support an entertainment device and is slidingly attached to the first bracket member and is selectively securable between forward and aft locations relative to the first bracket member to position the entertainment device rearwardly of the vehicle seat.
US08733830B2 Headrest hat hook retractable side hanger
The headrest hat hook retractable side hanger allows the driver and passenger to hang their hat and coat on the side of the headrest seat inside a vehicle. An automobile headrest seat comprising of a headrest retractable hat hook hanger built into the right side and left side of the headrest that retracts inside the headrest for storage and can extend out the double hat hook from the both sides of the headrest to hang hats, caps, and coats.
US08733829B2 Composite chair
A composite chair to provide multiple use states includes a frame and at least one carrying portion and one movable portion located on the frame. The movable portion includes a movable deck, two coupling members and an adjustment member. Each of the coupling members has a fastening end hinged on the frame and an action end hinged on the movable deck. The action end has a swivel displacement against the fastening end. The adjustment member includes two guide tracks extended along the movable deck, a linkage bar with two ends held in the guide tracks and two movable arms bridging the linkage bar and movable deck. The linkage bar is movable in the guide tracks to allow the coupling members in the swivel displacement to incorporate with the movable arms to drive the movable deck to move upwards and downwards against the carrying portion to change different use states.
US08733827B2 Composite tub structure for vehicle
A moulded structural tub for a vehicle, the tub having: a main compartment bounded by a first lateral wall, a second lateral wall, and a floor extending between the lateral walls; a strengthening member integral with the first lateral wall and projecting in a longitudinal direction from the first lateral wall towards the second lateral wall; the profile of the surfaces of the main compartment being such that, in any cross-sectional plane parallel to the longitudinal direction and perpendicular to the plane generally defined by the floor, the length of a line drawn in that cross-sectional plane between a fixed point on that part of the strengthening member closest to the second lateral wall, and a movable point confined to the profile monotonically increases in length as the movable point on the profile is moved in a generally longitudinal direction so as to trace from the fixed point along the profile of the first lateral wall, the floor and the second lateral wall in an unbroken set of points representing the cross-section of the surfaces of the main compartment in that cross-sectional plane; wherein each of the said cross-sectional planes which meet the surface of the floor in the main compartment intersect the floor once along a single continuous line or at a common plane.
US08733825B2 Strength reinforcement device for front shock absorber of vehicle
Provided is a strength reinforcement device for a front shock absorber of a vehicle to provide a sufficient supporting force in spite of a load transferred to the front shock absorber. To this end, a cowl inner lower panel and a reinforce panel which form a box-shape cross-section structure are provided and their both side end portions are integrally connected to shock absorber supporting panels. A support panel is integrally formed in front end portions of both side ends of the cowl inner lower panel to cover and be integrally connected to the front portions of the shock absorber supporting panels, thereby easily distributing the loads transferred in various directions from the shock absorber supporting panels engaged with the front shock absorbers and providing a sufficient supporting force for the shock absorber supporting panels.
US08733824B2 Construction machine with upper slewing body
Provided is a construction machine which comprises an upper slewing body including: a frame bottom plate formed with an downward opening; an undercover detachably attached to the frame bottom plate to close up the opening; and a connection member for connecting the undercover to the frame bottom plate. The undercover includes a cover-forming member made of a single plate fabricated to have a base portion extending along a lower surface of the frame bottom plate and a bulging portion bulging upwardly from the base portion to be inserted into the opening. The base portion has a contact area in an outer edge region thereof to make contact with the lower surface of the frame bottom plate from the lower side thereof. The connection member connects the bulging portion to a region of the frame bottom plate, the region located above the lower surface of the frame bottom plate.
US08733823B2 Bumper system for a motor vehicle and method for energy dissipation in the event of a head-on collision
A bumper system for a motor vehicle includes a bumper cross member which is arranged transversely to a travel direction and has two attachment zones for connection to two side rails arranged in parallel relationship to the travel direction. The bumper cross member has a center portion extending between the attachment zones and two end zones to close off the bumper cross member to vehicle sides. A deformation element is arranged behind each of the end zones and constructed to support in the event of a head-on collision with slight overlap the end zone which undergoes a buckling as a result of the head-on collision. At least one belt element at least partly surrounds a circumference of the deformation element and is secured to at least one of the side rails.
US08733822B2 Vehicle front structure
A vehicle front structure includes a dash panel that is located at a front portion of a vehicle and a floor panel that extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The dash panel includes a contact portion which extends in the vehicle width direction and with which a front end portion of the floor panel comes into contact, and concave portions that are located below the floor panel and opened upward in a side view of the vehicle body. The contact portion is formed integrally with the concave portions. Accordingly, the vehicle front structure may be easily worked and joining among a dash panel, a floor panel, and an inner panel in the related art may be changed to joining between two parts, that is, the dash panel and the floor panel, so that it may be possible to strengthen the joints between the dash panel and the floor panel.
US08733818B2 Two-stage hybrid check link assembly
A check link assembly for a vehicle closure is configured to be operable in two phases: a detent check phase and an infinite check phase. The vehicle closure is pivotably connected to a vehicle body and has a closed position and an open position. The check link assembly includes a detent assembly having a detent configured to provide a detent check position between the closed position and the open position. The check link assembly also includes a hydraulic or pneumatic strut operatively connected to the detent assembly and configured to provide check positions at all positions between the detent check position and the open position. The detent assembly and the strut are configured to operate in series as the door is pivoted.
US08733817B2 Laterally pivoting trim piece for a Z-fold convertible top
A convertible top comprising a plurality articulated rail links that move the convertible top in a fore-and-aft direction. A trim piece carries a window seal and is assembled to at least one of the rail links for movement in the fore-and-aft direction. The trim piece also moves in a lateral direction outwardly when the top is retracted and in the lateral direction inwardly when the top is extended. A stop member is secured to the trim piece and at least one rail link to limit the lateral movement of the trim piece relative to the at least one rail link. A cam block is secured to the trim piece and at least one of the rail links to guide the lateral movement of the trim piece relative to the at least one rail link.
US08733813B2 Mobile treatment, diagnostic and minor surgery facility
The invention is directed to a mobile medical facility capable of treating, diagnosing and performing minor surgery on multiple patients at one time. In general, the facility includes a health care area which is interchangeable between a first transportable configuration and a second, operational configuration. In the operational configuration, the health care area is expanded and capable of providing general care or diagnostic facilities to multiple patients as well as registration, counseling and triage to at least one patient. Preferable a row of patient treatment bays are provided with intake, counseling and triage cubicles and storage areas.
US08733806B2 Actuating handle
An actuating handle for a window or door including a fixing element coupled to a socket, the socket being selectively rotatable relative to a stop plate. The fixing element will allow insertion of a polygonal driver coupled to a handle from one direction through the socket, thereby rotationally coupling the handle and the socket, but will not allow the polygonal driver to be withdrawn in the opposite direction.
US08733802B2 Door-locking device for locking the door of household appliance
A door-locking device for locking a door of a household appliance, the door providing a closure hook, and at least a gasket provided on the door and/or on the household appliance. The device providing a locking hook, coupling with the household appliance closure hook, a slider, movable along a direction substantially parallel to a household appliance wall on which the door is provided, a recovery lever compensating for clearance of the gasket sealing closure, and a mechanical coupling for the locking hook and the recovery lever, the locking hook being rotably coupled with the mechanical coupling and being movable according to a direction substantially perpendicular with respect to the movement direction of the slider, an elastic arm being further provided in a second embodiment, aiming to maintain the mechanical coupling in a door closure position, and interaction elements arranged between the slider and the mechanical coupling for locking each other in the door closure position.
US08733795B2 Anchor pre-tensioner for safety seat belt
An anchor pre-tensioner for seat belt of vehicle improves phenomenon in which a webbing of seat belt is caught in belly of passengers during collision by the vehicle. The anchor pre-tensioner may include: first second wires connected to a lower end of the webbing respectively; a driving cylinder having a piston coupled to ends of the first and second wires; a gas generator supplying a gas pressure for the forward movement of the piston; a first roller supporting the first wire to move in the direction oblique against the bottom of the vehicle during the forward movement of the piston; and a second roller supporting the second wire to move downward when the piston moves forward; wherein the forward movement of the piston pulls the webbing of the seat belt in the direction where the first wire moves and at the same time in the direction perpendicular thereto.
US08733794B2 Seat belt system
A seat belt system includes a storage case including a main body having a box shape and a storage portion, the main body having an opening formed thereon through which first and second tongues are inserted, the first tongue being attached to an end of a belt and to be connected to a first buckle on a seat side, the second tongue being movably attached to the belt and to be connected to a second buckle on the seat side, and a storage portion formed in a shape tapered in an insertion direction of the first and second tongues, protruding from the main body and including first and second inclined surfaces that are formed on both sides of a surface opposite a surface having the opening formed thereon and are inclined to guide insertion of the first and second tongues.
US08733790B2 Active safety apparatus for vehicles and method of controlling the same
An active safety apparatus for vehicles and a method of controlling the apparatus, which can actively control the operation of a safety device, such as an airbag device or a seatbelt device installed in a vehicle for restraining a passenger behavior and protecting a passenger in a vehicle collision, based on the conditions of a vehicle collision and the passenger behavior which vary depending on the conditions of the vehicle collision, thereby optimally protecting the passenger for the conditions of the vehicle collision and improving passenger safety of the vehicle.
US08733789B1 Sleeve for lap and shoulder belt to reduce wear on apparel
A sleeve attachable to the belt of a vehicle restraint system is provided. The sleeve is loose and not form fitted to the belt to reduce the frictional wear of the sleeve with respect to apparel. In one aspect, a strip of material connects the sleeve to the fastener such that the sleeve moves with the belt. In another aspect, an inner sleeve is tightly formed to the belt such that the sleeve moves with the belt.
US08733773B2 Snowmobile having improved clearance for deep snow
A snowmobile comprises a chassis with a front portion and a tunnel, and a power train unit supported by the chassis. The snowmobile further includes a plurality of ground-engaging members cooperating with the power train unit to operate the snowmobile. The plurality of ground-engaging members includes a pair of front skis and an endless track assembly. A snowmobile is also depicted which has a raised front chassis relative to the driveshaft, which raises the clearance of the front chassis for deep snow.
US08733769B1 Interchangeable costume kit for a skateboard
An interchangeable costume kit for a skateboard, wherein interchangeable parts can be attached and removed easily therefrom, and having a head section, an appendage section, and a tail section that have the shape of an animal head, animal limbs, and an animal tail. Each section is removably attachable by the releasable engagement of attachment pads disposed on each of the head, appendage, and tail sections with adhesive mounting pads attached to the underside of the skateboard.
US08733768B1 Race car four link bar to chassis remotely adjustable brackets
A race car four link bar to chassis remotely adjustable brackets for providing quick, efficient, and precise adjustment for trailing arms on a race car chassis. The race car four link bar to chassis remotely adjustable brackets generally includes adjustable brackets that include a pivoting load block (10), slotted bracket plates (20), a hemi joint carrier (30) and a lead screw (40).
US08733767B2 Apparatus and system for transporting a kayak
An apparatus includes a first carrier device having a first upright. A first axle and a first wheel are joined proximate a first distal end of the first upright. A first support plate is joined to the first upright above the first wheel. A second carrier device has a second upright. A second axle and a second wheel are joined proximate a first distal end of the second upright. A second support plate is joined to the second upright above the second wheel. An adjustment bar has a first end, a second end and a plurality of adjustment positions extending inward from the second end. The first end is joined proximate a second distal end of the first upright. A one of the plurality of adjustment positions is joined to a second distal end of the second upright, whereby a distance between the first and the second upright is selected.
US08733766B2 Convertible conveyance method and apparatus
Devices and methods for convertibly changing the means and carrying capacity of a pedestrian are provided. Specifically the present disclosure comprises a backpack capable of being converted into a wheelbarrow for the purpose of transporting increased loads in emergency or varying conditions. The device may include a frame and satchel whereby a series of components are fastened to the frame in order provide for implements such as handles and rolling wheels for transportation of increased loads. The components of the system may include, for example, a frame, a satchel, handles, a wheel, and an axle. When assembled to convert the pack to a wheelbarrow configuration, the device may increase the safe carrying capacity of a pedestrian from 50-100 lbs. to 200-300 lbs. or more.
US08733765B2 Airport divestment and luggage cart
An airport cart adapted for carrying carry-on luggage and personal items divested prior to a security check point. The cart includes a lower luggage tray or shelf, and a pair of vertical supports extends upward from a rear portion of this tray or a horizontal portion of the cart frame. The cart may have dual handles extending rearward in a space-apart manner from the vertical supports such that the handles are parallel to each other and do not block vertical loading of the luggage tray. The cart includes one, two, or more storage or security screening bins that are affixed to or detachably mounted on the vertical supports or the handles. One or more of the storage bins may be compatible with conventional airport screening bins. The bins are horizontally offset from the luggage tray and each other to facilitate unobstructed 3D screening of bags and items in the bins.
US08733761B2 Genetic deck based game method of play
A game element for use in a genetic deck based game. The game element includes indicia to partition a larger set of game elements into ordered subsets of game elements. The game element also includes a unique identifier for the genetic deck.
US08733760B1 Game and method of playing a game
A game and a method of playing a game are disclosed. A card with an image of a celebrity printed thereon is drawn by a player on a team. The player also starts a timing device, indicating his time of play, and manipulates a random number generator to obtain a random number. Within the given time of play, the player must recite a number of facts about the celebrity, corresponding to the random number, with players on an opposing team attempting to hinder the player's rotation of facts by playing disadvantage cards, and teammates on the player's team attempting to assist the player by playing benefit cards and/or help cards. Points are assigned based on recitation of the assigned number of facts related to the respective celebrity, and after multiple rounds of play are concluded, the points are tallied for the teams and a winner is declared.
US08733755B2 Sheet separation transport mechanism, and sheet transport device and image forming apparatus including same
A sheet separation transport mechanism according to the present disclosure includes a sheet feed member, a separation member, a support member, a sheet member and a concave portion. The sheet feed member feeds a sheet in a transport direction. The separation member is pressed onto the sheet feed member. The support member includes: a separation member retaining portion; and a guide portion which guides lead edges of a plurality of sheets to the downstream side along the inclined surface. The sheet member is adhered from the guide portion so as to overlap the separation member and has a frictional coefficient lower than the separation member. The concave portion is formed in the shape of a groove in a position of the guide portion where the sheet member is adhered such that the depth of the concave portion is greater than the thickness of the sheet member.
US08733743B2 Gas spring piston, gas spring assembly and method
A gas spring piston includes a piston body with an end wall and a side wall that projects longitudinally from the end wall. The side wall includes an outer surface and a retainment ridge spaced longitudinally from the end wall such that the outer surface is disposed between the retainment ridge and the end wall. The retainment ridge projects radially-outwardly beyond the outer surface such that a shoulder surface is formed adjacent the outer surface. The outer surface includes an engagement feature that is dimensioned to compressively engage an associated flexible wall. The engagement feature is positioned along the outer surface in spaced relation to the end wall and the shoulder surface of the retainment ridge. A gas spring assembly and a method of assembling a gas spring that include such a gas spring piston are also disclosed.
US08733739B2 Device that integrates an ascender with a pulley block
A device that integrates an ascender with a pulley block consisting of two side plates pivotally connected to one another and selectively opened or closed, for loading a rope into a rope channel defined therebetween. Affixed adjacent the rope channel is a selectively activated rope clamp, to hold or release a rope. A sheave adapted to freewheel on an axle, is positioned offset the rope channel, and is used for mechanical advantage rigging when ascending or rescue. Also, a link connection is located at or near the sheave and is used for the attachment of a foot loop or other connection for assisting in ascending on a rope.
US08733735B2 Valve mounting adaptor
A mounting adaptor for a valve actuator includes a driver aperture configured to receive a valve actuator driver. The mounting adaptor further includes a plurality of mounting posts configured to engage a thermal riser or a valve attachment pad.
US08733734B2 Gate valve
A gate valve includes: a valve box; a support body disposed inside a hollow portion; a valve plate including a fixed valving section, a movable valving section sliding in a direction in which a flow passage is extended, a first peripheral region; and a second peripheral region; a first biasing section disposed at the first peripheral region, allowing the movable valving section to move toward a first opening portion, allowing the movable valving section to come into contact with an inner surface, pressing the movable valving section onto the inner surface, and closing the flow passage; and a second biasing section disposed at the second peripheral region, allowing the movable valving section to move toward a second opening portion, and releasing the flow passage by separating the movable valving section from the inner surface.
US08733723B2 Expansion splice plate for a cable tray run
A cable tray expansion splice plate for connecting first and second cable tray sections end-to-end is disclosed. The splice plate includes an elongate body having a central section, an upper flange section, and a lower flange section. In one embodiment, the lower flange section defines a channel for receiving components of the first and second cable tray sections such that the lower flange section underlies the components. Fastener openings in the central section receive fasteners to fasten the body to the cable tray sections. These openings include slots which permit the cable tray sections to move relative to one another in a longitudinal direction.
US08733722B2 Support apparatus for suspending a display
A support apparatus for suspending a display includes two suspenders and two repositioning units. Each suspender includes a connection member, a joint member, and two parallel arms extending between and pivoted to the connection member and the joint member. Each repositioning unit is connected between a corresponding arm and a corresponding one of the connection member and the joint member, and includes a variable-length cylinder. One of the repositioning units further includes a linking rod having opposite ends connected pivotally and respectively to a corresponding variable-length cylinder and a corresponding one of the connection member and the joint member of a respective suspender.
US08733721B2 Board mount
A board mount which can be utilized to position a board relative to a building element. In various embodiments, the board mount can include a holder for receiving at least a portion of a drywall board and, in addition, a flexible member which can be inserted intermediate first and second building elements to retain the board holder relative to one of the first and second building elements. The flexible member can be configured to be deflected, or flexed, between a first configuration and a second configuration when the flexible member is positioned intermediate the building elements. In use, the flexible member can hold the board mount in place while a laborer inserts the drywall board into the board holder. In such circumstances, an additional laborer may not be required to hold the drywall board in position as it is fastened, or otherwise secured, to the frame of the building.
US08733717B2 Height adjustment apparatus
A height adjustment unit 10 for raising the height of a chair or bed. The unit 10 comprises a ground engaging support member 12 with an internal thread 18. A height adjustment member 14 is engageable with the thread 18 to be rotatable to a required height. A sheet 56 of a resiliently deformable material extends across the top of the member 14 and has a pattern of openings therethrough to receive and grip the leg of a bed or chair.
US08733714B1 Rolling trivet apparatus
A rolling trivet apparatus including a body member having a first surface and a second surface, a plurality of spherical bearing members volubly disposed in the second surface, and a first and second side member pivotally attached to the body member, said first and second side members moveable between a first position and a second position whereby a foot member disposed upon each of a plurality of hinge members protrudes from the second surface to releasably engage with and contact a surface upon which the device is used when each of the first and second side members is moved to the second position, whereby an extant serving dish is moveable upon the body member over said surface with which the device is used, and said serving dish is releasably securable in a desired location when the first and second side members are moved to the second position.
US08733711B2 Cannula support
The cannula support includes a helical cord flexible along its length to permit selective axial displacement of adjacent coils for insertion of a cannula tube therein and a breathable material that permits prolonged skin contact substantially without irritation. Furthermore, the cannula support includes an exterior surface having a coefficient of friction substantially preventing sliding movement along the length of the cannula tube when mounted thereon.
US08733708B2 Utensil rest
A utensil rest includes a main body having a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The first sidewall and the second sidewall are connected and define an edge of the main body. At least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall have at least one utensil receiving portion formed therein. The at least one utensil receiving portion is configured to receive a utensil.
US08733703B1 Drogue with power generator
In one embodiment a method to provide electrical power to an aerial refueling drogue, wherein the aerial refueling drogue comprises a plurality of piezoelectric patches disposed on flexible members, comprises deploying the aerial refueling drogue into an airstream and harvesting energy produced by the piezoelectric patches. Other embodiments may be described.
US08733693B2 Aircraft engine assembly comprising an annular load-transfer structure surrounding the central casing of a turbojet engine
An aircraft engine assembly with an annular load-transfer structure surrounding the central casing (16) and mechanically connected to a plurality of substantially planar reinforcing structures (64a-c) arranged externally with respect to the annular load-transfer structure, and biasing it at a plurality of load application points (68a, 68b, 68c). At least one connecting rod is associated with a load application point, with the connecting rod positioned tangentially with respect to the casing (16), and having an inner end (62a) connected to this casing, as well as an outer end (62a) connected to the annular load-transfer structure (60) so that the outer end of the connecting rod is in an imaginary plane (66a, 66b, 66c) in which the annular load-transfer structure is located and which extends through the load application point.
US08733690B2 Lightweight vertical take-off and landing aircraft and flight control paradigm using thrust differentials
An aerial vehicle adapted for vertical takeoff and landing using the same set of engines for takeoff and landing as well as for forward flight. An aerial vehicle which is adapted to takeoff with the wings in a vertical as opposed to horizontal flight attitude which takes off in this vertical attitude and then transitions to a horizontal flight path. An aerial vehicle which controls the attitude of the vehicle during takeoff and landing by alternating the thrust of engines, which are separated in at least two dimensions relative to the horizontal during takeoff, and which may also control regular flight in some aspects by the use of differential thrust of the engines.
US08733680B2 Supersonic pulverizing device
A supersonic pulverizing device includes a main body which is connected with at least two charging units. Each charging unit has a charging passage therein and at least one accelerating wind nozzle disposed at a front end of the charging passage. A source material and a charging air flow are delivered to the charging passage and an accelerating air flow is inputted to the accelerating wind nozzle, so that the charging air flow carries the source material to flow and enter the main body by the accelerating air flow at a supersonic speed and counter with the charging air flow from another charging unit. The source material can be effectively crashed to the desired powder. The source material is covered by the charging air flow, so the device won't be worn by the source material. The pulverizing device has a longer lifespan and can prevent the source material from being polluted.
US08733679B2 Shredder and shredding method for vegetative material
A shredder has a first plate and a second plate. The first plate is mounted in a housing. The plates each have on one of their faces a number of teeth. The first plate and the second plate are relatively rotated for interdigitating their teeth and shredding vegetative material placed between the plates. The shredded vegetative material is delivered through holes in the first plate to a weighing device in the housing.
US08733678B2 Method and device for grinding strand-like fibrous material
A method and a device for grinding strand-like fibrous material, wherein the strand-like fibrous material is fed towards the cutting edge of a cutting mechanism and wherein a moveable striking mechanism for grinding the fibrous material cooperates with the cutting mechanism. Associated with the cutting mechanism is a moveable clamping mechanism, by means of which the fibrous material is clamped in an oscillating manner. To produce optimally uniform fibrous shreds, as defined by the position of the cutting edge, the fibrous material is guided through an oscillating clamping gap formed between the clamping mechanism and the cutting mechanism, wherein the clamping mechanism is guided in a back and forth clamping movement relative to the cutting mechanism. For this purpose, the clamping gap is formed by arranging the clamping mechanism and the cutting mechanism opposite one another in a clamping plane.
US08733677B1 Deterring wear at a bearing construct in a basket media mill
A media basket mill utilizes a media bed having very small media to attain a mixture of finely divided solids in a liquid vehicle. A method and an improvement for deterring wear at a bearing construct in the media basket mill precludes the entry into a bearing interface between a bearing surface of the bearing construct and a component rotating within the bearing construct of the very small media employed in the media basket mill. A barrier is interposed between the media held in the basket of the mill and the bearing interface so as to isolate the bearing interface from media within the basket and thereby deter the entry of media into the bearing interface and concomitant wear at the bearing interface.
US08733672B2 Rotary irrigation sprinkler with an electromagnetic drive system
A magnetically driven irrigation sprinkler is disclosed with a magnetic drive mechanism for rotating a fluid outlet relative to a fluid inlet. In one form, the drive mechanism includes a permanently polarized magnet and an electromagnet.
US08733671B2 Fuel injectors with intensified fuel storage and methods of operating an engine therewith
Fuel injectors with intensified fuel storage and methods of operating an engine therewith. At least one storage cavity is provided in the intensifier type fuel injector, with a check valve between the intensifier and the needle chamber and storage cavity preventing loss of injection pressure while the intensifier plunger cylinder is refilling with fuel. This provides very efficient injector operation, particularly at low engine loads, by eliminating the wasted energy of compressing, venting and recompressing fuel for injection. Various injector designs and methods of operating the same in an engine are disclosed.
US08733670B2 Container for holding a volatile material and a wick
A wick assembly for use in a dispenser for a volatile liquid includes a wick having an external surface and a discontinuity in the surface providing a location in the wick of less resistance to a force applied to the wick than a location adjacent to the discontinuity. In one embodiment, the wick is adapted to be positioned to extend from an inside of a container, through an opening defined in the container, to an outside of the container, and the wick is formed such that a portion of the wick will block the opening when the wick is broken at the discontinuity.
US08733669B2 Efficacious constituent supply apparatus
A cartridge containing aromatic constituents is inserted to an efficacious constituent supply apparatus which is embedded in a door. An insertion slot of the cartridge is formed on a matching surface of the door trim, the surface facing an side surface of an instrument panel. BY forming the insertion slot on the matching surface of the door trim, the insertion slot can be concealed when the door is closed and thus the appearance of the efficacious constituent supply apparatus can be enhanced. In addition, the insertion slot is exposed when the door is opened, working efficiency upon changing the cartridge is not impaired.
US08733667B2 Switch for multi function control of a thermostat
The invention provides for a controller such as a thermostat for an HVAC system having a housing having a circuit board and a display screen, the display screen having at least one alpha-numeric icon and a group of touch pads having at least two displayable touch pads. A microprocessor is provided for controlling the display screen. A sole mechanical button or switch is mounted in the housing and the button has a first end and second end and a touch surface extending between the first end and second end. The sole mechanical button signals the microprocessor in order to adjust the alpha-numeric icon(s), so that the combination of inputs received by the microprocessor from the group of touch pads and sole mechanical button provide for each and every adjustment required for all of the operational functions of the controller. The mechanical button may be a rocker switch. The controller may also include a navigation button.
US08733666B2 Thermostatic mixing valve with tamper resistant adjustment feature
A thermostatic mixing valve having a temperature adjustment mechanism for adjusting the temperature of the discharge fluid exiting a fluid outlet of the thermostatic mixing valve. The thermostatic mixing valve may include a tamper-resistant feature that resists accidental adjustment of the discharge fluid temperature, and in some cases, does not require specialized tools for purposeful adjustment.
US08733662B2 Method of manufacturing cards that each include an electronic module and intermediate products
A method of manufacturing a card including an electronic module by providing a frame or a plate having at least one aperture for receiving the electronic module. At least one part of the peripheral area of the aperture is deformed or crushed by localized application of pressure, so as to reduce locally the thickness of the frame or plate in the peripheral area. The electronic module is brought opposite the corresponding aperture so a zone of the electronic module is superposed on a part of the peripheral area, and a material connection is established between the part of the peripheral area and the corresponding zone of the electronic module for assembling the electronic module to the frame or plate before a resin is subsequently added to at least one side of the electronic module.
US08733661B2 Precised transport positioning apparatus using a closed loop controlled, non-direct or friction drive system with absolute positioning encoder
An apparatus for positioning a workpiece carrier with respect to a workstation can include a workpiece carrier movable relative to the workstation and having an encoder strip, at least one encoder reader located at the workstation for generating a signal in response to interaction with at least one encoder strip, and a drive engaging the workpiece carrier for moving the carrier relative to the workstation, the drive responsive to the signal from the encoder reader. A closed loop feedback control system can be provided for receiving the signal from the encoder reader, and for generating an output signal in response to the signal from the encoder reader in accordance with a program stored in memory.
US08733660B2 Image reader comprising CMOS based image sensor array
The invention features an image reader and a corresponding method for capturing a sharp distortion free image of a target, such as a one or two-dimensional bar code. In one embodiment, the image reader comprises a two-dimensional CMOS based image sensor array, a timing module, an illumination module, and a control module. The time during which the target is illuminated is referred to as the illumination period. The capture of the image by the image sensor array is driven by the timing module that, in one embodiment, is able to simultaneously expose substantially all of the pixels in the array. The time during which the pixels are collectively activated to photo-convert incident light into charge defines the exposure period for the sensor array. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the exposure period occurs during the illumination period.
US08733658B2 Barcode device
Bar codes used for various applications. A bar code can be used for biometrics, or for computer data entry. A special bar code is described that has additional information, but can be read by other readers.
US08733646B2 Integrated voting system and method for accommodating paper ballots and audio ballots
An integrated voting system and method for accommodating paper ballots and audio ballots. The voting system includes a voting device operable to scan a paper ballot with one or more marked voting selections and tabulate the marked voting selections. The voting system also includes an accessible voting station in communication with the voting device. The accessible voting station comprises a voting console operable present an audio ballot to a voter via headphones, and receive one or more voting selections entered in response to the audio ballot from the voter. A printer is also provided to print a printed ballot that includes the entered voting selections. The voting device is operable to tabulate the printed voting selections by scanning the printed ballot or receiving voting selection information extracted from the printed ballot from the accessible voting station.
US08733644B2 Self-chechout apparatus
In accordance with one embodiment, a self-checkout apparatus comprises a structural body including a first photographing unit which is provided with a first photographing window at the front part thereof. The first photographing unit has a photographing area in front of the first photographing window through which the first photographing unit photographs a computer readable symbol located within the photographing area. The apparatus also comprises a portable second photographing unit configured to photograph the computer readable symbol and a cradle, arranged at a position adjacent to one side of the structural body, on which the second photographing unit is placed.
US08733643B2 Systems and methods for providing feedback to a user operating an automated checkstand
Systems and methods for providing feedback to a user of an automated checkstand are disclosed. In some embodiments, the automated checkstand has a data reader including a read zone through which items to be read are passed, and a loading zone on which a user places items for conveyor transport through the read zone. The automated checkstand also has a notification system including an illumination source that is configured to selectively illuminate a portion of the automated checkstand in response to positional information associated with items previously placed on a conveyor system.
US08733638B2 Payment cards and devices with displays, chips, RFIDs, magnetic emulators, magentic decoders, and other components
A payment card (e.g., credit and/or debit card) or other card or device (e.g., mobile telephone) is provided with a magnetic emulator operable to communicate data to a magnetic stripe read-head. User interfaces are provided in a number of different configurations in order to achieve a number of different functionalities.
US08733637B1 Merchant gift card system and method
A gift card processing system and method utilizes a clearinghouse to bank, manage, and distribute the gift funds. The card is issued for contributing towards a transaction at a specific issuing merchant. The information (card reference information, value, and issuing merchant) is uploaded to the clearinghouse. The clearinghouse banks the monetary value until the card is used for a transaction. An exchange rate is established for use of the card at an exchange merchant, allowing the cardholder to use the card for a transaction at the exchange merchant. Upon completion of an exchange transaction, the clearinghouse provides payment equaling the amount transacted by the card, including the deducted exchange rate and any respective clearing fee. The balance of the banked card value is provided in payment to the issuing merchant.
US08733635B2 Banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records and user input of a phone received security code
A banking system operates to cause financial transfers responsive to card data read from data bearing records by a card reader. The system includes at least one automated banking machine comprising a cash dispenser. The system is operative during a cash dispense transaction request to receive through an automated banking machine, machine user input of data corresponding to a mobile phone number. The system is operative to generate a security code for the requested cash dispense transaction. The system uses the phone number to send the generated security code to the mobile phone. The cash dispense transaction is allowed to proceed only if the system receives machine user input of the sent security code.
US08733630B2 Method and apparatus for synchronization of proximate RFID readers in a gaming environment
The present invention provides a system and method for an improved player tracking in a gaming environment. Certain embodiments include a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers for detecting a response signal from an RFID tag, an RFID tag generating a response signal including identification data in response to an interrogation signal transmitted by one of the plurality of RFID readers, and a location manager controlling transmission by the plurality of RFID readers according to at least one collision-avoidance scheme. The collision-avoidance scheme may include one or more of the following schemes: localized RFID reader managers coordinating electrical operation of the plurality of RFID readers, an active RFID reader transmitting the interrogation signal and a plurality of passive RFID readers listening for the response signal, an RFID reader multiplexed through a plurality of antennas, TDMA, CDMA, and/or quasi-random synchronization for the RFID readers, for example.
US08733626B2 Flexible hinge clamshell food service package
There is herein described a disposable clamshell food service package which includes a novel flex-hinge panel between the lid and bottom of the package. This construction permits the package to open easily when the lid is pushed upwardly resulting in a flat tray like configuration devoid of the typical upstanding wall or divider and which may be used as a serving plate by the consumer. The container may be easily snapped closed and locked to allow later consumption of any uneaten food products.
US08733625B2 One-piece box with integrally connected lid
A one-piece container includes a single sheet of corrugated material, including: four walls, a bottom, and a lid, the lid being hingedly and integrally connected to one of the four walls. The bottom and the four walls define a storage area for housing articles therein. The lid is configured to transition between an open position, an intermediate position, and a closed position. The one-piece container includes a mechanism for maintaining the lid in a closed position. In some embodiments, the mechanism biases the lid toward a closed position when in the closed position, an open position when in the open position, and an intermediate position when in the intermediate position. In other embodiments, the mechanism includes tabs and slots for retaining the lid in the closed position. Other embodiments include a combination of these features. The container may be a cardboard box.
US08733624B2 Cardboard package with a food product
The present invention relates to a single-layer cardboard package (1) for food products comprising a front panel (2), a back panel (3), four side panels (4), said front panel comprising precuts (5) defining an openable portion (2a) of the front panel and a non-openable portion (2b) of said front panel, characterized in that: (i) the non-openable portion of said front panel further comprises a locking slot (6), and (ii) a locking element (7) is fixed onto the openable portion (2a) of said front panel so as to extend its length, said element (7) comprising a tongue portion (8) to be inserted into said locking slot (6) to lock said openable portion (2a) in the closed position.
US08733620B2 Solder deposition and thermal processing of thin-die thermal interface material
A solder is deposited on a heat sink. The solder is first reflowed at a first temperature that is below about 120° C. The solder is second heat aged at a temperature that causes the first reflowed solder to have an increased second reflow temperature. The heat aging process results in less compressive stress in a die that uses the solder as a thermal interface material. The solder can have a composition that reflows and adheres to the die and the heat sink without the use of organic fluxes.
US08733611B2 Ratcheting mechanism for surgical stapling device
A surgical stapling device comprising a housing, an elongated portion, an end effector, and a movable handle disposed in mechanical cooperation with the housing and movable between a first open position and a second approximated position for affecting a function of the end effector. A ratchet mechanism is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the movable handle and is configured to substantially prevent the movable handle from moving towards its first open position until the movable handle reaches a predetermined position.
US08733610B2 Fastener driving apparatus
A fastener driving apparatus includes a vacuum piston and a drive piston, which vacuum piston, when moved (by way of a motor and linear motion converter), draws a vacuum against the drive piston, which drive piston may be held in place by retention means. An anvil is coupled to the drive piston. The retention means is released electrically or mechanically at or near the point of maximum vacuum volume. This drive piston and anvil assembly is then driven by atmospheric pressure and may strike as fastener to drive it into a substrate. At least one position sensor may be used. Once the fastener is driven, the apparatus may reset to an initial position. At least one valve may be included to dump the energy stored in the vacuum in the case of a jam condition, thus providing good safety profile.
US08733609B2 Drive-in device for fastening means
In a fastening apparatus, a lockable slider is movably held along a magazine carrier, and coupled to a feeding element for a movement of fastening elements into an operating position below a firing pin. An adjustable retaining part for locking the slider is disposed on the magazine carrier, and has, in its locking position, at least one component section which protrudes into the feed path of the slider for a form closure with the slider in its locking position. The component section has at least one sliding surface running obliquely to the guide surfaces of the magazine carrier for shifting the retaining part from the locking position. The retaining part has a shoulder running approximately perpendicularly to the guide surfaces of the magazine carrier, which is configured so that it directly adjoins the obliquely running sliding surface.
US08733606B2 Ammunition pouch
A wearable item carrier includes a first container having a first side including a belt receiver and a second side opposite the first side including a container receiver.
US08733605B2 Bicycle-carrying device for motor-vehicles
A bicycle-carrying device for motor-vehicles comprises a frame which is mounted on the rear part of a motor-vehicle and is provided with receptacles for supporting one or more bicycles in vertical planes parallel to the longitudinal direction of the motor-vehicle, without hiding from view substantial portions of the rear plate and/or the rear lights of the motor-vehicle.
US08733604B2 Translating roller load assist
A roller load assisted roof-top carrier for elongate articles such as kayak boats. The roof-top carrier includes a space frame having at least a U-shaped portion, the legs of which are each slidingly mountable to each of a front and back cross bar of a vehicular roof rack. In this manner, the space frame translates unitarily relative to the vehicular roof rack. Forward and back cross members are provided that are mounted upon the space frame, the front cross member carrying a pair of kayak saddles, each faced with a friction inducing material for discouraging slippage between a secured kayak and the space frame and the back cross member carrying a pair of guide panels, each faced with a slip inducing material for encouraging slippage between a kayak being loaded on or unloaded from the space frame. A roller is mounted on a back bight portion of the space frame, the roller being located at a fixed spacing with respect to the front and back cross members.
US08733603B2 Mobile device mounting exchange system and method
An attachment assembly for a mobile device case is included. The attachment assembly includes a lock engagement element. A lock assembly is also included, the lock assembly being retainably insertable within the lock engagement element. A base having an opening there through is also included, the base being mountable to the mobile device case. The lock engagement element and the lock assembly cooperate to slideably and releasably affix the lock engagement element to the base within the opening.
US08733601B2 Systems, methods, and apparatus for supporting a firearm from a person
Embodiments of the invention can provide systems, methods, and apparatus for supporting a firearm from a person can be provided. For example, in one embodiment, a sling system for an object, such as a firearm or weapon, can be provided. The sling system can include a sling operable to mount an object to a portion of a person's body, wherein the sling comprises at least one adjustment loop. The sling system can also include an adjuster mounted to a portion of the at least one adjustment loop. Furthermore, the sling system can include a quick tab adjuster operable to change the size of the at least one adjustment loop, wherein the length of the sling can be changed when the sling is mounted to a portion of a person's body.
US08733599B2 Combined cap and actuator device for aerosol container
A combined cap and actuator device for an aerosol container has a body which is substantially cylindrically-shaped having a receiving portion, an actuating portion, and a waist portion. The body is reversible from an unactuating position wherein the valve of the aerosol container is closed to prevent product flow, to an actuating position wherein the valve is opened to dispense product into the receiving portion. A lid is attachable to seal the receiving portion, actuating portion or base of the container.
US08733598B2 Closure/connector for liner-based dispense containers
The present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous closure/connector assemblies for use with a dispense assembly. The closure/connector includes a closure body as well as a cap seat adaptor for operable connection to the closure body. The cap seat adapter has a proximal end and a distal end and is configured for fluid communication with a source of material to be dispensed. The closure/connector also has a cap for connection to the distal end of the cap seat adaptor. A pressurizing gas inlet fitting adapted for connection to a pressure source is also included as a part of the closure/connector. The closure/connector assembly, in conjunction with the dispense assembly, is configured for the secure transport and dispense of the material to be dispensed.
US08733596B2 Ozone foam dispenser
A method of generating ozone containing fluid comprising: drawing atmospheric air into an air compartment, generating ozone within the air compartment from air in the air compartment by conversion within the compartment of oxygen in the air within the compartment into ozone to form ozonated air, discharging the ozonated air from the air compartment, mixing the ozonated discharged air with a flowable fluid to form a ozonated fluid-air mixture, and passing the ozonated fluid-air mixture out a discharge outlet. Preferrably the method is carried out in a dispenser utilizing a piston pump to draw air through a corona discharge ozone generator and to draw liquid from a liquid reservoir and simultaneously pass both the ozonated air and liquid through a foam generator to generate foam.
US08733593B2 Cartridge dispenser with rotational lock
Proposed is a dispenser for discharging at least one flowable component from a cartridge. The dispenser comprises a cartridge holder (110) and an advancing element (120) that is slidable therein. A cartridge (200) can be axially inserted into the cartridge holder against a direction of advancing (V). In order to axially fix the cartridge, a rotating element (140) has been provided on the cartridge holder. In a first orientation the cartridge can be slid into the cartridge holder against the direction of advancing, while in the second orientation the rotating element axially fixes the inserted cartridge. Furthermore, in a third orientation the rotating element can be rotatable on the rotary axis in order to open at least one outlet opening of the cartridge.
US08733592B2 Liquid delivery system, liquid-delivery switching device, and liquid-flowpath regulating device
A liquid supply system capable of being serviced and hygienically maintained easily. A beer storage barrel switching device (12) uninterruptedly supplies beer by switching between beer storage barrels (21-1, 21-2). A first connection tube (23-1) is provided with a fluid stopper device (31-1) including a loop section. The fluid stopper device (31-1) switches between a suppliable state in which it is possible to supply the beer to a dispenser (11) through the first connection tube (23-1) and a non-suppliable state in which it is not possible to supply the beer. Using the fluid stopper device (31-1) eliminates the need to provide a conventional valve in the middle of the first connection tube (23-1), the conventional valve having a structural element which comes in direct contact with the beer. Accordingly, the case that a cleaning member, such as a sponge, is caught by the valve does not occur, and this enables the inner wall of the first connection tube (23-1) to be cleaned using the cleaning member. As a result, a beverage, such as beer, can be easily maintained hygienically and served.
US08733587B2 Automatic part feeder
An automatic part feeder includes a base, a rotatable disk covering the base, a part delivering devices, and a rotatable disk driving device received in the base. Each of the part delivering devices includes a ring-shaped receiving room opening toward a first end surface of the base, a first driving motor having a first rotatable shaft, and an ejector pole having one end extending through the ring-shaped receiving room and another end threadedly engaged with the first rotatable shaft. The rotatable disk driving device has a second driving motor having a second rotatable shaft. The rotatable disk includes receiving holes, and the second rotatable shaft engages with the rotatable disk and is configured for driving the rotatable disk to rotate to align the receiving holes with the respective ring-shaped receiving rooms to receive the parts ejected from the ring-shaped receiving rooms.
US08733586B2 Drug sorting device
[Problem] To provide a drug-sorting device for dispensing multiple drugs.[Solution] This drug-sorting device is equipped with multiple receiving parts that have an opening and are arranged side-by-side in the longitudinal direction, a conveyor means for conveying drugs into the respective receiving parts, and a first adjustment means for changing the width of the openings. Said first adjustment means is provided with a rail that extends in the longitudinal direction, multiple partitioning parts that partition two adjacent receiving parts and are slidable along the rail, and a rotatable width adjustment drum. On the width adjustment drum, multiple guide grooves are arranged side-by-side at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction and extend so as not to be parallel to each other in the circumferential direction. When the width adjustment drum is rotated, the multiple partitioning parts are guided by the respective guide grooves and slide along the rail in the longitudinal direction, thereby changing the width of the respective openings. When the drugs are conveyed, the respective openings are occluded by the respective drugs that have been conveyed into the respective receiving parts.
US08733580B1 Apparatus for use with a liquid coating container
The present invention is directed to a device for holding a container having a base and a wall extending up and in from the base. The base rings the bottom of the wall such that a cavity is formed into which a container is placed. In at least one embodiment, the base includes a trough and in other embodiments the base is an annular member without a trough. In at least one embodiment, the wall of the device includes a conical portion extending from the base up to a cylindrical portion that fits around the container.
US08733577B2 Presentation cooler
A cooler includes a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls connected to the bottom wall. At least one of the sidewalls has a transparent portion. A lid is connected to the side walls such that the bottom wall, side walls, and lid cooperate to define an interior space. At least one cup holder is formed in the bottom wall and positioned within the interior space. At least one first interior wall defines a receptacle within the interior space for receiving at least one of dry goods, food, and utensils. A second interior wall defines a chamber within the interior space for receiving cold items.
US08733569B2 Transport frame
A transport frame includes a body (1) having walls and a detachable roof (8) arranged on top of the body (1). The roof (8) includes a top surface (9) and side walls (10) extending downward from the top surface (9) and having an essentially vertical dimension. The roof is locked in place with a locking element. The locking element has an operating handle (12) and a vertical bar (13) extending essentially downward from the operating handle (12) toward the wall of the body (1). With the operating handle (12), the locking element is adapted to be set to its locked position and open position, and the operating handle (12) is arranged to be used from the top surface (9) of the roof (8).
US08733564B2 Variable configuration shelving apparatus and methods
A variable configuration shelving apparatus including shelf-supporting reversible beams. In one position, beam top edges are flush with a shelf thereon. In another position, the beams form upstanding lips about a shelf. Beam structure is included.
US08733562B2 Sleeve bracket assembly
A sleeve bracket assembly has a frame, multiple first sleeve mounts and multiple second sleeve mounts. The frame has a first bracket and a second bracket connected with the first bracket. The first sleeve mounts are mounted on the first bracket and the second sleeve mounts are mounted on the second bracket. Accordingly, the sleeve bracket assembly can display different sets of sleeves at the same time and no additional sleeve bracket assembly is required. A user does not have to purchase a new sleeve bracket assembly and carrying one sleeve bracket assembly is convenient.
US08733554B2 Abrasive grains classifying apparatus
An abrasive grains classifying apparatus is used to classify abrasive grains based on their sizes that can be determined by distances between mutually opposed surfaces of the respective abrasive grains. The abrasive grains classifying apparatus is provided with: a first gap portion 35 which includes two rollers 24 and 32 disposed at a predetermined distance L2 from each other and also which classifies the abrasive grains 60 into first abrasive grains 60b and 60c capable of passing through between the rollers 24 and 32 and second abrasive grains 60a incapable of passing through between the two rollers 24 and 32; and a second gap portion 54 which includes two rollers 54 and 69 disposed at a distance L3 smaller than the distance L2 in the first gap portion 35 from each other.
US08733549B2 System for containing and/or transporting wind turbine components
A system for containing or transporting wind turbine components is provided. The system includes at least one container for receiving at least a portion of the wind turbine components, and the wind turbine components are arranged within the container in a nested configuration.
US08733548B2 Packaging structure of liquid crystal glass panel
The present invention provides a packaging structure of liquid crystal glass panel, which includes a package box and a plurality of cushioning members mounted in the package box. The cushioning members each include a main body and an anti-static layer formed on a surface of the main body that opposes liquid crystal glass panels. The packaging structure of liquid crystal glass panel according to the present invention uses a cushioning member formed by an arrangement of combining a cushioning material and an anti-static material so as to provide an excellent effect of cushioning to liquid crystal glass panels during the shipping thereof and to effectively prevent the liquid crystal glass panels from damage caused by static electricity during the shipping thereof. Further, such a combined material has a low cost and can thus effectively lower down the shipping cost.
US08733545B2 Packaging and installation system for double hung windows and other sliding closures
An improved packaging clip, packaging system, and method are disclosed for securing windows and doors and holding them square during shipment and installation. In one embodiment for a window unit, a packaging clip comprises a projection that fits into a jamb track channel in a window frame and a base that contacts and rests against the check rail of a window sash. The packaging clip may be fastened to each jamb of the window frame by a screw. A coupling member is pulled taught between the two packaging clips and fasteners are installed to attach the clips to the jambs and to secure the end portions of the coupling member to the clips. This holds the window frame intact and square during shipment and installation and, since the coupling member does not wrap around the outsides of the window frame, it does not interfere with installation of the unit.
US08733542B2 Belt skew correcting device, belt device, and image forming apparatus
A belt skew correcting device corrects a deviation of an endless belt which is supported by a plurality of rollers and which is driven to rotate around the plurality of rollers. An inclined sectional surface of a dislocating member is guided by an inclined sectional surface of a guide member in accordance with a following movement of a following member, so that a rotational shaft of one roller is given a tilt corresponding to an amount of the movement of the endless belt along the rotational shaft, and thereby the one roller can be tiled.
US08733538B2 Vacuum link chain conveyor
A vertical closed loop link chain vacuum conveyor is provided. A conveying frame extends along a lane-like longitudinal conveying path. The frame has a vertical and longitudinally offset closed loop section. The closed loop section has a change in elevation including a decline and an incline, change in direction, and a central vacuum plenum. A multi-flex link chain is in guided support and travel in the conveying frame while running in trained contact about a link chain drive assembly. The multi-flex link chain is in evacuated communication with a suction generator is in ducted communication with the vacuum plenum.
US08733535B2 Shallow angle vertical rotary loader for electronic device testing
A rotary loader taught herein comprises a rotatable load plate including a plurality of component pockets arranged about a rotational axis of the load plate, the load plate inclined with respect to a horizontal surface at an angle of inclination of less than 50 degrees and a load wall arranged about a lower portion of the load plate adjacent certain ones of the plurality of component pockets and extending above a height of the load plate. The load wall includes a retention surface extending in a direction parallel to an outer peripheral edge of the load plate and a loading surface inclined with respect a line perpendicular to a top surface of the load plate in a direction away from the retention surface at an angle of inclination of less than 45 degrees.
US08733532B2 Bill handling apparatus
A bill handling apparatus includes: a first loop-like conveying path that includes a bill discriminating unit, is connected to a bill receiving and dispensing port and a temporary storage unit, and connected to a plurality of loading boxes to convey bills; a second conveying path connected to the loading box to convey bills; a first gate that switches a conveying direction of the conveying path that conveys bills; and a controller configured to control switching of the first gate and conveyance of the conveying path. The controller controls the bills conveyed to the first conveying path in one of two directions to be conveyed to the loading box through the second conveying path via the first gate, and the bills conveyed from the loading box through the second conveying path to be conveyed to the first conveying path in one of the two directions via the first gate.
US08733531B2 Banknote handling apparatus and banknote handling method
A banknote handling apparatus that performs a depositing handling or a depositing/dispensing handling by transporting banknotes along a transport path includes a recognizing unit that recognizes an inserted banknotes; a deposit acceptability judging unit that determines, based on a recognition result obtained by the recognizing unit, whether the banknotes is acceptable for deposit; a reject reason identifying unit that identifies a reject reason of rejected banknotes that is determined to be unacceptable for deposit by the deposit acceptability judging unit; and a dispensing handling unit that sorts and dispenses the rejected banknotes based on the reject cause identified by the reject cause identifying unit.
US08733529B2 Chute for materials and method of making the same
A modular chute, down which to slide articles, that is made of: a a frame made of a rib, a bracket, a backbone member connected to either the rib or the bracket or to both the rib and the bracket, and a guide member connected to either the rib or the bracket or to both the rib and the bracket, and a curvilinear panel connected to the frame, and a lining disposed within the frame, where the lining is made from a plurality of sections.
US08733528B1 Transmission with continuous clutch lubrication
The casing of an automatic transmission has been modified by providing a hole through a wall of the casing adjacent the PTO port. The PTO port cover plate has also been modified to provide a curved ridge which functions to direct lubricating fluid, which normally collects in the area of the PTO port, to the lubrication hole. The fluid goes through the hole to the interior of the transmission, wherein grounded clutch plates are continuously lubricated, both when the clutch is engaged and disengaged.
US08733526B2 Electromechanical actuating assembly
An electromechanical actuating assembly for at least an actuator element of a vehicle transmission with at least a drive device which activates a spindle drive (2) of an actuator device to actuate the actuator element. The actuator device comprises a toggle lever mechanism (4) which is activated via the spindle drive (2), and the actuator device is positioned coaxially with a transmission shaft (5) of the vehicle transmission and is positioned radially inside or radially outside with reference to the actuator element.
US08733523B2 Power assist element
The invention relates to a power assist element (11) for arranging in a synchronization hub (2) of a gear-synchronization device (1), with a basic body (17), which has a height (18), a longitudinal extension (19) and a width extension (20), wherein the longitudinal extension is arranged in the installed state in the circumferential direction of the synchronization hub (2), and which in the direction of the longitudinal extension (19) has two opposite distal end sections (21), on which respectively a functional face (22) is formed, which in the installed state cooperate with the synchronization hub (2). The functional faces (22) are inclined in opposite direction and relative to the longitudinal extension (19) or are designed to be offset relative to one another along a longitudinal middle axis (37) in the direction of the longitudinal extension (19) of the basic body (17), wherein the functional faces (22) are oriented respectively at an acute angle (23) to the greatest longitudinal extension (19) of the basic body (11).
US08733521B2 Apparatus for and method of controlling a dual clutch transmission
The present invention provides a method of operating an electro-hydraulic control system for a dual clutch transmission having seven forward speeds or gear ratios and reverse. The control system includes an oil delivery subsystem, a clutch control subsystem and a synchronizer control subsystem. All three subsystems are under the control of a transmission control module. The method of operation includes gathering data from various shaft speed, clutch position and shift actuator position sensors and utilizing pressure control (PCS) and flow control (FCS) solenoid valves and a logic valve to pre-stage and engage (and disengage) hydraulic shift actuators associated with a requested and current gear and to sequentially engage one of a pair of input clutches.
US08733519B2 Linear impelled module damper
A linear impelled module damper includes a hollow cylinder having an inner body, an outer body, and a channel between the inner and outer body. The hollow cylinder has a sealed first end and a sealed second end. A piston movable within the hollow cylinder divides the hollow cylinder into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. The channel communicates with the rebound chamber through at least one hole in the rebound chamber. A compression extension cylinder is rigidly fixed to the hollow cylinder approximate to the sealed second end on one end, and having a compression mount attached to the other end. The compression extension cylinder including an air valve being adapted to allow a piston rod to move in and out of the compression extension cylinder. The piston rod including a rebound mount on one end and extending into the compression extension cylinder on the other.
US08733518B1 Drive pin assembly
Provided are, among other things, systems, apparatuses, components and methods related to drive pin assemblies. One such assembly includes: a first pin component and a second pin component, each having an engagement end that opens to an interior space and has an angled surface that extends for at least a portion of the width and a portion of the length of such first pin component; and a tightening mechanism at least partially disposed within the interior spaces of the first pin component and the second pin component, for drawing the first pin component and the second pin component closer together, where the angled surface of the first pin component matches the angled surface of the second pin component such that the first pin component and the second pin component slide both vertically and laterally along each other when drawn together.
US08733516B2 Brake cylinder for a pneumatically operable vehicle brake
A brake cylinder for a pneumatic vehicle brake, particularly for a commercial vehicle includes a spring-loaded brake section for performing parking brake operations by a spring-loaded spring, and a service brake section for performing compressed air-actuated service brake operations. The spring-loaded brake section and the service brake section are combined in a structural unit in a housing. The housing is divided by a piston into a pressure chamber to which compressed air can be applied and a further space. The pressure chamber serves the actuation of the service brake section in the pressure space and the spring-loaded spring of the spring-loaded section being disposed in the additional space on the opposite side of the piston. The spring-loaded spring acts on an additional spring-loaded piston in the space. The piston is lockable in relation to the piston by a pneumatically operable locking mechanism and releasable from the same by releasing the locking mechanism. The piston is further connected to a piston rod, either directly or indirectly or by additional elements, for actuating the vehicle brake. The brake cylinder is configured such that the compressed air supply to the locking mechanism occurs via a compressed air hose.